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Kirsty Birnstien from themakeupshop

Recession-proof your business

The good news is that it is possible to recession-proof your business. In the first of a two-part series, Rachel Bridge shows you how

Enterprise Insight to help older entrepreneurs

Enterprise Insight, which encourages young people to start up their own businesses, has abolished its age limit

£5 million to build a winning business

The Bank of Scotland Corporate £35m Entrepreneur Challenge is back. And with an extra £10m in the pot, it’s even bigger

Entrepreneur Challenge 2008

John Armistead, Financial Director of GA Pindar Communications, based in Scarbrough, North Yorkshire

Take care in foreign markets

Going global: Our correspondent discovers the golden rules for making British firms into world-class players

Thorsten Seeger of Barclays in Canary Wharf

A small idea may start something big

Innovation: The gap between the 'light-bulb moment' and the first year to turn a profit can be long and extremely arduous

Get in tune with today’s economy

True entrepreneurs will thrive whatever the conditions — provided they keep innovating

Change up a gear and drive expansion

Fast growth: For your business to thrive, assemble a good team, then keep out of their way

Bob Ford

Enterprise Clinic: Loki Ltd

Bob Ford gets expert advice on how to move his company to the next level

How I made it

Paul Lindley of Ella's kitchen with daughter Ella (son Patrick) in Reading, Britain

Making a profit is kids' stuff

Politics, accountancy, children's TV and some creative advertising was just the recipe for founder of Ella's kitchen, Paul Lindley

Phil Yeomans How I Made It Andrew Dunn of Scott Dunn travel agents based in Chichester, West Sussex

'Ski bum' turned into travel mogul

Andrew Dunn, founder of Scott Dunn Travel, had intended to fund his love of skiing, instead it became his life

I went for job and found a business

Hard work, personality and an eye for an opportunity got Steven Street, the founder of Relay Recruitment, into business

Mr Watercooler beats the bottle

At the age of 26, Phil Langley chose to work for himself. He got a £100,000 bank loan and founded Premier Watercoolers

Best 100 Companies

Find out who you should be working for with our list of the top employers

Entrepreneur Challenge 2008

Karen McBride of Orb International in Glasgow

Women mean business

Women entrepreneurs: Our correspondent finds out what’s driving a growing enterprise sector

Simon Bailes

Why once is never enough

Serial entrepreneurs come in many guises – from the fiercely competitive to the artistic – but also have characteristics in common

Harness the power of eco-boffins

Green business: Technological skill and entrepreneurial instinct must work together to be a success

Made in Britain

Manufactuering: Opportunities are there for the lean and mean and the sector is nothing like its public perception

The Business Doctor

Can I sell shares back to a firm?

I'm retired and still own 10 per cent of the shares in my old company, there are restrictions on me selling them

Don't get sued over health and safety issues

Slips and falls are common workplace accidents, but simple preventative measures prove the most cost effective

Taxing issue for foreign builder

What's the best way to structure a business that wants to expand into the UK and Ireland markets?

Corporate Manslaughter Act

Businesses of all sizes are affected by the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (effective April 6)

Special report

Alex Meisi Chairman of Sponge.

The best way to deal with failure

In the second half of her report, our correspondent looks at the practical steps entrepreneurs can take to recover

jeremy harbor of unity group.

How to cope when you go bust

In the first of a two-part series our correspondent looks at how to survive the emotional fallout of your business going under

Budget Calculator

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What does the budget mean for you?

Work out your personal or business taxes

Entrepreneur Challenge 2008

Pile of £20 (twenty pound note).

How you could win a share of £35million

Enterprise Clinic: The Experts 

Sam Kerr

Head of New Business for Bank of Scotland

Ben Fennell

Managing director of BBH London

Tony Cohen

Head of Entrepreneurial Business at Deloitte

Simon Hughes

Director for SME Business at Microsoft

Andy Lees

Heads private sector practice for Atos Consulting

Rich List 2008

The 2,000 wealthiest individuals in Britain

Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of Craigslist

The reluctant CEO

Podcast: Jim Buckmaster, the CEO of Craigslist, on MBAs, e-mail and useless meetings

Mon Plaisir Restaurant Waiter and waitress at work

Small firms unite

The BCC is to fight a raft of government proposals that may harm members

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Focus Zone

Film reel

Top 100 Films:

Enjoy screenings of all the classic films you love.

horses

Alternative Investments:

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own racehorse or a beautiful painting?

Toyota Auris

Places & Spaces:

Enjoy comfort, safety, space and great design. Plus enter our great competition

Dalmatian lying down

Perfect Pets:

Allow Times Online TV show, Perfect Pets help you make the the right pet decisions

California

Totally California:

Are you California dreaming? Explore the wonders of the Golden State. Also enter our fantastic competition

Nikon D40X camera

Young Photographer:

Do you have what it takes to be a Times photographer?

Train your brain

Surprise Yourself:

Your brain is capable of more than you might think...

Wealth Management:

Find out to make the most of your money with our wealth management guides

Boards advertising property for sale and rent are seen in east London

Property Guides:

Need help with your property? We have an entire how to guide - buying, selling, letting, moving, to help you

Best 100 Green Companies

Best Green Companies:

We are seeking entries for the inaugural Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards

RSPB

Love Nature:

Enjoy some wonderful inspiring wildlife moments

James Bond eye image

James Bond:

An interactive preview of the brand new For Your Eyes Only exhibition

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The Bank of Scotland
Corporate £35million
Entrepreneur Challenge

Bank of Scotland

Inspired by the huge success of 2007, Bank of Scotland Corporate has added two more regions and an extra £10 million. This year we're looking for seven established and growing UK businesses with a minimum turnover of £2 million to impress our judges with their creativity and vision. Each winner will receive up to £5 million funding, totally interest free for three years.*

Property, insurance, banking and startup businesses are excluded from The Entrepreneur Challenge and other exclusions and limitations apply, see terms and conditions for details.
* Funding subject to status and terms to be agreed, security may be required.

find out more

QUICKLINKS

Sudoku 

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Now Interactive

Love Sudoku? Play our brand new interactive game: with added functionality and daily prizes

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    Forget burnout, boreout is the new office disease

    Are you irritable when you return from work? Drained of emotion? You could be suffering from boreout

      Podcasts 

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      The Bugle - Dead Hill Walking

      John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman beg Hillary to pack it in

        Driving 

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        Jeremy Clarkson's greatest hits

        Prepare for some shock and awe, petrol lovers. Despite the greens trying to wipe it out, the car is about to offer us the most exciting year ever

          Travel 

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          100 summer holidays for '08

          We've trawled the brochures and websites to find this summer’s best holidays for every taste and budget

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          Photo Galleries

          Pictures of the Week

          A selection of the best images from around the world

            Video: The Entrepreneur Challenge

            Latest from the
            Entrepreneur
            Challenge

            Bank of Scotland

            Every application will be assigned to one of our seven regions. Our panels will choose a regional winner to go through to the national final.

            Explore the regions below:

            Bank of Scotland
            find out more

            Story of the
            Entrepreneur
            Challenge 2007

            Bank of Scotland
            Matt Riley

            open quote markThank you very much to Bank of Scotland Corporate for this. It's absolutely fantastic and I'm really looking forward to working with them and Sir Philip Green in the future.open quote mark

            National Winner 2007
            Matt Riley,
            Daisy Communications
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            William Chase

            open quote markWe're absolutely amazed and the whole team is very flattered to win the Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Challenge. It's great to know there is a bank out there that's supporting the entrepreneurs. . . .open quote mark

            Midlands & Mid Wales
            William Chase,
            Tyrrells Group Ltd
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            Chris Howell

            open quote markThis is fantastic news for DriveTech and fantastic news for road safety. What this award is going to do for DriveTech is ramp up the operation quickly so that we can make a fundamental difference to the lives of young people in this country.open quote mark

            South England & South Wales
            Chris Howell,
            Drivetech (UK) Plc
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            Ian Millner

            open quote markIt's brilliant! We've never won anything before... we're exhilarated and honoured... It's our responsibility now to do the right thing with this investment.open quote mark

            London
            Ian Millner,
            Iris Nation Worldwide Ltd
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            Michael Shand

            open quote markGetting this is more than we ever thought we could do, just being in the national final is great.open quote mark

            Scotland & Northern Ireland Winner
            Michael Shand,
            RB Farquhar (Manufacturing) Ltd
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            Classifieds 

            Cars

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            Jaguar XKR Supercharged Coupe

            2007/07
            £57,500
            South East England

            BMW 630Ci

            2007/07
            £40,995
            South East England

            BMW M5

            2006/06
            £41,995
            South East England

            Car insurance

            Great car insurance deals online


            Jobs

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            Business Development & Relationship Managers

            £40-55k+benefits+uncapped commission
            Morgan Keating
            South East

            Senior Process Manager

            £60k plus excellent benefits
            Barclaycard
            Stockton / Northampton

            Project Manager – Pioneering Change

            £ £55,000 - £75,000 plus bonus and benefits
            Diligenta
            Based in Peterborough

            Business Consultant – Pioneering Change

            £45,000 - £70,000 plus bonus and benefits
            Diligenta
            Based in Peterborough

            Properties

            Househunting. Without the hunt.

            Globrix, the property search engine

            Looking for a new home?

            Visit Times Online Property for homes for sale or rent

            Leicester LE3

            Residential development site with planning permission
            £1,500,000

            Barclays Buy Abroad

            Mortgages, bank accounts & money transfers to help you buy abroad

            Holidays

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            Mauritius

            Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa 7 nights
            From £1830 per person – saving £530.

            Explore the French Pyrenees

            Walking & multi-activity holidays in Cauterets. Stylish self-catering apartments.
            From 350€ for 7 nights.

            Funway Holidays Int Inc

            Walt Disney World Resort Florida SALE!
            From £619 per person!

            Travel insurance

            Great travel insurance deals online


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