In a list dominated by public servants and community volunteers Piers was one of a handful of entrepreneurs to receive recognition.
In a statement the University of Manchester graduate said the citation reflected his work over the last two decades supporting business owners and leaders, including his role on the board of British Business Bank during the pandemic, and his long-standing focus on widening access to opportunity through diversity and inclusion. A qualified solicitor – initially with law firm SJ Berwin – he subsequently undertook a major career shift into investment banking with Barclays and then Credit Suisse.
Since the British Business Bank’s inception in 2014, it has helped more than £39bn of growth capital and lending to reach smaller UK businesses, for example. Those supported by the Bank in its first 10 years of operations are expected to eventually create 250,000 additional jobs and generate £43bn in Gross Value Added (GVA), according to its latest Annual report
In the meantime, Piers is also a co-founder of Implement AI. Best described as a digital workforce company that deploys teams of AI agents working together to increase revenue – but without adding headcount – it is dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized businesses to understand, select and implement AI. It also reflects the fact that while many organisations know AI matters, many lack the time and clarity to act.
Since its founding in 2023 it has helped guide more than 120 UK businesses – from manufacturing to marketing – through selecting, deploying and continually improving AI solutions that deliver measurable ROI in weeks, not years, it claims.
Piers is also Chairman and a co-founder of Atherton Bikes, the world championship winning mountain bike manufacturer utilising advanced 3D-printing technologies.
Despite being a busy man Piers is due to speak as a keynote at Elite Business Live’s two-day conference on March 11th and 12th. An event packed with speakers, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities; it aims to bring the best of British small businesses together.
For more information: https://elitebusinessevent.co.uk/programme/
