Welcome to our first newsletter.
2006 and 2007 were probably not the best years for business – so I suppose the question is --

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO REVERSE THIS TREND AND MAKE 2008 THE START ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

The following suggestions have been received so far -------------

• We’ll just have to hope that things get better
• Let’s hope that the summer weather is better this year
• Why can’t ELDC do something about the High Streets
• The environment agency is to blame
• We should all be selling up if things don’t get better

Many other suggestions have also been made – but as some of our readers are ladies ------
At this stage I was going to say “However moving on to more serious suggestions” – but actually some of the above were very serious – and that is worrying, because if that’s the most positive response we can come up with, perhaps the last suggestion is the best option.

Notes are attached from our recent conference, which was attended by 59 people and resulted in a paid up membership of over 30 businesses with c10 more in the process of joining us.
It showed that most business people are unaware of some of the important issues directly affecting them and feel excluded from the planning, discussion and decision making process.

Local, district, county and national authorities also find it difficult to talk to the local business community – with whom, how and where do they communicate are common problems.

So – for the more positive minded amongst us, I offer the following choices which are open to all MASCOT members ----- it’s an opportunity to DO something -----

• Join in - become a bigger, more INFLUENTIAL part of the decision making process
• Learn more about what is happening in YOUR town
• Make sure YOUR opinion counts
• Join a CONSTRUCTIVE dialogue with the organisations which affect you
• Access FREE business advice and FREE expensive business consultancy – over a dozen local companies have done this to date with positive results
• As 40 heads are better than one, you can benefit from other members EXPERTISE

So, our first MASCOT meeting is the next step, and details are attached.
We also have another opportunity to make a difference – I’m a member of the board of the ELDC Neighbourhood Management project and they are keen for the local business community to be involved, again details attached so why not play your part in that too.

Mike McDonald
Business and Tourism Development Manager

Tel 07 802 697 279

E.mail mike_mcdonald@hotmail.co.uk