Francis Toye

CEO & Founder, Unilink

Francis Toye is the CEO and Founder of the Unilink Group, which employs over 200 staff across five companies in three countries.

Unilink Software is an international software company headquartered in the UK, delivering AI-enabled solutions for prisons and probation services. The business is expanding across the UK, Australia, and Norway.

In addition, Acante Solutions — our kiosk manufacturing business — has achieved 35% growth this year, reaching £2 million in revenue and returning to profitability, representing a strong turnaround.

South Bank IT Solutions, our IT consultancy, is also expanding and is now extending its services into AI advisory, guidance, and implementation.

Why do you support the work of The Entrepreneurs Network?  

With over thirty years’ experience founding and growing businesses, I have developed knowledge and insight that I believe can be valuable to others. I am an adviser to the Imperial College Venture Mentoring Service (IVMS), a highly regarded programme, and I have supported several early-stage businesses with the potential to scale successfully. My experience allows me to provide practical, realistic advice grounded in what it actually takes to build and grow a business.

What would you recommend entrepreneurs read?

Read widely and read what interests you. I regularly read The Economist and The Financial Times, along with The Times, Guardian and Independent. Outside of work, I enjoy reading for pleasure — particularly fantasy, such as The Lord of the Rings. It’s important to step away from business thinking from time to time, as building a company can be all-consuming.

Why is the UK an attractive place to grow a business?  

The UK is one of the easiest places in the world to start a business. Having founded companies in the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, and Australia, I have found the UK to be the most straightforward from a practical standpoint.

However, growing a business — from around 50 employees to over 200 — is a very different challenge. It requires a combination of strong sales, marketing, and technical capability, alongside successful international expansion.

Following significant investment in our products, we are now well-positioned to scale the business further.