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”

The Weston Echo news team is made up of volunteers, most of which have day jobs and dedicate a small amount of time per week to writing about the local subjects that interest them most.

We are expanding our news team as there are various areas that we do not currently cover in local interest which we would like people to write for, these categories are listed below so please have a look through to see what you would enjoy writing about. If you have any friends, family or work colleagues that would be interested please point them in our direction.

Benefits of writing for the Weston Echo

• Get your voice heard in the local community writing about the things you love
• Local recognition for your writing talents
• Free promotion for your personal or business enterprise
• Exclusive yourname@westonecho.co.uk email address
• Being part of something new and exciting

The following categories currently require more writers to submit their stories:

• Education
• Local Affairs (General News)
• Food, including restaurant reviews
• Sport – Football, Motoring, Rugby to name but a few
• What’s on, cinema and theatre

Are other categories not listed here always have space for more articles so take a look at the menu at the top, or even suggest a new category for us!

Contact Matthew Stone at editor@westonecho.co.uk for more information on getting started.

Matthew Stone is the Editor of the Weston Echo. He is also an established I.T. Professional working for a local database marketing company

I wish you all a happy and, more important as there is a direct link, prosperous and healthy new year. There has been a nice steady recovery of the FT index, a strange indicator of market confidence. We are also witnessing a steady increase in property value, which is also very positive.

We need to explore Martin Lewis’s money saving webpages – there is something there for everyone and, if you can afford a holiday, I would start with Martin’s advice.

Sorry to repeat myself, but we need to plan our new year with an eye on marketing and more networking – do nothing and that is exactly what you will get!!

And finally:

Let’s all do something for charity – don’t throw your Christmas cards away, drop them into the North Somerset Enterprise Agency offices on Oldmixon Crescent and we will organise recycling for the Last Resort Dog Rescue, amongst others.

Terry Gilbert is Business Support Manager for the North Somerset Enterprise Agency www.northsomersetenterpriseagency.co.uk as well as being the director for the Weston Town Centre Partnership and Chair for Weston 200 and Weston Arts Social Enterprise.