Fireworks on the sea front signal the start of the main holiday season. Hotels fully booked, restaurants buzzing, lots of visitors to our shores.

All the major indicators are showing slow improvements, but that is fine. We know this is going to take a long time, steady growth without a winter dip would be preferred. Hope you got your business rates and tax credits sorted before 1 August – the door is now closed.

Lots of training available via our office on Oldmixon Crescent – Advertising & Promotion, bookkeeping, business start up courses to name but a few.

North Somerset Business Club – one of the most cost effective networking groups in the region. Get your tickets for the Charity Ball on 2 October – being held on the new Grand Pier. Come and look around and support local business and local charities.

Remember to visit the money saver before any big purchase – I would be surprised if Martin Lewis cannot save you money on most of your shopping, including holidays and flights.

Look for new opportunities at all times, but never forget your regular customers – look after them first.

Quote of the week:

“Be careful of reading health books – you may die of a misprint”

Last chance to claim. Tax Credits, which ever section might affect you, is raising the drawbridge on 31 July so get your claims in. Self-employed low earners may well be eligible for Working Tax Credits.

Well, it seems like yesterday that a hose pipe ban was imminent and we now have green grass and lots of water – could business be affected as quickly? It is fair to say that we are involved in major changes to our finances and revisiting our original budgets id s vital part of planning our way out of recession.

How’s this for a cheery statistic! In 1999 in the USA a total number of 28,874 people were killed by guns. In Britain the figure was 207. So sales may be down, rain maybe forecast but you are not likely to be shot for a day or two!!

You could of course order the new Bugatti Veyron super sport, crowned the world’s fastest production car with a top speed of 268 mph – how silly!!!

I hope all you retailers, cafes and hoteliers etc are displaying your “Heroes Welcome” stickers. If you do not have stickers then contact Weston-super-Mare Town Mayor. I would love us to be the ‘heroes’ friendliest town’ and be noted for it.

Quote of the day:

“I try to treat my team equally by treating them all differently”
​William Montgomery – on BBC

Well, first budget done and dusted and not as hard as some expected. The big guns like the FSB think that it is to be expected, knowing we have to balance the books and get out of debt. If it makes you feel any better, VAT in Denmark and Sweden is 25% and our 20% which comes into force on 4 January 2011, puts us in line with most European countries, but talks have started to re-consider.

Population is predicted to hit 65 million by 2020, that should keep someone busy (in retail I mean)!

Weston’s Water Park is almost ready, the Pier will be open soon, most of the sea defences are complete – bring on the grockells – let’s make hay etc!!

The need for a town train increases to help with parking and mobility around the town centre. This could be your project – talk to me for details.

Just a scan of the new “What’s On” in North Somerset shows there are a lot of people striving to put on interesting and varied events across the county. As for the clever programmes coming from Tyntesfield House – I applaud their ingenuity, we could all take a leaf from their book.

And finally ….

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

​Oscar Wilde

All change – will the new broom’s sweep clean. We will all have to wait and see! I will pass on changes that could affect small to medium businesses as and when they reach my desk.

To put my positive spin on things, we must treat this as an opportunity, but that will entail reacting to change very quickly to get the best for our individual businesses.
I am very impressed that one of the first objectives is to cut through some red tape – “bring it on”!!!

The world markets are on radar but just observing and the numbers will tumble and rise in line with policy changes.

RBS announced a further 2,600 job cuts bringing the total to 22,600 – were they over staffed???!!!
22 June is the first budget (hold tight).

Two thirds of businesses not ready for carbon reduction. MORSE report that 72% of respondents are unaware of how to reduce their emissions.

It has now been definitely confirmed that John Penrose MP has taken the post of Minister for Tourism which, as a seaside town, is great for us!

Quote of the Week:
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it” – Dennis Kimbro

The sun is out and we thrive on good weather – more traffic, busier – says everything is generally a degree or so upbeat.

Dates are whispered for the opening of the Grand Pier, the promenade and water park. Weston 200 is progressing well, with a busy programme from the Royal Hotel – firework displays and the Red Arrows booked for August.

Not sure about the country’s economy until we get over the election and they all decide what is happening.

New legislation is in place, not that we need it! Sick notes are out and well notes are in; paternity pay or at least time off, is increasing if booked in the correct manner – visit www.businesslink.gov.uk to get the full story.

Interesting but scary – from 1997 Council staff earning over £30,000 a year went from 3,300 to 38,000, but small businesses have had to take a cut in margins and of course, some lost everything. You could own an airline of course – not much sleep there! But Apple shares hit an all time high with a 90% increase in quarter 2 profits.

Quote of the week:

“Always tell the truth, that way you don’t have to remember what you said”.