Real Business

Our own editorial director and Caspian co-founder Stuart Rock last week chaired the European Business Angels Network annual Congress in Istanbul, only to find all flights back cancelled from April 16. It wasn't long before all flights from Turkey (in all directions, including east) were either fully booked or cancelled.

So our colleague's epic journey began. Latest reports today (19.4.10) have Stuart and fellow delegates 10km from the Serbian border in Bulgaria, en route via coach to Munich. We are hoping to welcome him back sometime later this week.

Update [16.00 on 19.4.10]: our intrepid colleague Stuart is now at a service station just over the Serbian border. Unlike here in sunny UK, it's pouring with rain. First impressions of Serbia: "much more advanced and EU-like than Bulgaria!" The bus is crammed with fellow European migrants working their way home, including Dean of Business and Queen's University Belfast Richard Harrison and Moldovan microfinance expert Jim Pemberthy (yes, really). Their trip takes them through Serbian, Slovenia, Austria and then Germany. Good luck, guys, we'll keep you posted.

Update [08.00 on 20.4.10]: text from Stuart that "Dawn is beautiful in Slovenia, on the way to Austria. Hurrah". Begs one question: who's Dawn? Sounds like your trip's taken a turn for the better, Stu. Back in Blighty, the BBC reports that: "Some domestic UK flights have taken off after five days of disruption but a second volcanic ash cloud from Iceland has hit plans to reopen airspace.

"The first planes from Edinburgh and Glasgow were among a few internal flights scheduled from Scotland.

"Air traffic control body Nats said a new ash cloud meant uncertainty and the situation was worsening in some areas."

Update [15.00 on 20.4.10]: "after 34 hours and seven countries, now in Germany for 36 hours. Should be back in London by Thursday evening." Only one week late, Stuart!

Update [06.30 on 22.4.10]: almost there, Stuart is now on the train from Munich to Paris, with a late night train back to London booked. Can anything else go wrong?

Similar torrid travellers' tales bedevil the business world. Former Dragon Doug Richard was due to host a major debate this week around his "Entrepreneurs' Manifesto. Doug argues, in his usual vociferous style, that specific steps must be taken to encourage UK enterprise. These include:

1.    Scrap Business Link to provide savings and migrate government business support services online to promote efficiency. Measure achievement by number businesses started and sustained by the programme.
2.    Simplify regulation to encourage people to start businesses by cutting red tape and easing obligations.
3.    New structures to empower individuals, such as friends and family, to invest in small businesses.
4.    Skills development focus by supporting small businesses to train employees. Business owners to be paid a subsidy for passing on marketable skills.
5.    Mandate government to procure from small UK businesses through a minimum quota.
6.    Broaden the scope for social entrepreneurs by creating new legal frameworks while increasing scope for outside investment and maintaining the benefits that accrue to CICs and other CLGs.
7.    Introduce fast broadband to every home and business in the UK.
8.    Nationwide programme of entrepreneurship teaching and mentoring.

All great stuff and vital to the future of UK business. Sadly, Richard and colleagues will have to postpone the big debate as the software entrepreneur is stranded in Kenya.

And his former Dragons' Den colleagues are having to delay filming of the new series as Peter Jones is stuck in Barbados (along with Peter Sissons, apparently, who is due to chair an event of ours this week).

If you're struggling to get back to the UK, have been hit by the ash cloud or have an uplifting tale of defiance to tell, we want to know. Email: jason@realbusiness.co.uk