Reports from eminent sources proffering views about what ails our High Streets and which ones have the most vacant premises have been abundant recently, but few have done more than regurgitate the same old issues. Most have been met with the usual hand wringing, finger pointing and the accompanying blame games that are played out in response to such reports. With perhaps the exception of the Mary Portas report, few if any have provided solutions. So what’s to be done?
No one in their right mind would profess to have all the answers to such a complex issue and in a short article I am certainly unable to provide more than a few pointers to gently stir the debate. However, it seems to me that to succeed in developing successful, financially sustainable High Streets one has to presuppose that we all, retailers, central government, local authorities and the local community alike, do not merely want our High Streets to be successful but are also prepared to play their part. Without their explicit and active support no improvement will be achieved. Each and every party has to play its part and be willing to do what it takes.
Central Government could start by increasing business rate relief for smaller retailers and by encouraging local authorities to introduce local retail plans. Local Authorities might look at introducing ‘managed retail space’ at low ‘easy in easy out’ rents; something that might also have some impact on the unsustainable rent increases many small retailers seem to be facing; and, above all, review what they can do to improve the ‘shopping experience’ of customers. In the longer term they must also develop imaginative local retail plans that go way beyond maintaining the status quo and which include a thorough review of parking policies. Simply putting saving our High Streets in ‘the too difficult tray’ and forgetting about them is not an option.
High Streets need to be attractive, vibrant places they are also, like any other business areas, subject to changing trends and practices; this reality has to be reflected in any planning, it also needs to be accepted by retailers and other interested stakeholders. Today’s customer demands, convenience, quality and high service levels, all at the right price, it is essential that this is recognised by all concerned. Today’s customer has more choice than at any time in our history as time goes by the changes brought about by the ‘internet age’ will not diminish.
So to the other important player the local community or, if you prefer, the customers, what is their role in all this. Arguably, they are simply there to be served according to their needs and I for one would defend to the death their right to choose but, ultimately, without their patronage our High Streets are not sustainable. To coin a phrase they need to ‘use them or lose them’.
We have some wonderful High Streets which, if my supposition is correct we would all like to see maintained and sustained. Collectively we need to support them, we all have a part to play.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
Successful Teams CAN Move Mountains!
As the figures for the final quarter of 2011 were released it was clear, as if we needed reminding, that the economic conditions we face continue to be challenging. Does the slide back into minus figures mean that the long term recovery is on the wrong track? There are certainly those who would argue that it does but I maintain that it does not. Inevitably there will be setbacks along the way and a small deficit is just that, whilst it is certainly not good news it is not a disaster either.
What is needed is clear strategy to encourage business growth, something which at present is lacking. I have often argued that it is enough for government to stand to one side and let business do what it does best but in the current climate we need to think differently. It is not about throwing money around, that’s been tried before. In my view it is about creating an environment in which new, innovative ideas are encouraged; it is about encouraging an environment in which risk is rewarded; it is about looking at things differently.
We need to take a long hard look at ourselves and consider how we might support and encourage employment opportunities in new and emerging sectors which in turn will help to support the recovery in those we would generally regard to be more traditional.
All those bodies that have a role in directly, or indirectly, supporting economic wellbeing need to come together to work for the wider good. The days of operating in silos for the benefit of individual organisations or causes need to be drawn to a close. We collectively have a need to see our economy rebuilt and we, probably, need to accept that it will look somewhat different in the future. We can spend time wringing our hands at our current travails or we can do something about it and we are more likely to be successful if we work together.
When talking about the importance of working together as a team Henry Ford said, ‘coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success’. In making his point he not only expressed the defining benefit of teamwork but also gave us a clear insight into the various steps along the way. If you don’t believe me take a look at the success currently being enjoyed by Stevenage FC, a small example maybe but it seems to me that it reflects Henry Ford’s words. Successful teams can move mountains.
What is needed is clear strategy to encourage business growth, something which at present is lacking. I have often argued that it is enough for government to stand to one side and let business do what it does best but in the current climate we need to think differently. It is not about throwing money around, that’s been tried before. In my view it is about creating an environment in which new, innovative ideas are encouraged; it is about encouraging an environment in which risk is rewarded; it is about looking at things differently.
We need to take a long hard look at ourselves and consider how we might support and encourage employment opportunities in new and emerging sectors which in turn will help to support the recovery in those we would generally regard to be more traditional.
All those bodies that have a role in directly, or indirectly, supporting economic wellbeing need to come together to work for the wider good. The days of operating in silos for the benefit of individual organisations or causes need to be drawn to a close. We collectively have a need to see our economy rebuilt and we, probably, need to accept that it will look somewhat different in the future. We can spend time wringing our hands at our current travails or we can do something about it and we are more likely to be successful if we work together.
When talking about the importance of working together as a team Henry Ford said, ‘coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success’. In making his point he not only expressed the defining benefit of teamwork but also gave us a clear insight into the various steps along the way. If you don’t believe me take a look at the success currently being enjoyed by Stevenage FC, a small example maybe but it seems to me that it reflects Henry Ford’s words. Successful teams can move mountains.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Hertfordshire is Inspiring!
One of the great things about living and working in Hertfordshire is that you don’t have to look too far to find examples of innovation that have impacted on the way we live today. People living and working here have been leading the way for years and, as a result of their efforts, an enormous number of ideas and inventions that influence our lives on a daily basis where created and developed here.
Imagine, if you will, not having access to mass produced paper, the modern film industry or a host of life saving drugs. No pun intended but where would we be without satellite navigation and its myriad of applications and, goodness knows, how we would survive in the modern world without mobile phone technology? The list of life changing developments emanating from Hertfordshire over the passage of time has been truly staggering and, no doubt, I will admonished for failing to highlight a host of other notable achievements that grew from the labours of people who chose this county as a base for growing their ideas.
Our record of innovation is not confined to the past, one of the great joys of my job is the fact that it enables me to visit businesses in all parts of the county that continue to keep us in the vanguard. I am constantly amazed at the ingenuity and originality that is demonstrated by Hertfordshire businesses whether in the production of innovative products or simply finding a new and better way of executing familiar processes.
The county’s achievements are not confined to high tech development either, it has been home to a legion of people who have simply been inspirational through their artistic, political and sporting endeavours; Gordon Craig was born here, Clement Atlee was educated here, and Sam Ryder introduced The Ryder Cup which was first competed for in St Albans. Today’s list of the sporting and artistic greats who have lived or been educated here is enormous; Ian Poulter, Lewis Hamilton; Jack Wilshere, Alan Ayckbourn, Michael Morpurgo, to name but a few.
Of course the real inspiration comes from the army of unnamed individuals, the great managers, engineers, hoteliers, inventors, salesman, designers, educators, strategists, caretakers, business people, employers and employees of all shapes and sizes. I am sure I have missed someone but I hope you understand what I mean. Regardless of what we see and read in the national press or hear from the legion of so-called experts about the trials and tribulations of the economy Hertfordshire is a great success story and it is very well placed to continue to be so in the future.
In short, at a time when we could all do with a little injection of inspiration, we can reasonably claim that we are surrounded by it. People in this county have been engaging in inspiring activities for hundreds of years. People in this county are still engaging in inspirational activities. At a time when we are subjected to so much negativity from people who are more conditioned to highlighting problems than being part of the solution it is about time we plugged into the positivity emanating from them.
In 2012 the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be promoting ‘Inspiring Hertfordshire’ a campaign to focus on what is positive in the county; we want to use it to inspire young and old; and, we want to use it to support businesses in the county in their efforts to lead us out of the current economic environment. We will highlight modern day business, educational and community achievements through an awards programme; we will continuously promote inspirational and innovative deeds and, working with like minded partners, we will continue our ongoing objective to play our part in making Hertfordshire a great place to do business.
Imagine, if you will, not having access to mass produced paper, the modern film industry or a host of life saving drugs. No pun intended but where would we be without satellite navigation and its myriad of applications and, goodness knows, how we would survive in the modern world without mobile phone technology? The list of life changing developments emanating from Hertfordshire over the passage of time has been truly staggering and, no doubt, I will admonished for failing to highlight a host of other notable achievements that grew from the labours of people who chose this county as a base for growing their ideas.
Our record of innovation is not confined to the past, one of the great joys of my job is the fact that it enables me to visit businesses in all parts of the county that continue to keep us in the vanguard. I am constantly amazed at the ingenuity and originality that is demonstrated by Hertfordshire businesses whether in the production of innovative products or simply finding a new and better way of executing familiar processes.
The county’s achievements are not confined to high tech development either, it has been home to a legion of people who have simply been inspirational through their artistic, political and sporting endeavours; Gordon Craig was born here, Clement Atlee was educated here, and Sam Ryder introduced The Ryder Cup which was first competed for in St Albans. Today’s list of the sporting and artistic greats who have lived or been educated here is enormous; Ian Poulter, Lewis Hamilton; Jack Wilshere, Alan Ayckbourn, Michael Morpurgo, to name but a few.
Of course the real inspiration comes from the army of unnamed individuals, the great managers, engineers, hoteliers, inventors, salesman, designers, educators, strategists, caretakers, business people, employers and employees of all shapes and sizes. I am sure I have missed someone but I hope you understand what I mean. Regardless of what we see and read in the national press or hear from the legion of so-called experts about the trials and tribulations of the economy Hertfordshire is a great success story and it is very well placed to continue to be so in the future.
In short, at a time when we could all do with a little injection of inspiration, we can reasonably claim that we are surrounded by it. People in this county have been engaging in inspiring activities for hundreds of years. People in this county are still engaging in inspirational activities. At a time when we are subjected to so much negativity from people who are more conditioned to highlighting problems than being part of the solution it is about time we plugged into the positivity emanating from them.
In 2012 the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be promoting ‘Inspiring Hertfordshire’ a campaign to focus on what is positive in the county; we want to use it to inspire young and old; and, we want to use it to support businesses in the county in their efforts to lead us out of the current economic environment. We will highlight modern day business, educational and community achievements through an awards programme; we will continuously promote inspirational and innovative deeds and, working with like minded partners, we will continue our ongoing objective to play our part in making Hertfordshire a great place to do business.
Friday, 21 October 2011
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.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Businesses are the wealth creators and should be respected as such
Ed Milliband in his speech to the Labour Party Conference spoke of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ companies apparently judging them on whether they were community minded or not. It reminded me of a question I am often asked ‘why don’t businesses contribute more’. My stock answer? ‘What, apart from providing over 300,000 jobs in the county, paying many tens of millions of pounds in business rates and taxes not to mention the support that many give to local charities, schools, etc.’ I could add that without the many successful businesses we have in this country people would not be able to pay their mortgages, nobody would meet the cost of health care and the transport system would grind to a halt. I could have course say a great deal more but usually by that point I have become more than a little ‘tetchy’ and further comment might become somewhat less measured in tone and content.
Whether Mr Milliband and his friends like it or not businesses are the wealth creators and should be respected as such. Certainly if you dig very deep you will find some that fall short of the high standards most of us set but, frankly, however you legislate you will have little impact on them. As I have said many times in this column the country needs business men and women many of whom are prepared to risk their homes, reputation and a great deal more to build and grow the organisations that are essential to the wellbeing of us all. It should also be said that by and large these businesses are created at no expense to the Government and if the people that have invested in them reap rich rewards good luck to them, sadly of course many do not.
What we need from politicians is not the all too frequent gibes but their genuine, well considered support by creating an economic environment that enables us all to prosper. Regardless of whom it might be, or what party they represent, it is my view that we are all more than a little tired of their posturing and apparent unwillingness to stick their heads over the parapet in an effort to find solutions to what currently ails us all. I think it was Tony Blair that commented that unless politicians are in government there is little they can do which may be true but, surely, a politician without conviction is even less use whether in government or not.
All this is important because currently politicians seem to focus more effort on attaching blame and opprobrium to their opponents than they do on finding solutions. Frankly I do not care who said what to whom or who is to blame for the situation we find ourselves in, I want to know who is going to come up with the solutions that are required to move us forward. I recognise that not all suggestions will work but the inert nature of the current debate is not going to get us anywhere either.
If they are struggling for ideas how about extending the NI holiday for start-ups to cover places like Hertfordshire, it might just increase the number of jobs available and result in even more in taxation. How about speeding up the planning system, there has been much talk on this subject but I remain to be convinced that the proposals currently being discussed will make much difference.
Perhaps, all the new employment legislation that is in the pipe line could be consigned to ‘the long grass’. I feel sure that with a little thought a great many more ideas could be brought forward without undermining government spending plans and, more importantly, that just might restore confidence in both our economy and our politicians. Oh and by the way Mr Milliband, I work on the presumption that all businesses are good businesses unless and until they are proved to be otherwise.
Whether Mr Milliband and his friends like it or not businesses are the wealth creators and should be respected as such. Certainly if you dig very deep you will find some that fall short of the high standards most of us set but, frankly, however you legislate you will have little impact on them. As I have said many times in this column the country needs business men and women many of whom are prepared to risk their homes, reputation and a great deal more to build and grow the organisations that are essential to the wellbeing of us all. It should also be said that by and large these businesses are created at no expense to the Government and if the people that have invested in them reap rich rewards good luck to them, sadly of course many do not.
What we need from politicians is not the all too frequent gibes but their genuine, well considered support by creating an economic environment that enables us all to prosper. Regardless of whom it might be, or what party they represent, it is my view that we are all more than a little tired of their posturing and apparent unwillingness to stick their heads over the parapet in an effort to find solutions to what currently ails us all. I think it was Tony Blair that commented that unless politicians are in government there is little they can do which may be true but, surely, a politician without conviction is even less use whether in government or not.
All this is important because currently politicians seem to focus more effort on attaching blame and opprobrium to their opponents than they do on finding solutions. Frankly I do not care who said what to whom or who is to blame for the situation we find ourselves in, I want to know who is going to come up with the solutions that are required to move us forward. I recognise that not all suggestions will work but the inert nature of the current debate is not going to get us anywhere either.
If they are struggling for ideas how about extending the NI holiday for start-ups to cover places like Hertfordshire, it might just increase the number of jobs available and result in even more in taxation. How about speeding up the planning system, there has been much talk on this subject but I remain to be convinced that the proposals currently being discussed will make much difference.
Perhaps, all the new employment legislation that is in the pipe line could be consigned to ‘the long grass’. I feel sure that with a little thought a great many more ideas could be brought forward without undermining government spending plans and, more importantly, that just might restore confidence in both our economy and our politicians. Oh and by the way Mr Milliband, I work on the presumption that all businesses are good businesses unless and until they are proved to be otherwise.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Recent history has been littered with schemes...drowned in a sea of mediocrity
I doubt whether many employers will turn their noses up at the government’s contention that there is a need to improve workplace skills and I am certainly not going to join them even if they actually exist. Equally I will not be enrolling into that happy band of people who unquestioningly accept pronouncements, usually put forward by Ministers and their obedient servants, to the effect that qualification alone is the answer to our prayers. Indeed where it is due I intend to be as critical of this government as I was of their predecessors.
Whilst welcoming the government’s commitment to support an increase in skills within the UK workforce I have reservations as to whether the ‘new dawn’ brings with it any more realism than that which accompanied past efforts to do so. Without wishing to be seen to be too curmudgeonly it seems to me that recent history has been littered with schemes posing as the latest panacea which, ultimately, have been drowned in a sea of mediocrity.
Why, despite the enormous investment of public money in recent years, have so many schemes failed to produce little more than short term benefits rather than answer the challenges of a competitive global environment? Could it have been that providers were encouraged by a government obsessed with sound bytes to focus on delivering numbers rather than providing a quality product? Could it be that employers, seduced by the promise of fully funded training, failed to demand the higher standards required to ensure that the training on offer satisfied the needs of their business? Could it be that the whole exercise was about funding and bits of paper? Could it be that many of the schemes were simply designed to reduce the level of the political fallout attached to youth unemployment?
Harsh? Unfair? Maybe, but not entirely I think, but are politicians alone to blame? Not entirely we all have to take some of the rap. In truth many of the schemes were appropriate and well thought out, the fault lies within the execution with the result that many people have regarded some of the qualifications arising from them with a degree of disdain rather than take the trouble to understand how they might contribute to their business plans? How many had been content, simply because they were funded, to take them at face value rather than take the trouble to fully read the curriculum to understand what exactly was involved? The scheme was fully funded, the member of staff got a certificate and the provider got paid. Oh! And the politicians were able to boast about yet another contribution to the wellbeing of mankind.
How many of us have really taken the trouble to understand some of the qualifications on offer and the benefits they offer. I recently read the contents of an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration and will no longer question its efficacy or usefulness. Properly assessed it is a challenging and comprehensive qualification. Whilst accepting that not all providers have engaged in shortcuts or, indeed, all employers have failed to be sufficiently demanding, too few have been as diligent as they might have been. The result? Despite the merits of various qualifications they have ultimately delivered a great deal less than should have been expected.
The solution? Government should introduce a time served system in which higher standards are sought thus reducing the opportunity for shortcuts to be taken. Employers should be more effectively engaged to ensure that training (particularly that which is funded by Government) actually fits the needs of their business. Finally, we all need to understand that training individuals is not simply a philanthropic exercise, unless we treat it as having real value it will regarded as having none.
It is all too easy to question the credibility of vocational qualifications but the truth is that they are important to the future development of our businesses and the people who work in them. Qualifications alone are not the answer, nonetheless, we all need to do more to ensure that they are challenging and appropriate. We all need to value and support the development of higher level skills, if we do they will be held in higher regard by those achieving them. They in turn will make a greater contribution to the businesses for which they work.
Whilst welcoming the government’s commitment to support an increase in skills within the UK workforce I have reservations as to whether the ‘new dawn’ brings with it any more realism than that which accompanied past efforts to do so. Without wishing to be seen to be too curmudgeonly it seems to me that recent history has been littered with schemes posing as the latest panacea which, ultimately, have been drowned in a sea of mediocrity.
Why, despite the enormous investment of public money in recent years, have so many schemes failed to produce little more than short term benefits rather than answer the challenges of a competitive global environment? Could it have been that providers were encouraged by a government obsessed with sound bytes to focus on delivering numbers rather than providing a quality product? Could it be that employers, seduced by the promise of fully funded training, failed to demand the higher standards required to ensure that the training on offer satisfied the needs of their business? Could it be that the whole exercise was about funding and bits of paper? Could it be that many of the schemes were simply designed to reduce the level of the political fallout attached to youth unemployment?
Harsh? Unfair? Maybe, but not entirely I think, but are politicians alone to blame? Not entirely we all have to take some of the rap. In truth many of the schemes were appropriate and well thought out, the fault lies within the execution with the result that many people have regarded some of the qualifications arising from them with a degree of disdain rather than take the trouble to understand how they might contribute to their business plans? How many had been content, simply because they were funded, to take them at face value rather than take the trouble to fully read the curriculum to understand what exactly was involved? The scheme was fully funded, the member of staff got a certificate and the provider got paid. Oh! And the politicians were able to boast about yet another contribution to the wellbeing of mankind.
How many of us have really taken the trouble to understand some of the qualifications on offer and the benefits they offer. I recently read the contents of an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration and will no longer question its efficacy or usefulness. Properly assessed it is a challenging and comprehensive qualification. Whilst accepting that not all providers have engaged in shortcuts or, indeed, all employers have failed to be sufficiently demanding, too few have been as diligent as they might have been. The result? Despite the merits of various qualifications they have ultimately delivered a great deal less than should have been expected.
The solution? Government should introduce a time served system in which higher standards are sought thus reducing the opportunity for shortcuts to be taken. Employers should be more effectively engaged to ensure that training (particularly that which is funded by Government) actually fits the needs of their business. Finally, we all need to understand that training individuals is not simply a philanthropic exercise, unless we treat it as having real value it will regarded as having none.
It is all too easy to question the credibility of vocational qualifications but the truth is that they are important to the future development of our businesses and the people who work in them. Qualifications alone are not the answer, nonetheless, we all need to do more to ensure that they are challenging and appropriate. We all need to value and support the development of higher level skills, if we do they will be held in higher regard by those achieving them. They in turn will make a greater contribution to the businesses for which they work.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Long term solutions not blame
The recent riots in London and elsewhere have, rightly, attracted enormous condemnation of those concerned in the looting, arson, theft and other forms criminality. Whatever challenges, real or imagined, the participants face there can be no conceivable excuse for their actions and I for one hope that the courts treat those that come before them in an exemplary fashion. The indiscriminate and unprovoked attacks on people in their homes, and while working in their businesses, has been truly sickening.
Apart from having to witness a variety of atrocious occurrences I guess the next thing we will be forced to endure will be the in-fighting amongst politicians of all parties whose horizons do not go beyond the next election. It didn’t take long to start and, no doubt, the bickering will grow in intensity during the coming weeks and months. So and so didn’t come back from their holidays soon enough; the cuts and withdrawal of benefits/EMA/community support were bound to result in these poor disenfranchised souls feeling the need to steal the latest 55” TV/i-pad/i-pod or whatever else took their fancy. Before any attempt is made to find solutions the game will largely be about ensuring that no blame attaches to them and, wherever possible, as much mud as possible is slung at the other side. The truth is that these examples of appalling behaviour were not caused by politicians of any party the responsibility lies fairly and squarely upon the shoulders of those who took part.
Despite recognising that politicians are not directly to blame it is clear that they do have a role in developing strategies that will make it less likely that these riots recur. The job to be done is enormous and will not be concluded following the uncovering of some form of miraculous ‘silver bullet’ nor, in my view, will solutions be found in committing the police to attending yet more community meetings.
My Grandmother was fond of reminding me that ‘the devil makes work for idle hands’ so maybe the starting point should be to find these people work. The flaw in that idea, though, is that most seem to be unemployable, unable or unwilling to speak in understandable English and largely of the view that the world owes them a living. On the latter point the world owes them nothing they are not prepared to work for and it is most certainly not incumbent on employers to conform to their strange twisted view of life.
Are they lost causes? Some may be but hopefully most can be redeemed, although this won’t happen if we excuse their every misdemeanour. In the meantime we desperately need to be working on those who are likely to follow them to ensure that they develop respect for themselves and others.
In the short term we need the government to do all it can to support all the businesses affected to get back on their feet and their staff back into work, more profound solutions will take a great deal longer.
Apart from having to witness a variety of atrocious occurrences I guess the next thing we will be forced to endure will be the in-fighting amongst politicians of all parties whose horizons do not go beyond the next election. It didn’t take long to start and, no doubt, the bickering will grow in intensity during the coming weeks and months. So and so didn’t come back from their holidays soon enough; the cuts and withdrawal of benefits/EMA/community support were bound to result in these poor disenfranchised souls feeling the need to steal the latest 55” TV/i-pad/i-pod or whatever else took their fancy. Before any attempt is made to find solutions the game will largely be about ensuring that no blame attaches to them and, wherever possible, as much mud as possible is slung at the other side. The truth is that these examples of appalling behaviour were not caused by politicians of any party the responsibility lies fairly and squarely upon the shoulders of those who took part.
Despite recognising that politicians are not directly to blame it is clear that they do have a role in developing strategies that will make it less likely that these riots recur. The job to be done is enormous and will not be concluded following the uncovering of some form of miraculous ‘silver bullet’ nor, in my view, will solutions be found in committing the police to attending yet more community meetings.
My Grandmother was fond of reminding me that ‘the devil makes work for idle hands’ so maybe the starting point should be to find these people work. The flaw in that idea, though, is that most seem to be unemployable, unable or unwilling to speak in understandable English and largely of the view that the world owes them a living. On the latter point the world owes them nothing they are not prepared to work for and it is most certainly not incumbent on employers to conform to their strange twisted view of life.
Are they lost causes? Some may be but hopefully most can be redeemed, although this won’t happen if we excuse their every misdemeanour. In the meantime we desperately need to be working on those who are likely to follow them to ensure that they develop respect for themselves and others.
In the short term we need the government to do all it can to support all the businesses affected to get back on their feet and their staff back into work, more profound solutions will take a great deal longer.
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