The Cashflow Show: Entrepreneurship Insights for Founders, CEOs and Business Leaders

Episode Summary In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M Coke speaks with Dr Ylva Baeckström, Behavioural Finance Expert at King’s Business School. They explore the UK’s £574 billion gender investment gap, the non-financial barriers holding women back, the power of short structured education, the role of early messaging and role models, and practical ways to close the gap. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:26 – Dr Baeckström’s background and journey 02:23 – The £574 billion gender investment gap 02:51 – Financial capability as the key barrier 03:20 – How the gap starts in childhood 04:18 – Perception vs reality of investing 05:12 – Time commitment myths 06:33 – Investing is simpler than people think 07:28 – The importance of parental encouragement 09:21 – How 20 minutes a day for 7 days changes perceptions 10:47 – Class, exclusion and complexity 12:14 – Better ways of teaching financial education 13:11 – How eToro’s approach works 15:06 – Fear of getting it wrong 16:33 – Just starting the journey 17:03 – Vision for the future of women and investing 18:28 – Resources and the 7-Day Loud Investing Challenge Key Discussion Points The UK gender investment gap stands at £574 billion 73% of non-investing women believe they need to know a lot before starting 67% think investing requires a major time commitment Gender differences in financial confidence appear by age 16 Financial gifts and messaging differ for boys and girls from babyhood Short, practical learning (20 minutes a day for 7 days) significantly shifts perceptions and willingness to invest Fear of getting it wrong is largely based on lack of knowledge The real risk is not investing at all Key Takeaways Investing feels complex until people start learning — then the barrier drops quickly Short, accessible education is highly effective at changing attitudes and behaviour Early encouragement, especially from parents and role models, has lasting impact Exclusion (by gender, class or background) makes finance feel more complicated than it is The biggest risk for many women is remaining in cash and missing long-term growth Notable Quotes “The real risk for women and other under-invested groups is not investing at all.” – Dr Ylva Baeckström “Just starting the journey means that you’re taking control of your situation.” – Dr Ylva Baeckström “It’s not that complex. Absolutely everyone can learn about investing.” – Dr Ylva Baeckström Actionable Insights for Businesses Design financial education in short, practical sessions rather than long traditional courses Use plain language and remove unnecessary jargon Encourage early positive messaging about money and investing for girls and under-represented groups Support employees and customers with simple, confidence-building investment learning Focus on getting people started rather than aiming for perfect knowledge first Resources Money and Pensions Service: maps.org.uk eToro 7-Day Loud Investing Challenge (free, 20 minutes a day) – search “Loud Investing” Book: Gender and Finance: Addressing Inequality in the Financial Services Industry by Dr Ylva Baeckström The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at [email protected] Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prmsltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/ Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS] “What are YOU like?”, “60 Second Shoot-Out” &"What About The Tech?" are all intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd (c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode Summary In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M Coke speaks with Paul Monaghan, Chief Executive of the Fair Tax Foundation. They discuss growing public demand for responsible tax conduct, the impact of the UK’s £40 billion tax gap, the problem of phoenixing, the commercial value of the Fair Tax Mark, and why greater tax transparency benefits both businesses and society. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:28 – About the Fair Tax Foundation and Fair Tax Mark 01:26 – Public support for fair tax conduct 02:54 – Employee pride and talent retention 04:19 – The £40 billion UK tax gap 04:47 – Phoenixing and unfair competition 06:12 – Protecting diligent businesses 08:09 – Commercial opportunities of the Fair Tax Mark 09:06 – How transparency builds trust 10:31 – Public demand for tax disclosure 11:29 – Transparency changes behaviour 12:57 – How realistic is greater transparency? 14:51 – What a responsible tax policy should include 16:46 – Advice for business leaders 18:10 – Where to find more information Key Discussion Points Nearly three-quarters of the British public prefer to shop with or work for businesses that pay their fair share of tax The UK tax gap stands at almost £40 billion (HMRC figure) Phoenixing and other forms of non-compliance create unfair competition for law-abiding businesses More than half of consumers say they would actively switch to Fair Tax Mark accredited businesses Employee pride is the number one reported benefit of the Fair Tax Mark Public country-by-country reporting is expanding internationally in 2026 Transparency tends to reduce aggressive tax avoidance and improve compliance Key Takeaways Responsible tax conduct enjoys broad cross-political public support Fair tax behaviour strengthens both consumer loyalty and employee retention Unfair practices such as phoenixing harm legitimate businesses and high streets Third-party accreditation (like the Fair Tax Mark) builds trust in an age of scepticism Greater transparency is both achievable and increasingly expected by the public, investors and markets Notable Quotes “Right across the political spectrum, people want businesses and individuals to make a fair tax contribution.” – Paul Monaghan “We’re more there to celebrate than to chastise.” – Paul Monaghan “Transparency changes behaviour when it’s in place.” – Paul Monaghan Actionable Insights for Businesses Develop a clear, public tax policy that covers both the letter and spirit of the law Be transparent about income, profit and tax paid — and add narrative to explain the numbers Consider independent accreditation such as the Fair Tax Mark Use transparency as a competitive advantage with customers, employees and investors Support measures that protect law-abiding businesses from unfair competition Resources Fair Tax Foundation: www.fairtaxmark.net Free model tax policies available on the Fair Tax Foundation website List of accredited Fair Tax Mark businesses The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at [email protected] Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prmsltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/ Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS] “What are YOU like?”, “60 Second Shoot-Out” &"What About The Tech?" are all intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd (c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode Summary In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M Coke speaks with Seb Weir, Executive Partner and AI, Analytics & Automation Practice Leader at IBM. They discuss the growing gap between AI accountability and control, the rise of “shadow AI”, organisational readiness for AI agents, security and compliance challenges, and how boards should lead responsible AI adoption. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:29 – Seb’s role at IBM 00:58 – The accountability–control gap in AI 01:28 – Governance risks of rapid AI adoption 02:26 – What is shadow AI? 03:50 – Government progress on AI and sovereign technology 05:12 – Only 13% of leaders feel prepared for AI agents 05:41 – AI literacy and organisational change 07:08 – Reframing AI as a growth opportunity 09:05 – AI improving customer experience (e.g. returns) 09:32 – Security and compliance as major barriers 10:01 – Responsible, transparent and open AI 11:20 – Bias and unintended consequences 12:15 – Day-one advice for boards and founders 14:12 – Who should drive AI adoption? 15:11 – AI is not a panacea 16:07 – The next phase: process reinvention 17:02 – Humans at the core of lean, adaptable businesses 17:30 – Where to find the research and Seb Key Discussion Points 62% of UK technology leaders are accountable for AI outcomes in systems they do not fully control Shadow AI occurs when AI is embedded in platforms without clear visibility or deliberate choice Only 13% of technology leaders feel fully prepared for the scale of AI agent deployment expected in the next 12 months 58% cite security and compliance as major barriers to scaling AI Technology advances faster than organisational change and adoption Boards need stronger AI literacy across all members AI should be treated as a growth and agility lever, not only a cost-cutting tool The next stage is full process reinvention with humans placed back at the centre Key Takeaways Rapid AI adoption is creating serious governance and accountability gaps Many organisations underestimate the presence and risk of embedded or “shadow” AI Successful AI use requires deliberate risk management, transparency and organisational change Leadership must lead by example and build AI literacy at board level The biggest opportunity lies in reinventing processes, not just augmenting existing ones Notable Quotes “It’s very easy to implement technology. It’s very hard to drive adoption.” – Seb Weir “AI is a very particular weapon for a very particular problem. It’s not a tool for all problems.” – Seb Weir “There is not a vision here for autonomous businesses. This is about lean, adaptable businesses with human elements at its core.” – Seb Weir Actionable Insights for Businesses Identify and assess shadow AI already present in existing platforms Build AI literacy across the entire board and leadership team Lead by example — demonstrate personal use of AI tools Make conscious, risk-based decisions about where and how AI is deployed Focus on measurable use cases tied to clear business outcomes Prioritise transparency, security and understanding of bias Aim for process reinvention rather than incremental automation alone Resources IBM Institute for Business Value research (search “Institute of Business Value”) Seb Weir on LinkedIn (Sebastian Weir) AI Summit / London Tech Week appearances The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at [email protected] Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prmsltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/ Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS] “What are YOU like?”, “60 Second Shoot-Out” &"What About The Tech?" are all intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd (c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode Summary In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M Coke speaks with applied futurist Tom Cheesewright about insights from the DHL 2026 E-Commerce Trends Report. They explore why shoppers abandon purchases over missing payment methods, the rise of digital wallets and cryptocurrency, consumer concerns about AI, the critical importance of delivery and returns, shifting influence from influencers to user-generated content, voice commerce, and the emerging idea of “ghost stores.” Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:27 – What an applied futurist does 01:47 – The DHL 2026 E-Commerce Trends Report 02:15 – Payment method gaps and abandoned purchases 03:14 – Why friction at checkout still costs sales 04:41 – Digital wallets and the rise of crypto payments 05:37 – Global and cross-border commerce implications 07:00 – Consumer concerns about AI, privacy and trust 07:57 – When AI becomes invisible and valuable 09:20 – AI shopping agents and ghost stores 10:45 – Convenience vs trust in delivery and returns 12:08 – Why the physical side of e-commerce matters most 14:32 – Influencers vs user-generated content 16:27 – The UK’s different relationship with influencers 17:22 – Voice commerce and hands-free shopping 19:49 – Advice for new e-commerce businesses 21:15 – Where to find the report and Tom Key Discussion Points 62% of shoppers abandon a purchase if their preferred payment method is unavailable, yet only 45% of businesses recognise this as a cause of lost sales Digital wallets are mainstream; cryptocurrency adoption is projected to reach nearly 30% by 2030 Cross-border commerce makes broader payment options increasingly important Consumers remain cautious about AI in shopping around privacy and trust AI delivers clear value when it improves personalisation, fraud protection or convenience Convenience is critical for 92% of online shoppers, but 76% will not buy if they do not trust the delivery or returns provider Delivery and returns form the main physical interaction most customers have with an online brand Globally, user-generated content now influences more people than influencer posts (with the UK as a notable exception) Nearly half of hands-free shoppers make purchases two or three times a week via voice Key Takeaways Friction at checkout, especially missing payment options, still drives significant lost sales The physical experience of delivery and returns defines brand perception for many online shoppers AI will be accepted more readily when consumers clearly see the benefit Understanding your specific customer base is essential when deciding which payment methods and channels to prioritise New e-commerce businesses should get the physical fulfilment experience right before polishing the digital layer Notable Quotes “Consumers are fundamentally lazy and don’t want to go and make that effort.” – Tom Cheesewright “The physical is absolutely critical now for your e-commerce brand.” – Tom Cheesewright “Start with the physical… then build your digital layers on top.” – Tom Cheesewright Actionable Insights for Businesses Audit and expand payment options to match what your customers actually want to use Treat delivery and returns as core brand experiences, not afterthoughts Use AI in ways that deliver visible value to shoppers (personalisation, fraud protection, convenience) Monitor the growing influence of authentic user-generated content alongside traditional influencer activity Prepare for emerging channels such as voice commerce where they fit your product categories For new online businesses, prioritise reliable fulfilment and packaging before heavy digital investment Resources DHL 2026 E-Commerce Trends Report: dhl.com/2026-report (or search “DHL e-commerce 2026 trends report”) Tom Cheesewright: tomcheesewright.com The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at [email protected] Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prmsltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/ Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS] “What are YOU like?”, “60 Second Shoot-Out” &"What About The Tech?" are all intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd (c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode Summary In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M Coke speaks with Polly Dhaliwal, Chief Operating Officer at Enterprise Nation. They discuss how UK SMEs are using AI to save an average of 5.2 hours per week, practical ways small businesses are applying the technology, the importance of using saved time creatively, age-related adoption patterns, quick wins, and the free SME AI Accelerator programme run with OpenAI. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:29 – About Enterprise Nation and Polly’s role 01:54 – SMEs saving 5.2 hours a week with AI 02:48 – What the productivity gain looks like in practice 03:45 – Using saved time for creativity and strategy 05:39 – What small businesses most want AI to do 08:01 – Real example: florist wins £10,000 with AI support 09:29 – Age and AI adoption 12:39 – Older business owners as strong adopters 13:06 – Common AI use cases 14:02 – Quickest wins for time-pressed owners 17:42 – SME AI Accelerator programme with OpenAI 19:34 – Common fears around AI 21:27 – Where to find more support Key Discussion Point UK SMEs adopting AI are saving an average of 5.2 hours per week Common uses include email automation, customer service, operations, pricing and research The real value lies in how the saved time is used — especially for creativity and strategic thinking Customer support inquiries are one of the fastest and highest-impact use cases Deep research and content support also deliver strong results 40% of decision-makers over 55 are not using AI, yet experienced owners can produce excellent outputs Younger people are not always adopting AI as quickly as expected Free hands-on workshops through the SME AI Accelerator help businesses build practical skills Key Takeaways AI is already delivering measurable time savings for small businesses Saved time should be deliberately reinvested in creative and growth-focused work Starting with customer support and research often delivers the quickest results Experience and good prompting can make older business owners highly effective AI users Free, practical, in-person training accelerates adoption and confidence Notable Quotes “How we use that saved time is the most important part here.” – Polly Dhaliwal “AI is only as good as the person who’s inputting into it.” – Polly Dhaliwal “Small businesses are adaptable. They will adapt to anything that is thrown their way.” – Polly Dhaliwal Actionable Insights for Businesses Start with high-volume, repetitive tasks such as customer support emails Use AI for research, summarisation and first drafts to free up time Deliberately block time to work on strategy and creativity with the hours saved Train AI tools on your tone of voice and processes for better results Take advantage of free practical programmes such as the SME AI Accelerator Focus saved time on higher-value activities such as funding applications and growth planning Resources Enterprise Nation: enterprisenation.com Free newsletter every Wednesday with opportunities and support SME AI Accelerator programme (in partnership with OpenAI) Around 300 events a year across the UK and Ireland The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at [email protected] Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke Email: [email protected] Twitter: https://twitter.com/prmsltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/ Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS] “What are YOU like?”, “60 Second Shoot-Out” &"What About The Tech?" are all intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd (c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved ★ Support this podcast ★