James Callander

Managing Director, Freshminds

James joined Freshminds in 2003 – working in a variety of roles across the business. He became Managing Director in 2008 and today leads on the commercial development of the business. He works with CEOs, managing partners and leaders of top investment banks, private equity firms, consulting firms and fast-growing companies, supporting them with hiring and project consultancy.

James has an MA in Geography from Edinburgh University and completed a sales leadership course at Harvard Business School in 2011. Before Freshminds he worked for Roland Berger and Bell Pottinger. He’s a keen cook and enjoys running and tennis. James has stood for Parliament twice, and acts as an informal advisor to his wife’s luxury travel business.

Why do you support the work of The Entrepreneurs Network?

I have always been super enthusiastic about the world of business and entrepreneurs – while it can be hugely risky and not for everyone I think that running your own company is a wonderful privilege and something we (as a society) should encourage as an engine of job and wealth creation. I have been proud to support a small number of people in their entrepreneurial journey and have come to understand some of the challenges and concerns that people have when running a business. 

What research should more people read?

I think that the stakeholder engagement of The Entrepreneurs Network and their publications are both excellent and more importantly an essential bridge of understanding between government policy and business reality. Really trying to help the civil service and government to understand the impact of tax changes, incentives and broader policy is critical to business success. I like to believe the government wants to set the conditions for growth but needs to understand business from the ground up to best help business big and small to prosper.

Why is the UK an attractive place to grow a business?

The UK is a fantastic place to start a business. From the rule of law, creative thinking, engaged workforce, range of suppliers, matched with our position at the edge of Europe and one side of an Atlantic bridge. That said I do think it can be hard place to grow a company – access to right staff, financing, property, high costs of ‘doing business’, etc.