More than 640,000 new businesses are started each year in the UK and most don’t grow much, they pretty much stay as one man/woman-band enterprises, which suits their owners. Others are more ambitious, they want to take on staff, win more customers, expand their operation, grow their business and take it to new heights. But growth isn’t a given – you have to work hard to achieve it and you must make good decisions. You’ll need to take risks and also need some luck. There are many new obstacles to overcome.
In this episode we speak to Mark Hart, Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School, who is also Associate Director of the Aston Centre for Growth and Deputy Director of the national Enterprise Research Centre. Mark explains why some owners can grow their businesses into much bigger enterprises – while others fail. He outlines the critical factors that affect growth and offers his advice to small-business owners who want to make it big.
Show notes
Get ready for growth
- Five things that stop businesses from growing
- 10 top tips on scaling your business
- Funding business growth
- Essential guide to planning and budgeting for growth
Grow your team
Self-confidence
External support
- Join the Donut Small Business Collective
- Get help setting up and running a business
- Create an effective networking strategy
About our expert
Mark Hart is Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School. Mark is also Associate Director of the Aston Centre for Growth and Deputy Director of the national Enterprise Research Centre. He is an adviser on business growth to government departments and a widely published and quoted expert on entrepreneurship and small-business development.
About our sponsor
Thanks to Dell Technologies for sponsoring series four of the Start Your Own Business podcast.
Dell has what you need to start, scale, and succeed, including end-to-end tech solutions to boost productivity and maximise security so you can focus on innovation.
Our partnership with Dell means you get top products at special prices and a personalised consultation from a dedicated tech adviser who will get to know the goals of your business. Find out more by emailing the Dell for Startup UK representative at [email protected].
What next?
To make sure you don’t miss an episode:
- Find “Start Your Own Business” on your podcast app of choice and hit the subscribe button – we recommend Apple Podcasts and Spotify
- Subscribe to our newsletter
To get tips, support and inspiration from other small business owners:
- Join our thriving Facebook group the Donut Small Business Collective
