As announced at the end of May, James Caan, was appointed by Lord Young as Chairman of the Board on the government initiative Start Up Loans. The £82.5 million project sees James Caan and Bev James working together once again, along with an impressive team of board members. The EBA are delighted to support the Start Up Loans company in their quest to provide 18-24 year olds with the tools, mentoring and capital required to start up their own business. Could you be the volunteer mentor that James Caan is looking for?

I have spent much of my professional life as a business coach and mentor to business owners of mid-range businesses; talented and bright people who work hard and play hard and know what it is to achieve great results. But it never ceases to amaze me how few people know why they are in business or what their exit strategy will be.

If there is anyone who knows how to grow a business it is James Caan. As well as being co-founder of The EBA he is a serial entrepreneur and runs his successful private equity firm, Hamilton Bradshaw. We asked him to reflect on his success stories so you can learn from his lessons.

Move over babyboomers, there are new kids on the block. Here comes Generation Y – the Facebook generation – who are changing the face of business forever. There is no such thing as ‘too young’ to be in business any more. There is a rising awareness of ‘youth power’.

The recession has hit the so-called “Y Generation” very hard (that’s people born between 1980 and 1994 in case you were wondering. I know I was!). There are fewer jobs – and certainly no job security.