E049: When Regulation Meets Runway: How Policy Shapes Startup Survival with James Robson

What happens when government policy meets the business reality?

In this episode of Between Data and Risk, we speak with James Robson, CEO and co-founder of FundOnion, about the intersection of regulation, capital access, and the hiring challenges facing UK SMEs today.

James shares what he’s learned from two recent roundtables with the UK Department for Business and Trade, and breaks down the data from FundOnion’s 2024 SME Survey—including why 86% of respondents believe the Employment Rights Bill gets the balance wrong between protecting workers and enabling businesses to grow.

We discuss the unintended consequences of well-meaning regulation, the invisible line between slowing growth and shutting down entirely, and what founders actually need in order to scale responsibly.

James also explains how SMEs can build resilience by aligning three critical levers: funding, technology, and the right people.

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