Despite all the apparent doom and gloom about business being tougher than ever, the rate at which businesses are starting is strong. There has been a 30% increase in the number of start-ups since 2000

MBN Recruitment, based in Glasgow, has been granted invoice finance facilities to help it grow its service provision and expand its international business.

When we assess long term business success and look at the top US companies in the year 1900, we find that only three of the top 10 companies still maintained their position 100 years later in the year 2000, and the rest had either failed altogether or dropped out of the top 100.

When we first start businesses many of us, leap into the fray without much thought for what’s going to happen next month or next year because we are concentrating so hard on the here and now and the challenges that we face on a day to day basis.

Successful entrepreneurs often exhibit familiar traits: they are passionate about their businesses, determined to succeed, very hands on but most of all they are risk-takers. The strength of Britain’s entrepreneurial and small business sector will be the vital cog that turns the wheels to re-energise our economy.