UKpreneur catches up with Tom Dawes
UKpreneur meets up with Tom Dawes - founder of the Liverpool based aerospace supply chain management firm Aerogisitcs, he also acquired the struggling 120 year old metal coatings specialist King & Fowler in 2005 adding £2 million to his empires top line.
Tom, how would you describe an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurs visualize future opportunities and re-engineer existing business processes. They can identify the key stages required to achieve their goal. At each stage they convince, motivate and enthuse customers, funders and employees. Entrepreneurs are lateral thinkers, risk takers and have the natural resourcefulness and flexibility to overcome obstacles. They continue self belief with stubbornness and selective hearing - if they listened to every negative comment and criticism then ventures would never be launched.
Can you name a international and local entrepreneur and explain why?
Bill Gates for his domination of an industry. I admire his acquisition strategy - he bought out his competition and identified companies that offered value-add synergy to his portfolio.William Lever for his philanthropic ideals and the benefits he brought to Merseyside. We could all learn something from him in today’s dog eat dog world.
Were you happy starting a business up in your area? What was the entrepreneurial culture like and what would you change?
Liverpool is the best place in the UK to set up a new company at the moment. The funding bodies, support agencies and Universities are embracing and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit of Liverpool.I feel more should be done in schools and Universities to make students aware of the opportunities and quality of life running a business can offer. Young Enterprise does a sterling job but they need school curriculum changes and more industrial collaboration to change student perception.