Confidence is the key!

When preparing a briefing for a visiting dignitary recently I was reminded that, despite the seemingly continuous onslaught of bad news, we lived and worked in an area which had a great deal going for it. Certainly times are tough and I acknowledge that some people will be feeling the effects more than others. Nonetheless, there are a great many things to be grateful for which, among other reasons, is presumably why so many companies have decided to invest here. Certainly it can be argued that a number of our large companies have traditional ties to the area and are therefore more likely to remain, but that ignores the fact that their principle decision makers are no longer UK based and in an age of greater mobility they have other options. That they choose to stay here must be due to factors beyond geographical longevity. Location and local amenities are obviously key factors and surely on that count there can be few places that are better situated. Close to three international airports. Convenient for the UKs road network. Access to quality education. Adjacent to some wonderful countryside and on London’s doorstep with access to national and European rail networks. The ability to recruit a skilled workforce with its roots in a number of the key sectors is clearly a condition that is non-negotiable. When one aggregates these features and combines them with the existence of a reliable, broadly based supply chain I can see no reason why the area would not be the ‘location of choice’ for any business wishing to invest in the UK. True I am somewhat biased but I truly believe that the facts speak for themselves. My point? It’s simple we continue to be bombarded with bad news by a national media that has turned being a gloom merchant into something of a national sport. How can we sensationalise a situation to cast those involved or the circumstances surrounding them in the worst possible light? As the tired old phrase goes ‘good news is no news’. True, the prevailing trends are not what we would wish them to be. True, the global omens leave little room for optimism. And true, it may be some little time before we sense that relief is on its way. The fact, though, is that we have a number of fantastic businesses locally which, if properly supported and cherished, will play a key role in pulling us out of the doldrums. Confidence is the key, it is essential ingredient in developing the recovery While there may be little cause for dancing in the streets we should not be overdoing the gloom bit either.