Professor Dixon has been a member of staff in the Business School since 1992. He was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Management and subsequently promoted in 1995 to a Readership in Accountancy and Finance. He has held various administrative roles in the School including Chair of the Board of Studies, Director of the MBA Programme, and between September 2005 and April 2008 he was the Deputy Dean of the School. In April 2008 he took up the post as Dean of Durham Business School.

In 1998 he was promoted to a Chair of Management Accounting. His research interests are broad and include investigations of the contribution of venture capitalists and the impact of regulation on business. He is a highly regarded speaker and has held visiting professorships in Malaysia, Hong Kong, France and Finland.

Professor Dixon is the author of a number of books and articles in the broad field of Management, and has published extensively in learned journals on the broad subject of financial management and performance appraisal. His current research covers Health Service finances, control and accounting issues in Africa and Eastern Europe.

1. What does Durham Business School have to offer my business?
2. What kind of business research can Durham Business School help me with?
3. Why should I choose Durham Business School to do an MBA?
4. I have 20 years work experience, how can a Masters Degree or another programme benefit me?
5. We need to look at a certain area within the business, can Durham Business School help?

Manush Badalyan is the company's founder and she is an experienced and multi-skilled consultant with a successful career track. Prior to consulting, Manush was Managing Director of a successful architectural practice operating in Armenia, USA and other European countries. She has also managed in the hotel and leisure sector. Having over 10 years international experience in organizational and business development, Manush understands the challenges of both large corporate companies and the small business environment.

Her expertise spans from managing SMEs to conducting audits for growth strategies. Manush is a business generalist understanding different aspects of any business and how they inter-link. She specialised in business and leadership development and was a Board member of the Centre for Leadership Development. She is able to tackle projects from strategic and functional aspects. She has a reputation for delivering results through effective business strategies and creating compelling value for customers.

Manush is fluent in English, Spanish, Russian and Armenian and has broad international experience and networks. She also has a strong academic background; she is a Durham MBA graduate with distinction.

1. Whom is this initiative towards service intended to effect?
2. Will the service offering make a big difference to the customer’s experience with us?
3. How will the potential customers learn about the improvements with us?
4. Can it be easily replicated?
5. Can we do a cost/benefit analysis? Is it worth the investment in service in terms of money, time and effort?

Jill currently manages Onyx Group's Business Continuity Centre in Team Valley - the North East's only 200 seat workplace recovery centre, fully equipped for business relocation during an interruption or disaster. Jill also assists companies in the North East and beyond to introduce business continuity plans to protect their business should they be hit by an unexpected interruption or disaster.

1. What is Business Continuity?
2. How can I implement Business Continuity?
3. What are the effects of not having business continuity planning in place?
4. Why is workplace recovery important?
5. How often should you test your plan?

Nick and his team help companies to be ready for and to break into new markets. He has an understanding of contract and tender opportunities, established relationships with industry experts, purchasers and suppliers.

Nick is often called upon to assist at a strategic level and his team of staff and associates can help to implement the strategy and help at a tactical level.
Nick’s company, Nimis Limited, provides tender matching services, training and consultancy. The company’s main product is TenderTap, which is an aggregated opportunity portal containing over three million contract and tender documents and provides daily alerts to companies across Europe through sponsors such as NETPark Net.

Nimis offers Supplier, Tender and Market Readiness Programmes tailored for each client. The Readiness Programme is often followed by a Breakthrough Programme, assisting the client to enter a new market, engage with a new client or submit winning bids.

Nimis will help clients to overcome any obstacle that may be preventing them from entering a new market or securing a particular piece of work.

Training programmes can be developed that incorporate executive level down to shop-floor level including Business Improvement Techniques, provision of Six Sigma Certification, IT, Administration and Customer Services.

1. Can you give me the contact details of buyers of my product or service, details of what they buy, who from, and for how much?
2. What is the market potential for our company in the UK and Europe, who are our competitors and how much are they getting paid?
3. Can you help us to set up a profile so that we receive daily tender and quote opportunities that match our company capabilities?
4. My company wants to supply this particular company. Can you help us to understand what training, qualifications, certification, accreditation and standards we need…and can you set up a meeting with the buyer?
5. My company wins less than 8 out of 10 bids submitted. How can you help us increase our success rate by submitting compliant and competitive (informed) bids?

Paul is Head of Office at Bluefin in Newcastle. He is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Paul and his team in Newcastle have many years experience in providing ‘hands on’ insurance and risk management advice to a broad range of organisations throughout the North East of England and beyond. He also has specific experience in assisting both established and emerging technology and life science companies and arranging specialist business insurance programmes. Paul firmly believes that his clients get the ‘best of both worlds’ with Bluefin :- dedicated local service, backed up by national market muscle.

1. Why is it so difficult for emerging technology & life science businesses to find specialist insurance cover to match our needs at an affordable price?
2. Is it possible to insure products intended for clinical trials
3. What is errors and omissions insurance
4. What is directors & officers liability insurance
5. Are you able to assist with insurance content vetting and/or questionnaires? ?