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Strategy, Positioning, Marketing & Communications
Helping organisations shape stronger ideas, define what makes them different and communicate them clearly and creatively.
The Ideas Shed — From Ideas to Action
From Ideas
to Action.
A creative and commercially grounded studio helping organisations shape stronger ideas, turn them into reality, and build the strategy, marketing and momentum needed to grow.
Part consultancy. Part community. Combining decades of strategy, creativity and commercial experience with AI to help organisations turn ideas into action in a rapidly changing world.
Based between Somerset, London and Kampala — with work spanning the UK, East Africa and beyond.
Follow The Ideas Shed
Ideas, projects, events and conversations from Somerset and beyond.
- Ideas in motion — from the studio.
- Conversations worth having.
- Events across Somerset and beyond.
What we help with
Think better. Build better. Grow better.
There has never been a better time to turn an idea into action. AI has dramatically reduced the time, cost and complexity of building new products, services and software. But technology alone is not enough. The strongest outcomes still begin with better thinking, clearer strategy, thoughtful positioning and experienced creative direction. We help shape the idea, bring it to life and build the momentum it needs to grow.
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AI Strategy, Product Development & Delivery
Helping organisations use AI to turn ideas into practical products, services, software and better ways of working.
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Growth, Partnerships & Business Development
Helping organisations build momentum, secure funding, win new opportunities and grow what they have created.
Who we work with
Founder-led.
Purpose-led.
We especially enjoy working with founder-led and purpose-led organisations that are excited about turning good ideas into action and creating positive impact.
From cafés and retailers to charities, independent businesses, startups, social enterprises, B Corps and growing brands.
Cafés & retailersCharitiesIndependent businessesStartupsSocial enterprisesB CorpsGrowing brands
Community & Events
Somerset Roots.
Global Conversations.
The Ideas Shed is also a community — bringing people together through events, conversations and shared curiosity around ideas, creativity, purpose and positive impact.
Somerset Roots
From Somerset cafés and creative venues, we host gatherings that bring ideas to life in the room.
Global Conversations
Events and conversations connecting people across the UK, East Africa and beyond around ideas, creativity and purpose.
Curious Minds
Founders, creatives, entrepreneurs and curious minds exploring ideas, positive impact and new opportunities together.
Want to join the conversation?
Follow The Ideas Shed for news about upcoming talks, debates, workshops, café conversations and Ideas Shed events.
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Our Vision
A world where curiosity and creativity are valued as highly as certainty.
The world has become remarkably effective at deploying capital, building systems and driving efficiency.
Yet many of our greatest opportunities still begin with curiosity.
What we believe
Creativity without structure is unrealised potential.
Structure without creativity leads to stagnation.
Progress happens when curiosity, creativity and discipline work together.
Creativity in the Age of AI
The more powerful the machine, the more human we must become.
As technology becomes more powerful, uniquely human qualities such as creativity, curiosity and judgement become more valuable, not less.
The opportunity is bringing them together: human judgement to determine what is worth building, and AI to help bring it to life.
Questions in the Age of Certainty
Better questions lead to better ideas.
Answers solve today's problems.
Questions create tomorrow's opportunities.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”— Socrates
Ventures
Ideas take many forms. Some become client projects. Others become ventures. Here's a selection of the ideas we're currently bringing to life.
Wellbeing
HAPPY FIVE
Helping people build happier, healthier lives through behavioural science and AI.
Status
Preparing for an initial SEIS investment round.
Social Impact Consulting
MY SOCIAL IMPACT
MY SOCIAL IMPACT
Helping organisations understand, measure and communicate their social impact.
Status
Co-founded with Chris Arnold.
Culture & Community
WILD ONES
Bringing people together through creativity, nature and shared experiences.
Status
Relaunching in Kampala.
Relationship Platform
RELIO
RELIO
Helping people build stronger relationships that create better ventures and outcomes.
Status
Preparing for beta testing.
Media & Storytelling
FLY ON THE WALL
Connecting East African stories with audiences around the world.
Status
Seeking sponsors and strategic partners.
Leadership & Decision Making
THE CEO ROOM
THE CEO ROOM
Helping people think better, decide better and lead with greater confidence.
Status
Product development underway.
Experience
The Ideas Shed is new.
The experience behind it isn't.
Built on decades of ideas, action and delivery.
Creative Orchestra, founded by Dr Chris Arnold, is The Ideas Shed's creative partner.
Testimonial
Trusted by organisations creating positive impact.
Marcus is a brilliant, energetic ideas person and a fearless entrepreneur.
As a founding trustee of Interim Spaces, he has brought considerable experience in non-profit accounting, enterprise and social impact.
We have benefited greatly from his clear direction, sound judgement and practical insight.
Dan SimonDirector, Interim SpacesShepton Mallet, Somerset
Services
How we help, in detail.
Strategy, Positioning, Marketing & Communications
- Strategy development
- Positioning
- Branding
- Marketing strategy and communications
- Messaging frameworks
- Storytelling
- Website development
- Content creation
- Creative and art direction
- Innovation workshops
AI Strategy, Product Development & Delivery
We don't stop at the strategy. We help build what comes next.
- AI strategy
- Product strategy
- Product development
- Rapid prototyping
- AI-powered software
- Workflow automation
- Process improvement
- Operations and client delivery
- Knowledge management
- AI implementation support
Growth, Partnerships & Business Development
- Business development
- Partnership development
- Investor readiness
- Funding applications
- Pitch decks
- Proposal development
- Commercial strategy
- Sales support
- Growth planning
- Networking and introductions
Meet Marcus
Marcus Warry
Marcus Warry is a Chartered Accountant, Social Impact Consultant, Entrepreneur and Creative Strategist.
His background combines finance, creativity, entrepreneurship and social impact, with recent work focused on using AI to turn ideas into working products, services and software.
Projects have included restaurants, co-working spaces, professional boxing events, debates, creative ventures, nightlife projects, community initiatives and AI-powered platforms.
This unusual mix provides practical insight into the realities of shaping, building and growing organisations and new ventures.
Key attributes
- 01ACA Chartered Accountant
- 02Social Impact Consultant
- 03Entrepreneur
- 04Creative & Product Strategist
- 05Trustee & NED Experience
- 06AI Product Builder
Meet Dr Chris Arnold
Dr Chris Arnold
Chris Arnold is Founder of Creative Orchestra, Co-Founder of My Social Impact and former Board Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi.
He is one of the UK's leading voices on ethical marketing, purpose-led brands and behaviour change.
For more than three decades he has helped organisations use creativity, strategy and communications to build stronger brands, engage communities and create positive impact.
Chris is also the author of Ethical Marketing & The New Consumer.
Key attributes
- 01Creative Strategist
- 02Social Impact Specialist
- 03Brand & Communications Expert
- 04Behaviour Change Specialist
- 05Author & Speaker
- 06Creative Leadership
The Wider Ecosystem
Better Numbers. Clearer Ideas. Stronger Impact.
Three connected practices offering practical finance, impact and creative support for growing organisations.
My Social Impact
Strategy for Social Impact Excellence
A world where social impact is taken as seriously as financial performance.
Helping organisations explain, measure and strengthen the positive impact they create.
www.mysocialimpact.orgGood Numbers
Financially Fit for Sustainable Growth
A world where financial success and long-term sustainability go hand in hand.
Helping organisations become more financially resilient and commercially stronger.
www.GoodNumbers.ukContact
Let's explore
what's possible.
Based between Somerset, London and Kampala, with work spanning the UK, East Africa and beyond.
Whether you're developing a new idea, rethinking your organisation or exploring how AI could help you move faster, there's a good place to start.
SomersetThe Offices
10 Marketplace
Shepton Mallet
Somerset
BA4 5AZ
United KingdomLondonPopHub Leicester Square
Floors 1 & 2
41 Whitcomb Street
London
WC2H 7DT
United KingdomKampalaThe Wild Ones
Tank Hill Road
Muyenga
Kampala
Uganda
10 Marketplace
Shepton Mallet
Somerset
BA4 5AZ
United KingdomLondonPopHub Leicester Square
Floors 1 & 2
41 Whitcomb Street
London
WC2H 7DT
United KingdomKampalaThe Wild Ones
Tank Hill Road
Muyenga
Kampala
Uganda
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