Economic insight

Mariana Mazzucato, professor of economics at The Open University, believes the state plays a greater rolein entrepreneurship than it gets credit for.

Going places

Rising star

Colin Wilkinson co-founded Three Sixty Entertainment at the beginning of 2009 and raised £2.75 million for his show Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, ending a fairy tale investment story

What I'm reading now

Leading in Times of Crisis, by David L Dotlich, Peter C Cairo and Stephen H Rhinesmith
Jacqueline Davies, head of talent, Lloyds Banking Group

My best business decision

‘Putting down roots’

The next big thing: Google Wave

The latest open-source project to come out of Google (following mobile device platform Android and web browser Chrome), Google Wave promises a new concept in personal communication and collaboration.

Object of desire: the virtual keyboard

First featured on US crime series CSI: Miami, this keyboard with no keys is now available to purchase, beaming the latest in sophisticated technology straight to your fingertips.

Darling ducks debt crisis

The Pre-Budget Report failed to address pressing business issues, say entrepreneurs and economists.

Rising star

Tony Burns has come a long way from sleeping rough on the streets of Liverpool – he is now MD of legal helpline Claim Angel

What I'm reading now

Leading from the Front: My Story, by Gerald Ronson with Jeffrey Robinson
Mark Robinson, CEO, Advanced Power Components

Economic insight

Hugh Metcalf, senior economics lecturer at Newcastle University Business School, sheds light on the factors affecting China’s currency

My best business decision

‘A family affair’

Object of desire: The Cruise Workstation

You could cause some serious desk envy by installing this state-of-the-art furniture in your office. Developed at Japan’s Keio University, the Cruise Workstation aims to reduce back pain by adopting a ‘low-seat, rear-tilt’ approach – a bit like a Formula 1 car but without the G-force

Businesses crack down on late payers

Late payments are falling as businesses are chasing debtors more aggressively in order to ease cash flow

Racism still rife in business

CVs from applicants with names that sound white British are significantly more likely to be successful in securing an interview, according to research from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Rising star

Richard Stobart founded web and software development consultancy Unboxed Consulting four years ago. The company now has a turnover of £1.6 million

What I’m reading now

The Best Service is No Service: How to Liberate Your Customers from Customer Service, Keep Them Happy, and Control Costs, by Bill Price and David Jaffe Dominic Monkhouse, general manager, PEER 1

Economic insight

Kathleen Stephansen, chief economist and MD of US-based Aladdin Capital Holdings, questions the received wisdom about jobless recoveries

Going places...

My best business decision

‘Quick to market’

The next big thing…

Augmented reality. Seeing the world with the aid of annotated computer display has long been a mainstay of science fiction. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator wouldn't have been such an efficient killing machine without this facility.

Object of desire

Pure malt speakers. This numbers among the more unlikely uses for old whisky barrels. Japanese manufacturer Pioneer has crafted these speakers from white oak recycled from 50-year-old barrels used for ageing the popular tipple.

Fewer workers calling in sick

Most workers are too worried about their jobs to call in sick, despite renewed fears of a swine flu epidemic

‘Research is key,’ says Peter Jones

Serial entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones says that many small business owners fall short when it comes to appreciating the importance of research.

Rising star

Sanchita Saha talks about her hopes for the networking site she founded, CitySocialising.com

What I’m reading now

Understanding Digital Marketing, by Damian Ryan and Calvin Jones, Tim Bourne, CEO, Exposure

Economic insight

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, argues that green shoots do not necessarily lead to sustained recovery 

Going places...

My best business decision: David Fannin, managing director of Sorcit

‘Focusing on product development’

The next big thing…E-packaging

A revolution in the consumer goods sector is expected as scientists perfect alternatives to conventional silicon-based electronics

Object of desire: Silver executive yo-yo

Yo-yo fans from across the globe were glued to the ups and downs of the 3rd Annual International Yo-Yo Open in New York last month. If you know someone with that level of interest in the circular toy then you’ve just found the perfect gift.

Business begins at 50-plus

Older entrepreneurs are a significant force behind the creation of start-ups, according to research from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

Internet sales rise

Growth in e-commerce is speeding ahead of other sectors

And another thing...

Whether it’s a reasonable opinion or an unreasonable rant, be sure to tell us what’s on your mind by emailing marc.barber@vitessemedia.co.uk 

Rising star

Ex-cavalry officer Tony Lutwyche reveals how he’s going to turn his “Made In England” brand of high-end suits into a business empire

What I’m reading now

Turn Your Sales Force into Profit Heroes, by Peter Brook, Mark Biscoe, Head of Retail Sales, Camelot

Economic insight

Clive Lewis, head of SME issues at accountancy trade body ICAEW, counsels vigilance against the dual perils of inflation and deflation

Going places...

My best business decision: Sue Stedman, founder, Sue Stedman Corporate Clothing

‘Invest in a top sales team’

The next big thing: Energy harvesting

The air around us is full of electromagnetic radiation – which doesn’t sound like a good thing. However, scientists at the Nokia Research Centre are looking at ways to “harvest” this stray radiation (mostly the result of broadcast signals or communications devices) to power mobile phones.

Object of desire: The RipT Fusion undershirt

Men are under pressure to look good these days, so it was only a matter of time before someone took the concept of the padded bra and applied it to the hairier sex

Beeny defies property crash

Television personality and property expert Sarah Beeny is launching a website to help people buy and sell their homes without the need for an estate agent

‘We are out of the recession,’ says Jones

Serial entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones believes UK businesses have seen the worst of the economic crash.

And another thing...

Whether it’s a reasonable opinion or an unreasonable rant, be sure to tell us what’s on your mind by emailing marc.barber@vitessemedia.co.uk

Rising Star: Jeff Brehaut

Jeff Brehaut set up his company Beach Volleyball in 2007 and in the same year brought the first international tournament to the country. Now the company builds courts and runs events throughout the UK and is hitting a turnover of more than £500,000.

What I’m reading now

The Spirit Level: Why more equal societies almost always do better, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

Todd Hannula, chief executive, Camberwell

Economic insight: Mahamed Djeddour

Mahamed Djeddour, senior fellow in strategy and international business at Manchester Business School, on the UK’s competitive positioning with Europe

Going places...

My best business decision: Jonathan Strock, COO, LeCroupier.com

In 2006 we decided to enter the highly competitive world of online gambling and build LeCroupier.com

The next big thing: Flat loudspeakers

It may look like a piece of tin foil. Funnily enough that was how it all started, when Dr Duncan Billson and Professor David Hutchins of the University of Warwick experimented by using two sheets of household foil and an insulating layer of baking paper to produce sound.

Object of desire: Paul Smith cricket ball

Normally getting a reaction from the ladies with a Paul Smith involves sporting one of his sharp suits, but with this little number you may succeed in bowling a maiden over of a different sort

SMEs putting all their eggs in one basket

Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are risking everything by depending on one client for the majority of their turnover.

‘MPs greedier than bankers’

Small businesses are more outraged by the greed of politicians than that of bankers

What I’m reading now

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, by Don Tapscott and Anthony D Williams
Andy Jacques, SVP Northern EMEA, salesforce.com

Economic Insight

Roger Bootle, MD of Capital Economics, argues that the depth of the downturn shouldn’t lead you to lose all sense of proportion

My best business decision: Iain Johnston, CEO of Loewy Group

Often, you find people get too distracted at work. The decisive factor for any business is to get everybody to focus on what they do best

Object of desire: Sony HD Camcorder

The march to miniaturise consumer technology continues with this palm-held digital camcorder from Sony. Measuring about the size of a child’s hand, it’s getting to the point where any smaller would be harder, not easier to handle

Darling on the defensive

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has defended his forecast for economic recovery by the end of this year and insists that his new 50 per cent tax rate for high earners is ‘fair’

Rising star

Martin Dix had the bright idea for his energy-monitoring device Current Cost after wondering how much usage a 100-Watt light bulb represented in cash. Launched in 2006, his company is now worth £6 million

What I’m reading now

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, by Alice Schroeder
Alessandro Hatami, MD of PayPoint.net

Economic Insight

Marleen Groen, CEO at asset management company Greenpark Capital, gives her take on the state of private equity and venture capital funds 

Object of Desire: The Vision One Computer Workstation

Part digital drum kit, part NASA mission control station – one thing the Vision One Computer Workstation doesn’t instantly resemble is the average desk

SMEs prefer self-funding

Small businesses prefer self-funding to finance from private investor

What I’m reading now

On Leadership: Practical Wisdom from the People Who Know, by Allan Leighton 
Ashley Sellar, sales director, Getronics 

Rising star: Matt Stockdale

After being made redundant, Matt Stockdale developed his oven-cleaning product into a successful company called HomePride with a turnover of more than £4 million

Economic Insight

Andrew Tully, pensions policy manager at Standard Life, explains how changing demographics will reshape the economy of the UK and the world

My best business decision: Scott Weavers, partner at Kiddicare

In April 2008, we opened new headquarters in Peterborough which cost £14 million

Object of desire: Toto Neorest – the futurist toilet

If we’d ever seen Captain Kirk engaged in the more mundane activities like brushing his teeth, then his bathroom would have probably featured something resembling the Toto Neorest

Price wars

A significant proportion of SMEs are resorting to price cutting in order to win new business

What I’m reading now

Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom, by Matthew Fraser and Soumitra Dutta

Giles Fraser, co-founder of Brands2Life

Economic Insight

David Karsbol, chief economist at Saxo Bank, looks at the causes and implications of the pound’s rapid fall against the euro

My best business decision: Misha Gopaul, CEO, Fabric Technologies

We formed Fabric Technologies from the merger of two companies

Object of desire: The Rocket Belt

Recession. Unemployment. Big Brother. If these remorseless horrors are making you want to head for the sanctity of a remote island, then rocket technology company Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) may have the perfect escape solution: the Rocket Belt

Increase in SMEs seeking redundancy advice

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is reporting a dramatic rise in calls to its legal advice line regarding redundancies

A terrible year for small-caps

Small listed companies performed worse in 2008 than in any year since 1974, according to the Hoare Govett Smaller Companies (HGSC) report

Rising star: Sara Murray

Sara Murray, founder of insurance comparison website Confused.com, set up GPS tracking device company Buddi last year. Its expected turnover this year is £4 million

What I’m reading now

Freakonomics, by Steven Levitt
Phil Bridge, managing director of Kroll Ontrack UK 

Economic insight

Ole Hansen, futures and fixed-income manager at Saxo Bank, explains why businesses should not be lulled into a false sense of security by falling oil prices

My best business decision

When I bought housing maintenance provider Mears in the mid-1990s it cost me very little, but I had the faith to do something with it and take it onwards and upwards

The next big thing: The floating doorstep and the Floodstacker

It’s not going to reverse climate change and it won’t stop your house flooding – not yet anyway. But Malcolm Baxter, inventor of the floating doorstep, claims his product will create an airtight seal that prevents water getting in your front door

Object of desire: Lomme

With this ‘unique sleep experience’, the only thing keeping you awake will be your credit card bill. Lomme, which stands for ‘light over matter mind evolution’, is priced at £33,000

Retail woe for SMEs 

SMEs have had a distinctly unmerry Christmas in terms of sales, according to a poll conducted by SmallBusiness.co.uk

Rising star: Stefan Topfer

Stefan Topfer started his first business when he was at university and went on to help found what is now communications giant Tiscali. His software company for SMEs WinWeb has a turnover of £5 million.

Businesses thrown funding lifeline

HSBC has become the latest bank to announce the launch of a dedicated fund for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Rising star: Mitesh Soma

Last year, Mitesh Soma set up discount pharmaceutical company Chemistdirect.co.uk. Since then it has become an award-winning business with a turnover of £5 million

What I’m reading now

Built To Last, by James Collins & Jerry Porras
Gerald Kitchen, CEO of SecureTrading

Economic Insight

David Worrow, audit partner for advisory firm Baker Tilly, looks at the impact of the Bank of England’s 1.5 per cent interest rate cut

Object of desire: The Bentley laptop

If you’re the sort of individual who likes to let everyone know you’re doing well, then what could be better than strutting about with a laptop made from a luxury car?

My best business decision

In the past, we always focused on the gaps and things going wrong in our clients’ businesses

East Asian companies beating index

AIM-listed ventures with operations in Asia have not only outperformed their counterparts on the junior market, but have also beaten the FTSE SmallCap index over a three-year period.

Banks won’t lend, say growing businesses

More than two-thirds of SMEs believe that banks are failing them, according to a poll conducted by SmallBusiness.co.uk

Rising star: Marc Koska

Marc Koska spent 24 years working on his single-use syringe, which is designed to reduce the spread of disease in poor countries. His company Star Syringe is now profitable with revenues of £1.5 million

My best business decision

Just over a year ago, we opened our office in New York. We’d always got a lot of work out of the US and we believed we could get a lot more.

Object of desire:The S2u Upright Bike 

Think “online racing” and the image that springs to mind is of inactive teenagers who can’t remember the last time they set foot outside

Women still paid unfairly, according to poll

Women are still finishing second when it comes to salaries, according to a poll of 250 entrepreneurs conducted by SmallBusiness.co.uk, a sister title of Business XL

it’s all about survival

Jon Moulton, the founder of private equity group Alchemy Partners, says it’s time for entrepreneurs to ‘stop worrying about prosperity and to start thinking about survival’

Object of desire: King Ludwig’s desk

If you ever feel your office is lacking a sense of importance, but aren’t sure exactly how, here’s a way to add some grandeur. For £16,999 and not a penny more, German company Royaris will provide an elaborately crafted reconstruction of King Ludwig II’s desk.

The next big thing: Simulating business strategies

Business is often compared to warfare. Indeed, Sun Tsu’s 6th-century military strategy treatise The Art of War has long been required reading for ambitious executives.

Economic insight

The collapse of Lehman Brothers has stunned financial markets across the world. Ismail Erturk, senior fellow in banking at Manchester Business School, explains what it all means for the troubled UK economy

My best business decision

We invested about £500,000 in employing and training people to market our childcare vouchers, and in purchasing the software to process them. That was before the government introduced legislation to make the vouchers non-taxable.

Rising Star: Heather Gorringe

Nearly 20 years after launching her business, Wiggly Wigglers, Heather Gorringe has won £15,000 as the UK winner of the Dell Small Business Excellence Award

What I’m reading now

Strategy and the Fat Smoker: Doing What’s Obvious but not Easy, by David Maister - George Foot, sales and marketing director, Kensington Europe

Next big thing: automated call-centres

Along with airport car parks and fake tan, call centres are one of the great ills of the modern world. A company based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Artingence, believes it has discovered the antidote.

Object of desire: the Tesla Roadster

Production of this electric car began in March this year, but according to Fortune magazine, only seven have so far rolled off the production line.

State funds friends, not foes

The rise of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) does not present a serious threat to Western economies, according to research from two US- and UK-based academics.

Business founders seek work-life balance

More than a quarter of those who set up their own business did so to achieve a better work-life balance, according to an online poll of 908 owner-managed businesses from Business XL’s sister title SmallBusiness.co.uk.

Tech stocks on the wane

Software companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) are maintaining a strong average share price performance (up 19 per cent). This, however, is the only bright spot among the pervading gloom of the technology sector.

Tax climbdown on the cards

A move by HM Treasury to tax intellectual property (IP) on UK companies with foreign subsidiaries seems set to be ditched after a backlash by businesses.

Rising star: Aspect Maintenance

Banker-turned-plumber William Davies set up Aspect Maintenance in 2004, aiming to provide reliable property maintenance services. The company’s turnover has doubled every year since launch and is now £4.4 million.

Stagflation strikes again

Inflation has broken through three per cent, reducing the chance of rate cuts and threatening growth. Brian Farthing, senior economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers, considers the impacts of rising prices on growing businesses.

What I’m reading now

Make Your First Million: Ditch the 9-5 and Start the Business of Your Dreams, by Martin Webb - reviewed by Alyson Pellowe, Founder of People Vision

Going places...

This month, entrepreneur Louise Wreathall is awarded the 'Best Mumpreneur' accolade and corporate financier Ewan Lloyd Baker is spearheading a series of deals on behalf of one of his companies.

My best business decision

Dylan Thwaites, CEO of digital marketing company Latitude, explains how he hit a rich vein when he launched an offering for smaller businesses.

eBay for business sales

More than 1,000 UK businesses, many of them websites, are putting themselves up for sale on eBay.co.uk at the time of writing. BusinessesforSale.com offers 63,309 worldwide, roughly half of them in the UK, and DaltonsBusiness.com has just relaunched its site with more than 27,000 companies up for grabs across Europe.

Object of desire: The MonoTracer

The thrill and glamour of a motorbike, without getting your leathers wet. That’s the proposition offered by the MonoTracer from Swiss company Peraves.

The electronic cigarette

They say there’s no smoke without fire, but that was before the electronic cigarette. The SuperSmoker uses a microchip and a harmless liquid made up of food products that, when the user inhales, turns into a virtually odourless vapour that looks just like smoke and provides the hit of nicotine.

Rising star: Glassesdirect.co.uk

James Murray Wells started online spectacles retailer Glassesdirect.co.uk with the last £1,000 of his student loan. With the help of VCs he is now aiming to turn it into a £1 billion company.

Downturn hits half of businesses

Roughly half of small and medium-sized enterprises are feeling the effects of the economic downturn, according to a survey from Business XL’s sister title GrowthBusiness.co.uk.

What I’m reading now

The Balancing Act: Work-life solutions for busy people by Fiona Parashar - reviewed by Kerry Glazer, chief executive, AAR Group

Corporate manslaughter law comes into force

Companies that ignore new corporate manslaughter laws could be ‘courting disaster’, according to security specialist red24.

Business intelligence maps

Google and Information Builders have released the first so-called business intelligence “mash-up”, a mix and match software giving users a visual representation of sales figures and stock movements in different geographies via an interactive Google Map.

Economic insight: 2008 budget

As the storm of protest against chancellor Alistair Darling’s changes to capital gains tax dies down, Mike Truman, editor of Taxation Magazine, looks at the implications for growing companies.

Rising star: Pharmacy 2U

Daniel Lee is the MD of Pharmacy 2U, the first mail-order and online pharmacy retailer in the UK. With £12 million turnover, the company is seeking greater heights in the year ahead.

What I’m reading now

Private Label Strategy: How to Meet the Store Brand Challenge, by Nirmalya Kumar and Jan-Benedict EM Steenkamp - reviewed by Andrea Davis, president of Fellowes Europe

Economic insight: de-leveraging

Hank Calenti, director of European credit research at RBC Capital Markets, reveals why he thinks we’re at a pivotal moment in the current financial downturn.

My best business decision

Ian Gotts, CEO of business process management specialist Nimbus, reveals how appointing a COO helped him refocus his attention from running the company to driving it forward.

Next big thing: multi-sourcing

Dissatisfaction with traditional outsourcing relationships is changing the way enterprises and their service providers do business. It’s become more common to treat functions such as IT as a portfolio of activities, some of which can be outsourced to a variety of providers while others are brought in-house.

Vodafone’s 7.2 USB Stick

If you are looking to reduce downtime when travelling between meetings, but haven’t got your fingers around using a Blackberry keyboard yet, this could be the answer.

A rich vein of finance

Companies from the Middle East and North Africa raised a total of £1.37 billion in AIM initial public offerings (IPOs), according to a report from Business XL’s sister title, Growth Company Investor.

Banks turn the screw

Nearly 4,800 UK companies went bust in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 8.5 per cent on the same period last year, according to data from information services group Experian.

What I’m reading now

Subway Art, by Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper, reviewed by Marc Ecko, CEO and chairman of Marc Ecko Enterprises

Rising star: Ethical Superstore

Ethical Superstore, an online retailer of fair trade, organic and eco-friendly goods, is forecasting turnover of £2.2 million this year (up from £800,000 last year). We talk to co-founder Andy Redfern

Blackberry Pearl 8110 Smartphone

While the new Blackberry Pearl 8110 Smartphone doesn’t boast WiFi like the similar 8120 Pearl, it does have built-in GPS with Blackberry Maps software, so you can happily wander the city and not get lost in the process.

Thought-controlled computing

US technology company Emotiv Systems has developed a headset that allows a user to manipulate elements on a computer screen with only the power of thoughts, expressions and emotions.

My best business decision

Transparency is key to a successful public listing, as Rob Cotton, CEO of NCC Group, attests

Economic insight

Marc Sidwell, author of the Unfair Trade report from the Adam Smith Institute, speculates on how sustainable ethical buying patterns are in the long term

AIM companies ripe for acquisition

Over half of the businesses listed on AIM are valued under £20 million, making them perfect targets for acquisitive companies.

Object of desire: the robot guitar

For all you failed musicians turned entrepreneurs out there, the Les Paul Robot Guitar can finally help you rock out like you dreamed you could in your salad days.

Rising star: Everyclick.com

Polly Gowers is CEO and co-founder of search engine Everyclick.com, a “social business” that gives 50 per cent of its revenue to charity. She founded the company in mid-2005 and it now generates turnover of over £1 million.

What I'm reading now

The Global Business Leader, INSEAD Business Press, by J Frank Brown, reviewed by Robert Gogel, CEO, Liberata

Cloud computing

The desktop and laptop computers that we currently use carry with them a certain amount of local processing power. However, through “cloud computing” we could see this change as we move towards a different way of working.

Economic insight: trouble ahead

Diana Choyleva, an economist at Lombard Street Research, says that developing economic trends bode ill for the beleaguered UK economy.

My best business decision

For Simon Rigby, CEO of Spice, the secret to sustainable expansion lies in sticking to what you know.

Good Month: Majestic Wine

The UK has a reputation for excessive drinking and it’s easy to see why. While we stoically cut down on clothes and electrical appliances over Christmas, reducing our intake of booze was generally deemed a step too far.

Bad Month: Société Générale

It’s been a rough few months for banks, with dodgy debts laid bare and share prices tumbling. For France’s second-largest bank, Société Générale, fraud was added to these woes as arbitrage trader Jerome Kerviel was implicated in events that have led to €4.9 billion (£3.7 billion) of losses, not to mention further falls in the bank’s share price and an incalculable loss of reputation.

Economic insight: 2008 outlook

Are the economic good times well and truly over? Trevor Williams, chief economist for Lloyds TSB, argues that next year won’t be as bad as some fear

Good year: Oxford Metrics

Led by chief executive Nick Bolton, Oxford Metrics consists of three technology ventures developing motion and image capture products for the entertainment, defence, life science and engineering industries.

Bad year: Northern Rock

The resignation of CEO Adam Applegarth and confirmation of the company’s demotion from the FTSE 100 have set the seal on a punishing year for Northern Rock.

Object of desire: the iTeddy

With Christmas upon us, it’s the stated mission of many parents to find their young offspring a gift that is fun and educational, and will hold their interest beyond Boxing Day.

Rising Star: Adam Price

Adam Price is the MD of Wales-based outfit SEOsitebuilder.com, which he established in 2004. He recently won Newport Business School’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Digital cash 2.0

Before contactless credit cards have even entered our wallets, it looks as though they may have been superseded. O2 has linked up with Transport for London, Barclaycard, Visa Europe and Nokia for a trial of its new initiative, the O2 Wallet.

What I’m reading now

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle - reviewed by Clive Wilson, managing director, Primeast

My best business decision

Nick Craven, chief executive of Weatherbys Ventures, says his best business decision was to widen the company's offerings from its traditional remit of horseracing while using skills it already had in-house.

The economics of email

In 2006, the average email user received 126 messages per day, an increase of 55 per cent since 2003, according to research by The Radicati Group. So how do we sort the vital information from the dross?

Economic insight: $100 oil

With oil nudging $100 a barrel, Tony Shephard, investment analyst at Charles Stanley, considers the consequences of rising energy prices for British business

My best business decision

Kevin Scullion, MD of homecare provider Independent Living Services, says that taking on private equity has transformed his business.

The Specialized Sirrus

It’s environmentally friendly and beats Jeremy Clarkson. That’s right, it’s a bike

Good Month: Ultrasis

Healthcare specialist Ultrasis saw a glimmer of hope this month despite posting losses of £769,000 in October, up 70 per cent on the year before.

Bad Month: Worthington Nicholls

Heating and air-conditioning installer Worthington Nicholls has announced that it will hold an EGM in early December with the intention of removing certain key members from its board.

Rising Star: Apatech

Apatech, a manufacturer of artificial bone-graft material, has grown sales to £3.1 million from £270,000 in 2005. We talk to CEO Simon Cartmell

What I’m reading now

How to Turn Your Business into the Next Global Brand: Creating and Managing a Franchised Network, by Brian Duckett and Paul Monaghan - reviewed by Derek Lowe, Chief Executive Officer, Storm Communications

Economic insight: credit worries

Simon Longfield, restructuring partner at accountancy firm Grant Thornton, believes the correction in the credit markets will have less impact on growing businesses than many have assumed.

Wireless charging

Everyone who owns a mobile phone, a PDA or an iPod has had its battery die on them at one time or another and, inevitably, it tends to be when there’s no charger in sight. If there is one, you can bet that it’s not the right fit anyway.

Rising Star: Natalie Perillo

Natalie Perillo and her husband, Andy, set up their third business, ‘virtual PA’ service MyRuby last spring. They are expecting sales of £800,000 for their first year.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class

If you’re successful and want to look the part without appearing to be on the brink of a mid-life crisis, this could be the set of wheels for you.

My best business decision

Matthew Crook, CEO of software developer SalesCentric explains how partnership, especially with powerful players in your sector, can pay dividends when it comes to sales.

What I’m reading now

Go Put Your Strengths To Work by Marcus Buckingham (published by Free Press) - reviewed by Bernadette Wightman, director of small and medium businesses, Cisco UK & Ireland

Good Month: Carpetright

Carpetright chairman and CEO Lord Harris has certainly done something right and, according to Ernst & Young, it’s business.

Bad Month: Zara

Fashion retailer Zara caused a stir this month when a UK customer pointed out to staff that a handbag on sale in the store featured a swastika.

What I'm reading now

Perfect Pitch: The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business by Jon Steel (published by Adweek Books)

Economic Insight: Funding gap

George Whitehead, business development director at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), says that there is still a shortage of funding for worthy growing concerns

Good Month: Falkland Oil & Gas

Resource prospector Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL) is in ‘advanced discussions’ about bringing a ‘major resources company’ into its projects

Bad Month: Equity

Billions of pounds were wiped off British equities as the US subprime lending crisis hit investor confidence

Contactless cash cards

For coins and notes, it could be the beginning of the end. This autumn, high street banks will issue credit and debit cards with a new contactless payment facility, allowing cardholders to pay for items under £10 by simply swiping the cards over a reader.

The Loc8tor

Losing your keys and other important items will be a thing of the past with this personal homing device

Economic insight: dotcom growth

Darren Harper, head of analysis and editorial at Library House, argues that fears of a second dotcom bubble are unfounded.

Rising Star: Matt Riley

Matt Riley was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the North Region in this year’s Ernst & Young awards. He has started four companies, most recently B2B telecoms provider Daisy Communications.

Good Month: Hamworthy

Marine fluid-handling specialist Hamworthy has won an order worth more than £17 million.

Bad Month: Conrad Black

Conrad Black, the Canadian-born media tycoon, has been convicted of fraud and obstructing justice after a three-month trial in Chicago.

The cordless air mouse

Now you can escape from your desk without having to leave your mouse behind

What I’m reading now

The Rules of Entrepreneurship, by Rob Yeung (published by Cyan Communications) - reviewed by David Thompson, VP of people and organisational development, ABN Amro

Good Month: Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British physicist who created the World Wide Web, has been awarded the Order of Merit, one of the UK’s most prestigious honours.

Bad Month: Take-Two Interactive

Take-Two Interactive Software, developer of the controversial Grand Theft Auto series, has announced that it will be undertaking significant job cuts in an effort to return to profit.

Rising Star: Ian Merricks

Ian Merricks began his career as a record promoter in 1996. In 2007, he raised private equity for the MBO of Itchy Media, and since then has overseen five acquisitions.

My best business decision

Ewan MacLeod, CEO of datacentre services provider DCMI, says his best business decision was to target the biggest clients first.

Pesticides you can eat

The quest for effective pesticides free of chemical nasties has been going for years. Now TyraTech, an American research company which floated on AIM this month, believes it has the answer.

The Toshiba Portégé R400-100

If you appreciate the beautiful things in life and go weak at the knees over sleek design, this should get your heart racing.

What I’m reading now

Great Brand Stories: Innocent: Building a brand from nothing but fruit, by John Simmons (published by Cyan Books) - reviewed by Richard Warmsley, head of internet on the move, T-Mobile UK

Tax the big PE deals

The executive chairman of NVM Private Equity, Michael Denny, sets out his solution to the vexed question of how to tax private equity

The egg & muffin toaster

Breakfast sets you up for the day. However, when you’re running a business, you may struggle to find time for such a luxury.

Eye tracking... the next big thing?

Gauging the effectiveness of an advertising campaign is a serious business. What seemed like a neat device for science fiction films a few years ago is becoming a reality through eye tracking.

My best business decision

'Believing that people are basically good was my best decision,' says Frank Hannigan, co-founder and managing director of Yougetitback.com.

Economic insight: interest rates

Jon Lindsay, managing director at credit management firm Coface, considers the likely impact of recent interest rate rises.

Rising star: Streetcar

Car share company Streetcar has 10,000 members, a number it anticipates will rise to 150,000 by 2012. We catch up with co-founder Andrew Valentine.

Economic Insight - Howard Archer

Howard Archer, UK and Eurozone chief economist for Global Insight, shares his thoughts on the current wage climate, interest rates and inflation

Techwatch - Uncontrolled print costs

More than two thirds of businesses have no idea how much they spend on printers and printing...

Next Big Thing? In-flight mobile calls

If you can’t stand being out of contact when you’re on a plane, rejoice that from early 2007 you’ll be able to make in-flight calls from your mobile...

My Best Business Decision

John Kearon, Chief Juicer/CEO of online research company Brainjuicer, says his best business decision was ‘getting off the corporate ladder’...

What I'm Reading Now...

The book: Scoring Points – How Tesco is Winning Customer Loyalty, by Clive Humby, Terry Hunt and Tim Phillips
Review by: Olly Raeburn, managing partner at Liquid Communications

Object of desire... The Synch

If you’re fed up carting around handfuls of chargers for your gadgets, this gizmo could be the best Christmas present you’ll ever receive...

Good month for UK innovators

Two British companies are awarded for humanitarian work alongside Bill Gates and other global technology innovators...

Bad month for seafood chain

Restaurant operator Fishworks rocks the boat by admitting profits will be lower than it publicly predicted just one month ago...

Economic Insight - Geoff Foster

We ask Geoff Foster, market reporter at the Daily Mail, what currently concerns him about the UK economy...

Techwatch - When viruses attack!

Computers used by businesses are attacked every 15 minutes by some form of malicious internet software...

The Next Big Thing? Wearable computers

It’s finally here, the integration of man and machine... OK, not quite, but there are a number of products about to hit the market that should revolutionise the way we use computers and personal devices...

My Best Business Decision

Roger Wilson, chairman of AdEPT Telecom, says his best business decision was 'buying a business after the boom'...

What I'm Reading Now

The book: The Dalai Lama’s Book of Wisdom, by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Reviewed by: Dr Anthony Lovat, founder and managing director, O-Pro Mouthguards...

Good month for language entrepreneur

An entrepreneur who started his language venture from his bedroom has silenced the competition by scooping a cash prize..

Object of desire... Microbe-free keyboard

Fancy a cordless keyboard that protects you from germs? Get your grubby mitts on this little black number...

Bad month for technology venture

Beleaguered coatings specialist Micap has been forced into an emergency fundraising to stop it becoming insolvent...

Economic Insight - John Kay

John Kay, economist and columnist for the FT, predicts that the next big influence on the UK economy will be an overhaul of intellectual property rights...

Object of desire... Blackberry Pearl

In common with other manufacturers, Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the new Blackberry Pearl 8100, intends it to negate the need for business folk to carry both a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant...

What I'm Reading Now...

The book: My Big Idea, by Rachel Bridge
Review by: Glyn Heald, CEO, Shirlaws Business Coaching

Economic Insight - Tim Moss

We ask Tim Moss, director of corporate strategy at Companies House, to predict the impact of an imminent overhaul of company law...

Good month for beer brand...

This month, we raise a pint to Cobra Beer founder and chief executive Karan Bilimoria, who’s raised £27.5 million cash funding...

Object of desire... Portable keyboard

Weighing less than a couple of chocolate bars and rolling up to fit neatly into a briefcase, portable keyboards certainly live up to their name...

Economic Insight – Robert Cole

We ask Robert Cole, acting business editor at The Times, to predict the next big economic influence on UK business...

Techwatch - Domain names evolve

Paul Mockapetris, the inventor of the Domain Name System (DNS), says he expects it to be superseded as new technology emerges that is designed to unite telephone numbers and email addresses to find you wherever you are.

The Next Big Thing? Silicon-germanium chips

Computer chip technology usually only excites electrical engineers and geeks, but this is one development that could soon be speeding up some of the everyday products you rely on most for business...

My Best Business Decision

Simon Seward, MD of Touchdown Brand Affinity Marketing, explains the sacrifices that had to be made to invest in vital new IT equipment...

Object of desire... Watch phone

It sounds like a gadget you’d find on Captain Kirk’s Christmas list, but due to go on sale soon is a wristwatch that can also be used to make calls and send texts – it won’t beam you up, though...

Object of desire... Solarroll

Mobile phones and laptops enable us to work anywhere, but when the battery dies we’re left with no choice but to trudge back to the office. Fortunately, however, there is now a solution – and it’ll cut your energy bills as well...