Sheffield, renowned for its stainless steel, has had a Master Cutler for 700 years. Richard Field, who held the office in 1997, tells about his city's fight back from recession, and the remarkable turn round in his own life.

Printing company director Richard Hawthorne chairs a Nottingham partnership which engages citizens in urban renewal through 'honest conversation'.

Globalization has become the defining issue for the new century, and big business is not unaware of its social, ethical and global responsibilities.

John Carlisle Partnerships aims to create a culture of openness and efficiency in the world's construction industry.

An OECD treaty aims to put an end to the international culture of backhanders. Peter Eigen, founder of the anti-corruption body Transparency International, was a moving spirit behind it.

The world's 40,000 multinational companies concentrate billions of dollars in a few hands and control the global economy far more effectively than governments, says Bill Jordan, General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trades Unions (ICFTU).

French businessman Jean Fayet believes that business thrives on a culture of risk taking. But he worries about the social consequences of globalization.

'Talk about ethics needs to be firmly rooted in the experiences of business, employees and professionals.'

Indian businessman Farhad Forbes packed his bags in California's Silicon Valley and returned to serve his own country. Now his company is meeting the challenges of India's economic reforms.

Disillusioned with Marxism, David Erdal became chairman of the Fife paper making firm Tullis Russell--then handed over ownership of the company to the workforce.