South Africa’s Department of Energy has approved 19 proposals for renewable energy projects in the second round of its request for bids.

The Department of Energy received 79 bids in total for the second round, of which 51 met the qualification criteria. However, given the MW limitation and competition, only 19 bidders were selected as preferred.

Together, the second round proposals represent almost R28 billion in investment.

Everything you think you know about business growth is wrong. Professor Ed Hess debunks some popular myths about growth and provides proven truths to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses successfully.

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval for Western Australia’s first uranium mine.

Toro Energy Limited has been advised by the EPA that approval has been recommended for the company’s Wiluna Uranium Project. The EPA has presented a report to WA’s state minister for environment stating that the Wiluna Project meets environmental approval requirements and should be approved and allowed to proceed, subject to stated conditions within the report.

After shattering both its international and domestic store growth records last year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is on target to have an even bigger year in 2012.

The world's largest retailer by units added more than 4,600 stores worldwide in 2011 and plans to continue the company's accelerated growth.

Some 600 additional stores were built, acquired or transitioned from another business to the 7-Eleven brand in the United States and Canada during 2011.

Customers are unwilling to entertain higher prices, even if the products involved offer better value than before. George F. Brown, Jr. shares a no-risk strategy that works by offering options.

In the early 70s, The Godfather gave us the immortal phrase “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” While his line of business was well suited to executing an offer of this kind, most of us are in businesses where the customer can turn down an offer without having to worry about the consequences of saying no to the Godfather.

Jim Signorelli outlines the 6 Cs of StoryBranding: a breakthrough approach to identify and develop a compelling brand story.

Too much advertising tells us how to see things or what we should believe is important. As a result, we are often inundated with ‘facts’ that can be argued, and opinions that are self-serving. It is hard to form a willing relationship with anyone, let alone a brand, that tries too hard to convince us of its own importance.

South Africa’s AVI has acquired footwear manufacturer and retailer Green Cross, it has been announced.

AVI, whose licenced brands include Lavazza and Douwe Egberts Cafitesse in the food and beverage sector; and fashion names including Kurt Geiger and Lacoste, said the transaction represents a rare opportunity to acquire an established, category-leading brand of relevant scale with a solid record of profitable operations.

Google has released a major new study into the use of social tools in the workplace, which gathered opinions from 2,700 professionals across Europe.

The research revealed that 71 percent of senior executives are using social tools at work at least once a week compared to 49 percent of those in more junior roles – going against the stereotype that social media in business is most popular with younger generations.