The TBN is a very successful business group who help each other out with referrals and cover all walks of business life in the Tynedale area from tyres to furnishings, from banking to charities. I have been going to some of their recent meetings in Hexham and was recently invited to be grilled "Paxman" style by 25 of them. This process lasted over an hour over bacon butties. For my part the chance to question and be grilled by 25 of the local business leaders is priceless. Was asked questions about transport, charitable trusts, business development, the deficit, future taxes, NI / corporation tax contributions, the RDA and its numbers of staff, young peoples housing, the ability to cut back the state bureaucracy, local job creation, the disaster of present apprenticeship schemes, County Council budget cuts and much more.
The best comment was by one businessman who asked why it was that government departments still did not get the chance to carry forward retained profits at the end of the year - all agreed this was a disastrous accounting malpractice.
A good morning. Was also pleased to give several business referrals: for example as I canvass so much I was able to tell the man with the internet mast business where he will do well as parts of the area's broadband reception is terrible.
