Archive for the ‘News’ Category
The upside of quitting…
Neil Lewis on Thursday, January 5th, 2012Serial quitters explain why quitting is a smart strategic move (often) …. and why the professor of quitting can stop smoking! Wonderful podcast with great stories – which distill all wisdom into ‘sometimes it is smart to quit, sometimes not’. Love it! You can read (or listen) here…
Startup Workshop – Manchester, 12th Oct
Neil Lewis on Monday, September 26th, 2011Thinking of launching a startup business? Or perhaps intersted in joining one as an equity partner? Find out more on what it is like to startup – and whether you are cut out for it – at the Startup Manchester Workshop on 12th Oct.
Startup Workshop – Manchester, 15th Sept, UK
Neil Lewis on Monday, August 29th, 2011Enterprise Freelance Fair have announced their startup workshop for freelancers and entrepreneurs in Manchester on the 15th of September. Click here for more information on the startup workshop…
Business Accelerators in UK, Europe, Germany, France and Spain
Neil Lewis on Friday, July 22nd, 2011List of the current business accelerators in UK, Europe, Germany, France and Spain.
Success is going from failure to failure…
Neil Lewis on Friday, July 8th, 2011“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. ” - Abraham Lincoln -
Success defined by failure – Winston Churchill
Neil Lewis on Friday, May 13th, 2011“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm” Sir Winston Churchill
Richard Branson “British business people get too much education”
Neil Lewis on Sunday, April 24th, 2011Richard Branson believes that British business people get too much education and that accademic life does not equip people for entrepreneurship. He is quoted as saying that “schooling does not prepare you for the business world.”
100 Rules: “A bible for anyone planning to sell to the Dragons or try out The Apprentice”
Neil Lewis on Monday, January 24th, 2011“A bible for anyone planning to sell to the Dragons or try out The Apprentice” The Weekly News, 22/01/11
100 Rules – “Ultimate companion for today’s entrepreneur”
Neil Lewis on Friday, January 7th, 2011100 Rules – the ultimate companion for today’s entrepreneur” says Better Business Click to read the review in Better Business
“100 Rules for Entrepreneurs should be in every business library”
Neil Lewis on Thursday, January 6th, 2011Click any of the quotes below to read the full review of 100 Rules for Entrepreneurs by Valerie Dwyer, serial entrepreneur and business turn around expert. As a serial entrepreneur who has been head hunted to turn businesses around I would like to see this book as a reference in every business library These insights [...]
Neil Lewis will be speaking to Aberystwyth MBA students on 8th December 2010
Neil Lewis on Monday, November 29th, 2010Neil Lewis will be speaking to Aberystwyth MBA students on 8th December 2010 about his experiences as an entrepreneur and what led him to write 100 Rules for Entrepreneurs.
Neil will be speaking to Loughborough University – 9th December
Neil Lewis on Friday, November 12th, 2010Neil will be speaking to Loughborough University’s Entrepreneurial Society on 9th December at 6.30pm. The audience will consist of MBA students and local entrepreneurs.
Neil Lewis to speak to Cardiff MBA students
Neil Lewis on Friday, November 5th, 2010Neil Lewis will be speaking to Cardiff MBA students about the experiences that led him to write 100 Rules for Entrepreneurs. The event will take place at Cardiff Business School on Wednesday 1st December at 2pm.
100 Rules for Entrepreneurs – out now!
Neil Lewis on Thursday, October 28th, 2010100 Rules for Entreprenuers, by me, Neil Lewis, is out now and can be order via the publishers book website
100 Rules for Entrepreneurs – Real-Life Business Lessons
Neil Lewis on Monday, August 23rd, 2010Okay, this is a shameless plug – why not check out my latest book – 100 rules for entrepreneurs – real-life business lessons – due out on 18th October 2010.
Google celebrates business failure as it closes Wave
Neil Lewis on Friday, August 6th, 2010Google decided to close Wave, its project to replace email and transform how people communicate over the internet, whilst declaring that it had the courage to try new projects, a willingness to seem them fail and a desire to learn from that failure. Google Chief Exec, Eric Schmidt say ‘we celebrate our failures. This is [...]
Social Media marketing provides growth for young entrepreneur
david.gray on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010Digital magazine “Growing Business” have recently announced the winners of their marketing competition, one of whom was young entrepreneur Fraser Doherty, with his enterprise Superjam, which specializes in pure fruit jam. Doherty’s approach was simple; when asked about his target audience, he explained that he used social media to encourage loyal customers to assist him [...]
‘It is wrong to suppress enterprise in any way.’ – Alan Sugar
david.gray on Monday, June 21st, 2010Last week Lord Sugar expressed his concerns about the Coalition plan to raise CGT from 18% to around 40%. He explained that he felt confused that the Tories should wish to diminish entrepreneurial motivation, but acknowledged that there is a problem with ‘individuals who manage private equity funds who somehow magically turn their commissions made [...]
Stupid employment law?
Neil Lewis on Saturday, June 12th, 2010Quote from today’s FT “Lawyers have warned that employers who extend facilities for employees to watch England games must also consider requests to watch other fixtures to avoid discrimination claims” Okay – the logical conclusion of this is therefore; no employees (so no rights) or no England football games. Stupid, but true.
Junior Apprentice – final tonight
Neil Lewis on Thursday, June 10th, 2010For fans of live business programmes, Alan (Lord) Sugar’s Junior Apprentice finishes tonight on BB1. If you miss it, catch it on iplayer
Employee pensions problems lead to sale of Harrods
Neil Lewis on Wednesday, May 26th, 2010London’s iconic department store, Harrods, has been sold by current owner successful entrepreneur, Al Fayed due to problems with pension trustees. Not because it went bust – but because it became ungovernable.
IR35 History – say PCG
Neil Lewis on Friday, May 21st, 2010PCG have been lobbying to get the hated IR35 tax legislation reformed and today they are hopeful of success after a clear mention in the coalition government’s joint manifesto stating that they will… “Review IR35 as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures that [...]
New Government Expected to Review IR35 Legislation
Neil Lewis on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010PCG, the tradebody representing freelancers and contractors, believe that the new government will review and remove the unfair aspects of the IR35 tax legislation. John Brazier, MD said “both parties have expressed the need for change with regards to IR35, and both parties value the flexible, skilled workforce PCG members provide.”
UK Budget within 50 days plus £6bn of cuts
Neil Lewis on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010The new UK coalition government will cut £6bn of non-front line services and set out plans in an emergency budget within 50 days (or by the end of June). At greatest risk are thought to be Government quangos, regional development agencies and associated organisations.
Austerity starts here…
Neil Lewis on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Now the UK election is out of the way, and indeed, a new Prime Minister has started work, UK businesses are being warned to expect austerity. In addition to the known cuts, the events in Greece and Europe have put further pressure on Governments (especially Spain and Portugal and hence, implicitly UK) such that cuts [...]
Surge in Construction Sector Insolvences in 2010 2nd Half – says FT
Neil Lewis on Friday, April 30th, 2010The FT is reporting most construcion businesses will be struggling late 2010 and 2011.
Entrepreneurs: How to engage your freelancers
Neil Lewis on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010The PCG have a launched a useful guide on how to engage freealancers. Now, there is no excuse!
Is Employer’s National Insurance the Achilles’ heel of small businesses?
david.gray on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010In their monthly newsletter, People Per Hour have recently found freelancing to be ‘the winner of the recession’, amidst their findings in a survey of 530 small businesses. The statistics show that since the beginning of the recession, the temp sector has gained a 5% market share, whilst all other recruitment sectors have shrunk, and [...]
Change Management is ‘driven by fear’ – but is that a good thing?
david.gray on Monday, March 29th, 2010In the current economic environment, businesses are driven to change “by fear rather than ambition” says Executives Online. But is this a good thing? Does a fear of failure drive us to make the business survive? The survey also claims that 85% of UK companies are either average or poor at managing change. Is that [...]
Independent newspapers would have cost £28m to £40m to close
Neil Lewis on Thursday, March 25th, 2010Following the sale of the Independent Newspaper (UK’s 5th most popular quality daily newspaper) for £1, it has been revealed to the FT that the cost of closing the paper would have been between £28 and £40 million. This explains why the current owners will also meet £9m worth of liabilities as part of the [...]
Smaller firms hiring sales and marketing talent
Neil Lewis on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010The UK’s Forum of Private Business reports that ‘after cutting operating costs to the bare minimum, many smaller firms are hiring sales staff, improving their websites and boosting marketing activities in an effort to tackle tough trading conditions’. Let’s hope they are hiring these guys on a freelance or agency basis…
UK plc still missing the benefit of Interim Management
Neil Lewis on Monday, March 8th, 2010A new report from Executives Online and produced by the Institute of Directors (IOD) says that “UK plc uses change management defensively, not proactively”. In other words, the interims are used to cover gaps and holes, they are not yet being used to help grow business… which is the missed opportunity… which is why successful [...]
FSB resist National Insurance Rise – when using freelancers is easier
Neil Lewis on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010The Federation of Small Businesses is asking members to sign a petition against the rise in National Insurance at http://www.no-nics-rise.co.uk/. However, as Rags to Wreckages readers know, there is an easier way – use freelancers instead. What you can’t achieve with your vote, you can achieve with your feet. Change the way you do business!
Business Support comes under fire
Neil Lewis on Monday, March 1st, 2010Fine individuals doing their best – but the policy of business support as a Government funded activity is flawed because it fails to focus on the 1 in 10 new businesses that really will create jobs. That’s what Robert Craven says at http://robert-craven.blogspot.com/2009/06/business-support-bsbis-industry.html
Pompy Football Club’s Lesson on How Business Goes Wrong
sean on Friday, February 26th, 2010If you are a director of company – or aspire to be one – then you need to understand the rules which govern how companies get wound up or closed down. This is a very complex area, so thanks are due to Portsmouth Football Club for their public problems as it helps us all understand [...]
PCG Launch campaign to show business benefit of freelancers
sean on Friday, February 26th, 2010The PCG – trade body for freelancers and contractors – has launched a powerfully argued new campaign to show business leaders the value of using freelancers. The new research shows there are 1.4 million freelancers in the UK and they add £21 billion to UK GDP. However, it is the potential of freelancers to add [...]
