News on small businesses & start up business in Newcastle, Teesside and the North East

Gail clears big obstacles to set up own business

A KEEN horsewoman whose dreams of a competitive career were wrecked by a bad fall has started her own equine-related business.Read

Entrepreneur voted 'best speaker' in Iran

A TYNESIDE entrepreneur and marketing expert has been voted best speaker at an international event staged in Iran.Read

Will black swan leave its mark?

WHAT is the difference between an economist and a fortune teller? The economist is making an educated guess.Read

Independent books shops manage to stay afloat during tough times

IN a world where the multiples pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap and online colossus Amazon continues to dominate, how can independent bookshops compete? Karen Dent reports.Read

Sunderland photography firm snaps up university's expertise

AN AWARD-winning photography enterprise is the first in the region to win approval for an Innovation Voucher - a Government scheme to link SMEs with universities to boost their business.Read

Free service to make recruitment easier

SMALL firms looking to recruit staff are being offered access to free online personality questionnaires to help them find the right person.Read

Capital gains taxes will be a certainty

THE Queen's speech last week did not reveal any hidden 'nasties'. As predicted, the legislative programme announced by the Prime Minister was fairly vanilla.Read

Ray shows you're never too old to start a business

INSTEAD of thinking about retiring and hitting the golf course, 63-year-old Ray Sunman has proved you're never too old to be an entrepreneur.Read

How I ... Reward Staff

GARY Herron, who runs Berwick firm Internet Search Marketing:Read

Get the best from new employees

WHAT are the key considerations for business owners looking to take on an employee for the first time?Read

Entrepreneur is hoping to sweep all before him

A MAN who spent more than 20 years making chimneys has decided to set up in business cleaning them.Read

Chris now anxious to expand tattoo business

A FORMER shipyard worker who battled through depression and anxiety problems to start his own business is now looking to expand.Read

Award for spreading happiness

TWO small businesses have been recognised as showing the true 'spirit of enterprise' after teaming up to help their respective interests grow.Read

Higher business taxes may cripple small firms

HUNDREDS of thousands of jobs would go if small businesses are forced to pay higher rates of tax, according to the findings of a specially-commissioned study.Read

Horse owner’s invention nets her an award

A GREEDY horse has inspired his owner to develop a device to stop him eating too much. Ellie Parkin came up with the Elim-a-Net – basically a double-layered small-holed haynet – to stop her horse Wills gobbling too much forage. Read

Pair found their space for a bright new future

A SMALL business development expert has taken a leaf out of her own book by teaming up with a friend to launch their own firm.Read

Obstacles in life make more successful entrepreneurs

A TOUGH start in life can be among the key motivating factors that turn people into successful entrepreneurs.Read

Top tips for reaching customers

WHETHER chasing business customers or consumers, crafting an e-campaign can boost returns and ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits of email marketing.Read

Jill rises to the occasion to help during recession

A CONSULTANCY set up at the start of the recession is thriving by helping others to beat the economic downturn.Read

Sweet success for Kairen at London stores

A HANDMADE product created by a County Durham entrepreneur is on to the shelves of top London stores Fortnum & Masons and Harvey Nichols.Read

Be realistic as well as optimistic

CONTRARY to all the commentary announcing the end of the recession, it was recently announced that the economy had once again contracted, albeit much slower than previous quarters.Read