About

Marc was editor of GrowthBusiness from 2006 to 2010. He specialised in writing about entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital, mid-market M&A, small caps and high-growth businesses.

PR and Marketing Strategy

The appliance of brand alliance

Aligning your growing company with a larger, well-known operation can reap rewards beyond your wildest dreams. Just make sure you read the small print and remember the ups and downs of getting a helping hand from a big brand.

Financial Management

Q&A: How to avoid future recessions

What steps can I take to avoid getting caught up in future recessions?

Entrepreneurs

Rosemary Conley: Queen of fitness

Despite numerous pretenders to the throne, Rosemary Conley CBE is still the biggest name in fitness after three decades helping the nation tone up and slim down.

Growth Planning

GrowthBusiness investigates new emerging market opportunities in China, India and beyond

Swathes of UK businesses are shunning established overseas expansion routes and breaking new ground in emerging markets. So, beyond the headlines and the hype, do the tantalising rewards really outweigh the obvious challenges?

News

AIM’s most active brokers and nominated advisers

To successfully float on the stock market, your business must be inspiring enough to attract new cash and robust enough to withstand the rigours of the publicly-quoted world. More importantly, you need the best advisers – and we’ve found them.

Human Resources

Q&A: Employers holding personal details

Our HR dept has stated that it is now a company requirement to submit our passports and birth certificates for scrutiny and photocopies are being held on file. Is this legal?

Entrepreneurs

Converso Contact Centres grows from within

Dino Forte co-founded customer management business Converso Contact Centres in 1997 and this year he anticipates that sales will top £6 million.

PR and Marketing Strategy

Word of mouth boosts sales

Growing businesses are overlooking the most cost-effective way of increasing awareness of their product and thereby losing out on a great deal of sales, according to business growth consultancy The Quantum Organization.

Alternative Finance for Business

Getting Finance from Friends

At some stage in the growth curve, your business will need to get its hands on capital for expansion. If it's below the radar of outside investors and bankers are giving you the cold shoulder, you may consider tapping your friends and family for investment. But though this funding has its advantages, it is also fraught with pitfalls.

Growth Planning

The advantages of recruiting a non-executive director

Because they've done it all before, and usually quite successfully, non-executive directors can supply the experience, advice, diversity and talents your boardroom is probably crying out for.

Technology

Accepting e-payments

These days most growing businesses appreciate the power of the web. A strong internet presence can boost market penetration, profile and profits. Carrying out transactions online is often a key part of this – but how can a firm set itself up to accept e-payments?

Insurance

Managing employers’ liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance, like an appointment at the dentist, is an unwelcome but necessary imposition. Basically, if you employ people you have to have it. Yet surprisingly, many small companies take out a basic policy and have no idea what eventualities they are covered for and, more crucially, what they are not.

Marc Barber

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