Changes are often thrust upon people and come in many different forms, whether as a result of divorce, retirement, leaving school or university, children leaving home or sickness.

'Redundancy', a word now feared, is a challenge faced by many in today's straitened circumstances. Caring employers – and this includes our own local authority – take steps to help their employees deal with this challenge more easily by offering change management courses. We know from experience that 35 per cent of those made redundant turn to self-employment and start up their own businesses, which is a challenge in itself.

On February 7 the members of the B&NES Entrepreneurs' Club gathered at Homewood Park to hear from Jane C Woods of Changing People how she helps people to handle change, to regain control over their lives and to tackle the future.

There is a prospect of potentially huge changes in certain areas of Bath and North East Somerset. To their credit the council is attempting, with the support of various interest groups, to involve the communities (the residents and the businesses) in the management of these changes.

However, while the motives and objectives are well-founded, we do share concerns with other groups and bodies that the fundamental requirement of what we shall call 'joined-up-thinking' is still lacking in many respects within the council machine. This turn of phrase is not meant to offend those working hard to deliver the support required, but to simply illustrate the fact that much of that effort is wasted when, time and time again, basic knowledge sharing, personal sub-agendas or other contradictory elements cause initiatives to break down.

We are aware that there are those individuals who simply need to justify their existence/funding/position by being involved in various groups, working panels and bodies.

In contrast, we have clear evidence that there are those who give their time and commitment freely and without agenda to deliver the best possible support platforms for our communities.

Past and present circumstances require us to tolerate and work with the former, while most people know and appreciate the people who fall into the latter category.

The next B&NES Entrepreneurs' Club evening event on February 21 at Bistro La Barrique, to which all are welcome, features Kate Keenan, business psychologist and mentor, who will be taking a different perspective on change management in Master Your Universe.

For further details, to be part of our initiatives or to find out more about membership of Small Business Focus, we would like to hear from you at www.smallbusinessfocus.co.uk, by calling 01225 350018 or by emailing us at angelaRladd@aol.com.

Angela Ladd

Small Business Focus