Entrepreneurs are Great - Part 2

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/entrepreneurs-are-great-part-2

Transcript

London is Britain’s business capital. Hundreds of entrepreneurs have set up their high-flying businesses here. Whether commercial, retail or tourism, Britain is the place to be.

There are some amazing small businesses popping up all over Great Britain. This is Yarm High Street in the north-east of England where two sisters are really making their mark on the worldwide fashion scene... and they’ve only just entered their 20s. Let’s go and say hello.

Emily: Hello, Rock 'N Rose. Emily speaking.

Emily and Jess started making jewellery from their mum’s garage when they were just 15 years old. Today this British vintage-inspired brand is worn by celebrities, trend-setters, and sold around the world, and their profits are booming. This is their own studio where they make most of the jewellery.

There’s no stopping these young entrepreneurs. And I want to know what the secret of their success is.

Jess: Hi Richard! Welcome to Rock ‘N Rose… Come on in…

Richard: Ladies, tell me. How has the business started from nothing to all of this?

Jess: Well, we started back in 2007, and it really started as more of a hobby, part-time, a way of making a bit of cash really and it kind of grew exponentially from there.

Richard: How do you feel when you see your jewellery in magazines and being worn by celebrities?

Emily: Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself to really realise how well we're doing and how many magazine features we are getting.

Richard: Do you think Great Britain is a good place for entrepreneurs?

Jess: Definitely. I think there's a lot of help and advice available out there. I know we had a business advisor from Business Link, the government organisation, and they were invaluable to us, weren't they? And I think there's lots of websites and there's lots of information out there to help people in Great Britain with entrepreneurship.

.....

Some companies come from abroad to set up in Great Britain, too. In fact, more overseas businesses choose to set up here in Britain than anywhere else in the world.

But, when it comes to British success, this next businessman is one of the best…

Bannatyne’s health club in Darlington is owned by Duncan Bannantyne, one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, and I’m hoping he’ll help me make my first million… well, I can dream!

Duncan has also come become something of a TV celebrity and I can’t wait to meet him.

Duncan Bannatyne is a multimillionaire. He’s the proud owner of 61 health clubs, 3 hotels, 28 day spas and even a bar… and the entire empire of the entrepreneur was built through sheer hard work.

Richard: You're very successful now, but how did your career begin?

Duncan: My career began when I was 29. I was on the beach - I was a beach bum in Jersey. I was just enjoying life, had no money, no bank account. I worked in a bakery for a year and I was 31 years old and I would finish working in a bakery, go to the car auction, buy an old car, do it up, sell it for a profit, and 2 weeks after we bought our first house, I saw an ice-cream van coming through the auction. I decided to buy it and start a business.

Richard: In what way is Great Britain a nation of entrepreneurs?

Duncan: Great Britain has got a great entrepreneurial spirit and it's coming out quite a lot now since television programs like The Apprentice and Dragons' Den. Entrepreneurism is about working hard, building a business, but more importantly enjoying that and enjoying life.

Richard: So if I was to set up business, what advice would you give me?

Duncan: If you set up a business, my piece of advice to you would be to work hard, make it work, and really, really enjoy it.

Richard: Glad you mentioned that, Duncan, because I've got an idea for a start-up company. I was just wondering if you'd like to come in and invest and...

Duncan: I'm out.

Richard: You haven't heard the idea yet so...

Duncan: I know. I'm out.

Richard: That's a little harsh.

.....

Well I couldn't leave without using the facilities, could I? That’s enough of that.

Well, I’ve met some of Britain's greatest entrepreneurs, and it’s left me feeling very inspired. In fact, I'm ready to take on the world. Come on!

It’s this way.

Entrepreneurs are Great - Part 1

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/entrepreneurs-are-great-part-1

Transcript

Great Britain is a country full of bright business ideas, and the people behind these ideas are great entrepreneurs.

Through hard work, risk and dedication, they've become some of the most successful people in the world and I’m off to meet a few of them.

Oxford is home to one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson. He’s one of the best-known faces of business in Britain and Britain's fourth richest citizen. Wonder where I am on that list...

Richard Branson's success started when he opened his first record shop in Oxford Street, London, in 1971, and he never looked back. His success rocketed from launching his own record label, Virgin Records, to creating the hugely successful Virgin Atlantic Airways, and he's now worth an estimated 4.2 billion dollars. I've been lucky enough to be invited to Richard Branson's home and I'm really excited about it. I'm hoping to find out the secret of his success.

Richard: Sir Richard, you are one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs, not just in Britain. How have you achieved this?

Sir Richard: Well, by having a blast, having a lot of fun, trying to create ventures that really make a difference to other people's lives, not being afraid to give it a go, sometimes falling flat on my face, sometimes succeeding.

Richard: So in your eyes, what makes a good entrepreneur?

Sir Richard: An entrepreneur is somebody who sees a gap in the market and feels that people are not being treated well, and gets in there and fills that gap. An entrepreneur is somebody who, you know, believes in what they're doing 100%, who acts with integrity, who realises their reputation is all they've got in life and sets about to create a great brand.

Richard’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to Virgin’s success and he's not alone. Britain is a great place to do business.

Richard: Any advice for me?

Sir Richard: Don't try to do everything yourself. You know, try to find people who are better than you. Learn the art of delegation early on. Make sure that all the people who are working for you have fun in what they're doing because 90% of your life seems to be spent at work, so make sure it's enjoyable, and screw it, just do it. Just get on with it.

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great-episodes/entrepreneurs-are-great

Music is Great - Part 2

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/music-great-part-2

Transcript

From festival fun to the glamour of opera. This is the magnificent Royal Albert Hall in London.

Tonight is press night for their new production of Aida… and for some reason they’ve let me in… although I'm not entirely sure if I’m dressed for the occasion.

The Royal Albert Hall, named after Queen Victoria’s husband, opened in 1871. It’s been busy hosting music and performance events ever since.

Tonight it’s all about opera. Verdi’s Aida is a love story about a princess and a soldier. This production is presented by the Royal Albert Hall and Raymond Gubbay Ltd and features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jasper Hope is the chief operating officer here at the Royal Albert Hall.

Richard: Jasper, this is such an incredible building. Tell me about it.

Jasper: Thank you. Well, this is the ceremonial entrance of the Royal Albert Hall, and we are 140 years old, and probably the world's most famous stage.

Richard: And what's your favourite thing about the Royal Albert Hall?

Jasper: Seeing the audience's reaction, I think, to walking in for the first time.

Richard: So, in your opinion, what is so great about great British music?

Jasper: Well, just think about this building and the stage, and who we've hosted over the years. Edward Elgar, The Beatles, Yehudi Menuhin, the Rolling Stones, Adele, you name it, they've all played here. That is great British music.

Music is at the heart of British culture and is used as a way of reaching out to young people and disadvantaged groups.

This is Southampton on the south coast. Now, a shopping centre is the last place I’d expect to find music talent. But inside, there's a music project that is making a big difference to kids' lives.

SoCo may be a small team but they are making a big difference. Known as The Hub, it’s a space perfect for creating music for all ages. Here musicians take to the stage, record balcony sessions for up-and-coming bands and have workshops in many creative activities.

Matt Salvage runs the project.

Richard: Matt, this is a fantastic project. Tell me about it.

Matt: Well, it's a space where people can come and get involved in music. We work with lots of different groups of people who can engage with music-making and arts.

Richard: So what happens here?

Matt: We do all sorts of stuff here, whether it's an opportunity for people to write music, get involved in a project that we've got running, or people can do recording or performance.

Richard: So who comes here?

Matt: We get a real mixture of people coming here. The project was set up really to help disadvantaged groups, so we work with young people, we work with homeless people, people with drug problems, older people, we run a mental health music group, and it's really just people who wouldn't be able to otherwise access projects like this.

Richard: Is it making a difference?

Matt: I think it's really making a difference. Just by having this space here and allowing people to come and get involved in something that's creative, something that they can be passionate about, it gives them a really positive focus.

Richard: That's great, Matt. Can I have a go?

Matt: Yeah, go for it!

What an amazing musical journey I’ve had. And who knows? Maybe someone out there will notice my talent...

Music is Great - Part 1

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/music-great-part-1

Transcript

From hip hop to jazz… From dance to the blues: it’s music, and there’s a style for everyone. Some of the greatest music in the world comes from Britain, and British music is still topping the charts today.

The Premises recording studios are big players in the music industry. Everyone from Lana del Rey to the Arctic Monkeys come here. Let’s find out more.

If you’ve heard of them, they’ve probably played here. The Premises has been one of London’s most popular studios for over 25 years. It has space for rehearsing, recording and mixing some of the best music in the world.

Viv Broughton is the studio boss.

Richard: Viv, tell me about The Premises.

Viv: Well, The Premises is a complex of recording studios and I don’t really think there’s anything quite like it anywhere in the country. It's a mixture of rehearsal studios, recording studios, a lively café, storage facilities, so it's a really busy place. Hundreds of people passing through all the time.

Richard: What sort of artists come here?

Viv: Oh, a mixture of people. I mean, we've been going for 26 years so almost everybody you can think of has passed through the doors one way or another, so I think in the last couple of years people like Rihanna and Adele and Lana Del Rey. Last month we had Ronnie Wood in from the Rolling Stones, so it's quite a mixture of people.

Richard: What is it about Britain that creates such musical talent?

Viv: Ah, that's a good question. It's a bit of a mystery but there just must be something in the water or in the air. Britain produces just so many amazing bands, from The Beatles and the Rolling Stones onwards and it's a melting pot of great recording and writing talent.

Britain has some of the world’s greatest music festivals. This is Bestival in the Isle of Wight. For 4 days every year, thousands of people come to this award-winning event to listen to and watch some of the greatest music acts around. There’s music here for everyone…

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great-episodes/music-great

Literature is Great - Part 2

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/literature-great-part-2

Transcript

The works of George Orwell, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien have arguably more influence today than when they were first published. 1984, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings have also been turned into movies as has that other icon of British fiction: Harry Potter.

This is Leadenhall Market, an old-fashioned Victorian market that's still popular today, and I've been told that if I walk over here, something rather magical will happen... because this is also the location of Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter films where wizards come shopping.

Evanesco!

…..

The Harry Potter films were adapted from the children’s novels of J.K. Rowling. She is a world-class leader in modern literature and one of the most successful authors of her generation. Over 450 million copies of the Harry Potter books have sold throughout the world. They’ve been translated into 72 different languages.

Amanda Craig is a novelist and The Times critic for children’s literature.

Richard: Amanda, what impact has J.K. Rowling had on literature?

Amanda: I think above all, I think she's reminded the world that the British are great storytellers. She's made people in every country laugh, cry and sit on the edge of their seats.

Richard: What about other British authors, then?

Amanda: Well, there are fantastic children's authors, like Philip Pullman, whose Dark Materials trilogy I'm sure will be familiar, and Anthony Horowitz, who reinvented the James Bond spy novel for teenagers, and for younger children, there's Cressida Cowell's How to Train your Dragon. All of these are fantastic stories.

Richard: Why is Britain such a breeding ground for writing talent?

Amanda: Well, we've had over 200 years of practice at the novel and 600 years at the play. We've got people like Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare to draw upon, we've got the wonderful English language and I think we are full of curiosity about other people. We want to entertain them, we want to make them laugh, we want to make them feel shivers up their spine. We just love literature.

.....

Well, I’m excited about the classics and the future of modern British literature. They say there’s a book in everyone and I feel so inspired, I'm going to start writing straight away. I just need a pen...

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great-episodes/literature-great