He has since founded sister-company, spirit and people doing it for themselves I knew if I wanted any money I’d have to
Smart Identity Plc, an identity and not relying on the state. And I’ve go and get it myself. My parents saved
management software development always enjoyed reading, and looked up up really hard and managed to get me a
specialist that raised £750,000 on its to people like Richard Branson, and computer when I was 12. And that
floatation on PLUS Markets in Stelios with EasyJet. probably gave me an interest in IT.
September 2007.
“I also did a bit of acting as well when “You can never put your finger on it but
Demonstrating his passion for business, I was a kid and I remember having a I do think that it’s those early informative
Scott holds various non-executive and conversation with the careers advisor years which help. You can teach
angel investment positions with Mighty when I was about 16 and they said to everything else… you can teach how to
Me Investments Limited, Lowry me: “You’re bright enough to go to work out the profit and loss, the
Investments Capital Limited, Manchester university, Scott you should go” and cashflow, you can teach people to think
Financial Solutions Limited, JLI Europe I said “Why would I go to university?” outside of the box and have the right
Limited and Primoris. In July 2008 Scott attitude but can you teach people to take
was named Entrepreneur of the Year for “I’m a bit of a why person, me! I was a risk? I don’t think you can. You either
the North West at the National Business always asking ‘Why are we here?!’ do it or you don‘t.”
Awards, and will compete in the National
Awards in November 2008 in London. “But I asked the careers teacher why and What are your views on the economy?
He was also crowned Young Director of they couldn’t answer, so at 17 years of “Part of the reason the economy went
the Year at the Institute of Directors age I went and got a job. I went on a back so much last year is not just
awards in September 2008. YTS scheme and worked for a company because of the banks but because people
who was struggling because of the were absolutely gripped by fear. And the
Scott personally donated £10,000 in recession. It was an IT business. And in economy didn’t just stall it actually
ANS’ name to fund the first prize in the the end I ended up doing the profit and stopped. Business to Business
‘New East Manchester Enterprize loss statements, the cashflow… you transactions just stopped for 3 months.”
Competition’ - their business advice name it and I was doing everything in
service, a cause which is close to Scott’s that company at age 17. How did the recession affect
heart as he was born and brought up in ANS Group?
East Manchester, helped to set up 42 “I was treated as a director at the age of “Well, we did call it before it was even in
new companies in 2007. More recently, 18 and 19 and the company then got the papers. I could see we were heading
Scott has been named Plus Markets bought. So I guess I went to the into a recession. I called the staff into the
Director of the Year as well as being University of Life, I got a Business quarterly staff meeting and I think they
amongst Real Business Magazine’s Studies degree if you like, doing it hands thought I was stark raving mad. I said
Young Guns 2010. on. The company then got bought again we were entering a cycle where things
and we over-expanded. We had over 400 were going to get tighter.
So what did he have to tell WorkLife staff, they took on some debt and if you
on the subject of success, investment think about it its very similar to what’s “I actually showed them press cuttings
and government? going on recently, and they went bust. from the last recession and I explained
“Business was in my blood. I started The day they went bust I set up ANS that I wasn’t saying that they were going
business I would say at age 12, through because I knew that was my opportunity. to lose their jobs but that they must add
car boot sales and paper rounds - where I’m not afraid to take the opportunities value in their work. And all of my staff
it wasn’t a set paper round - it was and take them with both hands. I’m not responded positively. We grew last year
selling the Pink Final, so basically going afraid of failure. You have to be very bold by 20%.”
around flogging the sports paper in pubs. and just go for it.”
Some lads would do it and make What challenges did you face with
themselves a tenner - I’d do it and make The fear of failure and reputation risk such a rapid rate of growth?
myself £100.” can sometimes be the very thing that can “The IT industry is fast moving and
stop an entrepreneur progressing… every three years you need to reinvent
Who or what inspired you to pursue what you’re about and I think that
a career in the technology industry? “Well I think that’s why I’d say challenge can be harder than the growth
“I put it down to a cultural shift when entrepreneurs are born. The challenges challenge in a lot of ways. I’d say you go
I was younger. There was a major we had growing up did influence me. through a stage of growth every two to
change in Britain with Thatcher. There We never had any surplus cash, and three years then you plato and it’s about
was a real push for that entrepreneurial although I had a loving upbringing having clear plans in place.
...continued overleaf
WORK - 23
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