Pete Ridlington raised millions of pounds to build a software business, only to lay off 15 people when he scaled too fast. Arthur was one of those people. Now, his tech company is in its healthiest position ever with a fraction of the team.

In this episode of Business Engine, Arthur sits down with Pete Ridlington, the founder and CEO of Ningi with 20 years of experience building tech companies.

Pete shares the exact reasons he had to cut his headcount, the future of SaaS and AI and how small teams can use automated AI agents to match the output of 50 employees. He also explains why most founders should choose bootstrapping over venture capital.

If you've ever felt the friction of trying to scale your headcount too quickly, this one is for you.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro: Welcome Pete Ridlington

(00:03:35) The reality of a startup burn rate

(00:04:47) Getting addicted to big checks from corporate clients

(00:07:34) "If you're not getting it wrong, then you're probably not pushing hard enough"

(00:09:57) The structural benefits of a hyper-lean team

(00:11:55) How to identify an investable business

(00:17:00) Why AI means you should never take venture capital

(00:21:23) Shifting metrics to revenue per employee

(00:27:24) Breaking the connection between time and money

(00:32:34) Why business textbooks lie and how to enjoy the chaos

(00:48:00) Overcoming the AI context gap tax in your workflows

(00:52:27) "People are saying SaaS is dead"

GUEST

Pete Ridlington, CEO and Founder of Ningi

https://ningi.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ridlington-fpfs-58568a52/LISTEN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdjyVyy1eSl_wQNNDLj9hnQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OyuXYMEgbKcGsNHiGDEpW

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-engine/id1896631852

FOLLOW BUSINESS ENGINE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebusinessengine/

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HOSTED BY ARTHUR JONES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthur.maskew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurmaskew/

PRODUCED BY MASKEW MEDIA

https://www.maskew.media

Most small business owners are paying more tax than they have to. Not because they want to, but because no one ever taught them the formula.

In this episode of Business Engine, Arthur sits down with Fay Bartlett, a chartered accountant with ten years in the industry and the founder of her own practice. Faye works with small business owners, entrepreneurs and creatives who feel intimidated by their numbers. They get into the formula to take up to £100,000 out of your company tax-efficiently, the trivial benefit allowance most directors don't know exists, and why a good accountant should pay for themselves through the tax they save you.

If you've ever stared at your accounts and wondered if you're doing this all wrong, or felt like tax is something that just happens to you, this one is for you.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro: meet Fay Bartlett, chartered accountant

(00:02:57) How to read your financial statements (and why it matters)

(00:08:14) Set up separate pots for tax. Stop spending money you owe HMRC

(00:11:59) "HMRC doesn't care WHAT you put through your business"

(00:13:12) The OnlyFans question and what counts as a business expense

(00:17:32) The £300 trivial benefit allowance most directors miss

(00:23:54) The formula to take £100,000 out of your company tax-efficiently

(00:27:00) "It's illegal to pay yourself a dividend"

(00:28:58) When to hire an accountant (and how much they should cost)

(00:34:31) What the autumn budget means for small business owners

(00:36:08) 16,000 businesses closed and why community matters

(00:41:20) Final advice: don't hide from your numbers

GUEST

Fay Bartlett, Chartered Accountant

Website: ⁠https://www.financeandyou.co.uk/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/faydoesfinance/⁠

LISTEN

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdjyVyy1eSl_wQNNDLj9hnQ⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1OyuXYMEgbKcGsNHiGDEpW⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-engine/id1896631852⁠

FOLLOW BUSINESS ENGINE

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebusinessengine/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/the.business.engine/⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@the.business.engine⁠

HOSTED BY ARTHUR JONES

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthur.maskew/⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurmaskew/⁠

PRODUCED BY MASKEW MEDIA

⁠https://www.maskew.media⁠

3 million views. Zero leads. That's what one short form video got Arthur, and it's what most business owners are chasing without realising it.

In this first episode of Business Engine, Arthur sits down with Jack Gaisford, founder of Content Club and a ten-year veteran of the agency world. Jack now teaches small business owners how to make video that actually wins customers, no agency required.

They get into why short-form earns attention but long form earns trust, the mindset shift that separates creators from consumers, and why most people quit content right before it starts working.

If you've ever felt like you're posting into the void, or carry doubts about whether all this is worth your time, this one is for you.

CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro: meet Jack Gaisford from Content Club

(00:00:51) How content has changed from 2022 to today

(00:03:37) Why social got so noisy, and what it costs you

(00:05:56) How to be inspired by creators without copying them

(00:09:21) Social is a tool, not entertainment

(00:10:36) One platform mastered beats five half-played

(00:15:05) Short form vs long form: what actually converts

(00:19:53) 3 million views, zero leads: the flip in the field

(00:25:07) Give your knowledge away, charge for the doing

(00:28:15) The honest truth about year one of content

(00:34:17) "Authentically approached, but strategy backed"

(00:35:24) It's not about being best, it's about lasting

GUEST

Jack Gaisford, Content Club

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackgaisfordmiles/

https://the-content-club.co.uk/

LISTEN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdjyVyy1eSl_wQNNDLj9hnQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OyuXYMEgbKcGsNHiGDEpW

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-engine/id1896631852

FOLLOW BUSINESS ENGINE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebusinessengine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.business.engine/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.business.engine

HOSTED BY ARTHUR JONES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthur.maskew/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurmaskew/

PRODUCED BY MASKEW MEDIA

https://www.maskew.media