Scaling up: Overcoming the challenges – Investec Comment July 12, 2015 Business growth takes many forms, but some companies have the capacity to achieve truly remarkable rates of expansion. They are scaling up: increasing revenues at a rate of over 20 per cent annually for more than a couple of years. This phenomenon is not exclusive to fast-growing markets or sectors. It may be that [...]
Olympic medallist and entrepreneur Hannah MacLeod talks Rio 2016 and mining magnesium July 5, 2015 Sitting down for an interview wasn’t easy for Hannah MacLeod. Not because she is busy (though she is), but because she’s currently suffering from “a couple of broken ribs”. The Olympic Bronze medallist shrugs it off – it “comes with the job” – but playing hockey for Great Britain isn’t the only one she has. [...]
What entrepreneurs can learn from sport – Investec Comment July 5, 2015 It's as true in sport as it is in business: everything you do has a risk attached. I’m a rower and have been training for the past two years to compete at the Paralympic Games in Rio next year, but there was nothing inevitable about me getting to this stage in my career. Before [...]
Natoora’s Franco Fubini on why he prefers Italy’s food to its labour laws June 28, 2015 It is a promising time for Britain’s premium food sector. Last year, sales of organic food rose by 4 per cent to £1.86bn and specialised suppliers have been looking to capitalise on a disenchantment with supermarkets. Franco Fubini is one of them. “I was in the fresh produce section of a chain of delicatessens [...]
Investec Comment: Asset finance for startups: How it can help June 28, 2015 MUCH of the discussion about small business finance focuses on the very early stages of a company’s life. Will a bank lend the money it needs for its initial stages of growth? If not, what other options does that firm have? What can be done to make it easier for very new companies to borrow? [...]
London takes the lead in Bitcoin innovation June 28, 2015 London is fast becoming a global hub for development of innovations using digital currency Bitcoin. City institutions including the Bank of England, Barclays, UBS and Goldman Sachs are all looking into the potential for using Bitcoin to speed up processes in traditional finance. TRANSPARENCY Bitcoin is a digital currency which is bought online and [...]
The employment landscape has never been so good for entrepreneurs June 24, 2015 THERE is a myth that should be dispelled. Despite many commentators and business owners believing the contrary, it’s relatively easy to hire and fire employees in Britain. This myth gained particular currency prior to recent legislative changes but still persists. Since 6 April 2012, employees must have been employed by a company for two [...]
Inside the world of mine clearance: TDI’s Hugh Morris talks booby traps, Islamic State and why trust really matters June 21, 2015 There are 110m unexploded mines in the world today. And that’s the number under the ground – it doesn’t include those being stored, transported or created. “The saddest thing about Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya is that this is destruction on repeat,” says Hugh Morris, founder and managing director of landmine clearance company The Development Initiative [...]
How entrepreneurs can gain from corporate social responsibility – Investec Comment June 21, 2015 Businesses of all sizes can enrich people’s lives through more than just the products or services they sell. Strategically chosen community partnerships can have valuable mutual benefits, and keep employees and clients inspired. To ensure your corporate social responsibility initiatives gain traction, you should partner with people whose values align with your own. A great [...]
