“In the recession we’ve taken on two underneath we’re all sensitive and want we have with politics… there’s nobody
new directors because good people to be loved. You learn to not shoot from with any ounce of common sense who
suddenly became available and we’ve the hip. wants to do the job.”
taken on 5 extra people in the summer
because that was the time when we could “I also learnt a lot from reading self What would you do in a
get the best talent. Now coming into development books and one which government role?
December we’ve had our best quarter initially transformed some of my thinking “I’d be bold, I’d take risks. I have to ask
ever. But the point is you need to be bold was one called ‘The 7 Habits of Highly why haven’t we abolished corporation
and have the courage of your Effective People’ - a fantastic book. I do tax? The corporation tax only raises
convictions. You’ve got to take action. think that reading a book a week will £40 billion a year out of something like
Thinking is not doing.” take you further than anything.” £700 billion of tax raised. The more
money that the business has got and
You’ve recently launched ‘Envestors’ If you google your name and ANS retains in its profit that doesn’t get paid
in collaboration with Imran Hakim Group lists of positive media and to some fat cat, that stays in the business
and Mike Perls. What would you look awards appear, and you’ve recently and is reinvested so why tax it?
for when investing? - is it the person been named Plus Markets Director
or the product? of the Year. But which award are you “They’re actually taxing the ability for a
“I asked Nigel Wray (a shareholder of most proud of? company to balance itself. They’re just
ANS Group) those questions - I’ve “I think the two I’m most proud of are taxing capital which doesn’t make sense.
known him for 5 years now - and as he ‘The Times 100 Best Companies to If you leave it in the business then it’s
said, you could have a simple idea but if Work For’ and the ‘MEN Business of the going to be invested, it’s going to sit in
you have the right person running that Year’ award because the process that you the account and help capitalise the banks,
company who can motivate, execute and go through makes you really understand or it may be used to buy new equipment.
lead and you’d make a lot of money. what your company is about and they Eventually when that money does come
But you could have a great product but a take it seriously. out of the business as dividends it does
muppet leading it and you’d fail. You can get taxed anyway. So it’s being taxed
always change your product, your “And with The Times they interview all twice or being taxed early.
business plan and your business model. your staff securely through emails and
It’s about leadership.” we were number 24 in the best “The last politician who was a breath
companies to work for across all sectors of fresh air was Thatcher and during the
Have you made mistakes? in the country. We’re up there with the banking crisis, Kenneth Clarke.
“Yes, that’s when the best learning major brands. The ones that are based
happens. It hurts though at the time. on feedback from our employees are “The government have messed about for
I remember a time when we were only definitely the most rewarding for me.” 18 months doing nothing really. We need
15 people and there was a young lady to make some big radical changes and
working for us and I remember she As a successful businessman do you nobody’s willing to do it. You can’t make
called me to say her uncle had died and still have to budget? decisions by committee. Someone has to
I said “no problem take what time off “Yes.” be bold.
you need” and then for some stupid
reason at the end of the conversation What luxury would you never give up? “Maybe we’ll start an internet based
I said “I’m not sure if it’s compassionate “Skiing!” political movement…”
leave because it’s your uncle and that’s
for close family members only.” Do you have any secret ambitions?
“I’d love to have two of me! I’d give one
“I mean what sort of comment is that to of me to the government for a couple of
come out with?! But I was just thinking years to sort out the complete mess
logically. I now know what I should have they’ve got themselves in. But I don’t
done is to say “take whatever time you personally want that job working for
need and we’ll talk about it when you government. I know what needs to be
come back in” - look at the person and done but it’s such a terrible job you’d
not at the problem. never want to do it.
“That lady left within six months and “I mean I don’t have ambitions for
that really hurt me because despite politics but I do want to see it sorted
looking like a hard nosed business man, and I think that’s one of the problems
24 - WORK
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