Use Disney-inspired creativity to unlock your company’s innovation

Welcome to the latest edition of Business Leader Masterclass.?

In this issue:?

?? Use Disney-inspired creativity to unlock your company’s innovation?

?? Ikea: Mistakes, meatballs and the future of a retail icon?

?? Inside Andy Burnham’s fight for a fairer future for the North?

?? Castore CEO: Never forget what makes your business special?

?? Emirates bets on a high-flying high-street experience??

?? SMEs must adapt to a higher-tax environment?

Use Disney-inspired creativity to unlock your company’s innovation

Is your business stuck in a rut? Creativity isn’t magic – it’s a mindset. Former Disney head of innovation Duncan Wardle shares practical tools to help you think differently, break the mould and unlock a culture of innovation that can propel your business into a new dimension.?

Read and watch the full Masterclass?

Mistakes, meatballs and the future of a retail icon

As Ikea reinvents itself for the digital age, Ingka Group CEO Jesper Brodin leads the charge with a bold new vision: smaller city stores, omnichannel innovation and a focus on urban shoppers.??

Yet, even as the Swedish giant evolves, its roots in affordability, sustainability and meatballs remain firmly intact. Listen to our podcast looking at the company and watch our My Business Leader Secret with Brodin here.?

Inside Andy Burnham’s fight for a fairer future for the North

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s ‘King of the North,’ reflects on his evolving relationship with Labour’s Keir Starmer, the promise of devolution, and his unwavering commitment to place over party.??

From housing reform to education and the Bee Network, Burnham’s third term is focused on delivering for the North while challenging Westminster to empower the regions.?

Read the full piece?

Never forget what makes your business special

Building a business is hard, but keeping ‘the Main Thing the Main Thing’ is the key to success. Castore co-founder and Business Leader Expert Thomas Beahon shares how staying true to your core mission, combining big dreams with small daily actions and cutting through complexity can drive long-term growth and resilience.?

Read his thoughts here

Join us at the Business Leader Summit

Want to know the secrets to scaling up your mid-size company? ???

We're giving away five free tickets for the biggest event dedicated to mid-sized business owners in 2025 - The Business Leader Summit!

We’ll be unpacking the strategies and techniques to help you grow your business - quicker and giving you the chance to connect with 300+ of your peers who understand the difficulties of scaling and have made it through to the other side.

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With a packed agenda, the Business Leader Summit is designed to provide solutions to the key challenges facing mid-sized business owners in the UK. Learn more about:?

• Honing your leadership skills??

• Attract and retain top talent??

• The latest technology to transform your business??

Find out more about the Business Leader Summit here: https://businessleadersummit.co.uk/live/en/page/homepage??

Emirates bets on a high-flying high-street experience?

Emirates is redefining the high street with its new experience-led travel stores, blending smart tech, luxury sampling, and personal service to attract new customers.??

As retail shifts toward immersive experiences, the airline’s bold move signals a future where brand connection takes centre stage. Our Senior Correspondent Dougal Shaw went to check it out.

Read the full piece?

SMEs must adapt to a higher-tax environment

The latest Budget delivers a mixed bag for small businesses: higher taxes and rising costs weigh heavily, while modest relief measures and extended support programmes offer a glimmer of hope.??

As the government promises a new small business strategy, Business Leader Expert Emma Jones says that the focus must shift to smarter, targeted support to help firms thrive in a tougher economic climate.?

Read the article here?

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