THE FILM SERIES
Take a closer look at Freeman Clarke
Short films from our technology leaders on the questions that matter to ambitious mid-sized businesses. AI, growth, transformation and leadership, explained in plain English by people who have done it before.
- Short films
- Under 3 minutes
- No jargon
ABOUT THE SERIES
What is ‘Take a Closer Look?’
Take a Closer Look is a series of short films in which Freeman Clarke technology leaders share what they see inside hundreds of mid-sized businesses every year. Each film answers one question, in under three minutes.
- Real experience from working CIOs, CTOs, and IT leaders
- Practical answers on AI, growth, sales, and transformation
- Board-level perspective, in plain English
- New films added regularly
Who are our experts?
Every speaker is a Freeman Clarke CIO/CTO/CISO: an experienced technology leader who works fractionally with mid-sized businesses. They are not presenters. They are practitioners.
FEATURED FILM
What Does Freeman Clarke Do?
If you’re looking to address complex challenges and transform your business, take a closer look at how we work. Ambitious businesses choose Freeman Clarke.
THE SERIES
One question. Real answers.
GROWTH
AI done with confidence
Steven Houghton-Burnett explains how mid-sized businesses cut through the hype, find the use cases that genuinely pay back, and avoid expensive experiments that go nowhere.
1:40 min – For CEOs and owners
COMPLIANCE
Accelerating enterprise sales with automated compliance
Shannon Roy demonstrates how implementing automated compliance software and AI-driven evidence gathering allows tech startups to satisfy enterprise audit requirements quickly and close deal cycles faster.
1:48 min – For Startup Founders and Commercial Directors
GROWTH
Streamlining supplier compliance to unlock revenue
Nigel Hodges outlines how accelerating ISO certifications and compliance standards helped a specialist pharma provider overcome due diligence hurdles, land clients faster, and improve cash flow.
1:47 min – For CEOs, COOs, and sales leaders
TRANSFORMATION
Digitising core operations for global growth
Steve Cairns discusses replacing fragile, spreadsheet-based processes with custom platforms built on Microsoft Dataverse and PowerBI, uniting trading teams and unlocking international market expansion.
2:15 min – For Managing Directors and Operations Leaders
INNOVATION
AI that creates real business value
Sally Rainbow-Ockwell breaks down the difference between basic process automation and true AI, helping CEOs cut costs on repetitive tasks while inspiring innovative strategies that stay ahead of competitors.
2:23 min – For CEOs and Business Leaders
STRATEGY
Linking technology to strategic business goals
Junuz Jakupovic outlines why technology investments must align with a formal business strategy, showing how targeted process improvements and AI adoption can cut growth timelines from years to months.
2:17 min – For CEOs and Managing Directors
SCALE
Scaling tech infrastructure for rapid growth
Peter Taylor shows how transitioning a fast-growing business from spreadsheets to a unified ERP strategy provided the foundation to double turnover and target international market expansion.
1:13 min – For Founders and Financial Directors
KEEP WATCHING
More from the series
M&A READINESS
Making your tech stack match fit
Why getting your technology and cyber security ready before going to market protects valuation and prevents painful deal delays.
TRANSFORMATION
Rescuing IT projects
What separates digital transformation that delivers real commercial value from expensive projects that drift and fail.
EFFICIENCY
Growth and efficiency
How to remove manual overhead, streamline core systems, and scale operations smoothly without increasing headcount.
Freeman Clarke transformed our IT function, bringing leadership, confidence, and strategic thinking. Their expertise and knowledge was invaluable when we were expanding rapidly, and their previous experience of due diligence on the sales side was hugely beneficial.
Chris Brooks, CEO, Symatrix
KEEP WATCHING
Who are these films for?
The series is made for the people who set direction in mid-sized businesses, typically from £5m to £500m turnover.
| CEOs and owners | Straight answers on where technology drives value, and where it wastes money. |
| Boards and investors | The questions to ask before approving IT, AI or transformation spend. |
| Finance leaders | How to judge IT investment cases without being a technologist. |
| Ops and commercial leaders | Practical ways systems and data remove friction from growth. |
FAQs
What is Take a Closer Look?
Take a Closer Look is a series of short films from Freeman Clarke Principals, each answering one question that matters to mid-market businesses in under three minutes, covering AI, growth, transformation, and leadership in plain English.
How long is each film?
Every film in the series is under three minutes. Each one answers a single question, so you can watch one over coffee or the whole series in about half an hour.
Who presents the films?
Every speaker is a Freeman Clarke Principal, an experienced CIO, CTO, or IT leader who works fractionally inside mid-market businesses. They are practitioners speaking from current experience, not presenters.
What topics do the films cover?
The series covers the questions boards and CEOs ask most: doing AI with confidence, linking technology to strategy, growth and efficiency, digital transformation, scaling systems, and getting technology ready for M&A.
Who are the films for?
They are made for the people who set direction in mid-market businesses, typically from £5m to £500m turnover: CEOs and owners, boards and investors, finance leaders, and operations and commercial leaders.
What happens if I book a conversation?
You will have an informal call with a regional Director, not a salesperson. We will listen, ask questions, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help. There is no obligation.