Financial Management

Turning a looming corporation tax bill of £11,500 into a refund of £8,500 sounds impossible – but electronics company AV has achieved just that through research and development credits.

Entrepreneurs

A ‘danger to children’ and the man who introduced Dungeons and Dragons and Lara Croft to the world, Ian Livingstone is happiest when challenging accepted wisdom.

Entrepreneurs

In 1997, City Cruises was an established business with turnover approaching £4 million but founder Gary Beckwith wanted more. A year later, he risked everything by betting he could secure a lucrative contract.

Growth Planning

John Cross, director of Cross Facilities Management, was initially sceptical when introduced to the concept of mind mapping, which aims to improve thought and organisation.

Human Resources

Are you having trouble finding staff with the right skills-set for your business? If so, you are not alone. Figures from the British Chamber of Commerce show a 50 per cent increase in the number of employers reporting difficulties recruiting staff with the right skills.

Growth Planning

Buying a company for £1 and going on to make a fortune out of it is any entrepreneur’s dream. It usually means grabbing an opportunity presented by a company with good potential but mired in financial woes — and can require providing hefty financial guarantees as well as a nominal amount of cash down.