Mark Stott founded overseas investment property firm Select Property in 2004. In a few short years, the Cheshire-born entrepreneur has built a portfolio in Dubai, Spain and Turkey worth £1.3bn. He credits Jim Collins’s “bus” philosophy as a driver behind his success.
If you’ve ever thought that devolved accounting is just a ruse for the finance department to shift some of its workload to other departments, then think again. It certainly means that non-finance staff do become more involved in the accounting process but typically the results are beneficial for the whole organisation.
Richard Branson loves a market in flux. Following the turmoil in the banking system, the Virgin boss is considering launching a rival to the high street banks through Virgin Money.
By Kate Bassett
Brian Burnie spent more than £16m transforming Doxford Hall in Northumberland into one of the country’s most luxurious spa hotels. And now he’s selling his entire empire to help cancer sufferers.
Beauty magnate Rob Calcraft gave £10,000 of his fortune to the Thrift Charitable Trust after spending a week undercover at the Burrow-based charity for the Secret Millionaire TV show. But now enraged Thrift founder Colin Biggs is giving it all away…
By Kate Bassett
No wonder Chris Rea is happy. The owner of AESSEAL and speaker at this year’s Entrepreneurs’ Summit has been preparing for this recession for ten years and his company has just added a record four Queen’s Awards to its collection of seven.
The Apprentice last night. Oh my word. I wanted to throw the remote control, my cup of tea, the cat, anything! at the television over the course of episode four.
Alesha Dixon. Jamelia. Martin Sheen. Emilia Fox. Ben Ainsley. A host of stars from stage, screen, music and sport were present for the Prince’s Trust 2009 Celebrate Success Awards at the Odeon Leicester Square.
As businesses across the board report falling sales, one sector remains buoyant. The franchise industry is booming. Pizza delivery chain Domino’s has seen a 10 per cent increase in sales since the recession bit. Real Business talks to one franchisee to find out why.
By Martin Dunne
Real Business agony uncle Martin Dunne is the answer to all your accounting woes. Each week he will tackle another problem faced by entrepreneurs. This week: “What are the pros and cons of setting up a separate limited company?”
