As I write this the FTSE-100 suffered its steepest points fall since November 2008 and David Cameron warned that economic recovery will be difficult. Against this backdrop, October's issue of Director focuses on growth in these incredibly challenging times.
As the magazine drops through your letter box, Simon Walker, new Director General of the IoD, will be presenting the IoD's Growth Plan at the Conservative Party conference. He is passionate about business and has complete faith in you, the business community, to bring the country out of recession – as long as the government stops interfering. Read his views and hear about his fascinating career.
And I hope you will be inspired by the businesses that are already working hard to push the UK back into prosperity. We look at the manufacturing sector and three companies that have put their faith in British factories rather than heading east. We hear why Joseph Joseph has increased its profits in the past year – you may even have one of their colourful reasons sitting in your kitchen – and we investigate crowdsourcing, a creative, cutting-edge way of working that has become more popular during the recession and is working its way into mainstream business.
We also report on apprenticeships. Everyone knows we need to bring the country's young people into work both for their dignity and for the health of the nation, so we explain just how the schemes work, talk to companies which have put them in place and look at the practicalities of how you can get started. Added to this, we have social networking secrets, technology to help you streamline your costs, fantastic travel and restaurant ideas.
I hope this issue inspires you as much as interviewing everyone in it has inspired us. Have a great month.
Lysanne Currie