‘WHAT DOES HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS IS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU GET UP IN MORNING AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT WHEN YOU GO HOME AT NIGHT, IT’S ALWAYS WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BALANCE RIGHT.’

only from the devolved government, but also from Westminster, and even more so, from the European Union. It’s about time someone stopped, had a good look at this and saw that this is not required.

I do think that there has to be adequate controls imposed on companies and businesses - when there are not the adequate controls or checks, what we can see happening is what is currently happening to our financial world. Part of the reason for the downfall of the financial world was not enough adequate controls or checks by the people in authority. Some of the stuff that goes on is nonsense.

NS: What advice would you give to those entrepreneurs just starting out?

TF: My advice when starting a business is go for it, make sure you have got adequate finance, a product or service that there will be demand for, and more importantly than ever, make sure that you are in a position to be able to do it.

When people say to me what was one of the secrets for your success, I say I married the girl next door. Ann and I have been married many years now, but we went to school with each other and when I started in business, it was a way of life. I never ever felt guilty when I was working and wasn’t at home, nor did I feel guilty when I was at home and not working.

I have seen many people over the years that have been unable to give business the commitment it required because they had other pressures on them. When you’re in business on your own,

don’t expect to have to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week because you can’t do that, you will die.

What does happen when you have your own business is that you think about it when you get up in morning and you think about it when you go home at night, it’s always with you and you have to make sure you get the balance right. My advice to people is make sure you take time to smell the flowers - the flowers for me are our children and our family, you’ve got to make sure you get the balance right.

NS: What will the rest of 2009 hold for SMEs?

TF: Running a successful business through 2009 is not going to be easy. The looming recession brings a new set of financial hurdles that can trip even the best run businesses. But it is not all bad news, opportunities for substantial growth exist for the companies who are best placed and best prepared to seize them. There has never been a more important time to get the right advice for your business.

That’s why I’m delighted to be involved with this year’s New Start Scotland Exhibition. The vast range of free seminars, workshops, features and competitions offers you the perfect opportunity to get your business into shape not only to survive, but to prosper in coming months.

‘THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT NOW GIVEN, WHETHER IT’S THE ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCHANGE, SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE OR OTHER ENTERPRISE COMPANIES.’