Silverstone Technology Cluster's "Ask the Expert"

Jeannie

Welcome to Ask The Expert, the podcast from Silverstone Technology Cluster where innovation meets insight. Twice a month, we sit down with industry leaders, trailblazing founders, and seasoned professionals from across the world of Advanced Engineering, Electronics, and Software to dig into the challenges and opportunities shaping modern business. Each episode zooms in on a new theme — from AI and electrification to leadership and scaling — with expert guests sharing the tools, trends, and thinking that drive real progress. 🎧 Tune in and get inspired.

  1. Aug 21

    Building Value through Intellectual Property: Turning Ideas into Assets

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.   In this episode, we sit down with Nick Silvester, Managing Partner at IP Asset and Chartered British and European Patent Attorney.  We unpack how to spot IP as it's being generated, from solving day-to-day technical problems to building up a company's background IP over time. Nick explains why founders, engineers and scientists so often undervalue their own contributions, and why keeping good records of the problems you solve is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools for building IP value.   For growth-stage technical businesses in particular, Nick shares why IP should be considered early, not just when a dispute or deal forces the issue, and how it can be used as a genuine driver of company value, not simply a legal safety net.     Meet our expert: Nick Silvester – Managing Partner at IP Asset  Nick is a Chartered British and European Patent Attorney and leads IP Asset's engineering and software & AI team. He spent 18 years as a Race Engineer and Design Engineer in motorsport and automotive industries, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship where he contributed to World Championship victories in 2012, 2014–2017. He was also involved in Nissan's ZEOD zero emission Le Mans entry and development of the Nissan Juke R.   Since joining IP Asset, Nick has built a wealth of experience supporting clients with commercially driven IP strategy and protection, helping them recognise where they are creating value, put the appropriate protection in place, and navigate everything from collaborations and joint ventures to the ownership of new ideas and existing know-how.   Away from work, Nick enjoys rowing, cycling and skiing, and maintains a strong interest in anything involving an internal combustion engine.    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully.   Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    Building Value through Intellectual Property: Turning Ideas into Assets
  2. Jul 22

    Inside Eagle Labs: Opening Doors for UK Startups

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.   In this episode, we sit down with Owen Moran from Barclays Eagle Labs to explore what Eagle Labs is and how it supports entrepreneurs and growing businesses across the UK.  We unpack what Eagle Labs actually does—from providing workspaces and expert support to connecting founders with the tools and networks they need to scale. Owen also clarifies accessibility, highlighting that Eagle Labs is open to everyone, not just Barclays customers.  For STC members in particular, Owen shares how a more personalised, hands-on approach adds real value, offering tailored guidance and direct support that can make a meaningful difference to growing businesses.  Meet our expert:  Owen Moran, Barclays Eagle Labs  Barclays Eagle Labs are an entrepreneurial network supporting ambitious startups and scaleups. Our mission is to connect the UK’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through our networks, support and expertise, tailored learning and programmes, to help businesses innovate and grow. We’re here to help you in your growth journey through our virtual support and physical spaces across the UK. Whether you’re at idea stage, starting, growing, or scaling, Barclays Eagle Labs can support.  Owen has worked in the banking and finance industry for over 20 years, with 10 of those years working across the Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire areas. Having control of your finances is vital for businesses across all stages of the growth journey. Owen believes banking and finance conversations shouldn’t be feared nor should it be one that keeps you awake at night. Owen’s approach is to listen carefully to the objectives of the business and support them with their financial goals. Owen will also signpost other industry professionals where appropriate from across the Eagle Labs national network.  Away from work, Owen enjoys vehicle maintenance and light restoration projects, going to track days and talking about all things cars and engineering.    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    Inside Eagle Labs: Opening Doors for UK Startups
  3. Jul 8

    Rewiring the Grid: The Case for Combined AC/DC Power

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.  In this episode, Jeannie is joined by Chris Moller from The Open University to explore an innovative approach to powering modern properties: combining AC and DC electricity in a single supply. Together, we unpack the limitations of today’s systems, why our growing reliance on DC-powered devices is changing the energy landscape, and how this new model could improve efficiency and reduce infrastructure demands.  Chris takes us through how the system works, the role of bi-directional energy flow, and why this idea hasn’t been widely adopted. We also look at how it compares to existing solutions, what it would take to implement at scale, and the real-world implications for cost, materials, and energy transition.    Meet our expert:   Chris Moller is a Cambridge-educated Chartered Engineer, a visiting Fellow at the Open University with 50 years’ experience of electricity systems and digital electronics.  He is active in International Electrical Standards Committees, and is currently managing electricity supply projects running in East and West Africa.    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    Rewiring the Grid: The Case for Combined AC/DC Power
  4. Jun 24

    Building Value When Markets Are Uncertain

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert". In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape. In this episode, Paula Carter and Patrick Faughnan from theTC Group Corporate Finance team share practical insights into value creation, exits and succession in today’s uncertain market. They discuss what drives premium business valuations, how SME owners can strengthen their position even without an imminent sale, and why deals continue despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty.   Meet Our Experts: Paula Carter is a Chartered Accountant and Corporate FinanceDirector at TC Group, with over 25 years’ experience spanning professional services and industry. Having trained with a Top 5 accountancy firm, she has advised SMEs across a wide range of sectors, as well as providing consultancy support to large multinational organisations. Since returning to professional services in 2020,Paula particularly enjoys working closely with SME business owners and leadership teams, supporting growth, financing and succession plans to help turn long‑term ambitions into reality. She is known for her pragmatic, client‑focusedand highly responsive approach to dealmaking. Alongside her advisory work, Paula has a strong interest inpeople and diversity. She is particularly passionate about mentorship and is keen to create opportunities for female business owners to connect, collaborate and support one another as they grow their businesses. Outside of work, Paula's a keen runner and enjoys spendingtime with her children and friends. paulacarter@tc-group.com   Patrick Faughnan is Partner and Head of Corporate Finance atTC Group, where he works closely with owner‑managed businesses to support growth and succession plans. His work spans mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, valuations and exit planning — always with a clear focus onachieving the right outcome for clients. Patrick’s proud to lead TC’s dedicated Corporate Financeteam, which was named ‘Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year’ at the Insider Central & East of England Dealmakers Awards in 2023. He was also recognised individually as 'Dealmaker of the Year' in 2025 — one of the mostsought‑after titles in the sector. For Patrick, these awards reflect the collective effort of the wider team and the strong results they’ve delivered for clients in recent years. A chartered accountant by background, Patrick’s also atrustee and mentor, supporting the development of businesses and individuals beyond formal advisory work. Outside of the corporate finance world, he is married and a father of two daughters — and when time (and the weather) permits, he enjoys dusting off the golf clubs! patrickfaughnan@tc-group.com This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TCGroup⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm ofbusiness advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. We offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    Building Value When Markets Are Uncertain
  5. May 20

    Employment Law Reform: What Employers Need to Know Now and Next

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business in the advanced engineering landscape. In this episode, we unpack the latest wave of employment law reforms and what they mean for employers today — and in the years ahead. We explore the immediate changes this April. What do these shifts mean in practice, and how should employers adjust their approach to workforce planning and risk management? Looking further ahead, we examine the more structural reforms on the horizon for 2027. Meet our Experts:Bruce Keir leads TC Group’s HR Client Advisory services for businesses across the Midlands and North, supporting clients of all sizes in getting the very best from their people. With a commercial mindset and a passion for effective people strategy, he works closely with clients across many industries to deliver forward-thinking HR solutions that support growth and long-term success. A highly accomplished HR professional, Bruce holds a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and brings hands-on experience across the full employee life cycle. His experience spans multiple sectors and business types, including FTSE 100 companies, and his approach is always tailored to the unique needs and culture of each client. Bruce is motivated by continuous learning, making a positive impact, and building strong, collaborative relationships. Whether he’s shaping high-level HR strategy or tackling people challenges on the ground, Bruce brings clarity, confidence, and a genuine enthusiasm for helping businesses, and their people, thrive. In his own time, you'll find Bruce spending time with his wife and three young children and watching or taking part in as much sport as possible. He also serves as TC’s resident quizmaster. Simon Demaid is a Partner and Employment Law specialist at Howes Percival LLP, and leads the firm’s Milton Keynes office, supporting a strong portfolio of high profile local clients. A well-known and respected figure in the Milton Keynes professional community, he is also a member of the MK Business Leaders Partnership. Simon advises businesses on all aspects of employment law, from day-to-day issues such as disciplinary matters, grievances, ill health and discrimination, through to the employment aspects of complex restructures, acquisitions and outsourcing arrangements. Known for his proactive, commercial and pragmatic approach, he also has a particular focus on disability discrimination claims and regularly manages and advocates in Employment Tribunal proceedings on behalf of his clients. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠⁠.TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by the Pod Collective

    Employment Law Reform: What Employers Need to Know Now and Next
  6. Apr 22

    What Can Companies Do to Attract Great Talent?

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape. In this episode, I'm joined by Jason Parrott from The Collective Network to unpack what it really takes to attract great talent in today’s candidate‑driven market. We discuss current hiring trends, rising contract rates, sector shifts across defence, automotive, and motorsport, and what recent redundancies mean for both companies and candidates. Meet our Expert: Jason Parrott. Director and Co-founder of the Collective Network. Jason specialises in contract and permanent recruitment within the automotive, motorsport and sub-contract manufacturing sectors, with specific knowledge of staff supply to Formula One teams, suppliers and manufacturers. Jason has over 20 years’ experience in motorsport as a competitive driver in the World European and British karting championships before setting up and managing his own team to compete in the British and European kart championships. Jason has since transferred his extensive motorsport and high-performance engineering knowledge into a successful recruitment career, providing expert staff to the motorsport and automotive industries. “I believe having both a passion and knowledge of the industry gives me a great understanding of the products, applications and, most importantly, the people that are required to succeed,” he says. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    What Can Companies Do to Attract Great Talent?
  7. Apr 15

    Better Innovation Starts with Understanding Your Whole Ecosystem

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionalsand industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape. In this episode I'm joined by Benn Klewpatinond, Founder andInnovation Partner at Inond. Together, we talk about why innovation often fails whenorganisations focus too narrowly on the product, and how understanding the wider stakeholder ecosystem can completely change the outcome. Benn explains what the “stakeholder value chain” reallymeans, why outcomes matter more than assumptions, and how approaches like Jobs To Be Done and Outcome‑Driven Innovation help teams build things peoplegenuinely need. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s anAccountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than thestandard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    Better Innovation Starts with Understanding Your Whole Ecosystem
  8. Mar 9

    The Business of Podcasting: What Really Makes a Show Work

    Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape. In this special episode, Hugo and Jack from The Pod Collective step out from behind the scenes and join Jeannie behind the mic. We dive into what businesses often misunderstand about starting a podcast today, why production alone isn’t enough, and how brands should be thinking about ROI in 2026. We also talk about the biggest mistakes companies make when they try to DIY their podcast strategy, the opportunities they see for established brands, and what an end‑to‑end podcast partnership really looks like. Plus, Hugo and Jack open up about their own journey — why they started The Pod Collective, the gap they wanted to fill, and the lessons they’ve learned building a podcast agency from scratch. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.

    The Business of Podcasting: What Really Makes a Show Work

About

Welcome to Ask The Expert, the podcast from Silverstone Technology Cluster where innovation meets insight. Twice a month, we sit down with industry leaders, trailblazing founders, and seasoned professionals from across the world of Advanced Engineering, Electronics, and Software to dig into the challenges and opportunities shaping modern business. Each episode zooms in on a new theme — from AI and electrification to leadership and scaling — with expert guests sharing the tools, trends, and thinking that drive real progress. 🎧 Tune in and get inspired.