If you’re a bit fed up of your current career and think you’d trade in some of that (alleged) job security for a bit more excitement, freedom and potential reward, then you’re not alone. For increasing numbers of us, the next career change is quite a dramatic one – over 400,000 people start a business in the UK every year, and the numbers are rising steadily every year.

Suddenly, being an entrepreneur is the ultimate in cool, reflected in the increasing numbers of TV programmes devoted to getting your business off the ground. Experts tell us there’s never been a better time to do it, with ‘enterprise culture’ being hot on government agendas.

If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, then like most entrepreneurs, learning from people who’ve been there and done it will be high on your agenda.

Liz Jackson knows a thing or two about starting a successful business from scratch – in the last five years she has gone from a desk in her front room to standing at the helm of a £2m business, and that’s without any experience or huge cash reserves to smooth the passage. In her new book Start Up! publishing in November, Liz tells how she did it, from finding the funding through winning customers and planning for growth – and gives lots of practical advice and inspiration for those contemplating turning an idea into a career!