What does it really take to build a successful business – and how can we make life easier for the people running them?

This week on The Merri-Cast, I’m really thrilled to be joined by Emma Jones, Small Business Commissioner and Founder of Enterprise Nation.

Emma has spent much of her career starting, growing and supporting small businesses. And today,
she’s tackling one of the biggest frustrations facing entrepreneurs: getting paid on time.

Emma tells me that small business owners spend an average of 86 hours chasing debt – time that could be spent winning customers, hiring people and growing their business. Think what we could all do with that time. Her mission as Small Business Commissioner is simple – to get money moving through the economy quicker.

In this episode, Emma shares:
• What the dot-com boom taught her – and why she (wisely, in my view) turned down investment
• How she grew Enterprise Nation - and how taking angel investment then changed her thinking
• Why late payments remain such a serious problem for small businesses
• How new legislation could change the way businesses get paid
• Where she sees the biggest opportunities for SMEs
• Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

Whether you’re running a small business, thinking about starting one or simply interested in what Britain can do to create a better environment for entrepreneurs, there’s so much take away from this conversation.

Emma Jones:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jones-8063536/
Small Business Commissioner: https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/

Trevor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/
Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/
Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk