By Bemi (Founder Mor Music Group)
I met Jim Hewitt through my mentor (Rajinder Bhuhi) at the University of
Leicester in December 2012. He was assigned as my financial advisor via the
European Union grant programme funding Mor Music Group.
Jim has provided immense financial advice for Mor Music Group for over a
year. One of the lessons I learnt from him is the importance of setting
financial targets, and constantly evaluating your business plan. This enables
an entrepreneur to improve on the strategies that are generating revenue, and eliminate
the strategies that are not working.
A business model will constantly need revision. Hence, you can start
with a business idea, and chances are you will have to improve on it as the
business progresses – never be too rigid!
Below is an interview I had with Jim Hewitt.
Could you give a
brief description of your professional background?
My original professional background is accounting - I began my career in
Chartered Accountancy before the days of electronic calculators (just)! I have
worked in commerce, industry, local authority and charitable organisations. I
eventually went into training, teaching business studies, IT and accounting at
a residential training college for people with disability. That experience was
so inspiring - seeing how people could achieve so much. From there I moved into
Further Education lecturing in Leicester, at Charles Keene College. Eight years
ago I left full-time employment to become a freelance trainer and business
coach, setting up my own training business; I’ve never looked back since then.
How long have you
been working as an advisor to young entrepreneurs in the Enterprise Inc program?
Rajinder Bhuhi invited me to deliver a training session in financial
planning, in 2009; so that’s when my involvement with Enterprise Inc first
began. Last summer, I was asked to mentor the current young entrepreneurs on
the Enterprise Inc programme at the University of Leicester. The emphasis for
me is on the financial planning part of the Business Plan, which I know a lot
of people struggle with.
Do you have any
advice for young entrepreneurs looking to start their own business?
Be positive, be passionate about your
business idea, be imaginative and be realistic!
Be prepared to work hard for your business and especially for your
clients; be the
one who will “go the extra mile” for them if necessary.
Never be afraid or too proud to take business advice, even if you decide
to ignore it, as nobody knows your business like you do.
When things get tough, don’t give up at the first difficulty - learn to
be resilient
and determined and thoroughly
self-motivated.
You can contact Jim via email, Twitter,
and LinkedIn (see below)
Email: jimhewitt@decimustraining.com
Twitter: Follow@jamesrhewitt
Website: www.decimustraining.co.uk
