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IN BUSINESS
Who’s top of the broadband chart?
Top 10 Broadband, the UK’s leading O2 won the Fastest Broadband and Customer selves in the UK broadband market by offering
broadband comparison site, has Satisfaction awards, with an average down- first-class packages tailored to niche areas of
announced the results of its inaugural load speed of 6.128Mb and customer rating of the market,’ says Jessica McArdle of Top 10
annual broadband awards. 3.84 out of 5 making it attractive to the number Broadband.
Winners include O2 as the fastest broad- of UK consumers who want to download Customer reviews and specific package of-
band provider, BT as the winner in the wireless songs and movies, stream live video and play ferings including price, download allowance,
broadband category and ‘3' as best mobile games online without the connection dropping contract length and speed of over 120 broad-
broadband provider. in and out or the download taking a long time. band packages were also judged by the Top
The Top 10 Broadband team closely anal- UK broadband customers increasingly seek 10 Broadband team.
ysed data captured in over 310,000 speed the flexibility to connect to the internet from ‘The Top 10 Broadband awards amount to a
tests carried out on the Top 10 Broadband site their laptops both wirelessly at home and via comprehensive guide to the best broadband
as part of the judging process and broadband mobile broadband when on the move. The packages on the market allowing the public to
packages were rigorously tested against a Wireless Broadband award went to BT as their make informed buying decisions,’ says McAr-
wide range of criteria to secure victory in award wireless router, the BT HomeHub 2.0, doubles dle.
categories such as fastest broadband, cus- the wireless reach of most routers and facili- The Top 10 Broadband Awards and winners:
tomer satisfaction and broadband bundle. The tates digital TV. Fastest Broadband: O2
awards therefore offer recognition to broad- ‘3’ were the clear winner in the mobile Customer Satisfaction: O2
band providers that have broadband category, with their expansive Mobile Broadband: 3
achieved excellence in range of packages offering a variety of Wireless Broadband: BT
their field. download allowance and laptop op- Broadband Bundle: Virgin Media
tions. With mobile broadband sales Value Broadband: TalkTalk
increasing by 50% month-on-month Short-Contract Broadband: AOL Broadband
this is the fastest-moving and most Small ISP: PlusNet
progressive sector of the market. Gaming Broadband: Be
‘The winners of the Top 10 Broad- Student Broadband: Vodafone
band awards have distinguished them-
Secrets of entrepreneural success revealed
As budding businessmen and women face with nearly three quarters (71%) coming from a with money is the key.
make or break in the latest series of state school background. However, further ed- Nearly all entrepreneurs are united in shar-
Dragon’s Den, what separates the winners ucation does help. Nearly a fifth (17%) of busi- ing the same motivations for starting up. Nearly
from the losers? ness owners left education after GCSEs or O two thirds (62%) wanted independence, while
New research from Alliance & Leicester levels, while over a third (34%) were educated over half (56%) wanted more control over their
Commercial Bank may have the answer. The to degree level and almost one in five (18%) lives and almost six in ten (57%) wanted to be
bank’s study, which profiled entrepreneurs continued to secure a Masters or PhD. their own boss so they didn’t have to answer to
across the UK, identified a number of traits Meanwhile, a wealthy background appears anybody else.
which today’s tycoons have in common – to deter entrepreneurialism, with more than ‘The secret of any successful businesses is
could these be the secrets of entrepreneurial nine out of ten successful business people de- remembering to temper bravery with pru-
success? scribing themselves as either middle-class dence,’ said a spokesman for Alliance & Le-
The research shows six in ten business (50%) or working class (43%). icester. ‘Running a business does have
owners are the first born child in their family. The research reveals that a third (33%) associated risks, but it’s vital to make sure that
More than four in five (85%) have one or more started their business between the ages of 26 contingency plans are in place should the
siblings, putting to good use leadership and and 35 and London is the most likely place for worst happen. It is encouraging that many
teamwork qualities learnt at a young age. a small business to start up, with two fifths business owners say they pay attention to de-
Unlike the big egos and self-confidence (40%) of entrepreneurs launching their future tail and take a sensible approach to their busi-
often witnessed on-screen, the research empire in the capital. nesses’ finances. Setting funds aside in a
reveals the character traits most successful With nearly three in ten small businesses high-interest deposit account and making sure
entrepreneurs believe they have in common failing before they reach three years, it seems that you have the best deal from all your sup-
are actually being dependable (43%), consid- business owners are learning to combat risk, pliers will provide a financial cushion so that
erate (22%) and a good listener (22%). with more than half (51%) saying that their ap- you can afford to grow and develop further.’
Private education seems to have little influ- proach to business is attention to detail and For more information call:
ence compared to natural entrepreneurial flair, over a quarter (28%) saying that being prudent 0800 587 0800.
Business Matters issue 164 • 13
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