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Business education

Business Focus >>

The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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"University is overrated," says teen entrepreneur

by Catherine Woods - Thursday, 22nd May 2008 -

"University is overrated," says teen entrepreneur

Jonathan Whittle has turned his back on university, instead deciding to launch Maggleit.com – a website that aims to change the way people buy and sell products.

“I had a choice to go to university or start a business,” the 19-year-old says. “I decided that I’d be better off starting up a company than spending three years at uni.”

Maggleit.com connects manufacturers directly to their customers, cutting out retail outlets that may increase prices for shoppers or reduce profits for the companies they buy products from.

Whittle has funded the entire venture with his own savings and built the website himself. “I taught myself how to make the website after being quoted thousands of pounds to have someone else build it. It took me three months from start to finish,” he notes.

The site was launched last month and has between 25 and 30 sellers already signed up. The focus now is on attracting buyers to the venture.

So far, Whittle has no regrets about shunning the student life. “Thousands of people do business studies at university – it’s hardly a way of differentiating yourself.

"I think university is overrated.”

Picture source

BUSINESS NEWS >>

"Don't let the market be your boss"

By Kate Pritchard - October 06, 2008 5:57pm GMT

Serial entrepreneur and investor Maxwell Packe says private equity-backed firms have an edge over publicly listed companies. “They don’t have to meet targets set by teenage scribblers,” he says.

“Why bother with an IPO?” asks Audio Network founder

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 06, 2008 3:20pm GMT

Robert Hurst raised £600,000 of seed funding from 40 music composers, sound designers and angels to get his online sound and music portal off the ground. Having organised his own private IPO, he’s suspicious of the traditional listing process.

Five ways to avoid redundancies

By Real Business - October 06, 2008 12:31pm GMT

You’re in a pickle. You desperately need to cut your employee wage bill but you’re reluctant to make redundancies. Fear not. We’ve come up with some alternatives to swinging the scythe.

“Always accept a dinner invitation from an Asian client!”

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 03, 2008 5:29pm GMT

Kamel Hothi arrived in the UK when she was six. As a girl raised in a traditional Indian family, she was never supposed to work, pursue higher education, or even make eye contact with men. Yet now she’s director of Asian Markets at Lloyds TSB, opening up opportunities for hundreds of women just like her.

Good growth for Ted Baker

By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 10:43am GMT

Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin says the clothing retailer remains “understandably cautious” about the second half of the year despite posting a 8.2 per cent increase in revenue to £71.6m.

Brochures on Saving and investing

BUSINESS COMMENT >>

Follow the brothel's lead

By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 3:58pm GMT

If you’re not an Australian, you may not find the following article as amusing as I have.

Economic downturn headlines

By Catherine Woods - October 02, 2008 2:41pm GMT

There’s more doom and gloom in the news today about the economic downturn.

Deal or no deal

By Kate Pritchard - October 01, 2008 3:43pm GMT

Jon Moulton wasn’t exactly exaggerating when he told us the outlook for the private equity industry was gloomy.

Russell Crowe's big banking idea

By Catherine Woods - October 01, 2008 12:01pm GMT

Russell Crowe tries, and fails, to fix Wall Street.

Eco-preneurs in the US

By Catherine Woods - September 26, 2008 5:14pm GMT

It’s always interesting to hear what’s happening within the entrepreneurial community across the pond and an article published today has revealed the growing eco-preneurial movement within the travel and hospitality sectors.

Business Comment 

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