Are companies taking longer to pay your invoices?

The recent unemployment figures that showed a rise to 2.4m took the wind out of the sales of many of those that were starting to talk about green shoots of recovery. However, unemployment has historically lagged behind economic recovery, so even if as predicted, the next figures are even worse it does not mean that the economy is still in terrible shape.

Flicking through television channels the other night, I came across an old episode of Dragons' Den. It was an episode from series one, and although the general format has remained unchanged, what struck me was how far the current series has developed.

How helpful has your bank been to your business?

Has your firm had to cut staff this year?

Top entrepreneur Deborah Meaden talks about life on Dragons Den.