FSB Scrutiny Body

Thomas Atkins is an entrepreneur from Lincoln, best known for his position as founder of a full-service, brand-first creative agency specialising in graphic design, website design, video production, and social media.

Outside of his day job, Thomas is deeply committed to supporting the next generation of business leaders. He actively engages with students looking to start their own businesses through regular workshops, mentorship, and general advice.

In recognition of the growth of his agency and his ongoing dedication to supporting others, by 2024, Thomas had won Lincolnshire’s 30 under 30 Award for two years running, and his agency had been awarded Lincolnshire Creative Agency of the Year in 2022. In April 2024, Thomas was appointed as a Member of the FSB Scrutiny Body.

Dr Ruth Brown-Shepherd is an entrepreneur based in Huddersfield who has been an active member of the FSB community since 2021. As an FSB volunteer, Ruth founded the West Yorkshire Academia-Industry Network, a special interest group that helps to build new connections between small businesses and local universities. After two and a half years, she decided to step down from this role and the legacy continues in her absence.

Ruth was also an active volunteer member of the FSB Innovation Committee for two years and wanted to make a difference to support more small businesses across the country. In March 2024, Ruth was appointed as a Member of the FSB Scrutiny Body and she is now focused on ensuring that the FSB Board delivers on behalf of its members.

Ruth’s skills have been developed over more than 25 years, across a variety of industries. As a PhD Chartered Biologist, an experienced business manager, mentor, and entrepreneur, Ruth brings some fresh perspectives to the FSB Scrutiny Body.

During a HR career that started in 1981 Michael Millward has worked around the world in every type of organisation from entrepreneur led start-ups to major corporations. In 2003 he established Abeceder to be a provider of HR software and HR support services. Abeceder has been described as a HR eco-system delivering products and services that cover every aspect, of every stage, of the employer employee relationship.

Michael’s past volunteering activities have included supporting the businesses in the Yorkshire village where he lives as part of the Village Plan; being the Vice Chair of governors at his local secondary school/academy; and Chair of the local authority school governors’ forum. He also volunteered as the Chair of the North Yorkshire Branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, for six years, and as a member of the Institute’s National Council for eight years.

Michael’s memorable times as a small business owner include working with The Simpsons™ to create a range of health and safety education resources that feature the characters from the hit TV series. As a volunteer Michael is proud of his involvement in converting a secondary school to academy status and of building what was initially a small rural branch of the CIPD into one of the most active branches in the country with high levels of member engagement.

As a member of the National Scrutiny Body Michael is looking forward to being involved in ensuring that the highest standards of corporate governance are achieved and maintained and that the best interests of FSB members are served.

Dr Akin Ojolo is an experienced entrepreneur who having arrived in the UK as a young teenager, alone and with no support and has gone on to establish and run a number of small businesses.  Akin currently owns and manages a 22 bedroom Best Western Hotel in Bristol. He also acts as a mentor and advisor to other small business owners. In addition to his business interests, his career path has taken him through a number of challenges and opportunities, from being an Engineer at Wessex Water to a Director at Greenwich Community College to his present role in academia. 

An expert of the field of entrepreneurship, he has taught at Bristol Business School, University of the West of England for over 12 years. During this time as an academic, he has developed differing levels of award-winning entrepreneurship programmes in support of the university Small Business Charter.  Many of the students he taught and mentored have gone to set up and run their own successful businesses. His research interests include the growth of family-owned businesses, specifically exploring the robustness of family-owned small enterprises and family businesses post-COVID. Exploring why family businesses in the hospitality sector often fail for non-business reasons.

His major achievement has been his ability to gain a good education, without any family or financial support. Undertook any odd jobs available to pay for his education from his A Levels to his Doctorate degree in Business Administration at Kingston University. Along the way, he was also able to set up his own businesses and proudly raise his two children.

Ben Ramsay was appointed to the FSB Scrutiny Body in March 2023. Having started out working in the financial services sector in 2006, Ben took the exciting step to become self-employed in 2014, running his own mortgage and protection business. In 2021 he expanded into full financial planning.  Having benefitted from being a member of FSB over the years, Ben Ramsay is passionate about the role small businesses play in the economy.

Abhishek Sachdev has been an FSB member for 11 years now and is passionate about representing and helping small businesses across the UK. He is committed to contributing to the growth of the FSB.

Abhishek founded Vedanta Hedging in 2011, to provide transparency for small businesses that use derivatives for hedging and risk management.  Having provided evidence and advice to the Prime Minister, the Treasury Select Committee, as well as paid advice to the FCA itself, this led to Abhishek founding the IRHP redress scheme which provided over £3bn to more than 20,000 SMEs. Abhishek also similarly supports the SMEA organisation and their redress schemes.

In his mission to help small businesses Abhishek has acted as Expert Witness and Advisor on more than 700 derivative disputes; ranging from SME sole traders to PLCs and Local Councils.

He also mentors and supports other SMEs, charitable bodies, food banks and students. Abhishek was elected as a Councillor in Hertsmere, using his experience where he can help for the good of the community and is currently Head of Finance on the Executive Committee at the Council. As Head of Finance, he is also responsible for Elstree Film Studios.