Acquisition rescues failing ISP
When a goliath like BT gobbles up a small internet firm, you expect redundancies, rules and piles of regulation. Not so, says PlusNet director Neil Armstrong.
“Am I using my colour to sell sausages? Damn right”
The Black Farmer, Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, took inspiration from Virgin tycoon Richard Branson when he launched his sausage business, using shock tactics to create a memorable brand.
Knightsbridge-based car club cashes in on supercars
Chirag Shah and Anastasio van Bilderbeek only launched Quadriga last month, but their high octane car rental business is 0-60mph in record time.
I’ve seen Terminal 5 for myself
I wrote a story about Heathrow Terminal 5 for the May issue of Real Business so I was particularly excited about flying from there to Glasgow this week.
A tale of two FDs
In the space of a week, I met two finance directors that work for two very different companies.
Entrepreneurs lend a hand to growing business
Camaraderie among entrepreneurs – both new and established – is alive and well if Boudiche co-founder Clare Thommen’s experience is anything to go by.
?Credit crunch? That?s nothing. The radio recession was a stinker!?
Jonny Gould, founder of sponsored radio broadcaster Sportsmedia.co.uk has yet to feel the effects of the credit crunch, but the recession in 2000 slowed growth to single digits.
The Apprentice: who’s passing the fitness test?
This episode became a physical challenge, and only one contestant was going to be the loser.
Bohemian turns businessman
How on earth did a hippy who received no formal education and spent his childhood travelling around in caravans end up running a £1m bespoke furniture design company?
Boris Johnson joins line-up for CBI Business Summit
Boris Johnson, newly elected Mayor of London, will address the CBI Business Summit next month about opportunities for entrepreneurs at the 2012 Olympics. It will be his first major speech to businesses about London 2012.
Diamond in the rough
Depressed. Drifting. Unemployed. Four years ago, the prospects for Norwegian jewellery designer Cathrine Bysheim looked bleak. Now she’s running her own business and is about to crack Australia, thanks to the Prince’s Trust.
Founders dig into their own pockets to launch Hubworking
Andrew Ferdinando and Simon Read explored a plethora of funding options before deciding to use their own money to launch Hubworking, a company that rents out conference and meeting rooms to small businesses.