A look at my best bits!

After seven years working for Startups.co.uk and its sister publication Growing Business magazine I’m off to pastures new. I’ve absolutely loved working for two of the best titles serving small business owners and interviewing the many entrepreneurs who’ve shared their stories and experiences.

In a week that sees the final of The Apprentice and launch of Big Brother, I thought you might enjoy shar...

By admin2 03/06/08 18:26

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Don't be the John Terry of your business

Chelsea captain John Terry had more than a football at his feet as he stepped up to take the penalty that, successfully converted, would have seen his club crowned European champions for the first time in their history.

On his broad shoulders laid the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of supporters, a multi-million global TV audience, his teammates, club officials and a certain hard-to-please R...

By admin2 22/05/08 11:47

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If you're good enough, you're old enough

What’s the ideal age to start a business? According to easyGroup founder Stelios, still only 41, it’s the late twenties. “By then you’ve got experience of working and making mistakes in someone else’s business,” he asserts.

While not actively discouraging younger entrepreneurs, Stelios believes it’s wiser to get some experience and qualifications under your belt first.

Others are more passionate ad...

By admin2 15/05/08 11:57

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Let's talk real business

I’m a big believer in collaboration over competition, but ultimately all businesses need to look at what’s going on around them – and it’s no different here at Startups.co.uk. We’re the best read website for small businesses in the UK and looking at the competition and our own analytics of what you’re reading, I know why.

We give you what you need. You need to know how to start a business, how to w...

By admin2 08/05/08 11:25

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Show me the money

I heard a moan about The Apprentice this week. Not the usual one about it being ‘unrealistic’ and ‘more about entertainment than business’. As I’ve said here before, I tend to agree. No, this time, Sir Alan’s primetime smash was being knocked because ‘all the challenges this series are about selling, not all the other skills you need’.

I’m going to break the habit of a lifetime and defend The Appre...

By admin2 30/04/08 09:37

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You'll never know until you try

I get asked the following questions all the time:

What’s the best type of business to start?
What’s the best age to start a business?
Is it better to get experience before you start?
Are women just as likely to succeed as men?
Can I succeed without a lot of money?
What’ll be the next hot sector?
What if someone has already done my idea?

I’d be stinking rich if I knew the answers but I usually do my best t...

By admin2 24/04/08 10:43

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We don't need no education

“I’m the only candidate with a business degree so I don’t need lectures on economics.” That was the claim of Brian Paddick, Lib Dem candidate for London Mayor during Tuesday night’s BBC hustings with Andrew Neill.

Given the fact City Hall money has gone wandering under Ken Livingstone’s administration and Boris Johnson estimated the £140m cost for bringing back bus conductors at £8m, he might have...

By admin2 17/04/08 09:14

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Where healthy competition meets paranoia

So Yahoo! has teamed up with Google in a two-week advertising experiment with the clear intention of frustrating Microsoft in its hostile takeover bid. It’s a cunning move and akin to calling in your older cousin as back-up for playground fistycuffs.

Microsoft’s responding by rallying support in the shape of News Corp, while Yahoo!’s also threatening to bring in an uncle in the shape of AOL, who wh...

By admin2 10/04/08 13:42

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Is it a bad time to start a business?

‘Is it a bad time to start a business?’ That’s what one Startups reader asked on the forum this week.
The following question also popped up: ‘Credit crunch: has it affected your business yet?’.

I guess it was only a matter of time. Every day seems to deliver a new economic low as mortgage lenders pull back their offerings.

This week the changes to Capital Gains Tax come into force with entrepreneurs...

By admin2 03/04/08 10:55

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The Apprentice returns

The Apprentice returned to our screens last night after a week of hype across the press and promises by Sir Alan Sugar this would be the best series yet.

Well did it live up to expectations? That depends what your expectations were. Last night’s first episode was certainly entertaining, but unfortunately confirmed The Apprentice is more aligned to Big Brother than big on business.

From the minute Si...

By admin2 27/03/08 10:55

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