START-UP ADVICE

ISSUE 1 | £4.95
www.entrepreneurandinvestor.com
CREATING AND LIVING
THE LIFE YOU WANT
7-STEP GUIDE TO WINE COLLECTING
IMPORTANCE OF A BUSINESS PRE-NUP
INVESTING IN GOLD
LIVE THE DREAM! OWNING A WINERY
IN NEW ZEALAND
LUXURY TRAVEL WITH ONE&ONLY IN
DUBAI & MAURITIUS
FERRARIS, LAND ROVERS, SPORTS
SALOONS, CITY CARS
FINE DINING
SUPER SPAS
BEST BEAUTY GADGETS
PIERS LINNEY INTERVIEW
START-UP ADVICE
HOW TO PERFECT YOUR PITCH
WHAT INVESTORS REALLY WANT
HOW TO SPOT A START-UP WITH
POTENTIAL TO BE A SUCCESS

CONTENTS
12
24
28 34
4

UPFRONT
8 News in Brief
10 ENTREPRENEUR &
INVESTOR Book Club
12 Three Key Steps
18 Want to Secure SEIS Angel
Investors
22 How to Find and Win Over
Angel Investors
24 Advice from 1Roof
26 Wireless Theatre
28 Six Step Guide to Taking
Your Business Online
32 Important of a Business
Pre-Nup
34 Piers Linney Interview
40 How to Become a
Successful Freelancer
44 From Brainwave to
Business
46 Protecting your Wealth
48 Big Changes
52 Developing Brand You
46
INVEST IT
54 Investing in Chinese Art
58 Diversify your Portfolio
62 Cryptocurrency - Risk of
Reward?
67 7 Step Guide to Wine
Collecting
70 Investing in New Zealand
Wine
SPEND IT
74 Cars
86 Travel
108 Watches
110 Jewellery
112 Wine & Champagne
115 Gadgets
54
62
74
108
112
5

I WEAR THE
TROUSERS
DO YOU?
IJP DESIGN
www.ijpdesign.com
The Poulter Stride. #WeartheTrousers

EDITOR’S
LETTER
DEAR READER,
Welcome to the first issue of Entrepreneur & Investor, the magazine
which now replaces MoneyMaker Magazine, and targets those embarking
on their journey as entrepreneurs, with a real desire to create the life of
their dreams. A sister publication follows soon titled Fortune & Lifestyle,
designed for those who are lucky enough to have already made it but are
keen to expand their empires and build their portfolios.
This issue is a start-up special, crammed with features on how to secure
investment, how to pitch, which type of investment may be right for you –
including information on SEIS, and much, much more.
Of course, you’ll also find articles on investing in exciting areas such as
gold, art and wine, and of course, reviews and features on life’s luxuries –
including trips of a lifetime, supercars and spas.
Enjoy!
Best wishes
Lisa
LISA CURTISS
EDITOR IN CHIEF, ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.COM
EDITOR IN CHIEF &
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
LISA CURTISS
LISA@ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.
COM
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES TO:
EDITORIAL@
ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.COM
MAGAZINE DESIGNER & SOCIAL MEDIA
MANAGER
TOM FOWLER
TOM@ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.
COM
WEB DESIGNER/MANAGER
ADAM WOODGATE
ADAM@ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.
COM
ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP
ENQUIRIES TO:
ADS@ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.
COM
KEY CONTRIBUTORS:
JASON PENNY, TOM FOWLER,
ANN PICKERING, STEPHEN PAGE,
CELSO PINTO, MIKE CORICA, FRED
WEIJGERTSE, DARREN FELL, XENIOS
THASYVOULOU, HAYLEY CONICK,
DIANA
BARDEN, HENRY WILLIAMS
PUBLISHER
LOVE LUXE PUBLISHING
STUDIO, WAYSIDE COTTAGE,
WESTBEAMS ROAD, SWAY,
LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE, SO41 6AE
LISA@ENTREPRENEURANDINVESTOR.
COM
7

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NEWS IN BRIEF
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW
ETIQUETTE WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN
Parents wishing to educate their
children on the finer things in life need
look no further than Knightsbridge’s
luxurious Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel,
where a series of etiquette workshops
for kids will run this Autumn, in
partnership with up-market children’s
brand Catiouche.
Lana Berglas, Catiouche founder,
along with Taryn Jahme - a qualified
International Etiquette Trainer with
14 years of experience, will host these
intimate workshops, educating children
on key life skills, such as the importance
of exercise, nutrition, dining and social
etiquette and grooming. They will
teach the children how to build positive
relationships within their communities,
schools, social situations and within the
home environment.
The first two etiquette workshops will
be held on Sunday 28 September and
Sunday 12 October ; 3-6 year olds at
12:30pm – 1:15pm and 7-10 year olds
at 2pm – 3:30pm. Whilst their children
take part in the workshop, parents can
unwind and enjoy Sunday lunch at The
Rib Room Bar & Restaurant.
Catiouche is well known within elite
London society for organising exclusive
children’s events. Lana Berglas, said:
“The fine etiquette skills we teach
will help shape children into positive,
outstanding and beautiful young
members of society, whilst educating
them on other vitally important life skills
too.” Katherine Gordon, Director of
Sales & Marketing at Jumeirah Carlton
Tower added “We are delighted to
partner with Catiouche for this exclusive
opportunity. The Rib Room Bar &
Restaurant is the perfect venue for
parents to relax and enjoy a sumptuous
lunch, whilst their children are taught
valuable etiquette lessons.”
The 3-6 year old workshop costs
£45 per child and the 7-13 year old
workshop costs £65 per child. All
workshops will take place in the
Boardroom, part of The Rib Room Bar &
Restaurant, at Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
To make a workshop booking
call 07787 527 045, or email: info@
catiouche.com. To book a table at The
Rib Room, call: 020 7858 7250, email:
reservations@theribroom.co.uk or visit
theribroom.co.uk.
8

JAGUAR’S XE WORLD PREMIER
Jaguar’s much anticipated XE has
been revealed to the world during a
star-studded event held at Earls Court,
London.
The company says its latest model
redefines the concept of the sports
saloon thanks to its advanced lightweight
construction, streamlined styling,
luxurious interior, and outstanding ride
and handling. The XE goes on sale in
2015, with the high-performance S model
at the top of the range.
With a supercharged 3.0-litre V6,
generating 340PS and 450Nm of torque,
this high-revving engine is linked to an
eight-speed automatic transmission
with paddle shift controls, giving the
driver immediate access to the vehicle’s
incredible reserves of power. Accelerating
to 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds, the XE S
has an electronically-limited maximum
speed of 155mph.
The cabin offers outstanding levels
of comfort and spaciousness. Exquisite
materials and finishes, combined with
traditional Jaguar craftsmanship make
this an interior like nothing else in the
class.
The XE S will be joined by other models
powered by highly efficient 2.0-litre,
four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines
matched to smooth-shifting six-speed
manual and eight-speed automatic
transmissions. The diesels – part of
Jaguar’s all-new Ingenium engine
family – provide exemplary fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions from
75mpg and 99g/km.
The XE now completes the Jaguar
saloon car range sitting below the XF
and XJ models..
PEOPLE USING PROPERTY TO
FUND RETIREMENT REACHES
RECORD NUMBERS
2.5 million individuals in the UK
admit they are planning on selling
their primary residence to fund their
retirement, according to the latest
consumer research by Baring Asset
Management.
In total, 16% of people – nearly six
million – say they are planning to rent
or sell property to fund their retirement,
up from 13% last year and the highest
such figure since 2009.
The survey found that the economic
climate continues to have an impact
on people looking to use property to
fund some or all of their retirement: the
number saying they now plan to sell or
downsize a property to fund all of their
retirement has risen to 4% from 2% in
20124. While the research found that
a third (33%) of people that last year
said they are planning on either selling
and/ or renting property to fund some
or all of their retirement last year have
made no changes to their plans, it also
revealed that 3% (or 1.3 million people)
are now planning to rent out secondary
properties to fund some or all of their
retirement.
Rod Aldridge, Head of UK Wholesale
Distribution at Barings, said: “It is
worrying that the number of people
relying exclusively on their property to
fund retirement has increased again.
Property can, of course, form part of
a diversified investment portfolio but
this year’s research indicates that more
people are investing in property as a
retirement source and this could mean
they are too concentrated in the asset
class. Property prices can be volatile so
relying on your home to provide all your
income to fund retirement is risky.”
The research showed that despite
a rise in the number of people using
property as a retirement source, the
number of people saying they have
‘never planned’ to use property to fund
their retirement rose significantly –
from 35% in 2013 to 52%.
Regionally people living in the West
Midlands are potentially the most
exposed to property as an asset class,
with 6% of people saying they plan to
sell their primary residence to fund their
retirement and 21% saying they plan to
sell or rent other secondary properties.
The least potentially exposed are those
in Wales: 5% of people in Wales say they
plan to sell their primary residence to
fund their retirement and 5% to sell or
rent other properties.
Rod Aldridge comments: “The level
of risk involved in expecting to fund
your retirement through the use of a
volatile asset such as their own home
or from other properties such as
buy-to-let should be fully appreciated
and understood. Investing for your
retirement is about long-term planning
and as people are living longer, more
emphasis needs to be put on how a
lengthier retirement will be funded.
It is imperative that people diversify
their investments through a range of
assets which can, of course, include
property.”will continue a staged rollout
of the ultra-luxury Hayman Private
Residences and Hayman Marina
Residences offering private ownership
opportunities for select clients and
guests.
9

ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR
BOOK CLUB
THIS ISSUE ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR LOOKS AT SOME OF THE MOST
RECENT BOOKS ON HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR
ALL THREE BOOKS
FEATURED THIS MONTH
CAN BE FOUND ON
AMAZON.COM
ENTREPRENEUR REVOLUTION:
HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET AND
START A BUSINESS THAT WORKS BY
DANIEL PRIESTLEY
We are all entrepreneurs by design,
we are not meant to be depressed,
functional automatons. Priestley shows
you how to come out of your comfort
zone and reminds you what it feels like
to be creative, connected and living life
to the full again, while becoming master
of your own global small business.
HOW TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR: THE
SIX SECRETS OF SELF-MADE SUCCESS
BY STEVE PARKS
This book has
received great
reviews from
readers who found
that it explains, in
a straightforward
way, the ideas,
techniques,
attitudes and
systems to adopt to
become a success.
THE EVENTUAL MILLIONAIRE: HOW
ANYONE CAN BE AN ENTREPRENEUR
AND SUCCESSFULLY GROW THEIR
STARTUP BY DAN MILLER AND JAIME
TARDY
Another useful
guide to becoming
a financial success
and enjoying
the journey. An
interesting and
informative read.
“WE ARE ALL ENTREPRENEURS BY DESIGN, WE ARE NOT MEANT TO
BE DEPRESSED, FUNCTIONAL AUTOMATONS”
10

MAKE IT
START UP ADVICE
THREE KEY STEPS TO FINDI
A QUALITY INVESTOR
Finding an investor is crucial to business success, but it’s a real
challenge to secure a great one. Following some key steps can
make a significant difference, and help your business stand out
from the crowd and win over the best. Celso Pinto, Founder and
CEO of SimpleTax tells us how.
12

NG
13

MAKE IT START UP ADVICE
So it’s that time again. You’ve
finished the last phase of your
primary plan and business is
running smoothly. And if it’s
taken one year or one decade,
you’re pretty pleased with
yourself, but what next? The
options are endless, and you’ve got
just the idea to get your company from
solvent to soaring. But you’ll need an
investor...
Whether you’re a small start up
looking for pocket money or a larger
business seeking a cash injection, the
basics are the same. While a smaller
operation will be looking for not only
cash but connections and expertise,
a larger business may simply need
the capital. If it’s pennies and pounds
you’re after, but have all the help in
house, then a silent investor seems
ideal. You just want to take the money
and crack on, but it’s never that
simple. When forking over their funds,
an investor may want to have a hand
in the running, which can cause issues
both ends.
The larger the investment, the more
control you’re going to give up, thus
the larger the exit needs to be, so get
your risks realised in the first instance.
Take your time! Think of it as the
British do with their tea ... It needs
time to brew! And if you rush it you’ll
end up with something weak and
unsatisfying.
You wouldn’t hire the first person you
interviewed for a vacancy in house,
so take the same approach and do
your research. But as with tea, don’t
let it steep, or you foil the flavour.
Over analysing costs your company
precious time and profits, so be
patient but proactive.
To make sure investor acquisition is a
breeze, use these three key steps and
you’ll make sure your partnership is to
everyone’s taste.
14
1. START STRONG
Make sure you have a killer business plan
on paper, one that not even the wariest
of investors will be able to pass up. Pull in
your marketing and advertising experts
and make sure you appeal to your potential
partners. Make yourself an opportunity not
to be missed, and you’ll ensure you have
the pick of professional when it comes
down to choosing the perfect person.
The business plan needs to be clean and
clear. You need to show how much you’ll
need, where you’ll be spending it and what
your schedule of repayment will be.
Make sure to use your contacts wisely, find
someone who considers the transaction an
excellent deal on both sides, so you start on
equal ground. This should feel like a winwin
for you both, not one of you doing the
other a favour. Be fully prepared from day
one, or you’ll affect not only your finances
but your reputation, too.
Decide on what sort of investor you want.
An Angel Investor may sound ideal, but you
may miss out on expertise if you only see
that person at quarterly board meetings.
A partner with a passion for your business
and the intention of getting involved could
end up an essential asset, but make sure
you will be on the same page.
Make sure you thoroughly research
Investor Thesis - make sure you know what
makes specific investors tick so that you
don’t go knowing on an investor’s door with
a social network for pets when the investor
only puts money into hardware tech, for
example.
You might want to take a look at
crowdfunding. Maybe you don’t need an
Angel investor but a whole host of investors
depending on what you want out of raising
finance. Something like a Seedrs campaign
might be just the thing you’re looking for, as
they fill the gap in the early-stage funding
landscape by giving innovative startups
much more efficient access to a larger pool
of investors throughout Europe to help
them get their business off the ground and
grow.
Above all, start strong, get your ethos, your
intentions and your business plan on paper
and make sure that any investor is clear on
your game plan from day one.
2. NETWORK
Some people may tell you that all money
is green, so surely it doesn’t matter where
it comes from? But this is like saying all
entrepreneurs are made equal, and have
the same assets and qualities. Not true.
There are a range of skill sets and expertise
out there, so get out and find someone
who not only has the hard cash, but can
also bring more than just money to the
table.
Consider the connections that an investor
can offer. If you have an appealing
investment, you’re in the driving seat and
have the luxury of being able to choose
from what essentially become candidates.
So take your time to take your pick, make
sure you meet with as many potentials
as you can. Make it known you’re in the
market to be on the market and get
yourself out there.
Once you’ve collected some colleagues
for consideration, find out how strong
their own circle is. A contractor who has
worked with your competitors is an obvious
advantageous addition. This isn’t about
stealing secrets, it’s about familiarising
yourself with industry best practice.
And you may find within your circle of
contractors a lead, or even the man himself,
with experience that will offer your team
the best insight to how to get the edge
and keep ahead of the curve over your
competitors.
Also, a contact from your competitor will
be able to tell you who missed out when
it came to their companies growth plan. If
you’re in the same marketplace with similar
businesses who have been expanding,
they’ll have been fund raising before you.
Ok, so the best choice for them may have
been snapped up, but there will still be
some bullish investors in the background
who may be ripe for introduction.
So use that contact and buy that man a
beer... He’s already prepped to invest,
knowledgeable in the field and, although
he may have come a close second to
your competitors choice, that may work
out great for you. Maybe they weren’t a
personal fit? Find out why they weren’t
chosen, and if the reason isn’t applicable
to you then you just found your man (or
woman!). And if not, ask him who he knows
that may be?
Your investor is out there, but they won’t
necessarily be looking for you, so be
proactive, get networking and sell yourself
as an unmissable opportunity. And once
the offers are pouring in, you’re ready for
step three.

START UP

MAKE IT START UP ADVICE

“FIND SOMEONE WITH INTEGRITY AND
INSIGHT AND YOU’LL ENSURE THAT THE
EXPANSION OF YOUR COMPANY RUNS
SMOOTHLY.”
3. Find The Right Fit
If you’re struggling, a cash injection isn’t
going to solve all of your problems. These
people aren’t the “cheat codes” of the
business game. Do your homework. You
need expertise. And finding someone
who either has them already or possesses
them within their professional circle is
an invaluable asset. On the other hand,
if this guy considers himself the overall
authority on your businesses needs, he’ll be
overbearing and likely hard to deal with.
So find an investor that can add the highest
value to you and trust your instincts. Find
someone with integrity and insight and
you’ll ensure that the expansion of your
company runs smoothly. This is like a
marriage - you’ll be tied to one another for
years and while a happy union can bring
harmony, a bad marriage is chaos for the
kids (aka your team).
Choosing someone with the right
connections and relevant experience is
obvious. Hundreds of people will have the
money, but do they have the portfolio?
Relevant experience is a must, as they have
a seat in your boardroom now. Don’t end
up scowling into your smart-phone, trying
to hold your tongue while an inexperienced
investor gives his uniformed opinion.
Choose wisely and you’ll create a unique
and rewarding partnership, but get it
wrong, and you’ll want to stab yourself in
the eye with your pen at every meeting.
Don’t set yourself up for frustration, or you’ll
give yourself a hard time for the future.
Next to consider is the size of the investor...
Is it an individual or a company looking to
add you to their portfolio? Someone with
an existing portfolio may have £50million to
invest, but if you only need £10million then
you are essentially telling them how highly
they should value your offering.
Using a larger investor with a collection
of companies similar to yours may sound
like a dream ticket, but if you are a small
portion of their portfolio then they’ll treat
you as such. You may find yourself afforded
less of their time and therefore less of
their expertise, and just like that you find
yourself in a deep and meaningful business
relationship with their secretary, but they
won’t be taking your calls on time. So in
this scenario, you’re the needy girlfriend
whining for attention and commitment.
Don’t sell yourself short!
In the end, the value of your investor is
as much in their passion for your project
and investment of time, not just money,
so find an all rounder. Entering into a
partnership is a huge decision and takes
great commitment, so choose wisely, follow
my three simple steps and your start-up will
go from strength to strength.
About the author:
Celso Pinto, Founder and CEO of SimpleTax, has saved us
£2.5million on our taxes via GoSimpleTax so far. His simple to
use online service empowers regular folks to understand why
they’re paying so much tax and offers an easy and unrivalled
way to save money.
His website has been created out of the frustration he
experienced in the reliability of the self-employed on tax experts,
expensive accountants or, at best, having to wrestle with painful
and confusing HMRC forms. But with Pinto’s formula, answering
a few questions on your income and expenditure will take
half an hour, eliminating the need to waste valuable hours or
resources elsewhere.
Pinto created the website out of his own frustration with the
system, and a passion to find the answer. Follow Pinto on his
quest for freedom from frustrating paperwork @cpinto (twitter.
com/cpinto) or visit www.gosimpletax.com.
17

MAKE IT
START UP ADVICE
WANT TO SECURE SE
INVESTMENT? START
FUNDING CLUB SHO
ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR Magazine caught up with Stephen Page,
founder of Startup Funding Club Ltd, an organisation we hear many
entrepreneurs are turning to, to help them secure SEIS investment.
One thing that has been
consistent throughout
Stephen’s years in business
is his desire for the freedom
to make his own decisions,
and follow his own path.
He proudly points out that
the only time he has been formally
employed by anybody is the 4 years he
spent studying accountancy after leaving
school in the 70s. As soon as he had
qualified, however, he was off, joining a
road haulage firm as head of accounts.
He learnt a lot, he says, not least the
value of a good suit, after being taken to
Savile Row in the boss’s Rolls Royce and
told to choose an outfit on the spot.
Suited and booted, he was on the road
again just a year later, this time joining
a Chartered Accountants specialising in
data processing and creating software
for the likes of British Beef. The interview
took place in a local pub, and when he
arrived for his first day he was informed
his new boss had taken a month’s
holiday, and he should do whatever he
thought best. Eat your heart out, Alan
Sugar!
Unsurprisingly, Stephen developed a
taste for being in control of proceedings,
and his first Company, Sapphire, a
financial modelling firm, was founded
soon after, winning investment,
before the bottom dropped out of the
market as a new industry, “Information
Technology”, (you may have heard of
it?) began to make brand new products
obsolete on an almost daily basis.
Undeterred, a few months later he
found himself in Atlanta at a COMDEX
conference, bidding for exclusive
distribution rights for a new desktop
database called Dataease, using credit
cards he and his business partner had
obtained in a few days, no questions
asked (things were different back then),
back in the UK.
With the help of one or two more
backers, he ended up paying £50k for
the UK rights to DataEase, a ground
breaking new technology that would
eventually make Sapphire Group an
international success, with offices in
15 countries, millions of pounds of
investment raised, several companies
bought, sold, and rebought, and
hundreds of staff hired, and, inevitably,
fired.
Stephen’s 30 year involvement with the
Company, always as CEO, introduced
him to the world of boardroom
shenanigans, lawyers, takeovers,
acquisitions, even a “shotgun wedding”
merger, in 1991. Partnering with
software companies in the US in the
80s and 90s must have been a pretty
tough business to be in, but boy what an
education!
Stephen’s only regret is the Company’s
shareholders not accepting a $60m
offer for the Company, tabled by Lotus
Development Corp, back in the 90s,
before Microsoft released its proprietary
database, Access, effectively ending the
discussion on where the world would
store its data, for the next 20 years, and
counting.
What followed tested Stephen in
ways he could never have imagined;
managing a Company on the slide, he
found, was a thankless task, but a vital
one, as he attempted to wind down his
operations in as productive a manner as
he could. There were low moments, such
as when he sat on a beach in Barbados,
a faxed list of the names of hundreds
of staff in his hands, and tried to decide
which hundred or so to let go.
Sapphire Group is still, in fact, alive and
reasonably well, but Stephen has moved
ahead with the launch of the Start-Up
Funding Club, incorporating the Funding
Alpha SEIS fund, and it’s what we are
here to discuss. Excuse the lengthy intro,
but in business it is all about context!
Without context, it is hard to understand
that right now London and the UK is
one of, if not the outright best place to
invest in start-ups in the world, thanks to
the launch of the SEIS scheme, which as
we all know is the best thing to happen
to UK based entrepreneurs since the
Magna Carta was signed.
Just to recap, if your investment
succeeds, you pay no Capital Gains Tax
18

IS
UP
WS HOW
“Just to recap, if your
investment succeeds, you
pay no Capital Gains Tax
on the realised gain, if
it fails, the taxman pays
for approximately 75% of
your investment”

MAKE IT
START UP ADVICE
“STEPHEN’S GOAL IS TO BE THE NUMBER 1 PLACE FOR
START-UPS TO COME TO FOR SEED FUNDING.”
Which is great, but Stephen isn’t really
interested in his companies failing, he’s
interested in helping them to succeed.
Beginning 5 years ago with UPAD, the
online lettings agency, and Emoov,
the online estate agency, he has since
brought together a stable of around
20 highly promising companies which
qualify for SEIS status, interviewing
founders, conducting due diligence, and
now providing mentoring, contacts, and
investment through the Fund he is a
partner in.
Stephen and Innvotec, his fund manager
partner, are acutely aware of the need
to provide a blend of investment to
help hedge risk and provide peace of
mind, and thus Start-up funding club
has 3 channels through which it helps
companies find investment. Firstly, they
invest via the fund, secondly, they run
events, such as the networking event
held last night at Private Members
club Home House (both Stephen
and Angelica look remarkably fresh,
considering), and finally through Angel
investment, many of whom are to be
found at Funding club events. The next
ones are at Home House again, (15.09),
Century Club (23.09), and the Arts Club
on Dover Street (01.10), by the way.
The fund, called Funding Alpha is
regulated and can invest on behalf of
High Net Worth individuals, although
SEIS relief is capped at £100k per
person. Funding Alpha takes 30% of
investment gains after distributing the
initial investment to shareholders, and
charges the minimum management
fee of 1.5% p.a. The management are
hands on, but with a light touch, allowing
founders to follow their instincts and
grow their businesses organically, just
the way Stephen likes to operate. He
says he needs to be clear about 2 things:
how the cash is spent, and where the
sales and revenues are coming from.
The products on offer tend to speak for
themselves, he observes.
Stephen’s goal is to be the number 1
place for start-ups to come to for seed
funding, and it’s a big, open tent, which
welcomes founders of all ages, and
from all walks of life. He and his team
accept that not every Company will
succeed, but the spread of investment
is impressive, from future Tech, to the
arts, musicals, social ventures, cosmetics,
food and many others besides. The exit
strategy timeframe is officially 3-5 years,
but it’s negotiable. The goal is to create
sustainable, successful, companies
which deliver value for investors.
Stephen knows the game inside out, he’s
the role model, mentor and friend every
start-up needs.
And so to Angelika, who knows better
than most what it is like to work with
Stephen. Well-travelled, ambitious, and
with 1 start-up already under her belt,
Angelika is the miss fix-it of the Start-up
Funding Club, arranging the events,
running the office and managing 4
handpicked interns, who are learning on
the job, primed for success. Angelika is
somebody who has followed her dream,
from Poland to Kings Cross, via Spain,
the Czech Republic, Belgium, Monte
Carlo and Italy.
It was watching “Dragons Den” and
reading about Duncan Bannatyne and
co, that finally convinced her to try
London, and perhaps it’s appropriate
that she first met Stephen at the “Lions
Cage” pitching event. They met for
coffee, she showed no fear, and soon
convinced Stephen that she was the
right choice for the Funding Club. That
was 6 months ago, and she has been
instrumental in setting up a pipeline of
business opportunities from known and
trusted sources.
Reading between the lines, Stephen
and Angelika are not short of business
partners, and keeping them all happy
is exactly the kind of job they both
relish. They are problem solvers,
with “an endless list” of things to do,
now they have “bedded down” the
Company, moving it swiftly from infancy
to maturity. You’d have to get up very
early in the morning to fool these two.
Failure just isn’t in their nature. Business,
entrepreneurship, leadership, on the
other hand, most definitely are.
20

Angelika Burawska is COO of Startup Funding Club, and a graduate of
Business Administration at top European universities. She gained her
experience working in different countries and across various industries,
finally entering the world of entrepreneurship by founding her first start-up,
Inda Platform, an online marketplace for venue based digital advertising.
Her main focus today is the growth and expansion of Startup Funding Club.
Stephen Page is CEO of Startup Funding Club, and Chief Executive of Sapphire
Group. He is also a Director / Investor in Onfido Background Checks, Wireless
Theatre Company, Friedemodin Combination Perfumery, and Chairman of
Ortegra. He is an Investor in and partner of SEIS fund Funding Alpha, and has
over 30 years’ experience in the Software and Tech industries.
21

MAKE IT START UP ADVICE
HOW TO FIND
AND WIN
OVER ANGEL
INVESTORS
So you have a fantastic idea, you’ve set up your company, and
now need funding - but where do you go and what do you
need to prepare to win over an angel investor?
22

A
n angel investor is a bit
of a misnomer. There
are many types of
“angel” ranging from
the successful exited
entrepreneur or retired
investment banker
through to those that
invest a few thousand
through the SEIS scheme.
SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment
Scheme) is a great tax incentive
introduced by the government in 2012. It
effectively means you can get half of any
investment made into a young company
back through tax relief (less than 2 years
trading).
So if you invested £10,000 into a startup
you could get £5,000 back from the
taxman. That’s a great incentive and why
so many new angels have entered the
arena.
Angels also can be full time investors
or fully employed professionals having
a “dabble”. The latter mostly invest
through angel syndicates , SEIS Funds or
crowd-funding. There are multiple ways
of investing now that SEIS is so popular.
What is the difference between
investing into a SEIS Fund as opposed to
investing directly into 1 company?
The primary difference is that the
investment decision is made by the fund
manager instead of the investor. Also
the person investing into a fund has a
portfolio of investments rather than one
focussed investment.
Angels come in all shapes and sizes
and identifying them is very difficult. I
liken raising investment to fishing. You
have to land the right one!
That’s the first task. Find the right
angel who shows interest in your
business. Ideally they have a background
in your industry which means they can
bring “smart” money to the table as
opposed to “dumb” money where it is
just an investment with no added value.
Will this “fish” be willing to be the
“lead” angel?
You need a ‘lead” angel in most
situations. If you can land the right lead
angel then it will most certainly be easier
to get others to “tag” along behind.
Humans are pretty simple beings
when it comes down to it. Follow the
leader!
Once you have landed an interested
angel who can add value to your
business you need to persuade him/her
to invest.
But before all that you need to make
sure you are investor ready.
What documents do you need?
At minimum you need the following
(this is for any company seeking SEIS
funding primarily and not Series A):
1. A 2 page executive summary
This summarises the exciting parts
about the business. What is the USP?
Who is the team? Who (other than the
team) have said this is a great business
(potential partners or better still
customers). Forecast sales for 3 years
and exit potential.
2. A short business plan.
You do not need a 50 page business
plan to raise SEIS. A 10-20 page
extension of the exec summary is all that
is needed. Look for a template online.
There are many to choose from. You do
not need someone to write this. Do it
yourself and save the fees. Include key
milestones for the first 12 months in
detail and 3 years in summary.
3. A forecast
Which should be a profit/loss forecast
for 3 years. Most important of all is a
cash-flow forecast for the same period
but with particular emphasis on the
first year. You will make or break the
business in the first year so pay real
attention to the cash-flow needs for that
period. This should be reflected in what
investment you are asking for.
4. A powerpoint presentation long
form and short form
This is key as you will need to give
2 different types of presentation. In
the case of a pitch to an audience of
say 50-100 people use the short form
version. In the case of one to one style
presentations use the long form. With
the short form version make sure you
get the key points over in a graphically
exciting way.
If you have all these done you will be in
good shape.
I would also recommend you open
up a dropbox folder where you start to
collate due diligence documentation.
There are standard indexes available.
An investor will be very happy that you
already have the DD process underway
without him asking!
And you need a clear investment
strategy that is sensible. Do not try
to raise £1m if you are an idea or pre
revenue (there are exceptions but very
“FUND RAISING IS
AS MUCH ABOUT
PLANNING AS
YOUR BUSINESS
IS. BE PREPARED.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
BE SENSIBLE. BE
REALISTIC ABOUT
AMOUNT AND
VALUTATION ”
rare). Raise the smallest amount you
need stage by stage from smart angels
who can bring value to the table by
advising you.
Try to get a LEAD Angel first. Someone
who will invest say £20k-£50k and take
the lead in any round. Other investors
will come to rely on them and follow
them. Sweeten the pill if necessary
by giving them more than the other
investors as they were first in.
Fund Raising is as much about
planning as your business is. Be
prepared. Take your time. Be sensible.
Be realistic about amount and valuation.
If you have a good business you will
get funded but it will take time!
23

MAKE IT START UP ADVICE
ADVICE FROM 1ROOF
CREATOR HUGO SELLS
“1ROOF BEGAN AS A QUOTING MECHANISM,
A SIMPLE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE AN
ACCURATE ESTIMATE FOR WORK THEY WERE
PLAMNNING TO HAVE DONE TO THEIR HOMES”
Hugo Sells is not what you think of as
your average builder. Smart, well spoken,
educated at Manchester University and
tech savvy, he may very well be the only
builder named Hugo in its long and
distinguished history. And yet? One of
Hugo’s missions in life is to dispel once
and for all the notion that all builders are
unreliable, or workshy, or worse still crooks
who we could easily do without, if only we
had the time to stay at home and hone
our DIY skills.
Reader, I make the following 2
observations. One: DIY may possibly not
be your thing (sorry, someone had to
tell you); plumbing, sawing, hammering
and laying foundations are all things we
believe we are naturally good at, but the
reality is that home improvement is best
left to the experts. Two, your loved ones
probably wish you would stay away from
the toolbox; many of my closest friends
regard it as a minor miracle that I am able
to dress myself in the morning, let alone
put up a shelf or paint a dining room; I can
vividly recall an ex-girlfriend wisely deciding
to move out of our shared flat for a few
days, after watching me attempt to rewire
a plug. Watching Grand Designs does not
make you an artisan, sadly.
Hugo knows this better than most
because when he finished at University
he bought a small cottage in Norfolk.
Now Hugo is a smart guy who has started
and run several businesses, including
organising tours for comedians such as
James Corden and Jack Whitehall, and a
festival he set up with University friends
called “Mad Ferret”. Ok, so Hugo is also
something of a one off, you need to be
if you want to stand out and be a leader,
but when he discovered that the attic
in his new cottage contained a small
swimming pools worth of stagnant rain
water which threatened to burst through
the floorboards at any moment and
destroy his kitchen and living room, even
he was a little perturbed. So what did he
do? He asked his local builder for help,
who fixed the roof, got rid of the water,
and explained to Hugo how to prevent it
happening again.
Feeling inspired, Hugo steadily became
proficient at dealing with one structural
problem after another, until he became
a more than competent builder himself,
picking up clients via a local network of
contacts, and growing a reputable and
profitable business. But he never forgot
the help he had received, and that got him
thinking. Unlike many of his fellow builders,
Hugo was able to leverage contacts made
at University in fields such as business
management, accountancy and, most
importantly Tech. He soon realised that
he was in a unique position not only to
create a much needed support network
for the building trade, but also to promote
tradesmen in the online space. Partnering
with Max Mallows, a Shoreditch based tech
guru he had met at Manchester, Hugo
created 1ROOF.
1ROOF began as a quoting mechanism,
a simple way for people to create an
accurate estimate for work they were
planning to have done to their homes. The
resource, they reasoned, would create
peace of mind for clients and building
24

contractors alike. However, this single
concept developed into a multi-faceted
platform, as Hugo puts it, “a free, online
marketplace, which puts the public in
touch with a selection of vetted, insured
and recommended tradespeople, and
provide services such as estimating, admin,
and accountancy to builders.” Co-founder
Max set about transforming a complex
set of relationships into a positive and
straightforward online user experience,
and the results speak for themselves. In
a virtual sense, he is as good a builder as
Hugo.
In today’s market we always have
access to consumer protection, some
of it excellent, some of it quite dubious.
An issue in the building trade is that we
are now so fearful of the rogue trader
overcharging us that we are often tempted
to go with the lowest quote available to
us, but Hugo argues that the principle of
“you get what you pay for” is as relevant
when dealing with tradespeople as in any
other business sector. Besides the work
itself, any decent, honest builder will be
contending with the associated costs
of admin, accountancy, and VAT, and all
too often this is what causes the price
to skyrocket. Hence 1ROOF’s decision
to provide an online platform that helps
builders control and manage their costs,
and levels the playing field in a way which
allows the most skilled craftsmen to
concentrate on what they do best, without
having to worry what their accountant is
up to. Essentially this creates a perfect
compromise between client and builder;
quality work for an affordable, realistic
price.
1ROOF is more than just a price
comparison platform providing
administrative assistance for builders,
however. A truly successful online business
needs to have a social aspect (think
Airbnb, Borrow my Doggy etc.), so the
team has introduced a recommendation
system, whereby good tradesmen can
build their reputation on the back of
positive feedback, build customers via
referrals, and grow their business by
providing transparency of information.
One attractive feature is a partnership
with Facebook, so you can see who your
friends have hired. The 1ROOF team plan
to expand the offering by introducing a
booking form, payment processing, and
the chance for users to provide detailed
feedback, which will be used as the basis
for providing valuable market research,
insight and analysis.
Hugo’s core argument is that not
enough is being done to promote talented
and trustworthy tradesmen and defend
their reputation. He believes the public
needs to know more about the intricacies
and challenges the industry faces, in order
for them to make better informed buying
decisions, and he’s determined to help. He
plans to partner with trade associations
to create a more visible public face, and
hopes to encourage as many tradesmen
as he can to sign up to the platform.
The target market is urban, where
consumers tend to think they are spoiled
for choice, but in reality word of mouth
recommendations or personal testimony
is harder to come by. As a result buyers
often make hasty decisions that backfire
when the workmanship turns out to be
shoddy, and the cowboy builder simply
rides into the sunset, never to be seen
or heard of again. Hugo and 1ROOF
are primarily about promoting quality
workmanship, but see calling out poor
performance as a painful but necessary
part of the process.
Entrepreneurship is in Hugo’s blood,
although he is dismissive of start-up
and investor “jargon”, restricting himself
to 3 watchwords: timing, development,
implementation. So far he has raised seed
funding via Stephen Page’s Funding Alpha
SEIS fund, as well as angel investment
from an ex Virgin Group partner, and
plans to embark on a
Series A funding round in
the near future. I would
recommend investors
get in touch asap. We
briefly discuss the
numerous accelerators
and incubators now
available all over Tech
City, and he believes they
can be extremely useful,
particularly as a source of
contacts, routes to market
or funding opportunities.
The day to day running
of his start-up, however,
is best left to his team
of experts; just like a
building, plumbing, or
electricity job, really.
The sun is shining, and
Hugo’s fixing the roof.
We’ve all heard about
rise of Fintech; perhaps
BuildTech could be the
next thing?
Hugo Sells is cofounder
of 1ROOF, the
free online marketplace
putting the public in touch with a selection
of vetted, insured and recommended
tradespeople. He was previously Executive
Director of Jones and Sells Properties
LTD, building contractors offering advice
and tradesmen to those purchasing,
renovating or developing property.
Follow Hugo and 1ROOF on Twitter:
@hwsells
@1roof_uk

MAKE IT BE CREATIVE
WIRELESS THEATRE,
MARIELE RUNACRE-
TEMPLE AND THE
STRANGE CASE OF
THE MULTI AWARD
WINNING DRAMA
FOR DOWNLOAD
It’s all about passion. Go on the website
of any start-up business and you will very
likely read about how passionate the
founders are about their business. “We
are passionate about service delivery!”,
“content management is our passion”, “all
of our dedicated dog-walking team are
passionate about canines”, etc. etc., ad
nauseam.
The reality is that the British are
passionate about one thing; passion itself.
And where do we go for our daily dose of
it? Drama. And what do we do if we can’t
get in front of the television for our latest
dose of Corrie, or EastEnders, to find out
whether the smouldering new doctor
in Casualty is really carrying on with
the anaesthetist, or what the Reverend
Green was doing in the library with the
candlestick? The wireless. Some things will
never, ever change. We are, after all, world
famous for our radio dramas, and not a
lot else of late.
To run a successful start-up business
you need to do 2 things: solve a problem
that is bothering consumers, and inject
a sense of urgency into proceedings, by
fighting for what you love and for what
you know your customers love. Wireless
Theatre achieves these twin goals, and
many others besides. And its founder is
ready to take it to the next level.
For as long as she can remember,
Mariele Runacre-Temple wanted to be
an actor, like her mother, Jenny Runacre,
who worked with some of the greats:
Cassavetes, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Derek
Jarman, and memorably played Brenda
Champion in one of the most celebrated
of all British drama series, Brideshead
Revisited.
26

Back then, to be an actress was a rare
and exotic thing, and, to a certain extent,
Mariele became a victim of her mother’s
success, crowded out of key auditions by
the sheer weight of numbers of people
desperate to follow in the footsteps of the
trailblazing actresses of the 60’s and 70’s.
On the other hand, perhaps casting agents
saw something in her that she hadn’t yet
recognised in herself, that she was going
to be a huge success behind the camera,
rather than in front of it.
Not one to dwell on disappointment,
Mariele, who trained at East 15, the
renowned Acting School affiliated to
the University of Essex, whose “extreme
methods”, Mariele recalls “meant a lot
of people running around naked”, she
decided to produce her own dramas for
radio. Beginning with just a microphone,
a script, and a rented recording studio in
Marylebone, she leveraged the skills of
her friends and contacts, many of whom
she met whilst working at the London
Dungeon, where she describes the pool of
talent as “unbelievable, just a lot of actors
messing around and having fun”.
Mariele seems refreshingly unaware of
her own leadership skills, often attributing
the success of her business to friends,
family, actors or writers, when it is her
who had the vision to start putting the
plays online (at her Dad’s suggestion,
of course). She realised she might be
on to something when her well-built
website crashed under the weight of
demand for downloads; she had attracted
15,000 subscribers and produced 150
plays without really realising it, by doing
something she loved. Extremely well.
So Mariele decided she would become
Wireless Theatre’s first full time employee.
She has introduced subscription
fees, £3 for 3 plays, £25 for unlimited
downloads, and despite a slight downturn
in audience, an inevitable consequence
of the new paywall, she still manages
to attract around 10,000 unique visitors
each month, an even more impressive
achievement considering that she has
never allocated herself a marketing
budget beyond a few hundred pounds
spent here and there. She wrote to every
actor she could think of, somewhat
ingeniously securing their services by
selling the Wireless Theatre story to them,
then suggesting they help to fund the
project, or “if you can’t give me money,
give me 45 minutes of your time”. The
result? Stephen Fry, Nicholas Parsons,
Lionel Blair, Julian Glover, Jo Brand, and
many others have all read parts for
her. When I suggest that she possesses
the instinct of a true entrepreneur, she
demurs, “entrepreneurs make a lot of
money, I’m enterprising!”
She has since shown however that
she can attract investment, initially to
help redevelop the website which was
becoming “like an Indian street”, with
links and shortcuts all over the place.
She found, to her surprise (though not
to mine) that she enjoyed the funding
roadshows, and investors were keen to
share in the success of Wireless Theatre.
She is cautious about giving away too
large a share of the business, but keen to
address the lack of a full time marketing
manager, and writers, actors and directors
all have to be paid. When you think about
the amount of responsibility Mariele has
taken on, it is a staggering achievement,
and with so many people in the acting
community dependent on her, she admits
to being a workaholic. Learning to trust
her own instincts, and realising that “there
is no right or wrong way” to run a business
have been key to her ability to manage
well.
Making BBC radio’s preferred list of
suppliers, and contributing a first play
to the corporation, who are notoriously
difficult to please, which aired in October
last year, is a “stamp of quality” that is
likely to help bring in more funding for
Wireless Theatre when it is next required,
as is the OGLE awards the Company has
picked up; a silver last year, and gold this
year. Mariele was unable to travel to the
awards ceremony in Kansas, as she was
too busy back in London, and her travel
budget would not allow it, but in a typical
display of generosity she is delighted that
the show’s writers did attend. Her time
will come, surely. Constantly innovating,
she has experimented with ITunes
downloads, but believes the cut taken by
Apple (nearly 50%) to be too large. She
makes sure she hires a new actor for each
new production, and has also diversified
into producing voice reels for aspiring
voice actors. She knows how hard it can
be for actors struggling to find work, and
accepts that many actors, particularly
men, leave the industry for better paid
work elsewhere as they settle down and
start families.
She admits to still feeling a pang of
jealousy when an old friend or colleague
picks up a prestigious acting role, but
may end up spending more time in
the limelight than she thinks. The next
big project for Wireless Theatre will be
recording “8 plays in 8 days”, at the world
famous Edinburgh festival in August, live,
with sound effects, and plenty of audience
engagement. The theme of the plays is
“Couples who changed the world”, and
it promises to be a cracking and truly
diverse series, featuring a script from
comedian Arthur Smith, and revealing,
at times shocking characterisations of,
amongst others, Adam and Eve, and Henry
Ford and Adolf Hitler. There’s clearly no
barrier preventing Wireless Theatre from
being cutting edge and avant garde; The
Radio play might be an historic tradition,
but Wireless writers know that listeners
also like to be challenged.
Mariele is used to leading by now, and
getting used to the success it brings.
She could do with an admin assistant,
accountant, another producer and an
artistic director, to help out at the studios
she uses in Soho, Willesden Green and
Bow, where she now lives, having grown
up in Earls Court and attended the Elliot
school, which she describes as “tough,
but some of the best years of my life”. To
succeed in drama one has to have poise, a
sense of timing, and know your audience.
Coincidentally managing a growing
start-up requires a similar skill set. The
future looks bright, and the spotlight is on
Wireless Theatre, and Mariele.
Mariele Runacre-Temple is Artistic
Director and Founder of the Wireless
Theatre Company, the award winning
audio content producers, who also run
workshops and talks in schools around
the country through its Wireless Theatre
In Education Programme.
Download the first episode of “Spring
Heel’d Jack” the award winning Drama
set in Victorian London, here: http://
wirelesstheatre.co.uk/the-strange-case-ofspringheeld-jack-episode-one-the-ghostof-clapham-common/
See Mariele and the Wireless Theatre
team perform their shows “Couples Who
Changed the World” at the Edinburgh
Festival: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/
event/wireless-theatre-presents-coupleswho-changed-world
27

MAKE IT
ADVICE

SIX STEP
GUIDE TO
TAKING YOUR
BUSINESS
ONLINE
By Xenios Thasyvoulou, Founder PeoplePerHour.com
So you’ve built up your business, profits are looking healthy
and now it’s time to take that next step. Going online is a must
for businesses nowadays. With the public favouring online
shopping for anything from groceries to gadgets, it’s time to
sort out that website and increase your reach by going live. But
where to start?
If you’re not too tech-savvy or your business is based in store, it
can be difficult to translate your product into the online market.
However, in the last decade it has become essential to set up
online, so here are six steps to ease your transition into the
virtual marketplace.
29

MAKE IT
ADVICE
About the Author:
Xenios Thasyvoulou was initially an Engineer working for a FTSE 100 company. Within 6 months he realized he was allergic to the bureaucracy of larg
unemployable, at the age of 23 he began creating a service that allowed time-starved individuals to outsource work to multi-skilled individuals on a ‘per
com was born. Responsible for the overall vision and direction of PeoplePerHour.com, Xenios’ passion for product, relentless pursuit of innovation and
experience are very much defining points of the company’s culture and ethos.
1Set up the basics
Don’t underestimate the
advantages of setting up a
website. The benefits are
endless. You’ll immediately
extend your reach, be
accessible to customers on
the go and be at the click of
a button for all those lucky
buyers out there. But be ready...
rushing and starting with a basic, unprofessional
website will hinder not help. So make sure you’re
ready.
First, consider the demands. Can you handle an
increase in sales? Do you have the manpower
to fill orders and keep your customer service up
to par? Is your product easy to explain to new
browsers? Being able to keep up to date from
day one is essential so make sure you have the
time to commit to this.
Next, get your social media presence sorted.
I cannot stress enough the importance of
Facebook and Twitter to attract clients. It’s the
most likely way that you’ll be connecting with new
customers for the first time, so make sure it’s
engaging and informative.
Facebook and twitter are incredibly easy to set
up, but make sure it’s professional. As setting up
a page requires a profile owner to run it, your
personal page may be linked, so take down that
picture from New Years of you hilariously “owning
beer-pong”. You are a part of your company’s
online image now. “Be who you want your
customers to see.”
Get online with a
professional website
2Your website is your new
business card, your brand’s
handshake, and we all
know that first impressions
count. Make sure it’s clean,
clear and processional and
communicates your brand.
When considering the
overall look, make sure it’s
practical. No eye-hurtingly
busy backdrops please! Or
scattered, endless hyperlinks. Figure out what’s
important for your customer and make it easy
to use.
The screen that greets your customers could
be invaluable for promoting products and
promotions. It needs to show you off at your
best, so imagine your website as a store-front
and go from there. Consider your options and
choose what’s right for you but, most importantly,
for your customers.
You know more about your business than
anyone, so make sure you’ve remembered
everything. If your business is physically located in
bricks and mortar, but in a place that is referred
to colloquially, remember this. For example,
Cemetery Junction in Reading, Wiltshire. This is a
well known cross roads in the south of England
(made famous by Ricky Gervais’ film of the
same name) but doesn’t exist on a map. Locals,
however, wouldn’t dream of calling it anything
else. So when searching for a business in that
area you’ll be missed off. And miss out.
30

e corporations. Inexperienced and utterly
hour’ basis. Three years later PeoplePerHour.
deep obsession for customer service and user
me name) but doesn’t exist on a map. Locals,
however, wouldn’t dream of calling it anything
else. So when searching for a business in that
area you’ll be missed off. And miss out.
3Find the right
web designer
Finding the right person is
a tough call. But who? Do
you need a Web Designer
or a larger Web Design
Firm? Hang on, your friend
is a web designer isn’t he?
NO! Stop right there.
Remember how all your
friends are now photographers, too? Not all
programmers are created equal, so don’t be
tempted to use a friend unless they’re truly the
best fit.
Start by getting together examples of the existing
websites you like and network. Once you have
a list of possible partners, take your time. You
wouldn’t hire the first person who walked
through your door would you? Take the same
care in selecting a Web Designer.
Next question - Use someone independent
or hire a Web Design firm? A firm will have a
fixed price and a diverse range of capabilities.
A lone wolf may have gaps in their skill set that
you’ll ultimately have to pay someone else to
make up for, however, with the right contractor
you’ll usually get a better price. Overheads like
advertising are expensive, and a larger firm will
have no end of additions.
Ideally, find someone with an impressive portfolio
who you can trust. This can be far more valuable
than being dependent on a larger firms multiple
commitments and risking being put at the
bottom of the to-do pile.
Be clear on contracts
4
Web designers work on
adding charges like Pic-N-
Mix. A little of this, a little
of that. Instead of charging
you for your proverbial bag
of sweets, you may find
everything itemised at costs
that seem to have appeared
from thin air. This is a
debate had between many
a web designer and client...
“But it only took you 20 minutes to put that
together!” You insist, querying the £80 surcharge
for “Creative Development”.
“No,” They reply, rolling their eyes at your
disrespect for their profession. “It took me 20
minutes backed with 15 years of experience, to
enable me to get it done quickly. I’m charging for
my expertise, not my time”
It’s a valid point, but don’t get yourself into a
situation where you’re quibbling over Comic Sans
vs Times New Roman. Get a fixed contract in
place from day one and you’ll give yourself a lot
less to worry about.
Much like a plumber will suck through his teeth
and shake his head warningly at you before
hitting you with the £150 call out fee, a Web
Designer will do the same with content. Try to
keep on even ground and be fair to both parties.
This way, you should be able to avoid hidden
charges and difference of opinion with someone
who probably identifies themselves as “A
Technological Artist” and isn’t wise to offend.
Know what style of website
5you want
There’s a lot of jargon
and lines to be blurred
through this process, so
setting out your original
intentions on paper before
you start is a must. Use this
as a reference, and don’t let yourself deviate or
be seduced by flashy extras and complicated
technology.
You know what your customer wants - write that
down and create it. Don’t get sucked in to the
glitz and glamour of what your web designer will
tell you is “progressive” or you may scare away
existing customers, not to mention excluding
new ones.
Your designer should help you through this
process and make things easier. Give your Web
Designer direction. They’re creative beings,
and will use their own heads, so don’t just say
“I want it to be awesome, and different, and
impress my customers”... What, as opposed to
it being ridiculous and shock and annoy them?
Be realistic. You know what you need, let your
web designer build it for you, but don’t get lost in
translation.
Make your intentions very, very clear. If you
have to, literally draw it out on paper and hand
it over. Ask your five year old to colour it in for
you. It will save you time in the end if your web
designer gets over creative and comes back with
a technologically intricate website that you don’t
6need.
Be productive –
set a deadline
In your head, this may be a
two day job. I mean how long
can it really take to set up
a web page? Well, this isn’t
like making a collage, there’s
complicated programming
involved. That’s why you hired an expert, so agree
a realistic deadline that both you and your web
designer can work with.
Every day you and your designer spend tweaking
is another day of potential online profits lost. But
be patient, proactive and realistic. Keep a calm
head and a steady pace and you’ll go live in good
time with a great website.
With preparation, professional content and a
proactive approach, you can make the transition
to online presence a breeze. And then all that’s
next is to watch your profits soar, knowing you
took the right approach to going live. One click at
a time.
31

MAKE IT
START UP
IMPORTANCE OF A
BUSINESS PRE-NUP
Henry Catchpole from online company records management
software business Inform Direct looks at how to safeguard both
your shares and your relationships.
Picture the scene: You are setting up a brand new
company with your family or friends as business
partners. It’s an exciting time and you have big
dreams and a shared vision for the future. But
what happens if things go wrong? If the personal
circumstances of the shareholders change? If
relationships break down? How can you protect
yourself and your company from the fall out?
A shareholders’ agreement as the business
version of a marital pre-nup.
It defines what happens if people want to go
different ways. It is a safeguard which gives you
and your fellow shareholders a set of terms to
prevent complications further down the line,
protecting the enterprise itself as well as your
own investment.
So how does it work?
The purpose is to protect the shareholders’
investment in the company, establish a fair
relationship between them and govern how the
company is run.
An agreement will:
​set out rights and obligations;
​regulate the sale of shares in the company;
​describe how the company is going to be run;
​provide an element of protection for minority
shareholders
​define how important decisions are to be made.
What should you include in your agreement?
32

“DON’T END UP IN A COMPLICATED,
DISTRESSING AND COSTLY LEGAL BATTLE
DOWN THE LINE BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO
GET THE BASICS RIGHT AT THE START.”
The key provisions to include in a shareholders’
agreement relate to:
1) Issuing and transferring shares – including
provisions to prevent unwanted third parties
acquiring shares and how a shareholder can sell
shares.
2) Providing some protection to holders of less
than 50% of the shares – including requiring certain
decisions to be agreed by all shareholders.
3) Running the company – including appointing,
removing and paying directors, deciding on
the company’s business, making large capital
outlays, providing management information to
shareholders, banking arrangements and financing
the company.
4) Paying dividends.
5) Competition restrictions.
6) Dispute resolution procedures.
It is best to put a shareholders’ agreement in place
when you form the company and issue the first
shares.
This creates a common understanding of
shareholders’ expectations of the business.
Don’t end up in a complicated, distressing and
costly legal battle down the line because you failed
to get the basics right at the start.
A stakeholders’ agreement is the most sensible way
to make sure that, if the worst should happen, you
are not left with nothing.
Inform Direct is an online service that makes it easy
for individuals to form and manage their company.
The aim is to take care of the administrative side
of running a company giving you more time to
concentrate on making your business prosper. Find
out more at www.informdirect.co.uk
A final word of warning
33

SPEND IT COVER STORY
PIERS LINNEY
Lisa Curtiss caught up with Piers Linney, entrepreneur extraordinaire and
current resident of the infamous ‘Dragon Den’ on his advice on pitching, finding
investment, and also from an investor’s point of view, how to spot a start up with
real potential.
like that coming in. Maybe my presence
there help attract them?
So anything. Any sector with any
business really. Just something I think
that I can work with, add value to, and I
believe that the entrepreneur standing in
front of me can deliver the plan.
What factors combine make an
excellent pitch?
You need to get across two things
really, firstly to very clearly clarify to
the potential investor what exactly
the business is. What is the service
and the opportunity and how do you
make money out of it. So really simply,
what is the value proposition? And the
second thing is, to provide evidence or
at least instilling confidence that you are
someone that can be worked with. In
essence it’s the value proposition and the
team.
The thing about ‘Dragon’s Den’ is, is
that those who pitch are actually grilled
for two hours. You see just twelve
minutes on TV – maybe 15% of the entire
session.
That makes sense, why some of
them look so terrified then.
Yes, some people walk in and they
may have a fantastic idea, but they might
not be brilliant at maths or numbers in
general. Not everyone can be fantastic
explaining balance sheets and cash
flows and intellectual property in a
business and the market. A lot of new
entrepreneurs don’t have that skill. So
just make it as good as you can, but if
we’re interested, typically we will extract
the information we need to make a
decision.
Morning Piers, what will you be
looking for from those who next enter
the Dragons’ Den’?
At a fundamental level, you’re looking
for entrepreneurs in businesses in
which you can invest and make some
money. So that’s the basics and I have a
sort of a slant - a particular interest and
an expertise in technology in telecoms
and to some extent media. I’m not purely
looking for those business types though,
because, you know, it’s only really in
recent episodes you probably see people
Outside of ‘Dragon’s Den’ in a
situation where somebody is pitching
to an investor, those same principles
apply?
They do, but you’ve probably got more
time to prepare, you can usually take
your financial advisor or a finance person
34

in with you, so you can structure it a bit
more. By having support like this on areas
you may not be an expert in can give a
useful boost of confidence.
A potential investor wouldn’t look
down on you if you did that? If you
took in somebody else to help?
No, not at all.
That’s good to know. I’m sure that
would reassure a lot of people.
If you’re going to pitch to somebody,
you need to go there fully prepared
and if you’re not the best person to talk
about your numbers, you’ve got to take
someone with you.
That’s a very good piece of advice.
What are the major off-putting
errors that budding entrepreneurs
make, when pitching for investment?
The worst one is, they spend time
pitching to you and at the end of it you
still don’t know what the hell it is they do!
Okay. Apart from that?
That’s the main one. It’s just that
there’s no point having that moment in
time to make the pitch and by the end of
it you haven’t communicated what exactly
you are asking us to invest in.
If you were starting out, how
would you go about coming up with a
business idea and securing investment
yourself, based on what you’ve learnt
over the years?
Well, I’ve done it many times. I’m
slightly weird as one of the ‘Dragons’,
because I’ve sat on every side of the table.
I’ve been an entrepreneur, I’ve raised
money from Angel investors, institutional
investors, the stock market. I’ve been
an advisor, I’ve raised money for other
people, I’ve been a fund manager making
investments, venture capital, hedge fund,
you name it, so I’ve kind of sat on every
side of the table, so I know what it feels
like to be every person involved in that
process.
So at the end of the day your business
idea has got to be something that
you understand, it doesn’t have to be
something new, you haven’t got to invent
something.
You can become a billionaire just doing
things better than the way people have
done them historically; Richard Branson’s
a very good example of that, doing an
airline better than the airlines, rail better
than rail. Well, now he’s trying to do
banking better than banks.
So just doing something in a new
refreshed way and adding value to your
end customer, because in business really
at the end of the day, you only succeed if
you achieve this.
Also, it doesn’t matter whether your
end customer is somebody who needs
scaffolding on their house, or whether
you are a technology entrepreneur that
needs to spend two years developing
software before you can even think about
selling anything. It’s, what is the value
proposition for that end customer, and
if you can see you are creating value
to their lives, or to a business, are you
really helping them save money or make
money. If you can say yes to this, then
you’ve got a business.
How about securing investment?
Well securing investment is about
telling that story, isn’t it? It’s saying, “Look,
there are these consumers or businesses,
and my product or service will enable
them to do this, save that, or make more
money here, or improve their lives, or
whatever it might be. Then, once you’ve
told that story and people grasp that
there is market potential” then they might
invest in it.
Where would you go for investment?
What sort of avenues might you
have…?
It depends where you are, if you’re
starting out and you don’t have
independent wealth or savings, which
a lot of entrepreneurs don’t have, then
typically you are raising money from
friends and family. You are raising
money from people who are backing
‘you’ actually, not your business, which
is good and also bad. I’ve raised millions
of pounds from friends (not family, my
family didn’t have money, but friends
did). I’ve raised millions of pounds from
friends, which is fine, but then again
that brings with it an obligation and a
pressure.
And they say never work with
friends or family…
Well, the one thing I will say to people
is you can - my business partner’s a good
friend of mine, an old friend. I think
though when you’re starting a business
you need to carefully consider who you
get involved, because you will find in two
years’ time when you need experts, you’ll
be working very hard to part company
with your friends.
What do you think are the ‘hot’
industries that entrepreneurs should
focus on now?
I was taking to a chap last night who
has a scaffolding business, and, to him
that’s a hot industry, because he was
saying to there’s a bit of a boom now, as
people are doing up their homes because
no one can afford to move any more.
But generically in macro, if you zoom
out 30,000 feet, the big opportunity is
still very much in technology, because
we are moving to a digital economy,
information economy, whatever you want
to call it. This means we are moving to
an economy of more intangible value
creation. Now there’s a push to try and
get young kids to learn and understand
how you code – a sharp contrast to when
kids learns woodwork and metalwork
years ago.
Just jumping quickly back to
‘Dragon’s Den’, looking back at the
past series, ‘Dragon’s Den’, what are
your top pitches and why?
The one that sticks out would be the
first investment I made with Kelly, which
was ‘Skinny Tan’, the self-tan with an anticellulite
mixed in. That was quite good.
Then the one more recently which stands
out was kind of a ‘Dragon’s Den’ first
because it was a technology investment
where I invested £100,000 for 5%, which
is a big unheard of in the ‘Den’. It was
‘Lostmy.name’. A dynamic book you can
create for your kids, so that the story
evolves and changes around their name.
How are they doing?
They’re doing very well. Tech isn’t
always just a business with a website.
This is actually software development and
we’ve created design and built into it as
well. They’re doing very, very well, they’re
going to turn over two to three million
pounds this year and it’s profitable.
What then about the ones that you
consider the worst and why?
Well, the one that stands out is a guy
who spend a million pounds, so he said,
(I don’t think we actually believed him),
in designing a system that allows you to
automatically fill your bath. I don’t really
need to say any more about that do I
really?
He really spent a million pounds?
Apparently, but what he actually
showed us wasn’t even a finished
product, it was just a mock-up. He
just didn’t instil any confidence that
he actually had a product, or that he
was being completely forthright, which
is another thing. If any investor ever
thinks, in any way at all, you’re not being
forthright, you’re done.
I can appreciate that. What are
the key personal attributes and
professional skills do you attribute
your success most to?
35

SPEND IT COVER STORY
I think what works well for me is the
fact I have a broad skillset really. So I’ve
always been involved in starting business
and being an entrepreneur, but along
the way I’ve become a qualified venture
capitalist, private equity corporate lawyer,
and investment banker, so I understand
numbers and balance sheets and cash
flows.
I’ve worked in corporate finance and
made business plans for people and
raised money for entrepreneurs. So my
background actually is the professional
side of venture capital and private equity
and hedge funds.
That’s my professional capability and it
means that when I think about financing
or legal or intellectual property or
structuring these things, I just know how
to do it.
What particularly impresses you?
If a reader has an idea and wanted
to pitch it into you, what would they
need to do to impress you and win you
over?
For me it’s scale to be honest with
you. In ‘Dragon’s Den’ some businesses
are more scalable than others and I
think that’s why I’m always particularly
attracted to technology, because it can
scale.
For example, the ‘Lostmy.name’,
the book business, they could sell ten
books, they could sell a million books.
It’s software and clearly there’s some
printing and there’s some logistics, but
that the scale of the business, because it’s
outsourced.
Some people come in to the ‘Den’,
who are painters or do caricatures of
people and want investment for these
businesses, but relying on just their own
efforts means these are just not scalable,
because they can only do a finite number
of projects by themselves in a day, or
a week. So those pitches don’t attract
me too much. It’s about scale, and
technology enables you to scale, both in
your country and globally.
Do you think many budding
entrepreneurs are being unrealistic in
terms of how much money they might
be able to secure from investors when
starting out?
I haven’t got a problem with people
being unrealistic. If you’ve got a dream
and you think you need 100 million to do
it, then go and do it. Look at Jack Mar,
‘Mr Alibaba’, I’m sure he had a bit of help
from the Chinese government, but he
started in his bedroom and just raised 28
billion dollars.
What I will say is you’ve got to have a
plan and the plan’s got to be realistic. If
you go to 100 people and they all tell you
that you’re nuts, then you probably need
to listen and have a re-think. I’ve done
that myself. When you’re younger you
can take a lot more risks because you’ve
got time, but there comes a point where
you’ve got to stop chasing a rabbit down
a hole and just fill it in.
Do you think some of them don’t
appreciate the amount of preparation,
research and effort they need to put in
before they even present?
Well, there’s that. You’ve got to be
prepared. If you haven’t done that prep
work and research, then you shouldn’t
be starting a business because you really
don’t know what you’re getting yourself
into.
I think the more important thing to
appreciate is that being an entrepreneur
can be extremely painful. It can be very
costly in financial terms, in terms of
your time, which impacts on family and
relationships, and can be very stressful.
You have other people relying on you,
if you’ve got employees, that can be a real
worry. You have your ups and downs.
You have days where you’re staring into
your desk with your head in your hands
thinking, “How on earth am I going to get
through this week?” You’ll be staring at
the ceiling at three four in the morning
on the odd occasion, worrying about an
issue and there’s a lot of that in starting a
business until you really do find your feet
and I think people forget that it is hard
work.
How else can start-ups find and
secure investments other than
through Angel investors or ‘Dragons’
like yourself?
Well there are actually lots of other
schemes, like start-up loans, for example,
but the best way to start a business at
the end of the day is to use your own
resources, because when you bring in
investors very early, you can lose quite
a big part of your business at the start
which is not ideal. What I always say to
people is, “If you want to get involved,
keep your overheads low” and by that I
mean, not just business overheads, but
your personal overheads too, because if
you’ve got a flash car and go on holidays
you can’t really afford and have an
expensive mortgage or rent etc, they all
act like anchors that could prevent you
taking potentially beneficial risks and
also, that fixed cost you’ve got to cover
every month typically means you’re going
to have to get a job.
Any advice on how to negotiate
equity with a potential investor and
how much equity should you hold on
to?
Treat it like gold dust! Equity, at the
end of the day, is why you do it. Equity
is the difference between being master
of your own destiny and working
for somebody else. I’ve had heated
discussions about 1% of my business
before, never mind 10%. Do not part with
it without a very, very good reason.
Is there a kind of magic formula to
use as a guide i.e. for x £ expect to give
“EQUITY IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BEING MASTER OF YOUR
OWN DESTINY AND WORKING FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE.”
x % of the company?
If you’re a private company, especially
and Angel backed business or you’re
talking to friends and family, the value of
your company is what they’re willing to
agree to. Simple as that.
So if you’ve got a very high valuation
and you’re giving a small piece of equity,
they’ll get a very small percentage. If
it’s a very low valuation and they’re
giving a lot of money, then it’s going to
be big percentage. So that’s my point,
it’s about as an entrepreneur you need
to bootstrap your business as far as
possible, prove it as much as you possibly
can, before you go and ask other people
for money, because that increases the
valuation and your negotiating position.
In technology, for example, you need
to have your ‘minimum viable product’,
they call it. So, it’s not perfect, it’s not
finished, but it enables you to show this is
what it’s going to do. This is how it works.
Here’s the market. What do you think?

SPEND IT COVER STORY
Any investor can then think “Great, I can
see that, yes. I can get a grip on what it
does/is”. That gives you a much better
negotiating position. It also means you’ve
tested your product rather than you going
there with a presentation saying, “If you
give me the money, I’m going to build
something that looks something like this”.
So having a prototype then is really
valuable?
Yes.
In an ideal world, how much equity
should you desperately try to hand on
to? Is there a figure?
All of it.
Other than as much as possible, …?
All of it!
I mean, James Dyson owns 100% of
Dyson.
Wow. How has he achieved that?
Good question, because he
bootstrapped it, built it, funded it and he
hung on to it and he’s done it. There’s no
magic formula, but you short start on the
premise that you want to end up owning
all of it.
If investors typically want equity
though, how can you get funding if
you’re not going to offer any? What
else can you offer them?
Well, you can use debt if you’ve got
profits. You can have equity investors
where eventually you buy them back out
again. You can have clause in any contract
to stipulate your right to do this, or just
one day say, “Look the business is doing
quite well. I want to buy you out”. It
happens quite a lot.
Typically debt is not a good thing
in small business unless it’s very well
structured, because it just adds to the
fixed cost base, doesn’t it? Whereas
equity doesn’t. But again with equity…
people who provide you with equity, then
expect three, four times their money
within three to five years. That’s what
they’re looking for and that brings its own
pressure.
But, yes, I appreciate it is very hard to
raise finance if you’re a young company
and are not prepared to give equity away.
What’s your advice for anyone who’s
been turned down for investment
repeatedly, but really still believes in
their idea, or their start up dream?
Well, you’ve got to sense check it and
talk to people about what is wrong with
the idea, the pitch. Depends on the
people you’ve met. So if you’ve met a
string of very well-known professional
investors and they’ve all said no, then
you probably need to go away and think
about it.
Whereas, if you’ve just been round your
four local pubs and no one’s invested,
you can probably relax a bit. It depends
on the understanding and people you’ve
been talking to, but if you’re getting
a consistent no from people that you
respect, you probably need to go away
and have a re-think; however, having
said all of that investors, at the end of the
day, don’t have all the answers, so if you
really do believe in it and you think your
company’s got legs, don’t give up.
Well, that’s good to know.
And that’s one of the key traits of being
an entrepreneur - grit.
If any of the readers starting their
own company wanted to approach you
direct for investment with an amazing
idea, is this possible?
I get twenty a day. I get them via
LinkedIn, or they come through the PR
company or my other companies and if
it’s interesting I’ll get back to them, but I
can’t look at everything.
There’s so many of them. I mean,
most things I do now are my businesses,
the ‘Dragon’s’ businesses and things I’m
already involved in really.
Can you put entrepreneur types
into groups like you do when
personality profiling. Are there certain
characteristics ?
No, not really. Although with investors
you can, because you’ve got debt
investors, equity investors, early stage
investors, late stage, private equity,
venture and hedge. Investors sit in
buckets, they just do naturally, they have
to because the people who invest in
the investor, like the pension funds for
example, want to put their money into
certain buckets, ie. debt or equity.
But back to entrepreneurs, if you look
at the top twenty American self-made
billionaires, they’re all quite different
characters.
What makes a perfect business plan?
Well, you can try and be clever and do
whatever you want, but fundamentally
you need sections that include the
opportunity and the market, and make
sure you know and understand it and
have done some research, plus of course
you’ve got to describe your product or
your service. Is it new, and if not, why is
it differentiated to what’s sitting in the
market already today?
Also define what is your go to market
strategy? How are you going to get it into
market and sell it? Because no matter
how good your product is, if you can’t sell
it then you’re wasting your time. You need
some forecast in there to show what the
numbers are going to look like, the cash
flow to show how that’ll build and would
you need any more money, for example,
and you need something on the team. So
you’ve got to cover those essential bases.
And in terms of how it’s presented,
does that really make a big difference?
Well, if you’re really awful at word
processing and PowerPoint and Word,
or whatever you use these days, get
someone to do it for you, but as long as
you cover those sections in a reasonably
succinct way, if it’s got flashy graphics
too then I don’t know whether anyone
actually cares.
So it’s the quality of the information
side that’s key.
I’m sure if you’d asked Mark Zuckerberg
when he started Facebook to put together
a business plan, it would’ve been awful.
Looking at things from an investor’s
point of view, are there any tips you
can share on how to spot a dud?
I think you can look at the macro
market they’re in. Is it saturated, are
margins are being screwed down
for example. So although your
entrepreneurs might say, “In this market
where I’m sitting today, I can make some
money”, that’s fine, but if you look at the
macro systemic flow, or changes in the
market, and you see that is going to be
something which is going to be squeezed
over the next three, four, five, ten years,
you probably don’t want to get into it. At
some point over the next five, ten years,
if you’re still invested, you’re going to run
into difficulty. And that’s another thing
about entrepreneurs, they seem to forget
sometimes, to building a business really it
takes around ten years.
Look at Levi Roots on ‘Dragon’s Den’,
he’s just getting going and that was 2006
that was on air.

SPEND IT COVER STORY
If you’re an investor, what should
you ask for in terms of equity and
active control and is anything else
you should go for?
In small companies, private
companies, when you make an
investment it’s typically a shareholder’s
agreement and actually that and
the content of that is probably more
important than anything else, because
most investors in private companies,
although they may only own, say 30%
of the company; call it 1% of 49% of the
company, they don’t actually control it.
So you need to write in certain
clauses to protect your interests. The
entrepreneur then might have control
of the company in terms of the number
of shares, and control of day to day
operation, but they couldn’t go and buy
an asset or sell the business or do this
or do that without the consent of their
investors.
So for an investor, it’s important to
have that, but for the entrepreneur and
investor, you’ve got to get that balance
right.
That’s quite key actually. The
structure of your shareholder
agreement can actually sometimes be
more important than whether you’re
giving away 25% or 27%.
Who do you look up to in business
and why?
The only person really I’ve ever
looking up to, I think, and I’ve had the
good fortune to spend time with him,
is Richard Branson. I just like the way
he’s gone about things. I spent time
with him in Africa, so I know what he’s
like. So he’s the only person… the
only entrepreneur I’ve only ever really
looked up to.
How can you tell if an investor is
really serious?
When you’re selling, or when you’re
looking for an investment, just like
anything else at the end of the day,
you’re selling a product, you’re telling
a story and when you’re selling to
somebody. This applies whether it’s
a business idea or whether it’s a bag
of tomatoes, and, people start making
buying signs.
If they haven’t said, “Get lost not for
me” and left the room, and they start
saying things like “Oh, right, okay. I
get it, but what about this?” and keep
asking more questions which hopefully
you can of course answer to their
satisfaction, then it’s a good indication
they are interested.
Any presenting tips that you can
give?
Well, you’ve got to have the right pitch
and tone and present yourself well
and get it across and be yourself really,
because there’s no point pretending
you’re something else.
I read somewhere that the Netscape
founders who are both billionaires now,
and invest in all sorts of stuff, didn’t
invest in anyone who came into their
offices to pitch to them wearing a suit.
Anything else you’d like to share
with our readers who are investors?
I’ve done lots of structured
investment. So the thing about investing
is, investing is really easy, you write
cheques. Getting out is the tricky bit,
so it’s structuring your investments to
increase the likelihood of you exiting.
Now, if a company’s a flyer and it goes
from zero to be worth 50 million, you’re
going to float on the stock market or
somebody’s going to buy it. I’ve got it,
it’s fine. If your business just becomes a
lifestyle company for the entrepreneur,
how do you actually get out? And you
can sit there and get dividends forever
and people are happy with dividends,
but for me it’s different. I’m kind of
more grow big, go home. I’m not
interested in dividends. I want to build
a business from nothing to 100 million
so I then get my share of the spoils.
So really it’s about structure debt and
equities. Just think about it. Now, what
drives vanilla structures these days,
especially equity, is the tax structures
like Enterprise Investment Scheme. So
Enterprise Investment Scheme, you
might have heard of EIS; it’s got to
be a very vanilla ordinary share and
if you accept that, that’s fine, you get
30% back off your tax bill, off your
investment from the tax man and you
get some loss relief if it all goes horribly
wrong. That’s fine, but if you think you
don’t need the loss relief, it’s a flyer,
sometimes you might want to give
up the tax advantages for a structural
advantage.
I suppose people don’t think about
exit strategies enough?
Investors think about, if I get an EIS,
I get 30% off which is good, because
that reduced my entry price and if it
all goes wrong then I’ll get 50% back
off. So that’s pretty good actually, but
you’re only thinking about the downside
protection there, not the up-side.
If you don’t believe in the up-side, you
probably shouldn’t make an investment,
but it’s nice to have.
Also, people tend to invest debt
equity. You don’t think about investing
across the capital structure, so it could
be debt equity mezzanine, just think of
it that way.
Any other advice for budding
entrepreneurs, people who’ve got
an idea and they now want to try
and make a business out of it, make
it grow and start trying to secure
investment?
Get out there and do something
about it!
Is youth a barrier? Can they
start quite young and still be
taken seriously enough to secure
investment?
I’m not a massive believer in walking
out of school at sixteen and trying
38

to create a business. I think that’s
extremely, extremely risky strategy. I
think the ones you read about, they
are out there, but they’re quite few
and far between. Most people who
start businesses, and especially the
vast majority of people that attract
institutional money from venture
capital funds, for example, have
gained experience or skill in a career
or a job, or somewhere, and they’ve
leveraged that and used it and either
improved upon it or used that to start
a business, or a lot of entrepreneurs
are management buy-outs. They buy
out their boss… they think they can do
a better job.
That’s another thing, you don’t need
to start a business from scratch. You
can buy a business, cheaply, that’s
maybe struggling that has something,
a customer base or, whatever…
something of use to you and
restructure it and re-invent it. There’s
a lot less risk in doing that sometimes.
So, say, if they’ve already got an
established marketplace and an
established product…
Yes, it doesn’t have to be huge, it can
be a very small local business, but it
just gives you something to work with.
Although with technology sometimes
you’re better off starting from scratch
because technology changes so quickly
but even then that’s not always the
case.
Finally what do you do to relax,
and how do you manage to balance
your work and personal life??
My businesses are bigger now,
so I’ve got more support, but when
you’re starting out, to find that balance
between the stress and the strain of
building a business and your personal
life, family life and seeing your friends
is something you need to get right.
I’m quite lucky I can... I work all hours
God sends, but if I want to I can take
that time out, and I’ve got a support
structure to do that, but I cycle. I
do personal training and downhill
mountain biking, so riding down
mountains faces on big bikes with body
armour.
That cycling hardly sounds stressbusting.
Hah – it’s actually bone-busting, as
my business partner found out - he
broke his collar bone a few weeks ago!
Piers Linney, Co-CEO of world-leading
Cloud Service Provider Outsourcery
plc, is a pioneering serial entrepreneur
with a blue chip background in venture
capital law, corporate finance and fund
management. Since the day he cut out
his local newsagent by going direct to the
wholesaler to start his own paper round at
just thirteen years old, which was his first
business sale at sixteen,
Piers has had a wide-ranging career
working across a wide breadth of
businesses in the technology, media and
communications sectors. He’s always
been inspired by the disruptive power of
technology and the internet, has an interest
in the development of scalable social
businesses and he firmly believes that
business can be a force for good alongside
the public and third sectors. Piers knows
what it takes to overcome barriers to entry
in education, business and a variety of
top flight careers. He attended his local
comprehensive in a small Lancashire mill
town after despite failing his 11+ he went
on to qualify as a solicitor in the City and
become an investment banker specialising
in corporate finance and mergers and
acquisitions at the global bank, Credit
Suisse.
Piers has a high profile presence in the
media having featured on Channel 4’s The
Secret Millionaire in 2011 where he spent
time in a Young Offenders’ Institution and
subsequently employed a young offender
he met during filming. He is currently best
known as one of the Dragons on the BBC2’s
Dragons’ Den, where he exercises his
keen eye for innovation to invest in a wide
variety of early stage ventures.
He was named on the Thomson
Reuters sponsored Powerlist 2014 as
one of the top 100 most influential black
Britons and was a founding trustee of
the Powerlist foundation, which seek to
identify tomorrow’s leaders irrespective
of their race, gender, faith or ethnicity. In
June 2014, The Department for Education
announced that the Powerlist Foundation’s
bid to establish the Powerlist Leadership
College in central London had been
successful. Piers is a trustee of NESTA, the
leading innovation charity with a £350m
endowment, works with Virgin Unite and
is Patron of mental health charity ACCI .
Piers is now focused on applying his profile,
experience, resources and networks to
establish workinsight.org as a national
digital platform.
Piers is also founder and trustee of
the charity Workinsight.org which aims
to provide a window into careers and the
work place to empower young people,
what ever their background, to make better
informed decisions about their future.
Students will be able to undertake multiple
insights into the world of work and receive
certificates to include with college or work
applications, adding real value to their
career journey. The charity is currently
working on a pilot before they design and
build the digital platform and are looking
for a small number of employers as well as
schools and colleges to take part. www.
workinsight.org

MAKE IT DREAMCHASER
HOW TO BECOME
A SUCCESSFUL
FREELANCER
Hayley Conick , UK Country Manager for the world’s largest online
workplace Elance-oDesk freelancers to enable them to scale up when
extra resources and specialist skills are required.

According to the PCG, the number of people
freelancing in the EU has risen by an impressive
45% in the past two years alone. It is increasingly
becoming a chosen career path for many skilled
workers in the UK. In fact, according to research we
conducted last year, 87% of students with First or 2.1
degrees now see freelancing as a highly attractive
and lucrative career option. At the same time
more and more businesses are turning to skilled
freelancers to enable them to scale up when extra
resources and specialist skills are required.
For those with the talent, grit and determination
to succeed, freelancing can open up a world of
opportunity – not to mention a more independent
and flexible life. Here are Hayley’s top tips on how to
make freelancing work for you:
1. Ask yourself the number one question…is
freelancing for me?
With freelancing you are your own boss: there is no
one to tell you to get out of bed and turn up on time.
To be truly successful as a freelancer you must be
a self-starter, be highly motivated and have a huge
passion for what you do.
You should also be a life-long learner – we live in
fast-moving times with skill demands in constant flux.
To stay relevant, successful freelancers constantly
evaluate what the market needs and update their
skills accordingly.

MAKE IT
FREELANCE
“FREELANCERS NEED TO CONSTANTLY
EVALUATE WHAT THE MARKET NEEDS
AND KEEP THEIR SKILLS UP TO DATE
ACCORDINGLY.”
“BUSINESSES ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO
TRUST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER
BUSINESSES THAN ANYTHING ELSE.”
2. Develop a personal brand
The top freelance jobs are competitive. Businesses
want to know what value you can add; whether you
can meet deadlines, how easy you are to work with.
Your personal brand is your most valuable asset
and needs careful cultivation - after all these days,
you are who Google says you are. Make sure that
your CV, your online profile and your social media
channels highlight not just your skills and experience
but showcase your portfolio. On Elance-oDesk, we
encourage all freelancers to upload examples of
previous work onto their online profiles – remember
the old cliché that a picture is worth a thousand
words.
Online workplaces also allow you to build a record
of actual work results and showcase feedback from
past projects. All of this will give you a solid, proven
reputation and help you to secure new projects.
3. Check out your competition
With more and more people choosing to freelance,
as I said above, competition can be fierce - over 8
million freelancers are signed up to Elance-oDesk
around the world. This isn’t a bad thing - your
competitors can actually be a great source of
information. Look at how they’re pitching themselves,
what work they’re doing, how much they’re charging.
By developing an understanding of your competitors
you can figure out how best to position yourself in
the freelance market.
4. Clearly identify your skills
Businesses are looking for freelancers with specific
skills, so lay these out clearly from the beginning. The
more you can narrow down your skill set to what you
are truly best at, the more successful you are likely to
be. When hiring a freelancer, businesses often have
a very specific project in mind so they are generally
looking for a niche specialist – not a ‘jack of all trades,
master of none’.
5. Create unique project pitches
With over 2 million savvy businesses on ElanceoDesk,
they can spot a “copy-and-paste” proposal a
mile off. Make sure that your pitches are targeted
specifically to the job post for which you’re applying:
show interest in the project and address its key
points and challenges. Engage with the business by
asking questions: it’s a great way to invite a two-way
dialogue and really demonstrate that you’ve put
some consideration into what the project requires.
6. Make the most of global connectivity
Web-based programmes like Google Docs, Skype
and Dropbox mean that you can connect and
work with businesses all over the world from the
comfort of your own home. Take advantage of this
and you can open a world of new opportunities. Be
aware that different businesses will favour different
communication methods, so be prepared to use
them all whether that’s phone calls, emails, Skype
chats or Google hangouts: being adaptable and
responsive to your client’s preferences is key.
7. Join the PCG
The PCG is the trade association working for the
interests of freelancers. It’s a great place to go for
advice and assistance as well as swotting up on the
rules and regulations set by the government. The
PCG is also behind National Freelancer Day which will
enter it’s sixth year in November.
8. Be a Business of One
Being a freelancer means you are not just the boss,
you’re also the finance team, the HR team and the
administrative team – and the Head of Marketing!
Luckily there are fantastic online tools available to
help you along the way. For example, check out
online accounting packages like FreeAgent and
Crunch to take the pain out of managing your money
right from the start. For marketing campaigns,
Constant Contact have some great tools to make
your life easier.
42

9. Plan your time and your future effectively
Allow yourself time each week to map out the
number of hours you need to spend on each project
on a weekly or daily basis. Work backwards from
deadlines to ensure you’re leaving enough time to
meet them. You also need to keep an eye on what’s
next – don’t wait until a project is completed to try
to find the next one but instead dedicate time each
week to pitch for new work. Think of yourself as a
business: have a plan, set yourself goals and come
back to them to see what you have achieved. It’s
great for motivation and will give you real purpose
and drive.
10. Be honest and manage expectations
This is simple: never pitch for work you can’t
complete and don’t make promises to businesses
that you can’t keep. In the beginning you’re trying
to impress and as a result, over-promising to win
work is very common. Being realistic will serve you
better in the long-term - businesses value honesty
and reliability. Experienced freelancers know when
to push back when a client is demanding something
that isn’t achievable. Remember, businesses may set
milestones that once achieved will release payment.
Make sure you meet these milestones or you simply
won’t get paid.
11. Ask for feedback
I can’t stress enough the value of feedback from
businesses you have worked with. On Elance-oDesk
we’ve made it easy for businesses to leave detailed
feedback on each project. It’s a great indicator of how
you’re performing and also makes a brilliant addition
to any materials you send to prospective clients in
the future. Businesses are more likely to trust the
recommendations of other businesses than anything
else – you can give yourself a big competitive
advantage this way.
12. Get out of the house!
When you work from home it’s easy to get stuck
behind your desk at all hours of the day. Give
yourself time to switch off, not only in the evenings
but during the day too. Go out for a quick walk, have
a cup of tea, whatever it takes to give yourself a
break. It will clear your head and allow you to focus
on the task in hand. If you miss having other people
around why not use a local co-working space? In
London, Club Workspace have great locations across
the city – or elsewhere in the country try NearDesk
to find the best spot for you locally. Not only will
you always have like-minded people to chat with
during your coffee break but you’ll meet some great
business contacts too.
And finally….remember to
13. Enjoy it!
Many freelancers say that the best thing about
freelancing is doing what you love, on your own
terms. Taking the plunge can be a little nervewracking
but if you’re good at what you do and you
manage your projects well it could also be the most
rewarding thing you’ve ever done.
How rigidly do you think players stick to their health
regimes?
43

MAKE IT
INTERVIEW
FROM BRAINWAVE
TO BUSINESS
- WHAT TO
CONSIDER BEFORE
CONCEPTION
Xenios Thrasyvoulou http://www.peopleperhour.com/
Starting a new business is like beginning a new
journey. You have to have your route mapped,
your itinerary planned and your bag wisely packed.
But it isn’t as easy as just setting off. You need to
be prepared, lay your foundations and make sure
your project has all the qualities of a keeper before
you start out. When I created PeoplePerHour, it was
a completely new idea, but not all enterprises are
brand new so by putting your product on the market,
you’re not only on a journey... You’ve entered a race.
So make sure you’ve considered these 5 steps before
jumping in, and you’ll ensure you finish in pole
position, and in one powerful piece.
1. Quality - A common misconception of a motive is
that ‘ideas are cheap, it’s all about execution’. It’s not.
Even the best execution of an average idea will get
you nowhere. A brand new concept that’s radically
different is the only way to ensure success. So make
sure you’ve got an unbeatable, quality product to
begin with and you’ll give yourself a head start.
2. Know Your Competitors - It’s not enough to
have the bare bones, you have to have something
full bodied and outstanding, and the best way to
make sure you’re in the money is to know your
competition. Entrepreneurs are well known for
being able to make their idea sound fantastic, we’re
passionate people. But consider your competitors
and make sure your offering outstrips theirs by not
just 10%, but tenfold, and you’ll win the race.
3. Be Realistic - Most businesses began as a
hobby, but then evolved to offer a real solution to
customers, but that’s not the best way to build a
business.The best businesses are those that solve
a problem in a radically different way that creates
step change and disrupts whole industries. If you’re
not at the wheel of a clear winner, then pull over and
rethink, or you’ll find yourself lagging behind.
4. Stand Out - Be the Next Big Thing. Make sure
your product/service stands out, and makes your
customers want to rush home and start raving to
their friends/family about this fantastic new thing
they’ve found! If you’re just marginally better, no one
is going to care. People remember the extremes...
They like to talk about things that are amazing or
things that are awful. Mediocrity doesn’t exactly
make great dinner conversation.
5. Shelf Life - Does Your Product Have Longevity?
Even if you can successfully win that customer base,
say you cracked something others didn’t. Is a 10-20%
value add enough to keep bringing them back? And
for how long before someone comes up behind you
with a product that beats yours? Marginally better
isn’t going to keep the engine running.
It’s a tough track to take, but setting off needn’t be
nerve-racking. Just pack your product wisely, fill up
with the finest ideas and you’ll finish in first place.

“ENTREPRENEURS
ARE WELL KNOWN
FOR BEING ABLE TO
MAKE THIER IDEA
SOUND FANTASTIC,
WE’RE PASSIONATE
PEOPLE”

INVEST IT
PROTECTING YOUR
WEALTH
Jamie Perkins, Partner at Westminster Wealth Management
www.westminster-wealth.com
There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of
your hard earned money, but there are right ways
and wrong ways of doing this, particularly in the eyes
of HMRC. Several celebrities have appeared in the
news recently because they have invested in suspect
schemes that are deliberately designed to avoid tax, yet
there are other Government-authorised ways to invest
in a tax efficient manner which won’t trigger the ire of
HMRC.
Our research at Westminster Wealth Management
suggests that there are business models, structures
and portfolio approaches that allow investors to
moderate (or exaggerate if appropriate) the risks
associated with tax efficient investments in order to
take advantage of the tax benefits within their portfolio
and overall financial planning.
Tax efficient investing can take a number of forms with
the most popular government authorised products for
this type of investing being Seed Enterprise Investment
Schemes (SEIS), Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS)
or Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) all of which invest in
smaller companies. Each of these structures offer tax
based incentives to offset the potential failure rate of
smaller companies that is much higher than traditional
investment in stock market listed firms. This legislation
around EIS, VCT and now SEIS is designed to even that
playing field a little to encourage investment at the
grass roots of the economy - but it does not remove
the risks associated.
At present SEIS in particular - with its combination of
50% income tax relief with the potential to mitigate
capital gains tax - is a highly attractive tax-advantaged
structure.
SEIS investments were introduced in April 2012
to encourage investment in new, small start-up
companies with less than 25 employees. Too few
high net worth investors understand how important
SEIS can be to a portfolio. In November the Treasury
revealed that over 1,100 companies had raised money
through the SEIS, with the average amount raised
being £72,000 per company, which is less than half the
maximum £150,000 permitted.
The maximum amount a company can raise is
£150,000 in total (this is not an annual threshold) and
the number of companies that are fit for investment is
limited, so investors should not wait until the end of the
tax year to use any SEIS allowance because the best
companies for investment may have already reached
their threshold. The main benefits of SEIS are:
• 50% income tax relief on investments up to
£100,000 per tax year (limited to an amount equal
to the investor’s income tax liability).
• Investment can be used for income in the current
or previous or both tax years offering a maximum
investment of £200,000 in the current tax year.
• 50% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reinvestment relief
against capital gains realised in the current or
previous tax year (i.e. a reduction in the CGT rate
from 28% to 14%).
• No CGT payable on gains realised on the disposal
of the investment.
• Ability to offset any capital losses realised against
other income or gains, potentially reducing capital at
risk to 13.5% of the amount invested.
• 100% inheritance tax relief for investments held
for more than two years, or immediately if the
investment qualifies as replacement property.
Investments in smaller companies offer greater risk of
capital loss than many other types of investments.That
is why these five key points are important for investors
to consider as a first step toward investing in this
frequently misunderstood area of tax efficient personal
finance.
46

1. Ask ‘Is it right for me?’
Rather than plunging in at the deep end, ensure that the
bedrock of good financial planning is in place first, especially
financial protection, ISAs and pension. The traditional
investment of stocks, bonds and cash can provide most
investors with satisfactory investment returns over time
and it will usually be affluent and institutional investors
who invest in such areas as they provide an additional
diversification and tax benefits.
2. Ensure you allocate an
appropriate amount
It is very important to have a full risk profile conducted
to ascertain how much risk you should accept in your
investment portfolio. Tax efficient investments can form a
crucial part of an investment portfolio and help alleviate the
tax burden, but they come with risk that won’t be acceptable
to everyone. Make a financial plan and understand your
own aims and limitations first.
3. Don’t risk your pension pot
4. Don’t allow tax concerns to
drive your decisions
Tax efficient investing is merely a means to an end. It is
a way to achieve your overall investment objectives and
long-term goals. The tax benefits may look attractive but the
underlying investment strategy is the key element.
5. Conduct extensive research or
take expert advice
In other words ‘look before your leap.’ You would not
buy a house without viewing, research and professional
advice and you should not invest without examining the
nature of the stock or funds in which you are investing. If
you are unsure, and most people should be, speak to an
independent financial planner with expertise in tax efficient
investments to help you find the best opportunities.
Tax efficient investing can be a very important part of
financial planning for the right client but anyone who
wants to invest in this way, or who wishes to review existing
alternative investments already in their portfolio, really
should speak to a specialist in this area so a full assessment
of the client scenario and risks involved can be conducted.
Too often investors see their pension as ‘binocular money’.
In other words, access to it seems a long way off and so they
feel able to play ‘fast and loose’ with it. This tends to lead to
investing in inappropriate or high risk schemes that can wipe
out a pension pot. Treat your pension fund in the same way
as a long term investment portfolio.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jamie is a partner at Westminster Wealth
Management LLP with overall responsibility for
the research, due diligence and advice on our tax
efficient investments. He started advising clients
in 1997 and began specialising in tax efficient
investment advice in 2004. Jamie has always taken
a long term view with clients and covers all areas of
their financial planning. The majority of Jamie’s clients
are high net worth individuals from a diverse range
of backgrounds.
Outside of work Jamie lives with his wife in
Hertfordshire and enjoys playing hockey and
spending time in the mountains skiing and
snowboarding. Jamie enjoys exploring new
restaurants in search of great food and fine wines.
Westminster Wealth Management LLP is a
privately owned independent financial advisory
group based in Central London, providing expert
financial advice to both UK and overseas high net
worth clients as well as companies, trusts and
charities.
T: 020 7400 5860
E: info@westminster-wealth.com
47

BIG CHANGES: HOW
SOCIAL MEDIA IS
SET TO CHANGE
THE FUTURE OF FX
TRADING
Social trading is big business. The industry has seen huge
growth since 2010, with the release of numerous new platforms.
This explosive demand from retail forex traders has in turn
contributed to a level of technological innovation that has
benefitted the whole trading community.

INVEST IT
TRADE IT
That’s where social trading and mobile
trading apps stepped in. The developments
in financial technology made by FX brokers
have helped to advance social trading. In this
way, FX trading and social platforms provide
the perfect marriage; the fluidity inherent in
the FX market has proved a natural match
with the real-time, responsive nature of social
trading.
TopTradr is such an app, looking to disrupt
traditional trading in a simple yet powerful
way. At its core, TopTradr allows traders to
follow the top performance, start a trend,
share tips and learn from each other in a
transparent way, linking to both Twitter and
Facebook. TopTradr is an evolution of the
social trading idea; made distinctive by is its
superior ability to evaluate the successfulness
of trades, combined with the confidence they
have in their users. The algorithm identifies
your abilities, captures your performance,
calculates your score and gives you a rank.
The result is that it creates a leaderboard.
The concept is simple. Those that continue
to make profitable trades will steadily
gain points and rise in the rankings. If you
manage to squeeze your way into the top
ten then you could stand to win a substantial
premium: in addition to the $1,500 reward
for the top position, they back the winner
with their own capital. The big winners are
given their own respective hedge funds to
manage, with a total of $3,750 to get them
started.
When social trading first launched, some
people expressed doubts about encouraging
individuals to ‘follow’ each other to share
thoughts and ideas, especially with the moral
hazards
involved. However, it proved to be rather
the opposite as retail traders all of a sudden
has been given access to more educational
materials, which ultimately have increased
their opportunity to make a profit.
By including social media, TopTradr
is encouraging open communications
between traders with the aim of creating
more responsible and consistent traders.
This is all based on the fact that on some
platforms, you can risk everything, get a
ridiculously lucky trade and shoot to the
top of the leaderboard in the nick of time.
49

INVEST IT
TRADE IT
That’s great and it’s how you’d win a contest, but
you wouldn’t do that with real money. Instead,
TopTradr aims to set up as many realistic
barriers as possible.
With a leaderboard based on our TopTradr
score favouring performance, risk responsible
and consistent trading, the aim is to create more
than just a social trading network but to also
discover talent, the X-Factor of Forex.
Therefore, this is a model that simply has
nothing in common with copy trading as it does
not solicit novices to blindly copy “guru” traders
but aim to discover risk responsible traders,
highlight their trading activity to the community
for educational purposes and finally invest
institutional capital behind those trading talents.
Moreover, by providing traders with a new
kind of interaction tool, this has given them the
ability to follow far more sophisticated, or even
professional traders, and gain information and
insight to help them with their trades. By using
social trading networks, traders can quickly get
feedback on the trades they are making. For
example, if people are starting to ‘like’ a trade,
the trader can tell that they are on the right track
with their activity. This kind of reassurance can
be extremely important, especially for beginners.
Copy my trades – friend or foe?
One of the reasons why copy trading has
become so popular is the belief that, at a novice
or retail level, it helps overcome the barriers to
successful trading. The premise is that everyone
benefits if the copied trade is successful, which
is unfortunately far from reality, as it is often
only the copied trader who gains. There is also
a clear issue of reliability, how do you know that
the ‘guru’ you are copying has a much better
knowledge of the markets than you do? Without
independent verification, it’s impossible to tell,
resulting in the danger of users blindly following
other traders’ strategies rather than forming
their own decisions.
With the majority of social trading
platforms basing their model on copy trading,
TopTradr has chosen a different route.
Francois Nembrini, co-founder of TopTradr
commented: “As a quality trading network, our
audience enjoys the challenge of following and
executing their own strategies and ideas. Simply
put, we want our social trading platform to be a
tool for traders to challenge their trading ideas.
You will learn nothing by having people copy you
and learn even less if you are copying others.”
“Our aim is to discover traders that can
become professionals and can manage
institutional money. We try those traders on our
own capital to build a track record for them in
a pro-environment. Since our capital is at risk,
it only makes sense for us to focus on building
a community of risk responsible traders who
understand the trades they initiate. This is not
an easy road and our marketing message does
not resonate as well as “copy trading stars with
fantastic monthly performances”. We however
believe that our approach is more responsible
and more profitable long term and will also
hopefully help novice traders understand how
professionals look at the markets.”
“What’s needed is an incentive to improve
trading knowledge in the first place and for
the right reasons, something that TopTradr is
aiming to provide to new traders, by scoring
and rewarding them financially when they
make consistently smart, low-risk and high yield
trades, Francois adds.”

What’s next?
Technology has always played the role of
a disruptive force that somehow connects,
discontinuities and changes business
models, ecosystems or even the world order.
Paradoxically, it has sometimes even created a
level playing field.
The trading industry as a whole has been
disrupted massively over the last 20 years.
However, the biggest changes have been
particularly accelerated in the past five years
with the introduction of advanced data
platforms, algorithm trading, sourcing platforms,
social media and new and innovative Fin-tech
platforms. As we see the world of online trading
gaining traction and algorithm trading becoming
more accessible than ever before, we see
fantastic new platforms creating new value for
traders and investors.
It is safe to say that social trading is important
in the way it provides retail traders, whether
experienced or not, with access to more
educational materials. This also increases their
opportunities to make a profit as well as allowing
them to interact with other traders around the
world, which very much lies at the heart of social
trading.
In the way that the Internet broke the first
barrier of individuals entering forex trading,
social media is breaking down the second with
the gap between the large institutions and
individual traders being filled with knowledge,
and advice being shared through multiple social
channels.
For now, social trading networks present a
very interesting opportunity. But to play the
game correctly, it is crucial to appreciate that
these are active online communities and to get
the best out of it, you will have to participate; it is
no good just watching from the sidelines.
51

INVEST IT
DEVELOPING
‘BRAND YOU’
Ann Pickering, HR Director, Telefónica UK
Creating a powerful brand identity is paramount
to all businesses, and is widely recognised as a
valuable commercial asset. And yet, one thing
that often strikes me is how few businesspeople
consciously apply this logic to their own careers
by developing a recognisable personal brand, or
‘brand you.’
While ‘brand you’ seems like a strange concept,
it’s actually incredibly important. It affects how
people perceive you professionally. Having and
projecting a strong personal brand can not only
give you greater confidence, but can open up
more opportunities at work and have important
business benefits too. These could include more
productive teams, more effective relationships
with clients and improved customer service.
Having a clearly defined personal brand also
helps you make that all important first impression
– formed within seven seconds of meeting.
Research has shown that it can take as many as
20 further interactions to change someone’s first
opinion of you so it’s vital that you make every
second count.
So, how do you go about creating your own
personal brand?
Firstly, it’s important to identify what makes
up your personal brand. Assess everything from
style, body language and tone of voice, to how
you communicate on email or by phone. They
may seem worlds apart but what is the one thing
that successful women like Clare Balding, Victoria
Beckham or Deborah Meaden have in common?
All three have strong personal identities and have
worked hard to get them. Even the Iron Lady,
Margaret Thatcher, wasn’t afraid to seek extra
help to refine her brand, famously employing a
vocal coach to lower the pitch of her voice and
subsequently progressing from Cabinet Member
to Prime Minister.
Next decide exactly what it is you want people
to know about you. A good place to start is to
think about why someone would want you in their
team. Ask yourself key questions including: What
are my values? What motivates me? What are my
key skills, strengths and achievements? What can I
bring to a team?
When constructing your personal brand, it’s
essential to focus on the areas in which your key
strengths lie. Once you have identified these, build
on and make the most of them by seeking out
opportunities to demonstrate your skills – whether
it means putting yourself forward for a specific role
on a project or working with someone who brings
out your strengths.
Focus on the things that make you different –
what makes you, you? Concentrate on the positives
on both a personal as well as a professional level.
Consider the way you react in everyday situations
– so whether it’s the way you manage people, how
you deal with stressful situations, your creativity, or
the way you think and process information. Write
your answers down so you have a clearly defined
set of objectives.
Finally, critique it. Look back at what you’ve
written and be ruthless. Remove any irrelevant
or unnecessary detail and make sure that you’re
using simple, impactful language - no jargon. Once
you’re happy, seek feedback from others. Ask
friends or family, or if you’re comfortable, other

colleagues. It’s important to ask people who
will be honest.
Once you have identified what makes up
your brand identity, you need to put it into
1) Plan - What do you want to achieve with
your personal brand? It may be linked to
a specific project or meeting. You need to
consider what you want the outcome to
be, what you want people to remember
about you, then think about how you go
about doing this.
2) Social Media – Use media such as
LinkedIn (to join groups, participate, set up
a group if there isn’t one already). Make
connections with new people and build
your network of influence.
3) Mentor – Who do you admire for their
personal brand? Could they mentor you
to help you build your brand, without
becoming a replica of theirs?
4) Keep it fresh – It’s important that you
keep reviewing your brand at regular
intervals. Are you portraying yourself the
way you want to, consistently? Are you
achieving your goals?
5) What are your expertise? What skills/
knowledge do you want to be known
for? Keep ahead of the game and do
your research (this needs to be balanced
though, you don’t want to be known for
just one thing to the exclusion of others).
At Telefónica, we’ve been running Personal
Brand sessions for employees right across the
business, from apprentices to those in more
senior positions. The response has been really
positive. I know from my own experience that
regardless of your role or the stage of your career,
the way you project yourself at work will go a long
way to getting you noticed for all the right things -
your ability.
53

INVEST IT
ART
INVESTING IN
CHINESE ART

ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR talked to Fred Weijgertse,
Managing Director of Crown Fine Art - the world’s first integrated
international fine art logistics company, about the growth in the
Chinese art market and what it means for global collectors.
Why has interest in the art market grown in China?
Political change has certainly helped. For instance
new regulations allowing the sale of art, wine
and collectibles within virtual free-trade zones,
has boosted the market. It means buyers at
auction can avoid customs duty of six per cent
and VAT of 17 per cent – and has led to both
Christie’s and Sotheby’s establishing bases in
mainland China.
Improved global transport, increased global cooperation
between galleries and the rise of the online market has had an
impact, too. But the growth of the Chinese economy and with it
the increase in the disposal income of its residents is probably
the key. There has always been an interest in western art in
China but only now can people seriously considering owning it.
Art is becoming more accessible within China too - construction
is booming in China’s second-tier cities, with 200 commercial
galleries with new art spaces opening every week.
So what are the big centres for art in China?
The hot spots are Beijing and Shanghai on the mainland, and of
course Hong Kong which has always been a thriving art market.
Beijing, as the capital of China, has more than 100 museums,
including the Museum of Contemporary Art, and features the
thriving 798 Art Zone (a hub for modern art and artists). It is fast
becoming a major force in the international art market.
As for Shanghai, it has the largest population of any city in China
and that says it all. Traditional Chinese art and contemporary art
are both widely represented, which is interesting for the western
market as young artists working in Shanghai combine Chinese
tradition with western views on art.
Shanghai Art Fair is one of the world’s most respected, while the
Shanghai Museum hosts temporary exhibitions in collaboration
with some of the most important collections in the world, such
as the Kremlin Museum, the Hermitage, the British Museum and
the Rijksmuseum. It is not to be underestimated.
Hong Kong has always been the gateway to art in China and is
possibly the world’s largest art and antique market. Being a free
port with no limits on imported art – and no sales tax – gives
Hong Kong a strong position.
Sundaram Tagore was the first artist to set up an international
art gallery there in 2008 and growth since then has been
immense. Art HK, the contemporary arts fair now run by Art
Basel, has grown from 19,000 attendees and 100 galleries in
2008 to 67,000 visitors and 266 galleries last year. Big names
such as London’s White Cube and New York’s Gagosian are
there. Importantly the government’s Leisure and Cultural
Services Department subsidises and sponsors international
performers brought to Hong Kong and that drives the market
too.
Which are the main art fairs to look out for?
Shanghai Art Fair, as I mentioned, is an important one, Art
Beijing, Art HK too. Probably the next one for collectors is the
Fine Art Asia Fair in Wanchai, Hong Kong, on October 4.
What genres and artists interest the Chinese market most?
In the domestic Chinese market, the rarity of traditional
calligraphy and paintings mean that these are prized by Chinese
collectors as safe investments. Contemporary ink, using
traditional techniques and materials, is also a major trend to
watch; and there remains a strong interest in traditional crafts,
like lacquer ware and cloisonné (a type of metalwork) too.
The pace of change in China, and in the art market, has been
phenomenal though and it will be interesting to see where it
leads. The pace of growth has slowed over the last year but
nevertheless there is a clear movement towards interest in
western as well as Chinese art. Post 1900s modern and in
particular contemporary art is favoured – along with jewellery
and some Impressionist art - and is driving growth. With more
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INVEST IT ART
Why Watch the Chinese Art Market
• The latest TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation) Art Market
Report showed that China is the second most important art market in
the world, with a 24% share of the worldwide market and a turnover of
€11.5bn in 2013. In 2007 it held just a seven per cent share.
• The art market has never been more international with international
art and antiques exports rising 25 per cent to an all-time high of €18bn
in 2013.
• Online sales are growing rapidly too. TEFAF estimates that online
sales within the art market could top €10bn by 2020.
• 75% of China’s high net worth individuals expect to be richer in five
years’ time
• Christie’s held its first auction in Shanghai last year and achieved sales
of USD 25m. Sotheby’s first Chinese mainland auction, in Beijing, raised
USD 37m and included the record USD 14.7m sale of Zao Wou-Ki’s oilon-canvas
painting ‘Abstraction’.
than one billion residents, a burgeoning appetite for
art and western culture, China clearly has immense
buying power. So the impact on the art world cannot
be over-estimated. But I would also offer a word of
caution because Chinese tastes can fluctuate, so the
market should be watched closely.
Are there are any quirky ways in which Chinese
tastes are affecting the market?
Chinese interest in contemporary art is pushing
prices, for sure. Additionally, Sotheby’s has reported
that paintings featuring the colour red commanded
a premium at its auctions last year. This is driven
in part by the powerful, emotive properties of the
colour but increasingly because it is considered
lucky by the Chinese. It is certainly something worth
remembering for collectors!
Has China’s interest in art resulted in a new artist
community in the region? Should we be looking out
for up and coming Chinese artists as well as looking
to deal with Chinese collectors?
Chinese culture has transformed – from extreme
left-wing politics to the current situation where
freedom of expression is now possible. This radical
shift has nurtured a new generation of Chinese
artists who have grown up against a backdrop of
China’s metamorphosis into an industrial nation
which leads the world stage in economic growth and
consumerism.
Zhao Yao’s work has struck a chord in the west; his
first solo exhibition in the UK was a success in 2013.
Artists such as Wang Guangle, Li Shurui and Zhang
Xiaogang are worth exploring too, while Ai Weiwei
and Cao already have a high profile in the west. Work
by Chinese 20th Century artists Huang Zhou, Zao
Wou-Ki and Zhang Dagian continue to sell well. In
fact the latter was only out-sold by Andy Warhol and
Pablo Picasso in 2013 in terms of auction revenue.
More recently, Shin Meekyoung’s modern twist on
ancient Chinese pottery proved popular at this year’s
Start Art exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
What kind of work has Crown Fine Art
undertaken in China?
An important project for us was a Fine Arts &
Calligraphy exhibition to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic
of China.
It was a privilege to be asked to co-ordinate it for
the Beijing Military Museum of the Chinese People’s
Revolution – exhibiting in both Macau and Hong
Kong. There were 216 artworks in all, including
sculptures, calligraphy, oil paintings, engravings,
water colour and traditional Chinese ink paintings
Any more difficult or unusual jobs?
Installing art at the world’s tallest hotel, the Ritz-
Carlton in Hong Kong, was a challenge and required
a head for heights! The hotel has 118 floors and
is 1,640 feet tall. We installed more than 1,100
artworks, shipped from all over the world, in the
56

lobby, restaurants, ballrooms and in 350 suites. The
job took more than 50 days to complete.
So what are the complications in doing business with
China and what did it take to get a foothold there?
We have an excellent relationship with clients in
China over a long period. But it’s a market that
requires a lot of work in terms of building contacts
and respect. The rules can change a lot and it takes
perseverance. The Chinese place a lot of emphasis
on trust and once they trust you it could be the start
of a long working relationship.
Are some galleries and collectors still wary of
interacting with the Chinese market?
Perhaps. Things are gradually improving but China is
finding it difficult to shake of its historical reputation
for late payments at auctions and inconsistencies in
deliveries. But our global network and standardised
service has been a major factor in our growth in
the Far East as we have been able to offer Western
companies peace of mind when dealing with China.
As China embraces the international art market the
situation will necessarily change as it will need to
adopt standards and service ethos in line with the
expectations of global collectors in order to compete.
The will is certainly there to deal with them. The
recent visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to London,
where he met the Queen and Prime Minister David
Cameron, underlines a desire in the UK in particular
to do business with China - and the art world is no
different.
When you consider Wang Jianlin, China’s wealthiest
individual, bought a $28m Picasso at auction at
Christie’s in New York last year, it is a market that
cannot be ignored.
57

INVEST IT
DIVERSIFY YOUR
PORTFOLIO AND
INVEST IN GOLD
SOVEREIGNS
Any investment portfolio should be diverse and as part
of that diversification you would be well advised to invest
in gold. Mike Corica from The Bullion Centre, takes you
through the benefits of gold investment, with a particular
focus on the most flexible form of gold investment,
Sovereigns.
Gold is a safe haven investment,
a way of protecting your wealth
in uncertain times and a hedge
against inflation but, with so many
different ways to buy gold which is
the best option?
You could buy shares in a gold
mining company but these will
be affected by the company’s
performance in extracting the gold as well as the
underlying gold price. There always exchangetraded
funds (ETF’S) a paper version where you
never actually take physical delivery of your gold
but, with estimations that the paper gold market
is around 100 times larger than the amount of
physical gold in the world this again comes with
added risk.
The safest way to ensure you have a gold
investment portfolio is to take delivery of gold
bullion bars and coins. You can control what
happens to them, but just like the whole of your
portfolio it is recommended that you have a
diverse gold bullion portfolio.
Flexibility
A general rule of thumb is the larger the bar
you buy the lower the premium you will pay, this
does however limit your flexibility. If you needed to
liquidate part of your investment and you had put
it all in one bar, then you would have to liquidate
all of it.
Instead it is better to have a mix of bars and
coins that will give you the most flexibility to
ensure you can react to any situation you may find
yourself in and one of the best and most flexible
forms of investment is the gold Sovereign.
Collectability
A semi-numismatic coin like the Sovereign is
valued by both gold investors and coin collectors
and as such can trade for much higher premiums
than just the underlying gold value. Obviously
the rarer the coin the higher it is valued, a great
example of this is a 1937 Edward VIII Sovereign,
one of only six, that recently sold at auction for
£516,000 around 2880 time the value of its gold
content on the day.
Whilst it is unlikely that any of us will ever see
a 1937 Edward VIII Sovereign it is still possible to
buy old gold Sovereigns at near bullion prices that
will appreciate in value over time as they become
scarcer. Coins like the King George V or a Queen
Victoria Old Head only cost a few pounds more
than a 2014 Sovereign but, due to their collectible
nature could see greater increases than just its
gold value.
Condition
The condition of a coin will also affect its value
in two ways, the better the condition the higher it
is prized by collectors but, this also goes for gold
investors. A badly worn or damaged coin could
well have lost some of its gold weight and are
therefore worth less to an investor.
Although there is no officially recognised system
for grading Sovereigns in the UK, they are widely
graded in the following terms:-
• Proof – Perfect quality

INVEST IT
• UNC - Uncirculated
• EF- Extra fine
• VF – Very fine
• F - Fine
Getting to understand coin conditions
takes time and won’t necessarily be
something that an investor understands.
The best thing for investors who are
unsure about coin conditions is to buy
from a reputable dealer who will tell you
what condition the coin is in that he is
selling to you.
If you are buying Sovereigns from
private individuals, be wary of older coins
if they are too shiny and the details are
blurred, as this will mean the coin has
been polished to hide a defect and will
most likely have removed some metal
weight. Be sure to check the weight with
a pair of digital scales and avoid anything
below 7.93 grams.
Fakes
The Sovereign is the oldest bullion coin
in existence and it is also the most faked
so, again it pays to be prudent and buy
from sources you can trust.
A few things to look out for when buying
Sovereigns are:-
• Check the date of your Sovereign to see
if there were any minted that year.
• Feel the quality of the surface. A very
smooth surface with sharp edges could be
a sign of a fake.
• Check diameter, depth and weight –
check that these are what they should be.
Look for: Diameter – 22.05mm, Depth –
1.52mm, Weight – 7.98g
Benefits
Other than being a beautiful coin that
is steeped in history the Sovereign comes
with many benefits to the investor. For
starters, like all gold bullion products, they
are VAT free. VAT can sometime apply to
Sovereigns but that only happens when
the coin is being sold for more than 180%
of its intrinsic gold value. So this only really
impacts those buying rare collectible coins.
Another benefit to investors with a
large portfolio is that all Sovereigns post
1837 are considered legal tender and
are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
which could offer a significant tax saving if
liquidating a large amount.
Sovereigns offer an extremely flexible
and liquid investment opportunity with
a coin that is recognised and sought
after across the globe, and can gain in
value ahead of the gold price due to its
collectible nature.
How to Get the Best Value
If you’re not looking for your Sovereigns
to be collectors’ pieces then you have a
better chance of buying them much closer
to the gold price.
Like most thing, the larger volume you
buy in the better discounts people are
prepared to offer you. Be careful however,
not to ask for a large quantity of a specific
year as this will highlight an extra demand
and you could inadvertently push the price
up yourself
If you do want large quantities of a
specific coin then your best bet is to go for
the 2014 Sovereign that can be procured
for you straight from the Royal Mint.
If you are simply looking to take
advantage of the VAT and CGT free
elements of the Sovereign and are
not interested in collectibles then
buying mixed date and lower condition
Sovereigns will offer you the best value for
money.
In summary the gold Sovereign is a form
of investment that offers all the security
of investing in gold bullion along with
fantastic liquidity and flexibility. On top of
that these coins have the potential to offer
additional profits about its gold value due
to its historical and collectible nature.
The Bullion Centre is a company with
many years’ experience of trading in gold
bullion. Not only do they make investing
in gold and silver easy and fantastic value,
but they also want to see their customers
realise their financial goals by offering a
100% of spot buyback promise. Proud
stockists of internationally recognised
products from Bairds & Co, The Royal
Mint, The Canadian Mint and US Mint, The
Bullion Centre also offers mixed Sovereign
packages which are the best value
Sovereigns around.
60

INVEST IT
CRYPTOCURRENC
RISK OR REWARD?
Darren Fell, managing director of
Crunch, the UK’s fastest growing
accountancy, explores the
potential and risks of investing in
Bitcoin.

Y –
W
ith a series of dramas, including a failed
unmasking of its anonymous creator
and the bankruptcy of its largest
exchange, Bitcoin has dominated
financial news headlines for the
best part of 9 months. What is this
controversial new technology, where
can you buy Bitcoins and is investing
really worth the risk?
One of the main qualities that makes a successful
entrepreneur is the ability to spot exciting new
trends and, after some solid research, to have the
confidence to invest one’s own time and money into
pursuing these ideas.
Bitcoin is all over financial news at the moment.
Whether it’s multi-billion dollar drugs busts, huge
bankruptcies, or high speed car chases through
the streets of LA, there’s no doubt that this new
technology is causing quite a stir.
So what exactly is Bitcoin, how do you invest in it
and what are the risks involved?
Bitcoin was created by a shadowy figure known
as Satoshi Nakamoto who, to this day, remains
anonymous. It’s usually described in the financial
press as being a virtual, digital or cryptocurrency.
The simplest explanation is that it allows users to
exchange digital tokens (coins) over the internet,
cheaply, quickly and virtually anonymously.
Although it’s true that Bitcoin is a currency, that’s
only part of the picture - a bit like saying that a
computer is a word processor. The real genius
behind Bitcoin is that it’s a whole new kind of
protocol, capable of hosting any number of financial
products.
Bitcoin evangelists have suggested that the
protocol could one day be used to automate
financial services like accounting, banking and stock
exchanges, and even be used as a way to securely
exchange and sign contracts.
These possibilities go beyond the idea of Bitcoin
just being a currency and are, I think, the real
reason why the price has risen so much over the
last 18 months. Worth just £7.50 at the start of
2013, its price peaked in November at £750 a
coin, making a 1,000% increase in value in just 11
months.
Although today the price has normalised around
the £350 mark, many digital experts believe the
technology is here to stay. The Winklevoss twins,
who co-invented Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg,
have even suggested that Bitcoin will be bigger than
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INVEST IT
Facebook, and that its value could climb as high as
$40,000 (~£23,000).
They’ve backed up this incredibly bullish
prediction with their own cash, apparently owning
108,000 coins, equivalent at today’s prices to
around £3.8m. They’ve also filed for an exchange
traded fund (ETF), the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust
which, if approved, will trade on NASDAQ OMX
under the symbol ‘COIN’.
Multi-millionaire, Harvard-educated business
tycoons aside, what investment opportunities does
Bitcoin hold for us entrepreneurs, business owners
and financial types down here on Planet Earth?
One of the primary features that differentiates
Bitcoin from traditional currency is that it’s designed
to be deflationary. There are only a finite number
of Bitcoins that will ever be made and, as more are
created, it gradually becomes harder and harder
to do. It’s designed to mimic the way that precious
materials are mined - as the prize becomes more
scarce, one must invest more in the search,
inherently pushing up the value.
Something programed to increase in value over
time - sounds like a good investment, right? Well, it’s
not as simple as that. The last Bitcoin will be created
in the year 2140, meaning that although there is
deflationary pressure, you’ll not necessarily be
guaranteed gains, even in the long term.
This is mainly due to Bitcoin’s decentralised
nature. Unlike traditional currencies, whose value
can be controlled by central banks increasing the
money supply, Bitcoin is controlled by nobody. This
leaves its price entirely up to the whims of the free
market - a libertarian’s dream come true.
That’s why Bitcoin’s price fluctuates so much, and
what makes it such a high-risk investment. The fact
is that there’s nothing stopping Bitcoin from losing
all its value overnight. As long as people sell their
Bitcoins for traditional currency, the price will keep
dropping. Likewise, however, there’s technically
nothing but selling pressure stopping the price from
exploding.
So, it’s a risk, but can be very thrilling and
rewarding. But how does one get hold of bitcoin,
and where can one start trading?
There are several ways to buy Bitcoin. The
most common one is to sign up to an exchange.
Bitstamp, BTC-e, Bitfinex and Bter are some of
the most popular. Some exchanges require a long
authentication process to verify your identity and
may ask for you to scan and send them official
documents.
Getting money on to these exchanges can be a
pain, as you’ll either have to sign up to a payment
network like OKPay (again, requiring a long
authentication process) or deposit by international
wire transfer, which is a lengthy and costly process.
Exchanges will often offer a number of different
pairings, both against other traditional currencies,
and other digital currencies. Because the Bitcoin
code is open source, many have copied the idea,
tweaking it slightly to make their own coins. These
‘altcoins’ are of varying degrees of worth, from
Litecoin, worth 0.014 Bitcoin, to Primecoin, which is
worth 0.0005.
Some of the biggest wins are to be made
investing Bitcoin in Altcoins. The trick is to do your
research, find out what the unique features of each
coin are, and whether it offers any unique uses. For
example, Darkcoin recently rose sharply in value,
because it offers a unique degree of anonymity
- a trait highly valued by the cryptocurrency
community.
As all investors know, with great opportunity
comes great risk. When the price of Bitcoin goes
up against the dollar, Altcoins often go up against
Bitcoin, resulting in a ‘double rally’. This is obviously
good news; however, when the price of Bitcoin
drops, so will the Altcoins, resulting in a ‘double
crash’.
Another issue to be wary of is that these Altcoins
are even more volatile than Bitcoin, because
they’re tiny markets and therefore easily influenced
by ‘pump and dump’ schemes. Certain wealthy
individuals have been known to trick people into
investing by pretending to schedule a time when
they would buy a certain coin. This artificially raises
the prices and, when the time comes, there is a
spike in value, followed by a huge crash when the
pumpers sell their coins. It’s best to avoid these
situations entirely.
Manipulation like this is, of course, illegal in
regulated markets. But Bitcoin is like the wild west
of finance at the moment, and almost anything
goes. Every exchange and any site that accepts
bitcoin is therefore vulnerable to hacks.
The most notable example is the fall of Mt. Gox,
which was the world’s first and formerly biggest
Bitcoin exchange. The site allegedly faced 150,000
hacks every second and eventually drove the
company into the ground. The nail in the coffin was
when the owners discovered that 744,000 of their
customers’ Bitcoins had been stolen by hackers.
The company filed for bankruptcy in February and
cited debts of around £38m.
64

So, for the risk-averse among you, investing
directly in Bitcoin may not be for you. However,
there’s an ever-increasing quantity of Bitcoin
businesses that may offer safer, more traditional
opportunities.
One of the biggest players at the moment is
BitPay - a payment services provider that recently
attracted $30 million from investors, including
huge names like Richard Branson and PayPal
founder, Peter Thiel. BitPay’s main draw is that it
allows merchants to accept payments in traditional
currency, but to use the Bitcoin network to transfer
the payment, massively reducing fees.
Bitcoin startups are popping up at an incredible
speed on crowdfunding sites. Investing early in a
great new Bitcoin business venture is therefore the
best way forward for the savvy, but cautious tech
investor. I don’t have to warn you, I’m sure, that on
balance it’s still a very risky move.
Nevertheless, Bitcoin offers some of the most
exciting opportunities at the moment, and every
wild west needs a few cowboys.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Darren is a disruptor. Having changed the email
marketing industry back in 2004 with a cost effective,
anti-spam solution, he is now challenging the
previously dull old world of accountancy.
Cited as the fastest growing accountancy firm in the
UK by Accountancy Age magazine, Crunch.co.uk is
the UK’s first totally integrated online accountancy
service providing each customer with a team of
accountants at the end of the phone.
High profile online entrepreneurs - Ex-Chairman of
Skype Michael van Swaaij and co-Founder of Bebo
Paul Birch - are investors in the company. Prior
to founding Crunch, Darren built a top UK digital
marketing agency from scratch with only £100k
investment. Pure now employs over 120 people and
has over 3,000 clients. Darren took the company to
the point of a multi-million dollar sale in 2008.
65

INVEST IT
WINE

7 STEP
GUIDE TO
WINE
COLLECTING
Wines, just like stamps, art and jewellery, have well documented
histories, vintages, and values which in turn make them great
collectables. A number of factors can influence exactly how
collectible, and therefore valuable, a wine collection can be.
These include; the wine’s provenance, storage history, vintage
and brand name. To ensure maximum profit, Value My Stuff
founder, Patrick van der Vorst, takes you through each of these
factors and shows you how to start and develop a fine wine
collection of your own.
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INVEST IT
WINE
1. Look for the name.
If you’re buying wine as an investment with a
view to reselling at some stage in the future,
then concentrate on the big names as these
will be most likely to offer you a safe return.
There are many top brands on the wine
market that are worth investing in at the
moment, but some particular ones of note
are; Romanée-Conti, Château Margaux,
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Lafite,
Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem.
2. How to spot a fake
There are a growing number of fakes coming
on to the market, so this is something to
be particularly aware of if you are a novice
collector. It is best to be cautious, so don’t
be afraid to ask questions or demand
more details or information. You should be
particularly wary of any wines that are of a
famous vintage as these are more likely to be
copied.
68
You should always compare the label
and capsule to those of a known genuine
bottle, and look closely to ensure the label
is straight and centred. You should always
check the wine’s provenance and be very
wary if there is any lack of, or unwillingness to
provide, information on this. If you have any
reason to be suspicious, or if you are simply
inexperienced and are not sure what to
look for, then you should seek advice from a
professional before purchasing.
3. Storing your wine
You need to be extremely careful when storing
your wine. Poor storage can affect the value of
your wine, or in the worst case scenario ruin
your wine (and therefore its value). Potential
buyers will often ask you about your storage
conditions and some auction houses will
even be reluctant to sell any wines with an
uncertain storage history.
The perfect conditions for storing wine are as
follows:
- A constant temperature of between 10-14
degrees.
- A slightly damp atmosphere.
- A healthy environment with no mould.
- A dark room which is protected from light.
4. Provenance
It is crucial to the value of your investment to
ensure you know the quality and provenance
of the wine you are buying. This includes the
wine’s origin and the confirmation that it has
been stored in an appropriate environment.
When purchasing a new wine it is always
advised to ask the seller for this information in
addition to a copy of their purchase invoices,
if they have them, so you can validate this
information.
5. Understanding Vintage

A wine’s vintage refers to the year in which
a particular wine’s grapes were harvested.
However, it is important to note that some
vintages are better than others. This is
because wine can be dramatically different
from year to year depending on a variety
of factors such as weather conditions and
harvesting time. It is wise to check out the
vintage charts available from the sources
below which can give you a good idea of the
quality of a specific vintage before purchasing
a wine.
- Robert Parker through the publication The
Wine Advocate, established in 1978.
- La Revue du Vin de France - A monthly
French wine publication dating back to 1927.
- Gault & Millau – An Influential French guide
to wines and hotels in France.
6. How to asses a wine’s condition
When both buying and selling wine there
are a number of factors to look out for to
ensure you are making the most out of
your investment. For example, a wine that
comes in its original wooden casing will be
more desirable. Wines with capsules, corks
and labels in perfect condition will also be
more valuable. The condition of the label is
particularly important. The level of the wine is
also important – the wine should come up and
into the bottle neck.
7. Collecting wine as an investment
Only a very small portion of the wine produced
worldwide can be considered for investment.
The market has shown a significant increase
over the past few years, with China fuelling its
expansion.
Unexpectedly, Hong Kong has become one of
the most significant places for wine auctions
in the world, overtaking London and New York
and setting record prices on a regular basis.
The abolition of wine duties in early 2008
by the city of Hong Kong was a key fact in
encouraging the main auction houses to start
organizing sales.
Bordeaux is the most popular choice among
Chinese and Asian buyers, but Burgundy
wines encounter success too. In November
2010, Christie’s sold 12 bottles of La Tâche
(Domaine de la Romanée-Conti), vintage 1990
for HK$936,000 (£76,000).
Value My Stuff is an online valuation service
which enables customers to take photos of
their items which they can then upload directly
onto the site where, within just 48 hours, they
will receive a valuation report from one of
over 62 experts. Many of the experts are ex
Sotheby’s, Christie’s or Bonhams and cover
every area from aboriginal art and ceramics
through to sport, music and film memorabilia,
stamps, coins, toys and more. Prices start from
£10.00 per item valued.
69

INVEST IT
WINE
I HEARD IT ON
THE GRAPEVINE
Investors tempted down under
for a share in New Zealand’s wine
industry
Economic success story
There is plenty to quench the thirst of the savvy
wine investor. New Zealand offers a stable and
internationally competitive economy driven by
an entrepreneurial ‘can do’ spirit supported by
one of the best tax and regulatory systems in the
world. Paul Bloxham, HSBC’s Chief Economist for
Australia and New Zealand, recently described
New Zealand as ‘the rock star economy’ with
economic growth powering ahead and likely to
outstrip other countries in the OECD.
New Zealand also benefits from a strong
commitment to open-market policies that facilitate
engagement in global commerce. For example,
New Zealand’s free trade agreement with China
has enabled it to fulfil China’s growing desire for
high quality wine. Over the last five years, exports
of New Zealand wine to China have more than
quadrupled.
70
‘Get a taste for your new life’ was the message
at an exclusive wine tasting event held in London
this month and led by legendary international wine
expert, Oz Clarke.
Hosted by Immigration New Zealand, investors
and entrepreneurs were invited to sample
premium wines from a number of New Zealand’s
top boutique wineries, and to find out more about
the business and lifestyle benefits of investing in
New Zealand’s booming wine industry.
Achieving the perfect balance
On the other side of the world, New Zealanders
are busy enjoying a great lifestyle and healthy
work-life balance – some say the best in the world.
Think spacious outdoor living, infinite leisure
opportunities, moderate climate, low crime rates,
excellent education, and quality food and wine,
and you have a heady mix which is attracting UK
and European investors ripe for a new and exciting
challenge.
Imagine a place where you can work to the
highest professional standards then, in just a short
time, be away from it all either relaxing on a beach,
walking in the mountains or just relaxing with

family and friends in your back garden over a glass
of fine New Zealand wine.
Invest in success
According to Philip Gregan, CEO at New Zealand
Winegrowers, the national organisation for New
Zealand’s grape and wine sector: “Now is the ideal
time to invest in New Zealand wine. Around the
world, demand for New Zealand wine has never
been higher with wine exports valued at their
highest ever level of $1.32 billion and the bumper
2014 harvest set to further boost to growing wine
The New Zealand wine industry in figures
• 35,733 hectares of wine producing
land
• 833+ growers and 698+ wineries
• Almost 500,000 tonnes of grapes
harvested in 2014
• Total harvest up 29% on 2013
• NZ wine exports valued at $1.32
billion, up 9.2%
• NZ wine exported to more than 90
countries
exports. The New Zealand wine industry has set its
sights on becoming a $2 billion export industry.”
Matt Hoskin, National Manager for Skills &
Investment at Immigration New Zealand explains:
“There are some very exciting investment
opportunities within the New Zealand viticulture
sector today. The New Zealand wine industry is
one of New Zealand’s fastest growing exports.”
Take the fast track down under
New Zealand is looking for smart investors -
people who have the connections, capabilities
and knowledge to help grow the sector and reap
the rewards. Its streamlined immigration policies
reflect this. The Investment Visa categories are
designed for the global investor, making it easier
to move to New Zealand permanently or helping
to make New Zealand one of a number of bases.
For people who wish to run their own business in
New Zealand, there is also a range of Entrepreneur
Work Visa options.
Key information: Investment Visa requirements
- NZ$10million (£5million) investment
- 3 year investment period
- 44 days to be spent in New Zealand
during years 2 and 3
- Health and character requirements
- NZ$1.5million (£750k) investment
- 4 year investment period
- 144 days to be spent in New Zealand
during years 2, 3 and 4
- 3 years business experience
- Up to age 65
- Health and character requirements
71

BE BETTER ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Meet the Brits who have taken the
plunge into New Zealand wine ….
Christine Kernohan
Managing Director and Chief Winemaker,
Gladstone Vineyard, Carterton, New Zealand
www.gladstonevineyard.co.nz
When Christine Kernohan, a Glaswegian
working in IT, decided to start her own
business, she wanted something that would
give her that elusive combination – quality of
life, opportunities for travel, and the challenge
of taking on and growing an international
business. She explains: “Wine gave me a
mixture of indoor, outdoor, hands on and
strategic, in an attractive and growing industry
which suited my science background.”
Since acquiring Gladstone Vineyard in the
heart of the Wairarapa in 1996, Christine and
her husband have grown the business to
become a high quality boutique winery with
an international reputation for distinctive, high
quality wines of finesse and complexity.
Gladstone Vineyard has 13 hectares of
vineyards and winemaking facilities, exporting
their award-winning wines around the world.
Like many owners, they have diversified
to include a busy café and self-catering
accommodation.
After many years living her dream, Christine is
looking for investors to take the business into
its next phase of development: “We are looking
for another passionate wine lover who wishes
to invest in a beautiful place making beautiful
wine.”
Sam and Mandy Weaver
Churton Wines, Blenheim, New Zealand
www.churtonwines.co.nz
Having worked in the London Wine Trade
for many years and with a number of family
members in New Zealand, Sam and Mandy
took a ‘working holiday’ in 1988 to experience
the New Zealand wine business and have
never looked back! Wanting to return to
his winemaking grassroots (with a degree
in Microbiology), Sam started working in
wineries in Marlborough. In 1997, the couple
established Churton Wines to make their own
mark in the industry. Sam explains: “Choosing
to establish our own wine company in New
Zealand fulfilled our love of the land, wine
and the freedom to try something of our
own celebrating our new home with a link to
markets in our previous home.”
For Mandy, moving to New Zealand has
provided the perfect opportunity to try
something they would never have been able
to do in Europe: “We have been able to carve a
72

niche for our wines based on our particular
site and terroir – something that would have
been extremely difficult to do in Europe. Add
to that the quality of life. We work hard but
on our time off we are within a short distance
of boating paradise, local ski slopes and the
Pacific Islands are just a two or three hour
flight away.”
Churton makes premium quality, biodynamic
and organic wines. Over two decades,
Churton has grown from a 400-case to a
7,000-case company with plans to grow
capacity further to 12,000 cases. The couple
are now seeking investors to help them grow
the business and to establish an onsite ecowinery
within the vineyard.
Nigel Greening
Proprietor, Felton Road Wines, Bannockburn,
New Zealand
www.feltonroad.com
Felton Road is one of the most famous
of the Central Otago wineries, making
highly regarded Pinot Noirs, Riesling and
Chardonnay. Nigel’s investment in the
wine industry began with the purchase of
an 8-hectare apricot orchard at Cornish
Point in Bannockburn for NZ$330k in 1999.
Within two years he had converted it to
vines. But, thirsty for more, in September
2000 he purchased Felton Road Wines in
Bannockburn, then just three years into
production. The deal, amounting to a $6.3m
purchase, marked Nigel’s long-term viticulture
and today he runs a small but highly
successful winery exporting to 44 markets
around the world.
For enquiries about the new business
visas, please contact Jennifer Andersen,
Investment Market Manager (Europe),
Migrant Attraction Unit, Immigration New
Zealand
Email: jennifer.anderson@mbie.govt.nz
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7208 1140
To find out more about investing in New
Zealand:
www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/investingin-nz
For further information on wine-related
investments, visit New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise:
www.nzte.govt.nz/invest
For more information about the New
Zealand Wine industry:
www.nzwine.com
73

SPEND IT CARS
458 SPECIALE A FERRARI’S MOST
POWERFUL AND AERODYNAMIC SPIDER
Ferrari has just annouced the launch of the most
powerful of its spider models to date – the 458
Speciale A.
This stunning supercar is a celebration of the
dazzling success of the various versions of the
458, a model that has collected an array of international
motoring media awards and track victories, including a
double WEC title and both Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours
races.
Dedicated to just 499 Ferrari collectors, the 458 Speciale
A sports the most powerful naturally-aspirated road-going
V8 engine ever built by the company, punching out a
massive 605 cv at 9000 rpm, and 540 Nm of torque at 6000
rpm yet only generates 275 g/km of CO2 emissions.
aerodynamics, the rigidity of a chassis that incorporates 10
aluminium alloys, and Side Slip Angle Control (SSC) which
guarantees unparalleled sporty driving in all conditions,
underscored by the seductively exhilarating signature
Ferrari soundtrack.
As is the case with all Prancing Horse cars, the 458
Speciale A’s sculpted forms are absolutely performanceoriented.
Thanks to a series of innovative and original
bodywork solutions, the 458 Speciale A is the most
aerodynamically efficient Ferrari spider ever.
The new car sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds
and has a Fiorano lap time of 1’23”5. These superb
results are thanks in great part to its front and rear active
74

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CARS
CALIFORNIA T – FERRARI’S NEW GRAND TOUR
W
ith an all-new
turbocharged V8, Ferrari’s
latest California model
is proving to the world
it may have stunningly
feminine curves, but its one supercar
that’s certainly not just for girls.
Appreciated for its versatility, looks,
as well as its stunning handling and
performance, this California, with its
folding hardtop, 2+2 seating and up to
320 litres of luggage space, is one of the
most practical of all Ferraris, appealing
to a wider audience than ever before. It
also sounds incredible – start it up and
hear it roar.
It’s a car brimming with innovation that
will more than meet the expectations of
discerning clients for whom fun behind
the wheel is a priority, but who also
demand a sumptuously comfortable
Grand Tourer they can use every day.
Epitomising the matchless elegance,
sportiness, versatility and exclusivity that
have distinguished every California model
since the 1950s, this stunning model is a
wonderful expression of Ferrari’s sporty
DNA.
Maranello’s engineers have managed
to design a remarkable power unit that
combines classic Ferrari engine qualities,
such as razor-sharp responsiveness,
blistering performance, superbly
powerful acceleration at all speeds and
an exhilarating soundtrack, with the
advantages turbo technology, such as
drastically reduced emissions and fuel
consumption, a high specific power
output and compact dimensions. A
genuinely unprecedented achievement
that sets a new benchmark for the
industry.
With a 0-60 sprint time of just 3.6
secs, almost 50% more torque in 7th
gear, a 15% greater range and 20%
reduction in the CO2/horsepower
ratio compared to its predecessor, this
‘T’ model is an enormously attractive
proposition.Slip inside, and you’ll see
the California T’s cabin exudes a sense
of warmth and craftsmanship, and
was designed to be as ergonomic as
possible, with luxurious semi-aniline
leather trim. The space on-board is
flexible too, and owners can make
the most efficient use of its generous
boot capacity even with the top down,
thanks to the communication between
the luggage compartment and rear
seats.
The Human-Machine Interface
encompas
wheel with
the Turbo P
takes pride
air vents at
This is a
with a touc
and a digita
indications
efficient us
performan
a new infot
extremely
choice of b
controls.
76

ER
ses the Ferrari steering
integrated controls while
erformance Engineer (TPE)
of place between the two
the centre of dash.
sophisticated instrument
h-sensitive scroll surround
l display that provides
on making the most
e of the new engine’s
ce. The California T also has
ainment system with a large,
intuitive 6.5” display and a
oth button and touch-screen
77

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78
NEW LAND ROVER DISCOVERY-
MORE LUXURY, MORE TECHNOLOGY
T
he Range Rover may be the
most glamorous Land Rover
around, but the Discovery more
than holds its own in the desirability
stakes with its supreme space,
versatility and out and out capability.
Now, to celebrate its 25th birthday,
the company has brought the two closer
together than ever, with the introduction of
a luxurious and striking XXV Special Edition,
plus there are enhancements and new
features across the range.
Reader favourite - the HSE spec, now
features 20” alloy wheels as standard rather
than the previous 19” and customers can
also bring that added touch of luxury to their
Discovery of choice with the option of adding
the Grand Black Lacquer wood and leatherwrapped
steering wheel from the XXV Special
Edition anniversary model. There are also
fresh new colour as Aruba, Kaikora Stone
and Montalcino Red which replace Luxor,
Ipanema Sand and Nara Bronze.
One of the key features promises to
provide cutting edge in-car technology.
Land Rover InControlTM Apps has been
introduced as a customer option to
complement the Discovery’s existing
infotainment system and provide the
ultimate for in-car connectivity. It brings the
convenience, familiarity and original look and
feel of compatible smartphone apps into
the owner’s vehicle, which are displayed and
controlled from the vehicle’s touchscreen.
This technology has been developed with
some of the world’s leading smartphone app
developers and is compatible with the latest
Apple and Android smartphones. Optimised
for in-car use, Land Rover InControlTM Apps
offers services such as satellite-navigation,
media streaming, internet radio and location
services, whilst also providing easy access
to the connected smartphone’s contacts,
calendar and music library.
Compatible apps include Stitcher,
Glympse, Sygic, Parkopedia, Hotelseeker,
Cityseeker, Eventseeker, News on Board and
MobileDay, the latter enabling one-touch
access to voice conference calls without the
need to dial a number. Plus the range of
apps is being continually expanded, with new
content available every time the apps update.
On test the latest HSE Luxury Discovery
doesn’t disappoint. In the new colour
Kaikoura Stone, with almond, butter-soft
leather seats, nutmeg carpeting and
black lacquer veneer touches, it’s striking
yet tasteful. Options fitted to the test car
included the Vision Assist Pack, Exterior
Detection Pack and a useful cooled cubby
box.
Out on the road, the 255bhp 3-litre V6
engine capable of an 8.8 secs 0-60mph
sprint, coupled with a super-smooth
8-speed auto box makes for a spirited and
powerful drive. A long journey from the
south coast to Gower in Wales was a breeze,
with passengers enjoying the comfortable
stadium seating, excellent visibility, acres
of leg, shoulder and head space and
in-car technology. This new Discovery is
economical too – returning a respectable
35.3mpg combined.
Land Rover’s Discovery is without doubt
the best 7-seater true 4x4 around by far,
offering an elusive combination of out
and out off and on-road capability, space,
comfort, looks, and driveability. £59,965
OTR inc VAT minus options. www.landrover.
co.uk

MERCEDES-BENZ C220 BLUETEC SPORT
A
nother stylish saloon, the
new C220 BlueTec Sport
is a perfect choice for the
entrepreneur who wants
something keenly priced yet
feature rich, and with kerb
appeal and class too.
One of the best equipped cars in its
class, every new C-Class includes an
advanced and intuitive touchpad to
control the entertainment functions via
the centrally-mounted seven-inch colour
display; Artico upholstery , two-zone
air conditioning and a media interface
located in the central storage between
the
front seats, plus a raft of others to
provide optimum comfort, performance,
safety and entertainment.
Even as standard are a reversing
camera, rain sensing wipers, Attention
Assist, Speedtronic cruise control,
heated windscreen wiper washers, a tyre
pressure monitoring system and Collision
Prevention Assist Plus. Also, a handy
Agility Select system which enables you
to select between Comfort, Eco, Sport,
Sport+ and Individual modes, each
affecting the vehicle’s behaviour. In Eco
mode, for example, the car will be set-up
to be as efficient as possible, lowering the
shift point of the gear changes, softening
the throttle response and even reducing
power to the heated seats and rear
window and the air conditioning system
to focus on economy. Conversely, Sport
mode will sharpen the throttle response
as well as firming up the suspension
on cars equipped with the optional
AIRMATIC system.
The polar white with stunning black
leather interior model tested featured
attractive 17-inch alloy wheels, lowered
comfort suspension, chrome exterior
trim and Garmin® Map Pilot Navigation.
If you step up a spec, the AMG Line adds
18-inch AMG wheels, AMG body styling
and steering wheel, sports suspension
and an Artico finish to the upper
dashboard.
The cabin is spacious, comfortable
and clearly a high degree of top notch
materials have been used, and its full of
neat touches, feature lighting highlighting
certain controls being one. With plenty
of adjustment, it’s easy to achieve an
ideal driving position and visibility is
good.
To drive this is a smooth and
agile operator. The 7G-Tronic Plus
7-speed auto box makes gear changes
undetectable, and the acclaimed engine
provides ample usable torque and punch
to make motorway journeys a breeze.
The Agility Select and Agility Control
systems enable you to tailor your set up
to suit and the car is a thoroughly decent
drive. A great, practical yet stylishly
classy choice.
79

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INFINITI Q50 - LUXURY, TECHNOLOGY,
PERFORMANCE
I
nfiniti is the brand for those who
want something different from
the plethora of formulaic saloons
dominating our roads – and
demand luxury, technology and
rewarding performance. Its Q50
is that refreshing alternative -
and a highly desirable one too.
The 3.5-litre V6 hybrid tested is undoubtedly
a car with class. Viewed in
the metal it’s that elusive combination
of striking yet subtle, its muscularity
suggests latent power, and curves comfort
– all combine to please the eye.
Slip inside and it’s obvious this is a
premium model. The materials used
throughout are clearly of quality, everything’s
perfectly placed, the double
cockpit dash design appealing, but it’s
the sheer amount of state of the art
technology that sets the Q50 apart too.
Offering all that people like best about
smartphones and tablet computers,
the Infiniti Q50 takes staying in touch
while on the move to a new level of
convenience. Whether emailing, phoning,
browsing or Tweeting, the newgeneration
system offers a wide range of
apps and delivers seamless connectivity
with a user interface that any tablet
owner will find second nature to master.
Called Infiniti InTouch the core system
(excluding navigation function but including
dual touch-screens) is standard
on every Q50.
Infiniti InTouch is as intuitive to use as
an iPad and as functional as the latest
smartphone, seamlessly integrating onboard
hardware with off-board services
using the driver’s smartphone as the
portal. Options for operating the system
include not just the dual touch-screens
but also enhanced voice recognition, a
central console commander, and steering
wheel switches.
The Q50 handily remembers up to four
people’s personal settings too, including
seat positions, cabin temperatures and
routes home…even whether the driver
prefers an ABC or a QWERTY keyboard,
and can even display photographs of
friends and family on one of the car’s
dual touch-screens.
Thanks to 96 selectable settings across
10 functions, possible permutations for
personalisation run into the millions,
syncing car and driver far more comprehensively
than any rival can manage.
80

JAGUAR F-TYPE V6S
E
very aspect of a sports car, dimensionally,
allows us to create
something that is visually
exciting; visceral as well as
physical. To me the definition
of sports car design is being
fit for purpose, wrapping up
the occupants and mechanicals in the
most exciting, beautiful and sensual
package possible with no unnecessary
surfaces or adornment.”
A piece of design should tell a story and
this is why every line in the F-TYPE has
a start, a direction and a conclusion.
If you approach every line individually
and get it as aesthetically correct as
possible, get the dimensions right, it
will stand the test of time.” Ian Callum,
Director of Design, Jaguar.
Viewed on test, the result is definitely
something special. This most masterful
alchemy of curves and sharpness,
muscularity and sensuality catches the
eye more than any modern day class
rival.
Slip inside and you’ll discover a cabin
that’s luxurious and well appointed
without the need for frippery and frills.
It’s focused around the driver, reflecting
its role as a ‘one plus one’ sporting
model – that’s not to say the passenger
is neglected as they can travel in
comfort thanks to acres of leg room and
butter-soft supportive seats that can be
adjusted to suit.
A matchless model for
weekend escapes, it’s a
genuinely rewarding drive
thanks to a limited slip differential,
increased stiffness
and host of other dynamic
systems which provide pin
sharp handling, plenty of
engagement and feel. The
excellent 380PS V6 enables a blistering
0-62mph sprint time of just 4.8 secs and
is coupled to a silky smooth eight-speed
‘Quickshift’ box.
An Active Exhaust gives a fantastic
throaty roar and the option of a
Configurable Dynamics programme
allows the driver to tailor a number of
the dynamic features to personal taste
and includes lap timer and G-meter
functionality. With its F-Type, Jaguar’s
achieved sometime elusive – a stunning
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JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE R-SPORT
T
noise too. A refined car that’s perfectly
suited for passengers and driver to
arrive unscathed after even the longest
journeys.
hose who frequently dash from
their city pad to country house
with all sorts of items to ferry,
an estate is of course handy
to have. And, if this happens
to be stylish, frugal and great
to drive too, that’s got to be a welcome
bonus.
Jaguar’s XF Sportbrake is a handsome
car and is refreshingly unlike many
estates that look as though the designer
gave up after the saloon. Opt for the
Premium Luxury spec on the 2.2-litre
197bhp S as tested and you’ll get 19
inch alloys, ‘S’ badges and a tasteful
body kit.
Inside too, it’s luxurious, really well
crafted, with numerous attractive
design flourishes including Jaguar’s
signature cool blue lighting. Comfortable
to a fault, the cabin is exceptionally
spacious, the leather seats supportive
yet soft, there’s acres of head, shoulder
and leg room and excellent visibility
- and barely any wind, road or engine
On test, the diesel which is coupled
with Jaguar’s acclaimed silky smooth
8-speed auto box proved both spritely
and economical. Official figures say it
manages 0-62mph in 8.2, and returns
55.4mpg while emitting a respectable
135g/km of CO2. Agile for its size with
a just-right ride, it may lack the out and
out performance of X-Type and XFR-S
variants but is pretty
engaging nevertheless.
If speed is your
thing, then opt for
the R-S Sportbrake,
which amps things
up a notch - boasting
0-62mph in 4.8
seconds, and offering
sharper handling
thanks to chassis
upgrades and stiffer
springs.
If you’re buying an estate then space
must be king. The Sportbrake offers
a generous 550-litres of boot space
seats up, and an enormous 1,675 when
down – enough to enable you to easily
carry most items you could want, For
long items you could make the most
of the 60:40 split rear bench which can
be folded flat. The tailgate is electrically
operated and there are rails on the
boot floor enabling you to fasten items
securely. A premium stylish, economi-

LEXUS GS300H -
FRUGAL, STYLISH, LUXURIOUS
L
sounds system with DAB radio and
DVD player, cruise control, push button
start, parking sensors HID (xenon)
headlamps, and electrically adjustable,
heated front seats.
ike the Infiniti Q50 also
featured in this section, the
GS300h from Lexus provides
a dashing alternative to the
hoards of BMWs and Audis
around. And, thanks to rivalleading
CO2 emissions of just 109g/
km, it’s also particularly appealing
for its best-in-class benefit-in-kind
rates providing annual tax bill savings
of a couple of thousand pounds for
those who use it as their company
car – a bonus appreciated by any savvy
entrepreneur.
Strikingly handsome in the metal,
its sporting lines catch the eye. Inside
the appeal continues with a cabin that’s
well thought out, spacious and stylish.
The three specs are all feature rich,
starting with the SE which comes with
17-inch alloys, 10 airbags, electric
steering wheel adjustment, 12-speaker
Opt for the Luxury trim for leather
upholstery, navigation, 18-inch alloys
and a Blind Spot Monitor pack with
Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and the F Sport
for extra as exterior and interior styling
elements, perforated leather sports
seats, 10-spoke 19-inch wheels and
Adaptive Variable Sports Suspension.
Topping the range and a reader
favourite is the fully loaded GS 300h
Premier at just £43,745 OTR, with its
Mark Levinson 17-speaker hifi, system,
18-way electric front seat adjustment
with memory, a new colour head-up
display, AVS and LED fog lamps.
With safety in mind, the GS350h also
come with a comprehensive array of
active, passive and preventive safety
features, including a handy Rear Cross
Traffic Alert, which uses the same radar
technology as the Blind Spot Monitor to
alert the driver to vehicles approaching
from either side when reversing out of
a parking space.
Out on the road, the Premier model
with its 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine,
smooth CVT auto box and adaptive set
up prove a refined and capable cruiser,
bowling along smoothly with a decent
amount of engagement and feel. The
ride is just right for most, and there’s
little evidence of wind or road noise.
A stylish, great value premium model
that stands out from the crowd.
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NEW GIANT SLAYER -
What makes it so special? The famous
track-taming Cup chassis with limited
slip differential comes as standard on
this model, and its 2-litre turbo engine
now delivers, as its name suggests, 275
bhp – up 10 on the previous model.
Peak power is reached at 5,500 and max
torque of 360Nm available right through
from 3,000-5,000rpm. Fuel consump-
MEGANE RENAULTSPORT 275 TROPHY
T
tion stands at 37.7 mpg combined and
emissions are 174g of Co2/km. And, it
delivers a new deliciously raucous bark
and growl thanks to an advanced, lightweight,
titanium exhaust system.
hose who really know their cars
are likely to fully appreciate the
merits of models from the Renaultsport
stable – both in Clio
and Mégane guise, these hottest
of hatches pack a serious
punch and are hugely rewarding drives.
The most recent in the line up of limited
edition sportsters, the 275 Trophy, follows
the excellent Red Bull Racing RB8,
and word on the street says its sublime
handling and spirited performance
trounces all predecessors – and sportsorientated
models many times its price.
This limited edition car can be specified
with optional adjustable Öhlins Road
& Track dampers with steel springs.
This evolution of technology employed
in motorsport and on the Mégane N4
rally car, allows drivers to adjust their
damper settings easily and unaided.
Also, those who enjoy track days in their
car can opt for MICHELIN Pilot Sport
Cup 2 tyres - an ultra-high performance
solution developed jointly by Michelin
and Renaultsport specifically for this
new limited edition front-wheel-drive
car.
Striking viewed inside and out, new
livery includes Trophy branding on the
silver F1-style silver blade, while the
personalised body sides feature Trophy
decals. Silver has also been selected for
the chequered flag graphic at the bottom
of the doors. Meanwhile, numbered
door sill guards are further evidence of
its exclusivity. Like the new signature
engine note, the carbon exhaust tail
pipe, too, is the work of Akrapovič.
Optional 19-inch black Speedline Turini
wheels derived from those used by competition
versions of Mégane can also be
ordered to complete the racy look.
Inside, Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy
comes with leather and Alcantara Recaro
bucket seats with red stitching. The
same hue of stitching has been carried
over to the rear bench seat, while the
headrests feature Renaultsport badging.
Other interior highlights include visible
red stitching for the Alcantara steering
wheel trim and handbrake gaiter, as
well as an alloy gear lever knob.
Visit www.renaultsport.com
84

NEW AYGO - SUPER CITY CAR
W
hilst you may have
your Ferrari, Maserati
or Aston for weekend
escapes, living in the
city requires something
altogether more compact
for daily pootling about
and squeezing into the smallest of
parking spaces. Toyota’s new Aygo is
one of the few characterful and, dare
we say fun, titches around, and most
worthy of consideration as a garage
companion for one of these sleek,
glossy beauties.
From a wealth of personalisation
options – the most the company has
ever offered, to its raft of ‘big car’
technology features including the
excellent new x-touch multimedia
system with MirrorLink function for
smart connection of mobile phones,
rear-view camera, Smart Entry and
push button start - depending on
which of the three specs you choose,
the Aygo is an absolute snip at under
£13,000 even for the top fully loaded
trim.
Out on the road it’s super agile,
nippy, and bowls along at ease at
top motorway speeds. Corners well,
turns on a sixpence and with excellent
visibility and maneuverability, can
make good use of even the tightest
spaces left to park. Great fun, great
value and a cracking second car for
city daily living. www.toyota.co.uk
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86

MAGIC OF ARABIA
& MAURITIUS
Lisa Curtiss makes the most of Emirates daily service from Dubai to
Mauritius to enjoy a luxurious two-centre break at One&Only’s
Royal Mirage and Le Saint Geran.
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ONE & ONLY ROYAL
MIRAGE
C
One & Only Royal
Mirage in Dubai
onsidered by those in the know to
be Dubai’s most chic and desirable
luxury beach resort, Royal Mirage,
a trinity of properties each with a
different style and character, is a
wonderfully tranquil haven from the
craziness of the city.
The Palace, Arabian Court and Residence &
Spa are architectural masterpieces, evoking
the splendour, elegance and exotic mystery of
an age gone by. No expense has been spared
in terms of the décor with stunning fountains,
artwork and fragrant flower filled gardens. Each
attract guests with slightly different needs and
personalities, the Arabian Court for couples,
larger Palace more family orientated, and the
exclusive Residence & Spa chosen by those who
desire privacy, tranquillity and anonymity – and
as such is a firm favourite of ‘A-List’ celebrities,
royalty and sports stars, who return time and
time again, safe in the knowledge they can truly
hide away from the world and relax undisturbed.
The rooms and suites in each are most
thoughtfully designed, filled with unique object
d’art hand picked by the owners from around the
world, spacious, comfortable and enjoy views
across to the various pools, private beach and
Palm Island beyond.
For food lovers, Royal Mirage is a must. The
various restaurants are excellent. Favourites at
Arabian Court were Eauzone, modern cuisine with
an Asian twist, which has decks over the pool, and
floating ‘Majlis’ with views to Palm Island, and The
Dining Room at the Residence & Spa for a true
gastronomic experience, pared with wonderful
champagnes and wines.
Prior to dinner, do enjoy cocktails at Celebrities
Bar at the Palace, acknowledged as one of the
most elegant venues in town, or head to the
beachside Jetty Lounge with its uber-cool vibe and
incredible night-time city skyscraper and Palm
Island views.
From here you can take a ferry to another One
& Only property – the Palm, an exclusive superluxurious
boutique resort of private superbly
appointed villas, and dine at Michelin-star chef
Yannick Alleno’s STAY – the dessert bar is an
absolute must, here the pastry chefs prepare your
choice in front of you to order, and encourage
you to sample a raft of totally decadent chocolate
treats. Delicious!
To totally relax and unwind, enjoy the delights
of the authentic oriental hammam at the
Residence & Spa. The Rose Hammam tried was
excellent and left my skin feeling silken soft and
fragrant.
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ONE&ONLY LE
SAINT GERAN
L
eaving Dubai, we headed to Mauritius
to sample the delights of the acclaimed
One&Only St Geran, another firm favourite
with royalty and celebrities, which nestles
peacefully in the silver white sands of its
own private peninsula. Under the sway of hundreds
of coconut palms, tropical flower filled gardens run
right down to the edge of a pristine pure white coralsand
beach.
This exclusive Mauritian hideaway is a
wonderland for all manner of water sports with
beaches, coves and reefs famed for kiteboarding,
water-skiing and scuba diving. Ideal for couples and
families alike, guests enjoy incomparable hospitality,
the One&Only Spa, world-class golf, KidsOnly
programmes and exceptional cuisine.
The resort features luxurious suites with ocean
views, but if you can, book their two-bedroom Ocean
Front Villa Residence complete with its own pool.
Here you can enjoy your stay in discreet luxury, with
all mod cons, and your own host on hand 24-hours a
day, supported by a team of valets and private chef.
The villa is hidden in a peaceful corner on the
St Geran estate – yet still within just a few minutes
beach front walk to all of the resort’s amenities. It
boasts clear views of the Indian Ocean beyond the
swimming pool and terrace, a master bedroom
with magnificent four-poster king-size bed, and
the second bedroom features two queen-size beds.
Each of the two bathrooms has cascading shower
and whirlpool bath, plus a fully-fitted kitchen and
spacious living/dining room equipped with premium
quality china, crystal and silverware - ideal for
entertaining a small group or for a private romantic
dinner.
In terms of dining, you’re spoilt for choice, with
The Terrace, next to the pool, serving a fantastically
fresh luxury seafood buffet, the chic PRIME
Contemporary Grill offering delights including
Australian Angus Wagyu beef, fresh seafood and
organic produce and the Indian Pavilion located
along the water’s edge, enjoying a magnificent
natural setting, with views of the green sugarcaneclad
mountains and the private lagoon. The open
kitchen there enables guests to be part of the
creative cooking experience, as the whole dining
area is infused with the most mouth-watering
aromas of Indian spices and herbs
The spa at St Geran is a wonderfully peaceful
hideway, with its own private lap pool and views
across the lagoon, and also features a very good hair
and beauty salons plus an acclaimed and exclusive
Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez.
Coupling the chic, cosmopolitan allure of Dubai
with the luxurious laid-back beach vibe of Mauritius
proved a most definite success and is highly
recommended.
One&Only Royal Mirage
royalmirage.oneandonlyresorts.com
Reservations - + 971 4 399 9999
One&Only Le Saint Géran
lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts.com
+230 401 1888
Scott Dunn offers 7 nights combining 2 nights at the
One&Only Royal Mirage and 5 nights at One&Only Le Saint
Geran from £2,295 per person including accommodation,
economy class flights and transfers. Includes 2 offers
at One&Only Le Saint Geran: 40% off accommodation
and an upgrade to complimentary half board. www.
scottdunn.com / 020 8682 5050. Day excursions in Dubai:
dosomethingdifferent.com.
Valid for travel in November – 19th December 2014
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WEEKEND ESCAPE TO
THE COUNTRY
A marriage made in heaven – stunning Ferrari 458 Spider, late Autumn sunshine
basking the New Forest in a glorious glow, and reservations at both The Pig and
Lime Wood, two most excellent places to stay, dine and thoroughly enjoy.
J
ust a two-hour jaunt down the M3 from
London, the New Forest is arguably at its best
this time of year. The gold and copper leaves
fall and dance around you as you drive through
picture postcard heathland with its swathes of
violet heather and blue skies above – and a Christmassy
scent of pine in the air. Wonderful.
The 458 Spider is a matchless combination of cruiser
and sprinter, perfect for this type of trip – and for this
time of year when the weather can be changeable, with
its revolutionary retractable folding hard top, which can
be deployed in just a few seconds if a shower starts.
This most gorgeously eye-catching of all modern
Ferraris has notched up over fifty awards worldwide so
far since its launch, including for its remarkable 570 HP
4.5-litre V8 which has won International Engine of the
Year twice and has been cited as the ‘ best convertible
sports car on the market’ , and “simply sublime’. Out
on the road during this trip it’s easy to see why. The
458 bursts to life with an amazing soundtrack, as you
pull away in the blink of an eye, its 4.5 V8 coupled with
Ferrari’s acclaimed 7-speed plus reverse F1 dual-clutch
gearbox enabling instant thrust back in your seat
acceleration with no discernable changes and there’s
plenty of low-down torque and strong acceleration
throughout the rev range. You can’t help but play,
and of course curse the central New Forest’s 40 mph
limits, and seek out other roads on the perimeter
which enable you to see how well she goes when the
restrictions are lifted.
Top tip – beware of driving under bridges with the
Forest’s free-roaming ponies close by, thanks to the
amplification of the car’s already incredible engine
notes, it’s rather easy to cause a stampede of Wild West
proportions. They naturally didn’t appreciate the 458’s
mighty roar as much as we did.
Of course you’d expect any Ferrari today to feature
world-bench-mark-setting handling and ride, and the
458 never disappoints.
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“THE CABIN IS SUMPTUOUS, ELEGANT AND
COMFORTABLE AND SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS.”
Double wishbones with L-arms at the front and a
Multilink rear layout provide greater flexibility to absorb
bumps, and combined with specially developed tyres,
rigidity is increased, body roll all but eliminated and
steering subtle and precise. There’s a raft of systems
to aid dynamics and braking, including E-DIFF3 and
F1-Trac control software, high performance ABS, stateof-the-art
Magnetorheorlogical Suspension Control to
name a few.
The cabin is sumptuous, elegant and comfortable
and surprisingly spacious. The rear bench provides a
handy golf bag rest (there are some great courses in
the Forest) and the front boot can accommodate the
optional three fitted suitcases and a suit bag. One
thing to note too – the windows, high flanks, steeply
raked windscreen and rear wind guard mean you can
travel even at speed and experience very, very little
annoying wind buffeting – rather handy when you sport
a long and easily tangled blonde mane or have spend
the best part of an hour perfecting a quiff.
This simply stunning car attracts admiring gazes
whereever it goes, so it’s an idea to look your best too
at all times. And, if you are so enamoured with your
458 Spider on this trip – why not park up at Meridien
Modena in Lyndhurst - the area’s Ferrari dealership,
and test drive a couple of other new models too.
www.lyndhurst.ferraridealers.com
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LIME WOOD
This gorgeous Georgian house, located in beautiful
grounds in the New Forest between Lyndhurst and
Beaulieu has also been busy notching up acclaims for its
luxurious accommodation, spa and dining.
Compared to long standing local favourite
Chewton Glen, it has an intimate and more chilled and
unpretentious feel, especially if you choose to stay in
one of its exquisite cottages and the spa is definitely one
of the best we’ve stayed in, in the UK, with a fantastic
hydrotherapy pool where you can pummel away your
muscle knots whilst gazing out to the forest, watching
trees gently swaying in the wind, plus a large lap pool
and outdoor hot tub in its own enclosed lavender
scented courtyard.
The treatments are excellent too so do make sure you
make time for at least one during your stay. Acclaimed
famous chef Angela Hartnett has a restaurant here at
Lime Wood with Luke Holder – Hartnett Holder & Co,
specialising in dishes with a nod to her Italian heritage,
with as many as possible ingredients sourced locally.
www.limewoodhotel.co.uk
94

THE PIG IN THE NEW FOREST
THE PIG in The New Forest is a totally charming
restaurant with rooms, which prides itself on its excellent
food – much of which comes courtesy of its own walled
garden. In fact, everything is driven by the gardener, forager
and chef - they grow and find the food, and the chef then
creates the 25-mile menu (what we can’t get from our
garden and grounds is sourced locally). This immediacy
from garden to plate is The Pig’s trademark.
With just 26 bedrooms, it’s intimate and cosy – the
lounge and bar area is perfect for chilling out in the warm,
after a long day’s driving around. The shabby chic décor
gives it a really homely and wonderfully welcoming air.
Definitely nothing pretentious here!. www.Thepighotel.
com
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ROOM WITH A VIEW: WALDORF
ASTORIA, BERLIN
We explore some of the most memorable hotel suites in the world.
Lavish and grand, the Waldorf Astoria
makes a very good case for the title of
best hotel in Berlin, from its outstanding
location on Kurfürstendamm - the city’s
upmarket shopping and society district.
With a 1920’s splendour blended with
the highest of high technological
updates, alongside a sprinkle of the
brand’s flagship New York style, the
decor and ambience are confidently
cool and elegant.
However, it’s the Michelin-starred
excellence of its Les Solistes restaurant,
with its creative fusion menu designed
by Pierre Gagnaire, that has put this
chic destination hotel on the map.
A stunning combination of flavours and
innovation demand attention, and it’s
no surprise that it has become a mustattend
local hotspot.
www.placeshilton.com
96

LONDON GETAWAYS:
HARTWELL HOUSE
Every issue we profile a weekend destination worth getting out of town for. This time we
visited Buckinghamshire for a luxury experience of Downtonesque splendour.
Tucked away in the majestic
surroundings of the 1,800 acre Hartwell
estate, this Buckinghamshire retreat
is perfect for romantic getaways and
relaxing weekends.
The country house hotel as a fascinating
history, and was once owned by
an illegitimate son of William the
Conquerer, before now forming one of
the jewels in the National Trust crown.
This scent of bygone days is embedded
deep in the essence of the hotel,
alongside a delightful blend of high-end
modern luxury, and guests are caught
up in a heady mix of mahogany-infused
comfort.
fire a must, with the splendour of the
spectacular views framing the backdrop.
Those seeking pampering can enjoy the
luxury spa, whilst the swimming pool is
as grand as you would hope.
All things considered, Hartwell House is
a quite wonderful weekend escape from
the busy city.
The traditional ambience is accentuated
with a range of dining options, with the
quaint afternoon tea in front of the log
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CRYSTAL CLEAR
Mark Southern discovered that, near or far, wherever you are, one of the best
ways for an entrepreneur to see with clarity is aboard a floating palace

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The Serenity is 820 feet long, hosts 1,080 passengers, is 12 decks high, and travels at 21 knots.
Water, water everywhere, and
not a moment to think. This
was the foggy reality of this
correspondent’s more-limitedthan-usual
intellectual capacity
the morning before flying out
to Barcelona to pick up Crystal Cruise’s
Serenity on a Mediterranean adventure.
As the London rain came down in sheets,
briefly interrupted by a hail storm looking
for its own moment in the sun, the
bleakness and relentless haze of thingsto-do
typhooned around my mind.
Psychologists long ago identified the
impact a location has upon an individual’s
mindset, and statistics show that 86% of
us perform better when we feel positive
about our immediate environment.
However, these figures become even
more pronounced for busy MoneyMakers,
dealing with multiple projects at any
one time, and making business-critical
decisions on a daily basis.
100 100

As an entrepreneur with multiple business
interests and very few weekends off,
the need to get away to refresh is high,
with revitalising time a key part of any
successful MoneyMaker’s schedule.
However, my regular re-energise agenda
rarely has the desired effect, with most
getaways often feeling less R&R and more
D&D - disappointing and distracting.
It comes down to the inbuilt dichotomy
of an entrepreneurial mindset; the very
spark that gives an individual the drive
and energy to choose this way of life, is
the same personality characteristic that
demands the most engaging of adventures.
If it’s not extra-special, it’s not good
enough, and not worth the time away
from the business.
It’s for this reason, therefore, that elite
cruise travel is so suited to the fast-track
mind of a MoneyMaker. Everything about
Crystal Cruises is an entrepreneur’s
playground, with more to stimulate the
senses than one hundred Bransons could
get around to do.
Those with short attention spans and
shorter downtime windows have a wealth
of options, from high production value
theatre shows, luxury spa and gym,
cinema, well stocked library, swimming
pool, golfing facilities, daily speakers, and
a vast range of classes from dancing to
magic, plus many more.
However, the locations are the real stars of
the show, and the world-class route takes
in almost every coastal place you’ll ever
want to visit on Earth, as it crosses the
globe twice a year. Our journey moves from
Catalonia to Venice, via Palma, Naples,
Sorrento and Dubrovnik, and the sensation
of waking up every morning to a different
stunning vista never fails to spark the
entrepreneurial spirit.
It’s this inspiring start of the day that
will make you want to seize the day like
never before. Even the most efficient gogetter
will find focus levels peak, as you
hit emails hard first thing to get done all
you need to before exploring your home
for the day. And isn’t that what traveling
entrepreneurs are seeking; the opportunity
to be productive, and add new experiences
to their fast paced lives?
The conclusion of the trip is a liberatingly
clear and free mind and, as importantly, a
near-empty inbox and task list. Motivation
levels to succeed were high, and my
thirst for adventure felt quenched, whilst
I learned something new every day.
Crucially, I felt rested and recuperated,
with a sharp clarity of thought.
Next time you’re feeling a maelstrom of
madness clouding your mind, I couldn’t
think of a better way of clearing it in the
most crystal of ways.
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CULINARY WEEKENDERS:
YNYSHIR HALL
We review the very best UK hotels for foodies. This issue we travelled to Wales to visit Gareth
Ward’s special tasting menu at Ynyshir Hall.
Nestled in the Cambrian
Mountains, amid a sparse
fairytale landscape, chef
Gareth Ward has created
a stunning menu worth
travelling out of London for.
Recently awarded his first Michelin
Star, Ward’s 11 course tasting menu
combines delicate flavours with bold
choices, amid a highly innovative
presentation, that brings theatrical flair
to his strong-willed culinary creations.
A chef is only as good as their produce,
and it is here that the location comes to
fore. Ward’s seafood comes from nearby
Cardigan Bay, with wild salmon and
sewin from the local rivers.
Venison, wild game, Welsh lamb and
Welsh Wagyu beef are all reared nearby
providing wonderfully rich regional
panache, with the kitchen garden
producing fruit, vegetables, herbs and
salads. Meanwhile, local woods provide
the hotel’s mushrooms, samphire, wood
sorrel and wild garlic - all enriched
thanks to the purity of the local soil,
water and air.
Paired wines help deliver ever more
distinctive tastes, and again show
a brave bravura against the often
challenging menu.
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Whilst the food delivers a sensational
experience, the beautifully appointed
hotel provides a classically luxurious
backdrop. Blending modern sharp lines
with authentic local materials, the
relaxing setting is perfect for a weekend
away, with the homely service both
personal and charming.
FOR BOOKINGS:
www.ynyshirhall.com
T.01654 781209
E.info@Ynyshirhall.co.uk
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FAIRYHILL –
RESTAURAN
Gower favourite, Fairyhill, celebrates its 2
philosophy of working with local produc
dishes so special.
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104

GOWER’S BEWITCHING
T WITH ROOMS
1st birthday this Autumn, and promises to continue its winning
ers to provide the seasonal, farm fresh ingredients that make its
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FAIRYHILL
G
ower favourite, Fairyhill, celebrates its
21st birthday this Autumn, and promises
to continue its winning philosophy of
working with local producers to provide the
seasonal, farm fresh ingredients that make
its dishes so special.
For those late to discover the delights of this
restaurant, it’s nestled deep in the heart of the Gower
countryside, just a short drive from Rhossili and
also pretty Three Cliffs Bay and within easy reach of
Swansea and around 3 1/2 hours from London.
A Georgian house, with expansive wild flower
meadow and woodland grounds, lovingly converted
into a relaxing, luxurious but unpretentious place to
dine and stay.
Famous for its wine, as well as its seasonal menus
and afternoon teas, it’s the place many Swansea and
Gower residents and of course visitors choose to come
to, to celebrate life’s special occasions – or just to treat
themselves to a lovely night away. They know they will
be made to feel most welcome by the owners and hosts,
and that nothing will be too much trouble.
In addition to this, what marks it out in particular,
is the owners’ and chef’s commitments to keeping it
local – supporting the many excellent, but sometimes
unheard of, producers in the region, by the dishes in
the menu using ingredients sourced within 10-15 miles
as much as they possibly can. Often local ingredients
make up 100% of the dishes prepared.
From Penclawdd crispy cockles with your pre dinner
drink, to moorish morsels of laverbread, to salt marsh
lamb, local caught mackerel, samphire, Jerusalem
artichokes and more… Head Chef David Whitecross
says, in all his experience, ‘this Gower produce is
simply some of the best food I’ve ever used. It’s super
fresh, and a real inspiration when it comes to creating
delicious new dishes. I can phone people up and get
them to pick things and drop them off to us the very
same day, which is such a bonus.’
Owner, Andrew Hetherington adds: ‘We knew when
we started Fairyhill, some 21 years ago now, that
this wonderful region, with its lush countryside, rich
coastline, and many talented local artisan producers,
would be a fantastic resource for us. And enable us to
really provide our guests with culinary creations that
truly honour these ingredients.
As a local business, in a very competitive sector, we
know too, the pressures from larger organisations, and
this makes us all the more determined to support others
around us, and by buying from them, help contribute
in some small way, to them being able to keep their
smallholdings and farms and orchards etc. going, which
in turn helps preserve the countryside around.
As the UK’s very first designated Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, Gower is unspoiled and beautiful.
‘We’re trying to preserve a natural way of life here.
Hopefully, the landscape will stay much the same
because of what we’re doing. Because one of the main
attractions to the area is that the Gower is unspoiled,
it’s good for local farmers that we buy their produce,
work with them to create the landscape, the food and
the tourism.’ He tells me about the salt marsh lamb
and laverbread Fairyhill uses regularly, as examples
of foods that ‘didn’t exist’ in the public mind 20 years
ago. Now they’re on the menu and pretty famous even
nationwide.
Talking of salt marsh lamb: Chef David make the
most of having Phillip and Merle Evans farm close
by. Thiers is the largest privately owned salt marsh in
Wales, with 325 hectares of land , 120 hectares of which
is salt marsh, where the sheep and lambs graze much
of the summer. 180 of which are sold locally each year,
including to Fairyhill. Merle says “ They like our lamb
because it’s local, well finished and fattened.’ And of
course tender and delicious.
When some think of traditional Welsh food, they
think of cockles and laverbread, and delight in having
both on Fairyhill’s daily menu. T
locally, from Penclawdd Shellfish
chairman of which says that supp
and other local businesses has h
on effect for the company. Selling
that it can expand, buying in larg
seaweed, and so producing more
Keeping things even closer to h
cattle come from literally next do
Holmwood keeps about 20 cattle
on his 16 hectares of land. There
reared here. You can see the live
all year round, enjoying their free
lush, rich pastures. The animals
and the owners confess to becom
to them – and when their time is
it’s done locally and as peacefull
children often pop across the lan
give David boxes of eggs from the
family affair.
So what’s in store for the next
will no doubt continue to be a re
community, work with local prod
and be a long-standing favourite
guests to mark life’s special occa
Fairyhill is in Reynoldstone on
Room rates start from £190 bed
further details, visit www.fairy
390 139
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STEPHEN TERRY DINNER
Enjoy the amazing food created by Welsh food god
Stephen Terry on Wednesday 22nd October. Tickle those
tastebuds with duck hash with deep-fried duck egg yolk
and celeriac remoulade, pan-fried salmon rotolo with fresh
brown shrimps, chorizo sausage, cucumber, dandelion
and sherry vinegar, followed by a scrumptious main of
rare breed Middle White pork loin, belly and meatloaf with
butternut squash, agrodolce and autumn greens, then
finish off with a lemon crunch and a delicious pannacotta
with Boksburg Blue and pear poached in red wine.
FAIRYHILL 21ST ANNIVERSARY DINNER
his they source again
Processing, the
ort from Fairyhill
ad a massive knocklocally
has meant
er ovens to cook the
.
ome, their lambs and
or. Neighbour David
and 40 - 50 sheep
’s nothing intensively
stock living outdoors
dom to roam amongst
are really cared for,
ing rather attached
up, always ensure
y as possible. David’s
e to the kitchens to
farm too. It’s a real
21 years? Fairyhill
al part of the Gower
ucers, delight diners
place for its valued
sions.
Join them on Friday 28th November for a very
special 21st Anniversary Dinner, in association with Moët
Hennessy. They’ll be serving up deep-fried cockles,
Laverbread quiche and stuffed cherry tomatoes, followed
by a tomato tart with Pantysgawn goats’ cheese and basil
oil. Next will be a timbale of cured salmon, cucumber and
crème fraîche, before moving on to scrambled free-range
eggs with cockles and roast peppers. Delight in hearty local
produce with loin and sausage of Welsh lamb, cawl jus,
mash and crispy leeks before polishing off with a white and
dark chocolate terrine.
TIME FOR CELEBRATIONEnjoy
special Bubbly offers from 5th-27th November, including
a free glass of Prosecco with lunch, a free glass of Mercier
Champage with dinner, and a free bottle of Mercier
champagne to take away after a stay of two nights or more.
the Gower Peninsula.
and breakfast. For
hill.net or call 01792
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SPA TIME
WHATLEY MANOR’S
AQUARIAS SPA
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SPA TIME
WHATLEY MANOR’S
AQUARIAS SPAorget the large, more
famous but terribly formulaic spas – Whatley Manor’s
FAquarias is the one those in the know favour,
for its relaxed luxurious intimacy, refreshing
lack of noisy American spa junkies and
hen parties, and wonderful treatments by
therapists who are among the very best in the
whole of the UK – including Ila Therapist of the
Year award–winner Sarah Hickman.
Located in a courtyard of this picture postcard pretty
Cotswolds manor house, it features a hydrotherapy
pool, tepidarium, a wave dream sensory room and all
the usual thermal cabins you could desire, plus a gym
with Power Plate and there are Yoga, Pilates, personal
training and Tai Chi on offer too.
There’s a wide range of treatments – including
uber-luxurious La Prairie facials, Ila scrubs and wraps
and signature Body Rituals which are absolutely worth
treating yourself to, for a couple of hours of sensory
bliss, while your chakras are worked on, body taken
into a trance with deeply relaxing massage strokes and,
depending on the Ritual chosen, invigorated with salt
scrubs or wraps and finished off with Shirodhara, which
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involves the incredibly soothing and spiritual
pouring of warm oil over the third eye.
We enjoyed a wonderful Kundalini massage,
and also a firm favourite – Hot Stone massage
too – both excellent choices that left us feeling
pampered and totally relaxed.
All treatments use top class products such as
La Prairie and of course Ila – a firm favourite of
ours, which uses organic ingredients including
wild-grown essential oils which smell divine.
You can purchase your favourites from the
reception to enjoy at home too. Most highly
recommended.
www.whatleymanor.com
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SPA TIME
THE SPA AT ONE&ONLY
THE PALM, DUBAI
Intimate, luxurious, authentic – the ESPA Spa at Dubai’s, One &
Only The Palm is a welcome oasis for the travel and work weary.
Designed with MoorishAndalusian influences, it provides a range of
wonderful treatments in stunning surroundings.
There are nine, beautifully appointed spa suites set among
peaceful pretty gardens, fountains and ponds, including one for
couples who are seeking quality time together and a private spa
experience for two, together with a fitness centre complete with
state-of-the-art Technogym equipment and all-in-one Kinesis
training stations, lap pool and beauty salon with a Bastien
Gonzalez‘Pedi:Mani:Cure’ studio. cocktails.
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SPA AT ONE&ONLY ST GERAN,
MAURITIUS
If stunning St Geran wasn’t relaxing enough, the ESPA spa at the
resort takes unwinding on to a whole other level. A serene sanctuary
surrounding its own pool, it nestles within the resort’s lush tropical
landscape with ocean views. It’s a wonderful, quiet place to escape
undisturbed, and while away the hours before or after your treatment,
with a good book or two.
Treatments can be taken in a special spa pavilion reached by a stroll
beside a pretty flower fringed stream you can here trickling by as you
enjoy your unwind, restore or elevate massage.
The spa also offers, a full-service Beauty Centre with a very
good hairdressing salon, plus one of the acclaimed and exclusive
Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez.
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TRAVEL
WHATLEY MANOR
F
or those wanting to get away from it all,
and enjoy a late autumn or winter break
Whatley Manor is a rare treat. Located in
the Cotswolds countryside, but an easy
journey down the M4 from London, this
beautifully restored manor house offers a
fantastic combination of first class accommodation,
award winning spa and, two-Michelin starred
chef Martin Burg’s ‘The Dining Room.
It really is a picture postcard pretty place, with
golden stone walls, leaded windows looking out
over gorgeous old fashioned gardens or into a lavender,
rose and jasmine scented courtyard.
On arrival we headed to the acclaimed Aquarias spa
to enjoy signature treatments including a fantastic
Kundalini massage, which combines Reiki healing
with uber-relaxing oils to pamper and sooth the
body and soul. Performed by Ila Therapist of the
Year award –winner Sarah Hickman, it was simply
one of the best treatments experienced for quite
some time. There is an excellent range of facial,
body and beauty treatments to choose from, using
top class products such as La Prairie and of course
Ila – a firm favourite of ours, which uses organic ingredients
including wild-grown essential oils which
smell divine.
The spa features a hydrotherapy pool, tepidarium,
a wave dream sensory room and all the usual thermal
cabins you could desire, plus a gym with Power
Plate and there are Yoga, Pilates, personal training
and Tai Chi on offer too. We particularly loved the
salt scrub showers, where you can use scoops of
scented Himalayan salt to boost your circulation
and scurf away dead cells to leave your skin silky
smooth.
After a wonderful few hours in the spa, cocktails out
in the garden before dinner beckoned, and then
the main event… a much anticipated treat – dinner
at ‘The Dining Room’ with wine pairings. Starting
with young brillat-savarin and truffle ravioli
matched with a 2012 Weingutt Hermann Donnhoff
reisling, on to langoustine tails with Deutz Classic
Champagne, garden pea risotto with a 2011 AOC
Cote do Nuit Village Domain Naudin Ferrand, and
then royal squab pigeon poached and roasted,
dressed with foie gras cassonade, pomme soufflé
and Pedro Ximenez sauce married with a 2008
Michel Theron Clos du Jaugueryon 2008 Bordeax
blend, topped by a selection of artisan cheeses with
a Pomona fortified cider from Julian Temperley in
Somerset. Absolutely divine!
www.whatleymanor.com
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TRAVEL
CHEF INTERVIEW: MARTIN B
WHATLEY MANOR’S MICHELIN STARR
1. You’ve kept company with some of the most
driven, talented and perfection-demanding chefs
around. How do you cope with the pressure of
working in such environments?
You cope with it because you want to do it. I personally
invest lots of time in training my team and
providing them with a structure that makes the
kitchen run efficiently. This lessens the pressure
directly on me and distributes it evenly throughout
the team. I’m a firm believer that you are only as
good as your team, and the structure we have helps
us to perform well together under pressure.
2. What was the toughest, most challenging time
in your professional career?
I worked for John Burton Race for six years, first at
L’Ortolan and then The Landmark Hotel, Marylebone,
London. I was so pleased when we retained
the Michelin Two Star rating at The Landmark as we
had taken a risk by essentially uprooting a country
house restaurant and moving it to the city. I was
Burton Race’s head chef, so had significant responsibility
in making sure the kitchen ran smoothly and
achieved what was expected. Then one day John
decided he was going to pull the plug on the business
and do his ‘French Leave’. My daughter was
only one day old and I found myself out of a job. But
then Alan Murchison (L’Ortolan), a former colleague
and friend of mine, spotted the Whatley Manor opportunity
and I went for it. It was challenging going
it alone, but luckily for me, 11 years later I’m still
very happy to be at Whatley Manor.
Throughout my career I’ve worked with some incredible
head chefs. Michael Croft gave me the solid
classical training that’s important when you first
start in a kitchen. David Moore and Richard Neat
from Pied à Terre introduced me to the Michelinstar
world, and how mentally and physically tough
you need to be to work in such a kitchen. Clive
Fretwell at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons taught
me how to work in a professional, structured and
disciplined kitchen. Raymond Blanc trained my
palate, teaching me how to maximise flavours from
ingredients. Finally, John Burton Race gave me the
freedom to express food on a plate and the empowerment
to run his kitchen for him.
4. What would you say are your key culinary
influences now?
I’m a seasons man, although autumn is tough because
by and large the game isn’t good enough and
again in February the same happens. I feel you wait
forever for spring to come and the vegetables to be
ready, although I’m not an absolute purist on the
seasonality of the menu as I feel it may get too repetitious.
I try not to get too influenced by trends. A
while ago I ate at Per Se and it was like an epiphany
for me. It showed me what great food should really
be about – keep the ingredients true to themselves,
beautifully done but not too complicated.
3. Who would you say your main mentors have
been, and how have you learnt from them?
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URGE
ED HEAD CHEF
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5. Tell us about your signature dishes and signature
style
I mainly focus on trying to bring out the strong,
clear, deep and natural flavours of the ingredients
while, on the creative side, not getting too carried
away with fashions and trends. One signature
dish is the ‘Braised snails set in garlic cassonade
and topped with red wine sauce infused with veal
kidney’. This dish has been on the menu from the
opening of The Dining Room. It is an innovative,
timeless and delicious way in which to serve snails.
But I am always developing new dishes and the
‘Chicory mousse layered with bitter coffee and
mascarpone cream’ has also become a signature
dish in recent years. It has a sinful combination of
flavours, from the layering of the dark chocolate to
the booziness of the Kahlua and sherry followed by
the rich, creamy mascarpone mousse.
6. What factors do you attribute your success to?
I spent a lot of time training. When I got my first job
at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath I worked five
days and went back to college on one of my days
off to study an advanced pastry course. Even at that
early stage, I was quite passionate about pastry
and aware that it would be a potential weakness
in the future if I didn’t study the subject properly. I
think that these days, too many young chefs move
around too quickly. They want to learn the molecular
side and forget that the basics of cooking must
come first. Also, I learned so much about structure
and discipline at Le Manoir. The sectional set up
and development approach at Le Manoir is something
I have kept with me today at Whatley Manor,
and I think it is one of the keys to our success.
7. Have you any advice for those thinking of
investing in the industry?
Be aware that the industry is very competitive, and
overheads and running costs are generally very
high. It’s a long-term investment.
8. How do you balance the creative and business
sides of what you do?
I understand both sides. A chef needs to develop
and doing ‘the executive role’ or selective media
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work can be fulfilling. So whilst my feet are firmly
in the kitchen – I am in the kitchen every day and I
don’t miss many services – I see achieving the right
balance between the two roles is crucial. Masterchef
was fantastic for us, for example, in terms
of bringing in new business. I am, however, very
conscious about the programmes I will participate
in and remain aware of the way in which I want to
put our message across.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I’VE
WORKED WITH SOME INCREDIBLE
HEAD CHEFS. MICHAEL CROFT GAVE
ME THE SOLID CLASSICAL TRAINING
THAT’S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU
FIRST START IN A KITCHEN.
celebration of British cuisine. I will be guest chef at
the Suvretta House, St Moritz. The former general
manager of Whatley Manor, Mr Peter Egli, is now
hotel director at the Suvretta House, so it’s a great
connection. I am also looking forward to working
alongside other British chefs including Angela Hartnett,
Atul Kochhar, Claude Bosi, Nathan Outlaw and
Jason Atherton, to name a few of the master chefs
that will be cooking for guests at the festival.
9. What are your plans for the next 12 months or
so?
Going forward it’s about continuing the evolution
of our modern dishes whilst keeping to their classic
roots. It’s very important to me that we give our
guests the depth of flavour in every dish. In the
kitchen I will also focus on building up my team and
continue to develop them. There is a load of work
for me and the restaurant to do regarding the new
legislation around allergens that is coming into
effect. Over the years we have seen an increase in
special dietary requirements so we already have
processes in place, but with the new law coming in
it means there is more work for us chefs to do.
In January 2015 I will be cooking at the
St Moritz Gourmet Food Festival ‘British Edition’ in
10. What are your long term aims?
I think you have to be proud and motivated in what
you are achieving each day. I’ll always be open
to the idea of new opportunities but right now
Whatley Manor and I are a happy marriage that is
achieving everything I want to achieve.
11. What are currently your favourite places to
dine? And which dishes do you love the most?
I don’t have one particular favourite, I’m just happy
to go around and try new places … I tend to really
look forward to dessert in general.
12. Top chefs are often described as being slaves
to perfection, but it’s impossible to be bang on
all the time. Any funny culinary incidents you
can divulge?
I remember once I was making bread and I forgot to
add the yeast to the dough. It took me two hours of
arguing with myself before I accepted the fact that I
hadn’t added the yeast. I quickly had to make some
more!
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WATCHES
RARE PATEK PHILIPPE
FEATURE AT BONHAMS
The Fine Watches & Wristwatches sale on December
8 at Bonhams in New York will feature a wide
array of wristwatches, with fine examples of ladies
watches, vintage men’s sport watches, and men’s
modern complicated wristwatches.
Headlining the auction is a selection of Patek
Philippe watches. Leading the group is a reference
3970E (est. $50,000-$70,000), a perpetual calendar
chronograph produced in 2001, a classic model and
important reference in the lineage of Patek Philippe
perpetual calendar chronographs.
Also included in the sale is a rare and possibly
unique Patek Philippe “Top Hat” Reference 1450
with sapphire numerals, an integral textured
bracelet, and a textured dial (est. $20,000-$30,000).
The combination of these design features, along
with the original box and Certificate of Origin, and
being fresh to the auction market, presents a great
opportunity for collectors. Rounding out the selection
is a reference 3940, an automatic perpetual
calendar (est. $20,000-$30,000); and two modern
annual calendar references, 5035 in platinum (est.
$25,000-$35,000), and 5146 in yellow gold (est.
$20,000-$30,000).
Great examples of women’s watches from
Cartier, Patek Philippe, Piaget, and Harry Winston
are featured in the sale. A notable highlight is an
exceptional 1960’s bracelet watch from Cartier with
mesh bracelet sections connected by diamond-set
links that is estimated to fetch between $10,000
and $15,000.
This season’s vintage watches include a rare IWC
Portuguese model, Ref. 325 from circa 1945 (est.
$20,000-$30,000), where the large case size and
contemporary dial design has led to it becoming
a classic amongst collectors; a Longines military
wristwatch produced for the Czechoslovakian
Air Force (est. $3000-$5000); and a stainless steel
Rolex Daytona Reference 6239 from circa 1966 (est.
$18,000-$22,000). The auction will also contain a
fine selection modern wristwatches by the world’s
most renowned manufacturers, including offerings
from A. Lange & Sohne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Ulysse
Nardin, and Omega.
The sale will include a selection of American
watches from the “Masterpiece” collection, partly
dispersed at auction last June. These include a
comprehensive collection of precision watches produced
from the 1890’s to the 1920’s by Webb C. Ball
(1847 – 1922) of Cleveland for railroad service.
Called upon to investigate the ca
trous 1891 train wreck that was bla
timekeeping, Ball devoted the rest
developing an affordable, highly p
that is now known as the Railroad
forgotten today, he was honoured
the railroad industry for his work. T
used phrase, “on the ball,” is credit
lent reputation of his watches.
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WATCHES TO
uses of a disasmed
on poor
of his career to
recise timepiece
Watch. Largely
in his lifetime by
he commonly
ed to the excel-
The auction preview will be held from December 4
to 7 alongside the Fine Jewellery auction preview. A
complete online catalogue for the sale will be available
for viewing shortly at www.bonhams.com.
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JEWELLERY
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EXCEPTIONAL
DESIGNER JEWELLERY
AUCTION
The rarest of the selection of coloured stones is “The Carolina
Queen,” an unusually large American emerald pendant, which was
mined at the foot of the Appalachians in North Caroline in 1998,
and is the largest faceted emerald ever found in North America
and the finest and largest ever recorded. The sparkling 18.87 carat
gem is of exceptional quality and is estimated to fetch between
$130,000 and $180,000. The brilliant, rich green sets it apart from
other stones and makes it comparable to very fine Colombian
stones.
A charming section of baubles from the collection of best-selling
novelist, Barbara Taylor-Bradford, will also be offered, including
an 18k gold sautoir by David Webb (est. $6,000 – 9,000), which the
writer wore often and considered one of her favourites; and a ruby
and diamond and 18k white gold bracelet in a signed pouch by
Lena & Alberto of Capri (est. $8,000 – 12,000).
The auction preview will take place from December 4 – 7. The
catalogue is now online and can be viewed at www.bonhams.
com/auctions/21813/.
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FOOD AND DRINK
WINE&CHAMPAGNE
GREAT BEAUJOLAIS WINES
Maison Louis Jadot has been producing high quality Burgundy wines since as far back as 1859. The four featured here
are excellent Beaujolais.
Moulin-à-Vent 2010
From the Chateaux des Jacques estate in Moulin-à-Vent,
famous as one of the most prestigious in Beaujolais, this
barrel aged gammy wine is rich, fruity, succulent and well
developed. Wonderful with strong, ripe cheeses and hearty
casseroles.
£15.99 Sainsbury, The Vineyard, Wholefoods
Fleurie Château des Jacques 2011
Rich, vibrant and fruity with well balanced tannins and
acidity. A particularly great companion to goats cheese and
roasted red meats.
£16.49, Partridges of Sloan Street, Eagle Wines, Cheers Wine
Merchants
Beaujolais Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques
Made with 100% gamay grapes, this arom
is best served slightly chilled as an aperitif
delicious with crusty French bread and pâ
£10.99 Waitrose, Tesco, Wholefoods
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’ 2013
atic, fresh young wine
, and is particularly
té.
Morgon Château des Jacques 2011
Perfect with Italian dishes and charcuterie platters when young,
and venison when put down for a few years, this 100% gamay
wine is smooth, well rounded, aromatic and fruity. Morgon is one
of the 10 ‘Crus’ of the Beaujolais, and this a fine example.
£14.99 Taylors Fine Wine, Bin 21, Dickens House of Wine
COGNAC FRAPIN
LAUNCHES 1988
VINTAGE
A new, 25-year old, cognac has been launched by
Domaines Frapin: Cognac Frapin Millésime 1988. It joins a
portfolio of other Frapin fine vintages, all boasting superb
ageing and exceptional quality.
The grapes were exclusively harvested from an area
on the Frapin estate known as ‘Chez Piet’ - characterised
by its chalky and clayey soil and crumbly chalky subsoil,
typical of the Grande Champagne terroir. It was distilled
and aged for a quarter century in oak barrels, then
blended and bottled in the heart of the Frapin family
estate. This estate has been cultivated by the family
for eight centuries and has 240 hectares of Grande
Champagne vines. Today Frapin’s cellar master Patrice
Piveteau tends it.
The authenticity of Cognac Frapin Millésime 1988 is
validated by the BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionel
du Cognac), which strictly monitors the seals on the
casks.
Piveteau attributes 1988’s low yields and hot, dry,
weather resulting in good grape maturation to the quality
of this cognac. “The aromatic specifications of these eaux
de vie, as well as their structure and balance, were key
in determining our choice to produce a vintage straight
after distillation.” He says.
In the glass, the cognac displays a lovely clear orange
colour with yellow glints. On the nose there is a nicely
balanced bouquet of candied fruits and nuts, figs, dried
apricots and prune. This is followed by the soft, woody
aromas, rancio and cigar box notes, so typical of Grande
Champagne cognacs. Time and patience have also
allowed this vintage to develop fine leather notes.
It is on the palate where this exceptional cognac comes
into its own; a smooth and supple palate with finesse and
complexity associated with good grape maturation. It has
an exceptionally long finish, characteristic of distillation
on lees.
At 41.5% Alc, Cognac Frapin Millésime 1988 is packed
in outers of six in a 70
cl bottle with gift box. It
is a numbered, limited
edition of just 1000 and
is expected to retail for
around £160.
Cognac Frapin is
distributed in the UK
exclusively by McKinley
Vintners (Tel: + 44 20 7928
7300).
www.cognac-frapin.com
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FOOD AND DRINK
TATTIGNER’S FINEST
Taittinger Nocturne Sec NV
The “after dinner” Champagne. This is a sec style
comprising 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and
25% Pinot Meunier. Aged on its lees for 3-4 years
before disgorgement, a 17.5g dosage of pure cane
sugar is added, which is the key to Nocturne’s style.
The nose is subtle and fresh with notes of white
blossom, ripe peach and dried apricot. The palate
is soft, fresh and mellow and the finish is long and
soft with a subtle sweetness.
Taittinger Brut 2006
This exceptional Champagne comprises 50%
Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay which creates
delicacy, elegance and finesse. The nose combines
yeasty, bread aromas with flintiness and touches
of lemon and acacia honey. The fruit on the palate
is deliciously rich with sugared pink grapefruit and
a fresh long finish which is generous and complex.
Perfect to raise a toast after the Queen’s speech.
RRP £47.00, Stockists: John Lewis,
Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey
Nichols, Ann et Vin, Cheers Wine
Merchants, www.champagnedirect.
co.uk and more.
www.tattinger.com @tattingeruk
RRP £53.00 from John Lewis, Partridges of
Sloane Street, Fresh & Wild, Fenwicks, Fortnum &
Mason, www.champagnedirect.co.uk and more.
ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR MAGAZINE

NEW CUVEE ROSE PETITE
DOUCEUR LAUNCHED BY
CHAMPAGNE GOSSET
Jean-Pierre Mareigner, Champagne Gosset’s
cellar master for 30 years, wanted to play on the
subtle balance between sweetness and acidity.
“I wanted to create a wine to associate with the
desserts I recall from my childhood: Crêpes Suzette,
pear tart with cinnamon and cakes with a hint of
orange blossom.”
Champagne Gosset is part of the Renaud-
Cointreau family group, whose president of
Jean-Pierre Cointreau comments: “Gosset is
renowned for using its traditional, artisanal style
of craftsmanship to produce wines that are rich
and elegant and the perfect accompaniment
to gastronomic discovery. Our cellar master
uses his expertise carefully to avoid malolactic
fermentation, thus retaining the natural fruit
flavours of the wines and ensuring perfect
conservation.”
Champagne Gosset, the oldest wine house in
Champagne, Aÿ, 1584 - currently celebrating its
430th anniversary - has launched a new cuvée,
Petite Douceur Rosé. This extra dry wine achieves
a delicate balance between sweetness and acidity
and is the perfect accompaniment for desserts
or afternoon tea, as well as savoury dishes with a
‘sweet and sour’ element.
This new champagne is a blend of 60%
Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir including 7% red
wine. In the glass it displays a delicate salmon
pink hue and shows a beautifully effervescent
string of fine bubbles. On the nose, aromas of ripe
strawberry and raspberry develop first, followed
by notes of quince, blood orange and lemon. In
the mouth, while dominated by strawberry and
raspberry, notes of pink grapefruit and lemon,
which provide an agreeably crisp end palate,
enhance it. With its perfectly balanced sugar
content (extra dry 17g/l) highlighting the freshness
of the wine, Champagne Gosset Petite Douceur
Rosé is ideally served between 8 and 10°.
Champagne Gosset Petite Douceur
Rosé is available in a 75cl bottle, in an
attractive pink gift box and expected to
retail at around £60. It is distributed in the
UK exclusively by McKinley Vintners Tel:
020 7928 7300.
127

SPEND IT
HOTELS
LONDAN CALLING: LUXURY
RELAX AND UNWIND BREAK AT
JUMEIRAH CARLTON TOWER
Relax and unwind with a luxurious break at
Jumeirah Carlton Tower in the heart of London’s
exclusive Knightsbridge.
Stay in and savour your complimentary bottle
of champagne or chill out in the pool with
complimentary use of The Peak Health Club &
Spa which offers stunning views over London.
Enjoy the hotel’s central London location by
browsing the boutiques of Sloane Street or
Harrods and Harvey Nichols, just a short stroll
away.
The Relax and Unwind package includes:
Full English breakfast for two served at The
Rib Room
GBP 150 spa credit for use in The Peak Health
Club & Spa
A complimentary bottle of champagne on
arrival
Late check-out of 14:00 (subject to availability)
Complimentary use of The Peak Health Club
& Spa
Complimentary daily newspaper
To Book: 020 7235 1234
or email: JCTreservations@jumeirah.com
128

SALON SERIES AT THE RIB
ROOM BAR & RESTAURANT
The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant in the
heart of Knightsbridge, London will
offer guests exclusive evenings with
top names from the worlds of fashion,
make-up and floristry as part of its
Salon Series this autumn.
Discover the secret to perfect fitting
denim with Australian-born ‘Jean
Queen’ Donna Ida Thornton on Tuesday,
30 September; prepare for the
party season with make-up guru Daniel
Sandler on Tuesday 28 October; and
learn how best to dress a festive table
with Belgravia’s finest florist, Neill
Strain, on Monday, 10 November.
Guests in small groups will glean top
tips - in person - from these stellar
names during an intimate evening
(6.30pm-8.30pm) at The Rib Room Bar,
whilst enjoying drinks and canapés at
one of London’s most stylish bars, all for
£45 per person.
Donna Ida Thornton runs three fashion
boutiques, Draycott Avenue in Chelsea,
Belgravia in London and Swan Lane
in Guildford, where the famous Denim
Clinic ensures that every woman can
find the perfect pair of traditional or
true-waisted jeans, something she
struggled to do when she arrived from
Sydney in 1999. Donna launched her
own range of high-waisted jeans called
IDA in SS13 which are a ‘little bit lady,
a little bit rock n roll and a lot of chic.’
Donna explains; “I’m inspired by women
past and present who all know what
a waist is. I look to the likes of Marilyn
Monroe, Bridget Bardot, Katherine
Hepburn, Marianne Faithful, Anita Pallenberg
and Kate Moss.”
ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE
AT JUMEIRAH LOWNDES HOTEL
Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel has created the Joy of
Chocolate experience to celebrate Chocolate Week 2014.
Guests will enjoy a delicious chocolate-themed
afternoon tea at the hotel’s restaurant, Lowndes Bar &
Kitchen. Taste buds will be tantalised with a decadent
selection of chocolate opera cake, chocolate pecan
brownies, chocolate black forest, scones with clotted
cream & Nutella and fruit dipped in chocolate.
Following this, they will take an exclusive tour of
some of the finest chocolatiers in the area, including
Rococo Chocolates, William Curley and French
patissier-chocolatier Pierre Hermé. Guests can savour
mouthwatering, award winning delights, including the
famous sea salted caramels, whilst learning about the
English chocolate heritage and sampling the favourite
chocolates of the Queen and Roald Dahl!
The experience includes a night’s accommodation
at the boutique Belgravia hotel, including an English
breakfast for two the following morning.
The Joy of Chocolate experience starts from
£330 per room per night excluding VAT at Jumeirah
Lowndes Hotel. To reserve this experience, email
JLHreservations@jumeirah.com, call 020 7823 1234 or
visit www.jumeirah.com/jlh.
129

SPEND IT
GADGETS
LIGHTSTIM
A
state-of-the-art gadget that’s become a firm
favourite of celebs and those beauty bloggers
in the know, LightStim diminishes fine lines and
wrinkles painlessly, used just a few minutes
a day. It firms aged or tired skin, reduces the
appearance of pore size, smooths texture,
increases elasticity and gives a radiant glow.
How? Through the use of LED light therapy to deliver light
energy in a similar way plants absorb light energy from the sun.
LightStim emits UV-free, beneficial light rays that energize cells
and stimulate the body’s natural process to build new proteins
and regenerate cells
LightStim for Wrinkles penetrates the epidermis layer of the
skin, stimulating your skin’s natural ability to produce collagen
and elastin. This increased volume of collagen and elastin
plumps up the dermis layer, gradually pushing out lines and
wrinkles.
In FDA clinical studies 100% of participants showed
improvement in their fine lines and wrinkles in just 8 weeks.
On test we saw real improvements in just 6 and are delighted
with the results – especially as it is so simple and convenient to
use at home. Being small and lightweight, it’s easy to slip in a
case and take away with you too. This could potentially save
a small fortune in expensive face creams that promise a lot but
not really deliver. Www.lightstim.com
130

PMD - PERSONAL
MICRODERM
A
gadget that promises to brighten, smooth,
even skin tone and texture, and reduce the
appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes,
and enlarged pores - what could be better for
fantastic looking skin? And all it’s one you can
use easily in your own home, without the need for
expensive beauty salon treatments.
This revolutionary at-home skincare tool works by
combining the power of exfoliation with a unique vacuum
suction, to effectively remove the dead, dull skin cell barrier,
increase blood flow, and stimulate the body’s natural
production of collagen and elastin. It uses an exclusive
patented spinning disc with aluminum oxide - effortlessly
exfoliating without any manual scrubbing. By removing
this dead skin cell barrier, new cell growth is stimulated and
renewed, revealing soft, brilliant and rejuvenated skin. Its
vacuum suction pulls the blood flow to the surface of the skin
for increased blood flow and circulation which triggers the
body’s essential healing process, which builds collagen and
elastin and leaves the skin firm and glowing.
On test the results have been remarkable and it’s become a
beauty essential.
www.personalmicroderm.com
131

Superyacht berths from 30m to 150m
MEDITERRANEAN | CARIBBEAN | MIDDLE EAST | ASIA
Superyacht berths from 30m to 150m
MEDITERRANEAN | CARIBBEAN | MIDDLE EAST | ASIA
To discuss any aspect of superyacht berthing,
including berth ownership, please contact:
Kurt Fraser | +44 (0)20 3405 3219 | kurt.fraser@cnmarinas.com | www.cnmarinas.com
Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
C&M_MoneyMaker_April2013_230x300_AW.indd 1 03/04/2013 10:37