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August 2002
Reuben Singh, the handsomely turbaned chairman and sole shareholder of the International RS Group of Companies is only
26 years old. Success at such a young age is achieved rarely by the best of us, but not for the enterprising Reuben Singh who at 24 was declared by the Guinness Book of Records as UK's youngest millionaire. Now in 2002 Reuben Singh is a millionaire many times over and seeks to beat Bill Gates at his own game and achieve billionaire status at an even earlier age.
His success started at 17 when still in the sixth form at school and studying for his A-level exams he launched "Miss Attitude" a fashion accessory chain of stores selling "4U2NV" brand jewelry. Reuben calls Miss Attitude, which soon became a national chain, "his baby". The chain's popularity earned Reuben a position in a listing of Britain’s Top 50 Venture Capitalists. He eventually sold the business in 2000 and launched the international RS Group consisting of 11 companies trading in property, currency, retail, venture capital, construction and health food. The RS Group is one of UK's fastest growing companies. Reuben plans on adding a wireless and internet component too and is on the verge of closing a fundraising round for alldaypa.com, a new dot.com venture valued at £ 85 million with the Arizona based Phoenix Fund. This will provide an internet enabled secretarial service, secure data storage, unlimited web space and online personal organizers.
How did he do it? Hard work, perseverance and of course an intense business acumen. Reuben started early. His parents immigrated to the UK in the early 1970's from New Delhi, India. In the UK, the family started an import and export business based in Manchester, England where Reuben and his younger brother were born. Reuben was always included on buying trips and by 16 was running the sales department of his parent’s store. That was when he had his "big idea" of starting Miss Attitude and it has been upward journey for him since. Reuben would wake very early to a routine of school and after-school work at the family shop. Often he would sleep only 4 hours a night. But his work was his passion and each day he would wake enthused. The growth of his stores was the only "high" he needed to maintain the rigorous schedules it demanded.
Along the way Reuben has picked up more accolades. He has been listed as the "Most Powerful Individual Under 30 yrs in Britain (1999)", "European Entrepreneur of the Year (1999)", "Europe's Bill Gates (1999)", "Rising Star (1999)" and "The World's Youngest Self-Made Millionaire (1998)". He serves as Advisor to the Government on Entrepreneurship and SME sector, serves on DTI's Competitiveness Council and Small Business Council and is currently Chairman of the Senate HRH Genesis Initiative. In addition, Reuben has been appointed as one of five Ambassadors of Entrepreneurship in the UK and one of six members of a government taskforce reporting to DCMS department of Culture, Media and Sports.
Reuben does not feel that he missed out on his teenage years. He enjoyed and still enjoys parties and friends and is on the lookout for a life partner. He loves movies, "Pretty Woman" is a favorite, cars and clothes.
Reuben still has a headful of great ideas. He wants to set up a network of government funded centers to help and promote young enterpreneurs and will soon be launching the B2B internet venture.
Most endearing of all is Reuben's strong faith in Sikhism. He has maintained his Sikh identity and is a devout amritdhari. He visits the Golden Temple every year on his birthday. No doubt this is just the beginning for Reuben. From those who eagerly await his next business moves, we wish him good luck.
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