Entrepreneur festival’s message for small businesses

Luke Johnson has told small and medium-sized businesses to forget about the crisis in Europe and concentrate on working hard at what they are good at, writes Bernard Ginns.

The former chairman of Pizza Express opened the MADE festival for entrepreneurs in Sheffield last night with an upbeat message for those in business.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “I’m trying to inspire people and encourage them to be optimistic.

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“For those who are thinking about becoming entrepreneurs, I’m going to try to help them take the plunge and for those who are already in business I’m going to tell them uplifting things.”

He added: “You should not focus too much on the world troubles. Each small and medium business actually occupies its own micro economy and eurozone interest rates and exchange rates don’t tend to affect local neighbourhood companies very much in my experience.

“It ain’t easy being in business and things could be better, but it’s been my experience over the decades that individuals, through their perseverance and their talents, are what makes the difference and external circumstances are not the most important factor.”

The second annual festival runs until tomorrow at venues across the city.