SME Leaders Forum April 2025 Brings Insight on Growth and Exit Planning
On April 24, 2025, local small business owners and senior leaders gathered for a session focussed on “Investment for Growth and Exit Planning”.
Hosted by Leeds University Business School, the event provided attendees with practical strategies, expert insights, and inspiration to future-proof their businesses.
Professor Iain Clacher, host of the forum and Pro Dean for International at Leeds University Business School, welcomed guests with an emphasis on why discussions around exits are as crucial as growth strategies.
“Hosting the SME Leaders Forum is part of our commitment at Leeds University Business School to support local enterprise — not just through research, but through practical engagement. Growth is often seen as a key goal for SMEs, but how growth occurs is important. Many entrepreneurs also only think about exit towards the "end" of their growth journey but thinking about exit is crucial to building successful, sustainable, and purposeful businesses.
Our goal is to empower leaders to think long-term. By bringing together diverse voices — from successful founders who have grown and exited to those who support growing companies access and the psychology of investors who provide risk capital — we’re helping SME leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence.”
The highlight of the afternoon was a panel discussion featuring three influential leaders from a variety of industries.
Dr David Cooper, Founding Partner at Cooper Limon Limited, brought a unique psychological lens to the financial world, addressing the often-overlooked human elements behind business transitions.
“In the run up to exit there is an understandable focus on profit but the secret to maximising enterprise value is enhancing the ‘intangible’ aspects of the business such as brand and culture”
“A common challenge for founder/owners is handing over control to others - this requires careful planning. The SME Leaders Forum provided insights into how to manage this on a practical level - developing a viable succession pipeline of leaders who can take the business forward. The panel discussion also provided tips for managing the emotional transition needed to ‘let go’”
Karen Emanuel, CEO of Key Production, shared a compelling story of entrepreneurship, growth, and her recent transition to an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT).
“It was an honour to be invited to speak at the SME Leaders Forum the other week. The audience engaged with the panellists and asked really thought-provoking questions. We all learned something from each other and we all walked away feeling energised and inspired.”
Karen's sustainability-first approach resonated with the audience, as she described the journey from a one-person startup to Europe’s largest creative physical media manufacturer.
Anna Sutton, Co-Founder & CEO of The Data Refinery, gave insight into the world of tech entrepreneurship and her recent exit from The Data Shed.
“It is always nice to be given an opportunity to share your experiences with folks who might benefit from them. I was totally blown away by the number of questions my fellow panellists and I received during the session – I learned plenty from them and I hope the attendees enjoyed the session as much as I did!”
The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where attendees engaged directly with the panel, followed by a networking reception. Many local leaders expressed appreciation for the opportunity to speak candidly about complex transitions.
Nick Howard, Founder and Client Partner at Limehouse attended and described the benefits of the event for small business owners.
“Really great and inspiring event - good networking opportunities and to see some familiar faces too. The panel were really strong and brought different perspectives to selling, EOT etc. Really glad to have been able to attend.”
Nick Lankester, Director at Jackdaw Four Finance and alumni of the Exceptional NED programme also attended the SME Leaders Forum:
“What a fantastic panel of speakers and group Q&A session. From my perspective, it was great to hear the panel talk about the importance of strong financial support at any stage of your business”
The SME Leaders Forum, fully funded by Leeds University Business School, is part of a broader initiative to support Yorkshire’s business ecosystem through connection, education, and innovation.
Our next event is on 2 July and will be on the topic of Digital Transformation and AI, you can find out more on the Executive Education page of our website.
For more information on upcoming events or to register your interest, contact the Small Business Hub Team at LUBSSMEHub@leeds.ac.uk.
