Scale-Up Capital x LSEG

On 5th June, 18 high-growth scale-ups joined us at London Stock Exchange to pitch to a combined audience of over 200 investors, advisers, and members. Each was looking for funding of £5m-£30m, and we were delighted to convene this day, in association with London Stock Exchange Group.

We heard encouraging things from the LSEG team, including Marcus Stuttard, Head of AIM. Thank-you to our excellent team of members and volunteers that helped put the day together and make it such a success.

You can read a fuller description of the day HERE 

 

Defence Academy Prize-Giving

You might not know that as well as us, the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom is also affiliated with the Worshipful Company of Educators. So it was that on 2nd June, I deputed my Consort, Lance Bombardier Walker, together with a delta force of ex-services members and Past Master Huxley, to attend the annual Livery prize-giving ceremony in Shrivenham.

It was a fascinating day, with further tri-party discussions on the implementation of AI in defence and education, a nourishing lunch, and an afternoon panel session with our crew taking questions on entrepreneurship and innovation.

By the time you read this, we will have formally entertained the prize winners at dinner here in the City. 

Dining for Enterprise

It's a great privilege for me to serve as Master Entrepreneur, though there is an ever-present threat to the integrity of my waistline!

I was delighted this month to accept an invitation to lunch as a guest of the Drapers' Company. The work of the Entrepreneurs in education, charity, and enterprise was called out by the Master Draper in front of a room full of Masters and Clerks. I'm so encouraged by our reputation in the City for getting things done.

I've been able to share some of the burden of fine dinners with others in the senior team, including Tee Dobinson, who was able to deputise for me at the Haberdashers' Education Dinner, and to the Clerk, who stood in for lunch as guest of the Goldsmiths' Company.

I'm grateful to them, and to our hosts across the City and Livery. It may seem trivial, but the circuit of reciprocity and recognition kindles and strengthens our relationships and support.

Our Charity

Please step up to support the Trust. Your financial charity is so important, and, through the generosity of members, the Trust (brilliantly chaired by Mark Huxley) is doing clever things with its money to really make a difference in business education and enterprise skills.

In June, the Clerk, wearing his Trust CEO hat and finest purple trousers headed to South Wales to meet the Trust's partners and beneficiaries at Purple Shoots - a CIC using microfinance initiatives and programmes of self-reliance to foster entrepreneurship in Rhondda and Pontypridd.

To make an extra donation, or talk about becoming a Benefactor or even a Patron, please talk to Mark or Duncan.

2026-27 Sheriffs Elected

Liverymen Entrepreneurs voted at Midsummer Common Hall - on an absolute scorcher of a day, too. It is our right (and a responsibility) as a Livery Company to contribute to the peculiar democratic processes of the City of London, and on 24th June, Aldermen Prem Goyal and Tim Levene were duly elected to serve as Sheriffs from September this year. Bravo to you both!

My thanks to Past Master Talbot for jointly leading the procession of 113 Livery Company Masters into Common Hall. And it was a treat to join Liverymen and friends at Founders' Hall for a very convivial (and superbly air-conditioned) lunch afterwards.

Please diarise the Election of the Lord Mayor (Michaelmas Common Hall on Tuesday 29th September), and lunch afterwards in the mighty Ward of Queenhithe (Painters' Hall). The Clerk has got passes for Common Hall for those eligible to vote.

The Election Court

The Election of Sheriffs is not the only important bit of democracy that occurs at the end of June - the Entrepreneurs' Election Court sat at SBREC on 25th June, and you can read the results HERE

My sincere congratulations to Rita, who succeeds me as Master on 24th November.

And finally...

I was humbled by the outpouring of kindness concerning this month's announcement. Thank-you to all who have written or commented.

It is, of course, a recognition of the combined efforts of innumerable good people, and I am delighted to use this honour as a platform to further promote the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs!

I am still trying to get used to calling my dear wife "Lady King". 

Dare, Create, Succeed!

Yours aye,

Alastair

Alderman Sir Alastair King DL, Master Entrepreneur 2025-26