Ascent Systems
Practical AI for UK small businesses.
Field notes on what's actually working when UK small businesses adopt AI. Free tools. Honest takes. Building in public.
By Greg Lawrenson — building in public
Greg Lawrenson
Ascent Systems
Learning AI in public. Building tools along the way.
I run an exterior cleaning company. That means I'm the owner, the salesperson, and the person chasing invoices at 9pm. I know what it's like to lose time to admin that could be automated — and what it's like to be sold AI snake oil by people who've never run a real business.
So I'm building in public. I try things, write up what actually works, and share it honestly. The tools on this site solve problems I had myself. If something doesn't work for your business, I'll tell you that too.
Proof I can ship.
Two free tools for UK business owners. Real problems, real code — built, deployed, and written up. Use them, and if you want to know how they work or what's next, the notes cover it.
MTD Checker
Five questions. Does MTD apply to you, which phase, when's your deadline? Free readiness report delivered by email — software recs, 90-day plan, cost breakdown.
Try free →Invoice Chaser
62.6% of UK SME invoices are paid late. Fill in the details and get a professional four-email chase pack sent to your inbox — gets results without burning the client relationship.
Try free →Follow along.
I write a short note every week — what I'm building, what I'm learning, what's actually working for small businesses using AI. No pitch, no fluff.
Read the notes → Or email me directly: hello@ascentsystems.co.uk