Introducing Catherine: Connecting Innovation, Investment and Growth

As Grand Scale continues to grow, we're delighted to introduce Catherine, our Senior Account Manager for Enterprise & Strategic Partnerships. With over a decade of experience spanning technology, venture capital, legal services, and the public sector; Catherine has worked at the heart of innovation ecosystems, helping ambitious organisations build partnerships, attract investment, and unlock growth opportunities internationally. Read on to learn more about her journey and what brought her to Grand Scale.
 

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for Grand Scale.

I've spent most of my career helping ambitious organisations grow through strategic partnerships and meaningful connections. What's interesting is that my career hasn't followed a conventional path. 

I started out in research and market intelligence, and over the last decade, I've worked across venture capital, international trade and investment, government-funded business support, and legal services. I've supported startups securing investment, helped international companies expand into the UK, worked alongside corporates on innovation programmes, and advised some of the world's leading technology businesses. 

At Grand Scale, I focus on Enterprise & Strategic Partnerships. In many ways, my role is about connecting the dots, bringing together the right people, expertise and networks to help founders accelerate innovation, unlock growth and achieve their ambitions. Having worked across multiple parts of the innovation ecosystem throughout my career, I understand how founders, investors, corporates, universities and public sector organisations can work together. I'm passionate about bringing those groups together to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration and impact.

How did you hear about Grand Scale?

I'd been aware of Grand Scale through my work in the innovation ecosystem and was immediately drawn to the company's focus on supporting ambitious founders and high-growth businesses.

Throughout my career, I've seen first-hand how important the right support can be when businesses are trying to scale. Grand Scale's focus on combining expertise, capability building, and practical support, really stood out to me.

What attracted you to Grand Scale?

Purpose has always been important to me, and I love being around amazing people who are building the future. 

At London & Partners, I worked with international businesses looking to invest in London, helping drive foreign direct investment and job creation. Later, at the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, I supported large companies through innovation and growth programmes designed to strengthen the regional economy. At Outlier Ventures, I worked with pioneering startups and helped build partnerships across emerging technologies including AI, blockchain and IoT. More recently, at the international law firm Bird & Bird, I worked closely with global technology businesses, helping strengthen relationships and navigate the rapidly evolving world of AI, data, and digital regulation. 

Although these organisations were very different, they all shared a common goal: helping innovative businesses succeed.

When I spoke with the team at Grand Scale, I saw that same commitment. I was excited by the opportunity to work with a company that is genuinely passionate about supporting founders and helping innovative businesses navigate the challenges of growth. That commitment is backed up by Grand Scale's track record of delivering impactful programmes alongside partners such as Innovate UK, the British Business Bank, and Glasgow City Region. I was also drawn to the team's focus on building commercial capability, an area that often doesn't receive the investment and attention it deserves despite being critical to helping early-stage and innovation-led businesses successfully scale. 

What are your strengths? What do you love about partnerships and business development?

Building relationships is definitely one of my greatest strengths.

I enjoy bringing together people and organisations who can help each other achieve more. Whether that's introducing investors to founders, connecting corporates with innovative startups, or helping businesses access new markets, I love creating opportunities that lead to meaningful outcomes.

I also love that business development is constantly evolving. Curiosity, creativity and commercial thinking all play an important role, and no two days are ever the same.

What's the best career advice you've been given?

The best advice I've been given is that the ability to build a network is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

People often focus on whether they have the "right" network for a role, but in reality, very few people step into a position with the perfect network already in place. The real skill is being able to build one.

Throughout my career, whether I've been working in venture capital, international investment, government programmes or professional services, I've had to establish new relationships, understand different ecosystems and earn credibility with stakeholders. The ability to connect with people, build trust, and create mutually beneficial relationships has consistently been the foundation of success.

It's a reminder that while networks are important, the capability to build and nurture them is far more valuable.

Tell us a little about your life outside work.

Outside of work, my family is at the centre of everything I do. I have two young children who keep me very busy and constantly learning. We talk a lot about start-up bootcamps, but I often joke that at weekends I'm enrolled in a toddler bootcamp of my own!

Becoming a mother has given me an even greater appreciation for the importance of supportive workplaces, flexible working, and creating environments where people can thrive both personally and professionally. 

I'm also a passionate advocate for female founders and women's rights. Throughout my career, I've been involved in networks and initiatives that support women in business, technology, and entrepreneurship, and I care deeply about creating opportunities for more women to build, grow and lead successful businesses.

That was also one of the things that attracted me to Grand Scale. Building a high-growth business is important, but so is creating a culture where talented people can balance ambition with family life. That people-first approach really resonated with me. 

Tell us a fun fact about you.

I'm bilingual in English and Spanish and have lived in the UK, Spain, and Costa Rica.

Growing up between different countries sparked a lifelong curiosity about people, cultures and food. It's probably one of the reasons I've always been drawn to international roles and opportunities to work across different markets and communities.

Some people plan holidays around landmarks, I plan them around supermarket visits. My poor husband has developed a lot of patience for my enthusiasm for El Corte Inglés (if you know, you know) whenever we're in Spain. Whether it's a tiny local café, a bustling food market or a family-run restaurant tucked away down a side street, I'm always keen to discover somewhere new to eat.

Alongside food, I'm a big fan of literature, history and art, and I love learning about the stories and traditions that shape different cultures.

These days, travelling with two young children has introduced a new level of unpredictability to my adventures. While I'm hoping to inspire a love of exploring the world, they're currently more interested in locating the nearest playground and maintaining a strict diet of pizza, pasta, and nuggets. To be fair, playgrounds are a surprisingly good way to discover a city and meet local people.

And to round things off, what are you most excited about for the future at Grand Scale?

One of the things I'm most excited about is building partnerships that help extend Grand Scale's impact across the innovation ecosystem.

Grand Scale has an impressive track record of supporting founders and innovation-led organisations, and I'm particularly excited about the potential of our new AI-enabled EPIC platform. For founders and scaleups, EPIC provides personalised support to help build the commercial skills, confidence, and capabilities needed to access customers, investment, and new markets more effectively. For Partners, including universities, government agencies, accelerators and investors; it offers a scalable way to strengthen entrepreneurial capability while providing real-time insights and impact data to measure outcomes and inform decision-making.

If you're interested in partnering with Grand Scale, exploring collaboration opportunities, or finding out more about EPIC, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch at [email protected]