“James Pattison is founder and CEO of Startup Direct, a delivery partner of the Government-backed Start Up Loan Scheme for startups from idea stage to 2 years trading. In addition to providing up to £25k start-up funding, they provide 12 months free mentoring and extensive support through regular workshops and events – all designed to allow new businesses to thrive”.
The moment that ignited the spark in me to start a business was…
One of the biggest reasons I chose the start-up route was due to some advice I received from a good friend of mine who ran his own business, quite successfully. Prior to that, my image of a successful start-up had some kind of Richard Branson figure at the helm. It sounds simple but meeting an ordinary guy who had done it before gave me the belief that it was possible. Following that initial spark, I spent about 10 years in investment banking and asset management, setting up three businesses in the process.
I established Startup Direct in 2013. The idea came as a result of the lack of support I’d received in those three previous start-ups. It was support that I didn’t even know I needed at the time, such as mentoring and coaching. Startup Direct is a response to exactly that: helping people improve their business plans & financials, perfecting their sales pitch, gaining access to funding & mentoring, and networking with people who can help them – the whole picture.
The thing that’s most surprised me since I made that move is…
I didn’t count on the sheer amount of work involved in running and growing a successful start-up business. That said, if you have a strong vision of what you want, you’ll find that people from all different walks of life will go out of their way to help you achieve that vision. The number of people who are willing to lend their expertise to support this cause still surprises me.
The toughest challenge I’ve faced is…
I’d have to say the first week of the second business I started, mainly because I was ready to go, I’d left full-time employment and then I contracted pneumonia! That was a particularly difficult time because I was raring to get this business off the ground and I felt awful. It certainly put me on the back foot that’s for sure, but I’m glad to say I made it through in the end.
My biggest success has been….
My biggest success will come at the end of this month, as we celebrate the 1000th start up business funded by Startup Direct! That’s 1000 businesses funded between our London and Birmingham offices, which is a real milestone, not to mention the additional hundreds of business we’ve supported on top of that.
There are more start-ups now than ever before in the UK, but what’s really interesting is that a lot of the growth is happening outside of London, in places like Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. The challenge is now to connect those regional hubs so they have the same access to support and funding as London start-ups. There hasn’t been a better time in the history of the UK to start a business – it really is proving to be a golden era.
I’m very good at…
I’m good at recognising the potential in people, even when they don’t necessarily see it in themselves. It’s about encouraging people to take steps in the right direction, and to put them in touch with the right people who can help them overcome their self-limiting beliefs to really help their business to grow.
The type of person I look to recruit into my organisation is…
Skills are important, of course, but what I’m really looking for is character. I need people with a drive and desire to make a difference, a strong work ethic to achieve their potential, but also those who are willing to work as a team. Getting the mix right is crucial.
The part of my day I most look forward to is…
I like the mornings, particularly between 9–11am. That’s when I feel fresh, productive and get a lot of things done. Even in the team, you can see that people are focused and zoned in on the task at hand.
If I could give my 18-year old self one piece of advice it would be…
Just to relax and not to worry so much. Things have a habit of working out in the end.
Outside of work I can be found…
Keeping fit at the gym, walking the dog and I also love cinema – I saw Southpaw recently with Jake Gyllenhaal, which was a bit cheesy but, overall, not bad.
My philosophy on life is…
I really believe that anything is possible if you want it bad enough. From people I’ve been lucky enough to meet over the last few years, I’ve realised there’s a lot of people out there who have achieved things that others thought couldn’t be done. That’s purely down to the fact that they wanted it bad enough.
If I was asking the questions, I would want to know…
I like to know what people’s morning rituals are. I think the morning is the most important part of your day, so I like knowing what people do to maximise this time.
My morning ritual? If I’ve managed to get up early enough I’ll meditate for 10 minutes before breakfast to clear my mind and reduce the tendency to feel rushed. I eat the same thing every day – three poached eggs on two pieces of toast – I find by reducing the amount of little decisions to be made each morning leaves a clearer head-space for making important decisions during the day. Then I have a ‘James Bond’ shower which, I find, really wakes me up and puts me in a refreshed state of mind for the rest of the day. Google it!
What do I think about Ignition Law…
Ignition Law is awesome because they understand exactly what a tech startup needs and don’t charge the ridiculous fees that most law firms charge. They speak in plain English (rather than law-speak-babble) so founders can understand exactly what is being worked on. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a legal team that you can trust to give you what you need at a fair price.
