About Peter Jones

EARLY YEARS

I was born in 1966 and raised in Berkshire. When I was seven, I often went to my father's office in Windsor because I loved sitting in his big chair and pretending to be in charge of a big company, even though it was a small office and just him.

My parents wanted the best for me and sent me for a couple of terms to private school. It was financially crippling for them to send me there - and, moreover, I didn't like it, finding it very different from what I was used to. So at the age of eight I left, spending the rest of my school years in state schools.

Both my parents worked full-time for over 50 years to provide the family with as much as they could. We never went without, but I always yearned for more. I wanted to do the best I could, knowing that one day I was going to be a multi-millionaire.

Young Professional

I first got a sense of my business acumen and strong head for figures while still at school, as a teenager. I was pretty good at tennis, so I spoke to my English teacher John Woodward at the time who also ran a summer tennis school.

I thought a job there would be brilliant as it would be for the whole summer and every half term. When I was 16 years old I was able to take my coaching exam to become an LTA qualified coach. As soon as I passed and become a qualified coach, I started my own tennis academy in Windsor.

This allowed me to combine the subjects I loved the most: sport and economics. It was the start of my entrepreneurial journey, driven by my passion for the sport and, fortunately for me, I had the perfect mentor in John, who I visited a couple of years ago for a special "Dragon's Den Revisited" show.

Budding Entrepreneur

During my twenties, I ran a thriving computer business which allowed me to own a nice house, a BMW, a Porsche, and plenty of money to spend. However, through a combination of circumstances, personal mistakes and learning the hard way when a few major customers went out of business themselves, I lost the business.

Later, I set up a computer support business and then a restaurant, the latter ended up being a fun if costly mistake. At 28, I decided to join a large corporate because I didn't have any money, was without a car or a house - a tough position to be in. Within 12 months, I ended up running the business in the UK.

Entrepreneur

I founded Phones International Group in 1998, providing mobile cellular solutions to a broad range of clients. The core of the business was a distribution model I created called Single Brand Distribution. These days, this business operates under the brand name of Data Select.

The company is a major factor in our growth, accounting for £14 million of sales in the first year of trading and £44 million by the end of the second. Other related companies have also grown within the group, including Generation Telecom, which was sold to one of the world's largest companies for millions of pounds within two years of starting up.

The Times/Ernst & Young recognized me as Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002. My telecoms group was identified as the 13th fastest growing business in The Sunday Times/Virgin Atlantic UK Fast Track League Table in 2003

Now

Today, my investment Group, PJI has interests in a wide range of companies in a variety of markets that collectively generate sales of more than £250 million and employ more than 1,000 people. We have invested in more than 100 businesses spanning publishing, media, television & entertainment, technology, food products, retail, the environment and property building a varied and growing portfolio, which nurtures and develops emerging entrepreneurs helping them build and grow their business on a global scale.

Beyond my own direct business interests, I have also developed a public role focused on nurturing Britain's entrepreneurial talent, especially working to help young people and young enterprise flourish in the UK.

In 2009, following a successful Pathfinder activity, my Peter Jones Enterprise Academy network of colleges opened its doors to students aged 16 to 19 across the UK. I have big plans for scaling it up offering thousands of courses to students both in the UK and internationally.

THE FUTURE

Looming on the horizon for me is a lot more work with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, and the charity I founded, the Peter Jones Foundation.

My mission here is to continue to raise awareness of the need for much more enterprise education in schools from a young age, right through to adulthood. Our aim is to educate, encourage and support and the time is definitely now to be teaching our young people how to excel at business and, in time, help lead the UK to economic recovery and success.

Following my eighteenth series of Dragons Den, I am looking at one or two other TV projects where I can shine a spotlight on business and successful companies and the people behind them. I am currently working on two new shows, one in the UK and one in the US, which are both in the early stages of production. Watch this space to find out more details.