Luke's Columns

This general election is the most important in my lifetime. The choice is stark: vote Conservative, or get a hard-left government and a bleak future. The brain drain following a Labour victory would be devastating. I have talked to many highly successful entrepreneurs in recent weeks and all say…

In wealthy countries such as Britain, the elite spend an extraordinary amount of time and money trying to get their children into the best universities. There is a generally accepted belief that a degree from one of the world’s finest higher education institutions represents a passport to a successful…

One of the great rituals of modern corporate life is the annual “offsite”. It can also be termed a strategy day, a brainstorming session or a team away-day. Sometimes it is known as a retreat, although this has unfortunate connotations in a military context. I have attended more of…

Leaders can be divided into custodians or creators. Custodians are stewards of established organisations; creators build new ones. Each can be a noble pursuit. Society needs both types of leader. Institutions such as hospital foundations, universities, large companies, housing associations, big charities, academy trusts, local authorities, government ministries —…

Why does Britain boast the world’s longest tax code, at 22,000 pages? Is it a sign of sophistication? Or perhaps an indication that we are a nation of tax dodgers? Or more likely, that tax law and administration here is a bureaucracy out of control, such that simply calculating…

Urban regeneration should be a priority for government and entrepreneurs alike. It must be a core element of every party manifesto at the general election on December 12. If Britain is to become a more prosperous and equal society, we must revive our poorer regional towns and cities. In…

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. I think they’re wrong: it is better never pursued at all. The Bible is a touch contradictory on the issue. The Old Testament suggests that justice demands “an eye for an eye”, also known as the law of retaliation,…

Company boards are expected to be diverse in the 21st century — certainly by gender and ethnicity. But what about age? The average age of non-executive directors in Britain’s top 150 public companies is over 60, says the headhunter Spencer Stuart. For executives, the figure is 53. In America,…

An ability to say “no” is an invaluable skill — especially in business. The problem with saying “yes” a lot is that you use up all your time. As we all know, time is our most precious resource. No matter how rich you are, you cannot buy more of…

I had a lucky escape this summer. I spent some months investigating the vaping market with a view to investing in it, but eventually I decided not to proceed. Now, in America, the industry is in crisis, and it may yet spread to Britain. I felt vaping had many…