Rhotic Media named in Top 100 UK “elite” SMEs

Rhotic Media, a specialist marketing agency for financial services brands, has been named as one of the UK’s top 100 SMEs in 2026.

To be featured in the Elite Business 100 list (EB100), companies are independently judged to be among the top-performing SMEs in the country in terms of commercial growth, outlook and performance.

Founded in the city of Chelmsford, the county town of Essex, back in 2018, Rhotic Media helps finance firms bring clarity to their positioning and confidence to their communications. 

Its services span strategic advisory, customer media, and customer events, combining sector expertise with creativity and measurable results.

From hundreds of entries across diverse sectors, Rhotic Media was judged to be worthy of inclusion, highlighting its excellence in innovation, growth, and community engagement.

The UK’s top companies making the shortlist will attend the prestigious awards evening on 11 March 2026 in the City of London and will be featured in the EB100 digital guide and online directory, reaching over half a million viewers.

The EB100 rankings cover categories including community engagement, innovation, and growth. These businesses are recognised as exemplars of excellence within the SME community and celebrated for their contributions to a thriving entrepreneurial Britain.

Joe McGrath, founder and CEO of Rhotic Media, told That's Business: "This achievement is a testament to the entire Rhotic team. Building a growing, profitable SME takes relentless focus, constant refinement and a clear vision of where you’re going.

“After nearly eight years, we’ve proven we know what it takes to scale with discipline and ambition. I’m immensely proud of every person who has helped us reach this point, and I’m looking forward to delivering the next stage of our growth together."

This is the fourth year of the competition, with a significantly increased number of applicants.

Judges noted the impressive sales and growth figures, community spirit and engagement, and overall high standard of entries this year.

For more information about Rhotic Media, visit https://rhoticmedia.com.

ESSEC Business School Signals Long-Term Commitment to India with Launch of Hub in Mumbai

The hub supports the development of a hybrid 'STEM-B' model with leading engineering school CentraleSupélec and strengthens ESSEC’s elite partnerships with premier Indian institutions.

ESSEC Business School, a global leader in management education, officially announced the opening of its hub in Mumbai recently, in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.

This strategic milestone coincides with the French President’s visit to India in honour of the Indo-French Year of Innovation. 

ESSEC’s Mumbai hub is the first step in a long-term plan to develop a strong institutional presence in India.

It will allow ESSEC to boost its international development, establish local partnerships, and enhance student recruitment and mobility.

"For years, ESSEC Business School has embodied academic excellence and truly global reach,"  Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean and President of ESSEC told That's Business.

"Today, that enduring legacy takes an essential step forward into a dynamic country of incredible growth and potential: India. This move is the first step in our long-term plan for a significant institutional presence in the country."

The newly inaugurated Mumbai Hub, to be led by Sophie Collet Khanna, is designed as a strong foothold to build deeper ties with Indian higher education institutions, corporate partners, and its robust alumni network. While serving as ESSEC’s strategic base, the Hub will be the catalyst for ESSEC’s ambitious academic roadmap in the region.

Sophie Collet Khanna

Sophie is a higher-education specialist who has spent nearly 20 years working between India and France, supporting French and international institutions in their expansion into the Indian market. She has recently been appointed Director of the ESSEC Mumbai Hub. A graduate of Sciences Po (2005), she has also been a Foreign Trade Advisor of France (CCE) since 2022.

Promoting a STEM-B Approach with CentraleSupélec

A cornerstone of this vision is a partnership with the top French engineering school, CentraleSupélec. Together, the institutions are fusing business, engineering, technology, and science to create a unique, hybrid STEM-B approach. This future-fit educational framework is designed to meet the needs of modern industries, focusing on solution-building and high employability in complex times. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation at the highest level between India and France.

The two institutions are long-standing partners and currently deliver several joint-degree programs in France: the MSc CentraleSupélec-ESSEC Entrepreneurs, the Master in Data Sciences & Business Analytics (DSBA), the BSc in Artificial Intelligence, Data and Management Sciences and the Bachelor HEPTA, a program for high-level athletes seeking to both study and train at the same time.

Expanding Academic Excellence with IIMB and ISB

Further defining its commitment to the Indian market, ESSEC is pleased to announce the enhancement of its partnerships with India’s premier institutions:

IIM Bangalore (IIMB): ESSEC is in the process of establishing a prestigious double degree programme, where students are awarded an ESSEC Master in Management (MIM) and an IIM Bangalore MBA degree.

Indian School of Business (ISB): ESSEC is enhancing student mobility initiatives, strengthening the exchange of global talent and perspectives.

These partnerships will allow ESSEC students to have a new multicultural student experience and enhance their understanding of global business practices.

"The Mumbai Hub is where the next chapter of ESSEC’s global story begins," concluded Vinzi. "Together, we are ready to shape the future of management education in India."

The Mumbai hub is ESSEC’s third international hub - after London and New York City - acting as “embassies”: outposts of ESSEC abroad, designed to build networks composed of local alumni, academic institutions, and corporate partners.

www.ssec.edu

Tasman Analytics Appoints CPTO to Lead Productisation of Data Agency Services

Tasman Analytics the boutique data agency serving European scale-ups and mid-market companies, has appointed Mike Jones as its first Chief Product & Technology Officer. 

Rather than follow the more usual agency playbook of adding another delivery lead or sales hire, the newly created role signals a strategic shift.

Thus Tasman moves away from purely agency-based engagements toward productised services and operational systems that create recurring impact without requiring proportional headcount growth.

Why They Are Building, Not Hiring

Most data agencies face the same constraint: they can only grow by hiring more people or increasing their fees. 

Instead, Tasman chooses to build systems and products that deliver client outcomes, moving from time-for-money models to product-led delivery.

"The tech landscape in data is moving so fast that the future of client value looks much more like productised services than classic agency engagements," Thomas In't Veld, CEO of Tasman Analytics, told That's Businmess.

"That's a fundamentally different bet, and it needs a different kind of leader. Mike spent three years as our client. He knows what good delivery feels like from the buying side, and he obsesses over getting 80% of the value in 20% of the time. 

"That's exactly the instinct we need for what we're building next. His job is to turn our 'build capability and hand over' model into something repeatable, scalable, and increasingly agentic, where the systems we build don't just inform decisions but start handling the routine ones autonomously."

From Client to CPTO

Mike has spent the past 25 years in technical, commercial, and operational leadership roles. His background includes building fintech platforms for underserved markets as CTO at Picsa Group, scaling a food delivery startup to 1 million meals delivered as COO at Yebo Fresh, and leading a post-acquisition integration at Sage. 

Most notably, he spent three years as a Tasman client, first as COO at Inventory Planner, then as Senior Director of Product & Engineering at Sage following its acquisition, giving him rare insights into what actually works from the buyer's perspective.

"Having been on the other side of the table, I saw what made Tasman different. They genuinely care about making clients self-sufficient," said Mike. "The opportunity here is to build systems and products that create the same value but with leverage. If we can resolve 80% of common data operations challenges through smart productisation, we free up our team and our clients to focus on the 20% that actually differentiates their business."

What Tasman’s is Building

Mike focuses on two areas: operational systems that create internal leverage (TasmanOS, a single source of truth for client operations), and productised data services, including increasingly agentic data systems.

"We're not an agency bolting on a tech title," added Thomas. "We're all data practitioners ourselves, and we are building the kind of data capabilities that scaling companies need. Mike's here, the team is ready, and we are shipping.”

https://www.tasman.ai

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San Francisco–Based Venture University Launches UK Investor Accelerator

San Francisco–based Venture University (VU) has announced the launch of VU UK, an innovation hub that will bring its world-leading Investor Accelerator for Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE), and Angel Investing to the UK market.

VU UK's hands-on venture capital investor accelerator combines an Education Program with an Investment Apprenticeship where participants build investment experience and a track record by making up to seven investments per quarter and receive a profit-share in the upside on those investments.

This initiative will be led by Jo Goodson, Partner and Head of VU UK, in collaboration with Andy and Remy Goldstein, Partners of VU Europe, who lead VU's Munich, Germany office.

Goodson is the former Managing Partner of international technology Mergers & Acquisitions advisory firm Hampleton Partners, working across many sectors from Fintech to Autotech and Digital Commerce. Over her career, Goodson has also founded, led, advised and invested in many tech companies helping them grow into industry disruptors in digital, gaming software, and entertainment.

The launch of VU UK comes at a time of increased national focus on improving access to finance and strengthening the UK’s investment pipeline. Government initiatives led by HM Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the British Business Bank have sought to unlock more long-term capital for innovation and growth.

“The UK produces exceptional founders and technical talent, but structured pathways into venture investing remain limited. As a result, the venture capital ecosystem in the UK does not always keep pace with the scale of innovation being created. 

Expanding the pool of people who truly understand how to identify and invest in the next generation of high-growth companies is critical to long-term investment growth, job creation, and economic competitiveness,” said Jo Goodson, UK Partner at Venture University.

“Venture University is designed for professionals, operators, and aspiring investors who want to move from observing venture capital to actively participating in it. Our differentiator is hands-on learning through live investments, real funds, and real economic exposure — including a profit share in any upside on the cohorts investments. We believe this addresses a significant unmet need in the UK market.”

VU is now open to applications for its first upcoming VU UK cohort in 2026 and welcoming UK cohort members each quarter via reserved seats. Apply here: www.venture-university.eu.

Launched in San Francisco in 2018, Venture University is a global Investor Accelerator across venture capital, private equity, and angel investing. VU has graduated over 1,000+ alumni over 50+ global cohorts and has offices in the United States, Germany, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, and Brazil. Participants can join in person at one of VU's global office locations or join virtually from anywhere. 

VU's global venture capital fund, VU Venture Partners, has made 100+ investments across the US, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, including 10+ unicorns, including SpaceX, OpenAI, FigureAI, Neuralink, Anduril, 1X Technologies, Erebor, Wayflyer, Tyme Group and Flyr Labs.

Venture University UK (VU UK)

Participants in VU UK who gain a seat in this competitive programme join the investment team of VU Venture Partners for 3–12 months, combining a rigorous academic curriculum with high-quality, hands-on investment experience.

Working in sector-focused investment teams, they source and evaluate opportunities alongside VU’s partners, working on live deal flow across global markets, join and present at weekly Partner Meetings and Investment Committees.

Participants make up to seven investments per quarter (up to 28 investments over 12 months), building a track record with real attribution, and receive a profit-sharing agreement that allows cohort members to participate in the upside of their cohort’s investments.

Venture University Europe (VU Europe)

Andy Goldstein, Partner of Venture University Europe & VU Venture Partners, said: “This UK launch, on the back of our recent expansion with VU Switzerland, is part of our commitment to growing a class of highly-qualified European investors who can help grow their national economies, whilst also participating in global deal flows.

“With the pace of technological change, there’s never been a more exciting time to becoming an investor. Having access to a structured, hands-on end to end investment education process and the support of deeply experienced investment professionals can help make that a reality for many more people.”

Home Post Production Transforms Operations with Cutting-Edge Scheduling System freispace

Home Post Production, the UK's largest post-production house outside London, today announced its strategic adoption of freispace, a state-of-the-art scheduling system, marking a significant technological advancement in the company's operations following its recent acquisition by North Star Media. 

The full transition, completed in record time, positions Home Post Production at the forefront of post-production efficiency and innovation.

The Manchester-based facility, which serves major clients including BBC, Amazon Prime, Channel 4 and numerous independent, animation and commercial producers, has successfully migrated from its legacy scheduling system to freispace's cloud-based platform. This move comes as part of Home Post Production's evolution under new ownership, having been acquired by North Star Media from Streamland Media in a deal that retained all 40 employees and its 22,000 sq ft city centre facility.

Paul Austin, Managing Director of Home Post Production, told That's Business: “The adoption of freispace represents our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology that aligns with our strategic vision for the future. 

"This isn't just about operational efficiency; it's about positioning ourselves as a forward-thinking, innovative post-production facility. 

"The market perception is crucial for us as a new brand, and choosing a progressive, modern system like freispace sends a clear message that we're doing things differently and better. This is our first major change since becoming Home Post Production, and it sets the tone for our future direction.”

The implementation process was remarkably smooth, with the entire transition completed within a month; significantly faster than the initially projected three to six months. The intuitive design of freispace enabled rapid adoption across all departments, from producers and edit assistants to creative staff and finance teams.

Martin Day, Head of Operations at Home Post Production, added: “What's been truly transformative is how freispace has consolidated our entire workflow under one system. The 'orders' feature has been a game-changer, allowing sales, producers, and finance to access all project information—quotes, bookings, invoices, and cost reports—in one centralised location. 

"We're no longer juggling multiple third-party applications or extracting data into Excel sheets. The time savings are substantial, and the collaborative nature of the freispace team means our feedback directly influences product development. It's not just software; it's a partnership.”

The new system delivers numerous operational benefits, including:

Unified Project Management

All project elements from quoting to invoicing are now integrated within a single platform

Enhanced User Experience

Modern, intuitive interface that has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff

Flexible Access

Browser-based system eliminates connection issues and crashes experienced with previous software

Cost Efficiency

Flagship pricing model allows unlimited users without per-licensing fees

Real-time Collaboration

Producers and creatives can interact directly within the system, improving communication

Leonardo Re, Managing Director of freispace, stated: “Our partnership with Home Post Production exemplifies the future of post-production management. Their decision to adopt freispace demonstrates how forward-thinking facilities recognize the need for modern, adaptable systems that evolve with their business. The rapid implementation and enthusiastic adoption by their team validates our approach to creating intuitive, user-centric software. We're particularly excited about the collaborative relationship we've established, where Home Post Production's insights directly influence our product roadmap. This is just the beginning of what we can achieve together.”

The timing of this technological upgrade coincides with Home Post Production's strongest performance year to date, with the facility handling high-profile projects including BBC's acclaimed documentary series “Ambulance” and Amazon's recent series “Lazarus”. The company processes a diverse range of content, from scripted and unscripted television to animation and commercial work, requiring nimble scheduling capabilities that freispace now provides.

Looking ahead, Home Post Production anticipates further benefits from freispace's planned developments, including advanced media library integration and enhanced API capabilities for seamless workflow automation. The collaborative development approach ensures that the system will continue to evolve in line with the facility's specific needs.

https://freispace.com