Entrepreneur watch

The sun shines on our start-ups

A year ago we decided to track three entrepreneurs with different business ideas. Rachel Bridge checks on their progress

Our first six months in business

Three fledgling firms in three very different markets are making good progress, writes Rachel Bridge

• Learning from the start-ups

My Big Idea 

Open Goal magazine

Having spotted a gaping hole in the free media market, Richard Stonehouse is on target to score

The UK Centre for Carnival Arts

Paul Anderson had always believed that art, music and dance had the power to change communities for the better

Key challenges

A mentor can tune your skills

What are the key challenges facing entrepreneurs? In the third of four features, we look at the importance of having a mentor

Appearances can be deceptive

Video: Rushing to judgment about a prospective employer may lead to misperceptions says Colin Day, the chief finance officer at Reckitt Benckiser

How to... get started

How to write a business plan

There are probably thousands of people with great ideas just waiting to be turned into profit, but ideas are nothing without a proper business plan

How to: Pitch for success

If your presentation is concise, clear and to-the-point, a three-minute pitch can elevate your career

How to: Keep the cash flowing

Cash, as the old adage goes, is king, and nowhere is that more true than for the day-to-day operations of a business

Learn how to woo the investors

Preparing a business so that it will appeal to financial backers is a tough process. Training courses can help