Sunday Business

"Sunday Business" was a national Sunday broadsheet financial newspaper published in the United Kingdom, which ran from 1996 to 2006, when it was turned into a magazine called "The Business".

It was founded by Tom Rubython in order to provide a Sunday alternative to the "Financial Times", achieving sales of around 150,000 on launch, falling to fewer than 20,000 within months. In 1997 the title was bought by the Barclay Brothers - David and Frederick Barclay, who at the time owned "The European" newspaper and subsequently, "The Daily Telegraph" and "The Scotsman".

It was re-launched on 15 February 1998 with an exclusive interview with Gordon Brown - who promised a budget tailored towards the business community.

"The budget will lay down the foundations for long-term British industrial and economic success".

Re-launched, "The Sunday Business" quickly became a critical success and within its first two years of production had won numerous industry awards, including Newspaper of The Year (1999) and Newspaper Design of the Year (1998, 2000).

Initial sales were promising, however the newspaper became better known as a launch pad for the successful careers of the small team put together by editor Jeff Randall (journalist) in the winter of 1997/8 - all of whom now play major roles in British newspapers.

Re-launch team

*Andrew Neil (publisher): Became presenter of the BBC weekly political roundup show, "This Week", and co-presenter of "The Daily Politics" in 2003. In November 2004 became Chief Executive of "The Spectator". Neil served as Lord Rector of St Andrews University from 1999 - 2002.
*Jeff Randall (journalist) (editor): Left in 2001 to become Business Editor of the BBC and from 2005 editor-at-large of the "The Daily Telegraph".
*Richard Northedge (deputy editor): A Fleet Street and City favourite, Northedge became Executive Editor of "The Business" before leaving to return to "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper group where he worked as Deputy City Editor for 12 years.
*Frank Kane (news editor): Left "The Business" to edit the business section of "The Observer" Newspaper. Currently working as non-executive chairman of ITP – a company which publishes Dubai editions of UK-based titles.
*Damian Reece (City editor): Joined "The Daily Telegraph" as Deputy City Editor in November 2005 from "The Independent" where he had been City Editor for two years. Took over as City Editor from Will Lewis when he became Editor of the "Daily Telegraph" in October 2006.
*Vivien Goldsmith (features editor): A veteran London journalist. Left in 2001 to work in Communications and PR across various companies, including Wellcome Trust
*Martin Essex (economics editor): Joined Capital Economics as Senior International Economist in 2002 and became a Managing Editor at Dow Jones Newswires in 2006
*Richard Wachman (City editor): Joined "The Observer" in 2001
*Nils Pratley (deputy City editor, 1999 - 2001, editor, 2001-2): Joined "The Guardian" as Associate City Editor in 2003
*Mark Watts (chief investigative reporter): Was sacked in 2001 after protesting the break-up of the paper's investigative team. [http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=20872&sectioncode=1] [http://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1017968691.php] Currently a freelance journalist and television host.
*PJ Taylor (news reporter, subsequently political reporter): Went into PR - firstly at Freud Communications and now deputy head of media at Network Rail
*Conal Walsh (news reporter): Joined The Observer
*Ann Brady (Chief Sub): Joined "The Times" in 2003
*John Belknap (Creative Director): Left in 1999 to start Belknap+Co - an independent design agency specialising in newspaper and magazine design.
*Julian Bovis (Art Director): Joined "The Daily Telegraph" as Executive Design Editor (News) in 2003
*Scott Shillum (Picture Editor): Founded visual communications agency VisualMedia (http://www.vismedia.co.uk) in 2001 with brother Daniel Shillum.

Company changes

The newspaper made various moves - both in editorial style and physical location. The newspaper was originally based in Cavendish Square in Central London, while the re-launched newspaper was based in the offices of ITN News in Grays Inn Road; moving onto South Quay in London Docklands in 2000 and then finally back to the City at Waterhouse Square.

By the summer of 2003, most of the re-launch team had been head-hunted by rival national newspapers from across Fleet Street, and the production of the newspaper was handed over to the Press Association. From its offices in London's Victoria, and under the editorship of Andrew Neil, it was rebranded "The Business" - a weekly glossy magazine - in the autumn of 2006.