Business groups to merge

At a recent meeting of the ME Committee, it was decided that the Moray Entrepreneurs group should cease its operations. A press release will go out shortly and so I wanted to inform you personally about the situation, prior to hearing the news from other sources.

The group was set up three years ago, when there were few opportunities for local businesses and in particular small businesses, to meet and network on a regular basis. That situation has changed considerably of late with new groups starting up, leading to a fuller calendar for many and some duplication of event themes. We welcome the forming of new groups and indeed have always encouraged others to become involved in the business community, whether with ME or with others. It is felt that the community is now much more vibrant, requiring less of our own input.

However, in order that existing members do not miss out on opportunities to network, I met with Malcolm Aldridge of the Moray Small Business Club which has a similar format to our own, to discuss our decision. The club will of course, welcome any of our members who wish to attend the events which he facilitates.

I believe that the ME group has made a significant contribution to the process of developing the Moray economy. We have staged two large-scale exhibitions for business at the Moray Leisure Centre - the Moray Showcase in 2005 and the Moray Expo in 2006 in addition to the delivery of some high-profile debates. It is probable that we influenced the decision of Highlands & Islands Enterprise to split the old MBSE to provide an enterprise company just for Moray - HIE Moray. Members have of course also been heavily involved in developing ideas for inclusion in the Moray 2020 brief. There are many more achievements, of which the group should also be proud.

As the group renewed its membership recently, it was felt only fair to refund membership fees to those that had paid up. Refund cheques have been issued. We hope to close the bank account fairly quickly and I must urge you to present the cheque to your bank at the first opportunity.

There are some funds remaining and to reflect the initial objectives of the group, it has been decided to distribute part of this to budding entrepreneurs, with any balance to be distributed to a charity organisation. There will be one last role for the group to play then and this is to request bids from entrepreneurs for two prizes of £500 each. If you know of a suitable person just starting out, why not encourage them to submit a bid ? This should be outlined on a single sheet of A4 paper and sent by recorded delivery to the below address by Friday 25th March. A panel will be set up which will assess the bids and make the awards by 31 March 2007. FAO Jim Chambers
Mycourse Ltd
Wards Road
Elgin
Moray
IV30 1NL

Jim Chambers
Chairperson

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