About

My name is Richard Osborne and I am an energetic and fun loving “Entrepreneur”. Although I dislike using that term it is what people who know me call me, so I’ll use that term here.

I enjoy what I do and like to share that enthusiasm with those who work alongside me. Like most Entrepreneurs I had a rocky start in life growing up in debt, violence and some shady experiences through my teen years. I’ve also had some business failures, and make a lot of mistakes. Again, like most Entrepreneurs I have learnt from my past and those mistakes. I don’t know everything, but I approach life with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Add to that a passion to succeed, and I want to share that with those around me.

My two more public business successes are Quick Formations and UK Business Forums. Quick Formations was not my first step into the world of running my own business but after losing my first business in a deal that didn’t go as planned, doing a lot of freelance work and setting up an IT business, Quick Formations was then formed in 2002 and to date I still sit at the helm. It has won 13 business awards, revolutionised the industry in which it sits, and has been a great success story for me after previous failures.

UK Business Forums (UKBF) is another public success story after I purchased a slow online discussion forum from a web designer for £750 (plus VAT!). I then spent a few years promoting and growing these forums to be the largest and most active online business discussion forums in the UK. I then sold them to a media company in 2007 for a deal worth £250,000. Known as “Ozzy” on many discussion forums I still network online as much as I can, and find them a great medium to share knowledge and help other growing businesses.

In the time whilst growing UKBF and Quick Formations I also grew and sold Quick Telecom and Quick Credit Reports, these sales were me learning from mistakes again and were just stripping out the least profitable ventures to focus on my core activities. The money from these sales added to the UKBF sale has since enabled me to spread out to do more of what I enjoy, and that is helping new business ideas grow. I have had an interest and involvement in a number of other business ventures, such as a private number plate company, another online forum, a tank driving experience and more interestingly CallTracks. Despite these other ventures though I still have my core business Quick Formations, and have started a couple more of my own which are Efiling and New Start Data.

I frequently meet with many people who want to run their business ideas past me, some of these coming via the local enterprise agencies. More often than not these people are looking for investment, and through various contacts I help them find the money they are looking for without giving up unnecessary equity in their business. Some say I’m not ruthless enough, but then those who know me do know I’m an honest and ethical businessman who will do right by those I work with.

I also volunteer a lot of my time in a combination of charity or “free” work. I am a Northamptonshire Ambassador and help advise on the county development strategy for institutions such as the University of Northamptonshire, as well as playing a very active role for Inward Investment into the county. I’m recognised as one of the most influential Chairs for the area board of Young Enterprise. I have been very active with the previous Regional Development Agency and UK Trade & Investment for their inward investment program and in particular in relation to China Inward Investment. I have even won an award for my involvement in their Business Champions program for volunteer support to University students in Nottingham.

Some would say I talk a lot, and for that I occasionally do a bit of public speaking. My key topics are business start-up, inspiring younger generations, overcoming personal challenges, and using technology in business. If you would like me to speak at one of your events please take a look at the Speaking menu option above for more information.

My family is very important to me above everything else, and beyond that I like Rugby and in particular follow the Northampton Saints. I also like playing golf and enjoy riding the lanes on my Yamaha R1.