Jon Graves

Jon Graves Entrepreneur. Deal maker. Growth strategist. Completed 17 acquisitions. As an angel investor, I back entrepreneurs who are bold enough to build

Currently leading Northern Telecom, Soda IT, and more, I thrive on turning opportunity into momentum.

I hate ISO.It’s just not how my brain works.Policies, procedures, audits, controls, evidence files, more policies… I’d m...
16/06/2026

I hate ISO.

It’s just not how my brain works.

Policies, procedures, audits, controls, evidence files, more policies… I’d much rather be building businesses, solving problems and helping customers.

But every now and then, an accreditation comes along that actually means something.

I’m genuinely proud to announce that we’ve achieved ISO 42001 certification, becoming one of a small number IT and telecommunications business in the UK to achieve the new international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems.

ISO 42001 is the world’s first AI-specific management standard. It provides a framework for developing, deploying and using AI responsibly, ethically and securely.

As AI rapidly becomes part of everyday business, governance matters. Customers need confidence that AI is being implemented thoughtfully, risks are being managed properly, and there is clear accountability around how these systems are used.

For us, this isn’t about a badge on the website.

It’s about demonstrating that we’re serious about AI.

We’re using AI extensively across our own business, from operations and customer service through to productivity, reporting and automation. We’re also helping customers explore how AI can transform their organisations safely and effectively.

A huge thank you to everyone across the business who helped get this over the line. Achieving any ISO standard takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes, and this one was no different.

As we continue to push AI further, both internally and for our customers, having the right governance, controls and ethical framework in place is critical.

The AI revolution is only just getting started.

Onwards.

Ended last week with Julia from Business Horsepower… and what an eye-opening experience it was.I spent some time learnin...
15/06/2026

Ended last week with Julia from Business Horsepower… and what an eye-opening experience it was.

I spent some time learning more about leadership, communication and self-awareness, all through the rather unique approach of partnering with horses as part of leadership development and coaching.

I’ll admit, I went in curious. I came away genuinely impressed.

It’s fascinating how quickly a horse can pick up on confidence, consistency, body language and intent. They don’t care about your job title, your LinkedIn profile or how many people you manage. They simply respond to how you show up.

There were some brilliant lessons around leadership, trust and authenticity that I think many business owners and leaders could benefit from.

Video coming soon, where we’ll dive deeper into the experience and what I learned.

One other lesson I learned? I’m definitely allergic to horses. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

A huge thank you to Julia for such an engaging and thought-provoking session.

Looking forward to sharing the video with everyone soon.

This week, our engineer Paul was out in Nebo, Llanrwst, transforming connectivity across three separate properties using...
12/06/2026

This week, our engineer Paul was out in Nebo, Llanrwst, transforming connectivity across three separate properties using a combination of Starlink, wireless bridges, and boosters.

The result?

⚡ From slow, frustrating broadband to superfast internet across multiple buildings.
⚡ Reliable connectivity for work, streaming, gaming and everything in between.
⚡ One solution covering an entire site.

Too many homes and businesses still assume poor broadband is something they just have to live with. The reality is there are often solutions available, even in the most rural locations.

If you’re tired of buffering, dropped video calls, or internet speeds that belong in 2005, it might be time to explore a better option.

📩 Drop me a message or comment below with your postcode and I’ll let you know what’s possible.

First session of the Leeds City West Plans Panel today…Only two applications on the agenda, and to be fair both were rel...
11/06/2026

First session of the Leeds City West Plans Panel today…

Only two applications on the agenda, and to be fair both were relatively sensible developments.

That said, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow when one application for a container self-storage site included requirements for cycle parking and EV charging facilities.

Naturally, I asked the planning officers why these were necessary.

The answer? To ensure provision is made for anyone using the highway and accessing the site.

Now perhaps I’m missing something, but I’d genuinely love to see the statistics on how many people cycle to their self-storage container carrying boxes and furniture, or stop by to charge their electric vehicle for five minutes while moving items in and out of storage.

To me, this feels like another example of unnecessary requirements being imposed on businesses. Surely business owners are best placed to decide what facilities their customers actually need and will use, rather than having them dictated through the planning process.

Planning should be about ensuring developments are safe, appropriate and benefit the community. Sometimes it feels like we’re adding layers of bureaucracy that don’t necessarily improve the end result.

The application was approved, and I genuinely wish the applicant every success with their new venture.

That said, if anyone does cycle to their storage container next week, I’m sure they’ll be straight in the comments to prove me wrong! 🚲

Got my dancing shoes on last night… and thankfully nobody asked me to lead!I had the pleasure of visiting a fantastic lo...
11/06/2026

Got my dancing shoes on last night… and thankfully nobody asked me to lead!

I had the pleasure of visiting a fantastic local dance group at Drighlington Community Sports Club, where dancers meet every Wednesday evening for an evening of fun, friendship and keeping active.

The group are launching a brand new Line Dancing Class in September, and if you’ve never tried it before, now might be the perfect time. No partner required, no upper age limit, and it’s a brilliant way to stay physically active, keep the mind engaged, and meet new people in the community.

As Councillor for Morley North, I was delighted to help the group purchase a new wireless headset microphone, making it easier for the Carol & Rob to call out the steps and keep everyone moving in the right direction.

Community groups like this are incredibly important. They help tackle loneliness, bring people together, and provide opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in something enjoyable.

So… who’s in for a bit of line dancing? 🤠

If you’d like more information about the new classes starting in September, get in touch with Charles Waltho , who runs the group and will be happy to tell you more.

👇 Tag someone who should give line dancing a go!

11/06/2026

Most people assume business owners know exactly what they’re doing.

The reality? Many of us are figuring it out as we go.

In this clip, Carla Nokes talks about the pressure of founder life, navigating uncertainty, and building a business without having all the textbook answers from day one.

I think it’s a message a lot of entrepreneurs need to hear. You don’t need to have everything worked out before you start. Sometimes progress comes from taking the next step, learning, and adapting along the way.

How many times have you found yourself learning on the job?

👇 Let me know in the comments.

Had the pleasure of spending some time with Roisin Currie and the team at this week to learn more about one of the UK’s...
11/06/2026

Had the pleasure of spending some time with Roisin Currie and the team at this week to learn more about one of the UK’s most recognisable and successful brands.

It’s always fascinating to get behind the scenes of businesses operating at this scale and hear first-hand about the challenges, opportunities and leadership required to keep everything moving.

The highlight? A tour of the doughnut factory.

25,000 doughnuts per hour.

Just pause and think about that for a second.

The operational planning, logistics, supply chain, quality control and teamwork required to produce that volume consistently is incredible. It’s easy to see the finished product on the shelf, but seeing the scale of what happens behind the scenes gives you a whole new appreciation for the business.

And yes, the post-tour treats were pretty impressive too.

A huge thank you to Roisin and the team for taking the time to show me around and share more about the Greggs journey.

10/06/2026

Have you ever pretended to be more extroverted than you really are?

Maybe at a job interview.

Maybe in a meeting.

Maybe at a networking event.

In this clip from Business Mutiny, Joanna Rawbone shares a worrying observation: some job coaches are now actively teaching people to act more extroverted just to improve their chances of getting a job.

That raises an interesting question…

How many people are pretending to be extroverted right now?

And what does that say about the way we recruit, promote and develop people?

Are we overlooking talented individuals simply because they don’t shout the loudest?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

👇 Have you ever felt pressure to be someone you’re not at work?

It was great to get out into our communities this week as I started dropping off the first donations funded through my d...
10/06/2026

It was great to get out into our communities this week as I started dropping off the first donations funded through my decision to give away my councillor allowance/wages.

One of my stops was to visit the brilliant Messy Time team – and it certainly lived up to its name! There were dozens of children having an absolute blast, making a mess, getting creative and burning off plenty of energy. To be honest, it looked fantastic to see. I chickened out on high fives though!

Groups like this play such an important role in bringing families together, creating opportunities for children to learn, play and make friends in a fun and welcoming environment.

I’m delighted to be able to support the team with a donation and hopefully it helps them buy even more resources, put on more activities and, most importantly, give the kids the chance to get even messier!

A huge thank you to everyone involved for the warm welcome and for everything you do for local families.

Details incase youve not been before!

Starting: 915am (doors open at 9) on Tuesday, just turn up !
Location: Greenside Methodist Church, Gildersome.
It is recommended to bring a change of clothes as we promote children not to be worried about making a mess & we do also have a water tray each week.
𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙚𝙚: £3 per child

10/06/2026

🚀 What’s the biggest thing holding you back right now?

Your competitors?

The economy?

Lack of funding?

Or could it actually be… you?

One of the most powerful lines from our latest Business Mutiny episode came from Carla Nokes:

“Are you going to let you stop yourself from being successful?”

As a former Top 10 UK tennis player turned startup founder, Carla knows what it feels like to battle setbacks, rejection and self-doubt.

And she shared a truth every entrepreneur eventually learns:

“Sometimes you versus you is harder than you against the opponent.”

Success often comes down to overcoming the stories we tell ourselves.

👇 What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in your own head?

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