Have you got what it takes?

Entering this money maze isn’t limited to graduates, although good perks mean employers can pick and choose entrants who meet their personal criteria. Most corporate banks offer school leaver schemes, and there are still plenty of cases of front-end staff climbing the corporate ladder - two of the case studies featured here typify this. Personal qualities important for success today include:

• Commercial awareness and how companies make money
• Analytical ability
• Self-confidence
• Lateral thinking and initiative
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Team player
• Enthusiasm to learn and self-motivation
• A ‘can-do’ attitude.

B-2-B in numbers

3.8million

The number of businesses in the UK – 99% of them small businesses.

Source Dept of Trade & Industry 2004

175,000

The number of VAT registered start-up businesses in the UK during 2002 – 1,200 were in finance.

£50billion

The amount invested by the UK venture capital industry in up to 23,000 companies since 1983.