“Go It Alone LITE – the secrets of self employment” is a free 38-page ebook produced by UK business adviser Geoff Burch in association with Essential Business Guide. Geoff advocates an enthusiastic but strictly realistic approach to setting up a new business.

The Nobel Peace Prize has just gone to Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank, who pioneered the whole concept of microlending. Yunus founded Grameen in 1976 during a famine in Bangladesh. Today it has 6.6 million borrowers of whom 97% are women. This award is a big breakthrough for the whole microfinace sector, and may - – - read more >

Alistair Owens, 58, from Doncaster, is the overall winer of Intel’s Profit@50 competition for people who have set up in business after the age of 50. He wins £8,000 from Intel for his business Keen2Learn, along with an up-to-the-minute laptop and mentoring from Yo! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe. The website (www.keen2learn.co.uk) makes it easier for - – - read more >

Mike Crisp set up HouseHubbies when he was aged 58 with one of the first loans from PRIME. Five years later the firm is thriving, and has extended its area of operation to two sites in the Manchester and Staffordshire areas. It now employs Mike, his partner Sharon Hocking and nine other people. HouseHubbies (www.househubbies.com) - – - read more >