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... CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw, based in Mayfair, London. The company was founded in 2004 and specialises in buyouts, venture capital, turnarounds, and real estate investment in the UK.
James knew from a young age that he wanted to run his own business. His father was probably his biggest influence: he owned a successful leather goods manufacturing business and hoped James would one day takeover. James decided not to pursue a career in the family business and instead followed his own path to become an entrepreneur. At sixteen he left school with no qualifications. Despite this In the mid 1980′s, he began a successful career in recruitment. Just a few years later James founded Alexander Mann, a UK recruitment business which he successfully grew to £130m turnover with 30 offices worldwide. During the same period, James was keen to explore the international market and launched Humana International, a franchising model, establishing 147 offices in 30 countries. He subsequently sold both businesses in 1999.
In 2007, James was invited to join the panel of the highly popular BBC TV show Dragons’ Den. During his time on the show, James invested in a diverse range of businesses and as a result increased his profile in the media. James has always believed that the UK is an excellent platform for British entrepreneurs, and that advances in technology provide today’s entrepreneurs with many more opportunities than when he started out. He is passionate about the SME sector and understands their challenges.
James has spent the past twenty years building and selling businesses in the UK . Because of his extensive experience he has been approached by the British Government to work on a number of initiatives to support UK businesses.
More recently James has been working closely with Business Secretary Vince Cable as a member of the Entrepreneurs Forum. The Group was formed to help and advise Government on new business policies. They debate particularly challenging issues facing SME’s in the UK such as raising finance, reducing regulation and other barriers to market.
James is a keen supporter of many charities and set up The JCF in 2006 predominantly to help underprivileged children get access to education.
Entrepreneurship, education and equal opportunities are three key areas that James specifically supports. Initiatives like the Prince’s Trust and vinspired are platforms through which James can influence and make a difference to young people in the UK. There are also a large number of charities that James endorses and provides strategic guidance to where he can combine his business acumen with his philanthropic goals.
Since the floods hit Pakistan in July 2010, James has been passionate about helping the families there. Together with UNICEF, he helped raise £100,000 to deliver emergency aid on the ground and save the lives of 1,000 people. Feeling this was insufficient, James and The JCF began the ‘Build a Village’ appeal to provide more tangible assistance, helping families get their lives back on track.
James has had some impressive career highlights, however he didn’t finish his education, choosing instead to leave school at 16 with no qualifications.
When he sold his recruitment companies in 1999 he decided to go to Harvard Business School to study for a business degree. In recent years James has been delighted by being awarded a variety of honorary doctorates from Leeds Met, UEL and York St Johns.
James is an exceptional and charismatic speaker. He is in regular demand to speak for blue chip clients such as Lloyds TSB, Standard Life, Virgin, Hewlett Packard, and Coutts.
Audiences can benefit from James’ valuable insight and practical advice on issues such as motivating staff, growing businesses, surviving the recession. Most importantly, he is able to draw on his own life experiences to leave audiences completely energised and motivated.
James is a widely respected figure in the business world because he understands the challenges businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK face today, and his presence at events helps inspire and stimulate business people at all levels.
James rules of Success:
1. Observe the masses and do the opposite
It is much easier to be part of the crowd than not, but an entrepreneur may need to swim against the tide.
2. Ambition is nothing without passion
Anyone can be enthusiastic. Passion is having the character to continue with an idea once that initial emotion has gone. You have got to have that conviction and unquestioning belief in what you are doing in order to be successful.
3. Presentation and preparation matter
If you do not make the best of yourself and present your idea in a clear manner, how can anyone believe that you will do the best for your business?
4. Prove your product
Have you got a good product with verified market acceptability? Market acceptability means that it has been demonstrated to a number of people who have come back and said yes, this is something I would like to buy. I certainly wouldn't invest in something that is no more than a plan on a piece of paper. Showing that you are able to execute your plans effectively is paramount.
5. Do your sums
Make sure that the figures stack up. Nobody is going to be interested in doing business with you if they can't see a return.
6. You can and must learn from failure
Entrepreneurs need to be prepared for things not working out as planned. They have to be prepared to make sacrifices for the business and be prepared for taking risks. Persistence is essential - who dares wins!
7. If you win, somebody else doesn't have to lose
Adopt a win-win formula. A lot of businesspeople walk around with an attitude of "I must win", which in practice often means "winning" at the expense of someone else. To really succeed in the long term, you need to make sure that the people around you win too.
8. Your people are your business
How are your leadership skills? Successful entrepreneurs are rarely one-man bands and exceptional communication skills are vital.
9. Complacency is your enemy
No matter how successful you are, you should never rest on your laurels. Every year you should be wondering how to replicate or build on the success of the year before. It's an ongoing thing - you're never home and dry.
10. Don't work too hard
There are times in business when you have to put everything on one side and really go for it, but there's no point working seven days a week if you don't take time to enjoy life.
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- Entrepreneurship
- Your workforce - Your employees
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