Free Issue

01
Summer 2008

Inspiring Young People to Achieve www.success-mag.co.uk

HOW TO MAKE A
MILLION QUICK!
10

THE WORLD’S MOST

EXPENSIVE HOMES
14
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
18 / 28 / 46

HOW TO BLAG
52
Compare the UK’s top employers – from professional
services to media and technology THE RULES OF WORK
THE 30
Keep up to date with the latest graduate news
BOY’S
Learn to market yourself – from writing a winning CV
to interactive interview practice
GOT
SPECS
For exclusive content for $uccess Mag readers,
visit www.get.hobsons.co.uk/successmag
APPEAL
40 www.get.hobsons.co.uk/successmag

Compare the UK’s top employers – from professional
services to media and technology
Keep up to date with the latest graduate news
Learn to market yourself – from writing a winning CV
to interactive interview practice
For exclusive content for $uccess Mag readers,
visit www.get.hobsons.co.uk/successmag
EDITOR’S LETTER STAFF LIST
WELCOME TO THE
RUARI PHILLIPS –
EDITOR
Ruari Phillips, 23, has written for
a number of national publications.
FIRST ISSUE OF After undertaking a post-graduate
course in magazine journalism he
decided to start his own publication
$UCCESS MAG and hasn’t looked back since.
KATE DUNN –
STAFF WRITER
We see it as our mission and our duty, as a magazine/e-zine, Kate graduated from Warwickshire
to help you on the road to success. University in 2005 after editing the
campus newspaper. She writes for
With the aid of our knowledgeable writers, we truly hope a number of business publications.
everything you find within these pages inspires you to
become great in your chosen field. ANGUS WALKER –
POLITICS
Nothing happens in life until the first step is taken so get Angus Walker is Current Affairs
ready, strap on those seatbelts and join us… Correspondent for ITV News. He
Whether you’d like to start your own business, or it’s just a has also covered business and
good job you’re after $uccess Mag is here to help. politics during his five years there.
We are also keen to build on our already buzzing community REBECCA O’CONNOR –
of aspirational young people. So, if you’re under the age of FINANCE
thirty, and would like to appear in the “It’s All About YOU!” Rebecca O’Connor is personal
finance reporter for The Times.
section, email the following to editor@success-mag.co.uk She has been writing about money
• Name for the past two years.
• Age
SCOTT KEIGHTLEY -
• University (if applicable) DESIGNER
• Where you’re from After four years working in leading
• Contact details design industry studios, Scott
• 100-word biog Keightley has built a client list
including Gordon Ramsay Holdings
Every profile will appear on the website and a select few and BMI (British Midland Airways).
in the magazine.
DAMIAN WATSON –
All that leaves for me to say is read the features, be inspired, WEBSITE DESIGN
send in your profiles, meet other people, get involved, pitch In just five years, Damian Watson’s
ideas, work hard and most important of all...have fun on your business, Greenhouse Design,
has grown into a thriving limited
journey to success!
company. He has over 100 clients.
Kind regards,
RUARI PHILLIPS
EDITOR $UCCESS PROMOTIONS - Everywhere you
see this logo in the magazine, the page
it’s on is an advertorial feature produced
by $uccess Mag on behalf of our clients.
Distribution - 20,000 business schools/young
For all advertising enquiries contact advertising@success-mag.co.uk enterprise societies nationwide.
or, phone $ucces Mag Ltd. on 0844 357 0215 Printing courtesy of Pensord Press Ltd.
CONTENTS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP – WORTH IT? 08

HOW TO MAKE A MILLION QUICK! 10

THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES 14

HOW HAS THE INTERNET CHANGED MONEY? 15

ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART ONE 18

PROPERTY…GET ON THE LADDER 20

Unless you have been living on the moon, you will not have
missed reports of the unfortunate situation facing anyone
who wants to buy their own home. They can’t afford it.

FIND STARTUP MONEY 22

SIMON SAYS 25

ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART TWO 28

THE RULES OF WORK 30

The workplace has never been the most exciting place.
People mope around, photocopiers incessantly hum like
medieval monks and the clock seems to move slower and
slower as if making the day longer and longer.

SPARE MONEY? INVEST WISELY 32

WORK EXPERIENCE – WHY BOTHER? 38

SPECS APPEAL 40

CHA CHING CHINA 44

The Chinese are famous for fireworks, food and now
finance. They have the world's fastest growing economy,
about nine percent a year. Environmental groups recently
announced China is building two power stations a week
to fuel its expansion.

ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART THREE 46

TEN STEPS TO THE PERFECT JOB APPLICATION 48

HOW TO BLAG 52

ENTREPRENEURIAL QUOTES 54
 Coming in LESS ON YOUR CAR REPAYMENTS...
September
MORE AT THE STUDENT BAR!!

THE $UCCESS GROUP ARE EXPANDING…

This September we launch $uccess Recruit.
Our team will be exclusively placing high calibre
graduates within a select number of leading employers
in London and other parts of the UK.

YOUNG – AMBITIOUS – FOCUSED – ENTERPRISING – DETERMINED 48 monthly payments of

On the road price
£119
£6,990
Renault Twingo Extreme.
Customer deposit £NIL 1.2 60hp
For all enquiries phone 0844 357 0215 Total amount financed £6,990 • Sports body styling
First payment* £218 • CD Player
Optional final payment † £2,125 • Front log lamps
Total amount payable £8,055 • Electric front windows
• 50.4 miles per gallon (combined)**
5.9% APR Excess miles
• Low insurance group 2E*

over 10,000 p.a. 6p per mile

COME IN FOR A TEST DRIVE AND QUALIFY FOR £50†

UnLtdWorld is an online platform that aims to connect social entrepreneurs and
socially-minded people and enable them to share content and build collaborative
value, raise the visibility of ideas, issues and projects and ultimately help
generate greater positive impact in the real world.
BIRMINGHAM DARTFORD LONDON WEST SOLIHULL
0121 252 7000 0845 386 8033 0845 386 9359 0121 254 7000

On UnLtdWorld you can connect with others, search and share resources and RETAIL GROUP BOLTON
0845 386 9731
ENFIELD
0845 386 9560
MANCHESTER
0845 386 9334
SWANSEA
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opportunities, find and list services and products, share answers to key questions, CANNOCK LEICESTER OLDHAM WATFORD
01543 511 300 0116 280 1000 0845 386 8728 0845 386 8507
create and join groups, promote and find events, support inspiring projects and CARDIFF LIVERPOOL ORPINGTON WIRRAL
029 2042 1000 0845 386 9491 0845 386 8165 0845 386 8437
lots more. CROYDON LONDON CITY ROMFORD WOLVERHAMPTON
0845 386 9603 0845 386 9439 0845 386 8667 01902 439 500
LONDON EAST SLOUGH
In parallel to fostering a vibrant community, UnLtdWorld aims to help build the www.renaultretail.co.uk 0845 386 9402 0845 386 8628

capacity of organisations and enhance the efficiency of relations between social
entrepreneurs, relevant agencies and the general public.
www.unltdworld.com – the home of UK social entrepreneurs.
The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the model shown are: Urban 39.2 (7.5), Extra Urban 61.4 (4.6), Combined 50.4 (5.6).
The official C02 emission ranges from 132 to 173g/km. Price includes delivery to dealer, number plates, 17.5% VAT, 12 months’ Government road fund licence and £55
first registration fee. *First payment includes an acceptance fee of £99. †Optional final payment includes credit facility fee of £139 and option to purchase fee of £10. Finance is subject
to status. You will be liable to pay for any accidental damage to the vehicle or excess wear and tear with regard to its age and mileage. A guarantor may be required. If the agreed
mileage is exceeded a charge of 6p per mile will be made. You must be at least 18 and a UK resident (excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) to apply for finance. Finance
provided by RCI Financial Services Limited, P.O. Box 493, Watford WD17 1FJ. This offer applies to vehicles ordered and registered by 30th June 2008 and is available to private and
small business customers only. All figures correct at time of going to press. Models shown for illustration purposes only. Renault Retail Group reserves the right to change, amend or
withdraw these offers at any time without advance notice. Renault Retail Group, Concord Road, Western Avenue, London, W3 0RZ. The company is registered in England: Registration
No. 2304689. *Figures may vary. **Exceeds expectations. † Qualification dependent on purchases before 30th June 2008.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP – WORTH IT?

Youth can be perceived, by some
potential investors or partners, as
detrimental to credibility, so it's crucial
entrepreneurs use their age to their
advantage; see it as an opportunity
to demonstrate their dynamism,
creativity, and tenacity.
Another perk young entrepreneurs
can highlight is the fact that they are
generally unencumbered by family
and financial responsibilities. This
allows them to focus completely on
developing their businesses. Young
people often approach problems with
a fresh perspective, and an innovative
way of thinking, which can be just as
strong a basis for a successful
business as years’ of experience.
Fear of failure can often be a sticking
point, particularly for those whose
families have no history of going into
between students and local
entrepreneurs. Students with an
interest in enterprise should explore
all the options available to them at
their universities or even consider
starting up their own clubs and
events. This is a great way to meet
like-minded people who can form a
business network that will take them
beyond graduation.
It’s always worthwhile checking out
the university in your local area to see
what they might offer, even if you are
not a student. Graduates should look
for opportunities to join networks to
expand their business contacts. In
addition to programmes such as
those offered by the NCGE, there
are region-specific networks across
the UK.
The right network will provide
with ambiguity, to manage
unexpected occurrences, to deal
with chaos and change, delegating
and prioritising, solving problems
and making decisions. It's no easy
feat, but the returns can be more
than worth the effort.
IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
WORTH IT –
YES! YES! YES!
For more information on the NCGE
and Flying Start,
please visit www.ncge.org.uk.
WORDS – LORNA COLLINS
Director of Flying Start, National Council for
Graduate Entrepreneurship

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS FACE A VERY business. Often parents put pressure

on children to take the 'safe' path of
a graduate training scheme after
entrepreneurs not only with important
contacts, but serve as a resource for
advice on all stages of launching an
UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES WHEN university, without recognising this
isn't right for everyone, and that not
enterprise - from writing a business
plan to securing funding.

IT COMES TO SETTING UP A BUSINESS only might their offspring be more

suited to an entrepreneurial route,
but that it needn't be the 'risky'
Programmes such as the National
Council for Graduate
Entrepreneurship's Flying Start
COMPARED WITH MORE ESTABLISHED option it seems.

In terms of other barriers, raising

(www.flyingstart-ncge.com) provide
access to mentors and enterprise

ENTREPRENEURS WHO OFTEN HAVE capital is difficult and can seem very
daunting from the offset. For this
reason there is a need to focus on the
experts, as well as a community of
student and graduate peers.

The Flying Start three-day business

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND THEM.
Despite the obstacles students and
graduates may encounter, there are
more support networks and resources
than ever before and they can take
advantage of them when launching
a new business.
One of the biggest challenges for
aspiring young entrepreneurs is the
lack of business contacts. While it
might seem difficult to go about
building networks there are invaluable
benefits these can bring when starting
out on your own.
Another problem many young people
face when trying to establish a
business is not knowing the questions
they should be asking or who to ask.
Even if students and graduates realise
they need to seek specialist business
advice, they might not make the most
of these opportunities if they aren't
completely aware of the problems
they need to resolve in the first place.
business model. Young entrepreneurs
may find they don't need that much
money to get things going - begging,
readiness courses, each designed
for a specific sector and serving as
a kick-off to a year long enterprise
borrowing and bartering for things
programme, are designed to give
may be more time efficient.
entrepreneurs the tools needed
Young entrepreneurs clearly have to launch their businesses within
their work cut out, but there are many 12 months.
sources they can turn to for advice
The opportunity for young
and support on all aspects of starting
entrepreneurs to learn lessons
a business. Universities throughout
about business in the real world,
the UK are doing a lot to support
to experience running one's own
entrepreneurship, such as forming
business, is enormous. A
student enterprise clubs, holding
self-employed person gains an
competitions, organising business
appreciation of many things that an
fairs and mentoring workshops,
employee doesn't - the ability to deal
and arranging networking meetings

08 $uccess Mag www.success-mag.co.uk 09

HOW TO MAKE A MILLION QUICK!

MARSHALL BRAIN IS THE FOUNDER OF The dictionary definition goes like this:
HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM AND HAS A An entrepreneur is a person who organises, operates, and
assumes the risk for a business venture.
DEGREE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Here's my definition:
FROM RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC An entrepreneur is someone who starts successful businesses.
INSTITUTE IN AMERICA. A MULTI- People are not very kind to those who start unsuccessful
businesses. The instant you are successful, however, you are
MILLIONAIRE, IT TOOK HIM JUST A a hero and they start calling you an entrepreneur.

FEW YEARS TO BUILD HIS FORTUNE.

If you want to make a million, all ya
gotta do is put £5 in a bank account
every day. Just about anyone can
come up with £5 a day. It is not a
huge deal - heck, a pack of cigarettes
costs £5 in a lot of places these days.
You put the money into an account,
like a stock mutual fund, that gives
you 10% per year interest on average
and presto. In 42 years you have a
million bucks. What could be easier
than that?
The problem is, who wants to wait 42
years? It takes too long. What do you
MARSHALL BRAIN do if you want to short-circuit the
founder of Hot Stuff Works process and make a million bucks in
www.howstuffworks.com a couple of years? There is only one
way in the Western World to
accomplish that reliably - you need
to start a business!
In America (where I’m from) starting
a successful business is the surest,
most controllable path available for
you to making a million in less than
42 years.
And it’s exactly the same for the UK.
Really, this decision to start a
business gets us to a key part of
our conversation. There are two
mentalities at work in our economy
today. Either you can be someone
else's employee, or you can be the
one who hires and fires. You can
work for a business, or you can
own a business.
Now please note I am not saying that
"being an employee" is a bad thing.
There are lots of good reasons to be
an employee. For example, being an
employee is a great way to learn how
a business works so you can open a
business of your own. You simply
need to become an employee with
that approach in mind.
In other words, you work so that
you can learn the ropes. Go into the
job with the intention of learning
everything you possibly can while
someone else pays you to get your
education. Many large corporations
even make a point of advertising this
fact. For example, McDonald's says
on its website: "You'll be encouraged
to grow, learn and develop the
broad-based skills you'll need to
move up fast." And that is true.
Compare this with a normal university
or college education and you realise
how great a deal this is. When you are
at university, you pay to get educated.
When you are an employee, someone Note that the dictionary definition of
else pays you to get educated - it is a the word "entrepreneur" includes the
much better deal. word "risk." That is important. If you
are starting a business, you are going
So let's assume that you have made
to have to invest both your time and
the decision to start a business, and
(in many cases) your money in getting
you have worked to learn the ropes.
the business going. There is a chance
If you follow this "start your own
the business will fail without
business" path then what people
generating anything.
will call you is...an entrepreneur.
Businesses fail all the time. That's
The whole point of creating a
part of the game.
successful business, of course, is for
it to generate money. There are two There are three things that you should
ways to extract money from a keep in mind...
business you create. You can either
Woody Allen's quote is so true:
take the money out as you go along,
"Eighty percent of success
in the form of a salary and dividends.
is showing up."
Or you can sell the business and take
If you simply take the first step toward
your reward in a lump sum. Or, in the
starting a business you improve your
ideal case, you do both.
chances of success dramatically.
In the ideal case, the money that
The first reason for that is obvious - if
you pull out of the business is being
you don't take the first step, then you
generated as passive income. For
will never start a business and you
example, let's say you start a
cannot possibly succeed at it.
restaurant. You hire all of the staff,
and then you hire someone to Whatever it is – do it. Now!!!
manage the staff so the restaurant
"runs itself" without you ever having The second reason is more important.
If you ever listen to motivational
to actually be there. That is passive
speakers like Dennis Waitley, Tony
income. A house you own that
Robbins and Zig Ziglar, one thing you
generates steady rental income every
will hear over and over again is this
month is another example.

10 $uccess Mag www.success-mag.co.uk 11

HOW TO MAKE A MILLION QUICK!
interesting fact about setting goals.
If you will simply take some time to
create some goals for yourself and
then write them down, the chances
of reaching your goals goes up by a
huge amount. It is huge. Putting your
goals on an index card and taping
them to your bathroom mirror so you
see them first thing every morning is
also a smart move. I don’t know why
this works so well, but I do know that
it does.
So what you should do is write down
on a piece of paper a few goals for
yourself, and one of them should be,
"get my business going," and tape
your goals to the bathroom mirror.
I would do that today.
Churchill's quote is also right on target:
"Success consists of going
from failure to failure without
loss of enthusiasm."
What does that mean? It means that,
whenever you stretch yourself and try
to do something successful, there are
going to be failures along the way,
sometimes a lot of failures. All you
can do after a failure is get up and try
again. If you keep doing that, one of
two things will happen - either you will
succeed eventually, or you will die.
And if you die, then you won't care
anymore. And at your funeral people
will say;
"You know he never amounted to
anything, but you sure have to give
him credit for trying. The guy had a
lot of heart." There's nothing shabby
about that. It will beat having them
call you a couch potato.
Larry King's quote is amazing in
its accuracy:
"Those who have succeeded
at anything and don't mention
luck are kidding themselves."
That is so true. The thing is luck can
only happen to you if you try
something. If you will just take the
first step toward starting a business,
12 $uccess Mag
and then the second, and so on, you
immediately open yourself up to the
beneficial power of luck. If you don't,
then luck cannot happen to you.
Everyone who has ever succeeded
has benefited from luck - sometimes
lots of luck. But you have to be
playing the game in order for luck
to find you.
So let's summarize...
If you try, there is some chance of
succeeding, if you don't try there’s
not. You've got to be playing the game
in order to win. Those who keep trying
eventually do succeed, that’s a fact of
life. Luck favours the prepared, and it
also favours the persistent. You will
hear people say, "Nine out of 10
businesses fail so why bother?"
Here is another way to look at that -
the chance of success is 10 percent.
You start nine businesses that fail
and then the tenth one succeeds and
you make a million bucks - those are
damn good odds. Compare that to a
lottery, where, for example, 9,999,999
out of every 10,000,000 tickets fail
and tens of millions of people play the
lottery even though the odds are that
bad. Starting a business is not as easy
as buying a lottery ticket, sure, but
keep in mind that, "Anything you
practice gets easier."
The quicker you act, the quicker
you learn.
So the first business you start is going
to be hard. You don't know anything.
You will make mistakes. You will try
things that don't work. Whatever. But
the second business you start is a lot
easier. And the next one is easier still.
Right now you look at "starting a
business" and it looks hard, that's
because you've never done it before.
You haven't practiced. Simply start
practicing and it will become trivial
eventually, just like a video game.
However, you are never going to get
rich practicing video games.
What I would suggest is that you stop
playing video games. Even go as far
as getting rid of your television! Take
the music OFF your iPod…
It’s not going to be easy, but who ever
said making a million was?
WORDS – MARSHALL BRAIN
www.howstuffworks.com
NEXT ISSUE
We look at creating the perfect business
environment. Your second step to making
that million!
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THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES
GETTING ON THE PROPERTY LADDER
IS NO JOKE. IMAGINE THOUGH,
IF YOU HAD ENDLESS FUNDS TO
BUY WHATEVER HOUSE YOU
WANTED. HERE WE LIST SOME OF
THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES IN
THE WORLD…GET SAVING!
01. £70 million
Updown Court ,Windlesham, Surrey
Larger than either Buckingham or Hampton Court Palace,
this 103-room home has 58 acres of gardens and
woodlands, making it the idyllic English country home for
those flush with cash.
02. £70 million
Hala Ranch, Aspen, Colorado
This 95-acre ranch is owned by Prince Bandar bin Sultan
bin Abdul Aziz, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the
U.S. It is the most expensive in America.
03. £60 million
Maison de L'Amitie, Palm Beach, Florida
In 2004, Donald Trump bought the mansion from former
US Healthcare executive Abe Gosman at a bankruptcy
auction for $41.25 million.
04. £48 million
Tranquility, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Conveniently on the tax-free Nevada side of Lake Tahoe,
this 210-acre property is owned by Joel Horowitz, the
cofounder of Tommy Hilfiger, who built the property from
scratch.
05. £48 million
Waterfront Estate, Istanbul, Turkey
The fifth most expensive home in the world is in a
somewhat unexpected spot, located on three-quarters of an
acre directly on the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey.
14 $uccess Mag
06. £48 million
Bishops Avenue, Hampstead, London
Just under the £50 million mark, depending on today’s
exchange rate, the Toprak Mansion was built by Turkish
entrepreneur Halis Toprak.
07. £36 million
Three Ponds, Bridgehampton, N.Y.
Three Ponds, which encompasses more than 60 acres of
farmland, is named for its surrounding lakes, but also
features its own USGA-rated golf course.
08. £36 million
The Portabello Estate, Corona del Mar, California
The triple oceanfront lot along the Pacific Ocean in
Southern California is only part of what makes the
Portabello Estate so pricey.
09. £34 million
The Pierre Penthouse, New York
This chateau in the sky occupies the top three floors of one
of the poshest hotels in New York, located on the edge of
Central Park.
10. £31 million
Cap Ferrat, Cote d’Azur, France
Nestled into the landscape about the port of Saint Jean,
views from the main house and three guest villas include
the ocean and Monaco.
WORDS – RUARI PHILLIPS
HOW HAS THE INTERNET CHANGED MONEY?
DOES MONEY EXIST? IT SOUNDS LIKE
AN UNNECESSARILY PHILOSOPHICAL
QUESTION; HOWEVER IT IS ONE THAT
HAS GAINED NEW SIGNIFICANCE IN
THE WEB ERA.
There was once a time when people
swapped cows for corn as a means of
trade, this was replaced by coins and
notes for goods and services, and
now, money does not even have to
exist physically for you to use it.
The Internet has created a new
market place in which to buy and sell
goods and services, which in turn has
created a new monetary concept -
electronic money, or e-money as it is
better known.
Buyers and sellers meet virtually so
you need a virtual means of
exchange. Very slowly, the Internet
is changing the way we think about
money as something that comes in
the form of hard cash, to something
that is simply a number in a box on
a screen.
Digital money has been around for
eons – investment banks do not, for
example, hand over millions of
pounds in £10s and £20s when they
do a massive deal. It’s done digitally.
However, for the average consumer
just buying stuff online, the digital
money revolution came somewhat
later. Now, there are several payment
systems that use e-money.
Since the birth of eBay, Paypal has
arguably become the most
well-known. It allows you to store cash
electronically online for use when you
want to buy something. This, it is
argued, is safer than using your
bank details directly when you are
buying from someone online who
you don’t know.
The rise of Internet banking, as well
as on-line shopping, has also
contributed to the growth of e-money
and the dwindling significance of
cash. Employers usually pay your
salary straight into your bank account.
And now, if you want to transfer
money, you obtain the other party’s
bank details, put in the amount you
want to transfer, and within two or
three days, the money is in their
account. You can even get current
accounts that are internet-only now. It
is this steady switch to online services
that is being blamed for banks closing
branches across the UK.
The Internet has increased the speed
of transactions, and is predicted to do
so even more, until same day
transfers are normal. But it is also
to blame for the slow, but almost
complete, death of the cheque.
When was the last time, if ever,
you used one?
The Internet has also brought about
a new kind of banking – Zopa. It was
launched in 2004, as an internet-only
concept allowing users to bypass
banks for loans and obtain them
from other Zopa members instead.
In this way, the Internet is beginning
to transform the way we understand
the money supply. Like MySpace
or Last.fm, Zopa uses an online
community to turn traditional
banking on its head.
But by far the most interesting
development in the relationship
between money and the Internet has
come about from the growth of virtual
reality. With websites such as Second
Life, you can make real money from
buying and selling virtual goods and
services, like property, using e-money.
One Chinese woman has already
made her first real million this way.
In a sense then, we are coming full
circle – back to hard cash via a virtual
world. But really, we are still working
out how the Internet is changing
money as we go along – so it’s not
quite the end of cash yet...
WORDS – REBECCA O’CONNOR
www.success-mag.co.uk 15
PRESENTING THE RIGHT IMAGE

NO MATTER HOW BRIGHT YOU ARE 2. Brush up on your

sales skills
4. Learn from people
you admire
GET HELP
There are lots of free resources out

ACADEMICALLY, THE KEY TO STARTING Everyone needs good sales skills. You
might be academically brilliant but if
Develop your analytical abilities by
critiquing others. Look at TV
there that can help you develop your
marketing skills. We think we’ve got
some of the best…

A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IS MARKETING you can’t talk about your ideas to an

individual or a group in a confident
and persuasive manner, your career
presenters, politicians, lecturers,
friends, business leaders… When you
see a good sales pitch or an engaging INTERACTIVE INTERVIEWS
YOURSELF. WHETHER YOU’RE TAKING options will be limited.

‘Sales skills’ cover a range of abilities,

speech, work out what won you over.
Was it the content or the presentation?
Ever wondered what your interviewer
was really asking with a particular

PART IN A JOB INTERVIEW OR STARTING including preparing and presenting

a convincing argument, asking
investigative questions and listening
Quite frequently, the best
self-marketers are the ones who
appear confident and in control,
question? Now you can find out.
GET has partnered with Jobsite –
the UK’s leading job board – to create

YOUR OWN BUSINESS, AT SOME STAGE carefully to the answers. Good sales
people aren’t just slick presenters who
even when they are nervous inside.
So copy what they do – smile, make
Be My Interviewer specifically for
graduates. Using video clips of

YOU WILL NEED TO CONVINCE OTHERS are full of empty promises. They’re
the ones that know what their
audience want and can back up all
eye contact and ask questions to
demonstrate your interest. All of
these things relax an audience and
graduate recruiters at work, you can
see if your answers really tell the
interviewer what they are looking for.

THAT YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB THAN of their claims with evidence.

Although good sales skills come with

ANYONE ELSE.
Good self-marketing skills will take
you a long way. You will use them
again and again throughout your
career and that’s why it’s a good idea
to start developing them as soon as
you can.
Personal interaction is the most
important element of marketing
yourself. Every recruitment process,
sales situation or partnership
proposal will involve a face-to-face
meeting or interview of some sort
and that’s when your marketing
abilities will really be tested.
Here’s five ways to start building your
personal marketing skills.
1. Sum yourself up in
a sentence
This sounds easy, but is actually very
difficult. What is it about yourself that
would interest others? Work out the
three or four things about yourself that
make you stand out from the crowd.
Being able to describe yourself
concisely is surprisingly difficult but
that’s exactly what you have to do in
an interview or sales situation. Even
the most experienced CEO can be
summed up in a few words. So don’t
make the mistake of rambling on
about yourself long after you’ve lost
your audience’s interest, because
you’ll never win it back.
experience, preparation is vital. Run
through some scenarios in your head
or with a friend. What might you be
asked that you can prepare an answer
for now?
3. Present to a crowd
A few great business leaders are, by
their nature, great communicators.
But most have learned to be great
communicators and it’s a skill that
takes time and experience to develop.
So start developing it now.
The ability to stand in front of an
audience and talk fluently about a
subject for ten minutes, without
relying on a PowerPoint presentation,
is a good test of your ability to engage
an audience and explain your ideas
clearly. All managers must be able to
do this to some degree so start
practicing your presentations now. Get
feedback on your efforts and find out
what your audience thought. The
positives will be good for your
self-esteem but the negatives are the
gold nuggets that will help you be a
better communicator.
make them feel that they are in
safe hands. A nervous, stuttering
presentation makes an audience
feel uncomfortable and won’t leave
a good impression.
5. Believe in yourself
This sounds obvious but it’s actually
fundamental to how others see you. If
you don’t believe in what you have to
offer, how can you expect others to?
Self-confidence doesn’t come to
everyone naturally, so be prepared
to invest some time and money in
yourself. Work out what weaknesses
you have and try to find ways to
address them. If you feel
uncomfortable when you are being
asked questions, book some practice
time with a careers adviser or
interview coach. If a smart
appearance is important, try to
choose clothes that fit and make
you feel good about yourself. The
more you can minimise your weak
points, the more confident you’ll feel
about yourself and the better
impression you will leave.
Be My Interviewer is a great way to
learn how to make a great impression,
not just a good one. New interviewers
are added regularly and include some
of the UK’s top CEOs.
GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
CHALLENGE
The world’s leading management
simulation game is now open for
business. The GMC is a competition
open to students resident in the UK.
You and up to four friends can
manage a ‘virtual business’,
submitting decisions that will make
or break your company’s share price.
You’ll be playing against hundreds of
teams from across the country and
the winners will represent the UK
against 28 other competing nations
at the international final in Lisbon.
The GMC is a great way to learn
about business strategy and making
decisions as a team.
www.get.hobsons.co.uk/successmag

www.success-mag.co.uk 17
ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART ONE
THE WORLD IS FULL OF YOUNG, AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHO DON’T SIT AROUND WAITING FOR
THINGS TO HAPPEN – THEY ARE OUT THERE,
MAKING THINGS
HAPPEN.
This section is dedicated
to letting you know who
they are…
Name: Sumanth Inukonda
Age: 28
Occupation: Financial Journalist
Location: London
(originally from India)
I currently study at The London
School of Economics. As proprietor
of Academic Books I was involved
with marketing text books to Libraries
and Individual Academics back in
India. I also maintained records for
the company and contacts with
Publishers. I have recently interned
with a TV News Broadcaster, NDTV
Profit, in New Delhi. I would like to
work as a financial news journalist.
If anybody is interested to sample
some of my work please get in touch.
To contact Sumanth email -
S.Inukonda@lse.ac.uk
18 $uccess Mag
Name: Liam Rhodes
Age: 17
Occupation: Managing director of
iFuse Technologies
Limited
Location: London
At the age of 15 I was named the
youngest Managing Director in
Britain, which generated vast
amounts of media coverage. Now
17, my business, iFuse Technologies
Limited, is branching out from web
hosting and enterprise education
software into MMORPG's (that's
Massively-Multiplayer Online
Role-Playing Games!) We're launching
our enterprise product very shortly.
We are very confident that this will
provide enough profit to invest in
other potential money-makers. I'm
in this for a long time, not just
short-term monetary gain...
To contact Liam visit -
www.ifusegroup.com
Name: Sarah Lucy Smith
Occupation: Co-founder of
Green Knickers
Location: London
GreenKnickers is a project designing
and selling attractive fun underwear
that is ethical. All products are
produced in the UK using a fair trade
co-op for underprivileged women and
are made using ethical organic
fabrics. I run the company alongside
my business-partner Rose
Cleary-Southward.
To contact Sarah visit –
www.greenknickers.org
Name: Tom Savage
Age: 25
Occupation: Co-founder of
Blue Ventures
Location: New Zealand
My company, Blue Ventures, is a
not-for-profit organisation dedicated
to facilitating projects and expedition
that enhance global marine
conservation and research. Since
2002, we have run over 16
expeditions to Madagascar, Tanzania,
New Zealand, The Comoros and
South Africa. Blue Ventures
co-ordinates expeditions consisting
of scientists and volunteers working
hand-in-hand with local biologists,
marine institutes, NGOs, and
communities whose livelihoods
depend on these ecosystems, to
carry out research, environmental
awareness and conservation
programmes at threatened habitats
around the world.
To contact Tom visit -
www.blueventures.org
Name: Alistair Dean
Age: 29
Occupation: Clothes Retailer
Location: Brighton
I run a shop called Eclectic Threads
in Brighton. Check out my interview
on this site! If you're a clothes
designer or graffiti artist I'm always
interested to find new products for my
shop. I sell on an S.O.R. basis. If
you're interested send all proposals
via my website.
To contact Alistair visit -
www.eclecticthreads.co.uk
Name: Alexander Ward
Age: 23
Occupation: CEO of Red
Tiger Design
Location: Essex
I'm the founder, CEO and self-
confessed workaholic of branding,
design and print. I started the
business in 2001 and brought Red
Tiger to the position it is today; one
of the leading agencies in Essex.
Red Tiger bases its activities on core
beliefs of providing solutions in a
professional, innovative, creative and
passionate way. At the RT offices on
Mersea Island (near Colchester,
Essex) I manage projects with clients
such as Essex County Council, the
International Communications Group,
Press Gazette (UK) and Hetherston
Food & Events.
In addition to running the business
I'm also an independent branding
consultant, writer and artist.
To contact Alex visit -
www.redtigerdesign.com
www.success-mag.co.uk 19
PROPERTY…GET ON THE LADDER
UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING ON THE
MOON, YOU WILL NOT HAVE MISSED REPORTS
OF THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION FACING
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BUY THEIR OWN
HOME. THEY CAN’T AFFORD IT.
House prices are almost universally
outstripping average first time buyer
wages by almost eight times, leaving
them with the prospect of
unmanageable monthly mortgage
repayments if they do decide to buy.
On top of that, there are rising
interest rates, which make the cost
of borrowing even higher. So to reach
that first rung is looking almost
impossible. However, buying property
is never going to be a bad idea and
the sooner the better.
If you do decide to do it, you will
almost certainly require a leg-up.
Help comes in several forms. You
might not like it, but parents are often
the best place to go first. This is
because the Bank of Mum and Dad
may have enough cash to give you
for a deposit on your first home.
Saving up for it yourself will take
years, frankly, and you could be
waiting until you are drawing your
pension if things continue the way
they are.
20 $uccess Mag
The bigger the deposit, the less you
have to borrow from the bank and the
lower your repayments. Banks also
reduce interest rates for borrowers
with bigger deposits. Aim for a deposit
of ten per cent or more of the total
loan amount.
Parents can also act as guarantors on
your mortgage, which means that they
are effectively saying to the mortgage
lender that if you don’t pay up, then
they will come to your rescue. This
again reduces the risk to the lender of
you defaulting on repayments (which
is what they care about, obviously).
If parental help is not an option, all is
not lost. Mortgage lenders are
desperate to keep first time buyers
coming onto their books, not least
because it stimulates demand in the
whole housing market, so they have
risk of what is called negative equity – they have a dodgy reputation –
been coming up with ever more
which basically means you are second only to car salesmen,
inventive ways of improving
making a loss rather than a profit on perhaps, for shiftiness, there are
affordability. Sharing with friends and
your house – if your property does not plenty of legit guys out there who
family is the latest to hit the headlines.
go up in value by enough to cover the you might willingly share a cup of
Some lenders, such as Britannia
extra debt you took on. Government tea with at any other time. If you do
building society and HSBC, will allow
schemes designed to help the cut out the middle man, be aware
you to share your mortgage with up
cash-strapped masses own their that most first-time buyers should
to three other people. Because how
own homes are around, however the steer themselves towards fixed rate
much you can borrow is calculated
waiting lists are huge. “Key workers” loans, as these offer more certainty
on the basis of income, more incomes
such as teachers and nurses, are at a time when you are leaping into
means a bigger mortgage and
usually given first dibs on these the unknown.
hopefully a better house. It also
schemes, so it is worth putting
means that between you, you should If you do buy, remember that there
your name down, but don’t hold
be able to rustle up a bigger deposit. are literally tons of extra costs on
your breath.
The downsides to this are, of course, top of the actual house price, like
the possibility that you end up falling Some budding property magnates stamp duty, furniture and council
out with your housemates. A dispute who want to buy purely for investment tax. Also, for those with an extra
with a mate becomes more purposes are increasingly looking room, remember that you can let
complicated when you share a legally abroad to buy, in places like Bulgaria spare rooms in your property and
binding agreement for hundreds of and Poland, where property is earn up to £4,250 a year tax-free.
thousands of pounds. Also, when cheaper because housing markets
you come to sell, you will be splitting If all of the above fails…marry
in those countries are less developed.
any profit, reducing the return on someone rich!
But this is a big undertaking with
your investment. plenty of unknown risks. The better
the devil you know, as they say.
Lenders will also offer some borrowers
100 per cent or more of the property If you want a good mortgage, a broker WORDS - REBECCA O’CONNOR
value, so you don’t need a deposit. is worth it – first time around at least.
The catch is higher interest rates on This is because they can search the
this kind of loan. They also put you at whole of the market for you. While
www.success-mag.co.uk 21
FIND STARTUP MONEY
MANY OF US WANT TO START A BUSINESS
BUT ACTUALLY MAKING IT HAPPEN IS A WHOLE
DIFFERENT STORY. FIRST, YOU NEED AN IDEA,
THEN YOU NEED TIME TO DEVELOP IT THEN,
ABOVE ALL, YOU NEED (YES YOU GUESSED IT)
MONEY! ALBERTO NARDELLI, FROM THE SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE CHARITY WWW.UNLTD.ORG.UK,
AWARDS GRANTS AND LOANS FOR A LIVING.
Fundraising is one of the most
complicated tasks when setting up a
project and during the development
you may want to apply for additional
funding to take you that step further.
This can be frustrating and time
consuming... but it’s essential.
Fundraising is a very broad area so
focusing on the essential require-
ments, needs and areas where you
require help is crucial.
How do I go about getting
further funds?
There are many different ways to
bring resources to your project and all
of these can be considered
fundraising. For example, you might
apply to a charitable trust or
government body for money, or you
might hold a raffle or a jumble sale to
raise some cash. But fundraising
doesn’t have to be all about money –
it might involve asking companies to
donate goods, skills, support or
human resources.
22 $uccess Mag
NEXT STEPS
1. Identify the need
It is important that you are sure there
is a demand for what you want to do.
Once you have shaped your idea you
need to think about what resources
you require to make it happen. It is
important that you are clear about this
before you start developing your
strategy. At this stage, you should try
to think through as many options as
you can – although you probably have
an idea in your head about how you
want to do things, there might be
viable alternatives that are easier or
more cost effective. The key element
in identifying need is pinning down
exactly what you’re fundraising for:
what you need, and why you need it:
what is the value and impact of your
project if it were successful in its
fundraising efforts?
2. Develop a
fundraising strategy
The next stage is to develop a strategy
to show how you intend to raise the
money required. A fundraising
strategy sets out what a project’s
funding needs are likely to be over a
future period and outlines how
resources will be identified and raised
to meet those needs. A good funding
strategy will include what the money
is for, where it will come from, how
much will be sought and when it is
needed – and depending on the
funding type, how the investors will
get their money back. It is important
when developing your fundraising
strategy that you do your research.
Different funders will have different
priorities and deadlines, and the most
successful fundraisers know the best
approach is to target funders whose
criteria best fits with their project. It is
crucial to identify backers who clearly
support your issues of interest (check
what they’ve funded in the past) and
grant the amounts/resources you
need i.e. do their funding guidelines
match your budget requirements and
do their grant sizes meet your
requests? It is better to submit a few
well-chosen applications than
hundreds of speculative ones; this will
save you time and disappointment!
3. Put your strategy
into action…
Once you have developed a strategy
you think is realistic, the next step is
to get started. This means getting your
applications in as well as planning
non-application based activities, such
as raffles, jumble sales or events. As a
general rule, where applications are
concerned, the more funding you ask
for the greater level of information you
will need to provide. Some funders
will have an application form, and
others will ask you to submit a few
pages explaining your request. Either
way, you will need to make sure you
can explain clearly why you are asking
for money, why it is necessary, who
your project will benefit, how you will
do it and what you will achieve. Don’t
forget to be clear about the difference
the money will make and what won’t
happen if you don’t get it. Most
applications take at least four to six
months to be processed and can
often take longer. Plan this long
lead-time into your strategy.
The key is to provide all relevant
information clearly, in a concise
format, answer the main questions,
don’t get lost in jargon and don’t
duplicate information that you have
already provided.
4. Managing the money
and relationships
Once you have approval, you really
need to build a good relationship with
your benefactor. Write to them and
thank them for their support. Make
sure you fill out any reports they need,
and send them regular updates about
your project and your plans for the
future. Make sure anyone who has
given you money knows how
important their support is to you and
how valuable it is for everyone in your
group. There might also be some
administration you need to deal with
before you can actually receive the
money. Read the terms and
conditions carefully so you
understand the commitment you are
making. Think about the reporting
requirements and how you will
address them. It is also important to
remember that keeping a business
alive is an ongoing process – if you
have raised all your money,
congratulations! Now is the time to
start the cycle all over again.
In Summary
Define your needs and how these will
enable true impact. Identify a funder
that matches these needs and is
interested in the impact you will
potentially generate.
Communicate clearly what you want
to do, how and why you want to do
it, what you need to succeed, and
how and why the funder you’re
approaching is ideally positioned
to support you.
Finally, and importantly, don’t be
afraid to ask for advice, help and
feedback. Remember for every
successful application there will
be many more unsuccessful ones,
so be persistent and determined –
fundraising takes time.
WORDS - ALBERTO NARDELLI
www.success-mag.co.uk 23
SIMON SAYS
SIMON MANSELL DOESN’T DO SELF-DOUBT.
THE DAILY MAIL ‘ENTREPRENEUR OF THE
YEAR’ HAS A CONFIDENCE BELYING HIS 28
YEARS. BUT CONSIDERING TBG LONDON,
THE DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY HE SET UP
SIX YEARS AGO, NOW HAS A TURNOVER IN
EXCESS OF £13.5 MILLION, THAT SHOULDN’T
BE A SURPRISE.
With a client list boasting the likes
of American Express, Harrods
and Virgin, and an expected £25m
turnover this year, who can
blame him?
“There’s no point going into anything
unless you know for a fact you can
do the job well,” he announces.
“I put most of what I’ve achieved
down to my sales skills. I’m
excellent at getting people interested
in a product and that’s what counts.
If you’re good at that – success
will follow.”
He should know. Corporate giants
were lured to Simon’s advertising
service even when TBG was a mere
fledgling start up.
“When I set up the business from my
bedroom, my first calls were to the
large organisations. These companies
have money to spend, far more than
smaller establishments. I used my
common sense and went to them.”
It was September 2001 when Simon
had his “Eureka” moment. At a time
when dot-com had become a dirty
word, he stepped in with the stealth
of a fighter pilot and took the industry
by storm.
SIMON MANSELL
founder of TBG London
“My main aim was to make money,
and quick,” he says. “I chose to
start up when I did because nobody
was touching anything web-related.
However, I saw a niche and just
went for it.
“Although the industry was at an
all-time low, the big organisations still
had websites and they still wanted to
make sales.”
Realising that businesses’ tolerance
for risk was low, Simon approached
potential clients on a results-only
basis. If he didn’t achieve, the client
wouldn’t pay. The risk was all his.
But a first year turnover of £1.7m
was proof he was right.
Six years later, and the business has
progressed from a project started
in a bedroom to swish Kentish
Town offices - a hub of young,
energetic workers.
“We like to do things differently here.
I want my employees to be happy
and feel as if they are working
somewhere cool and fun. If you’re
lucky enough to work here you WILL
be content and enjoy your time. But
it’s not easy to get through the gates.
If you want to work here, there are
a number of difficult tests and three
intense interviews.”
It’s this strict recruitment process
and an eye for detail as sharp as his
crisply ironed shirts that’s given
Simon the edge over his
competitors. Currently one of the top
four UK media agencies, the need
for fast, proven results permeates
the company.
“TBG never beats around the bush,”
he says, “And we’re honest about
the results we get. Companies are
interested because there is no
www.success-mag.co.uk 25
SIMON SAYS

“Some see me as a bit pushy and others see me as only
financial risk. Thankfully, we are
very good at what we do.”
Simon clearly loves what he does. He
also admits to enjoying the luxuries it
trivial. I try not to take anything for
granted and I still love the simple

interested in one thing; money. I don’t care. TBG is here to
do a job and we do that job exceedingly well. We are not a
charity, nor are we here to sweeten people up. What we offer
The influence of Simon’s role model,
brings him: the Lamborghini
Murci lago, Aston Martin DB9 and a
things; tea, a comfy sofa, friendship.”
Rupert Murdoch, is clear. Murdoch This attitude means, despite the
is not known for his humility, but his
Ford GT in the drive are testament to
that. But the changes caused by
self-admitted air of arrogance cloaking
business acumen. Simon’s shoulders, he hasn’t forgotten
“He’s amazing! More than anything,
entrepreneurial success are only
superficial, he insists.
where he’s come from.

is a simple service and you can either take it or leave it.”
I’m a great fan of how he keeps such
a low profile and doesn’t rely too
much on the media or publicity
stunts. The guy’s a businessman
at heart and he’s extremely good.
Pure focus and speed: nothing
more, nothing less.”
Although obviously in awe of the
legendary media mogul, Simon
doesn’t seem to posess the fearsome
streak for which Murdoch is famed.
But Simon’s politeness hides a
ruthlessly business-like attitude,
something he’s not apologising for.
“When doing deals I’m often not
liked,” he announces proudly.
“Some see me as a bit pushy and
others see me as only interested in
one thing; money. I don’t care. TBG
is here to do a job and we do that job
exceedingly well. We are not a charity,
nor are we here to sweeten people up.
What we offer is a simple service and
you can either take it or leave it.”
“I’m the same guy I always was, it’s
“Sometimes it’s very hard to believe.
I’m 28 and my business is turning
just I’ve got a bit more money now.
over huge amounts of money. I often
I’ve made it a priority not to become
just sit back and think how far I’ve
the idiot so many people do when
come in such a short space of time.
they make money. Yeh, I’ve got a few
I’m amazed, and so are my family…”
more luxuries in my life but they
haven’t affected me, or my attitude. What makes Simon such an
I’ll never be one to waste my days appealing character is his “no bull”
away on a yacht.” “I like getting things demeanour and self-parodying
done and the feeling achievement humour. When asked if we can take
brings. That’s what will always drive a photograph of him next to his
me forward.” Lamborghini he smiles and suggests
we have him smoke a cigar, and
Simon also directs his energies to
swim in a pool of cash. Well, why
giving something back to the
not? As he says: “I’m living the
community. He recently attended
dream and I’m not planning to wake
“Camp Over the Wall”, a charity that
up anytime soon.”
helps sick and disabled children.
“I’m not one to brag about my charity
work but it’s something I like to do.
Working with people who are worse WORDS - KATHERINE DUNN
off than you puts everything in
perspective. Some people have awful
problems. When I look at what’s going
on in my life it often seems terribly

SIMON’S TOP FIVE BUSINESS TIPS

1. Be good at sales. Get a job doing telesales for a few
months and see how you like it. Find a style and stick
to it. There are a number of tactics you can use. Many
see it as a numbers game, but I don’t. I personally feel
the best way to sell something is make sure the person
or company you’re approaching actually want it – that
makes things an awful lot easier.
2. Don’t rely on anybody else. If you want something
done, get up off your arse and do it. Get the ball rolling
yourself and only involve others if absolutely essential.
3. Stick to the priority of business. You are in this to make
MONEY. It has to be fun but, at the same time, making
a profit is paramount.
4. Take every opportunity you can. Even when you’re not
working, if you meet somebody who you feel might be
able to help with your business – get a card and speak
with him or her. Who knows? They may be of great use
in the future.
5. Never change. If you begin turning over a nice bit of
money, don’t lose track of who you are and where you
come from. So many people are sucked into a fake
way of living it finally becomes their demise. Stay true
to yourself and your aims.

www.success-mag.co.uk 27
ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART TWO

THE WORLD IS FULL OF YOUNG, AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WHO DON’T SIT AROUND WAITING FOR THINGS
TO HAPPEN – THEY ARE OUT THERE,
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
This section is dedicated
to letting you know who
they are…

Name: Rajeeb Dey Name: Grant Lang
Age: 20 Age: 25
Occupation: Founder of Occupation: CEO of
studentvoice.co.uk www.mozzocoffee.com
Location: Oxford Location: Southampton
I began work on developing ESSA in November 2003 alongside my A-levels. In 2003 I started Mozzo Coffee which
I first came up with the idea after hearing about secondary student unions in is a coffee cart or tuk-tuk, that uses
other European countries and thought to myself – “if they have one, why don't natural energy to serve fairtrade
we?” and since then I've been able to generate widespread support for ESSA. coffee to the community. Following on
ESSA now employs two full time members of staff and has offices in London from the success of the cart I'm now
Bridge. I'm not new to youth politics and young people's participation issues; developing the Mozzo Community-2-
I was the figurehead of Chelmsford Borough Council's “No Vote…No Voice” Community Fund. The fund will be
Campaign – to promote young people to vote in the local elections and Vice-Chair focused on providing artists with
Finance of the Chelmsford Youth Council. My work with the Youth Council led me employment opportunities which in
onto winning the DfES Exceptional Community Champion 2005 Award and being turn will benefit the community. I'm
a Finalist in the Windrush Achievement Awards in 2004. I'm currently a Co-optee currently establishing an interactive
on the Trustees Board of the Carnegie UK Trust, as well as a Trustee of the website where individuals can vote for
Phoenix Education Trust. I was also awarded a Young Leaders Award from the the artists they think should receive
Royal Society of Arts and a Wavemakers Award by Sir John Major. support from the fund. It will also
have a 'fund tracker' that will allow
To contact Rajeeb visit - www.studentvoice.co.uk
people to see where money is going,
and how their coffee purchases are
contributing to communities here and
around the world, as well as how
artists are benefiting from Mozzo's
funds. If you are an artist who would
like your work showcased or have any
ideas please give me a shout.
Name: Zadi Diaz
Occupation: CEO of Smashface
Productions
Location: Los Angeles
I’m co-founder and principal of
Smashface Productions, a new media
production company based in Los
Angeles, California. I’m Executive
Producer of the Vloggie® award
winning American youth culture show
JETSET, as well as RSSnews.tv, New
Mediacracy, Vidlicious and others.
My work has been highlighted in The
New York Times, Forbes Magazine,
CBS Evening News, Business
Week, and The Independent, among
many other national publications
and programs.
To contact Zadi visit -
www.smashface.com
Name: Richard Price
Age: 26
Occupation: Co-founder of
liveout.co.uk
Location: Oxford
LiveOut is the first online student
property database in Oxford. Our aim
is to make the process of finding a
student house much quicker and
easier. Features of the site include:
• 90% of Oxford 's estate agents
list with us
• 600 properties in our database
• Photos and Google maps of
the properties
• 100% free for students to use
• Flatmate-finding forum for
students to find flatmates
Other members of the team include
Stephen Hartley, Dave Nash, Alasdair
Bell and Paul Doerwald.
To contact Richard email -
richard@bouncewithit.com
Name: Robert Parris
Age: 26
Occupation: DJ/Record shop
owner/Promoter
Location: St Albans
I own a record shop called Manic
Vinyl. We also have an internet radio
station and a number of club
promotions. I'm always interested to
meet new DJs and MCs. The business
has been going for around three years
now. we have a number of new
enterprises about to happen and I'm
always open to new ideas, whatever
they be. So, if any of the above
interests you...contact me!
To contact Robert email -
Management@ManicFM.com

To contact Grant email -

beanline@mozzo.co.uk

28 $uccess Mag www.success-mag.co.uk 29

THE RULES OF WORK
THE WORKPLACE HAS NEVER BEEN THE
MOST EXCITING PLACE. PEOPLE MOPE AROUND,
PHOTOCOPIERS INCESSANTLY HUM LIKE
MEDIEVAL MONKS AND THE CLOCK SEEMS
TO MOVE SLOWER AND SLOWER AS IF MAKING
THE DAY LONGER AND LONGER.
Not any more! Top-selling author, Richard Templar, has
revolutionised office-life by turning it into an exciting,
mind-stretching, challenging game we can all play. We just
need to follow the rules…
RICHARD TEMPLAR
Top-selling author
30 $uccess Mag
01. Know your job well
Whatever job it is you do, know it well. Learn the history of
your industry. Know not only your own small cog bit of it
but everyone else’s as well - learn the process from start to
finish. Become a living walking encyclopædia of what your
business does and how it does it. But don’t bore anyone
with this information and don’t let anyone see you leaning
it. Just know your job and know it well.
02. Dress the part
You are in business and have an image to keep up so dress
the part. Dress sharply and smartly and always present a
professional image. You aren’t there to lounge around so
turn up looking as if you are serious and want to be taken
seriously. Make sure everything fits and is neat and clean.
This isn’t a fashion catwalk; it is business so keep it simple
and unadorned. Make sure your clothes are the highest
quality you can afford.
03. Know where you are going
Look, you’ve got to have a plan. Without a plan you are lost,
adrift, all at sea. You must have a destination or you could
go round in circles or fall off the edge of the world. A plan
can be flexible, abandoned, changed, but you do need one
in place to monitor your progress and have something to
aim for. Ideally you should have 4 plans – one for this week,
this month and this year – and a long range one for the
next few years.
04. Be nice
In business you are going to rub up against some pretty
unpleasant characters – true of all life actually. Learn not
to rise to the bait if you get wound up, dumped on, messed
around, teased, whatever. Keep a civil tongue in your head
and if you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.
Be polite at all times. Don’t swear or be abusive to others.
Be charming and courteous and treat people with respect.
05. Be aware that you are on show at all times
When you are working you are both doing your job and
presenting an image for future promotion and
advancement. Everything you do and say is being judged
and will be used to make assessments of your potential,
your suitability and your possibilities. And that does mean
everything – the newspaper you read, the pen you use,
the way you speak and walk and dress. Make sure that
everything presents an image of quality, charm, success
and professionalism.
06. Be utterly professional
You are not here to steal the pens, flirt, goof off, take it easy
or swan about looking cool. You are here to do a job. Do it
and discharge your duties with utter professionalism at all
times. You can’t afford to have lapses or off days or bad
moments. You should be reliable and dependable and
totally consistent – turn up late just once and you’ll be a
bad timekeeper, turn up drunk once and you’ll be labelled
an alcoholic, turn up casually dressed just once and they’ll
think you a scruff.
07. Know who counts and who doesn’t
And hang out with those who count obviously. This isn’t
toadying, merely a fact of life in business. Some people
make the place function and others are here for a free
ride. If you hang out with those who do the work you’ll get
on. Hang out with the layabouts, the shirkers, the rebels
and you’ll get lumped in with them no matter how well you
do your job.
08. Understand the system – and milk it
Every work place has a number of ‘systems’ – who does
what, where things are stored, what happens at
conferences, how things take place. Your job, when your
not busy doing your job, is to find out all these systems
and then use them to your own advantage – no, it doesn’t
mean stealing anything just using the information to make
your own job flow that bit more smoothly.
09. Get ready to be promoted
No matter what job you are doing now; get ready for the
next step up. And that means consciously rehearsing,
practising for that job so that if it is offered to you, you can
slip into the role easily and comfortably – why, it’s almost
as if you had been practising, which of course you have.
Watch how the person doing the next job up from yours
does it now. How could you do it better? What do they do
that you don’t?
10. Watch your back
There are people in business who get jealous, hate
competition, just like a wind up, enjoy making others
suffer. Watch your back at all times and trust no–one.
Make sure you do everything properly and that there is
nothing you could be accused of at any time. Don’t take
short cuts, chances or liberties. Be honest, hard working,
alert and industrious. You’ll go far. You’ll be a Rules Player.
WORDS – RICHARD TEMPLAR
Richard Templar unfortunately passed away early last
year. $uccess Mag would like to offer their sympathy
and condolences.
www.success-mag.co.uk 31
SPARE MONEY? INVEST WISELY
THE CONCEPT OF HAVING SPARE
MONEY SEEMS A BIT OF A JOKE
WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO LIVE ON
IS POCKET MONEY AND A STUDENT
LOAN. APART FROM PEOPLE WHO
PROBABLY AREN’T MUCH FUN,
WHO ACTUALLY HAS MONEY TO
PUT ASIDE WHEN THEY ARE IN THE
PRIME OF THEIR YOUTH?
32 $uccess Mag
Apart from people who probably
aren’t much fun, who actually has
money to put aside when they are in
the prime of their youth? Having
enough cash to scrape together three
meals a day and, if you are lucky, an
inter-rail pass, is of far more concern.
But one day, with luck, you will have
spare money and when that day does
arrive – you need to be prepared, or
you’ll end up spending it on
something frivolous…… like shoes,
or beer!
Buddhists may believe that what you
give out comes back to you tenfold,
but with money, this concept doesn’t
work. Spend it, and it is gone forever.
Invest it, however, and that tenfold
rule might just apply.
Why?
Well, if you invest money, you should
eventually have more of it. An
investment company once gave me a
bonsai tree as a gift; apparently it’s a
symbol of wealth. Look after it, they
said, and it will bloom. How much it
will bloom depends on where you put
it and how long you leave it there for.
A bonsai tree needs watering, pruning
and putting in a place just out of
direct sunlight that’s neither too hot
nor too cold. Similarly, your money
needs exactly the right conditions
to grow.
Investing doesn’t just mean buying
shares. The simplest and most
popular form of investment is saving.
Savings accounts are investment
vehicles by a more familiar name.
They are simple because, in most
cases, the return you receive on the
money you put in is guaranteed at a
certain rate, for example six per cent
per year. This figure is the amount
of interest you earn - essentially a
reward paid to you by your bank or
building society, for letting them look
after your money. Because interest
is paid as a percentage, the more
money you put aside, the bigger the
reward. At its simplest six per cent of
£100 is £6 in a year, but add another
£100 and you’ve earned £12 at the
end of the year.
By its longer title interest is known
as compound interest, and it is this
compounding effect that makes
saving really worthwhile. There is
a compounding formula which is
complicated to work out, but
essentially it means that you earn
extra interest on the interest already
paid. So, taking the above example,
in the second year, you will receive
six per cent interest on £106 instead
of £100.
Unfortunately, working out how much
you will receive is not always so
straightforward. Interest is further
complicated by the Government,
which classifies interest as a form
of income and taxes it accordingly.
Cash sums below £3,000 a year can
be tax-free, however only if they are
kept in a special savings account
known as a cash ISA, or Individual
Savings Account. There are also
things called maxi ISAs, which allow
investors to put up to £7,000 a year
into stocks and shares without paying
tax. It is usually a good idea to build
up a savings buffer in cash of around
£10,000 before investing money
elsewhere. This can then be used in
emergencies, such as an unexpected
job loss or for mundane but expensive
events such as boiler breakdowns.
There are thousands of savings
accounts to choose from, so you
need to decide what, besides the
rate of return, is important to you.
Many people find simple instant
access accounts that can be
managed online the most friendly
type of savings account.
There are no golden rules to investing.
Most financial advisers recommend
that once someone has built up
substantial assets, these should be
divided equally between low, medium
and high risk investment vehicles.
But this can change depending on
your age and financial status and
the type of person you are. We are
not all born risk-takers. If you are
more about slippers and a cosy
chair than skydiving, you might be
better off taking a cautious approach
to investing.
However, many advisers believe that
young people, who have time on their
side, are in a better position to take
on more risk with their investment
portfolio in the early days. They say
that as you get older you should
gradually switch away from the
unpredictable investments towards
safer ones.
Low risk investments, such as savings
accounts usually yield a lower return.
Bonds (essentially a loan to the
issuer) are another type of low risk
investment. They tie up your money
for a number of years and the longer
it is tied up, the higher the interest
rate on the bond.
Fixed income is also low risk, paying
you an agreed amount on your
investment at intervals.
The price you pay for the prospect of
higher returns is greater risk.
Medium risk investments are usually
those that are spread between a
mixture of different “asset classes”
or types of investment. They might,
for example, invest in companies with
a track record for steady long-term
growth in industries where
performance does not tend to
fluctuate wildly, such as retail.
High risk investments are those with
volatile or unchartered performance,
such as companies in “emerging
markets” like India or China.
Some famous investors, such as the
American Warren Buffett, or Anthony
Bolton, a former UK fund manager,
have built up incredible reputations
www.success-mag.co.uk 33
SPARE MONEY? INVEST WISELY
through their shrewd capacity to
understand which investments are
likely to make the biggest returns.
Timing is said to be one of their
secrets. Mr Bolton is known to favour
buying stocks at a time when they are
undervalued by the rest of the
financial market because this is when
they have the most potential to grow.
The time to sell stocks and shares is
typically just before you think they are
likely to fall in value. Of course, if you
think they won’t fall by very much and
are likely to rise again, you may
decide to hang on in there.
However, instead of trying to
second-guess financial markets,
which have a mind of their own,
amateur investors are better off
sticking to some basic principles.
Sensible investment requires a
sensible attitude to money.
First, you have to learn to see money
as something other than a means of
buying stuff. One advisor, who
specialises in making young people
save for pensions, calls this a
switch away from the values of
“instant gratification” towards
“delayed gratification”.
If you could have one biscuit now or
two in an hour, which would you
choose? To be a sensible investor, you
have to understand the benefits of
choosing the latter.
Advisers usually suggest, that to
reduce the risk of your investments
losing value, all investments should
be for the long-term – more than 10
years. This gives some protection
against economic cycles of boom
and bust. The chances are that the
longer you invest for, the higher your
eventual return will be.
In some cases, funds will guarantee
that you will at least receive back your
original investment, even in cases
where the fund performs poorly. In
others, you can end up losing the lot.
34 $uccess Mag
Poor investment performance can be
disastrous. For instance, millions of
homeowners have been hit by a
scandal involving a type of investment
known as an “endowment”. With
endowments, the investor pays a
certain amount into a fund every
month for a set period of time with the
intention of using the money to pay
off a mortgage at the end. However,
in hundreds of thousands of cases,
endowments have performed poorly
leaving many investors without the
ability to repay their mortgage at the
end of the term.
Another recent scandal, involving a
type of investment known as a “split
capital trust”, has also proved
disastrous.
The Financial Services Authority is
the regulatory body that sets up
guidelines for investment vehicles
and requires all investment
companies to set out the levels of
associated risk. Before making an
investment, it is vital to read up on
the worst-case scenarios you could
face if things don’t work out.
If you are not sure what to do by
yourself, an independent financial
adviser can help you make a decision
on where to put your money.
But these guys, although regulated by
the FSA, can sometimes get it wrong
too, so it is important to find one you
like and trust. A good place to start is
the website www.unbiased.co.uk.
Advisers and fund management
companies usually charge a small
percentage fee for looking after your
investments. This means it’s usually
only worth approaching them if you
have a fairly significant sum of cash
to invest.
Of course, you can always do it
yourself. But there is one pitfall of
which you should be wary. Very often,
amateur investors who go-it-alone
tend to pick retail stocks in high
Our culture is focused
street companies that they have
heard of, such as Tesco or Barclays,
or in their favourite football team.
There is nothing wrong with this
fundamentally, except most fund
managers agree that an investment
should be a decision of the head
rather than the heart, and people
who invest because they have an
emotional attachment to a company
are doing so for the wrong reasons.
Despite this, there has recently
been a spate of ethical fund launches,
that do not, for instance, invest in
companies involved in oil, arms or
tobacco. There are also religious-
based funds, for people who cannot
invest in certain industries because it
contravenes their religion.
Above all, investing should be fun as
long as you understand the risks, and
remember, you’re never too young to
start saving. The earlier you begin
the more your money can make over
the years.
The price you pay for the prospect of
higher returns is greater risk.
WORDS – REBECCA O’CONNOR
Cameron Kennedy
Specialist Financial Recruitment
20 Abchurch Lane . around
London .our clients
EC4N and020
7BB . Tel candidates
7337 0011
Cameron Kennedy is a leading, London-based financial recruitment consultancy
specialising in Banking, Insurance, Investment Management, Hedge Fund, Private
Equity and Commerce and Industry vacancies. We provide some of the best
recruitment services and solutions in the financial industry.
Project Accountant
London £95k - £110k + Bonus + Benefits
They are part of a global banking group who provide essential services within
institutional services, wealth management and private client brokers, financial
institutions and banks. Reporting to the CFO, you will be a key Finance subject matter
expert on projects and new product development by the business. You will deputise for
the CFO as required and manage relationships with customers, head office, vendors,
and auditors. You will participate in senior management working groups and
committees. You are a qualified accountant (with US/UK GAAP exposure) with
significant PQE and a broad knowledge of the securities industry.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Family Office Accountant
London £55k - £70k + Bonus + Benefits
The role will involve looking after and managing the personal finances of a partner of a
large European Hedge Fund Business. Initially you will deal with all aspects of
the partner’s personal finances, including processing invoices, bank account
reconciliations, cash movements, balance sheet verification, payments, family trusts,
investment applications and asset management. It is expected that after having
obtained the confidence of the partner, you will recruit a junior to deal with all
administrative tasks and will start to develop the role further.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Financial Controller
London £50k - £60k + Bonus + Benefits
This top-tier venture capital firm and one of the largest VC firms in Europe, is expanding
its franchise further as the premier firm in its sector, and is now looking for a talented
individual to assume an important position in the Finance team reporting to and working
alongside the CFO. The role is varied and includes all aspects of reporting including
treasury, budgets, management accounts, statutory accounts, partner reporting, review
of funds and their admin, investor queries, portfolio analysis and ad hoc queries. This
will suit an ACA either from practice or any industry.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Manager - Financial Control
London £70k + Bonus + Benefits
European top financial institution is currently seeking a qualified Accountant to take
overall responsibility for the financial control, data integrity and projects. To qualify you
will have solid accounting experience gained in the Banking sector with broad
knowledge of banking products including Lending and Treasury (eg Money market,
Derivatives). You will have an understanding of the complete trade life cycle and the
impact upon Financial Reporting. Experience of previous GL implementations and
process design with proven experience of leading teams of up to 6 plus is essential.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Corporate Finance Executive
London £50k + Bonus + Benefits
Dynamic corporate finance boutique with ambitious growth plans is looking for a
recently qualified ACA with a strong academic background. You will work with
entrepreneurial individuals on a wide range of transactions and activities including
M&A, advisory, fund raising, debt issues, and PE deals. You will gain responsibility and
early exposure as well as on the job training.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Banking . Insurance . Investment Management . Hedge Funds
Private Equity . Commerce & Industry
Internal Auditor - Market Risk
London £70k + Bonus + Benefits
This Investment Bank has an opening for an Internal Auditor with an auditing and
accounting qualification with an exceptional academic background. The successful
candidate will have audited product/market risk relating to Global Capital Markets and
Resource Banking. You will have worked within the banking sector with detailed
experience of auditing either as an auditor-in-charge or working in a team.
Understanding of the ‘greek’ and VaR and any knowledge CAD II would be a distinct
advantage. Whilst the role is primarily London based there are a number of overseas
locations in which audits may be scheduled. The role will entail overseas travel of 10%.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Commercial Financial Analyst
London £60k + Bonus + Benefits
They are a corporate information solutions company. Your responsibilities will include
commercial support for new and existing business proposals, including commercial
advice and challenge for new business and renewals, creation of pricing models in excel
to include scenario analysis creation of approvals pack for new business meetings
assessment of deal risk, managing relationships with internal stakeholders, review of
contracts and involvement in the negotiation process ad hoc project work of a
commercial nature e.g. investment appraisals, project business cases.
Email: commerce@cameronkennedy.com
Internal Audit Manager
Essex £60k + Bonus + Benefits
They are a manufacturing leader in it’ s category with business in more than 130
countries and employ over 35,000 professionals. You will be responsible for completing
Audit assignments within the international plan. Audit assignments are either by cycle
(UK, France, Germany) or individual entity based on the size of the operations
concerned. Will consider all candidates regardless of experience but must be ACCA or
ACA qualified and looking for an internal audit position within a large multinational
organisation.
Email: commerce@cameronkennedy.com
Management Accountant - Insurance
London £60k + Bonus + Benefits
Top-tier Insurance Broker has an opening for an experienced Management Accountant
to join their growing team due to expansion of the business. Responsibilities include monthly
reporting to management and assisting in the preparation of annual budgets and preparing
the Management Information packs and providing commentary and recommendations to
the board. You should also have experience of preparing FSA submissions and statutory
accounts and should be a qualified accountant. In return this role carries a first rate salary
and benefits and progressive career options within a growing organisation.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
Financial Accountant - Insurance
London £60k + Bonus + Benefits
Global run-off Management Group has an opportunity for a Financial Accountant to join
their team at their corporate offices in the City. You will be responsible for the statutory
accounts, FSA submissions, preparation of Management Information, VAT and key
financial controls and will report directly into the FC in this small team. The group offer
excellent career opportunities based at the corporate offices in Guildford so you will
need to be flexible between the two locations and ideally you should be a qualified
accountant with experience within Financial Services preferably the Insurance industry.
Experience of reporting in USGAAP would be a real advantage.
Email: finance@cameronkennedy.com
www.cameronkennedy.com
020 7337 0011
SOARING SABIRUL
SABIRUL ISLAM IS ANYTHING BUT YOUR
EVERYDAY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD. NOT
ONLY IS HE WELL ON HIS WAY TO
MAKING HIS FIRST MILLION; NOT ONLY
IS HE AN EXPERIENCED INVESTOR -
HE’S JUST WRITTEN HIS FIRST BOOK!
$UCCESS MAG CAUGHT UP WITH THE
TEENAGE PRODIGY TO DISCUSS LIFE IN
THE FAST LANE…
SABIRUL ISLAM
founder of The World at Your Feet
www.theworldatyourfeet.com
36 $uccess Mag
Aptly entitled: “The World at Your
Feet”, Sabirul’s new book is his way of
giving something back. With 30,000
copies sold already it is 91 pages of
pure motivation. Full of aspirational
quotes and invaluable advice the
book encourages young people to
take an entrepreneurial route rather
than one of crime and violence.
“I’ve had a very successful few
years,” Sabirul states. “Although I
was never given anything on a plate,
I still thought it was important to
pass on all the valuable lessons I’ve
learned. Some young people need
that extra push.”
Having started his own web-design
business, Veyron Technology, at the
age of 14, Sabirul was always
destined for great things. Later he
began to show interest in investment
and took part in the Merrill Lynch
Atlantic Fellowship programme in
New York. This is where he learned
the basics of investment - much of
which he passes on in the book.
Sabirul Islam has his fingers in a
number of pies, however, it seems
this new book has been filled with
his enthusiasm…
“Being raised in a society that sees
crime and violence as a way forward,
I believe my book can inspire young
people to think differently. Every
individual has unique abilities and,
when exploited, they can bring the
world to their feet; whether it’s for
them to make the millions they’ve
always wanted or to put a smile on
a million faces, I believe that what I
have learned on my entrepreneurial
journey through Veyron Technology
is priceless when it comes to sharing
it with the community, by inspiring
them and making them believe that
impossible is nothing.”
"The World At Your Feet" is a book of
inspiration for all young people, on
how to follow their entrepreneurial
vision and make it a reality by helping
them exploit what Sabirul calls the
‘three strikes’: the intensity, the
integrity and the intelligence’ within
themselves to possibly become the
next Richard Branson! The book has
the support from the Prime Minister
Gordon Brown and Peter Jones from
the Dragons’ Den.
Why did you want to start your
own business?
“Being born and raised in a deprived
area of East London motivated me to
dig deep to look for entrepreneurial
success. Those around me were not
privileged, or given the chance to
succeed in life, such as my family;
that encouraged me to stand out,
to try to be unique and to take a
different path in life. I had a
confidence within me that wanted
me to break the barriers of my culture
and to try something different from
my family. This was the first step I
took and I am proud of the risks I
have taken.”
“The support I received from my
family, friends and my school, taught
me that life has a meaning. What
inspired me to start my own website
design business called Veyron
Technology at the age of 14 was the BOOK OVERVIEW
strong essence of success that it
brings through the ideologies of Although targeted at a younger
entrepreneurship, leadership, audience, “The World at Your Feet” is
teamwork and the links that are a fantastic read for any age. Sabirul is
clearly a very gifted seventeen year
developed through networking.”
old and the information he provides is
both practical and entertaining. The
“With the world being open with
book is full of truly inspirational
facilities and opportunities, I felt that it
quotes and uplifting messages.
was all about exploiting my own talent
Whatever your age, if you’d like to
and making good use of what the
turn that business vision into a reality
world has to offer me. With today’s
– get this book! It’s fuel for the fire…
world continually developing through
the intensity of successful entrepre-
To order a copy of
neurs, both young and old; putting
“The World at Your Feet” visit –
myself in the entrepreneur’s equation
www.theworldatyourfeet.com
has added dynamic flair because of
the skills I possess and wanting to put
sabirulislam123@aol.com
my talent and abilities into action.”
07951 929 241
WORDS – RUARI PHILLIPS
www.success-mag.co.uk 37
WORK EXPERIENCE – WHY BOTHER?
THE BUZZWORD ‘EMPLOYABILITY’
IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AROUND
UNIVERSITIES MORE AND MORE.
EVEN STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO
AVOID THINKING ABOUT FINDING A
JOB UNTIL AFTER THEIR FINAL EXAMS
WILL HAVE HEARD IT! IT’S A PHRASE
CURRENTLY ENJOYING INCREASING
POPULARITY AMONGST EMPLOYERS
AND CAREERS’ SERVICES.
A period of work experience will
enhance your employability skills.
If you are able to articulate your
achievements it shows employers
what you might be able to do
for them.
Even students who plan to avoid
thinking about finding a job until after
their final exams will have heard it! It’s
a phrase currently enjoying increasing
popularity amongst employers and
careers’ services.
It's all about being able to 'sell'
yourself - not something many people
are comfortable with but, in a
competitive world, you need to be
able to stand out from the crowd.
When embarking on any period of
work experience it’s essential you
keep the end goal - your future –
38 $uccess Mag
TIPS ON HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A WORK PLACEMENT
Before you start
• Set some personal objectives -
• Identify where you want to work –
in mind. Time spent working during
university holidays, in term-time,
during a gap year or on placement,
is an invaluable way of testing
if a career is for you; of gaining much
needed experience, and building a
network of contacts who will help you
as you progress.
Research shows many work
experience students return to the
same company for employment after
graduating, so that temporary spell
could end up earning you a full-time
job when you leave university.
• Find out the dress code – don’t
ask yourself what you want to get
out of it – what is it you want to
learn - the company, the industry,
or both?
not all work experience placements
are equal. Some employers have
been running structured work
experience placements for years,
while others are new to the task
and a few may still view work
experience as a quick way to find
cheap labour. In order to ensure
you get as much out of your
placement as you are prepared
to give, look out for schemes
accredited with the NCWE’s Quality
Mark, a recognised standard
awarded to companies with
proven success in providing
students successful work
experience placements.
be afraid to check in advance.
You’ll be uncomfortable in a suit if
everyone is casual and even more
uncomfortable if it’s the other
way around!
During the placement After the placement
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions
and take notes when being briefed
at the outset – better to ask outright
• Ask for a record of achievement or
skills gained. Many employers are
now offering work experience
and be clear than make mistakes
later.
certificates to students at the end
of their placements. These provide
an overview of the progress you’ve
• Keep a note of challenges you have
made and achievements you’ve
overcome each day and any
secured through the course of your
problem solving it required – this
work experience. The certificates
demonstrates initiative and
will list the specific skills you’ve
prioritising skills.
learnt during your placement, so
• Grab any chance to take on more keep it on hand when writing your
responsibility and undertaking new CV and post-grad job applications.
tasks is a sure way of developing
• Finally, don't forget to ask for
new talents.
a reference!
• Ask for feedback from your
employer and the people you work
with – there may be room for
WORDS - HEATHER COLLIER
improvement, plus successes and
National Council for
achievements are what you need to
Work Experience
put on your CV.
• Make suggestions – just because
you’re a work experience student,
it doesn’t mean you don’t have
good ideas, and your colleagues
will always appreciate seeing things
from a new perspective.
www.success-mag.co.uk 39
SPECS APPEAL
IT’S ONE THING TO START YOUR
OWN BUSINESS BUT IT’S A WHOLE
DIFFERENT BALLGAME TO SHAKE
UP AN INDUSTRY. JAMES MURRAY
WELLS, 24, HAS DONE JUST THAT
THROUGH HIS COMPANY
WWW.GLASSESDIRECT.COM
With a turnover of more than £2
million in 2006, that figure increased
to over £4 million by the end of last.
So…how did somebody at such a
tender age, do so much, in such
little time?
“I put much of the success down to
my love of creating,” James says with
a broad smile. “I’ve never been the
type to stand still. I like doing things,
making things happen.”
The Glasses Direct offices started life
in converted barns in the Wiltshire
village of Malmesbury in 2004.
However, the rapid growth of the
company meant that within three
years it had a staff of thirty five and
phones that never seem to stop
ringing, making it an oasis of buzz
and activity.
To cope with the expansion the
company recently moved its customer
services and operations to a larger site
in Swindon, while the headquarters
moved up to London to an office one
mile down the road from Marble Arch.
James sits in a large, white-walled
office surrounded by what looks
like endless plaques, awards and
framed articles.
40 $uccess Mag
They include the Startups.com
entrepreneur of the year, the Livewire
young entrepreneur of the year and
Lloyds Bank enterprising Brit of
the year.
“It’s a great feeling to think I’ve done
so much,” he tells me. “I try not to
dwell on it and stay focused. You
can’t let it get to your head!”
The rapid growth of the company is
evident from the recent £2 million
investment with Albion, well known
marketing company, to promote their
brand and provide their advertising.
Other recent changes within the
organisation have seen David
Magliano - the marketing brains
behind Easyjet and the successful
2012 Olympic bid - appointed as a
non-executive director.
Jamie’s climb to entrepreneurial idol
hood has an inspirational story. Just
as David took on Goliath, James
took on the British optical
industry...and won.
It was in his final year at Bristol
University when he went to buy
reading glasses and returned home
£150 lighter. As a student, this was
a massive sum to pay and, like any
good entrepreneur; he immediately
thought outside the box. He began
to question if a thin metal frame and
two pieces of glass could really
warrant such a high price.
"I made hundreds of phone calls to
investigate the manufacturing price of
glasses, but all I found was a huge
wall of resistance. No one was
prepared to tell me how much it cost,"
he explains.
"I finally found one man who, after a
lot of work, eventually answered my
questions. Amazingly I discovered it
costs only £7 to make a pair of
glasses. Opticians were making a
profit of 2000%. Something had to be
done."
James set to work finding a
manufacturer who would supply him
and finally found one. After hiring a
couple of IT experts through an ad on
the university notice board, James set
up an office in the playroom of his
parents’ house.
“That was the most exciting period.
It’s not the economics that thrill me.
It’s the creating things — being able
to look over the shoulder of a
computer programmer who’s
“It’s not the economics that thrill me.
It’s the creating things — being able
to look over the shoulder of a
computer programmer who’s
designing your website…
seeing things come together,”
he tells me.
designing your website…seeing things I don’t intend to give up though,
come together,” he tells me. customers need this service."
With the original intention of “just “I’m not passionate about glasses,”
getting a bit of pocket money”, he continues. “I’m passionate
James was utterly astonished when about providing a good service…
he returned from a week’s holiday whatever the product.
in Tuscany to find the website had There’s no feeling
over a thousand hits. like it when somebody
www.glassesdirect.com was receiving writes in to say how
extraordinary attention and the money happy they are. I’ve
began to pour in. received literally
hundreds of emails
“If someone had told me three years
from satisfied
ago that I would be running a
customers and
company selling reading glasses
hardly any
I would not have believed them. I
complaints.”
have no formal business training –
I just saw a gap in the market and an
opportunity to provide an essential
service at a good price. I had been
planning to take a post graduate
diploma in Law but the surprise
success of this business has meant
my plans have altered drastically.”
Along with the success came a lot of
animosity from high street opticians.
"They're not happy about it," he says.
"But then I'm offering glasses for a
fraction of the price they're charging
so it's not surprising. They’ve tried to
sue me but have been unsuccessful.
I’ve even received threatening mail!
SPECS APPEAL

As he sits back in his chair, arms
behind his head, James is obviously
more than happy with his current
situation. However, he doesn’t take
any of his accomplishments for
granted and realises he only got to
where he is through one thing…
hard work.
“It’s a lot easier for kids my age to sit
back and play their Playstation,” he
declares. “But I never enjoyed doing
any of that so I decided to work hard
and achieve something. I suppose I
took my life into my own hands and
disciplined myself to do well. Nobody
gets anything out if they don’t put
anything in…I had to make sacrifices
but it’s all worth it now!”
The number of young entrepreneurs
in the UK is currently at an all time
high. James puts a lot of this down to
the recent rise in schemes and trusts
helping young people to fulfil their
dreams. After winning so many
awards, he felt it important to pass
on his talents and knowledge to
others. He works with the Government
promoting young enterprise and acts
as a judge for various competitions
up and down the country.
“We need more enterprise in this
country,” he says. “The UK needs
to take a leaf out of America’s book. see my friends and I still watch TV.
Over there they encourage young The only difference now is I’ve got
people to think differently and follow a bit more money than I had before.
what they believe in. It’s a different Things are still the same.
story here. Kids are straight-jacketed However much money I’ve got I’m
through the education system with always looking for a profit. That
no attention paid to character and never changes!”
personal growth. It’s the oddballs
The company has exceeded sales
who make good entrepreneurs. Think
of 250,000 pairs of glasses to date
back to school and the ones who do
and James is now working on new
well are usually the weird ones.
technology that allows customers to
Why? Because they think differently
see what glasses actually look like on
and that should be encouraged…
their face in 3D!
not ignored.”
"Things are really exciting at the
James Murray Wells seems
moment,” James grins as he reaches
concerned with far more than
across the desk to pick up a giant
just making money. Behind the
heap of mail. “I’m having the best
quick-witted, straight to the point
time of my life right now and my
exterior he’s a genuinely nice guy
advice is…follow your dreams.”
who enjoys helping people. Whether
it is through his business or his Next up - America!
campaigns James obviously likes
changing the world for the better.
He also uses his new contacts to
WORDS – RUARI PHILLIPS
lobby those in power for the fair deal
for entrepreneurs. Earlier this year, he
met with John Hutton, the Enterprise
Minster, to grill him on the damage
that the new capital gains tax has had
on entrepreneurs.
“I’m just a normal bloke at the end
of the day. I still go to the pub, I still

JAMES’ TOP FIVE BUSINESS TIPS

1. Start small. So many invest too much too early. Watch
it grow and use money sensibly. Only spend money on
what’s absolutely necessary.
2. Just do it! Too many people talk about doing
something but actually getting up and making it
happen is a whole other story. Once the ball’s rolling,
you’ll see everything come together. It’s that initial
surge of energy which is the most difficult – but
very worthwhile.
4. Use the press. Get your name out there by ringing
magazines, entering young-entrepreneur competitions
and putting out publicity material. Bring your product
to the people. Don’t wait for them to come to you…
5. Work hard. It’s simple. The harder you work, the more
likely your business will be a success.

3. Put money back into the business, especially if you’re

young. It’ll be worthwhile in the long-run. Have fun
with money but your main priority should be expansion
and growth.

42 $uccess Mag
CHA CHING CHINA
THE CHINESE ARE FAMOUS FOR
FIREWORKS, FOOD AND NOW
FINANCE. THEY HAVE THE WORLD'S
FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY,
ABOUT NINE PERCENT A YEAR.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED CHINA IS BUILDING
TWO POWER STATIONS A WEEK
TO FUEL ITS EXPANSION.
The Australian Prime Minister, John
Howard, was keen to point out that
if his country stopped ALL CO2
emissions China would replace them
in one year.
If you like your stats big...China is
your country!
If you like your symbols of growth
big then look no further than the
Hangzhou Bay Bridge. Opening next
year it will span 36 kilometres across
the East China Sea. It will be the
longest trans-oceanic bridge in the
world - seven times longer than the
Oresund Bridge between Denmark
and Sweden (the pride of Europe)
and long enough to cross the English
Channel - imagine what that would
do for UK/EURO trade - and you can
imagine what it will do for the
economy of China.
The bridge will cut two hours off the
journey time between the nearest
port and the city of Shanghai, China's
gleaming super business city, where
investors can see the growth of the
economy towering before their eyes.
Shanghai is known as the "24 hour
building site". The bridge is costing
almost a billion pounds and 70
percent of that money is from private
investors who seek profits in tolls and
lower transport costs.
The problem with China is that it has Meanwhile we are all benefiting from
a topsy-turvy economy. Subsidised China's growth. There's a saying that
power and cheap labour produce if America sneezes then Europe
the symbols and the successes for
the super rich while most of the
population, the billions who live in
catches a cold; a reflection on the
effect North America's economy has
on ours. Well if China ever gets a
the rural areas and work in traditional fever we’ll also get a temperature.
agriculture, carry on growing crops
Our economy has boomed thanks
not share portfolios. That's not to say
millions of people are not attracted to
the cities hoping to benefit from the
cash carnival. China needs 27 million
to British consumers having more.
For now China seems to be immune
to the Western World's increasing
demand for these products. To them,
new workers every year just for its
it's water off a duck's back, and very
economy to stand still. That's almost
lucrative water at that! China is
the entire UK workforce! I did warn
you about the stats.
A recent report on ITV News
growing at an extraordinary rate
and it is, without a doubt, about to
become the world's largest and most
highlighted the infectious craze of
stock market investment by China's
powerful economy.
new urban classes. We saw one
hapless investor packing a case of
his few remaining worldly goods WORDS – ANGUS WALKER
about to hit the streets to try to sell
his possessions like a junky in search
of another hit.
It's a country of huge gains and huge
divisions. The people are keen to get
stuck in but I wonder what would
happen if the labour force demanded
more rights or if the power supply
prices went up? Coal and oil won't last
forever. That could send everything
in the wrong direction and they do say
what goes up must come down...
www.success-mag.co.uk 45
ITS ALL ABOUT YOU PART THREE
THE WORLD IS FULL OF YOUNG, AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHO DON’T SIT AROUND WAITING FOR
THINGS TO HAPPEN – THEY ARE OUT THERE,
MAKING THINGS
HAPPEN.
This section is dedicated
to letting you know who
they are…
Name: Bob Goodson
Age: 25
Occupation: Student start-up adviser
Location: San Francisco
Some like to see me as a leading
contributor to the recent rise in
entrepreneurialism at UK universities.
Having set up profitable design and
publishing companies as an
undergraduate, I began a sabbatical
from my masters degree in April 2004
and I was headhunted by PayPal
cofounder Max Levchin to help start
consumer technology companies at
his San Francisco incubator, Midtown
Doornail. I also advise a number
of student start-ups and welcome
any contact.
To contact Bob email -
hey@bobgoodson.com
46 $uccess Mag
Name: Phil Gibbs
Age: 25
Occupation: Owner of electrical
recycling firm
Location: Beford
I own a company called Pure Planet
Recycling Limited along with my
business partner; Paul Turbutt. We
are two environmentally conscious
entrepreneurs, with 15 years
combined experience in waste
management. Our service provides
support on all matters relating to the
recycling of electrical equipment.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment, or WEEE, European
directive is being launched to protect
the environment by reducing the
amount of electrical equipment
dumped in skips and going to landfill.
We aim to make compliance of the
WEEE directive as simple as possible
for businesses.
To contact Phil visit -
www.pureplanetrecycling.co.uk
Name: Kulveer Taggar
Age: 23
Occupation: CEO of boso.com
Location: San Francisco
I'm a founding member of an
organisation called Oxford
Entrepreneurs, I went on to establish
the society as one the most
enterprising in the country during
my tenure as President. Whilst still
an undergraduate, I successfully
invested in property in three
continents, and cofounded Boso, the
biggest online student marketplace
in the UK. Having raised funding
from the venture firm Y Combinator,
I'm now currently based out in San
Francisco, where I work in Evan
Williams' offices. I have a blog at
www.kulveer.co.uk and I also write
for the BBC.
To contact Kulveer visit -
www.boso.com
Name: Claire Lander
Occupation: CEO of My Juice
UK Ltd.
Location: Suffolk
MyJuice is the first ever dedicated
Juice and Smoothie bar in Suffolk,
offering people the healthy fast
food/health club on the High street
alternative. We left Ipswich in
September 2003 to start our world
trip adventure. Whereas most people
bring back gifts and a great tan –
we brought back our own juice bar!
To contact Claire visit –
www.myjuiceuk.com
Name: Chris Spavin
Age: 24
Occupation: Currently organising
a Global
Entrepreneurship week
Location: London
Chris moved to the UK from Canada
in June 2006 after receiving an
Honours Bachelor of Arts from the
University of Toronto, where he read
English Literature and Philosophy.
Throughout his studies, Chris held
various administrative and marketing
positions in network television, retail
banking, online marketing and estate
sales. In 2004-2006, he started his
own online radio station (which he
later sold) and became a freelance
marketing and design consultant to
top-flight estate agents in central
Toronto. He is currently organising a
Global Entrepreneurship week.
To contact Chris email -
christopher@enterpriseinsight.co.uk
Name: Brett White
Age: 23
Occupation: Co-founder of
Peekaboo Design
Location: Isle of Wight
My design agency was set up in
2005. We take great pride in being
able to offer the same service and
quality of work you'd expect from any
of the big design agencies - but
without the inflated invoice. The
whole team is passionate about web
& graphic design. After many years
of studying at the Isle of Wight College
and self teaching I setup Peekaboo
with my friend Howard. It's a great
partnership. Our prices are very
competitive and we always give
nothing but real quality.
To contact Brett email -
www.peekaboodesign.co.uk
www.success-mag.co.uk 47
TEN STEPS TO THE PERFECT JOB APPLICATION

IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT 1. Know what you’re

getting yourself in for
4. Format is at the heart
of information
8. Check, recheck,
recheck, send!

TIME, IN BUSINESS, EQUALS MONEY. It’s a recruiter’s torment to find

themselves looking at an application
from someone who clearly doesn’t
Using a slick, neat and professional
format for your CV and cover letter
will enhance what is actually written.
By this stage you’ll no doubt be ready
for a drink or two, however, control
the urge, and instead make sure there

RIGHT? GOOD. SO, THAT LEAVES YOU
even know what the position they‘ve
applied for entails. You must always
be sure you’ve thoroughly researched
Make sure you present your CV with
thoughtful use of italics, capitals and
fonts; get your money’s worth out of
are no spelling mistakes, the grammar
is correct and everything you have
written looks good and reads well.

WITH NO EXCUSES FOR WASTING
the position you are applying for.
This might mean talking to friends
Word. Imagine reading a book with
no chapters. Enough said!
Imagine having all your work binned
because the person reading the

EMPLOYERS’ TIME, BY SENDING

or acquaintances who are doing a application thinks you struggle with
similar job, searching the net for job 5. Be consistent the basics of language, and hence
specs or even calling a recruiter are good for, well...nothing. Salt and
Remember the last time you heard

THEM HALF-HEARTED CV’S AND
direct to find out exactly what sort
of person they are looking for. Going
into anything blindfolded is asking
someone tell a story when they were
clearly unsure of how it was meant
wounds spring to mind.

JOB APPLICATIONS.
When it comes to doing it right,
Peter Belk of, recruitment agency,
www.graduate-fasttrack.com knows
all too well how it should be done.
Every day he trawls through hundreds
of CVs looking for the perfect
applicant and he’s here to tell you
how it SHOULD be done...
for trouble.
2. Identify your skills
You may have a First from university,
or you may have years and years of
experience, but this won’t matter if
you can’t demonstrate which parts
of what you’ve learnt are applicable
to the job you’re applying for. For
instance, if you are applying for a
project management position in
marketing, mention group projects
you’ve carried out during your
education, and highlight the fact that
you have bolstered your interpersonal
and time management skills. Be
relevant; think laterally on this one...
3. Order!
The importance of making a CV
quickly digestible cannot be
overstated. Make sure you put
whatever is most relevant to the job
in hand at the beginning. This
might be education, experience,
extra-curricular achievement or even
volunteer work. If you can make sure
a recruiter is instantly engaged in
what you’ve got to say, they are
much more likely to read on, and
half the battle is won.
to finish? Did you cringe? CV’s are
exactly the same in that everything
you include MUST add up. If a
potential employer sees you have tried
to cover something up by changing a
date here, or leaving out an exam
result there, they’ll smell a rat. There’s
a fine line between dishonesty and
tailoring the truth.
6. Less is more
Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes:
it’s half past ten in the evening, you
haven’t seen your wife for 3 days and
you’ve still got thirty CVs to look at.
The last thing you want to do is digest
a document weighing as much as the
Sunday Telegraph and detailing every
bit of work experience someone’s
done since their paper round back in
’89. Keep it short and concise – 2
sides of A4 should be ample.
7. The cover letter
Every application you make should be
backed up by a one-page letter,
addressed to the appropriate
individual (it might be worth calling
the company in question to find out
their name). This letter should
demonstrate your suitability for the
vacancy, and highlight the most
important areas of your CV. Again it is
important to target the employer, and
to really sell the key points of your CV.
Remember, do not waffle.
9. Chase it up
One of the most unused tactics in the
battle for employment is persistence.
To really make an impression on a
potential employer, make sure you get
in touch with them before they have
a chance to get in touch with you,
whether by phone or email. Not only
are you demonstrating that you are
really serious about the job, but you
are also going to leave a lasting
impression on their memory. This is
invaluable in gaining an upper hand
over your competitors.
10. Prepare for battle!
Assuming that you’ve managed to
catch the eye of a potential employer,
it is likely that you’ll be on the
receiving end of a telephone interview,
or better still a face to face. Make
sure you are prepared for the sorts of
questions they will ask. Usually these
will include questions about the
company itself, your skills, your
experience and your ambitions. Make
sure you have answers ready. If you
don’t know the answer, remember
that it’s not what you say, but how you
say it – confidence is key!
WORDS – PETER BELK

www.success-mag.co.uk 49
A DEGREE IS NOT ENOUGH
There is something every student
needs to know. Academic
achievement is not the great divider
it once was. While leaving university
with a good degree is a pre-requisite
in today’s graduate employment
market, a degree alone may not be
enough to secure that dream
graduate job.
The brutal truth…. Of the 300,000-
plus graduates in the UK every year,
59% achieve a 2.1 or better - that’s
180,000 graduates with top degree
classifications, all competing for a
small handful of top graduate jobs.
Indeed, with widening participation
in higher education and increased
‘internationalism’ among graduate
applicants this figure is likely to
increase heavily year-on-year. As
a result, companies are no longer
able to screen applicants – and
trim numbers down to manageable
levels – based on degree
classifications alone.
How to stand out… But just how,
then, do employers distinguish
between applicants with the same
degree classification? Expert graduate
employment consultant – and
Director of student society Bright
Futures – Simon Reichwald has
some suggestions;
“Increasingly, employers want to see
evidence of what candidates have
achieved outside of the education
system. This means extra-curricular
activities such as volunteering, travel
and Duke of Edinburgh awards, as
well as other achievements such as
CRAC Insight to Management
courses, winning the Global
Management Challenge, or even
Grade 5 on the Flute have all
assumed increased importance for
undergraduates. Employers are
50 $uccess Mag
focussing less on a degree, and more
on what you have done.”
However, while the list of possible
‘differentiators’ may be lengthy, one
of the primary ways to elevate yourself
above the competition (and grab the
attention of employers) remains the
completion of a relevant internship
or work-experience placement be
that for a few weeks or a full year.
Work experience can often prove
invaluable for students applying for
graduate jobs, to the extent that
many business and management
degree courses require students to
complete a compulsory placement
prior to graduation.
Research by the University of
Manchester Careers Service shows
that an average of 70% of summer
or year-long work experience
placements led to a graduate job offer.
How to choose the right career…
However, much like degree programs,
some placement opportunities will be
more rewarding than the others - the
challenge for students is to find a
placement that is both appropriate to
their chosen profession and that will
sufficiently develop their skills. Bright
Futures may provide the answer.
Formerly known as the Student
Industrial Society, founded in 1977,
Bright Futures is a student society
operating in 27 Universities across the
UK, that allows proactive students to
engage with the UK’s most dynamic
graduate recruiters. Student members
can gain first-hand access to some
of the most valuable and prestigious
internship and year long placement
opportunities in the country, (as well
as graduate careers) within large
multinational organisations including
Deloitte, Reckitt Benckiser, Tesco,
Cap Gemini and RBS.
Historically, the best opportunities
have only been open to top-tier
student talent and may not even be
widely available. By becoming a
Bright Futures member, students
can ensure they stay ahead of the
competition and give themselves the
best chance of a decent entry point
into the highly competitive graduate
marketplace. Indeed, becoming a
Bright Futures member may also help
students differentiate themselves in
other ways; society membership is,
in itself, an indicator that a student is
proactive, and is keen to develop their
employability. This, coupled with the
opportunity to gain knowledge,
develop skills and interact directly
with potential employers, prior to
leaving university, makes Bright
Futures the perfect training ground
for ambitious students.
To join or even start a Society
at your University go to
www.bright-futures.org.uk
or call us 0870 900 6900
UNLTD – THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
Social entrepreneurs have never been
so widely talked about as they are
today. Where as in normal business,
profit is pretty much all that matters,
social entrepreneurs see more than
just capital as their priority. Yes,
running a successful operation is
important – but equally so, to them,
is having a positive impact on society.
They recognise a social problem and
use entrepreneurship principles to
organise, create, and manage a
venture to make social change.
UnLtd is Britain’s top foundation for
Social Entrepreneurs. A charitable
organisation, it was founded on the
belief that the energies of individual
social entrepreneurs can be a
powerful source of renewal in society.
The organisation’s aim is to support
social entrepreneurs in the UK to set
up and run successful projects; it
does this by providing cash grants
and a complete package of support
and networking opportunities, tailored
to the individual's specific needs.
They have given a kick-start to
hundreds of ambitious and
socially-minded people in the UK.
In fact, $uccess Mag got its legs from
an offshoot of UnLtd known as The
Big Boost.
Other examples of successful social
projects who UnLtd have funded
include The Calma Project, Sense
Magazine and Green Knickers to
name just a few. Visit the website
and you can see for yourself what a
massive impact UnLtd are having on
the UK. Not only that, those who see
their ideas through get a huge level of
satisfaction from what they do. Not
only are they making money but they
are also putting something valuable
back into their community.
Through its network of six offices
around the UK, UnLtd is supporting
hundreds of exceptional individuals
each year, from a wide variety of
backgrounds, ethnicities and ages.
It’s people who are important to
UnLtd; which is why it only offers
support to individuals and does not
support organisations.
As someone who has seen (first hand)
the effect UnLtd can have; it’s
fantastic to witness the organisation
bring so much positive change.
Entrepreneurs can do amazing things;
especially when their skills are aimed
GREEN KNICKERS PROMOTION towards good causes – the sky literally
www.greenknickers.org is the limit!
UnLtd's social entrepreneurs are real
visionaries - people who want to
change the world. That doesn't mean
The projects that these people set up
they necessarily develop complex,
are varied, but they all have one thing
global solutions to large-scale issues;
in common: they are changing things
often, social entrepreneurs simply
for the better. Unltd realises there
take problems in their own
are thousands of people who have
communities and make a
the ideas and the vision to make a
commitment to tackle them. This
real difference. It also realises many
may lead to something bigger, or it
need encouragement and support,
may not; what makes true social
contact with others and access to
entrepreneurs is that they have the
training to help them grow and
will to make a difference, the vision
therefore give their projects the
to know how to go about it, and
best chance of success.
have the determination to make that
There are two levels of award vision happen.
Unltd offers:
Do you have an idea? Do you
Level 1: Awards of between have what it takes?
£500 and £5,000 Visit www.unltd.org.uk to fill out
an application…
Level 2: Awards of between
£10,000 and £20,000
Level 1 Awards are designed to help
WORDS – RUARI PHILLIPS
make new ideas become real
projects. On average UnLtd gives out
1,000 Level 1 Awards each year
across the UK. These are aimed at
individuals, or informal groups of
people, who have an idea and want
help getting it off the ground. The
money is to help with the running
costs of the project.
Level 2 Awards support people whose
ideas are already developed to pay for
the living expenses of Award Winners
to help them devote more time to their
projects. These Awards are given
out once in the Spring and once in
the Autumn.
www.success-mag.co.uk 51
HOW TO BLAG
YOUNG PEOPLE AND STUDENTS ARE 1. Remove your
preconceptions
SAID TO BE SOME OF THE MOST There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
It’s true, I’ve checked. You may get a
free buffet every now and then but not
RESOURCEFUL AND ENERGETIC without some sort of annoying person
trying to sell you something. Similarly
there’s no such thing as a free
PEOPLE AROUND. LIVING ON GRANTS,
product, as no company in their right
mind would want to give away
HANDOUTS AND LOW WAGES FROM
something without a possible benefit.
2. Create your unique
PART TIME WORK MEANS WE NEED offer (U.O.)
What this means for the prospective
TO FIND INGENIOUS WAYS OF blagger is you need to find something
that you can offer a company in order
for them to give you something back
GETTING SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. free. In my case I offer to review any
product that I’m sent for free at
www.blagman.co.uk, but you don’t
BUT THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN need a blog to blag, just an idea. If
you, for example, love to eat pizza
YOU MIGHT THINK.
then why not contact a company that
sells pizza? They’d probably love it if
you gave them some product
feedback. If you have more than 100
It takes every ounce of resourcefulness to succeed. To help get you started,
friends on Facebook why not offer to
self-professed ‘blagger’ Mike Essex (who has received 125 free products
email everyone some product info?
including a pizza maker, DVDs, toys, puma trainers and a kitchen sink) has
Or, if you live in a student flat, why
offered to talk us through how he does it.
not offer to put up a product poster in
your window? Anything’s possible and
the more original your idea the more
likely you are to succeed.
3. Do your research
To help you come up with a U.O.
research your target company, try to
understand what makes them tick
and the markets they operate in.
Mostly a quick browse of a company’s
website and some news articles will
be more than enough, but remember
the more you understand a company
the easier it’ll be to blag.
52 $uccess Mag
4. Create your persona
Once you know the company’s target
7. The U.O. is King!
Don’t forget to stress your U.O.
market, then you must embrace it! If or you’ll have the phone slammed
you’re trying to get something for free down/email binned on you in
from a well-established, traditional a second!
company you’ll need to talk in a
concise manner. On the flip side if
you’re trying to get a skateboard for
8. The “freebie” stigma:
Be warned as soon as the word
free then you’ll need to embrace a
‘freebie’ is mentioned most
more casual persona.
companies will shy away so be sure
to stress, as part of your U.O., that
5. Choose your medium
you can’t fully use the product unless
Phone and email make this persona it’s yours to keep. After all you can’t
creation even easier as you won’t
even need to go to the trouble of
dressing up to get free products.
give them any benefits if they wrestle
the product away from you!
However, if phoning you’ll need to
cram in a lot of information in order
for the person at the other end of
9. Follow-up
Don’t be surprised if you think you’ve
the line to understand your U.O.
so it’s best to start slowly and to ask
blagged a product, only to find two
weeks later that your mailbox is still
empty. Second emails/phone calls
questions about the product before
you even mention your U.O. Email is
far easier as you can lay all of your
are often required to remind people
you exist and that that you can still
offer them some fabulous benefits
cards on the table in one go (“I can
if you can get your hands on a
offer you X, Y, Z if you give me A,B,C")
product sample.
but you’ll need to convince someone
you’re not a trouble maker in the first
10. Report back
line or that plan is over. The more
traditional method of going up to
Once you’ve got the product, be sure
people in shops is all but dead.
to act on your promised offer, let the
Unless the managing director, or company know your views and tell
marketing director, happens to be them about any benefits they have
in that day, and agrees to meet you, gained by taking you up on your
you’ve got no chance so that’s not U.O. This opens the door for future
really an option. collaborations with the company and
also ensures you don’t give blaggers
6. Initiate Contact like me a bad name!
All set? Okay go for it. If you are using
the phone jot down on a piece of
paper everything you want to get
WORDS – MIKE ESSEX
across, and any interesting facts
www.blagman.co.uk
about the company. Brace yourself
and dial. If you are emailing – check
your spelling and facts.
www.success-mag.co.uk 53
ENTREPRENEURIAL QUOTES
No bird soars too high if he
soars with his own wings
WILLIAM BLAKE
You can’t build a reputation
on what you’re going to do
HENRY FORD
Keep away from people who
try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that,
but the really great make
you feel that you, too, can
become great
MARK TWAIN
I like thinking big. If you're
going to be thinking anything,
you might as well think big
DONALD TRUMP
54 $uccess Mag
Somehow I can't believe that
there are any heights that
can't be scaled by a man
who knows the secrets of
making dreams come true.
This special secret, it seems
to me, can be summarized
in four C s. They are curiosity,
confidence, courage,
and constancy
Your most unhappy
WALT DISNEY
customers are your greatest
source of learning
BILL GATES
Ridiculous yachts and private
planes and big limousines
won’t make people enjoy
life more, and it sends out
terrible messages to the
people who work for them.
It would be so much better
A business has to be if that money was spent in
involving, it has to be fun, Africa – and it’s about getting
and it has to exercise your a balance
creative instincts RICHARD BRANSON
RICHARD BRANSON
If money is your hope for
independence you will
never have it. The only
real security that a man
will have in this world is
a reserve of knowledge,
experience, and ability
HENRY FORD
No matter how good you get The world is changing very
you can always get better and fast. Big will not beat small
that's the exciting part anymore. It will be the fast
TIGER WOODS
beating the slow
RUPERT MURDOCH