The USA has Google, Microsoft, Ebay, Yahoo, Apple, Sun etc. We have, who? I am sure some companies would like to stake a claim to being a massive IT presence but unless you are turning over £2 billion a year can you really claim to be massive these days?
It has made me wonder why the UK has not been able to create a company of this size. In many respects our biggest one is Vodafone and these work in a different market. I guess the reasons could range from the fact that to be in the USA means you have access to a big market, that the development community in the USA is that much bigger but I still think the UK should be trying to cultivate something.
I have run 2 businesses now, Artificial Gold has never turned over huge sums and my furniture business failed for various reasons. In the USA they would say “Well now you have the experience what are you doing next”, in the UK “At least you tried”. This could be one reason but I wonder if the lack of available funds is another. The banks wont lend to someone like me unless I secure it.
I guess the key is the killer idea that people can buy into but then the UK still seems to struggle to monetise the great ideas, this is more obvious in engineering and manafacturing.
I have been trying to think if my previous thoughts around co-operatives and possible partnerships (like the John Lewis model) could come into play.
I am still very ambitious to create a good IT company and any tips are welcomed!
