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Karen Dent

Friday morning small business bulletin

Global stocks routed in early trade; Public 'don't trust banks'; Better news at John Lewis Read

28% profits fall leads to builder issuing warning

BUILDER Tolent has issued a profits warning, less than two months after its interim results revealed a 28% fall in its first-half profits. Read

Trading update looking positive

SOUTHERN Cross has issued a broadly reassuring pre-close trading update, according to analysts who are expecting the care home operator to post full-year profits of around £83m. Read

Thursday lunchtime business bulletin

Markets steadied by global moves to tackle crisis; Weather and costs to hit Greggs' profits; WH Smith reports profits hike Read

Thursday morning business bulletin

Greggs cuts profits forecast; London market bolstered by global action; Magners boss to stand down Read

History with green credentials

We’re constantly being told to eat our five a day but have you ever stopped to wonder how fruit and vegetables arrive on your plate? Karen Dent looks at how the North East’s fruit and vegetable markets have evolved to keep pace with our changing demands. Read

Wednesday lunchtime business bulletin

Rate cut a day early; Sainsbury's shares tumble despite decent trade; Sales still sweet at Thornton's Read

Wednesday morning business bulletin

Government bail-out boosts banking stocks; Pressure on MPC to cut rates; HBOS to sell Australian banking business Read

North to share in £100m fund to develop eco-friendly vehicles

COMPANIES in the North East are expected to receive a substantial slice of a £100m fund to develop environmentally-friendly vehicles. Read

Tuesday lunchtime business bulletin

Banking shares plunge in morning trade; Jobs under threat at BA; Manufacturing ouput down for sixth month in a row; Read

Tuesday morning business bulletin

FTSE opens higher after Monday's plunge; Bhs trading 'competitive and unpredictable'; Vinnie boosts Northern Foods Read

Hub can bring romance into lives of high-flyers

A BUSINESSWOMAN is aiming to help busy and stressed career men and women to find love. Read

Make staff feel they are valued

THIS is a column run in conjunction with the Entrepreneurs' Forum that looks at the gems of advice shared by our top entrepreneurs on dealing with issues in their daily lives. Each column explores three or four different takes on an issue. Read

Nature is inspiration for young clothes designer

A YOUNG clothes designer is using inspiration from the world around her to brighten up children’s fashion. Jess Gunning is creating children’s clothing and women’s handbags under her Sherbet Orange label, which are as bright and colourful as the name would suggest. Read

Small firms told to consider flexible working

SMALL businesses in the region are being urged to consider allowing their staff to work flexibly and so reduce their own costs. Read

It's time to revisit this neglected skill of old

IN these difficult economic times, it may be worth considering resurrecting some of the more traditional measures of financial health for your business. Read

Barclays sheds 50 jobs

MORE than 50 Barclays Bank staff have lost their jobs after their department was shifted from Newcastle to Manchester. Read

36 Econnect staff axed despite rescue package

HALF of the staff at renewable energy company Econnect have been made redundant after a buyer stepped in to rescue part of the business from administration. Read

Question mark over jobs at GSK

A QUESTION mark is hanging over the future of jobs at drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline’s Barnard Castle factory as part of cost-cutting which has already cut 300 jobs in the North. Read

Where is the money going that is meant for North’s farmers?

The decision to spend modulated money on schemes that have no relation to agriculture is raising questions among the farming community. Karen Dent reports. Read

Author Profile

Karen Dent is a business reporter on The Journal who specialises in small businesses and rural affairs. Prior to joining the nebusiness team Karen has spent most of her career as a broadcast journalist, most recently working for the BBC.