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Business Focus >>

The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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Sir Tom Hunter's green fingers

by Stuart Rock - Wednesday, 13th August 2008 - - Business comment

Master entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter loves gardening.

What is it about Sir Tom Hunter and gardens?

He already owns Wyevale Garden Centres – with more than 100 centres – and has incorporated into that chain Blooms of Bressingham (which also owns Europe’s second largest collection of steam engines).

He also fought a one-year battle with for the 21-chain Scottish chain Dobbies, which kicked off in June 2007. He sold his 29 per cent stake this summer, admitting to the Scotsman that he had "dilly-dallied".

Now he is bidding for Flying Brands, the postal flower service and garden products retailer. (We wonder what the company's brand new CEO, Tricia Killen, is going to make of this.)

Is it their freehold property portfolios that he is after? Or is it the organic growth (excuse the pun)?

BUSINESS NEWS >>

BNP controversy: what does it mean for you?

By Catherine Woods - November 19, 2008 4:16pm GMT

Two alleged members of the BNP have been axed from their jobs after a list containing the names of the party faithful appeared on the internet.

Cowdery to float Resolution

By Catherine Woods - November 19, 2008 3:37pm GMT

Insurance entrepreneur Clive Cowdery is making plans to float his company, Resolution, next month.

US market is the key for tech success

By Catherine Woods - November 19, 2008 3:22pm GMT

UK technology companies should be more aggressive in the US if they want to emulate the success of their State-side cousins, says one of Britain’s leading tech entrepreneurs.

“What’s in Great Britain’s shop window?” asks Dragon

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - November 19, 2008 2:36pm GMT

James Caan has lambasted the UK for its lack of a unified brand. “You want manufacturing, you go to China. What does Britain do?” he asked attendees at a T-Mobile roundtable discussion.

ASOS cashes in on the young pound

By Charlotte Burn-Callander - November 18, 2008 3:49pm GMT

On-line fashion retailer ASOS reported an impressive 68 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £4.1m. Bucking the downward trend on the high street, its sales in the first half of the year have more than doubled to £67.5m.

Brochures on Saving and investing

BUSINESS COMMENT >>

Global Entrepreneurship Week begins...

By Matthew Rock - November 17, 2008 9:50am GMT

And, boy, do we need it...

Hold onto your sides: it's the Friday funnies

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - November 14, 2008 3:44pm GMT

Take five and have a little chuckle at the best business humour around.

The entrepreneur's Shakespeare

By Kate Pritchard - November 14, 2008 3:09pm GMT

We're happy for you to vent your grumbles and groans about the economic downturn on our website. So when Nick Redford, managing director of recording studio Unit58, sent us a poem about the credit crunch, we couldn’t resist sharing it with the rest of you.

Can you bottle entrepreneurial spirit?

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - November 13, 2008 3:39pm GMT

The scientists say we can. But who wants to pop “risk pills”?

The Last Millionaire explodes onto our screens

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - November 13, 2008 12:16pm GMT

It’s a familiar format: a gaggle of businesspeople are thrown together to meet a series of challenges. But the entrepreneurs on this show have already made their millions. They’re being forced to start from scratch with no money and no help in unfamiliar territory. RB’s already hooked.

Business Comment 

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