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1. What do you think of the support that is currently available for Scottish entrepreneurs? Do you think there is enough support?

In many ways, there is enough support but it’s not joined up thinking. There are many different initiatives going on, both from the private sector, such as the entrepreneurial exchange which I’m chairman of, Bacon, Eggs & Entrepreneurs and the Business Forum as well as a whole range of different support services and then there’s all the Government support services coming from the enterprise companies. I think the biggest challenge is that it’s not joined up thinking, especially when you look at some of the enterprise companies – we go heavy into many sectors that we know we’re not going to be able to save. I think we could do a lot better job in terms of being able to say, ok, here are the different needs of different businesses and here’s the support services. It would be better if it was joined up in some way.

2. Is Scotland a good place to start a new business?

Yes. Compared to other places in the world, starting a new business in Africa is more important in being able to feed you than anything else.

Over the last five to ten years, Scotland has transformed into accepting that business is good and accepting that start ups are good. There are a lot of support opportunities out there with many people looking to help entrepreneurs, it’s just a case of trying to locate the right ones. I certainly believe that we have an issue where we don’t think of the world market, we only think of the Scottish market. That has to change, but I still think that Scotland is a good place to start a new business.

3. What is the best business advice anyone has ever given to you?

Nothing happens until you tell somebody. Far too often in business, especially technology businesses, the emphasis is on the technology instead of the customers - so how do we differentiate the product to the rest of the market place, how do we create a need for our product? The ability to go out sell the product is absolutely paramount.

4. If you could change one thing in the Scottish economy, what would it be?

If I could change anything, I’d probably make it easier for businesses. We do have tax powers in Scotland, and if we want to attract more business here, I’d look at utilising those tax powers and reducing this element of red tape in Scotland. We’ve seen the impact in Ireland, the transformation, after the Irish Government reduced the red tape. We have the same ability here in Scotland.

5. Which is more important - what you know or who you know?

I think it’s both, I don’t think one is more important than the other. It’s pointless saying who you know if you’re not going to be able to use those contacts effectively, so it’s equally important what you know. It’s easier to learn what you know, because the who you know comes from years of building a network, doing things for those people and creating an element of trust. Who you know slightly edges in front, but you’ve got to be able to utilise who you know effectively.

6. Does money motivate you?

Yes! I still have lots of different financial goals, not just for me, but for other things I’ve been doing. Money is still always going to be a big motivator, anyone who is a driven individual who says money isn’t important to them is not telling the truth. I think you get to a certain level, where you’re talking about in the hundreds of millions, where it doesn’t motivate you in the same way, but it’s still a motivator.

7. What is the most important business event, good or bad, to happen during your working life?

The entrepreneur exchange’s annual conference really stands out, especially with the quality of speakers they bring and the stories that they tell. I’ve only recently taken over as chairman, but I’ve been involved for years. Every year I go there and it’s helped me tremendously, especially when I was just starting up, being able to listen to people who I respected and admired who have gone through the challenges that I’ve gone through. The most important business decision I’ve ever made has been to exit the company at the right time. It’s not necessarily been the toughest decision to make, if someone comes along with the right money then I’ll go.

8. How do you relax?

To relax I do two things, I spend time with my family and children and partying, I do party really hard!

9. Which businessman or woman do you most admire?

I’d say Tom Hunter, he’s one of my best friends, but also, he just never ceases to amaze me in terms of the way he looks at the market place, the people he gets around him and his ability to see through a challenge.

10. If you could employ anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I’d employ Bill Clinton. He’s an incredibly intelligent individual and the world’s greatest networker.

11. You recently appeared on Channel 4’s Make Me a Million, would you repeat the experience?

I would get involved with Make Me a Million again, but not at the moment because I’m just too busy, it took much more time than I expected. But the experience was good from a profile point of a view and the business I got involved in, The Lean Team, is going from strength to strength. I’m still a shareholder and the business is going really well.

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