Business is the new Rock and Roll. The extraordinary popularity of shows like The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den demonstrates the huge interest in entrepreneurship and commerce. But shows like this revel in offering a high-octane view of business that is combative, competitive and cruel. But that’s not necessarily an accurate picture. Most businesses are quiet successes run by ordinary folk working really hard.

A boardroom face-off between back-stabbing colleagues might make brilliant telly, but think of the people you do business with every day. Of course, there will be multi-national names you use regularly but your plumber or electrician, your corner shop and the local boozer, your neighbourhood grocer or dry cleaner are most likely small, independent businesses.

Successful business people are more likely to be Alan next door than Lord Sugar in his Roller with a personalised number plate. But that doesn’t make them boring. The recession is a reminder that small business is the beating heart of the economy. In Sussex, perhaps more than other areas of the country, they are a key provider of employment and trade.

I’m thrilled to be blogging for the Argus and I want to seek out businesses that deserve recognition and publicity. Do you have a great business story that deserves to be told?

My plan is to celebrate businesses that are thriving, expanding, innovating and doing clever things, even during the recession. For many people, the High Street is the most visible sign of the health of local business but many enterprises are almost invisible. But what’s going on behind closed doors, on industrial estates or quiet backstreets? The internet, in particular, means that home based businesses and others need no public facing premises. And there’s plenty of good news.

It’ll be a tonic to the doom and gloom of the business news we get every day and with any luck we might pick up some inspiration and ideas from people who are running amazing local, small businesses.