Category

Growth Planning

Relocation special: Giant steps forward

Northern Ireland might not be top of your list of attractive business locations, but Elliott Davis discovers that its troubled past hasn’t discouraged growing companies from setting up shop on its shores...

Growth Planning

Growth Planning

St Minver goes for the jackpot

Visitors to the homepages of Virgin or Yahoo! wishing to play a hand of poker or count their lucky numbers with bingo, would be forgiven for thinking these games are run by such high-profile companies.

Growth Planning

AIM new issues raise £9.4 billion

Companies searching for new funds raised an average of £33.47 million in 2006; almost double the average of 2005 (£16.78 million) and a quantum leap ahead of the £4.64 million an average AIM company might have expected to attract in 2001.

Growth Planning

Creating belief in a business – Learn the skills of empowerment

If you want your business to move up to the next level then chances are you're going to need to be less involved in everyday concerns and take the bold step to pass certain responsibilities on to other people.

Growth Planning

Growing pains: Mobile Interactive Group

Barry Houlihan, managing director of mobile services provider Mobile Interactive Group (MIG), has created a £21 million turnover business in just over two years.

Growth Planning

Buying Businesses

If you want to build a business quickly then you need to consider buying businesses as well as building your own organically. In fact, when I was building a public company I looked for a 50/50 split between the two, says Chris Ingram.

Growth Planning

A successful franchising idea is one that can be delivered as a cookie cutter model

Looking for high growth within your domestic market? Franchising provides a low-investment way ahead, says Ernst &Young's Dan Murphy. But remember, a successful franchising idea is one that can be delivered as a cookie cutter model - one that is easily packaged and replicated. Potential franchisees need to know what they are buying and quickly learn how to make it work.

Growth Planning

Financing growth and acquiring debt

Debt finance is relatively cheap and readily available to fund growth. But a recent surge in debt trading could put your equity at risk from acquisitive hedge funds if you fail to meet the targets and covenants agreed with your bankers.

Growth Planning

A successful franchising idea is one that can be delivered as a cookie cutter model

Looking for high growth within your domestic market? Franchising provides a low-investment way ahead, says Ernst &Young's Dan Murphy. But remember, a successful franchising idea is one that can be delivered as a cookie cutter model - one that is easily packaged and replicated. Potential franchisees need to know what they are buying and quickly learn how to make it work.

Growth Planning

Financing growth and acquiring debt

Debt finance is relatively cheap and readily available to fund growth. But a recent surge in debt trading could put your equity at risk from acquisitive hedge funds if you fail to meet the targets and covenants agreed with your bankers.

Growth Planning

Business expansion challenges – To buy or not to buy

Simon Rogan is in the enviable position of having founded and grown his company, Sirocom, without ever having to seek external financing. However, relying on its own resources is a limiting factor for growth, so the group is facing the dilemma of whether or not to seek external financing to expand more rapidly.

Growth Planning

The Golden Rules of company acquisitions

Many company acquisitions fail to deliver their anticipated benefits owing to poor post-deal implementation, lack of planning or shoddy due diligence. Follow the golden rules and your chances of a positive outcome should be greatly increased.

Growth Planning

Why are so many overseas companies relocating to Scotland?

Scotland has moved beyond its traditional mining and engineering strengths to become a 21st-century haven for high-tech firms in cutting-edge sectors. So, what has attracted so many companies from other countries to expand or relocate there?

Growth Planning

China: the waking giant

China offers vast potential for UK companies considering expansion overseas – a massive consumer market, enormous manufacturing capability and economic growth forecast at over nine per cent for a decade ahead. And although expert guidance is still advisable, the country has shrugged off most of the bureaucratic, legal and cultural obstacles that previously barred the way.