Monday 14 March 2011

Leaders show how to grow a business/ FT Entrepreneur of the Year



"The UK has been seen as a less entrepreneurial nation than countries such as the US, because it has lacked the high-profile founders who take their businesses to great heights.

"That is no longer so much the case, as several ambitious British entrepreneurs have come through the ranks." says Jonathan Moules, in the FT (Entrepreneur of the Year: Leaders show how to grow a business)


Businesses change as they grow, so the entrepreneur who can take a company from kitchen table start-up to a multinational company is a rare commodity. One that can then run the company as a publicly quoted business is even rarer still.


It is a point noted by Robert Craven, managing director of The Directors’ Centre, which advises owner-managers on how to grow their businesses quickly.


“Very few people are cut out for that kind of leadership,” he says.


The winner was Richard Harpin, Homeserve


Moules then goes on to sight other “founders who have built":

  • Rob Cotton, chief executive of NCC Group, a computer security business,
  • Charles Dunstone
  • Matthew Ingle, chief executive of Howden Joinery Group


"Clearly, not every entrepreneur has the ability to take a company from start-up to something much larger, but these individuals, all shining lights in their sectors, show that it is possible."



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See also Beyond Being a Start-Up

11 comments:

MS said...

So, Moules is agreeing with you that not many are cut out to be take it form zero to hero BUT he is saying that some can do it and these three are examples of ones in the UK that have made it. Is that 1-0 to Moules?

Robert Craven said...

This isn't a competition.
JM is using my quote to juxtapose these worthy winners. Exceptions that prove the rule if you like. My point is that precious few people/entrepreneurs have the where-withall to make it all the way to the top. Most (in the UK) just don't get as far as our US counterparts appear to.

RC

Eric said...

Exceptions do prove the rule. But, the point is that some can break through but not as many as we would wish. Too many people think thatt hey can make it - all promoted by the eveil Dragons Den and Apprentice

Patrick said...

I don't think DD, Apprentice etc are deliberately evil...

Eddie said...

Most business could do so much better. But these are the unusual ones. Ironicaly TV makes us all think we could do the zero to hero bit if we wanted to. What nonsense. While I don't subscribe to the 'know your place' philosophy, I do think that for many busineses this ia an unreasonable porition to hold (that you too can be great).

Louise said...

Again, outside the possibility of mere mortals

Sue_Walton said...

Sorry but tthis seems to be more male-oriented bravado stuff.

Sue

Dean said...

I don't think there is a bias in what RC does. The bias is in the results ie more men tend to 'succeed' (because of all the socio-cultural stuff). Don't blame the messenger.

Robert Craven said...

Dean - thnaks for coming 'to my defence' although it is not required... We do have too many male/macho images and attitudes in business but that's because we look at the "winners" and most appear to be male/macho. Catch 22 I am afraid...

Robert Craven said...

entrepreneurship is not the same as self emplotment

http://ideas.economist.com/blog/entrepreneurship-%E2%89%A0-self-employment

Robert Craven said...

The difference between entrepreneurs and most consultants: http://su.pr/62mBHw