About Me
Business Early Years
My first business venture started at the age of 14. I was working in the summer for a local bakery and whilst I was there I persuaded the owner to stock Samosas (they were not that popular back then in 1984!) and then got my Mother to make them for me (and made a nice little margin). I then remember one Saturday going around all my local chippies and trying to get orders for our samosas – and I managed to get a lot of orders. Needless to say my parents were very happy (my parents were both out of a job at the time) and then they were able to launch a proper business selling samosas to lot of different businesses (including supplying Selfridges) I also got a big telling off about making margins from them! My father taught me that you should never seek to profit from family and friends. Something that I think is right. If there is an opportunity to make money with friends – that is different from making money from them.
I left school at 16 and then started another business – selling Fire safety equipment on a door to door basis and employed three people (commission only) at one stage. Great fun but I realised that I would benefit from an education and then went back to school to do A levels and went off to Leeds University. Whilst there, I won election to serve as the Financial Affairs Secretary – running the student union enterprises for a year. That was the best experience I could ever have had. Really enjoyed it and I think fair to say I did a good job.
Ernst and Young and Beyond
Since leaving University, I have worked in sales my entire career culminating in my last job as sales and marketing director at Ernst & Young looking after the Entrepreneurial Services division in London. It was a great introduction to the world of Entrepreneurship and whilst I was there I organised the Entrepreneur of the Year competition in London – it was simply a brilliant education!
On My Own and Investing in Others
I left in 2004 and started my own business called Help with Sales. This business did (and still does) three things. Firstly, it trains individuals and teams on how to sell and improve their presentation technique. Secondly, it works with companies on their sales strategy and plans. Finally, I work with start ups on helping them get that critical first sales order!
By accident, I ended up investing in many of the companies I was helping and I have now invested in 16 companies ranging from mobile phone contract lead generation LeadzOnline (www.leadzonline.com)to interior design on the web, MyDeco (www.mydeco.com). Cafes producing fresh daily breads, (Amano) (www.amanocafe.com)to a company supplying the NHS with vegetarian condoms!
I like to invest in companies and people that I like and I understand (I confess to investing in a business I did not understand and lost my money!). Through this activity I have built up a wealth of contacts and I organise an annual get together which is well attended and helps the businesses by getting together with other interesting people – great things happen. More about the event later!
I am now on the board of the EISA www.eisa.org.uk If you are serious about either raising money for your business or looking to invest in a company – do check out the website for some really good tips on making the tax system work for you. The Chair of EISA, Howard Flight also happens to be one of the best people you could ever hope to meet.
Earlier this year, I also co-founded a Fund Management business called Flight & Partners www.flightandpartners.com which now has around £15m under management and invests in the turnaround sector. In order to become a Director of this business, I had to gain FSA approval and had to sit exams last year – they were not easy and I swear no more exams for me!
Anyway, I hope all of the above helps explain who I am and where my passion for business comes from.
Technorati Tags: Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year, Help with Sales, LeadzOnline, MyDeco, Amano, vegetarian condoms, EISA, Howard Flight, Flight & Partners
Hi and welcome to my blog. 
