Badger Blog

Ms Badger, who runs a successful SME consultancy business, told delegates at the annual event that by following a number of simple rules they could grow their businesses.

"It's really important to undertand who you are, what you provide and what the hell makes you different," she said. "If you want to do it there's only one person who can step up and do it and that's you."

The reality TV star, who has also enjoyed success in front of the camera through her hit show 'Badger or Bust', said it was also vital that owner-managers realised that an integral part of running a business was understanding their staff to ensure they got the best out of them.

Ms Badger said bosses should ultimately look at themselves and their shortcomings if a business was failing and not blame staff.

She was also keen to emphasise that although her appearance in the second series of BBC show The Apprentice had thrust her into the limelight, she had gambled everything to appear on the series and left a highly-paid sales director role with a plc.

She told the audience at the event, which was held at Barnsley Metrodome how her consultancy business had worked with 358 SMEs since its launch four years ago, more than 300 of which were still trading.

She also runs the Ruth Badger Training Academy which offers advice to small businesses.

She also emphasised the importance of sales to a business and time management.

"I actually believe sales is about not making the same mistakes again. You take decisions and you take risks. Do you always take the right ones? No.

"As a business owner it's really important to take control of the company. Business is simple. Attitude is the be all and end all for business."

Carol Cooper Smith, director of Barnsley Development Agency, one of the main sponsors of BarnsleyWorks with Barnsley Work and Skills Board, said the event was important to foster a spirit of enterprise in the region.

Ms Cooper Smith said sectors such as manufacturing and food and drink were flourishing in the wake of Barnsley's mining background.

She said: "We want to capitalise on the burgeoning spirit in the town. This event is an event for Barnsley by Barnsley.

"We've got an economy that's 30% driven by the public sector (in Barnsley) and that's got to change. What we need in Barnsley is much more of an enterprising spirit but that's coming."

More than 50 exhibitors, including SMEs, universities and advice bodies, attended BarnsleyWorks.

Delegates also heard from speakers including Rob Wilmot, director of BCS Digital and one of the brains behind internet service provider Freeserve; Dr Mike mcCaig of Bull, who spoke about greener ICT; and Imran Farooq, managing director of MMC Learning, gave an insight into digital marketing.

By Ian Briggs - Deputy Editor, Yorkshire-The Business Desk.com