THE ENTREPRENEUR

Iqbal Wahhab is founder of Roast restaurant and chairman of the board of the Quilliam Foundation

Making financial sense of the arts

In this age of austerity, cultural groups must build a stronger economic case to win business backing. Investment – rather than funding – should be their new watchword

Let's look after the jobless

A government scheme offering financial backing for employers to find work for the long-term unemployed deserves our support. The alternative is economic standstill

Red alert on meat habit

After the horsemeat scandal, there must be a sharper focus on healthy eating – we could save billions, reduce the carbon footprint and help fight global famine

Capitalism? It's our survival kit

Let's reclaim the word and show that business is a force for good. After all, everyone benefits when company owners and employees collaborate towards a common goal

From ex-con to entrepreneur

In the US hundreds of former prisoners have been helped to set up businesses. Are we doing enough here to harness the latent skills of former inmates?

Rise of the corporate shrink

In the US and emerging economies, executives readily seek counselling to help them cope, but why is mental health still an off-limits subject in Britain's boardrooms?

Jobless deserve a better deal

Apprenticeships are vital but many schemes are deeply flawed. They squander public money, waste company time and fail those most in need – the long-term unemployed

IT'S TIME TO DO CURRY A FAVOUR

A lack of innovation has put the great British curry house under threat but customer feedback, mentoring and a diversified workforce offer a path to revival

DON'T BE AFRAID TO SAY 'I GOT IT WRONG'

Telling budding entrepreneurs about your business failures is just as important as describing the triumphs. It shows them there's no easy route to riches

WHOSE LIFE WILL YOU CHANGE?

Business leaders can help reshape the perspective and life chances of Britain's youth – it's a compelling case for mentoring

Shouldn't workers be on our boards?

In the debate about widening boardroom diversity, we often overlook the employees who make things happen. Isn't it time to involve them in making decisions?

Doing good makes business sense

The Business Connectors scheme exemplifies responsible capitalism. It not only helps disadvantaged communities but leaders who take part benefit their companies, too

WINNING WITH APPRENTICES

A more focused approach to workplace training is a win-win for everyone – it makes the downturn more bearable for the unemployed and cuts recruitment costs for employers. Finally, the government is listening to business

COUNTING THE COST OF FAT BRITAIN

If a quarter of employees are obese, it's not only their health at risk... your business may be in danger too. We need to do more to tackle the problem - but so must ministers

THE OLD-BOY NETWORK CAN DAMAGE BUSINESS

There's no room for public school connections in the modern workplace. Executives who recruit and engage only with people like them are missing out on new talent

WHY OFFICE ROMANCES MAKE SENSE

A good old-fashioned love affair between colleagues is healthy for business and should be encouraged, so why not play your company Cupid this Christmas?

Are cash offers too good to be true?

They come from as far afield as Russia and Abu Dhabi and they're paying millions for UK businesses. But are the mega-rich helping or hindering our economy?

Understanding the i-generation

Steve Jobs may have changed the way we use technology but he has also fostered the "I" society. Companies must learn how to harness it if they want to stay relevant

Why hard work wins

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has urged businesses to focus on recruiting British workers. But he doesn't see the bigger picture

More elbow room for office grown-ups?

The transition from small to medium-sized company means a smart, roomy head office but extra management challenges

Wake-up call on outsourcing

If it's cheaper to run call centres in the UK than it is abroad, why don't companies bring business home and cut the dole queues?

Big Society needs you

Can't find the right staff? Employers who invest time at schools and colleges will find the next generation of talent is on their doorstep

A tale of two cities

Foreign investors are pouncing on failed New York businesses. UK private equity firms must act fast to save London from a similar fate

Mirror in the workplace

We rarely shy away from discussing gender equality in business but what about ethnic balance? It's an equally important priority

Out of the shadows

A chance encounter at a charity ball made me sharply aware of the ordeal faced by job-seeking teenagers living with HIV

What price happiness?

David Cameron misses the point... you can only claim there's more to life than money if you have some in the first place

Mind your email manners

Technology allows us to work quickly on the move but it's also an unacceptable excuse for bad behaviour. Let's improve our netiquette

Sorry for being a Scrooge

Christmas parties... who needs them? They always end in tears. Be more creative when you thank your staff for their hard work

Banking on a fresh image

How do bankers repair their tarnished reputation? More help for start-ups, longer opening hours and an end to holidays taken in their name

Giving staff a seat at the table

Death threats, media disdain and a quiet word from a Coca-Cola chief made me reassess my attitude towards customer service

Britain's got business talent

Let's not squander cash on training people for jobs that don't exist. Social enterprise is a trigger for economic revival

The crying game

More men are struggling to hold back tears. But, please, let's not have any blubbering in the boardroom

Tackling the enemy within

The next suicide bomber could be working for you. So employers have a duty to engage with the government's Prevent strategy on fighting terrorism

Talent for tomorrow

Private equity groups working at the grass-roots may inspire youth, but they're also nurturing financiers of the future

Too close for comfort

When ex-offenders are offered jobs it's a signal from business that there's a survival route away from a life of crime

Beyond the prison gates

When ex-offenders are offered jobs it's a signal from business that there's a survival route away from a life of crime