British Design Fund Chair, John Mathers, talks to Host Jeff Beacham about the Manufacturing & Design Start-Up arena.

• What do you see as the biggest challenges facing design-led startups in the UK today, especially in the manufacturing space?
• What inspired the creation of the British Design Fund and how has its mission evolved to support both commercial success and purpose-led design?
• Sustainability is a growing concern in many industries. How important is sustainable design to the British Design Fund when evaluating potential investments?
• How does the British Design Fund identify promising businesses to invest in and what criteria do you prioritize during the selection process?
• What role do you think innovation in design plays in reshaping traditional manufacturing processes?
• How has the design and manufacturing landscape changed in the UK over the past decade, and where do you see it heading?
• How would you describe the importance of collaboration between designers and manufacturers in creating successful products?
• What advice would you give to entrepreneurs or businesses in manufacturing that are looking to integrate more design thinking into their processes?
• Looking forward, what areas of design and manufacturing are you most excited about and how is the British Design Fund positioning itself to support those trends?