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Pure Gold!

Today The Journal launches the search for an outstanding entrepreneur to become the next holder of a coveted professorship at the Newcastle University Business School. Read

Labels that walk the musical tightrope

The North East has been in the musical limelight over the last few years, with bands like Maximo Park and The Futureheads helping to put the region on the map. Christopher Knox looks at whether this has rubbed off on the region’s record labels and asks whether a vibrant music scene equals big business. Read

From Russia with love

RUSSIANS, like the Brits, are good at queuing, which is just as well because they do a lot of it these days. Come Friday rush hour, they’ll be nose to tail on the Russian equivalent of the Middlesbrough flyover. Read

Focus on staying focused

IN OUR ongoing series highlighting the “top traits of successful exporters” - vision, commitment, focus, research, planning, training, relationship building, quality, adaptation and energy - the next trait we come to is focus. Read

The Alternative Investment Market uncovered

Is the Alternative Investment Market a great place to go profit-hunting or a game of Russian roulette? Business reporter JEZ DAVISON investigates Read

As plant looks at job cuts, biofuels ‘need leap of faith’

IN recent months there has been a backlash against the rush to biofuels with some saying it is diverting vital crops away from the food chain and pushing up prices. Read

Techies boldly going into our scientific future

As some of the country's top names in science and technology converged on the North East for a major conference, Andrew Mernin discovers plenty of optimism that the region has a big role to play on the world's scientific stage. Read

This isn’t a very public humiliation

Days after Northern Rock was returned to public ownership, Journal business writer Karen Dent asks why has nationalisation got an image problem? Read

Drive for Poles to make most of enterprise

POLISH migrants working in Britain tend to be stereotyped in two ways: the low-skilled but industrious worker employed in a poorly-paid job, or the Polish plumber undercutting his UK counterpart. Read

Is there still a profit in football?

The announcement that Premier League football is set to be played overseas from 2011 is the latest attempt by the clubs to increase revenues and profits. Peter McCusker asks whether a Premier League football club can make a profit from football. Read

Trust there when former cab driver needed friend

THREE years ago, as Middlesbrough cabbie Abid Hussain was taking a rare break from the behind the wheel to tend his garden, he was struck by what he thought was nothing more than an eye infection. Read

An industry that touches all our lives

EVERY aspect of our daily lives are affected by the process industry. SARAH JUDD investigates why the future is looking bright for what is often perceived as a sunset industry. Read

How to negotiate a pay rise

Talking about salaries in the workplace is a taboo subject so it’s not surprising that people find it hard to approach their boss and ask for a pay rise. But if you feel you deserve more money for the job you do, there are certain ways to engineer yourself a fatter pay cheque. Read

Where big games players thrive

PUMPING music, screeching tyres and rattling gunfire are at the heart of one of the region’s and the UK’s fastest growing businesses. Karen Dent meets the computer game makers. Read

No stopping on the road to success

Once your business is established and running well, you may be inclined to let things run as they are. However, in the fast-paced world of business, it could be the right time to plan your next move. Christopher Knox looks at the avenues that are open for the ambitious entrepreneur. Read

Pinpointing why women go solo

Women make up a bigger proportion of the North-East’s entrepreneurs than anywhere else in the UK. Karen Dent asks why. Read

Hard year could end in a soft landing

RETAILERS endured a worse Christmas than expected, according to figures showing sales in December growing at their weakest rate for three years. Read

Where some wives fear to tread

THERE is a club in the heart of Newcastle where mobile phones are banned, there is no loud music and all the staff know its members by name. In The Northern Counties Club, whole Northumberland estates were once reputedly won and lost on the turn of a card, and lunchtimes lasted hours. Urmee Khan reports. Read

How training can help

WHATEVER the size of your business and whichever sector you operate in, to be successful you need to identify any areas where you’re under-performing and make improvements. Read

Where next for entrepreneurs?

Where should aspiring entrepreneurs look now for opportunity? Entrepreneurs' Forum chief executive Carole Beverley, gives some indicators. Read