No regrets

 

Nigel Lambe explains; “Ever since leaving university, I had worked for large multinationals with nice offices, lots of staff, safe salary, bonus, stock options and above all security. But it was never quite enough to stop me from getting bored. Early in 2009, I resigned from my job, rented a small office in Hove and gave myself 12 months to find a way to make enough money to live off, in a business that I owned at least a part of and enjoyed running.”

 

After working for large multi-nationals corporations for 17 years, in 2010 Nigel Lambe decided to branch out on his own. In just 5 years he has acquired a new business a partner and between them they have grown the 7 strong Small Batch Coffee company, Velo Café, The Urchin pub, Brighton Gin and the new (n+1) café and bike shop at Brighton Station.

 

He bought and sold the WJ King brewery in Horsham, chairs the Little Green Pig writing charity and sits in the Board of the Sussex Innovation Centre and a number of private companies. He also runs his own business consultancy, Bold Decisions, which advises other small and medium companies on how to grow their business.

 

Arjo Ghosh says: “I've always been unemployable. I started my first 'business' aged 11, employing three friends to help landscape a garden and build a fence for an old lady. The fence blew down and I had to go back and make amends, losing my profit in the process but ending-up with a happy customer. My next business ended up as part of a multi-national digital marketing agency, but the fundamentals always remained the same: start with good people, do the hard stuff, add value. Today is the best of times and the worst of times to be an entrepreneur, only risk-takers need apply!”

 

Arjo is an Internet entrepreneur and non-executive working in digital communications, leadership coaching, business planning, and higher education. He founded the Brighton-based digital marketing company Spannerworks in 1997, which was bought by iCrossing in 2007 to become the world’s largest independent digital agencies. He now provides investment and non-executive support to early stage businesses in the digital sector. He is also Vice Chair of Council at the University of Sussex.

 

Nigel Berman describes how; “Just over 10 years ago I was on a mission. I left my job in publishing and founded a startup to retail innovative eco-friendly products online, with the idea that we’d be changing the way people thought and lived. It felt like this was what I was born to do. Revenues grew year on year. We won awards, media coverage, big partnerships… until the recession hit, and talk of the environment was replaced with the Economy. I worked harder than ever but couldn’t stop the business from sliding downhill. Ten years to the day of incorporation, I signed the liquidation documents.  Since that day I’ve discovered something else…”

 

Nigel is a Business Advisor specialising in Startups and Online Retail.  He is a creative leader and consultant, with a background in business startup and management, communication, and online retail. Nigel founded award winning online retailer Nigel's Eco Store, and as well as currently working a consultant, he is also the lead organiser at School of the Wild, a hub for immersive nature-based activities.

 

The discussion will be facilitated by Julia Chanteray; “Nearly 20 years ago I had a very successful company. Until it wasn’t successful anymore. Twelve months after the company was valued at 48m, it was sold for a pound and I was unemployed. I started keeping a list of “lesson learnt” from this, and I’ve been avidly learning lessons from my own businesses, clients, friends and constant reading ever since. Number one lesson for me was “It’s only money, I’ll just earn some more” (which was true, by the way.) Come and find the other lessons learnt and share yours.”  

 

Julia Chanteray runs The Joy of Business, a successful business consultancy company which isn’t worth 48m. She regularly writes, speaks and appears on TV talking about the issues which affect small business.