Local boy's a cut above the rest

Thursday night was an evening of celebratory achievement as Entrepreneurs’ Forum and If we can, you can member Darren Williams, founder of hair and beauty business Hair X-Tensions, took home the title of North East Young Business Executive of the Year at the annual awards run by the Journal and the Evening Gazette.

The award caps an extraordinary year for the Sunderland based firm, which Darren established in 2005 with his partner Angela Place. The Young Business Executive of the Year award is their tenth award in thirteen months, recent accolades include the British Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Award, the Entrepreneur of the Year title for Sunderland Portfolio Awards and the If we can, you can Face of Entrepreneurship 2011, run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Serial entrepreneurs Darren and Angela set Hair X Tensions up to produce 100 per cent quality hair for a global market, traded through the website www.buyhair.co.uk¹. The firm is currently in negotiations with a high profile celebrity to bring out a range of hair extensions to retail through supermarkets and high street giants.

The evening itself consisted of extreme high jinks for Darren, who moved mountains to ensure he made it to the stage on time to accept his trophy. Despite being struck with car trouble and weather warnings, Darren’s determination to accept his award shone through. He made a heroic effort to get there in time, trekking most of the journey to the awards venue, the Gosforth Park hotel, and arrived minutes before being announced as the Young Business Executive of the Year, heavily exhausted but bursting with pride .

Speaking about his latest win, modest Darren said he was “extremely honoured and grateful to be recognised for all of their hard work. Not even the treacherous weather conditions were going to stop me standing up there with the best in business; I abandoned the car, slipped on my walking boots and started out on the route to Newcastle, just making it in time”.

Also taking away awards during the evening, were an illustrious list of business big hitters;

• Teesside and North East Business Executive of the Year - Stewart Smith, Ramsdens Financial, Middlesbrough

• Tyneside and Northumberland Business Executive of the Year - Andrew Esson, managing director, ContiTech Beattie

• Durham and Wearside Business Executive of the Year - Tony Cleary, managing director, Lanchester Wine Cellars

• Lifetime Achievement - Dr Herbert Loebl

• Non-Executive Director of the Year - sponsored by a consortium of local businesses: Stewart Vaughan

Win a Website with launch of Siteroom.co.uk

To celebrate the launch of Siteroom.co.uk, founder Dan Brady is pleased to announce a new competition to win an editable website along with 2 years of support and hosting for one lucky growing business.

There are three easy ways to enter the competition. You can use Twitter, Facebook or email. Simply head to www.siteroom.co.uk/win for information on how to enter.

The prize includes:

1. A professionally-designed, easy-to-update editable website, chosen from SiteRoom’ selection of stunning, high quality web templates.

2. Marketing advice: ways to market your business, including the use of social media (Twitter, Facebook etc).

3. SiteRoom will even upload your content, and provide 2 years‘ support and hosting.


The closing date for this competition is 1st December 2010 23:59 GMT. Any entries submitted after that time will not be eligible to win.

For full details on the competition and what you could win, please head to www.siteroom.co.uk/win

Sadie Scoops Top Retail Award

It’s a double celebration for Sadie Ayton after winning the prestigious Lingerie Retailer of the Year award at the 20th annual Drapers Awards.

The event, held to celebrate the best in UK fashion and retail, saw over 1,000 of the UK’s top fashion stores and brands come together for a glamorous ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 17th November.

Sadie, who also celebrates 40 years in business this year, was joined on-stage by her granddaughter and her husband Tom after receiving her award.

Operating four stores in Consett, Darlington, Sunderland Ashington, Sadie the bra Lady beat off stiff competition from the likes of Debenhams to take home the award, presented by TV personality and model Lisa Snowdon. Stocking brands including Fantasie, Gossard and Curvy Kate, Sadie the bra Lady takes over from the 2009 winner Boudiche of Glasgow.

The region’s top female winners are revealed

The achievements of inspirational women whose entrepreneurial and leadership skills have helped to boost the region’s economy in the last year, were celebrated on Friday night.

The winners of the 11th Annual Women Into the Network (WIN) Awards were revealed at a glittering ceremony in the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel.

The prestigious Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship was picked up by Lilian Mains, chair of North East training business Zodiac Training, which has fast become a national provider of specialist courses and consultancy for employers.

The Durham County Council-sponsored small business category was picked up by Angela Place, founder of hair and beauty business Hair X Tensions.

The judges cited the impressive way in which she has quickly grown her online firm and her vision for the future - which involves building an international presence and creating jobs - as key to her award victory.

The Best New Business category, backed by Business Link, was won by Jo Foster, who runs Northumberland-based flowers, chocolate and wine business Dillies.

Ms Foster was recognised for her boldness in starting a business in the recession and, according to the judges, sets an example of how personal service can give you the edge on mainstream retailers.

Cathi Harrison, founder of Para-Sols, was hailed for her bravery in sacrificing a full-time job during a recession to go it alone as she picked up the award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Gateshead Council.

The company offers paraplanning services such as research and analysis to businesses in a largely male-dominated sector.

Other winners included Deloris Martin of Sunderland Dance, who won the social enterprise category, Joanne Feeley of Trend Bible, who was named Best Creative Business and Alison Taylor of Food Local Food, who was recognised for her use of technology to develop her business.

WIN chair Nickie Gott, who also runs events management company She’s Gott It!, said: “The standard of entry this year was extremely high and of course, there were many difficult decisions to make in selecting the winners.

“I would like to congratulate all of the shortlisted companies for showing incredible determination, leadership ability and entrepreneurship in these difficult economic times.”

This year’s awards were designed by specialist glass products firm Creative Glass, based in Stockton-on-Tees.

The awards were sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund, Business Link, SpaceCraft, North East Social Enterprise Partnership, Durham County Council, Once upon a Tyne Productions, Barbour and Gateshead Council.

For more information on WIN, visit: www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk.

Here is the full list of winners from this year’s WIN awards:


Best New Business, sponsored by Business Link
Jo Foster, Dillies

Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Gateshead Council
Cathi Harrison, Para-Sols

Best Small Business, sponsored by Durham County Council
Angela Place, Hair X Tensions Ltd

Best Retail Business, sponsored by Barbour
Susan Routledge, Finishing Touch Health & Beauty Clinic

Best Creative Business, sponsored by SpaceCraft
Joanna Feeley, Trend Bible

Best Home-based Business, sponsored by Women Into the Network
Rachel Poad, Rachel Poad Interiors

Best Use of Technology, sponsored by Once upon a Tyne Productions
Alison Taylor, Food Local Food

Best Rural Business, sponsored by Women Into the Network
Amynta Ward-Aldam, Tulip and Nettle

Best Social Enterprise, sponsored by North East Social Enterprise Partnership
Deloris Martin, Sunderland Dance CIC

The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship, sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund
Lilian Mains, Zodiac Training

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK Day 5: Do you need a lot of money to start a business?

Welcome to our fifth and final blog post for 2010’s Global Entrepreneurship Week. Thank you all for reading and for your terrific contributions – it’s been great to see the coverage and level of engagement at a time when GEW couldn’t be more significant.

Today’s post is looking at the myth that you need a lot of money to start a business. For many thinking of starting out in business finance can be either the first or the final stumbling block. Today’s entrepreneurs prove that it doesn’t need to be. Admittedly some businesses wouldn’t get off the ground without investment but persistence, determination and creativity are often enough to overcome any financial obstacles.

Read on below for the experiences and opinions of those involved in the If we can, you can community and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

If you have a story to share, please leave your comments here, or visit our Facebook page to take part in the debate. We know there is more than one side to every story so if you have an experience or opinion about any of these myths we’ve been talking about this week, please do get involved and air your voice.


Myth 5: You need a lot of money to start a business

Mark Ions, Exclusive Human Resources: “When I started out, I didn’t have a bottomless pit of money by any means; my family and I risked everything to do this. We had to make sure that we could survive for the first three to six months because there was no guaranteed income. We didn’t forecast any figures for those months; it would have been unrealistic since no one knew who we were. But we did reduce all of our outgoings just to make sure we could survive. I did things like borrowing my granddad’s old car and that really helped take the pressure off for that first period.”


Judith Addyman, RDA Ltd: My husband and I started the business in March 2007 following joint redundancy. We very quickly realised that we would both either have to sign on the dole or do something quick to earn some income.

Our initial “getting our first job off the ground” proved to be quite a bit of a challenge. We needed to invest a substantial amount whilst having no trading history or credit accounts set up with our suppliers. We managed to overcome this by being totally honest and managing to persuade our very first client to fund the project up-front for us! This was a £450k food court on the end of Brighton Pier and the client was the Noble Organisation!


John Hays, Hays Travel: “I started with a blank sheet of paper. I didn’t have an expertise in anything really, but I had a whole lot of ideas which I thought might be business worthy, so I just wrote them all down.

My criteria was that it couldn’t need a lot of working capital because I simply didn’t have any, it needed to be a growth business, and it needed to be one where I hoped I could have fun.

One idea I had was to be an undertaker. I’d done a bit of research: the margins were good and it was a nice, steady business. My dad was a joiner so he could make the coffins. But it failed on the third criteria of having fun.

I decided to choose travel as my business as it fulfilled what I wanted to do. It would be a very low cost start up because my mum had recently opened up her own children’s clothes shop and she gave me some space at the back to set up the agency.

My dad built a divide and a counter as well. It was a bit rough and ready and people snagged their clothes as they walked past. All in all the company had pretty humble beginnings.”


Callum Miller, Turbo Connect: I am 43 and married with 3 kids and a mortgage, so when a close friend who had seen what had happened suggested I start up on my own, we both had a laugh about it, as I had no finance and no savings.

It's a passing comment like that, which can completely change your whole life. The seed was planted, I searched on the net for tools and machinery, I knew what I needed, and I also knew all the contacts from my previous employer.

It was then the idea was born to start my own turbocharger remanufacturing business, small scale to start with ( very small scale) I did all my own research, bought units to strip and train myself, sourced consumables, tools and equipment, even started market research and projected cash flows.

I started with nothing and I’m very happy to have done everything on my own, with the full support of my wife, family and friends.

It can be an uphill struggle, a very steep hill, especially when banks will not back you, even though you're making money, you just have to keep going, as it will get harder once you're self employed. I have to say the fight is well worth it though. 100%"


Chris Quickfall, Invate: “After quitting the job I had no money coming in, so I was living on credit cards. I was outlaying all this money but had no idea when it was going to come back. I became poorer than I was when I was a student which I didn’t think was possible. My business was the kind that needed a lot of investment at the start to get it off the ground and I had started completely from scratch.

All my friends from engineering got good, well paid jobs when they graduated. As they were buying TVRs I was thinking, I could afford to buy a few TVR’s with all of this debt.

Trying to set the business up was a bit like being a rabbit caught in the headlights. But that was partly because I vastly underestimated how much support there is out there. We managed to raise finance from the likes of Business Link and Project North East. Prince’s Trust supported us in the form of both loans and grants.

We used that money to go to a bank and say, we’ve got this much through government organisations, can you double it? It was the first time I’d ever negotiated with a bank, and I’d more or less gone in as a student and said, “Can I have some money for free?” After a while though we got the banks to put in some money on top of what we had already.

We used that money to go to another bank to do what’s known as invoice financing. We had some money, but we didn’t have enough to buy, sell and sit and wait for a month for somebody to pay us. So what we did was basically sell our credits to a bank, and they’d give 90% of it back immediately and 8.55% back once our customer paid. That allowed us to have enough working capital to support the business and enable it to grow. We could increase sales without being concerned that we’re going to run out of money in two weeks time. That was one reason that allowed us to grow the company so fast.”


Kate Welch, Acumen Development Trust: I started Acumen Development Trust in 2003 with literally £10 in the bank. We started by using various contract funding to deliver the programmes. I was running the company as a volunteer director and a chair of trustees, and we were very enterprising in the way we tried to make things work as a business.

We found that we’d turned over £400,000 in the first year, with no full time management in the organisation. We were even doing the accounts on an Excel spreadsheet. We thought, we have to do something here.

I went to the Northern Rock Foundation who invested in us by putting £750,000 of funding into what we did for a three year period. It enabled me to run the organisation full time, without other organisations taking a cut from the programme, and the money would go to people in the local area. We would be based on a proper business model and that would allow us to get the best for people."


Remember to add your opinion – leave your comments here or visit our Facebook page. View more videos throughout the week on our TV site here

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK Day 4: Is entrepreneurship only about profit?

Welcome to our fourth Global Entrepreneurship Week blog. Today we’re taking on a myth that we imagine many people will have some strong views about – the myth that entrepreneurship is only about profit. Do you agree or are there other things driving you? Is profit your main driver?

Below are the experiences, views and stories of entrepreneurs involved in the If we can, you can community and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum on the subject.

If you have a story to share, please leave your comments here, or visit our Facebook page to take part in the debate. We know there is more than one side to every story so if you have an experience or opinion about any of these myths we’ve been talking about this week, please do get involved and air your voice.

There is also video content on this topic on our TV channel – click here to view.


Myth 4: Is entrepreneurship only about profit?

Ali McLean, Activities Abroad: “I used to think that business was all about maximising profitability. Now though, I see us as having social responsibilities. Our holidays go to rural areas, small towns and villages. On every trip we adopt a local project and contribute to it.

We’re in the position where we can help other people. It’s fantastic that we’ve got the stage where we can put something back into the places we go to. It’s not just about us, it’s about our employees, it’s about our suppliers and it’s about the communities where we send visitors.”


Kate Welch, Acumen Development Trust: Acumen is a social enterprise that helps people back into work, start businesses or develop their skills by working with various government agencies to deliver contract work which makes that happen for people.

I talked to one of our clients recently who’s been working with a member of our team, Linda, and she burst into tears when she thought about the difference that Linda has made to her life. She gave her a whole set of training, helped her develop her skills, and she got her first ever job. That’s amazing to me, and it spurs me on to get more people engaged.

The most successful entrepreneurs I know- their eyes light up because they’re so excited about what they do, so that passion has got to be there


Video - Tony Moloney, CEO of Enterprise Foods talks about what drives him. Click here to view


Sir Tom Hunter, West Coast Capital: “One of the most satisfying things in the business was seeing us come as the underdog, taking on the number one, toppling them, and then becoming number one ourselves.

Since then, with the money that I’ve earned in the business I’ve been able to become a philanthropist. Putting something back is a great privilege, and quite frankly has been the biggest buzz of all.”

John Hays, Hays Travel: "I don’t think any entrepreneur can say that money isn’t important. If you want to grow your business you need to earn profits to plough back into it to enable it to develop. But money hasn’t been my primary motivator. If money was all I wanted, I could have packed up a long time ago and sold the business. I’ve got no intention of doing that because I enjoy it so much and I’m so proud of it.

To see my staff happy and performing well gives me real pleasure. I created those jobs and to see people that motivated is the best job satisfaction."


Remember to add your opinion – leave your comments here or visit our Facebook page. View more videos throughout the week on our TV site here

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK Day 3 - Are entrepreneurs still seen as stereotypical?

Welcome to our third Global Entrepreneurship Week blog. While most people agree that entrepreneurship is the key to the economy’s recovery, many people still think of entrepreneurs as fitting a certain typecast.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum and their campaign, ‘If we can, you can’ is seeking to explore these myths today as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Below are the experiences, views and stories of entrepreneurs involved in the If we can, you can community and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

If you have a story to share, please leave your comments here, or visit our Facebook page to take part in the debate. We know there is more than one side to every story so if you have an experience or opinion about any of these myths we’ve been talking about this week, please do get involved and air your voice. Thank you so much for your comments so far - you can read the views of others on the previous subjects here

There is also video content on this topic on our TV channel – click here to view.


Ali McLean, Activities Abroad: "You hear about Peter Jones setting up his own tennis academy when he was sixteen. It would never in a million years have occurred to me to even sell sweets to my classmates in school or something. But there does come a time when you realise, you just can’t work for anybody but yourself."


Angela Brown, Training in Childcare: “When I was younger, I thought all business people did was take advantage of people to make money. Sharks in suits really. I think that’s the public perception of entrepreneurs: just people who chase cash.

However, the most successful people I know have not been driven by money or the desire to be multimillionaires by the time they’re a certain age. Business people chase a variety of things, be it an idea or a dream they have, or just something they have a passion for and will drive them to reach a goal. If they’re true to what they believe in, they’re the ones who appear to me to be the most successful. I’m quite proud to call myself a businesswoman now.”


Ian Smith, Surreal Creative: Over the last 30 years my job titles have included book binder, print finisher, estimator, production manager, salesman, software consultant, sales director, sales & marketing director and finally an owner manager.

Since 1998 I had been sales and marketing director at a design and print company (and before that I had been self employed as a consultant within the printing sector). I had become frustrated with the lack of trust in people’s natural abilities and its belief in KPIs. I am not saying these are not required in business but a lot of the time they dehumanise the process. If you measure everything then people stop being people. It was this loss of the business being about the people that made me realise I needed to change what I was doing.

I was just unhappy with my existing role and, having done a lot of work about myself while studying NLP, I realised that the only person who could change that was me! I looked into a number of options and the day I walked out (yes just walked out) I had numerous offers of work including other directorships. Deep down though I knew it was time for me to go it alone!

Eddie Czestochowski, Cell Pack Solutions: “I’m not what you would call a naturally clever person; nor am I a Richard Branson. I suppose I’m a living example that ordinary people can do this sort of thing, and I’m always trying to encourage that message.

I’m able to see my kids more often than when I was working for somebody else. I used to travel for three or four days at a time at someone else’s beck and call. Now, I can come home whenever I want. That does mean that I sometimes work at the weekend, but my family comes first and my work can fit around them.”


Louise Bell, Healthy Glow: “I was really pretty naïve and probably didn’t know much about running a business even though I was convinced I had something worth pushing and the determination to get Healthy Glow going, whatever it took.

How times have changed. And I’ve learnt so much in such a short space of time."


Emily Pitkethly, Emily’s Ark: “I started my business with no training, no money and no help. Every challenge that business sent my way I learned to cope with- when we began to need a website I taught myself web design as having one made professionally was too expensive, when we needed to keep detailed books and use accounting software I taught myself the basics and went from there. I started by having a small stall at Hexham Christmas Market, my confidence was low and I didn't expect to sell anything- so when I sold out I was thrilled!

Jonathan Wade, Neuro Partners: “Of course I want a good living but I’m in my mid 40’s now and I wanted something of mine to be left behind, I wanted something to be proud of.”


Remember to add your opinion – leave your comments here or visit our Facebook page. View more videos throughout the week on our TV site here

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK: Myth Two: Is Entrepreneurship a Solo Activity?

Welcome to our second Global Entrepreneurship Week blog. Today we are concentrating our attention on the myth that Entrepreneurship is seen as a solo activity. Below are the views, experiences and opinions of entrepreneurs involved in the If we can, you can community and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum on the subject.

And if you have a story to share, please leave your comments here, or visit our Facebook page to take part in the debate. We know there is more than one side to every story so if you have an experience or opinion about some of these myths, please do get involved and air your voice.

There is also video content on this topic on our TV channel – click here to view.

Day 2: The myth that entrepreneurship is a solo activity

Christian Cerisola, Quay2 Media: “I think there was a sense of fear between myself and my business partner, Antonia, about taking the leap of faith that is setting up your own business. But we felt safer in the knowledge that we were doing it together; that there’s someone else in your shoes who’s thinking the same way.

I moved to the North East in 2001 and joined a Newcastle-based PR company. It was while I was there that I met Antonia and we spent a lot of time together working on various accounts and we realised that we worked very well together.

We realised that we both harboured the same ambitions to run our own PR agency, but we also both had the same fears so it seemed an obvious solution to both of us that we would hold each other’s hands through the process.

We’ve both got young families so there were all these sorts of things running through our minds like ‘what if it all goes wrong?’ There were a million reasons why we shouldn’t do it. The hard bit was actually to say yes, let’s make this commitment, let’s go ahead and do it.

When we did, it felt like a huge relief because we were able to carry out our passion and enthusiasm on something that we had created ourselves.

I think you need to ignore the many, many reasons why you think you shouldn’t do it and go for those one or two reasons why you think you should.

I think that was the thing that nearly stopped me, but I hate to think that I almost didn’t go for it and not done what we’re actually doing now, looking back at what we’ve achieved over the past four years is staggering.”


Sir Peter Vardy, The Vardy Group of Companies: "My weakness is accountancy. I’m absolutely hopeless. It doesn’t matter if I work for the next ten years to be an accountant; I would never make it. So what I had to do very early on was get somebody whose strength was my weakness. The complementary team that I’ve had over the years meant that I could do what I did best, and they could do what they did best.

Some budding entrepreneurs who I know don’t invest in that financial stability of having a good accountant who keeps you right all the time, keeps you on the right path, and helps you focus all of your energy into doing the things you’re good at."


Video clip: Tony Moloney, CEO of Enterprise Foods talks about the value of working with others. View the interview here


Tony Trapp, IHC Engineering Business: “It was a very unlikely start for us, and if you did any analysis you’d say, “Don’t do it, it looks ridiculous.” We were trying to compete with a very well established and wealthy global leader, and we had nothing. It looked like an unlikely prospect.

Four of us started the business, based in my own house for nine months. We had various restrictions on what we could do so it was a very difficult time. But we actually enjoyed it a lot - we often sat out in my garden, had lunch, and developed exciting new ideas from scratch.

We never had what you could formally call a business plan, but I always wanted the company to operate like a big company from the outset. It had to have proper meetings and proper documented information and an idea of where it was going.

I was keen to bring in a non executive director, a mate of mine from Aberdeen who was well experienced in running businesses. Later we got another lady from the City of London finance industry, who was a really good person to have as she provided something completely different to us, as five engineers.

Part of the secret is to get different people in your organisation, and if you can get them to work together then you can create some wonderful things. You don’t want clones, you want people with different characteristics.”


Video: Ben Quigley, Sam Morton and Rob Mathieson talk about their operation as team players. View the clip here

Liz Towey and Vicki Sharp, Garden Angels: Both Liz and I have always loved gardening since we were young. We both had our own gardens when we were in our early twenties. When we both had our first child at a similar time (which is how we met) we soon realised that this was something we both really enjoyed doing. We both did a Royal Horticultural Society gardening to formalise what we already knew and then decided that we would take the plunge and start a business together and then see how it went from there. We thought if we’re going to do this we’ll have to do it now, because if we didn’t, then we’ll always have an excuse as to why we can’t.

We had a good idea as to where we wanted to go. My strength is design, so I lead on that side. Liz’s strengths lie within her teaching background, so she wanted to do some work with schools. So from the outset we could see that we had very different skills and strengths which we thought were both useful for the business.

That’s the good thing about both of us having different skill sets. It means that we neither one of us is holding everything in their head at any one time! We very much share the pressures of the business and that’s a good thing about being a partnership because you’re not doing it all on your own.


Carol Metcalfe, Musa Fine Art: “My business partner Hilary came on board with me. She was a fine artist and had been through the same process as me and we’d kept in contact. Hilary said right at the beginning that she’d like to do this with me.

I began to worry because I thought the business wouldn’t make enough money to sustain the two of us but Hilary said I don’t care I want to do it anyway because I love the idea.

We had lots of people telling us, don’t do it together, don’t do things as friends it’s a bad move. But it’s worked out really well and we’re able to bounce ideas off each other.”


Video: Maureen Lindberg and Judith Addyman talk about working with business partners (Unplugged) View the clip here


Jonathan Wade, Neuro Partners (interview): “Although he always thought he would start his own business, Jonathan’s final push came from his close friend who was tired of hearing him moan about work when they were in the pub.

“I spoke to two of my closest colleagues and friends at the time and said “join me, I can’t do this on my own,” they “took a leap of faith, we put our houses on the line and went for it”

Mike Bell, Mutual Inspiration CIC: “After nearly 20 years working solo or in small groups as a personal, leadership and organisational development coach and consultant, I began making the transition from corporate work to social enterprise when I met Steve Day – my now co-founder. We hit it off immediately and shared the same aspirations.

Together, with my wife and business partner Patricia, we created Mutual Inspiration CIC.”


Remember to add your opinion – leave your comments here or visit our Facebook page. View more videos throughout the week on our TV site here

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK: Myth One - Are entrepreneurs born and not made?

Welcome to our first blog post as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. We’re delighted to take part in many activities and events during the week, details of which can be found here.

For our online channels, thought we would use our vast expanse of user stories from the If we can, you can community to dispel some common entrepreneurial myths that currently exist, working with Enterprise UK’s five themed days.

On Monday we’ll tackle the myth that entrepreneurs are born and not made (see below)
On Tuesday it’s the myth that entrepreneurship is a solo activity
Wednesday we’re combating what a stereotypical entrepreneur is
On Thursday we’re challenging the myth that entrepreneurship is only about profit
And finally Friday’s theme is taking on the myth that you need a lot of money to start a business

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week, more than any other, is taking on increased significance.

During Global Entrepreneurship Week we’ll be sharing the thoughts of Entrepreneurs’ Forum members, their guest speakers and those who have put their support behind the Ifwecanyoucan campaign on the various myths that surround entrepreneurship.

And if you have a story to share, please leave your comments below, or visit our Facebook page to take part in the debate. We know there is more than one side to every story so if you have an experience or opinion about some of these myths, please do get involved and air your voice.

The myth that entrepreneurs are born and not made:

Richard Mairs: “There’s always a debate to whether entrepreneurship can be taught or are you born with it? In my opinion it’s a mixture of the two. Although I feel you are born with something special inside you, it takes the correct support or situation to bring it out. My friends, family and loved ones have always been very supportive. In particular my parents who have both helped me massively in helping me realise my dream of running a business. They've given me the support, advice and odd nudge in the right direction towards me achieving my ambitions.

To be a truly successful entrepreneur is different. It takes hard work, determination...and a little bit of luck.”


Video Clip: Paul Callaghan, Chairman of Leighton Group takes on the subject here


Ali McLean share his defining moment of becoming an entrepreneur: “I never had a vision to be self employed, but that was before I realised I was in actual fact, unemployable. You hear about Peter Jones setting up his own tennis academy when he was sixteen. It would never in a million years have occurred to me to even sell sweets to my classmates in school or something. But there does come a time when you realise, you just can’t work for anybody but yourself.

Sat in my parent’s house with no money, no job and no prospects. I decided to get a blank piece of paper and just write down what I liked doing. I was thirty years old and thought my destiny should be defined by now.

On the top of my list were travel and adventure sports. I enrolled on a travel and tourism management course at Northumbria University, after which I got a couple of jobs with some local tour operators.

I had a great boss; he was a brilliant energiser and a fantastic ideas person, but a bit frustrating to be his right hand man. One day he called me into his office and started scrolling on these post it notes saying do this, do that, and I kind of snapped. I told him to stuff his job and I walked out.

I went home to a really quite unhappy wife, then woke up the next morning and surprise surprise I was unemployed. That’s when I sat down and really thought seriously about what the hell I was going to do with my life. I realised that I was unemployable; quite simply, I couldn’t work for anybody else. So I set up my own travel firm in Newcastle in 2000.”


Nickie Gott: “It’s up to the individual to make it happen. You can go for all the advice and support in the world but unless you believe it and are willing to take the ups and downs which comes with being an entrepreneur, it won’t.”

You’ve got to think, as I did, right, I’m going to do this and just go for it, and make sure the people around you share that belief because they’re the ones who will pick you up if things get hard and remind you of why you’re doing it in the first place.”


Carol Metcalfe: “I really think that if you can do the household budget, you can do business finance. If you can make a Sunday dinner and all the time and preparation that goes into that, you can project manage, simple as that.”


Video clip – Paul Campbell offers some words of wisdom here


Tony Trapp spotted an opportunity: “I know some people have a clear vision to set up their own business from when they’re in school. I wasn’t one of them.

I was a University lecturer for five years and although it was working out pretty well and I enjoyed it, I couldn’t see myself doing it for the rest of my life. But at the time I felt locked into the system . I looked round one day in the senior common room and I could see my whole life mapped out in front of me. It wasn’t the life I wanted.

It was only when I gave up my lecturing gig and went back to Newcastle for a temporary research job that business started to feel really interesting to me. This was the start of the North Sea oil boom when people were looking at how they would put pipes on the sea bed and how they would trench them.

Very little was known about it at the time, and huge amounts of money were available to develop the technology, and there were big opportunities for people to develop it, along with new schemes and new patents.”


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Unplugged event increases stellar line-up

To mark the closing day of Global Entrepreneurship Week, If We Can You Can is hosting an Unplugged event in partnership with Get British Business Online, with very special guests who have made their mark in the online industries and are keen to share their thoughts and experiences.

Friday 19th November from 8:30am – 11am at the Regus Centre The Axis Building, Maingate, Kingsway North, Team Valley, Gateshead NE11 0NQ

Using the successful Unplugged format we will hear from experts in the fields of e-commerce, Search Engine Optimisation, Internet Marketing and Web Design. Our speakers will be covering what inspired them to start, the challenges that they’ve overcome, and their experiences within the industry. So far, confirmed to be in the hot seats are If We Can You Can member Darren Williams of Hair X-Tensions Ltd and Pascal Fintoni from The Centre for eBusiness.

We are also delighted to announce the recent addition of Dominic Allon, Agency Leader for Google UK, to the stellar line-up to offer his technical (yet jargon free) expertise and offer hints and tips on the world wide web. Google UK is the biggest market for Google outside the US and the most advanced major country in terms of e-commerce and online advertising spending.

Dominic’s role focuses on helping Google’s agency partners get the most out of the internet and he will be divulging industry secrets and lessons learnt to our guests at this not to be missed event. Before joining Google in January 2007, Dominic worked at The Economist for seven years where he led international ad sales across the prime business and financial categories, and pioneered the Economist Group's integrated sales initiative.

Join us to hear from three industry and entrepreneurial experts, be inspired by their stories and gain invaluable insight from their unique experiences. You will also have the opportunity to chat, mingle and exchange ideas with likeminded people during this informal gathering.

Please be assured that the event will be jargon-free and relevant to anyone in business at any stage, whether you’re a novice on internet marketing, unsure of how to make the most of the internet or are looking to grow your presence online.

For more information, or to register for this breakfast Unplugged event for free, please contact Will McLean on 0191 226 7488 or will@entrepreneursforum.net

Join premier female businesswomen on the 16th at the Tees Valley Conversation Club

Bannatynes Hotel, Southend Avenue, Darlington 16th November 12.30-2.30pm

Conversation Clubs are The place to mix in New York and London and now Darlington has its very own Conversation Club.

The Conversation Club is a lunch club for female businesswomen in Darlington and the Tees Valley although at our lunch last month, women came from as far afield as Newcastle and Yorkshire to attend. Such has been its success that we have now linked up with the prestigious Entrepreneurs Forum and their campaign, 'If we can, you can', to run a range of workshops and networking meetings in the south of the region.

The club is an ideal way for women in business to network and access others expertise over a two course lunch in stylish surroundings and still be back at their desks for an afternoon’s work.

Our next lunch is unmissable, be there and see us unveil details of our new links with the Forum and our Business and Consumer TV channels and what it means for your business.

And as we’re celebrating Global Entrepreneurs Week we have two special price offers - we will keep payment at just £15 this week, which is usually the members only rate, and includes the fantastic two course lunch, but even better you only pay £10 if you bring a friend or colleague.

Follow this link to sign up and pay or email us at linda@lakeywells.co.uk and let us know you would like to attend so we can book your meal.

And don’t forget the first rule of conversation club is talk about conversation club so please do spread the word, this is one meeting you won’t want to miss!

Sign up Here

http://www.lakeywells.co.uk/Conversation.html

Claire launches 19 Marketing

19 Marketing; a Darlington based marketing agency has launched into data profiling and social media marketing with a business focus. Managing Director Claire Mitchell has over 17 years of industry experience and thinks social media is the best way to reach a large client base. Claire has carried out very successful data profiling for her other company Aston Mitchell with great results.

Claire says; “19 Marketing are strategists at heart so we really love data profiling and creating a clear picture of a client’s customer base. It worked so well for Aston Mitchell as we had no idea what type of demographic to attract in such a new market. Data profiling really helped create a clear picture of who to market to and how to achieve our sales goals.”

After having such success with data profiling for Aston Mitchell and really getting to grips with how to use it, Claire has seen how much it could benefit other businesses. She really believes in finding a specific target customer base and looking at what drives those people and their consumer habits. “When I found data profiling it was a dream come true for Aston Mitchell and has done wonders for business. I couldn’t believe more people weren’t using it so that’s when I decided to make it part of the 19 service.”

19 Marketing is a data profiling and social media marketing agency using tools like PR and design but focussing on business strategy. Claire’s plan is simple; “we talk to clients about the ‘big numbers’ they want to achieve then we turn their faceless database into real people and demographics we can build a marketing strategy around.”

With a nomination for Darlington’s service provider of the year in the Retail Awards, 19 are excited for the future and feel like they’re at the start of something big. Claire says 19 are looking forward to attending the ‘Oscars style’ dinner in December: “We’re already planning outfits for the award ceremony and it feels great to be nominated, we just want to go and enjoy ourselves in style!”

Sadie Makes Retail Award Shortlist In Anniversary Year

Congratulations to Sadie Ayton, better known as Sadie The Bra Lady, upon her being shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Lingerie Retailer of the Year’ title, sponsored by Panache.

The awards are organised by Drapers and this year is their 20^th anniversary of celebrating the best of the country’s retail talent.

Sadie, who is celebrated for her unique attention to bra fitting and expert service, first won the coveted award ten years ago and her friends and supporters in the North East are all willing her on to bring the award back to the region again. The award will mean a double celebration for Sadie as this year she is celebrating her 40^th anniversary of the business.

Jessica Brown, editor of Drapers said, “We may be in the midst of some of the toughest trading that the fashion sector has experienced for years, but there are still many success stories that deserve to be celebrated. In fact now, more than ever, is the time for the industry to recognise and reward its very best.”

The awards take place at the Grosvenor Hall Hotel, Park Lane, on the 17^th November. For more information on the ceremony and to see the full shortlist, please visit http://www.drapersawards.co.uk/

Talking of her 40 year reign as an entrepreneur, Sadie says, “Success to me is recognising that more and more people know about what we’re doing here. I’m very close to my customers and every single one of those has been personally, shall I say, handled.”

For more information on Sadie the Bra Lady, please visit http://www.sadiethebralady.com/