Michael Hayman MBE

Michael Hayman began his career learning how influence works from inside institutions.

He worked as a researcher and speechwriter in Parliament, then on Foreign Office projects focused on leadership and civil society in Eastern Europe and Russia. At Hill & Knowlton, he moved into corporate campaigns across Europe and the Middle East.

Then, in 2010, he changed direction.

Hayman co-founded Seven Hills with Nick Giles around the idea that the tools used by established organisations to shape opinion and influence change could be just as powerful in the hands of entrepreneurs.

A year later, he helped launch StartUp Britain – a national campaign created by entrepreneurs to support more people to start businesses, backed by government and businesses across the UK.

That campaigning instinct became the thread running through his work. He co-authored Mission: How the Best in Business Break Through, has advised founders and business leaders on building influential brands, and has spent years making the case for entrepreneurship, scale-ups and regional growth.

In 2024, Seven Hills became part of Bully Pulpit International. Hayman now chairs BPI’s UK operations and sits on its global leadership team.

Then, in March 2026, his career came back towards institutional leadership when he was elected Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce, representing a network of businesses across the UK and internationally.

Hayman started inside institutions learning how influence is built.

He has spent the years since widening who gets to use it.