From the category archives:

starting your business

Business Link is changing

13 October 2011

Throughout 2011 I have been attending Vince Cable’s Entrepreneurs Forum’ to help advise the government on business and enterprise policies. One of the areas we have focussed on specifically is developing a comprehensive start-up package to help fledgling businesses. We felt it was important to create an environment that helps businesses start, improve and grow. [...]

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First entries in my diary after buying JDA 10 years ago this month

15 September 2010

The reason I started to write these notes were Judith said she wished she had recorded the early days of JDA I have a hopeless memory and this will be a great way to look back come success or the alternative! I have decided to tell no one of this ‘journal’ so it will be [...]

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I’ve never run a marathon, lost 3 stone, climbed a mountain, got a certificate and my parents didn’t beat me – can I motivate you?

29 March 2010

I once thought “wouldn’t it be nice to get paid to speak” as I too, had sat through, and continue to sit through some rather ropey presentations. Occasionally ropey because of style, or because of content or sadly, both. Presenter’s style, content or use of powerpoint is not the gripe or the subject of this post. The subject of [...]

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Is there such a thing as a free lunch?

18 November 2009

This article first appeared in ‘Start your Business’ Magazine November 2009 Running a business, any business, whether it’s as a sole trader or as MD of many people can be, and often is, very lonely. I certainly found this when I bought my business, a multi-million pound turnover marketing agency. The freedom of decision-making, and [...]

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Businesses jumping on board the charitable and ethical bandwagon

20 October 2009

This article first appeared in ‘Start your Business’ October 2009 Carl Hopkins, star of Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire examines how social enterprise and charity involvement can add another dimension to your business. Jumping on board the charitable and ethical bandwagon as a basis to create or move your business forward may seem an easy, [...]

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Hello and thanks for visiting Carl’s Blog

5 June 2009

Hello, so I have been persuaded to start a blog. Timing is everything I am told so I thought it would be appropriate to start this on the second anniversary of selling my old business. I tend to plan my career in two year lumps and over the last two years I feel I have ‘re-invented’ myself… Madonna [...]

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