Charles Orton-Jones
Charles is the former editor of EuroBusiness magazine and deputy editor of Real Business magazine, and has written for The Guardian, Financial Management, LQ, Real FD, The Marketer and the CBI's magazine, Business Voice.
His specialism is interviewing entrepreneurs. Memorable interviews include John Caudwell on the day he banked £2.4bn and the "kitchen gangster" Vance Miller. He also covers politics, and has interviewed David Cameron, the president of Estonia, the prime minister of Lithuania and countless MPs and MEPs. In 2006 Charles won the PPA Business Writer of the Year award.
Articles
Yet another small business fund
Hallelujah! Another State investment fund for small businesses. Could be as big as a £1bn this one.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Dec 15,2009
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
Hallelujah! Another State investment fund for small businesses. Could be as big as a £1bn this one.
Trouble at the Strategic Investment Fund
What on earth is going on at the Strategic Investment Fund? In his April Budget the chancellor announced a £750m fund to "encourage exports, support inward investment, promote research and development, and ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Sep 08,2009
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What on earth is going on at the Strategic Investment Fund? In his April Budget the chancellor announced a £750m fund to "encourage exports, support inward investment, promote research and development, and ...
Department for business budget mystery
Is the department for business really facing a budget cut of a quarter? The Daily Telegraph said so in its front page splash last week, but it's a story which the rest ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 29,2009
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
Is the department for business really facing a budget cut of a quarter? The Daily Telegraph said so in its front page splash last week, but it's a story which the rest ...
What's the cost of Britain's quangos?
Yet again (!) all the political parties are promising a Bonfire of the Business Quangos, the expensive public oversight bodies that burn money and provide little tangible benefit.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 08,2009
- Comments (4) - Rating (3 votes)
Yet again (!) all the political parties are promising a Bonfire of the Business Quangos, the expensive public oversight bodies that burn money and provide little tangible benefit.
Low tax regimes for small firms
With the budget coming up I wanted to remind British entrepreneurs what their rivals in other countries enjoy. Just remember: envy is a mortal sin.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Apr 09,2009
- Comments () - Rating (3 votes)
With the budget coming up I wanted to remind British entrepreneurs what their rivals in other countries enjoy. Just remember: envy is a mortal sin.
The trouble with business rates
An interesting proposal emerges from the Welsh Conservatives. Leader Nick Bourne is suggesting small businesses in Wales with a rateable value of less than £10,000 would be exempt from rates. Firms worth between ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Apr 06,2009
- Comments () - Rating (2 votes)
An interesting proposal emerges from the Welsh Conservatives. Leader Nick Bourne is suggesting small businesses in Wales with a rateable value of less than £10,000 would be exempt from rates. Firms worth between ...
Spotify, the music industry's smiling assassin
Let me introduce you to the most important dotcom since eBay: a music service called Spotify.com.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Feb 26,2009
- Comments (8) - Rating (2 votes)
Let me introduce you to the most important dotcom since eBay: a music service called Spotify.com.
Mark Cuban's stimulus package
Need start-up funding? Then check out Mark Cuban’s offer to be a one-man stimulus package.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Feb 13,2009
- Comments () - Rating (2 votes)
Need start-up funding? Then check out Mark Cuban’s offer to be a one-man stimulus package.
Corus bailout madness
Steel-maker Corus is the brown stuff so P45s are being issued. Around 2,500 jobs will go in the UK. Which is dire news for those affected.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jan 26,2009
- Comments () - Rating (2 votes)
Steel-maker Corus is the brown stuff so P45s are being issued. Around 2,500 jobs will go in the UK. Which is dire news for those affected.
Why the government should burn money
Employers are to be given £1,000 to hire the long-term unemployed. “We cannot always prevent people losing the last job but we can help people get the next job,” says Gordon Brown.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jan 12,2009
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Employers are to be given £1,000 to hire the long-term unemployed. “We cannot always prevent people losing the last job but we can help people get the next job,” says Gordon Brown.
The truth about banks
Let me clear up a misconception about banks. The reason banks do not cut interest rates when the Bank of England base rate falls is because the base rate is irrelevant.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jan 06,2009
- Comments (1) - Rating (2 votes)
Let me clear up a misconception about banks. The reason banks do not cut interest rates when the Bank of England base rate falls is because the base rate is irrelevant.
Ubuntu OS review
You use a standard OS. So why does your techie use Ubuntu?
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Dec 11,2008
- Comments (6) - Rating (4 votes)
You use a standard OS. So why does your techie use Ubuntu?
Pre-Budget Report and small businesses
Small business are facing “continuing difficulties over cash-flow and credit” said the chancellor. And he had some intriguing measures to lighten the load:
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Nov 25,2008
- Comments (1) - Rating (3 votes)
Small business are facing “continuing difficulties over cash-flow and credit” said the chancellor. And he had some intriguing measures to lighten the load:
Witness the UK business -Taxodus-
This budget has turned two words into the most terrifying in the English language: National Debt.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Nov 24,2008
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
This budget has turned two words into the most terrifying in the English language: National Debt.
Simon Corbett – Jargon Public Relations
Simon Corbett of Jargon Public Relations explains why the world needs PR companies and why, having founded two previous businesses, he's still hungry for more.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Nov 03,2008
- Comments () - Rating (2 votes)
Simon Corbett of Jargon Public Relations explains why the world needs PR companies and why, having founded two previous businesses, he's still hungry for more.
The Sun can turn up the heat
The Sun has launched a “Backing British Business” campaign. So far it has almost no goals, but you can bet the wallahs at DBERR are bricking it.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Oct 31,2008
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
The Sun has launched a “Backing British Business” campaign. So far it has almost no goals, but you can bet the wallahs at DBERR are bricking it.
Let’s axe the National Debt
Politicians are suddenly obsessed with small firms. About time too! But they seem stuck for ideas on how to help. David Cameron wants to permit deferral of VAT for six ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Oct 27,2008
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
Politicians are suddenly obsessed with small firms. About time too! But they seem stuck for ideas on how to help. David Cameron wants to permit deferral of VAT for six ...
Terminate BERR, back the Lib Dems
Do entrepreneurs vote Lib Dem? They ought to if only to achieve one magnificent objective – the abolition of the Department for Business.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Sep 16,2008
- Comments () - Rating (2 votes)
Do entrepreneurs vote Lib Dem? They ought to if only to achieve one magnificent objective – the abolition of the Department for Business.
The rise of Middle Eastern entrepreneurs
Ten years ago no one had heard of Dubai in terms of entrepreneurship. Like their cousins in Saudi, Kuwait and Oman these oil rich sheikhs seemed more interested in gold plating Bentleys ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Sep 03,2008
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Ten years ago no one had heard of Dubai in terms of entrepreneurship. Like their cousins in Saudi, Kuwait and Oman these oil rich sheikhs seemed more interested in gold plating Bentleys ...
Abolish these costly quangos
In 2005 the chief executive of the North West Development Agency and a friend were driven to see the rugby league cup final at a cost of £400. Who paid? The taxpayer.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Aug 11,2008
- Comments (1) - Rating (0 votes)
In 2005 the chief executive of the North West Development Agency and a friend were driven to see the rugby league cup final at a cost of £400. Who paid? The taxpayer.
Who does the PM listen to?
Politicians love to think of themselves as big decision makers. Yet the sad reality is that most of the decisions get made by policy advisors.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 29,2008
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Politicians love to think of themselves as big decision makers. Yet the sad reality is that most of the decisions get made by policy advisors.
Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
The SFLG has a reputation for being tricky to secure. Many entrepreneurs I’ve talked to say their local bank branch has never heard of it. Well, to give you a helping hand ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 26,2008
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The SFLG has a reputation for being tricky to secure. Many entrepreneurs I’ve talked to say their local bank branch has never heard of it. Well, to give you a helping hand ...
Dragon’s gold
Doug Richard was the ice-cool Californian who starred in Dragons’ Den for two series. A tech specialist, he brought serious analysis to even the most half-baked pitches. He’s a heavyweight in any ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 25,2008
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
Doug Richard was the ice-cool Californian who starred in Dragons’ Den for two series. A tech specialist, he brought serious analysis to even the most half-baked pitches. He’s a heavyweight in any ...
Warning: tax rises are inevitable
Is the tax burden for start-ups too high? Entrepreneurs I speak to seem to be unable to hide their concern at the avarice of our tax men.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 11,2008
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Is the tax burden for start-ups too high? Entrepreneurs I speak to seem to be unable to hide their concern at the avarice of our tax men.
The Gibbons Review
There’s nothing our beloved prime minister loves more than announcing a review. In the first six months of his premiership he announced a new review every four days. But what becomes of ...
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 08,2008
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There’s nothing our beloved prime minister loves more than announcing a review. In the first six months of his premiership he announced a new review every four days. But what becomes of ...
Shriti Vadera, minister for small firms?
What does the government have against small businesses? Even the Department for Business can’t be bothered with small firms.
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 04,2008
- Comments () - Rating (1 votes)
What does the government have against small businesses? Even the Department for Business can’t be bothered with small firms.
Why can’t Wales learn from Ireland?
Ask any public servant in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia what they want for their country and they’ll tell you in flash: “We want to be like Ireland.”
By Charles Orton-Jones on
Jul 01,2008
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Ask any public servant in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia what they want for their country and they’ll tell you in flash: “We want to be like Ireland.”
