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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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Delboy’s top ten business lessons
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Entrepreneurs up and down the country have been watching back-to-back episodes of Only Fools and Horses, gleaning top tips from the wheeler-dealer himself.

May 13, 2008 4:29pm
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Outsider shakes up luxury watch industry
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Sometimes, ignorance is a blessing. Alastair Laidlaw knew nothing about luxury watch retailing when he started Jura Watches. And a good thing too…

May 09, 2008 1:56pm
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Branson voted top role model for SME owners
img 1 By Melissa Hancock
When it comes to popularity stakes in the business world, Sir Richard Branson is the reigning champion. Most recently, the chairman of the Virgin Group has topped a poll of business role models as voted for by UK SME owners.

April 30, 2008 11:11am
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Spymaster discovers the secret agent to success
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Lee Marks, director of comms and surveillance firm Spymaster, has the low-down on bugs, bent business partners and bullet proof vests.

April 30, 2008 11:10am
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Scots aren't lazy
img 1 By Kate Pritchard
Scottish racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart recently accused his countrymen of being workshy, lazy and reliant on safe public-sector jobs for their employment. "That was pretty insulting,” says Steve Leach, founder of Edinburgh-based Bigmouthmedia. “There are plenty of successful entrepreneurs north of the M25.”

April 28, 2008 3:10pm
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Dutton’s top tips for surviving a downturn
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Gary Dutton, founder of £100m-turnover manufacturer, Synseal, is strangely ebullient about the current economic crisis. Here are his wise words on weathering the storm.

April 18, 2008 12:26pm
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Entrepreneur goes back to go forward
img 1 By Catherine Woods
Resin Surfaces managing director Ivy Wroe admits she took her company back a few years when she changed the sales structure but says it’s been worth it.

April 17, 2008 4:37pm
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Ex-Dragon on James Caan, Rebecca Loos and the government
img 1 By Carryn Dewing
Doug Richard, founder of Library House and, more recently, CEO of his new start-up Trutap, started off his discussion at the Entrepreneurs' Summit with a rather scathing reaction to James Caan's "condescending" attitude towards the audience: "I could have sworn I was in a room of adults."

April 15, 2008 4:06pm
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Goodbye scrag end
img 1 By Rebecca Burn-Callander
Hello natural, high grade pet food.

April 11, 2008 9:56am
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Psychiatric treatment business prospers from unique management style
img 1 By Melissa Hancock
John Hughes, founder and CEO of Cygnet Healthcare, says he is considered “eccentric” by competitors in the industry because of how he runs the business. But it’s certainly working: the company is now the UK's second largest independent provider of acute psychiatric services and turns over £80m.

April 08, 2008 4:19pm

BUSINESS NEWS >>

Online future is bright for Cornish auction house 

By Catherine Woods - August 21, 2008 4:31pm GMT

Auction houses mustn’t ignore the internet business revolution, argues art entrepreneur Barnes Thomas whose Cornwall-based company is alone in offering online bidding in the county.

Doing business in Russia? Get your arsenal ready

By Kate Pritchard - August 21, 2008 11:57am GMT

Despite its deteriorating relations with the West, Russia offers lucrative opportunities for entrepreneurs. But be warned: the world’s tenth biggest economy and second largest oil producing country has some of the toughest negotiators on the planet.

Local knowledge is key to success in the Middle East

By Catherine Woods - August 20, 2008 5:34pm GMT

The key to succeeding in the Middle East is having an understanding of local business practices and customs as soon as you’re on the ground, says BIW Technologies chief Colin Smith.

Celebrity endorsement for food entrepreneur

By Kate Pritchard - August 20, 2008 5:28pm GMT

Jennifer Irvine set up home-delivery meals firm The Pure Package in 2004 from her kitchen. Today she turns over £1.2m and has over 3,000 clients on her books, including Ruby Wax, Patsy Kensit and handbag designer Anya Hindmarch. “I’ve never marketed the brand to celebrities,” she says. “They’ve come to me.” So, what’s her secret?

Green award attracts clients to Fresh

By Catherine Woods - August 20, 2008 5:05pm GMT

Cheadle-based creative media group Fresh is upfront about its environmental credentials. Co-founder and director Julie Besbrode says the firm has become one of only a few in the UK to be granted a globally recognised environmental award.


BUSINESS COMMENT >>

Dragons’ Den: Where are they now?

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - August 21, 2008 5:02pm GMT

If you (like us) were wondering whatever happened to all those businesses that faced the Dragons’ wrath in the Den over the past six series, look no further.

How do you fund your growth?

By Zarrin Lilani - August 20, 2008 4:09pm GMT

As the economic situation worsens in the UK, we’re hearing reports that smaller businesses aren't managing their finances in the best way.

Ten lessons for entrepreneurs from Team GB at the Olympics

By Stuart Rock - August 20, 2008 11:59am GMT

Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, Ben Ainslie: entrepreneurs can learn from all of them

Is Bob Dylan the entrepreneur's soundtrack?

By Matthew Rock - August 20, 2008 10:07am GMT

The chief executive of property developer Brixton yesterday quoted Bob Dylan's "All along the watchtower" lyrics to sum up the state of the property market. So which songs best sum up the life of the entrepreneur? Here are our suggestions.

Apprentice star gets nobbled by wall

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - August 19, 2008 4:57pm GMT

Nicholas De Lacy-Brown thought being fired by Alan Sugar was bad. Little did he know that a few months later, he’d receive a far more crushing blow.



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