The research shows six in ten (60%) business owners are the first born child, revealing their inner confidence and healthy self esteem. More than four in five (85%) have one or more siblings, putting to good use leadership and teamwork qualities learnt at a young age.Unlike the big egos and self-confidence often witnessed on-screen, the research reveals the character traits most successful entrepreneurs believe they have in common are actually being dependable (43%), considerate (22%) and a good listener (22%).

Private education seems to have little influence compared to natural entrepreneurial flair, with nearly three quarters (71%) coming from a state school background. However, further education does help. Nearly a fifth (17%) of business owners left education with GCSEs or O levels, while over a third (34%) were educated to degree level and almost one in five (18%) continued to secure a Masters or PhD.

Meanwhile, a wealthy background appears to deter entrepreneurialism, with more than nine out of ten successful business people describing themselves as either middle-class (50%) or working class (43%).

The research reveals that a third (33%) started their business between the ages of 26 and 35 and London is the most likely place for a small business to start up, with two fifths (40%) of entrepreneurs launching their future empire in the capital.

With nearly three in ten (29%) of small businesses failing before they reach three years (2), it seems business owners are learning to combat risk, with more than half (51%) saying that their approach to business is attention to detail and over a quarter (28%) saying it is being prudent with money.

Nearly all entrepreneurs are united in sharing the same motivations for starting up. Nearly two thirds (62%) wanted independence, over half (56%) wanted more control over their lives and almost six in ten (57%) wanted to be their own boss so they didn’t have to answer to anybody else.

Steve Jennings, Director of Business Banking at Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, said: ““The research shows that some types of people are more likely to take the leap into business than others but, whatever your personality, there are certain things that everyone can do to ensure the success of their business.

“The secret of any successful businesses is remembering to temper bravery with prudence. Running a business does have associated risks, but it’s vital to make sure that contingency plans are in place should the worst happen. It is encouraging that many business owners say they pay attention to detail and take a sensible approach to their businesses’ finances. Setting funds aside in a high-interest deposit account and making sure that you have the best deal from all your suppliers will provide a financial cushion so that you can afford to grow and develop further.”

For further information on the full range of accounts available from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, business owners should call free 0800 587 0800 or visit www.alliance-leicestercommercialbank.co.uk ( ACPR has been using Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank for the last few years and they seem fine!)

As many as one in five children may at some time need extra help with their education, but does this mean they have special educational needs?

Due out in October, Antonia Chitty and Victoria Dawson’s informative book, Special Educational Needs - A Parent’s Guide, brings together the facts on special educational needs, looking in detail at the different types of additional needs and how parents and carers can cope with them in daily life.

Find out which professionals can help, how to get through the ‘system’ and gain support, how to handle behavioural difficulties at home and school, and how to get the best education for your child’s needs. The different types of SEN are explained and accompanied by handy checklists to help you look at a child’s behaviour and start the diagnosis process. Practical issues such as family life, sleep, education, housing and finance are also an integral part of the books.

Whether you are worried about your child’s development or work with children and want to know more about the area, this book contains all the facts about the world of special educational needs including the contact details for sources of help.

Discovering your child has special educational needs can leave many parents feeling unsure of where to go for help. This practical guide will spell out clearly how to deal with the problems special educational needs present.

Published by Need2Know – the imprint of People’s Publisher Forward Press that focuses on overcoming real life problems – Special Educational Needs- A Parent’s Guide is available now from the Need2Know website (www.need2knowbooks.co.uk) or by calling 01733 898103 or emailing sales@n2kbooks.com. Also available from Amazon and bookshops.

Buy Special Educational Needs Now

Publication Date: October 2008 (Pre-publication copies available now)

ISBN: 978-1-86144-057-0

Binding: Paperback

Price: £8.99

Dimensions: 205mm x 195mm

Website: www.need2knowbooks.co.uk

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1.        ‘Special Educational Needs – A Parent’s Guide’ is priced at £8.99

2.        Antonia Chitty is an experienced author and journalist. She specialises in getting case studies and real life experiences from parents and children. Antonia has worked in the field of visual impairment for a number of years after training as an optometrist. She worked on sight loss prevention for RNIB before working as a journalist writing research-based features on health for Which? magazine. Antonia’s recent publications include Family Friendly Working, and A Guide to Promoting Your Business. Her next book, What to do When Your Child Hates School is due out in Autumn 2008. Alongside writing books, Antonia does freelance PR.

3.        Victoria Dawson is teacher who has worked with children with special needs and their families for the last 10 years.  She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education and a Diploma in Counselling. Victoria has taught in Special Schools in the North of England for eight years.  She has also worked for Scope as a project manager, researching and writing a training package around strengthening family relationships when the child has a disability. Victoria’s son has a visual impairment giving her personal experience of parenting a child with an additional need.

4.        A jpeg high-resolution image of the cover is available upon request.

5.        Need2Know is the imprint of People’s Publisher Forward Press that focuses on overcoming problems.

6.        Forward Press Ltd is the largest publisher of new poetry in the UK. Since its establishment in 1989 the company has published more than 90,000 original poems and, along the way, been instrumental in changing the poetry world forever. Founded by aspiring poet Ian Walton, the company’s ethos has always been to act as a bridge to publication, rather than a barrier, and give everyone the opportunity to see their poems in print. Today, 18 years after starting Forward Press, Ian remains the driving force behind the company and, with his committed team, continues to develop it as The People’s Publisher.

Forward Press writing initiatives include:

Young Writers / Anchor Books / Spotlight Poets / Need2Know / triumph House / New Fiction / WomensWords / StrongWords / Poetry Now / Pond View

Find out more at: www.forwardpress.co.uk

For more information or interviews with the authors contact Kate Gibbard on 01733 898103 or email: kategibbard@forwardpress.co.uk

Here are some tips from the people behind Response Source on making the most out of online press release distribution:

•   Identify your keywords and phrases: For maximum effect keywords and phrases should be tied directly into your main campaign message. Where possible choose a popular search term for your product or service.
•   Use your keywords in your headline: At Daryl Willcox Publishing we use your release headline in the < title > tags of the HTML for your press release page. Search engines read these tags and this is what you see in search engine results.
•   Include keywords in the text: Multiple mentions of carefully selected keywords or phrases near the top of each release can also be advantageous in search engine optimisation.
•   Keep it informative: Don’t pepper your release with too many different keywords to the detriment of readability. Focusing on one or two good keywords in each release can reap rewards over time.
•   Add embedded links: Links added to one or two of your selected keywords or phrases will help boost your search engine rankings and drive traffic to your site.
•   Choose appropriate landing pages: Each embedded link should link to a page on your website which contains your keyword or phrase in both the title and text where possible.

If you need help writing your press release, check out www.prbasics.co.uk for a template to download. For more on online distribution read the whitepaper - ‘Press Release Writing and Distribution’ or for a quick introduction check out Daryl Willcox’s Six Tips for Online PR.

I’d be interested to know whether people have found it easier to get discounts if they have booked any ads recently.

1. Benefits: The most important section. Tell potential advertisers why they should advertise in your magazine, and how it can help them to reach potential customers, particularly those that they can not reach in any other way.
2. About the magazine: a little background and factual information for those who are unfamiliar with the publication.
3. Distribution. Tell the advertiser about your print run and readership figures, where and how the magazine is distributed, and the socioeconomic demgraphics of the readers.
4. Editorial Content. Explain about the articles and news that will ensure readers value the magazine.
5. A quote from existing happy advertiser(s), once you have them.
6. Page rates, rates for advertorial features, classifieds, advert design and website advertising, as appropriate.
7. Publication dates and copy deadlines for a year ahead.
8. Technical requirements for the advertisements: you will need to clear these with your designer.

You will want to illustrate the media pack with some attractive cover images, and possibly examples of the layout of insides pages. In total, a media pack should be in the region of 350 to 500 words. If you need help creating a media pack, get in touch and I can let you know about the benefits of a professionally written pack.

With input from Homefinder UK and The AA, Enterprise Nation reveals that a home office adds around £28,000 to the value of your home, and home working leads to travel savings of more than £2,000 each year. Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation said:

“When people ask if this is the right time to be starting a business from home, my response is ‘most definitely, yes!’ – not only do you start earning your own income but as these results show, you’ll also be profiting from the rise in value of your house and saving on fuel costs by keeping off the road. For anyone thinking of turning the spare room, cellar or attic into an office, this will surely offer yet more reasons as to why they should.”

At a time of rising fuel costs, many families are looking for reasons to keep off the roads. Working from home means doing just that – and it offers savings in time too. By avoiding a daily commute of just 60 minutes each way, you can earn one whole extra day each week. That’s extra time that can be spent on growing a new business or enjoying time with family and friends.   

The opportunity to make profit, and make savings, is encouraging thousands of people to start a business from home, whether that be through turning a hobby into a way of making a living or spotting a gap in the market and acting on it. This research shows there’s never been a better time to act. If you want some ideas and inspiration for a home business, check out www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk or try out the brand new e-course at www.themumpreneurguide.co.uk to help you start your own business.