Achieving Growth

Achieving Growth | Analysis

Destination infinity

In business, some people really do reach for the stars. Simon Cook, chief executive of venture capital firm DFJ Esprit, explores what happens when an entrepreneur's ambition is truly limitless.

There can’t be many asset classes that boast an average IRR of 52 per cent. Search funds, in which an inexperienced entrepreneur is backed by angel investors to search for and acquire a business, have this enviable distinction.

Building a business on the cheap

It may seem out of character for a venture capitalist to say this, but you don't need investment to create a great business.

Achieving Growth | Profiles

Why I got out of the property sector

Mitchell Feldman, co-founder of The Internet Group, explains why withdrawing from the property sector was one of the shrewdest decisions he ever made.

Entrepreneur for sale

After running three businesses, James Layfield has taken a radical step in order to raise finance for his fourth.

Adam Stafford: lessons learned

Five years ago Adam Stafford’s web design agency Fresh Egg was on the brink of bankruptcy. Now the business has sales of over £2 million and Dragons’ Den star James Caan recently joined as chairman.

Research

Directors' Pay AIM 2009

What should an AIM company pay its CEO or FD?
What should a non-executive director or chairman expect to be paid?
What benchmarks should AIM remuneration committee members be using when
setting pay?

VCT Special Report 2009

This reports principle aim is to provide business owners seeking funding with information about the amount of funds that VCTs have to invest.

Cash Shells Special Report 2009

A comprehensive overview of cash shells on AIM and PLUS, companies that have become a significant feature on the market landscape.

Acing the Interview: How to Ask and Answer the Questions That Will Get You the Job! - Free Book Summary

Know in ten minutes what takes others hours to learn, and keep up with the latest trends in the industry.

Area Development

Is an economic development magazine that provides information on site selection and facility planning to executive readers involved with company plans for expansions or relocation.

BizBash

Is the fastest growing source for fresh event and meeting news, inspirational ideas and event marketing strategy.

Save time and money with Outsourcery

Discover how streamlining and automating your sales processes can help ensure a shorter sales cycle and improved customer retention. Microsoft Dynamics CRM business software provides fast access to useful data in the office, at home or out at meetings. Download this free whitepaper to understand the business benefits

Out with the old, in with affordable.

Bring in IBM System x3650 M2 Express servers powered by Intel® Xeon® and dramatically lower IT operating expenses. Use IBM’s online evaluation tool to see ROI in as little as three months. Find out more

Hiscox Business Insurance

Life’s full of uncertainties, but you never want to be in any doubt about your business insurance. Hiscox offers broad and inclusive business insurance available online. You can tailor a policy to suit your business needs from a broad range of covers. Find out more.

Free Whitepaper - Accelerating the nerve centre of the SOA

A free white paper from Intel, discussing how SOA Expressway will continue to evolve, providing new capabilities to further support Cloud computing and other hosted delivery models. Download this free whitepaper.

Enterprise-class e-commerce for mid-sized businesses

Online shopping has become ubiquitous and has changed customers' expectations. But how can mid-sized companies tackle e-commerce?

View now the ATG webinar with Forrester Research to find out how enterprise-class e-commerce can work for you. Click here to find out more

Selecting the right IT strategy in 2010

Owner managers and CEOs of fast-growing companies want IT-applications that accelerate competitive advantage and improve operational efficiency. This free whitepaper helps you plan and choose the right IT strategy for your business in 2010. Download ‘Selecting The Right Software Vendor’.

We've started a revolution...

We are Outsourcery. We are on mission to enable small and medium sized enterprises to enjoy the same sophisticated unified communications and hosted IT solutions that used to be reserved for big companies. Find out how at outsourcery.com

Compare public liability and business insurance quotes now

Compare quotes in minutes from leading insurers, including Zurich, Aviva, AXA and Hiscox. Tailor your cover levels with public & employer’s liability, business premises, professional indemnity or business interruption cover among others. Find out more now

Free tips & advice from industry leaders

Draw ideas and inspiration from high-profile CEOs who have successfully grown their companies. For this free weekly service sign up today.

Get started with Barclays Business Banking

Choose from 3 great Start-up packages offering a range of business and banking solutions, from cashflow management software (QuickBooks or Sage) to VAT management solution. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online.

Reports, case studies and guides focused on the subject of achieving business growth. Gearing, investment, managing growth for business owners and CEOs.

Latest from Entrepreneurs

Minicab monarch

John Griffin has built an acquisitive, multi-million pound minicab business which is taking on the might of London’s black taxi drivers. GB meets the man who ‘came from zero’.

Dealing with unhappy shareholders

Spurious allegations of ‘boardroom bullying’ from minority shareholders seeking a payout are on the increase.

Next big thing: 3D TV

Bursting out of the cinema screens and into our homes, 3D is set to make its TV debut, with several manufacturers poised to release 3D-ready sets this year.

Growth creators

The entrepreneurs who make things happen. The investors who refuse to stand still. Meet the Business XL Power Top 50, the most influential risk takers and deal makers on the UK's growth company scene.

Silicon savvy

It is easy to forget some of the fantastic successes and innovations that entrepreneurs have created over the past decade, writes Simon Cook, CEO of venture capital firm DFJ Esprit.