Some of the UKs leading business leaders and opinion formers share their insight and ideas for growth
I was recently fortunate enough to be asked to join a panel of experts to debate the role of LEP’s.
While on stage, the discussion touched upon the demise of Business Link and the plans to centralise this business support service as well as introduce 40,000 free business mentors. It was reported, or rather tweeted, that I called the government’s new mentoring scheme ‘bizarre’ and asked whether you ‘trust a mentor who was free?’ I did say those things… so perhaps I should explain my concerns.
What does Britain need to do to stimulate economic growth? That is the question taxing so many Ministers in Whitehall. But according to Sahar Hashemi, the founder of the Coffee Republic and bestselling business author, they need to start thinking outside the box.
I’m the kind of guy who thinks that if you don’t try to initiate or bring about change, then don’t feel you can sit on the sidelines and complain about what happens as a result, so when the opportunity came to be considered for the upcoming Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership board I threw my hat into the ring.
I left the BSI building in Westminster, not so much as a skip in my step, but with a slightly more positive outlook for the coming year and our coalition government than I had carried with me on an early train from Leeds that morning.
A Suit That Fits’ customers are at the heart of our business – we always strive to constantly improve our product and service for them and their needs. We truly believe that every suit lover should have a fantastic experience and own a suit that they really love.
I applaud the choice of Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor. Ed Miliband should be commended for his unselfish decision to promote the unelectable and therefore ensure the Coalition’s success.
Working hard is the only way you can really ‘make it’, so why do so many people think working long hours is a bad thing?
There is a worrying tendency that has developed over the years for a level of ‘being promoted to the level of your incompetence’ to become ever more widespread. We’re taking a look at public and motivational speakers and wondering what qualifies us for the title.
How long are yours? Four pages? More? But what do you do when you get them from prospective suppliers? I’ll bet that 99 per cent of you, like me, turn to the back page, look at the price, and then make a decision whether to bother reading the rest of it.
The typical strains associated with the run up to Christmas highlight what can happen when one gets overloaded. The challenge is – how best to handle it? Top Tips and some real life examples of people who have handled some exceptional “crushes”!
Since the coalition announced the need for a VAT rise I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen that it’s the right move. However, I think the rise should be deferred for a few weeks to counteract the disruption to the economy caused by the extreme winter weather.
Think hard about why you want to study – real experience in a company can be a far better way to learn skills and get on in your career.
To be in the final is really exciting, especially waiting for the former candidates to come back. When they arrive and you stand their picking your team, it’s almost like being back at school! For me, Chris picked a really strong team. He had both Jamie and Liz who were two of my top picks from the beginning. However, as good as Chris and his team were, it was Stella’s night.
The interview episode always makes for great TV but having been through the process, there is so much the viewers don’t see.
I’ve just come off the phone to someone who asked my advice on £2,000 of advertising they had been offered. I told them they’d be better off printing their web address on two hundred tenners and chucking them down the street. Spending money is easy – earning it is harder.
