CHAIRMAN UCSL. 1970 - 1984
Len's Own "Mini CV"
It feels very good to be in touch again with old friends after so many years. I have often wondered how you all got on in EDS, or wherever you moved. One or two said the same to me and as a consequence I wrote the following short piece. If any of you feel inclined to do the same I would be delighted to receive a copy.
After UCSL was sold to EDS, I found myself one of about 30 ex chairmen or CEO’s of operating companies for whom Unilever had no suitable new posts – it was the time of the great ‘sell off’ of non mainstream activities. It was no great surprise therefore that early retirement was proposed.
I spent my last year with Unilever as part of its contribution to community service - setting up an Enterprise Agency for Surrey. E.A’s. were already in existence in many parts of the UK with the object of assisting unemployed people to start up a business, and to help those who had already done so but were struggling to survive. I managed to put together a good team of ‘advisors’, all volunteers; find sponsors including a secondment by BP of a very good chap to run the agency. Surrey soon became by general consent one of the better E.A.s . I continued to sit on its Board for a few years, by which time the government was getting more involved in E As – putting nominees on the board in return for funding.
Meanwhile two of our old UCSL colleagues, Bob Gilkes, ex Microsystems and Allen Brown, ex chief accountant, had started up a small consultancy based in Cambridge (Cambridge Venture Management). This too was aimed at small businesses considered to have potential and the idea was that CVM would raise the money and guide the management. The concept originated in Trinity College and initially was limited to businesses that were part of the so called Cambridge Phenomenon. I joined Bob and Allen with the intention of widening activities into the London area as the academics were losing interest. However, it didn’t work out that way, Allen decided to go freelance and Bob departed to run a client business. Fortunately there were a couple of good guys left to carry on the business and I became part time working chairman. One of our clients was the software business run by Dick Moore, who many of you will remember.
It was good fun for a number of years - even if it did not make as much money as it might have as a result of the changes in the small print in numerous budgets relating to capital gains by directors of small companies. Our strategy had always been to take much of our fees as shares or options.
I hung up my boots finally at the millennium.
Mary, my wife, and I continue to live quietly in Cobham where we raised our family of 4 sons, who in turn have presented us with 4 grandchildren - all girls!
My health held up pretty well until two or three years ago, since when it’s gone steadily downhill. Brainbox still works, albeit somewhat more slowly, but physically I take it one day at a time – and keep smiling!
My warmest regards to all
Len Rawle