August 2005

Our August Meeting was a planning meeting.

The group met at the Bell Inn, Bishops Lydeard, to discuss the future. As regular readers will know by now, the group exists to, firstly, provide training and support for small businesses, and secondly to introduce small businesses to others, with a view to introducing each other to work opportunities.

Penny Griffiths from the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined the group as options were discussed.

There was further discussion around a relaunch event for the group to be run in November as a means of encouraging a wider membership. The web-site would be seen as the hub for this membership, and members of the group would be offered a web presence for an annual fee of £10 a year; significantly less than normally available. New members will have to supply text about their business, photographs and logos, but will receive, in return, a professionally produced web page, and, if they require it, an e-mail address.

A leaflet about the group will be produced for the autumn and the group looked at an initial draft, agreeing it with minor changes.

"Members" are defined as those who contact us and take part. There are no forms to fill in, nor subscriptions to pay. Those who make contact through this web-site will have their message acknowledged, but details of meetings etc will be found on this site. Planning for future meetings takes place at the meetings.

The leaflet to be produced will be funded by the Somerset Chamber and distributed by the group to known businesses in the area. All members are charged with attanding at the next meeting with a list of potential members!