My Investments

The management buy out of Aquasentry in 2012.

Are wise investors born or made?

Instinct plays a huge part in being an investor and that element is born in you – but to be wise you need to learn from your mistakes.

Do you believe it’s become harder for entrepreneurs to make prudent investments since the crash of 2008?

The market place is still in flux and settling down as the various restructures still take effect. The general rule of thumb is – if it survived 2008 – then it has a good chance of longevity and therefore may well be prudent.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who are looking to make a major investment?

Surround yourself with trusted people who will play devil’s advocate and challenge you.

What’s the worst investment you’ve ever made?

For a while, I used to chase ‘falling shares’ in my stock portfolio thinking they can’t go any lower…

What lessons did you learn from your worst investment?

You need to take the emotion out of the decision and look at bare facts.

Which sectors are most likely to offer handsome returns for business investors?

The environmental marketplace is growing rapidly and will continue to do so as more and more legislation relating to monitoring comes into place.

Are there any sectors you feel should be avoided?

IT has become saturated.

What was the best piece of investment advice you’ve received?

Look at the people you are investing in.