Future entrepreneurs lack 'green inspiration' from the leaders of today Over 70 percent of young people in Britain believe there is a lack of inspirational green entrepreneurs for them to look up to, according to research released today by Make Your Mark.

Women work hard, but not quite as hard as men... New research, published today, shows that despite spending longer in the office, women are (on average) less productive than their male counterparts.

Unique 'Tweet a pitch' unveiled One of the UK’s leading businessmen Simon Dolan is set to make history by offering budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to speed pitch for investment via social microsite Twitter.

London set to host the ‘ultimate SME networking event’ Business Scene, the UK’s fastest growing online business community, has invited companies from across the capital to join them at ‘London Connections’, sponsored by Microsoft and Alliance & Leicester. More than 200 SMEs from a range of industries are expected to attend, bringing the city’s leading business networking groups together under one roof on the 15th September.

National finalists named in business hero awards The UK’s top 10 business heroes have been named in the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards – a national award honoring men and women who are turning their lives around by choosing to start up a business. The Government-backed awards recognise business people who are no strangers to overcoming adversity – whether it’s dealing with illness or disability, facing challenging family responsibilities head-on, or turning their back on benefits.

Late payment excuses causing cash flow upset for local SMEs Customers continue to cause headaches for many small and medium-sized businesses in the UK by offering elaborate and far-fetched excuses for the non-payment of outstanding invoices – and it seems the reasons being given for the delay in payment are becoming increasingly creative.

National Business Awards finalists announced Over 160 of the UK’s most innovative and resilient public and private sector businesses has been announced as finalists in The National Business Awards sponsored by Orange. Organisations shortlisted this year include Diageo, E.ON, Cheapflights, BSkyB, ASOS, The British Heart Foundation, Aviva, LOVEFiLM, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, DVLA and Pearson.

Is face-to-face networking a waste of time & money these days? As business owners attempt to cut costs in their businesses and with the huge increase in online business networking, Business Matters looks at whether face-to-face networking really is just a waste of time and money.

Blackberry users 'work an extra 15 hours a week' New research finds that staff with mobile technology such as Blackberries work an extra 15 hours a week as they constantly check emails even out of the office.

Spouses rank as most trusted business partners New research commissioned by business insurer More Than in conjunction with Warwick Business School has revealed a swing away from setting up traditional family businesses, made up of parents, siblings and offspring, in favour of husband and wife teams.

Business owners worried new “sick notes” will mean more sickies Business owners who are fed up of staff pulling sickies are worried that plans to replace “sick notes” with “fit notes” could actually lead to more absenteeism.

Royal search is on for UK’s top companies and business mentors Behind every aspiring entrepreneur or ambitious start up there is often an unseen business mentor in the background going out of their way to offer invaluable levels of advice and support.

Lord Mandelson set to announce the FT & Goldman Sachs business book of the year Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, has confirmed that he will be the keynote speaker at the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award Dinner, to be held at The Victoria & Albert Museum in London on 29th October.

A woman's place isn't in the boardroom Researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science have found an answer to the question 'Do Women managers enhance your business' Unfortunately, the answer's "no".

The stabilisers are off as anti-bike theft entrepreneur wins business contest If David Cameron had known about the newly crowned best new business in the South East he may have been able to have prevented his bike being stolen twice in the past year.

Business show bucks recession talk seeing impressive re-booking Nationwide Media Group, the company behind three of the UK’s largest and most successful business shows, is seeing impressive re-booking figures of 50% for its flagship events. These figures come as the company launches its innovative Marketing Propeller offer which gives exhibitors £11,000 worth of free marketing services. Under the Marketing Propeller, exhibitors receive a range of tools to maximise their profiles before, during and after the events held in Manchester, Doncaster and Coventry.

Essex based KashFlow software heads east UK accounting software company KashFlow has today announced the signing of a deal with Brunei Accenture Group Networks to supply online accounting software to Southeast Asia.

Serviced office firm Avanta to offer reduced rates to entrepreneurs Substantial discounts on serviced office space across the UK are being offered under a new partnership between leading serviced office provider Avanta and Entrepreneur Country, to proactively help entrepreneurs and SMEs ride out the recession.

Does your business have the X factor to succeed? O2 have launched the 2009 O2 X Awards, the search for the best of British entrepreneurs and small businesses. Now in their sixth year, the awards are looking for something extra special in the new generation of small businesses who are making an impact in an increasingly competitive market-place and challenging economic climate. The O2 X Awards are open and entrants have until 1st August to apply.

£1Million challenge launched to boost youth enterprise Youth charity The Prince’s Trust is urging businesses across the UK to compete in a £1 million national enterprise challenge. “Million Makers” challenges employees to run their own mini-enterprises, raising thousands to get young people into business.