Throughout 2025, we’ve had the privilege of sitting down with some of the smartest voices in edtech as part of our #FinnemoreFireside series.

These aren’t scripted conversations; they’re honest, open discussions with people who are shaping the future of education technology. Every single one has given us something valuable to think about — whether it’s what’s coming next, what schools are really struggling with, or how suppliers can better serve the sector.

Here are just a few of the highlights from this year’s series.

James Browning, COO at Lift Schools
James talked us through the evolution of edtech adoption in trusts. He’s seen how multi-academy trusts have changed over the last decade — and shared what’s coming next. His take on platform consolidation and the shift in procurement dynamics was eye-opening for anyone navigating trust-level sales.

Joshua Perry
Josh brought sharp analysis on where the MIS market is heading. He covered the rise of new challengers, AI in assessment, and what schools need to think about when reviewing their MIS. If you care about market trends, this one’s a must-watch.

Catherine Lane, Co-founder of The Influence Crowd
Cath reminded us of something many overlook — that the message matters. She talked about storytelling in education marketing, and how great campaigns come from a deep understanding of what schools really care about. Not noise. Not hype. But relevance.

Jen Elliott and Andy Mackey, Co-owners of EPM Ltd
Running a people-focused business in education isn’t easy. Jen and Andy shared their experience of leading a company that supports thousands of school leaders. We talked culture, customer support, and what education leadership really looks like in 2025.

Brett Griffin, Founder of Pupil Progress
Brett shared a personal story about the stress of being a teacher responsible for progress tracking — and how that pressure drove him to build a better way. Pupil Progress now supports hundreds of schools across the UK, and the journey has been far from linear.

Douglas Hanley, Founder of Utropolis
Douglas is tackling one of the toughest areas in edtech: web filtering and safeguarding. He spoke honestly about the technical, ethical and commercial challenges of building tools that actually work in schools. A fascinating conversation about doing things differently.

Stephen Bilboe, CEO of esenda
Stephen broke down the reality of school finance and compliance — and how esenda grew from idea to processing over £2 billion in payments. This was one of our most grounded chats yet, full of practical insight for anyone looking to build trust with schools around sensitive systems.

What’s Next for 2026?

Nick and I already have some brilliant sessions lined up for next year. We’re kicking off 2026 with Jim Nicholls, the edtech headhunter who’s seen it all, and Jodie Lopez, one of the most recognisable voices in UK edtech. And we’ll continue asking the questions that matter:

• What’s really happening inside schools and trusts?

• How do we build solutions that serve people, not just markets?

• What does genuine innovation look like?

We’ve loved putting these chats together this year and we’re grateful to everyone who’s joined us, watched along, or shared their feedback. If you haven’t caught up with the series yet, you can find the full set on our blog:
👉 https://finnemoreconsulting.com/blog/

Have a restful Christmas break and we’ll see you in the new year.

Sarah