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Michael Izza: Let's not lose sight of ambition

This time last year, when the Conservative Party was meeting in Blackpool, the United Kingdom was coping with the collapse and subsequent nationalisation of Northern Rock. Read

Outsourcing keeps you IT costs down

With the current financial climate there has never been a better time to consider the benefits of outsourcing IT. Read

Karl George: Why a strategy box is everything for the Third Sector

It was Goethe who said that things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Read

Steve Walker: Fed staff kept financial info close to chest

It’s now just 12 months since I went on a study tour to New York, which included four visits to the Federal Reserve Bank and Wall Street. Read

Jerry Blackett: In life – and business – timing is everything

In life, they say, timing is everything. With a large investment bank (Lehman Brothers) failing and speculation about who else might be in trouble, it would be easy to forget that in Birmingham we need to keep our plans to regenerate and transform the City on track. Read

Andeep Mangal: Supplementary business rate could prove a tax to far

As long ago as March 2007 Sir Michael Lyons concluded his inquiry into local government financing. Read

Working from home could relieve a lot of stress

After a summer of bliss, reality has kicked back in with a vengeance. Read

Geoff Percy: How 'Business in Classroom' can help make a difference

A week into the new academic year and many young people in our region will have begun their journeys towards GCSE or A Level qualifications. Read

John Lamb: The mantra of driving customers to distraction

A few years ago a mantra for business was spawned. It went something like this: “It’s not enough to please your clients, you must strive to delight them.” Read

Where are the brand new 58 plates?

There are many barometers to the overall health of the economy – many of which have been getting quite an airing in recent weeks and months. Read

Jerry Blackett: I have a few words to share with Prime Minister Brown

I am going to imagine what I might say to the Prime Minister in Birmingham today. Read

Steve Walker: Will a quarter-point cut really make a difference?

I have been struck in recent weeks by the incredibly varied and rapidly changing opinions muted by the ‘experts’ regarding the well-being or otherwise of the economy and the actions needed to improve it. Read

Andeep Mangal: Second city debate masking a vital point

Here's something that Marketing Birmingham hasn't had to contend with very often - managing the potential PR damage of one of their own speaking out against the city. Read

West Midlands can make most of Olympic success

The eyes of the world have certainly been focused on China over the past few weeks and the Olympics have been, without doubt, a massive plus for the nation. Read

Creative industries well-placed to beat credit crunch

Lara Ratnaraja, sector development director of creative, cultural and digital at Business Link in the West Midlands, looks at how the Midlands’ creative industry can beat the credit crunch. Read

Arun Bajaj: Immigrant work permits are a minefield of bureaucracy

The report that the UK will have Europe’s largest population by 2060, 77 million putting it ahead of France and Germany, threw up a number of issues. Read

Karl George: Team GB really meant business and we can learnfrom this

The 2008 Olympics opened and closed with equal amounts of vigour, enthusiasm and celebration. But even those two landmark events cannot exceed the great success by Team GB. Read

Matt Taylor: Why we all can embrace Team GB’s success philosophy

The fact that Team GB has ended in a fantastic position in the medal table has certainly helped fuel our enthusiasm and interest for the Games. Read

Education agenda can be rewarding for creative industries

The four-year-olds had been watching, intrigued, as the nine-year-olds shot tiny stop-frame animations with the Lego models they had made. Read

Jerry Blackett: Let’s put the UK economy into perspective

Stephen Hester, CEO of British Land asked the other day: “Has the world changed and we are all going to live in tents, or is the financial centre going to relocate to Birmingham from London? Let’s have some perspective about it.” Read

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Sports Columnist

Pat Murphy

Pat Murphy

Five Live's sports correspondent writes exclusively for the Post. Read