Why should your business join the Twitterati? Around a year ago, l noticed that a few business owners dipped a tentative toe into the world of twitter.

Many then didn’t quite know what to do with it, tweeted a few random things and then decided it wasn’t right for their business and didn’t seem that useful.

Maybe it was more for celebs to tell the world about what they are up to.

Some decided that it was all about people who thought the world wanted to know their opinions on things the whole time *yawn*.

However, other businesses have been using it a lot.

Wanted – alternatives to sport and challenge-based charity sponsorship For years now, raising money for charity by taking part in a sport-related event or challenge has been de rigeur.

I think it’s time for change. We should look to the business world for inspiration on how to raise money for charity by giving people who sponsor something back.

The feel-good factor that comes from sponsoring people doesn’t really cut it in a time of recession when we’re all watching the pennies.

If people sponsor something, they should get something in return, even if it’s having their car washed or their lawn mowed or receiving some baked treats. I think it’s time to re-think the current charity sponsorship model.

Should small businesses be exempt from paying for parental leave?
In the run-up to the Budget George Osborne announced potential changes to current maternity regulations which would have made small businesses exempt from paying for maternity leave.

As the owner of a small- to medium-sized business, l was pleasantly surprised, but as it turns out the proposals weren't followed through.

If even the Olympic Stadium will be ‘recycled’, why is there still so much waste in business?
Even though the Olympics haven’t taken place and construction of the Olympic Stadium isn’t yet finished, the flagship stadium has already been allocated to West Ham Football Club for use after London 2012.

I for one am relieved that West Ham won the bid. Not because l’m a die-hard ‘Hammer’ but because they appear to be wasting a lot less of the stadium by keeping the athletics track than the other hopeful club, Tottenham, would have done by re-building it as a football-only venue.

Embrace the long hours and work hard Working hard is the only way you can really 'make it', so why do so many people think working long hours is a bad thing?

Are degrees preparing students for the workplace or are they about indulgent self fulfilment? Think hard about why you want to study - real experience in a company can be a far better way to learn skills and get on in your career.

Are there too many benefits for women on maternity leave? Part 3 MEPs have backed an extension of maternity leave laws to 20 weeks, but what impact will this have on UK businesses?

Are there too many benefits for women on maternity leave? Part 2 There will always be the dilemma among employers over the best candidate. But can a change in the maternity law structure make it easier for both employer and their workforce?

Are there too many benefits for women on maternity leave? Maternity leave is a subject many employers can’t ignore. But when new mothers return to work part-time, should they still be entitled to the same benefits as a full-time employee?

Can you run a successful small business and raise children at the same time? The image of the working mum has evolved greatly through the decades. But if help as a working mum can be found at home, why can’t there be help at work when you’re the one in charge.

Why does everyone think they need a training course before they can do anything these days?
Training courses have their place in every business and we all have room to learn. But perhaps the day of standard training is over and better ways need to be found.

Problem solving is becoming the real work to make business grow Taking the lead in a business environment can mean often juggling your team's problems. But embracing problem solving could lead to a happier workforce.

Are ethical FairTrade™ products a fair compromise on quality?
FairTrade™ is a hot topic at the moment. Businesses and consumers have an opportunity to make it a part of everyday life but are ethical products of equivalent quality to their non-ethical counterparts?

As Google launches Google Instant, should SMEs be investing in bricks and mortar not SEO?
As Google launches Google Instant, which displays search results immediately when starting to type a search phrase, is it becoming harder and harder for SMEs based online to appear at the top of the Google rankings?

And is this forcing some businesses to move from online to offline?

From car brands to Marks & Spencer and Oxfam, is everyone jumping on the scrappage scheme bandwagon?
The highly-successful car scrappage scheme has now ended, prompting businesses around the UK to consider how they could implement a similar scheme to drive sales. Marks & Spencer was the first company to jump on the scrappage scheme bandwagon and through a link-up with Oxfam manages to do its bit for charity at the same time.

Running a rural business: He who sows the wind, reaps a typhoon l am going to discuss a topic that owners of rural businesses up and down the country will be familiar with. Wind turbines. - If you don’t live or work near a wind farm, you probably haven’t considered their impact beyond the benefit in terms of wind power being a renewable energy source!

If Lord Sugar can do it, why can't l?
It struck me recently that some of the most watched TV programmes at the moment all have something in common.

I am thinking of shows like The Apprentice, The X Factor, Dragons’ Den, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, Mary Queen of Shops and The Hotel Inspector to name but a few.

They tell people the truth as they see it.

Mary Queen of Shops hits the nail on the head: local businesses need to specialise to survive For years now we’ve been hearing plenty about how our high streets are suffering at the hands of the supermarket giants and how their ‘evil plan’ to take over Britain’s streets is forcing local businesses to shut shop.

I am currently working with Mary Portas’ shop designer, Callum Lumsden, on a refit of one of our studios so I have been watching her brilliant latest series, Mary Queen of Shops.

She talks about how businesses need to improve in order to compete with supermarkets and I couldn’t agree more.

It’s that (recruitment) time again… “Where exactly is the ‘middle of nowhere’ please?”
With the latest figures on graduate recruitment showing that vacancies have dropped by nearly 7% in the year up to June 2010 following a fall of 8.9% in 2009, businesses might be forgiven for thinking that the lucky few to succeed in gaining employment would turn up on the first day with a strong work ethic.

Running a rural business: Did you say bridal jewellery or bridle jewellery? As the owner and director of a successful rural business employing over 30 people across two locations in the East of England, l was approached recently by Business Matters who asked me if l’d like to become a regular columnist.