Criteria: Ability to show how a company is addressing the issues of climate change
Prize: National recognition for ethical practice and a £5,000 cash prize
green awardHow2become
A minute with…
Richard McMunn, founder of how2become, Start-Up Stars national finalist in 2006
Maidstone-based how2become creates educational courses, insider guides, CD Roms, DVDs and provides one-to-one coaching to help people from all walks of life become what they want, professionally and personally. Richard started the business in his cellar in 2005, but now has an office, three full-time staff and turnover of £500,000.
How has entering Start-Up Stars helped your business?
“Entering Start-Up Stars was the best thing I ever did. It made me look at my business in a different way. I was required to answer questions about my business when I entered the competition and I started to make improvements straight away. This in turn increased my turnover and net profit.
“It also gave me so many important contacts. I started to get phone calls from different people wanting to work with me and my company which was very exciting. Even putting ‘HSBC Start Up Stars Finalist’ on my website increased my turnover by 20 per cent alone.”
Would you do anything differently if you entered again?
“No I wouldn’t. It was a tremendous experience and one that I would recommend to all new businesses.”
What do you remember most about the awards ceremony?
“The amazing sense of pride and achievement for having reached the final was unbelievable. The final is a truly amazing experience – getting up on that stage to receive my finalist’s award was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
What advice would you give another small firm that’s thinking of entering the awards?
“Make sure you enter! You won’t regret it. As soon as you’ve entered start looking for areas that need to be improved in your business. It’s not always the businesses who have the highest turnover that win – even very small businesses can reach the final. I was on my own working from my cellar and I made it to the final. How amazing is that?”
Why did you start your own business?
“I started because my full time job didn’t allow me the creativity I wanted. I enjoy being creative and the buzz you get from running your own business is fantastic. You never know until you try!”
