Success for West Somerset Business Fair 2007

THE fourth annual West Somerset Business Fair was successfully held in the Queens Hall, Minehead, with more than 50 exhibitors and hundreds of visitors during the day.
The show was organised by the West Somerset Business Network (WSBN) and was opened with a performance by the West Somerset Community College Band.
The event used all three floors of the building, with a business ‘village’ in the basement area, a main exhibition arena on the ground floor, and a series of seminars presented upstairs.
It was designed to maximise opportunities for business people to network with each other and to allow exhibitors to showcase themselves and their products and services.
The star prize in the two draws which were held at the show was a free Toshiba laptop computer given by Westlabb Ltd, a not-for-profit company which has been administering a pilot project on behalf of West Somerset Council to provide broadband internet connections for rural communities.
It was won by Magna West Somerset Housing Association chief executive Graham Colls, who said: “I am flabbergasted, but I am sure we will put it to really good use.”
Westlabb director Bob Druitt said: “I am delighted the prize is going to benefit a local business.
“The West Somerset Business Network has provided an excellent forum for the business community to get together at the fair and it is great to see so many people here.”
WSBN chairman Sandra Wilson said: “We would like to congratulate Graham and thank our partners Westlabb and Connecting Somerset for sponsoring the prize.
“Entrants filled out homeworking surveys to enter the draw and the results will be analysed to find out what future needs the local business community might have, and to see if there is a demand for a high-speed broadband connection in West Somerset.”
The laptop computer was presented by the Mayor of Minehead, Councillor Ann Foxhuntley, who is also the district council’s deputy leader.
Councillor Foxhuntley said: “Westlabb has provided a great service to local communities by training over 300 people in IT skills with the help of the Exmoor Community Computer Centre.
“The fair is one of the most important dates in the commercial calendar because it provides a great opportunity for businesses to get together and network, while also attracting new customers, which is great for the local economy.”
The programme of seminars was started with Bill Wilson, of Ylem Ltd, talking about ‘Intelligent IT’, followed by Penny Ward, of Blackspot Broadband/Project Computer Ltd, speaking on ‘Internet and Wi-Fi Security’, and then Kevin Redpath, of Connecting Somerset, on behalf of WestLabb Ltd, spoke on the subject ‘Winning on the Web’.
Minehead’s JobCentre Plus manager Gillian Knight talked of ‘A New Direction’, while ‘The Smoking Ban’ was the subject for West Somerset Council environmental health manager Ian Timms, and Brenda Clare, from Wyndham House, Minehead, explained why ‘Life Begins at 80’.
Kevin Chambers, of the Shaw Trust, gave a run-down on the ‘Shaw Trust Employment Services’, and the programme concluded with Aron Cody-Boutcher, of Somerset Consulting, on ‘A Layman’s Guide to Understanding Website Promotion’.
The West Somerset Business Fair 2007 was sponsored by Connecting Somerset, NatWest Bank, Minehead Jobcentre, Ylem Ltd, DJ Miles and Co Ltd, Minehead Marquees, and Finishing Touches.

• Our photographs show: TOP - Seven-months-old Freddie Hirst with mum Julie Hirst enjoying the West Somerset Community College band’s opening performance. MIDDLE – The laptop computer prize being presented to Graham Colls (third from left) by the Mayor of Minehead, Councillor Ann Foxhuntley, watched by (left to right) business network chairman Sandra Wilson, and Westlabb directors Bob Druit and Iain Joyce. Bottom – The business fair scene inside the Queens Hall. Photos submitted.

Free laptop computer to be given to home-based business

A BRAND new laptop computer is available to be won for free in a draw being held at 12 noon at the West Somerset Business Fair on Wednesday, February 28.
The fair is being organised in the Queens Hall, Minehead, by the West Somerset Business Network, from 11 am to 6 pm.
The business network has already sent out a questionnaire to all known businesses which operate from home, and anybody who completes and returns the form will be entered into the draw for the laptop.
The form needs to be returned by February 15, and for anybody who has not received a copy, it is available from the business network’s website at www.westsomersetbusinessnetwork.org.
The aim of the questionnaire is to determine the future needs of local businesses and to gauge whether there is demand for a high-speed broadband service in West Somerset.
The business network is working in partnership with the prize sponsor, Westlabb Ltd, and questionnaire sponsor, Connecting Somerset, which is also one of the business fair sponsors.
District council cabinet member, Councillor Roger Webber, who is a director of Westlabb, said: “Westlabb, via the Exmoor Community Computer Centre who deliver the IT training, has done a fantastic job in enabling residents in rural parishes to form worldwide links via the internet.
“If people want more training, they can contact Jo Hoare at the computer centre on 01643 851594.”
Westlabb Ltd has successfully achieved its main objectives since its formation in 2004 by facilitating internet and IT training for 14 parishes within West Somerset.
It also commissioned the West Somerset Internet Community Interest Company to provide a high-speed broadband service to Crowcombe, Brompton Regis, and Luxborough, and is now considering whether to extend this service.
Anybody who would like to learn more about broadband for their business is welcome to have an informal discussion with Connecting Somerset at the business fair on February 28.

• Our photograph shows the laptop computer prize with (left to right) district council rural facilitator Angela Lamplough, Westlabb director Bob Druitt, Neil Saunders and Dave Cornish, both of Connecting Somerset, Councillor Roger Webber, and Westlabb directors Phil Brown, Iain Joyce, and Jon Summers. Photo submitted.