Josh Thompson joins The 20 to 30 Podcast to discuss what it is really like to help run Active Away, the company backed by Peter Jones after its Dragons’ Den appearance.
The conversation covers the original investment, Peter Jones’ involvement, board meetings, mentors and company culture. Josh also explains how a growing business can decide when to hire, automate or use freelance support, alongside practical thoughts on AI and operating efficiently.
Later in the episode, Josh talks about selling premium products in a difficult economy, career progression, ambition, tunnel vision and work-life balance in your twenties.
What this episode covers
- The Active Away Dragons’ Den deal and the role of its investors
- Board meetings, mentors, culture and operational discipline
- Hiring, automation and making a small team more effective
- Practical uses and common misconceptions of AI
- Challenges facing UK small businesses and premium brands
- Career progression, ambition and work-life balance
Originally published by The 20 to 30 Podcast.
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Video chapters
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:38Dragons’ Den deal details
- 3:37How Peter Jones helped Active Away
- 5:23Additional Active Away investors
- 6:13Board meetings with Peter Jones’ team
- 13:39Mentors
- 15:42The Shell manual
- 16:58Company culture
- 24:21Peter Jones’ involvement over ten years
- 27:02Dragons’ Den pitch insight
- 28:56Dragons’ Den versus real-world investment
- 30:43Where Peter Jones helped Active Away most
- 31:53Hands-on versus hands-off investors
- 34:10Investment for start-ups
- 37:36The cost of full-time staff
- 39:09Doing more with less
- 42:04Automations
- 49:35A Shell manual for small businesses
- 50:53Why small details matter
- 52:30Useful tools in 2026
- 54:15Common misconceptions about AI
- 56:16Using AI as a managing director
- 57:53The effects of AI
- 59:02AI versus freelance videographers
- 1:00:49Progressing from videography
- 1:02:40Hire versus automate
- 1:04:08Making the first hire
- 1:05:35Hiring overseas staff
- 1:06:29Overseas staff versus UK freelancers
- 1:07:37Wealth creators leaving the UK
- 1:10:04Selling premium products in a struggling economy
- 1:12:01Advice for UK small businesses
- 1:13:23Going above and beyond on a budget
- 1:15:02The biggest inefficiency in UK small businesses
- 1:17:05Looking professional on a budget
- 1:18:44Cold outreach versus advertising
- 1:20:04Business gurus
- 1:33:14Social media versus reality
- 1:35:41Josh’s 20 to 30 journey
- 1:39:16Dealing with tunnel vision
- 1:41:41Josh’s advice to his 15-year-old self
- 1:45:02What to do when you feel lost
- 1:52:03What is important in life
- 1:53:21Work-life balance in your twenties
- 1:55:09Hitting milestones
- 2:00:16Closing thoughts