Duncan Cheatle

Duncan Cheatle is an entrepreneur and supporter of UK enterprise. He has founded and co-founded multiple enterprise support initiatives, including The Supper Club, a London-based membership club for fast-growth entrepreneurs; Startup Britain, a privately sector funded, not-for-profit national campaign to 'celebrate, inspire, and accelerate enterprise in the UK';[1]

Businesses

Cheatle is CEO and founder of Prelude, whose stated mission is 'Making Britain the most enterprising nation in the world.'[2] Prelude is a provider of training programmes and support services for entrepreneurs. Included within The Prelude Group are The Supper Club, founded in 2003, a London-based membership organisation for growth entrepreneurs,[3] and Rise To, a national initiative connecting enterprising young people with entrepreneurial businesses.

Start Up Britain

In 2011, Cheatle co-founded Start Up Britain, a privately led national campaign to promote UK entrepreneurship.[4] The initiative was launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron, and has the support of HM government as well as a number of international corporations including AXA, Barclays, Intel, BlackBerry, Experian, Google, Virgin Media, Microsoft, McKinsey & Co and O2.[5]

Cheatle, with The Supper Club, offered a mentoring scheme as part of Start Up Britain's offering for its first year. This scheme provided over 1600 hours of mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs to early stage businesses.[6]

CGT taper relief

In 2007 Cheatle led a campaign against plans announced by then UK Chancellor Alistair Darling to abolish taper relief on entrepreneurial businesses, a tax relief originally introduced in 1998 with the stated intention of increasing investment to small and medium businesses. Cheatle's petition against the abolition of taper relief on the Downing Street website received over 18,000 signatures and the campaign was widely covered in the UK press at the time.[7][8][9] Following the negative public response to the proposals, the Treasury introduced a new tax relief measure known as Entrepreneurs' Relief.[10]

Public profile and leadership

In 2012, Cheatle became a director of the newly formed Start Up Loans company, a government funded organisation providing mentor-supported loans to young people looking to start their own businesses.[11] The scheme, which also involved Dragon's Den star James Caan, was promoted by 12 "ambassadors" including young entrepreneurs such as James Eder (The Beans Group), Emily Bendell (Bluebella) and Romy Lewis (Lola's Kitchen).[12] Cheatle is a member of the Entrepreneur Advisory Panel for Entrepreneur First, a McKinsey & Co. led 'graduate scheme for aspiring entrepreneurs,'[13] and is a member of Courvoisier The Future 500, a network of 'UK innovators and pioneers.'[14] In 2009 The Supper Club won the SFEDI Award for Enterprise Organisation of the Year.[15]

Cheatle regularly writes for and comments on enterprise related matters in the business press and has spoken at events for the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Entrepreneur Country, Made Festival, and the IAEW among others. He has judged on panels for UnLtd's Big Venture Challenge, the Fast Growth Business Awards, and the National Business Awards.

References

  1. "Start Up Britain: About Us". Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. Hobson, Sophie (25 May 2012). "Q&A: Duncan Cheatle, founder of The Supper Club and Prelude Group". London Loves Business. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  3. Hobson, Sophie. "Q&A: Duncan Cheatle, founder of The Supper Club & Prelude Group". LondonLovesBusiness. Casis Media. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. Moules, Jonathan (28 March 2011). "Campaign to foster start-ups backed by PM". The Financial Times. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  5. "David Cameron: Now is time to start business". BBC. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  6. Cheatle, Duncan. "Start Up Britain Mentoring Scheme to Produce Over 500 New Jobs". Start Up Britain. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  7. Wearden, Graeme (19 October 2007). "12,000 people sign CGT petition". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  8. Tyler, Richard (23 January 2008). "Alistair Darling will refuse to budge on CGT". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  9. Moules, Jonathan (3 November 2007). "CGT change 'has cost Labour votes'". The Financial Times. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  10. Woods, Catherine (24 January 2008). "Entrepreneurs lambast CGT plans". Real Business. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  11. "£80 million start up loans for new businesses". HM Government. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  12. Sharkey, Linda (19 July 2013). "Government's scheme reveals ambassadors to inspire young entrepreneurs". The Independent. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  13. "About Us: Entrepreneur First". Entrepreneur First. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  14. "Courvoisier The Future 500: Top 100". London: Guardian News and Media Ltd. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  15. "Start Up Britain, Meet the Founders: Duncan Cheatle". Start Up Britain. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
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