As we come to the end of the year, there's one thing that comes thick and fast – Christmas parties. A while back, Richard worked for a fantastic business that formed as the “Asian Business Federation”. "I still have a close friendship with the founder, and we had many conversations about each other's religions. I asked him, “What do you do at Christmas as a Muslim - do you still celebrate?” He informed me that he enjoyed the festivities, the atmosphere, the joviality and found it an excellent time to sit back with family and refresh, ready for the new year."
So, bearing this in mind as 2025 draws to a close, we will be having an open webinar this coming Wednesday with many of the team present. We will talk a little bit about Innovator International's year - what we’ve achieved and how we’ve developed as a business, we will give you a view of what we think will be key in 2026, and we’ll talk a little about some of the exciting things we’ve got coming up - including our accelerator support programme.
So, please do book onto this session - grab your Santa hat, a warm mug of your favourite drink and a mince pie, and we look forward to sharing some festive cheer with you all next week.
Innovator International
Our community continues to grow every day - if you are ready to submit your application or need more information to get ready our Innovator International website has everything you need and more!
Previous events you may have missed
Preparing for your next Visa: Your Innovator Founder visa is expiring soon and you're wondering if you've done enough to prove "considerable progress"—this webinar recap breaks down exactly what assessors are looking for and the critical mistakes that could derail your next application.
Innovator International
How to sell to UK and Export markets: Think people buy based on logic and features? Think again as this Sales Geek session reveals why your "chimp brain" makes purchasing decisions before your rational mind even gets involved, and how understanding this changes everything about selling in the UK market.
Innovator International
An interview with the assessor: "It's better to sell what you haven't yet made than to make something you can't sell". This rare interview with our lead assessor Keith reveals exactly why insufficient innovation, weak customer validation, and unrealistic financials are tanking applications, plus what actually works.
Innovator International
Opening a bank account in the UK as a newcomer?
Let's be honest—it can feel like you need to already have a bank account to get a bank account. The circular requirements, the paperwork, the proof of address when you've just arrived... we've all been there.
That's where HSBC comes in, and why we've partnered with them. They actually get what international entrepreneurs need. Whether you're setting up your first business account or just need somewhere to handle your day-to-day spending while you're getting established, HSBC has tailored solutions that won't have you jumping through impossible hoops.
In this guide, we're breaking down everything you need to know about HSBC's business and personal banking options. What accounts are available, what you'll need to open them, and most importantly, how they can actually make your life easier as you're building your business in the UK. No fluff, just the practical information you need to get sorted and move on with the important stuff.
Innovator International
Picking up a camera changed everything
What do you do when the "safe" career is slowly draining your soul? For Harriet, the answer arrived in the form of a camera.
She was grinding away in retail management, coming home exhausted, then staying up late painting just to feel alive again. Her entrepreneurial dad kept dropping hints. Instagram photographers were making her heart race with envy. Then one day, she thought: Why not me?
No photography degree. No safety net. Just a camera switched from auto to manual and the courage to ask every working photographer she could find how they actually made it work.
The result? A rollercoaster journey from lying awake wondering if she captured the magic, to managing social media for clients who ghost her after hearing her rates, to shooting Formula E events in Monaco and China.
Because here's what Harriet learned the hard way: entrepreneurship doesn't cure the stress—it just makes it worth it.
Want to know how she went from retail burnout to international motorsport photography? Read Harriet's full story and find out what happened when she stopped playing it safe and started shooting her shot.
Innovator International
We'd love to spotlight your entrepreneurial journey - if you're part of our Innovator community and have a story to share, get in touch with us to be featured
... and don't forget, you can find and read more stories here:
Innovator International
