10 must-have services for businesses on the grow

Times

04-06-2025

Bespoke site maintenance, exclusive networking events and AI security cameras – these companies are changing the entrepreneurial landscape for the better
The UK's diverse business landscape is filled with talent – strategists, creatives, leaders and innovators.
The success of the companies they build – from startups to major corporations – depends not only on how well they deliver their product or services, but how they master everyday operations.
That includes finance, maintenance, product development and all manner of team issues.
For those additional demands, specific expertise is essential.
This checklist showcases ten top providers in a range of business service fields who can help you get back to what you do best.
From first-class networking and workspace hire to financial support, insurance, and even tech and maintenance, the companies featured here all understand the need to offer support tailored to clients.
Getting to know your business is their business.
Based in Covent Garden, The Conduit is a purpose-driven community offering the perfect location to do business and be part of something bigger and more dynamic – while having a positive impact.
Here, a diverse membership of entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, industry forerunners, civil-society leaders, policymakers and activists can access first-class workspaces and a club restaurant. They can also enjoy exclusive offers.
Members can connect with other business, social and political leaders through events hosting world-renowned guest speakers, allowing them to share knowledge, networks and capital.
Through these, the Conduit works to improve a whole host of impact areas: climate and green jobs, the food system, sustainable fashion and much more.
The Conduit's building also has a floor dedicated to Workspace, offering fully serviced, private areas designed for productivity and comfort, with exceptional tech facilities for individuals and their teams.
It's the perfect place to get work done, as well as entertain clients and investors.
Visit theconduit.com to find out more about this very special private members club in the heart of London, and discover its premium coworking space
This London-based insurance advisory and brokerage firm provides tailored solutions for high-net-worth individuals and complex commercial clients.
Its experienced team works across a wide range of industries, including real estate, technology, construction and professional sports. They are also able to meet a manner of bespoke requirements, from over £2 billion in UK real estate to individual policies covering up to £15 million in body parts.
Sioma was launched by Alexander Margolin in 2018. A chartered insurance broker and founder of Made with Hope charity, Margolin has also been recognised as Young Underwriter of the Year and Broker of the Year (under 35) by the British Insurance Brokers' Association. The company was awarded 5-Star Brokerage status in 2023 by Insurance Business UK.
Under Margolin's leadership, Sioma has developed a client-centric approach, with a strategy that offers exceptional service. Its attention to detail helps its clients make significant savings on insurance premiums.
Discover how Sioma can safeguard your business, wealth and career. Visit sioma.co.uk or download its brochure to learn more. Find Sioma on LinkedIn
Adding artificial intelligence to your business process can greatly enhance your ability to service your clients, deliver better value and plan your operations more efficiently.
With Axelera AI, companies can efficiently add real-time inference to their existing IT infrastructure to solve common problems, such as shrinkage within a retail environment.
From overseeing better onsite safety conditions for construction or factory workers, improving quality management on a manufacturing line, adding detection and analysis capabilities to security cameras, or developing a live chatbot that can efficiently and effectively serve your customers, AI can make the difference.
Such advances can be achieved in several ways, but these solutions can be expensive and prove unsustainable long-term, especially with increasing data privacy requirements across the globe.
That's where Axelera AI comes in. By bringing inference directly to where the data is being created (be it a video stream, still images or language input), clients can better protect their data, receive up-to-date insights and can keep a low operating expenditure.
Visit axelera.ai to find out more
In recent years, employee ownership trusts (EOTs) have become an increasingly popular model for succession planning in business.
In the right circumstances, selling shares to an EOT can be an effective strategy to transfer ownership to employees. This can help protect the culture and legacy of a business, and provide a positive working structure that rewards and engages with the company's staff.
Shares in a trading business can also generally be sold to an EOT without capital gains tax, making this a tax efficient way for shareholders to exit.
However, an EOT will not suit every situation. There are specific tax requirements, financing considerations and viability is often contingent upon suitable operating arrangements being in place.
Leading the Menzies transaction taxes team, experts Pete Mills and Stephen Hemmings have extensive experience advising on succession planning and supporting businesses considering employee ownership.
The team at Menzies work with each client to deliver tailored tax advice, strategic guidance and business valuations, optimised according to their unique objectives and circumstances.
Visit menzies.co.uk and contact the team of experts for more information and to discuss your options
The largest business loan-only broker in the UK, Century Business Finance was founded by industry experts Jon Maloney and Ben Larkins to help UK companies access the funding they need with speed, transparency and first-rate customer service.
With funds available in as little as 24 hours, Century Business Finance's platforms are designed to make financing simple and stress-free, empowering businesses to thrive.
Offering terms from six months to five years, it enables companies to borrow anything from £10,000 to £250,000.
Century Business Finance focuses on fast, efficient loan solutions. Combining old-school financial knowledge with the responsiveness of modern technology, the company can run an eligibility check in 20 seconds and offer clients the option to apply online in just two minutes.
Communication is a key part of the process. Its team can offer tailored financial solutions and provides clear and open communication at every step of the process.
This exceptional service has earned Century Business Finance a five-star Google rating, reflecting the trust and satisfaction of hundreds of UK businesses.
Check your eligibility now at centurybusinessfinance.co.uk
For music makers, producers, manufacturers and other professionals working with software across audio and visual platforms, lalal.ai offers a fast audio stem separation service to get easy results without compromising on quality.
Accessible for use online and via desktop, iOs and Android applications, the processing and splitting functionality on its servers enables creatives to integrate a music source separation algorithm into their own application or website.
The stem splitter isolates voice and instruments in audio and video files, and the voice cleaner can remove background music, vocal plosives, mic rumble and other extraneous noises.
API integration allows for convenient operation and seamless data transfer. A dedicated support manager and tech team can help each client get the most from their experience from start to finish.
The service is reassuringly secure. Users are guaranteed exclusive access to all processed content, and no data is shared with third parties.
Flexible scaling allows clients to use applications as needed, and a pay-as-you-go option is available to simplify the audit process.
Visit lalal.ai to find out more
Every aspect of running a business comes with its own demands and costs. Among these, energy expenditures are unavoidable and, for many, a major concern.
For companies without the resources to have a dedicated department keeping an eye on running costs, Business Energy Claims Solutions offers comprehensive support to not only optimise energy use and expenses, but also recover excess charges that a business should never have received.
It is estimated that as many as 80 per cent of UK companies have been mis-sold energy services, with hidden fees going unnoticed, on top of hidden broker commissions.
Business Energy Claims Solutions works to expose any energy scam that a business might have been exposed to and help each client put in place better plans going forward.
From being able to provide a detailed audit of bills to helping negotiate fairer terms for future contracts, its tailored services are efficient and effective, helping companies get a better deal.
Visit businessenergyclaims.co.uk to find out more and speak to one of the team today. Check out Business Energy Claims Solutions on social at Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
For over 20 years Vyta has helped businesses manage their tech assets while also protecting their data, maximising value return, managing corporate risk and meeting their sustainability goals.
From its locations across the UK, Ireland and Germany, Vyta has grown to be a leader in IT Asset Disposition and Lifecycle Management (ITAD and ITALM), offering comprehensive, sustainable, compliant and secure solutions to countries globally.
ITAD is key to the management of technology and its entire lifecycle. The circular economy – particularly reuse of IT assets and components – helps mitigate Scope 3 emissions.
With extensive resources and the highest levels of certification, Vyta helps customers meet ESG targets and CO 2 reduction goals.
Indeed, it was the only UK/EMEA ITAD company recognised as a representative vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for IT Asset Disposition 2024 and a worthy winner of the 2024 King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
Working with companies of all sizes and across multiple regions, Vyta is meeting the demands of modern business.
Visit vyta.com to find out more and discuss your requirements
With over 29 years' experience enabling international expansion, Mauve Group is a global leader in Employer of Record (EoR) and workforce solutions.
As businesses face growing complexity from evolving labour laws, Brexit, post-pandemic workforce shifts and rising geopolitical uncertainty, the EoR model has become a vital tool for companies seeking to grow without borders.
Mauve's services enable organisations to hire, pay and manage talent in more than 150 countries, without the need to establish a local entity. This ensures full compliance with in-country employment laws, payroll standards and tax regulations.
Whether supporting startups entering new markets or helping multinational enterprises streamline operations, Mauve provides bespoke, people-first solutions that can reduce risk, elevate employee experience and enable sustained growth.
Its award-winning services include Employer of Record, global payroll, HR consultancy, entity setup and compliance advisory, all delivered through a strategic global infrastructure of wholly owned entities and a trusted network of local experts.
Visit mauvegroup.com to find out more and download Mauve Group's free Ultimate Guide to Overseas Hiring
From cleaning windows and removing waste to tending company grounds and delivering reactive and planned maintenance, Airwaves Facilities Management's teams provide tailored services that provide your staff and customers with a safe, secure and productive environment.
Prioritising client experience, Airwaves FM offers a full suite of hard and soft facilities management support to commercial and residential clients.
The company has built its exceptional reputation on the attention it gives each client – taking the time to appraise each business's properties and how its spaces are used.
From this, its team can build a bespoke, total facilities management service, with capabilities across a range of industry sectors and for all kinds of business setting, including specialist cleaning operations.
Adopting a 90 per cent self-performed delivery model, Airwaves FM ensures clients have total quality control and cost certainty, with agreed schedules of rates for all trades.
Visit airwavesfm.co.uk to find out more or to contact the team for a quotation
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