Ian and Laura discuss;

• Corporate backgrounds
• Scale up agenda
• Strategic economic plan
• What kind of business is a ‘scale up’
• Public sector cuts lead to innovation
• What areas does a scale up target?
• Support availability
• Importance of networking

Beginning her career in the City during the dotcom boom, Laura worked on high-profile corporate transactions and campaigns including tech company listings on the Alternative Investment Marketing, easyJet’s flotation, and the launch of the Railtrack Private Shareholders Action Group.

In 2002, Laura moved into the NHS’s busiest press and public affairs office at the London Ambulance Service where she worked on award-winning campaigns and public policy agendas, from misuse of the 999 service through to counter-terrorism communications. 

Relocating to Newcastle in 2005, Laura joined Admiral PR & Marketing and, over the course of six years, played a key role in its growth to a top 150 UK PR agency.  As client services director, Laura honed skills in new business development and client relationship management, developing agency specialisms in science and technology, healthcare, higher education, and the natural and built environment.

As head of marketing and communications at Newcastle University Business School, Laura oversaw a brand identity relaunch and restructured the institution’s marketing function at a time of significant strategic change, globally and nationally.

Laura embarked on a freelance consultancy career in 2014 and worked with a diverse range of organisations, from the United Nations Labour Organization to a tech start-up seeking VC funding.