Higher education: a sweet spot for chocolate entrepreneur
By Kate Pritchard
Hotel Chocolat entrepreneur Angus Thirlwell has one big regret. He wishes he’d taken a strategy course at Cranfield School of Management earlier in his career. “I used to spend too long meddling in the day-to-day running of the business,” he admits.

Supermarkets praised for guidance
By Catherine Woods
There are plenty of entrepreneurs with horror stories about dealing with supermarkets but SuperJam owner and creator Fraser Doherty says the outlets he’s dealt with have been “incredible” and have taught him a lot about business.

Bohemian turns businessman
By Kate Pritchard
How on earth did a hippy who received no formal education and spent his childhood travelling around in caravans end up running a £1m bespoke furniture design company?

"University is overrated," says teen entrepreneur
By Catherine Woods
Jonathan Whittle has turned his back on university, instead deciding to launch Maggleit.com – a website that aims to change the way people buy and sell products.

Waste not, want not
By Melissa Hancock
In setting up his publishing company Vegetarian Guides, Alex Bourke learnt a few hard lessons along the way – namely choose your bank carefully and ask yourself “Do I really need an accountant?”

"Brits don't want manufacturing jobs"
By Kate Pritchard
In her struggle to find local talent, KK Finefoods founder Leyla Edwards relies on immigrant workers at her factory in Deeside. With over 40 per cent of employees hailing from Poland, Edwards has started running English lessons each week.

Start-ups: do you really need external finance?
By Melissa Hancock
Lois Cook set up her website Angels’ Den in order to match angel investors with people with a worthy business idea. In her experience, early-stage businesses should seek ways to avoid external funding.

Non-execs give guidance to up-and-coming entrepreneur
By Catherine Woods
Innovantage managing director Matthew Dewstowe takes advantage of the experience of his non-executive directors as he learns what it takes to build his company – a provider of business intelligence about online recruitment advertising.

Advantage, the entrepreneur
By Real Business
John Hutton, James Caan, Richard Lambert, Sir Ronald Cohen and other entrepreneurs take centre stage at the second Real Business/CBI Entrepreneurs' Summit.

Hotelier shows appetite for learning
By Catherine Woods
A former professional dancer, Avril Owton hadn’t a clue about business when she inherited Cloud Hotel in the New Forest. So, she took advantage of every opportunity to learn more about her adopted trade, going to conferences, reading books, networking and speaking to as many people as possible.