Many owners of small to medium businesses private equity firm probably won't have heard of Wol Kolade, but he sure does his bit to promote the growth of the sector.
Kolade is boss of the private equity firm Isis, which takes stakes in SMEs that they think are destined for growth. Typically the firm takes between 25 per cent and 75 per cent of the equity in companies and essentially frees the entrepreneurs from the day-to-day grind of managing the business. He aims for the founders to be completely free from management of the companies within three years and a trade business sale to be effected soon after.
The firm has a great track record to date, with only around 10 per cent of investments down the pan or in a loss situation over the last decade.
Kolade is adamant that the future prosperity of the UK and the climb out of recession rests in the hands of entrepreneurs - the lifeblood of the economy. He has served as chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and was a vocal campaigner against rises in capital gains tax.
His advice for the government in terms of helping the SME sector? Simple. 'Get out of the way!'.
Kodlade's perspective on company debt ought to be heard and absorbed. "Debt is OK. People think about [debt] in the wrong way". He thinks this view on debt has been badly tainted lately. "Companies running with cash in the bank are inefficient - in order to grow you need to borrow". If banks continue to hold back lending from businesses, according to Kolade, there will be rafts of corporate bankruptcies and businesses in administration over the next five years. 
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