01 CHALLENGE
People who disagree with you
A member might spot a cost you've missed. Another might challenge the assumption the whole plan rests on. That's the point.
PEOPLE / PERSPECTIVE / PROGRESS
You run the business. Who do you talk to when you're stuck?
A private circle for established business owners who want better decisions, honest perspectives and a more rewarding life beyond work.
01 / Eight members per council02 / One seat per sector03 / Application only
When the buck stops with you
Sometimes you need someone outside the business.
It's easy to get trapped in your own thinking when you're running a business. You can ask your team, but they live with the consequences of your decisions. You can ask friends, but they may not know the full picture.
The idea behind Mastermind.uk is simple: put you in a small, confidential group with other owners who have dealt with similar problems who will ask the awkward questions rather than nod along.
“A useful question from the right person can save you months of going in the wrong direction.”
What happens in a meeting →
What makes this different
A proper conversation, not a sales meeting.
There will be time to get to know people. But the main reason to be there is to work through the decisions that matter.
02 OWNERSHIP
You make the final call
No voting and no group decisions. You hear the arguments, think them through and decide what to do in your own business.
03 ACCOUNTABILITY
We come back to it
We'll keep a simple record of what you decided and check back later. Good advice should stand up to real life.
What a meeting looks like
Bring a real issue. Talk it through properly.
The plan is to meet online for three hours each month, with a full-day, in-person gathering every quarter. Here's the format we're proposing.
01
Review the last decision
What did you commit to? What happened? What did you learn?
02
Take the hot seat
State your challenge, preferred decision and the assumptions behind it.
03
Hear the opposing views
Eight different minds interrogate the risks, blind spots and alternatives.
04
Make your call
Record your decision and next step. Return in 30 or 90 days to review it.
8Owners in each council
12Monthly sessions per year
4In-person council days
Who this is for
Not every business owner needs this.
This is for you if…
- You run a UK business trading for two years or more
- Your turnover is approximately £250k–£5m
- You carry important decisions yourself
- You're prepared to challenge and be challenged
- You can attend at least ten sessions a year
This isn't for you if…
- You're pre-revenue or still testing an idea
- You're looking for a room to pitch into
- You only want referrals and introductions
- You expect a coach to make decisions for you
- You won't share your real challenges
AI-enhanced portrait of Rich (Richard) Saupe, founder of Mastermind.uk.THE PERSON BEHIND THE IDEA
Meet Richard Saupe.
Founder, Mastermind.uk
I've spent more than two decades building and running businesses. I know how much responsibility can sit on one person's shoulders, especially when it comes to people, money and decisions that can't be delegated.
What I've found is that business owners rarely need another room full of sales pitches. They need people they can talk to openly. People who will question their assumptions and offer a perspective they haven't considered.
That's the reason behind Mastermind.uk: a place to work through the real stuff with other owners, and to make more room for the life we're trying to build.
Richard Saupe Founder
First intake · planned January 2027
Help shape the first two councils.
We're planning two groups of eight, starting in January 2027. The aim is to avoid direct competitors in the same council and bring together a useful mix of experience.
Monthly private council
Three hours online with structured hot seats and decision reviews.
Quarterly in-person gathering
A full day with your council, planned in Colchester or London.
Decision log and Life & Business Review
Your free 15-question reflection and structured follow-ups after important decisions.
Member network
Private community, directory and personal introductions.
Questions
A few things worth knowing.
Is this networking or coaching?
Neither in the traditional sense. It is a confidential peer council, built around examining real decisions. Relationships and introductions grow naturally from the work.
How are council members selected?
The proposal is to use an application, a short behavioural questionnaire and a conversation to understand the fit. We also aim to avoid direct competitors in the same group.
Do members have to disclose sensitive information?
You decide what to share. Confidentiality is a house rule, but members should still avoid disclosing information they are legally or contractually restricted from sharing.
Can I cancel?
The proposed founding terms are a three-month minimum followed by monthly rolling membership, with a first-session guarantee.