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Richard Harpin named entrepreneur of the year

A Walsall businessman who made a business worth more than a billion pounds after spotting a gap in the market has been named the top entrepreneur in the UK. Read

SMEs seek to cut staff as costs rise

The spiralling cost of employment is making small businesses consider cutting staff as the economic downturn deepens, the Forum of Private Business has said. Read

Win a place on leadership training course

Birmingham’s entrepreneurs and SMEs are invited to enter a competition to win a place on a leadership development programme, run by Common Purpose. Read

West Midland businesses fall short in self-promotion

West Midland business should do more to promote itself, a senior official from the Queen’s Awards Office has said. Read

A year of success for Claverdon's community village store

Residents in a leafy Warwickshire village are celebrating a year’s success with their community-owned shop. Read

Fuel and energy costs hit businesses with double inflation

Small businesses in the Midlands are being stung by more than twice the general rate of inflation through fuel, energy and raw material costs. Read

Jo finds a market for children's gym equipment

A former primary school teacher from the Black Country has launched a firm making pint-sized gym equipment for children. Read

Business is booming as Select Blinds keeps it green

A Warwickshire blinds manufacturer has seen a massive upswing in business after focusing on being an environmentally-aware firm. Read

SMEs queue up for help from Aston Reinvestment Trust

A lending trust that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs has reported a huge rise in approaches as the credit crunch intensifies. Read

Warning to small businesses as banks reign in credit deals

The worst could still be yet to come for small businesses as banks start to look more and more shaky, the Forum of Private Business has said. Read

Rush for places at Coventry micro-business support course

Coventry University is extending its micro-business support project after being flooded with interested people for the first course of its type in the UK. Read

MDTi licenses the NHS originals

Midlands ex-banker Martin Levermore saw the licensing of simple NHS-originated ideas as the best way to protect the NHS from risk – yet still provide valuable income from innovation. Read

Majority of SMEs fear a technology disaster

Research has found that 82 per cent of SMEs across the region feel exposed to disasters that could effect their business. Read

Rent out your spare room website takes off for Karl

A Worcestershire credit crunch victim is hoping to keep a roof over his head by renting out his spare bedrooms to earn tax-free money. Read

Worcestershire blacksmith highlights plight of small businesses

A Worcestershire blacksmith was the surprise star turn of an emergency debate on the economy at the Conservative Party Conference on Sunday. Read

Millionaire's new venture frees up more time for entrepreneurs

A multimillionaire Birmingham entrepreneur has launched a company he says can offer “recession-proof growth” to small businesses hit by the credit crunch. Read

Redundancy helps Steve and Emma realise their business dream

A Worcestershire couple have fulfilled a burning ambition by starting their own furniture and candle business. Read

South Africa short of construction workers

A shortage of skills and capacity in South Africa’s construction industry is opening the door to UK companies, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry says. Read

Fastsigns gets to work on housing association rebrand

A Birmingham printing company has won a lucrative contract to work with the Midlands’ largest housing group to produce thousands of signs. Read

Chauffeur service offering extra value to executives

Business owners are turning to chauffeurs to get around instead of the traditional company car, a local firm has said. Read