Join a small, curated focus group for small business leaders, led by Anthony Impey MBE. This is your opportunity to be part of a select group shaping what the future of telco should look like for small businesses - ensuring technology and communications truly support productivity and growth.
Join the Conversation Shaping the Future of Telco
Telco services are too often designed for small businesses, not with them. This curated focus group series brings small business leaders from across the UK into direct conversation with Anthony Impey, CEO of Be the Business, providing a rare opportunity to help shape how telco providers evolve, moving beyond basic connectivity to become true partners in productivity and growth through digital technology.
In a trusted, small group setting, you will share the realities of running a small business today, explore how technology can better support your ambitions, and influence the role telcos play in the wider digital ecosystem. Your insights will directly inform future services, ensuring they reflect what small businesses actually need, not what large organisations assume they do.
We are beginning our nationwide conversation with small business leaders in Birmingham, London, Bristol, Manchester, Barrow in Furness, and Glasgow, inviting them to help shape the future of telco for small businesses.
What You’ll Gain
Shape the Future of Telco
Have your voice heard and help influence how telco providers design services that truly meet the needs of small businesses.
Exclusive Access to Expertise
Join a small, curated session with Anthony Impey MBE, exchanging ideas with someone who truly understands the challenges of running and growing a business.
Connect with Peers Across the UK
Collaborate with fellow small business leaders from your region and beyond, sharing experiences, challenges, and ideas in a trusted, interactive environment.
Receive a Reward for Your Time
As a thank you for participating, receive a £150 gift voucher while contributing to a movement shaping the future of telco for small businesses. T&Cs apply
For a limited time only when you attend one of our sessions you will receive a £150 gift voucher, T&Cs apply.
Meet Your Host
Your Curated Session with Anthony Impey MBE
Anthony started his career as an entrepreneur while he was still at school, selling stationery from his locker, and has since started, scaled and exited several businesses.
He is now Chief Executive of Be the Business – an independent, private sector charity that is working to raise the productivity of small businesses and, in doing so, improve employment security, job satisfaction, and standards of living. So far, it’s added £2.1bn in sales and £915m in productivity to the firms it’s worked with.
Anthony is also a board member of Skills England, heads the International Advisory Board at UCL’s School of Management and chairs the City & Guilds’ Industry Skills Board. And he leads the Department of Education’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Network – a network of over 2,000 of the country’s leading employers and apprentices.
He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to small businesses.
Eligibility
Who should take part?
Decision-makers in small businesses (owners/MDs or senior leaders responsible for IT/operations/digital)
3 full-time employees (or equivalent) up to 249 employees.
Attendees will be selected based on suitability with our criteria and to ensure a mixture of views and opinions in the room. This means you may not be offered a place for one session, but we may be able to offer alternative focus groups on this topic or future sessions.
Dates, Times and Location
Duration: Please leave up to 2 hours free for the session.
Location: central locations in six towns and cities and one online session:
Birmingham: Tuesday - 20th Jan - 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Online: Wednesday - 28th Jan - 10am – 12pm
London: Thursday - 29th Jan -10am – 12pm
Bristol: Thursday - 5th Feb -1.30pm – 3.30pm
Manchester: Monday -16th Feb - 2pm – 4pm
Barrow in Furness: Tuesday -17th Feb - 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Glasgow: Wednesday - 18th Feb - 12pm – 2pm
Interested? Sign up below
How it works
Step 1
Register your interest
You’ll be asked for a couple of details to check your suitability.
Step 2
We will get in touch.
Once you’ve been accepted into one of the focus groups, we will get in touch about the details for the day.
Step 3
Attend the focus group and tell us your insights
Anthony Impey MBE will be speaking with you on the day to find out more about your needs as a business leader.
Be the Business and BT Business are working together to support small businesses. We’re committed to understanding your needs today and how we can best meet your needs in the future, providing you with the tools and insights you need to thrive in a competitive landscape.
Reach out with questions
If you have any questions, please let us know and we will be happy to help.
A powerful collaboration
Be the Business
Be the Business is the UK’s expert in small business productivity improvements. We aim to bridge the gap between industry and academia, with a mission to drive effective action towards improved productivity and innovation in the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through our extensive network of experts, resources, and understanding, Be the Business helps you take effective action in your business.
BT Business
From connectivity to security, BT Business delivers game-changing technology solutions to businesses of all sizes, all around the world.
See more of our research
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Productive Business Index
Be the Business Productive Business Index - Edition Eight, Q3 2025
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Evaluation Report
Impact of Be the Business SME Support
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White Paper
Construction Productivity Taskforce – VSSP – Pilot Case Study
