We need to learn from America’s infectious positivity - Sunday Times

Britain’s downbeat CEOs should take on some of the can-do attitude of entrepreneurs in the US

I’ll never forget thousands of adoring fans screaming my first name as I walked past them at one of the world’s most glamorous sporting events. Fame at last, I thought. I had been invited to the Monaco Grand Prix by a childhood friend, Graeme Lowdon, who ran the Virgin Formula 1 team, and we were heading to the paddock to meet the drivers accompanied by his team sponsor, Richard Branson. I suppose it could have been his name they were shouting out but the three of us didn’t stop and ask, so I guess we’ll never know!

The best part of that day was meeting Branson himself, one of this country’s great ambassadors for business. Many years ago, when I was starting out as an entrepreneur, I discovered the address of his houseboat in London’s Little Venice, from where he ran Virgin. Tenacious as ever, I knocked on his door to get some advice from a like-minded soul. Sadly he wasn’t there, but I’ve frequently found inspiration in his business acumen, the glamour and excitement he brought to corporate life, as well as his infectious can-do attitude. A pity we more often now see him basking in the sun on Necker Island than in the glow of corporate success.

So where are today’s Bransons, the champions of entrepreneurialism, inspiring new generations to believe that building a large company is possible and that business is a force for good, delivering purpose, employing millions and contributing more than its fair share of taxes?

This is a brilliant country in which to do business, with great infrastructure, access to talent, low levels of regulation and a business-empowering technological revolution. Yet we seem to be stuck in a rut, talking things down when we should be flying the flag.

At two recent events — the Great British Entrepreneur Awards and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (which I was lucky enough to win in 2008) — I was struck by the relentless positivity of those I met. I wish we could bottle that spirit.

Meanwhile, senior business figures have allowed negativity to get the better of them, something that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yes, times are tough, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. But, as a recent report from NatWest showed, if these companies — 13,000 of them across the country, employing more than 7 million Britons — received greater support, they’d add £115 billion to the economy in the next five years.

When I’m in America, I’m struck by that nation’s bullishness. That no matter what obstacle gets in the way, American entrepreneurs will find a solution. Admittedly, this sometimes Trumpian ego-driven arrogance can be a little wearing and over the top but, like it or not, the positivity is infectious.

We don’t seem to love and celebrate business in the same way. Think of TV programmes like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, both of which I love. Though not true to life, they’re undoubtedly a force for good — but are they really the best advert for the dynamic power of business? Too often they seem to delight in the negatives, which is why I prefer Shark Tank, the US version of Dragons’ Den, which revisits winners to assess their progress.

None is as good as the BBC’s Troubleshooter, however, helmed backed in the 1990s by the late Sir John Harvey-Jones, who led ICI to extraordinary success. I recently thought about his devastating “Change or die” visit to Morgan cars, an episode you can find on YouTube, and wondered what the great Sir John would have made of Jaguar’s recent controversial relaunch.

So, what’s my manifesto for making the most of the talent we have?

First, I’d like to see more TV and radio programmes, podcasts and social media blogs that celebrate business success and really look under the hood of what does and doesn’t work. They don’t need to be glorified game shows.

Second, let’s put business higher up the school curriculum. When I attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, the ultimate accolade was to go into law or medicine. I think today’s students have much wider ambitions, which is why we should have more of those young enterprise-type competitions.

Third, let’s remind people about the social good business does — and should do. The Cadbury family designed and built an entire village, Bournville, to house the company’s workers and their families. The company that gave me my big break, South Staffs Water, was founded in 1853 by five directors of the South Staffordshire Railway Company so that towns across the newly-industrialised Black Country could have safe drinking water. We need to hear more of these kinds of positive societal stories built on the back of profit.

Fourth, a more upbeat tone of voice that makes people want to go into business rather than put them off, with a regulatory environment designed to inspire growth rather than stifle risk-taking and innovation. That may happen if we see more business leaders sharing the top table with government ministers.

Fifth, those who have tasted success should be putting something back. Today my career purpose is to inspire breakthroughs in others to help them build billion-pound-valued businesses. There are 56 of us in Britain today who have built businesses worth more than £1 billion, and I’m one of the lucky ten whose companies have been valued at £4 billion and above. We have plenty of experience, so let’s bring leaders together to offer help and insight. We also shouldn’t forget CEOs and their management teams who run very large companies and have added billions of additional enterprise value to them — like Amanda Blanc at Aviva and Kevin Rountree at Games Workshop.

And finally, whether it’s through the media or at networking events across the country, we should put the spotlight on the entrepreneurs whose ceaseless energy and enterprise — ideas, endeavours, successes, learnt lessons and inspirations — fuel our economy.

If we’re going to win this race, we’ll need them.

Richard Harpin is founder and chairman of HomeServe and Growth Partner, and owner of Business Leader