Fastest 50

Ward Hadaway
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Law firm Ward Hadaway goes beyond the headlines to uncover how ambitious founders and business leaders scale at pace, survive the hard moments, and keep growing when the pressure is on.

Episodes

  1. 10h ago

    Turning imposter syndrome into opportunity with Amy Morgan

    Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, Alistair McDonald and co-host Emma Digby are joined by Amy Morgan, Head of Spinouts & Life Sciences at Barclays Innovation Banking. Amy works with some of the UK’s most innovative founders, investors and university spinouts, helping high growth businesses access the networks, expertise and finance they need to scale. She shares her career journey from choosing an apprenticeship at Barclays over university to becoming a branch manager at 21 and then a vice president earlier this year. She explains how Barclays supports spinouts from before incorporation all the way to IPO and why resilience, authenticity and networks set successful founders apart. You’ll hear practical insights on: Why saying yes to opportunities outside your comfort zone is the best way to tackle imposter syndromeHow being authentically yourself can help you stand out in a roomHow the fractional model gives founders access to senior expertise without the overheadsWhy founders should feel safe to fail fast on the way to the right solutionWhy founders need to understand their market before they build their productWhy every growing business needs the right network of peers, partners and advisors around it To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com. Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Emma: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/emma-digby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-digby-41038626/ Connect with Amy: Barclays Eagle Labs: https://labs.uk.barclays/ Barclays Business Banking: https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-morgan-36b405171/

    Turning imposter syndrome into opportunity with Amy Morgan

  2. Oct 29

    Building a bitcoin balance sheet with Scott Ellam

    Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, Alistair McDonald and co-host Emma Digby are joined by Scott Ellam, founder and CEO of Connecting Excellence Group (XCE), a UK listed international executive recruitment group with an integrated Bitcoin treasury. Scott founded the group’s flagship business, Spencer Riley, in 2014 with main objective of building the best place to work as a recruitment consultant. He explains how Bitcoin works and why he holds it as a long-term reserve asset and shares how Spencer Riley grew into an international firm generating over 70% of its revenue abroad. He talks openly about taking the business public and how XCE’s acquisition model offers a route to exit for owner managed recruitment firms that private equity tends to overlook. You’ll hear practical insights on: How Bitcoin works and why Scott holds it on the balance sheet as a long-term reserve assetWhy setting out to build the best place to work has shaped the business for over a decadeWhy you need a reason rooted in your mission to take your company publicManaging the pace of the US market compared to the UK marketRed flags to look out for when preparing your business for acquisitionsHow a listed group can offer an exit to owner managed businesses that private equity overlooks To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com. Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Emma: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/emma-digby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-digby-41038626/ Connect with Scott: XCE Connecting Excellence Group: https://xce.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ellam-5a097449/

    Building a bitcoin balance sheet with Scott Ellam

  3. Oct 22

    Driving innovation in the energy sector with Mike Maudsley

    Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, Alistair McDonald and co-host Emma Digby are joined by Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium. With 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Mike brought his expertise to the energy from waste operator in 2022. He shares his career journey, from starting out as an apprentice in Halifax to becoming a CEO and explains why introducing apprenticeships at enfinium was one of his top priorities. He describes how he balances shareholder expectations and his vision for the future with the daily operations of running the plants. This includes pioneering carbon capture at Ferrybridge and helping bring data centres onshore in Yorkshire. You’ll hear practical insights on: Why the first job of a CEO is to understand what your shareholders want and not what you wantHow a pilot plant in Yorkshire showed that carbon capture can work for energy from wasteWhy you should be open with your board about risk before problems arrive and not afterThe value of apprenticeships and growing your own talentHow founders in regulated sectors can work with regulators and influence policy to open up new opportunitiesWhy the CEO of a multibillion-pound business still needs a coach and a mentor To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com. Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Emma: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/emma-digby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-digby-41038626/ Connect with Mike: enfinium: https://enfinium.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-maudsley-5480a417/

    Driving innovation in the energy sector with Mike Maudsley

  4. Oct 15

    Championing female founders in the AI economy with Zandra Moore MBE

    Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, Alistair McDonald and co-host Emma Digby, are joined by Zandra Moore MBE, founder and CEO of agentic AI consultancy Zygens. After 14 years at Panintelligence, the business she co-founded, she shares her experience of starting a new venture and explains what she is doing differently this time. She is passionate about being a female founder and at a time where women are starting businesses more than ever, she speaks candidly about the reality of the current funding opportunities and the support available today. You’ll hear practical insights on: What agentic AI actually is and why setting up an agent is a lot like onboarding a new member of staffWhy Yorkshire has the talent and assets to compete globally but needs to talk about them more loudlyThe founder networks that can give you the support you need and why you should set one up if you can’t find the right one for youHow to do your own due diligence on an investor before you let them inWhy the share of investment going to female founders is still stuck at 2% and how business leaders can help change thatWhy AI projects should start with the problem rather than the technology To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Emma: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/emma-digby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-digby-41038626/ Connect with Zandra: Zygens: https://www.zygens.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zandramoore/ Resources: Yorkshire Growth Tech Group: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/business/growth-hub/invest-in-west-yorkshire/why-west-yorkshire/sectors-and-industries/digital-and-technology/ Leeds Digital Festival: https://leedsdigitalfestival.org/ Lean in Leeds: https://connect.leanin.org/networks/lean-in-network-leeds G and T (Girls and Tech): https://www.girlsandtech.co.uk Investing in Women Code: https://iiwhub.com/find-finance/the-investing-in-women-code

    Championing female founders in the AI economy with Zandra Moore MBE

  5. Apr 2

    Building high-performance teams with Steven Forrest

    Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, hosts Alistair McDonald and Matt Cormack are joined by Forfusion CEO Steven Forrest. Forfusion is a Newcastle-based technology business that designs, delivers and manages mission-critical IT infrastructure for clients across the public and private sectors. Steven shares how Forfusion has built its reputation by staying true to a quality-first strategy. If you’re leading growth (or about to), you’ll get practical insight on: How to build a technology business on a foundation of quality output rather than chasing revenue at paceHow to use apprenticeships and ex-military recruitment to build a diverse, high-performing team from the ground upHow to balance innovation with operational and financial risk when delivering complex IT infrastructureHow to grow through client expansion and referrals rather than aggressive outbound salesHow to maintain a strong culture and shared values as a business scales rapidly To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Matt Cormack: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/matt-cormack LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattcormacklawyer/ Connect with Steven: Forfusion: www.forfusion.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steven-forrest/

    Building high-performance teams with Steven Forrest

  6. Mar 26

    Forecasting business trends with Joanna Feeley

    Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. Host Alistair McDonald is joined by Joanna Feeley, CEO of TrendBible, to talk about leading through change. As the founder of a business that helps brands make sense of future consumer needs and behaviour, Joanna shares her take on growing a business with confidence. You’ll hear practical insight on: Why looking ahead is a core part of effective leadership and how trend forecasting can help businesses plan for changeWhy human judgment, creativity and different perspectives still matter in an AI-enabled worldWhat leaders can do to support decision-making in uncertain conditionsWhy founders need to commercial, financial and people leadership skills as well as technical expertisewhy every business leader now needs the ability to think ahead and interpret change with confidence To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Joanna: Website: https://joannafeeley.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-feeley/ TrendBible: www.trendbible.com

    Forecasting business trends with Joanna Feeley

  7. Mar 19

    Building legacy and resilience with Andy Carr and Paul Callaghan

    Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, host Alistair McDonald is joined by Andy Carr and Paul Callaghan from Leighton, a North East based software development company, to discuss how regional businesses can scale whilst staying rooted in their values. If you’re leading growth (or about to), you’ll get practical insight on: How Leighton’s history and legacy have shaped its success in a competitive industryHow to balance local, regional and global recruitment to acquire the right talentHow to build and maintain strong client relationships as your business growsHow to create an inclusive work culture that recognises team success and promotes a shared visionHow to prepare your business for challenges and why having the right people in place makes adapting easier From Leighton’s long-standing success and growth in the tech sector, Andy and Paul share how the business continues to adapt and evolve in a competitive industry. To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Andy: Leighton: www.leighton.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-carr-52357442/ Connect with Paul: Leighton: www.leighton.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulcallaghan/

    Building legacy and resilience with Andy Carr and Paul Callaghan

  8. Mar 12

    Scaling a tech consultancy with Tom Lawson

    Welcome to the Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. Host Alistair McDonald is joined by co-host Jamie Gamble and Tom Lawson, Chief Executive of Opencast, to discuss scaling a people-first technology consultancy from the North East into a national business. Since becoming Chief Executive in 2020, Tom has led Opencast through a period of rapid growth, expanding the business from around 80 people to more than 500 colleagues across the UK. In this episode, he shares how culture, purpose and a strong focus on people have supported that growth, and why the North East continues to be an important base for building successful technology businesses. If you’re building or leading growth, you’ll hear practical insight on: How to scale a business while keeping culture, purpose and people at the centreHow to build the right team and leadership capability as a business growsHow to create clarity of purpose and stay focused as markets and priorities changeHow external advisors, peer networks and support systems can help leaders manage growthHow to think about long term growth in a fast-moving technology market, including the impact of AI To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Jamie: Website: www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/jamie-gamble LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-gamble-719a5416/ Connect with Tom: Website: opencastsoftware.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/t0mlaws0n/

    Scaling a tech consultancy with Tom Lawson

  9. Season 1 Trailer

    Trailer: The Fastest 50 Podcast

    Welcome to the Fastest 50 Podcast, brought to you by Top 100 UK law firm Ward Hadaway. Throughout the series, we will be sitting down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. Find out more about the Fastest 50 Podcast: https://www.wardhadaway.com/what-we-do/businesses/fastest-50/the-fastest-50-podcast/ Find out more about Ward Hadaway: www.wardhadaway.com Find out more about the Fastest 50 Awards: www.wardhadaway.com/what-we-do/businesses/fastest-50

    Trailer: The Fastest 50 Podcast

  10. Mar 5

    Growth by design with Mark Thompson

    Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. In this episode, hosts Alistair McDonald and Lesley Fairclough are joined by Mark Thompson, Managing Director of Ryder Architecture, to discuss how to scale without compromising your values or culture If you’re leading growth (or about to), you’ll get practical insight on: How to step into change and set a clear strategic directionHow a clear strategic framework and annual planning keep the team aligned as the business scalesHow to expand into new markets while protecting standards, culture and momentumHow moving to an Employee Ownership Trust changes decision making, accountability and long-term resilience From Newcastle to London, Hong Kong and Vancouver, Mark shares the thinking behind Ryder’s growth and the leadership habits and support that keep it sustainable. To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Lesley: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/lesley-fairclough/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-fairclough-0795295/ Connect with Mark: Ryder Architecture: https://www.ryderarchitecture.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-thompson-8a6a8319/

    Growth by design with Mark Thompson

  11. Mar 5

    Using advisors to support growth with Raman Sehgal

    Welcome to The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Podcast, where we sit down with entrepreneurs and business leaders who are rewriting the rules of growth in the UK and beyond. Host Alistair McDonald is joined by Raman Sehgal, founder of ramarketing and Lead Candidate, to discuss scaling at pace and taking a North East based business into international markets. If you’re building or leading growth, you’ll hear practical insight on: How to cope when scaling exposes cracks in people, process and systems, especially when growth arrives faster than you planned forHow to approach international expansionHow to identify and use advisors properly as you scaleHow to think about deals and investment, including what it means to sell a stake and bring in private equity backing To find out more about Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 and how we support growing businesses, visit www.wardhadaway.com Connect with Alistair: Website: https://www.wardhadaway.com/our-people/alistair-mcdonald/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-mcdonald-1a446a21/ Connect with Raman: Website: https://www.ramansehgal.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramansehgalus/ ramarketing: https://www.ramarketingpr.com/ Lead Candidate: https://www.leadcandidate.com/who-we-are

    Using advisors to support growth with Raman Sehgal
  • 1 Trailer
    10 Episodes

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About

Law firm Ward Hadaway goes beyond the headlines to uncover how ambitious founders and business leaders scale at pace, survive the hard moments, and keep growing when the pressure is on.

Information

  • Creator
    Ward Hadaway
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ward Hadaway
  • Show Website
    Fastest 50