Why Cat Got on a Train to London City on the Hottest Day of the Year

Some decisions make obvious sense. Others, you just go with your gut.

Travelling into London City on the hottest afternoon of the year, after an already jam-packed week, wasn’t obviously sensible. But Elite Business had kindly invited Cat along to their EB100 Alumni event, and Laura Hill had been so warm in the invitation that declining didn’t really feel like an option. So off she went.

She’s very glad she did.

The Theme: AI and What It Actually Means for UK Businesses

The evening centred on artificial intelligence, which is exactly the kind of topic that can go one of two ways. You either get a room full of buzzwords and vague enthusiasm, or you get people who actually know what they’re talking about.

This was firmly the latter.

Cat heard Piers Linney speak for the first time, and he was brilliant. Clear, grounded, backed up with real examples of where AI infrastructure has made a tangible difference to businesses across the UK. No waffle. No hype. Just evidence. Aine Rogers from Cisco and Julie Holmes were on stage alongside him, and between the three of them the audience got a genuinely useful picture of where things are heading and, more importantly, what to actually do about it.

For YMWAV, thinking carefully about AI isn’t optional. With 65+ branches across a national franchise network, the way the team communicates, plans, and supports franchisees has to be smart. Evenings like this are a reminder that being thoughtful about it beats rushing in every single time.

Simon Woodroffe and the Reminder That Plans Aren’t Everything

Also on the bill was Simon Woodroffe, and he was a joy to listen to. There’s something really refreshing about hearing from someone with that level of success who’s willing to say, quite cheerfully, that planning really isn’t everything.

He mentioned buying a Bahama island, which wasn’t exactly on the agenda.

Cat’s ordered his book. Meeting someone in person before you read their work changes how you read it, and this one looks like a good one.

The Venue Was Something Else

Howden Insurance Brokers sponsored the evening and the venue they’d chosen was spectacular. Air-conditioned (genuinely important on a day like that), on the 14th floor with views across the City, and a rooftop bar to finish the evening. Beautiful. It was a shame so many people hadn’t been able to make it, but for those who did, the setting made everything feel a little more special.

The dodgy trains home were considerably less special, but we don’t need to dwell on those.

You Never Know Who You’re Going to Meet

Here’s the bit that made the evening.

Part way through, Cat got chatting to a wonderful couple, Karen and Trevor Holden. Just a natural conversation at an event, the kind you have when you end up next to someone interesting. And then it came out.

They’d used one of the YMWAV branches. Multiple times. And they were delighted.

That’s the thing about building a business that genuinely tries to do right by people: happy customers turn up in the most unexpected places. YMWAV has now had over 3,200 people share five-star experiences, and it sounds like bumping into them is becoming a habit.

It never gets old, though.

A Brilliant End to a Brilliant Week

Big thanks to Jodie Marsh for bringing sunshine to the room as always (and Meta glasses, very on theme for an AI evening), and to Debbie Gilbert, the godmother of business awards and all-round force of nature.

And Scott English: managing to escape three times in one evening is a genuine achievement. Well played.

If you ever get the chance to attend an Elite Business event and you’re wondering whether it’s worth it: it is. Go. Even in a heatwave. Even if the trains are unreliable. The conversations, the speakers, and the connections you make are absolutely worth the journey.

Curious about what YMWAV is building next? Whether you’re a customer, a potential franchisee, or just interested in the story, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.