Real Business - Daily Insights

Daily Insight: Blue-rinse entrepreneurs make millions

Kate Pritchard — 2008-03-04T17:41:35+00:00

They started out selling their home-made chutney to the WI and school fetes. Now two mums-turned-mavericks have clinched a big-bucks deal with Waitrose to supply their luxury range of Anglo-Indian sauces. Read

Daily Insight: Sainsbury's surgery entrepreneur Jiva: Tesco turned me down

Carryn Dewing — 2008-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Mohammed Jiva, the doctor entrepreneur who is behind the trial of the in-supermarket surgery in Sainsbury’s that opens today, says Tesco and Asda weren’t interested in the idea when he approached them. Read

Daily Insight: Why school stinks

Kate Pritchard — 2008-02-27T15:50:22+00:00

Starting out with just a tool kit and a van, Charlie Mullins has built a £15m-turnover plumbing business, unblocking drains for the likes of Jonathan Ross, Eric Clapton and Gordon Ramsay. His biggest regret? “I left school when I was 15. I wish I’d escaped much earlier.” Read

Daily Insight: The science of hiring good employees

Rebecca Burn-Callander — 2008-02-27T14:15:18+00:00

There’s no precise formula to hiring good people,” says Jason Stockwood, international MD of Match.com. “But I do have one piece of advice.” Read

Daily Insight: Entrepreneurs and FDs go hand in hand

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-26T16:12:27+00:00

Employing a good finance director to keep a watchful eye on costs is the most important thing a fast-growing company can do, according to Vtesse Networks founder Aidan Paul. Read

Sales: SMEs walk First Mile to greener businesses

Carryn Dewing — 2008-02-25T14:20:49+00:00

Eco-entrepreneur Bruce Bratley’s business collection service for waste electrical and electronic products and batteries has already attracted 200 clients less than three months after its launch. Read

Sales: TMTI builds “gadget doctor” business

Kate Pritchard — 2008-02-20T18:41:17+00:00

Entrepreneur Crispin Thomas’s TMTI has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies by teaching customers how to work the bewildering features on their mobile phones and other gadgets. Read

Sales: Knowledge is power in the travel game

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-20T14:34:46+00:00

Exemplary customer service and a thorough knowledge of the world's hottest tourist destinations have contributed to Audley Travel's speedy sales growth, says founder Craig Burkinshaw. Read

Sales: Making money from energy savings

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-07T15:58:59+00:00

Saving energy is good for the environment and for your bank balance, and it’s a habit Opus Energy MD Charlie Crossley Cooke is encouraging among his customers. Read

Sales: Sex toys: full steam ahead

Rebecca Burn-Callander — 2008-02-04T18:11:24+00:00

If you’re looking to make a quick wad in the sex toy market, you might consider a drop ship scheme. Monique Carty, founder of Sextoys.co.uk, did. Read

Leadership: Communication the key to smooth business name change

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-26T17:23:54+00:00

Jay O’Connor executed an internal and external communications programme when the PR agency she co-founded in 1998 changed its name after being sold to US firm Racepoint Group. Read

Leadership: The wind of change blows through Mr Clutch

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-22T09:12:41+00:00

Joseph Yussuf, founder of Mr Clutch Autocentres, believes change is vital for a business to survive and thrive. That’s why he promotes a “change culture” within his company. Read

Leadership: Tyrrell’s gets into vodka, and it’s no small potatoes

Rebecca Burn-Callander — 2008-02-21T16:29:04+00:00

The Hereford-based potato chip manufacturer discovers a new use for its waste potatoes – and it ain’t compost. Read

Leadership: Pret a Manger: sale to Bridgepoint imminent

Matthew Rock — 2008-02-21T10:29:51+00:00

On the eve of the sale, here are seven facts about Pret a Manger entrepreneur co-founders, Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham. Read

Leadership: Red tape saves small business? Eh?

Rebecca Burn-Callander — 2008-02-19T17:26:36+00:00

Angus Macdonald bought a failing waste recycling company in 2007 for the princely sum of £100,000. But what made him think he could turn the bankrupt firm around? Read

Technology: IT entrepreneur goes green

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-27T16:00:45+00:00

Entrepreneur-led software company Access Accounting has launched what it says is the first accounting package that offers an integrated method of measuring carbon emissions. Read

Technology: Affinity marketing: tips for success

John Darlington — 2008-02-19T11:08:49+00:00

John Darlington, founder of Best Pet Pharmacy, on effective affinity programmes and shoestring marketing. Read

Technology: Sage 50 Accounts 2008 - update

David Longworth — 2008-02-06T14:31:39+00:00

It's the biggest software launch for small businesses and SMEs this year. How is it for you...? Read

Technology: Sage 50 Accounts 2008: review

David Longworth — 2008-02-05T10:42:18+00:00

The new Sage 50 2008 accounting package (formerly Line 50) is good, but is it flexible enough to grow with your business? Read

Technology: Social networking: dishing the dirt on CEOs

Melissa Hancock — 2008-02-05T09:14:17+00:00

Recruiters today are shelling out to get the low-down on senior recruits from blogs and social networking sites. No wonder reputation management company Reputica’s new CEO search service is taking off. Read

Your People: Internet franchisor's recruitment advice

Kate Pritchard — 2008-02-25T16:10:34+00:00

Entrepreneur Nigel Botterill has just hired an MD to take over the day-to-day running of thebestof.co.uk, his £7m-turnover franchising business. But finding the right man for the job was a tough task: “It took me nine months to replace myself.” Read

Your People: Oriel shares the wealth with staff

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-22T09:54:33+00:00

Oriel Securities CEO Simon Bragg says the best way to get the most out of employees is to give them a stake in the business. Read

Your People: Millionaire plumber bans builder's bum

Kate Pritchard — 2008-02-21T17:18:22+00:00

Charlie Mullins has built a £15m-turnover plumbing business and counts celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey and floppy-haired actor Hugh Grant as his clients. So what’s his secret? “I set strict rules of appearance for my employees. No one wants a sloppy bastard with his arse hanging out his pants wandering around their house.” Read

Your People: Office gossip: the cure

John Timpson — 2008-02-21T11:43:52+00:00

Office gossip is the bane of many offices and workplaces. Here's the remedy, from Britain's favourite cobbler, John Timpson. Read

Your People: Boffins bring in the bucks

Kate Pritchard — 2008-02-18T15:31:18+00:00

Winton Capital is no ordinary investment firm full of brash, city-slicker fund managers. This “managed futures adviser” employs researchers with PhDs in subjects such as theoretical physics and actuarial science. And it’s raking in millions. Read

Money: Buy-to-let property market: one million loans

Matthew Rock — 2008-02-26T16:46:02+00:00

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) announced today that more than one million loans have been taken out. The buy-to-let king, Andreas Panayiotou, says a long-term view is the secret. Read

Money: Kurt Geiger management lead successful buyout

Matthew Rock & Real Deals — 2008-02-25T10:08:17+00:00

Trot out the shoe cliches. Kurt Geiger managers have laced up the deal. Read

Money: Print entrepreneur takes "sensible price" for business

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-22T08:34:15+00:00

Charterhouse CEO Gary Mahoney chose not to compromise the ownership of the business in return for more cash when the entrepreneur took external investment in the print management company. Read

Money: You're an idiot if you overlook finance

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-20T14:59:26+00:00

A good finance team will help make a success of a growing company, argues SpinVox CFO Andrew Cherry. Read

Money: The end of venture capital?

Matthew Rock & Real Deals — 2008-02-19T14:54:15+00:00

Depressing news today from 3i, the UK's biggest venture capital firm, that it's reining back on its investments in early-stage businesses. Read

27 Ways: ... to slash your tax bill

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-07T16:02:34+00:00

Why cough up more cash to the tax man than you need to? Read our guide on lowering your personal and company tax bill. Read

27 Ways: ...to survive an economic downturn

Catherine Woods — 2008-02-01T16:34:28+00:00

Worried about your business’s ability to survive an economic downturn? Fear not! Here are some tips on helping your company through the tough times. Read

27 Ways: ... to sack your staff

Kate Pritchard — 2008-01-16T10:14:10+00:00

The key HR steps to successfully laying off staff. Plus: what to do about employees and Facebook. Read

27 Ways: ... to shrink your carbon footprint

Paul Allen — 2007-11-22T11:27:39+00:00

Cut your "carbs", push up profits and take the step towards a profitable future with our 27 ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Read

27 Ways: ...to get your MP behind your business

Rebecca Burn-Callander — 2007-10-29T15:53:41+00:00

Politicians can be a slippery bunch. Whether you choose to grease their palms or use a bit of old-fashioned diplomacy, here's 27 ways to get your MP working for your business. Read