Venture Capital Funding

Alchemists of old used to try to turn lead into gold, but latter-day exponents take businesses on their death-beds and nurse them back to rude health, says Elderstreet Investments boss Michael Jackson.

Entrepreneurs

Having built a thriving betting shop business, Peter Done changed tack and took on employment consultancy Peninsula. He eventually turned the company’s fortunes around, but sailed close to the wind on many occasions.

Financial Management

Bringing a business back from the brink is a black art that requires ingenuity, guile, commercial courage and nerves of steel. GrowthBusiness highlights four of the best British business fightbacks of the past year.

Entrepreneurs

I've started several ventures as an entrepreneur, bought companies as the head of an international group and also invested privately. The net result of all this activity – containing as it does my own fair share of failures as well as successes – is that I've ended up with some pretty strong views on what makes a successful business.

Entrepreneurs

Mitchell Tonks has proved seafood restaurants do make money - Fishworks, the OFEX-listed (Now PLUS Markets) restaurant chain he founded in 1994, turned in its first annual profit this year. With five sites now up and running, Tonks has plans for another 15 establishments.

Human Resources

Dispersing responsibility, dispelling fear, divesting yourself of weaklings and deepening trust are the keys to building the perfect management team.