Well done Mateo for organising funs-raiser

The walk was started by Morecambe FC manager Jim Bentley and was supported by businesses from all over the area. Well done to everyone who took part and a special well done to Mateo for organising such a fantastic event.

I also attended a charity dinner on the evening of the world’s biggest coffee morning for Macmillan. The event was organised by Jill Townley, from Carnforth, and was another occasion which raised a huge amount for charity.

The Government recently released figures for the number of people who had succeeded opening businesses under the enterprise allowance scheme. I am a huge fan of the scheme as I opened my first business under the Man Power Allowance Scheme in the 1980s so know firsthand how valuable the support is in the first weeks of setting up a business. One and hundred and fifty people in Morecambe and Lunesdale have benefited from the scheme which is 150 people who have been able to realise their dream of running their own business and being their own boss. If you have set up your business under the scheme, please write in and tell me about the process and how the scheme helped you.

I was in London to attend a round table meeting in my role as the Government’s self employment ambassador. The association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, organised a meeting to discus the set up of a small business commissioner to help deal with late payments. We were joined by Mark Brennan, the Australian Commissioner, so he could give advice on how the system is currently working in Australia. The creation of such a commissioner in the UK is another example of how the Government are working hard to ensure businesses can grow and create more employment.