‘Power with purpose’ was the theme of BusinessCloud’s latest roundtable in association with GM Business Growth Hub.
Manchester’s iconic San Carlo restaurant hosted a private dinner, which was attended by some of the region’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Although the impact of AI was widely discussed, a recurring theme was how business can be a force for good.
Be the change
Richard Tang is the founder and CEO of Rochdale-based Zen Internet. He started the business in 1995 and has pledged never to sell it. Zen became a B Corp in 2020.
He said: “It’s very heartwarming to hear that there is this common thread of people wanting to do the right thing for the people, the community, the environment as well as running a successful business.
“When everyone acts like that, that is making a difference. That is bringing society on. If there’s enough of us doing that, that makes the difference.
“As I get older, I realise that the things I enjoy doing the most are not that expensive. Going for a walk on the moors or going climbing with my daughter. You do need some money to enjoy life but you don’t need masses.”
AI can’t teach compassion
Tim Heatley is the co-founder of social impact property developer Capital & Centric. He’s played a pivotal role in Embassy Village, the pioneering new Manchester community designed to support people experiencing homelessness.
He said: “I’m flattered and honoured to be in the room with you guys. In terms of my purpose my Mum and Dad always fostered, and still do, young adults with learning differences so I’ve grown up with them all my life.
“What I do is partly inspired by my parents about what their values are. As business leaders our values are really important to the next generation we’ve got coming through. AI is part of it but AI can’t teach compassion, it can’t teach community and collaboration in the same way.”
Family footsteps
Tom Mathew traded his life as a city lawyer to join the family-run Dunsters Farm.
He said: “It’s been inspirational listening to everybody. I heard a quote once which said ‘you can’t change the world, if you can’t change your home town first’. Our grandad, who started the business, got an MBE for services to the community and that stuck with us as we grew up. He was our hero.’
Purpose before profit
Tom Davies is the CEO of AI and Low-Code solution development experts Robiquity.
He said: “Our organisation is built on social inclusivity. It’s a shame nobody is here from the Co-op. Everything we’ve talked about today has been about acting like a co-operative. I think that’s what the strength of Greater Manchester is.
“Even through I spoke about AI and the impact on the jobs and things like that, we’ve mostly talked about things that aren’t about commercial and profit. They’re mostly about doing things for the right reasons and for collective gain and benefit.
“If they’re the principles that drive this region forward, it’s got a really bright future.”
Tough times shape values
Sarah Ashworth is the managing director of Salt Separation Services. The Rochdale-based company specialise in marine and industrial reverse osmosis desalination systems.
She said: “I’ve been really inspired by everybody in the room. I think a lot of people have got stories that are painful or hard. They’ve landed them to where they are and shaped their values and what drives them.
‘Power with purpose’ was the theme of BusinessCloud’s latest roundtable in association with GM Business Growth Hub. It was hosted at San Carlo
“That really resonated with me because I was thrown into my role after the tragic loss of my Dad (Stephen Grindrod). Everybody came together after he died and put in that bit extra and here we are, twice the size.”
Having a purpose
Alice Spreckley is the managing director of Naimuri and was named ‘CEO of the Year’ at the 2025 Women in Change (WIC) Awards.
She said: “I’d like to give you my perspective on purpose. Listening to everyone around the room, purpose comes in three lenses. The first is the individual lens – people’s intrinsic purpose. People have demonstrated their integrity, commitment and what drives them in what they do.
“That then leads to purpose in terms of our people and our staff. There are lots of examples around the room of how people give purpose to their staff.
“The third lens is purpose in the wider sense ie our clients and the community more widely. Everyone in the room is driven by the purpose of what they’re doing and how they give back.”
Loving the North
Sam White is the CEO of female-centric motor insurance business Stella Insurance, which has offices in Manchester and Australia.
She said: “My takeaway from today is I love the North and I love Manchester. We are systematically underestimated and we systematically over deliver.
Sam White, CEO, Stella Insurance
“That’s a personal thing for me. I love being underestimated. It’s the best feeling in the world where somebody underestimates you and you outperform and that’s what we see in the North.
“Everybody in this room is so successful but they’re humble, grounded and they care about their communities.”
Home truths
Tom Dunlop is the CEO of LegalTech Summize, which has just raised $50m. The company is headquartered in Manchester and has US offices in Boston and San Diego.
He said: “One of the things that always drives me is being the underdog. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to replicate the Manchester mentality in the US.
“Today has made me pause so I, and we as a business, really try and stop looking further afield as much and always focus on the US to be more cognizant of the Manchester scene and get more involved.”
Teaching next gen with AI skills
Jonathan FItchew founded Apprentify after leaving his previous business, Pareto Law, after the death of his co-founder Andy Sawer. Apprentify has grown turnover to £25m and 250 staff.
He said: “There’s an amazing business community. I knew it anyway but you feel it when you’re in the room with the leaders and people who are making it happen.
“In my old business (at Pareto Law) we put 25,000 graduates into sales jobs around the UK. If I can do the same with AI training in the Manchester area, with all these fantastic businesses, we’re going to be leaps ahead. I’m just amazed at all the different things people do.”
Humility is tangible
Hayley Roberts is the founder and CEO of Stockport-headquartered Distology, which also has offices in the Netherlands and Germany.
She said: “We’ve all had to go through evolutionary points. Life isn’t linear. The humility is tangible in this room and it’s brilliant. I remember being taught by my grandad once to be nice to people on the way up because you’re going to see them on the way down.
“I’ve learnt this myself but sometimes when you hit rock bottom there’s nowhere else to go, you’ve got to go up and that’s about leaning on other people and having like-minded people in your camp.”
Leave the world a better place
Gavin Wheeldon is the CEO of Purple, which became a B Corp in 2024 to reflect the company’s dedication to positive social and environmental impact.
He said: “Similar to Richard (Tang) you get to a point where you realise that making more money is not going to make much difference but a simple walk on the moors does. I think that also translates in that you can do more as a business.
“When you’re scrambling to make it that’s the only thing on your mind. It’s like ‘how to do I pay the salaries?’ and you don’t think about much else.
“When you reach a certain point you can sit back and the business is running well and you can think about how you can do a bit more in life. It’s that purpose of how you can make a difference and leave the world a better place than you found it.”
Greater Manchester is perfectly placed
Janine Smith is a director of Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub and said the region was perfectly placed to grow.
She said: “If we look at the next decade one of the things we want to do is create to make Greater Manchester a great environment to do business.
“We want an even more impressive decade than we’ve just had. Listening to the businesses in the room is everything that we could hope for. I feel heartened to be here and see this journey over the next decade and be with you in supporting you to work with other businesses that want the same create a great environment.”
Family first
Adam Ward is the CEO and co-founder of Airtime Rewards, which is set to hit £40m turnover this year.
He said “We’ve all set up our own businesses for different reasons and it is a difficult journey. There are always going to be things that take you sideways and off plan. You’ve got to be resilient.
“My journey is all about family but I’ve got a bigger family for the people who work for us. It’s been really good watching a lot of staff grow and change. We’ve been going for 10 years now.”
Passion and authenticity
Chris Stott is the senior partner at KPMG Manchester
He said: “What an absolute joy it has been to sit in this room and listen to an amazing set of stories that you’ve all been kind enough to share.
“I’m very lucky because I really enjoy what I do for a living. My Dad said to me ‘find something you enjoy doing and you’ll never have to work another day in your life again’.
“Today I’ve listened to a dozen people talk with passion and authenticity about something they believe in. That’s what it’s all about. Helping each other get there.”