Just Eat founder: No one would run a business like No 10 runs the country
If you were designing an organisation to run a modern country, you wouldn’t design Number 10. The fragmentation, endless meetings and lack of accountability would be unthinkable in a successful business, says David Buttress Walking through the door of Number 10 Downing Street was one of the proudest moments of my life. I grew up [...]
When asked if he would design a modern country's governing body like Number 10 Downing Street, former Just Eat CEO David Buttress immediately dismissed the idea. He described the organization as rife with fragmentation, endless meetings, and a lack of accountability, all of which would be unacceptable in a thriving business environment.
While walking through the iconic building, Buttress felt an immense sense of pride, having grown up in a council house and rising to the role of tackling the nation's cost-of-living crisis. However, he also unearthed deeply troubling aspects of how Britain operates. In a roundtable meeting comprising 28 significant figures, including politicians and business leaders, each participant shared their insights, yet when Buttress asked about tangible outcomes from the meeting, few answers emerged.
This experience led him to question the nation's approach to growth and wealth creation. Buttress recounted how Just Eat, once a struggling startup, grew into a £5.5 billion business, creating jobs and contributing to the economy. He lamented the current culture that discourages wealth creators and makes success seem like a crime.
Despite contributing roughly a third of income tax revenues, the top 10% of earners only make up 60% of tax contributions. This disparity has led to successful entrepreneurs relocating to other countries, causing Britain to lose not only taxes but also investments, businesses, and job opportunities for the next generation. Buttress emphasized the need for a different approach to leadership, comparing the current strategy to a failing business model.
He urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to adopt a growth-focused mindset, advocating for policies that incentivize investment and job creation. He called for a shift in perspective, urging Burnham to question how to encourage more entrepreneurs to invest in Britain rather than how to extract more from them or make their lives harder.
Buttress concluded by expressing his disappointment in Burnham's potential to make a positive change, warning that continuing the prevailing strategy could ultimately hinder Britain's economic prosperity and leave young people without purpose or opportunities.
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