Martha Lane-Fox, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, discusses the impact of Brexit on UK businesses. She emphasizes the effect on the skills base. NFX General Partner Pete Flint is optimistic about the UK's chances of becoming a business hub like San Francisco. However, he advises against companies going public in the UK.
Brexit has negatively impacted the skills base and access to capital for UK startups.
The UK has the potential to become a global technology hub with its concentration of capital and opportunities for global business growth.
Deep dives
Building a lastminute.com-like business today would be easier
According to Martha Lane Fox, the co-founder of lastminute.com, it would be easier to build a business like lastminute.com today compared to the late 90s. She points out that there is now more access to capital and better technology, which would make the process smoother. However, she emphasizes that having the right team, like her co-founder Pete Flint, was crucial to their success.
UK as a place to build a business
Pete Flint, a general partner at NFX Venture Firm, and Martha Lane Fox discuss building and growing a business in the UK. Flint believes that the UK has the potential to be a global technology hub, especially given its strengths in fintech, AI, and other sectors. He highlights the advantages of the UK, such as its concentration of capital and the ability to build global businesses from there.
Challenges in the UK business landscape
Martha Lane Fox raises concerns about the challenges faced by businesses in the UK, particularly regarding access to capital and skills. She emphasizes the need for better access to capital, as well as a more inclusive approach, ensuring that funding is available to entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. Lane Fox also mentions the importance of addressing the skills gap and the negative impact of Brexit on the talent pool.
Opportunities and optimism for UK scale-up companies
Both Martha Lane Fox and Pete Flint express optimism for UK scale-up companies. Flint highlights the improved talent landscape and the potential for growth in the UK. Lane Fox encourages entrepreneurs to be ambitious, raise capital, and build businesses that have a positive impact on society. She believes that with the right support and policy changes, the UK can foster a diverse and prosperous business ecosystem.
Martha Lane-Fox, president of the of the British Chambers of Commerce, said she sees Brexit as the main issue facing UK businesses.
“Brexit affected the skills base full-stop,” she said on this week’s episode of In the City. Fox joined NFX General Partner Pete Flint for a panel discussion hosted by Bloomberg’s Stephen Carroll at the GROW Summit in London.
Flint said he’s optimistic about the UK’s chances of replicating a San Francisco-style hub of business success, describing the country as “a great environment for immigrants to come.”
But there’s still a way to go, he added. “I would absolutely not advise any company that I’m backing to go public in the UK.”