Category: In Business

Margaret Mountford has announced that she is quitting The Apprentice after five series.

The 56-year-old corporate lawyer has monitored contestants’ progress during tasks alongside Nick Hewer since the programme launched in 2005.

Record numbers of people called into work sick this morning (thu) following Manchester United’s defeat in the Champion’s League Final.

Some of the UK’s brightest female entrepreneurs are defying the recession by developing and growing new business ventures. They were celebrated recently at The FreshIdeas Events Mentor Competition Awards, held at HSBC, Mayfair.

Doug Richard, former Dragons’ Den panellist; Tim Campbell, the first winner of The Apprentice; and Deirdre Bounds, star of Channel 4’s Millionaires’ Mission, have all signed up to take part in The Pitch 2009, a competition which is going on the road to track down the UK’s most innovative small companies.

Over half of employees are working from home more often since the financial crisis began, according to new research from BT Business and Remote Employment, released as people prepared for the National Work From Home Day.

Dragon Duncan Bannatyne’s health club business has prospered despite the recession after it shifted focus from expansion to maximising profits.

We find out what the Budget really means for small firms from the most important and influential business lobbyists and support groups including the FSB, The Forum of Private Business and The British Chamber of Commerce.

The Chancellor has posted a YouTube video detailing his last-minute preparations ahead of what has been dubbed ‘the budget from hell’ on Wednesday.

Proposals designed to help more small businesses win government contracts should be prioritised in the forthcoming Budget, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is arguing. As part of its submission to the 2009 Budget the FPB is pressing the Government to fast-track measures outlined in the Glover Review, at present scheduled to be implemented in 2010, in order to stimulate the flagging economy by increasing competition for tenders and providing better value for money.

As recessionary pressures continue to bite and are clearly impacting on the survival of the nation’s small and medium sized firms, a number of business owners and managers are embracing a blitz-type attitude and are resolute in spite of the ongoing challenge.

Trademark applications have fallen 30pc from their peak, indicating the decline in business activity and new product launches.

Business Matters is pleased to announce that we have partnered with one of the UK’s most exciting small business competitions of 2009. The Pitch will see entrepreneurs and small business owners from all over the nation competing to win a massive £50,000 of business related goods and services.

Pitching their idea to a panel of top industry experts, entrants will be asked to demonstrate the innovation, market knowledge, customer engagement and financial viability of their business. The contest kicks off in June with heats in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London, followed by a grand final later in the year. The Pitch promises to offer a real taste of how resourceful UK entrepreneurs are reacting to current economic conditions, bucking the downturn with innovation and creativity.

The Award was presented at a gala reception in London by CNBC, in partnership with the Financial Times, to honour those CEOs who are making a difference through leadership and innovation in their industry sectors.

Initial nominations where made by CEOs from European companies in the FT Global 500, whilst the final winners were decided by a panel that consisted of EBLA 2008 winners from companies such as Arcelor Mittal, Autonomy, Fiat and GE, plus representatives from CNBC, the Financial Times and IMD business school.

The winners of the 2009 Make Your Mark Enterprising Young Brits Awards were announced today (Tuesday 24 March 2009) at a ceremony at the Institute of Directors (IoD), London.

They were each presented with a trophy and £1,000 prize money by Alistair Darling, who made time to chat to finalists and hear their positive stories.

Recognising and rewarding business excellence, innovation and success, The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange have launched its eighth consecutive regional Awards programme.