In good company: Our role in welcoming new businesses to the UK

This spring, we brought together two groups of ambitious companies, each keen to explore the British market. Through our Ecosystem Exchange programmes – one dedicated to life sciences, the other on fintech – we helped these businesses take their first real steps in a new landscape.

Starting a business journey in a new country can be daunting. Our role is to help companies take that leap – and to make sure their first experience is a positive one. The Ecosystem Exchange is about more than lectures or business cards: it’s about making those meaningful connections that can help propel a business forward.

Introductions that matter

We bring entrepreneurs and business leaders to the same table as experts, investors, and peers. At the Ecosystem Exchange life sciences programme, hosted at Freeths, we heard plenty of practical advice – how the UK health system works, where investment is flowing, what regulations to watch – but also honest conversations about the realities of building a business here.

Dr Ingmar Veinberg, founder and Chief Medical Officer of the participating company Zymego, captured this sentiment: “Understanding how the NHS thinks, speaks, and buys, that was a major takeaway. The Ecosystem Exchange gave us a strategic decoder on how to navigating NHS communication and decisionmaking. And as a cherry on top, it opened the door to Oxford University Hospitals.”

The day was all about building bridges between innovative Swedish companies and the UK’s rich health and research landscape. Selina Johansson, project manager at SCC UK for the programme, reflected: “The most rewarding part was seeing meaningful connections take shape between innovative life sciences companies and the UK ecosystem. Helping to facilitate exchanges that not only broaden perspectives but also lay the groundwork for future collaboration, growth, and impact has been a privilege. It is truly inspiring to hear about Swedish innovation up-close and be a part of helping them reach their full potential in the UK market and beyond.”

Community and real conversations

Every company that joins these programmes faces real decisions: who to connect with, how to best do so, and what actions to take next. Sometimes, it’s not the big presentations that help most, but the personal conversations and community spirit.

Matt Sayer, General Manager at Modular Finance, shared his perspective as a speaker on the fintech programme: “When entering a new market, every new client counts. Building early momentum is critical, and therefore communities of fellow companies that can provide advice and trusted relationships make a real difference. SCC UK’s network helps you navigate cultural differences, find the right partners, and open doors that cold outreach rarely can.”

For many fintech founders, peer-to-peer exchange was invaluable. Oliver Mohseni, Co-Founder of participating company Froda, said: “One of the most valuable takeaways for me was the chance to connect with others in fintech who are facing similar challenges – especially around scaling across the UK and EU. It was refreshing to openly share both struggles and solutions in a very relaxed and laid-back setting, and to realise that many of us are navigating the same complexities when it comes to growing teams, entering new markets, and staying agile. Those peer-to-peer conversations gave me both perspective and inspiration going forward.”

Learning from each other

Across both life sciences and fintech, we saw ideas exchanged in masterclasses and – just as importantly – over coffee, at lunch tables, and in the hallways. These organic moments often spark lasting partnerships and new opportunities.

Simon Högman, project manager at SCC UK for the fintech programme hosted at HSBC, summed up the impact: “It was incredibly rewarding to see months of planning come to life with a group of distinguished Swedish high-growth fintech companies. Despite their diverse business models and areas of focus, it was fascinating to see the shared challenges they face in expanding into the UK – and how this programme serves as a valuable platform to address those challenges and take informed action.”

Building lasting relationships

One of the clearest results of this spring’s programmes was a stronger connection between Swedish and British business communities. Anna Crona, Head of Business Development Services at SCC UK, noted that these programmes gave scaleups hands-on opportunities to meet UK experts, investors, and peers and to tackle real growth challenges together. The tailored advice, practical workshops, and especially informal networking all played a role. As Anna puts it, “informal networking build trust, sparks ideas, and gives companies the confidence to take their next steps in the UK market.”

Anna also highlighted why life sciences and fintech sectors were in the spotlight this spring: “We chose these sectors because they’re thriving in both Sweden and the UK, with strong opportunities for collaboration. London provides fintech companies with a global financial centre and a supportive regulator, while the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’ gives life sciences companies access to talent, funding, and the NHS. The UK is a great gateway to grow internationally.”

Bringing new ideas into the UK market

For those scaling up in healthcare or financial services, the UK is full of opportunity. During the life sciences event, participants learned not just how to enter the market, but how to become part of a larger healthcare solution. In fintech, we saw founders sharing hard-earned lessons and warning about pitfalls – offering advice you can hardly find in a guidebook.

At SCC UK, we believe real progress happens when people are open to learning from each other. These events are part of our broader mission: helping Swedish companies do more than just enter the market. We want them to make a difference here, and to grow in ways that are good for everyone.

With autumn on the horizon, we are excited for our next Ecosystem Exchange programme, focused on proptech – bringing together those who aim to shape the future of property and technology in the UK.

Our door is always open to every company ready to take their first steps into the UK market and to explore new ground.