Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

After finishing college in 1968 I became a primary school teacher for one year. As my father was in England, in 1970 I came here to study. I started studying and working at a garment factory.

After a while I realised that I can also set my own business in the garment industry and initiated a plan with my father's permission. I was setting up my business and studying at the same time - but it didn't last very long and at the end I decided to give more time and resources to my business. At the time I was the first Turk to invest in this industry. I am still in the confection business and am the CEO of Ramsey.

  How did Ramsey become so successful?

Ramsey is here today because of our earnestness & patience. We are able to manoeuvre ourselves very quickly to changes in industry. Commerce changes, market changes, money movement and political conjuncture are all important to note when running a business. We try to follow them and be up to date.

It'll be wrong to claim that we are very successful, as there will always be people in the world who are more successful, more diligent than you are, and is richer then you are. The highlight of success is to be content and thankful to where you are today. It's very easy to work yourselves to a frazzle because of the desire for more.

You should always ask for better. You, yourself must also be good to get accepted by the community and find ways to do things better. You must have business morals and always be honest and upfront. In my business life I made it my principle to be straightforward.

  Mr Gur, we know you are also actively involved in community work. Could you tell us a bit about these?

I have been involved with the setting up of MUSIAD (Independent Businessman's Association). Currently I am the chairman of Turkish-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBCCI). We have company members from both the UK and Turkey. We try to give guidance to businessmen who come from Turkey to the UK or the other way around. We are working in conjunction with both the Turkish Embassy and Consulate and English authorities in Turkey.

  Have you ever been involved in mutual programs with other societies in the UK?

Societies that are similar to us we do sometimes attend their meetings. Representatives from Bosnia and Switzerland Chamber of Commerce have joined us & we have also joined them on similar occasions.

In 2001, you have personally organised an event at the House of Lords as retribution against the "Blue Book" Armenian propaganda. The Armenian issue is again in discussion. Have you personally or as TBCCI got any projects with respect to this?

The evening in 2001 was attended by 17 Lords, 18MP's and many VIP's from the Turkish community. We explained to the English that it wasn't genocide and people from both sides had died and it was not state endorsed. It is rude to claim genocide has happened when it hasn't. Also we are a Muslim community and we'll never arbitrarily kill any living for the sake of it. The English guests accepted that the whole era was portrayed incorrectly.

I wish that it never had happened and people had not died. It is tragic to bring a war which occurred in the past into our current agenda. Who benefits from bringing this I don't know?

Also as TBCCI we will be writing a letter to the Edinburgh Council regarding the Armenian symposium. UK and Turkey have excellent trade relationships - UK being the 2nd biggest trade partner of Turkey. These types of things will damage the trade between the two countries and it's tragic and politically rude for an ordinary Council to engage with the Armenian issue. This is not an issue for Councils to deal with, they have not been effected by the said genocide so why are they making an issue out of it?

  What sort of advice can you give Turkish professionals in the UK? Ideally many will like to setup their own businesses and become their own boss.

If you can integrate into the UK, that means you are learning the system. This is an essential part of being successful here. You must know this countries system. Which ever industry you are in, if you don't understand your work or don't understand that countries system you will fail. I advise that you attempt to work on projects that you know you are good and confident at.

  Will the TBCCI provide any help or support for any professionals wanting to start their own business?

We haven't got anything in place yet, but can do in the future. We would like to have links with universities and Turkish graduates as well.