Navigating a Recession

Recessions don’t have to be a filled with pessimistic outlooks; they offer some of the biggest opportunity for businesses and individuals. A decrease in consumer spending can allow the development of new products or services to attract customers and increase efficiency.

The Manifesto Growth Architects event looked at the ways that businesses and individuals can navigate the storm and use downturns as a period of opportunity. Three industry experts, including Caxton CEO Rupert Lee-Browne, shared the stage to answer questions and give insight into how to support customers and navigate economic turmoil.

Having experienced the turbulence of the late 2000s financial crisis, Rupert has a wealth of knowledge at the helm of a SME. Rupert saw the recession as an opportunity while remaining cautious. He explained that customer service has always been at the heart of Caxton operations and hence building up customer support during periods of uncertainty. Caxton looked to create value for their customers by supplying information, through analysts and regular newsletters, to help them make knowledgeable decisions. The biggest improvement was “getting closer to the customer” and this remains the focus for Caxton.

2023 looks to be a difficult economic year, with the Institute of International Finance predicting global economic growth of 1.2%, similar to 2009, when the world was still in the shadow of the financial crisis. The number of issues we are facing is unprecedented. We are emerging from a devastating worldwide pandemic. Inflation is still at a rate not seen since the 1980s, the effects of Brexit are starting to show and strikes are commonplace in the UK.

Furthermore, there remains an ongoing war in Ukraine causing a shortage of fossil fuel energy in the middle of winter. This is all in addition to the ever-present ongoing climate emergency.


However, as Richard Branson once said: “In times of recession there are massive opportunities and fortunes to be made.” Much like how EU governments are using the shortage of fossil fuels as an opportunity to invest in cleaner energy sources, businesses can use recessions to invest time and capital into building stronger customer foundations, leading to a better outcome for both parties.
Rupert has also given talks on Cyber Resilience and the human element of cyber security.