October 2003

Dear All,

We had a brilliant meeting last week! The marketing training given by Nigel Lilly from SCAT was very good. We all got stuck in with the exercises and learnt a lot about marketing planning. I will chase SCAT to see if those of us that attended the first session can have a follow up to reach the point of producing a plan for our bsuinesses.

November Meeting Dr Stephanie Berry, Somerset Chamber of Commerce In the meantime I have booked Dr Stephanie Berry to attend our next meeting on 20th November 7 -9 pm. (This is an unusual date for us but was arranged around her very busy schedule). She is coming to discuss a framework where we (and groups like us) can benefit from affiliation with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce. This is very much in its infancy and we should be able to shape this to suit our group.

The meeting will also involve a planning and review session which I have been talking about for AGES! This is now most pertintent as it is likely that I will be moving to Hong Kong in January 2004.Jonathon is working out there already. What I want to achieve in November is a review of activies/meetings we have carried out in the last twelve months.Can you bring along numbers of referrral and business resulting from Village Business activities? Views on how it has benefited your business? Plus ideas on what you want to carry out in the next twelve months. I have talks in the pipeline that will take us through to next May. There are also ideas for pro-active action that need to be considered. Also, we will need to divide up some specific jobs between you so that the group can continue into 2004. If spilt out between a few of you the role that I currently have would not be too onerous especially if the programme of events is set up for a while. Please give it some thought and we will sort it out at the meeting.

The November session will also be a Celebration!! Village Business will have been running for a year!!

have really enjoyed working with the group and I believe it is a strong, friendly and enjoyable group. Sitting back last week at the marketing training, it was a powerful feeling to think that all our businesses were benefitting from first class training paid for by the European Social Fund - we couldn't have done that without Village Business!

Other News

I have been asked by Colin East, PR Media Officer for Somerset County Council whether he can do an article on us in their next quarterly publication. They are featuring rural regeneration. I will suggest he joins us at the November meeting.

I have given a presentation on Village Business for Community First in Rural Somerset's planning day, this included local councillors too. (approx 60 people) I also facilitated two workshops in the afternoon so that the group could prepare a blueprint on setting up "rural business support networks" - CFiRS are going to pilot five groups across Somerset and they recognise Village Business as a successful group, adding value to the process of support they and other agencies give to local businesses.

Do let me know whether you can attend the November meeting

Liza Lines