Best known as the founder and CEO of venture capital and investment firm, Hamilton Bradshaw, James knew from a young age that he wanted to run his own business. Influenced by his father’s success as the owner of a leather goods manufacturing business, James faced the difficult decision not to pursue a career in the family business and instead followed his own entrepreneurial path, leaving school at 16 with no qualifications.
By the mid 1980’s, Caan had launched a successful career in recruitment and went on to found recruitment business Alexander Mann, which he grew from an ambitious UK company to £130m in turnover with 30 offices worldwide, which he went of to sell in 1999.
Best known to many for his appearances on the BBC Dragon’s Den, James used his four series on the show the invest in a diverse range of businesses and grow a reputation as a champion for British entrepreneurs.
James has worked on a number of projects to support the British entrepreneur. He is currently working with Business Secretary Vince Cable as a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum to help and advise government on the new business policies.
In light of the recent sale of Autonomy to HP due you think certain high-value businesses, such as some technology companies should be protected by government from foreign sale in order safeguard UK jobs and our presence as a global business force? I feel that the less amount of government intervention in business, the better. The business world would benefit from a free market economy. They should be able to attract the business on the state of the business and attractiveness of the proposition. If Britain was to start to implement some of the protection strategies, one can only assume other countries would follow, therefore, not a good strategy for business.
Do you think too may UK based start-ups aspire to be £1m companies as opposed to £1bn businesses? If so, what more can we do to drive home that winning mentality. I think that start-ups should be focussed around achieving there first £1m. There are tens of thousands of businesses who don’t make it, therefore there is no point having delusions of grandeur about having a £1bn company. I’ve always given myself key milestones along the journey so I would target myself with £1m, £10m, £25m, and then £100m. I think business is about taking 1 step at a time and it’s important you build a sustainable business which will last.
Do you think there is a lack of business knowledge as opposed to education amongst would-be entrepreneurs and if so what role does technology have to play in bridging that gap? Technology can, and should, play a major part in the education gap for entrepreneurship. Today I feel that there is substantial amount of information available online that covers every aspect of business and the
environment. I recently released my own business app which has had over 80,000 downloads in a last few months, which illustrates the need for good advice and accessible information.
Recent reports show that an increasing percentage of young people aspire to be entrepreneurs as a direct result of hit TV shows like Dragon’s Den and the Apprentice. Reflecting on your time on Dragon’s Den do you think the ‘entertainment factor’ of such programs presents a true reflection of the realities of starting up your own business and what value do you think it’s added the British understanding of entrepreneurship? TV shows like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice have done a fantastic job of communicating to the nation how exciting business can be. I’m sure that thousands of people who watch the show have been inspired to start their own business. I suppose, if the person as a result of watching has gone on to build a successful business that in it self is a proven result.
If you had to pick one moment, be it a entrepreneurs pitch or behind the scenes banter, that summed up your time on Dragon’s Den what would it be? One moment that stands out to me from my time on Dragons’ Den was the entrepreneur with the yellow submarine for £750k. I still haven’t worked out to this day, how big this market is. I sometimes wonder whether the idea was inspired by the strength of the market or it was an elaborate project dedicated to his love of the Beatles song. Whichever way you look at it, it shows that there are some truly passionate people in the UK and they aren’t afraid to take risks and pitch their ideas.
15 entrepreneurcountry
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