On 10 September, one of our Directors, Ed Puddicombe, made the journey into London, arriving mid-afternoon to settle in at the Royal Academy of Engineering to catch up on work. Being an RAEng and Shott Accelerator alumnus has been especially valuable. The Academy provides world-class mentoring, exposure to investors and industry leaders, and an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship are celebrated. The credibility that comes with being part of that community opens conversations that might otherwise be difficult to start, and it reinforces the message that SMEs and scale-ups are central to the UK’s future growth.

Despite the tube strikes, Ed managed to navigate the disruption and get there on time.

Later that evening, a few from Cohort 21 of the GS10K Accelerator gathered for an informal reunion dinner at The Ivy Tower Bridge, set in a prime riverside spot overlooking the Thames and just steps from the bridge itself. Though a handful of colleagues cancelled at the last minute, the core group that remained made the night warm, lively, and full of stories.

They dined in relaxed elegance, enjoying The Ivy’s modern British fare, with interiors bathed in gentle light, and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that framed Tower Bridge and the Tower of London beyond. Conversation flowed from start-up challenges, to pivots, and to lessons learned since they first met in GS10K.

What stood out most was the value of the network itself. Reunions like this are not only enjoyable socially, they are a reminder of how powerful mutual support can be for business leaders. Sharing practical advice, opening doors to new opportunities, and having a trusted sounding board outside of your own team all contribute directly to growth. The GS10K network, combined with the reach of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Shott Accelerator, gives access to an extraordinary peer group of founders, innovators, and business builders who understand the pressures of scaling and the discipline required to turn ideas into sustainable companies.

When dinner drew to a close, Ed boarded the night train from Paddington at 23:45 to head back to the South West. Having the late train was a blessing in disguise, as it let him stay through the full evening, but arriving home in the early hours was punishing. Nonetheless, the fatigue of travel was more than worth the reconnection, the laughter, and the renewed momentum with the cohort.

He’s looking forward to the next one, as catching up in person reminds how powerful the GS10K and RAEng networks are, not just in the programmes, but in life after.