Learning AI in public.

Where this came from

I run an exterior cleaning company. That means I'm the owner, the salesperson, the person doing the work, and the one chasing invoices at 9pm when I should have been done for the day. I know what it's like to lose a client relationship because chasing payment felt awkward, or to write off a debt because I didn't know the legal next step.

That's what started Ascent Systems — not because I read an article about SME admin problems, but because I live them. I wanted to build tools that solve the problems I actually had. So I did.

What this is now

Ascent Systems is where I learn AI in public and share what I find. Every week I write a "Note from the Field" — 500–800 words on something I've tried, built, or seen, written honestly for other business owners, not as an expert talking down.

There are two free tools on the site. The MTD Checker tells you whether Making Tax Digital applies to your business and what you need to do. Invoice Chaser helps you write a professional follow-up sequence for overdue invoices. Both are free, no account required. Both solve problems I had myself.

I'm not taking clients yet — I'm in the learning and building phase. But if you want to follow along or have a question, email me: hello@ascentsystems.co.uk. I read every one.

What I'm not going to pretend

I'm early. I'm learning. I don't have a track record of AI implementations to show you, and I'm not going to make one up. What I can offer is an honest read on whether AI fits your situation — the kind you'd get from someone who's thought about it seriously but has no financial incentive to oversell it.

If something doesn't work for your situation, email me: hello@ascentsystems.co.uk. I read every one. You can also follow along on X — @Greglawrenson_.