One of the themes for my year as High Sheriff is Business and Enterprise. By supporting this month’s Start Your Own Business Week, I want to encourage the growth of small businesses and highlight the help that is available from the Isle Of Wight Chamber of Commerce.
One of the functions of the High Sheriff, I believe, is to promote what I call “good citizenship”. Stable and thriving communities are important to us all – our families, our futures and our well-being. A thriving community is, in reality, underpinned by a thriving economy, where people have meaningful work. As we all know, the public sector is contracting and we all have to take more responsibility for our own livelihoods. In the past the choice might have been to be “employed or unemployed” – I would like to highlight that there is a third way and that is being self-employed or running your own business.
The rewards are wonderful. There’s an enormous buzz and sense of achievement. Although you’re probably working much harder than you would do for someone else, being your own boss gives you more flexibility in your life, ownership of what you’re doing and a sense of control over your future. If it goes well, there are financial rewards too but they tend to follow from being good at something that you are passionate about. I wouldn’t advise anyone to start their own business purely because they wanted to get rich.
Getting your business off the ground can be very demanding, particularly if you are already earning a regular income or have family commitments. When I started my business I had a part time, flexible job, which enabled me to keep my income going, while starting my business in my spare time. It is very hard work. You are probably going to be working double time at the beginning. Starting your own business is about being passionate about an idea and identifying a need. You also need resilience and determination. Once you know what you want to do, that’s where the Chamber can help, providing business advice, support and access to funding.
I believe the Island is no longer a barrier to business. The internet has changed the game and with super-fast broadband there are now no limits – the marketplace is global and access to market is there, particularly for internet savvy young entrepreneurs.
The key message for Start Your Own Business Week is that help is available from The Chamber. You bring the great idea, with passion and determination, and they will offer guidance with practical help and support. As High Sheriff I’m proud to be working with the IW Chamber Of Commerce, encouraging the businesses of the future who will drive our local economy and support our communities.
