In Suffolk over 450,000 people are in employment, men and women are equally divided. They work for just over 26,000 companies, of which 74% have less than 4 employees, and 94% less than 19 employees. These are simple figures that need to be borne in mind when looking at the support provided for local companies.

Even then I’m not convinced that these figures give a complete picture of local employers, as national and multinational companies may be mixed up in these statistics.

The broad picture is that Suffolk companies are small, and so it is these enterprises that need support if the county, as a whole, is to grow economically. In 2010 just over 2,000 new enterprises were started. Unfortunately we lost more, nearly 3,000 stopped trading.

Maybe the recession has reduced enthusiasm, but with the addition of a University College (if not yet a full university), the growth of Felixstowe Port and the continuing fragmentation of BT perhaps a better result could have been expected. Add to these the plethora of grant-aid schemes that emerge every week, each with their own complex criteria, CEO, administrative team and web site.

The banks are accused of failing to finance growth but there may be other factors at work. One is the type of support available to emerging companies, a difficult subject not to be covered here.

I’d like to offer an alternative scheme that will provide small companies (our lifeblood) opportunities for expansion.

Put simply it is to channel the funds the government introduces to the economy, called quantitative easing, into small companies, and to do so without using an inefficient intermediary like bonds and the banks.

The Treasury has already issued well over £350 billion of government bonds. As they rise in value fat cats have got even richer as they sell off the bonds and, supposedly, use the profits to finance industry. It’s not working. Yet the government is willing to finance student loans, a form of lending without long-term prospects, if any, of recovering the money spent. This is lending that demands upon a healthy economy, to give jobs and incomes to our young people. It is a lending scheme that could be applied to small businesses.

Why don’t we bypass the thieves and vagabonds, the gamblers and shysters, that populate our financial institutions and lend, or even give, the money direct to small businesses?

Those that work shall eat. Unfortunately those that lend a quid to those that work expect interest payments that greatly exceed the amount of the original loan, and then that the loan itself must be repaid within a set term. That last requirement has seen the collapse of many companies as the banks and lenders call in loans without giving any leeway. The Student Loan Scheme offers more flexibility.

Can we begin to properly explore this option? It is being used in other parts of the world. This short paper can do no more than pose a simple question. It arose because I spoke to a good friend recently. He had just retired, with a few pennies jangling in his pocket. Being a good man he’d lent money to an emerging company. As a result the government had given him a tax break, so as a 50% tax-rate payer he’d immediately been given back half the money he’d lent. He hinted that the LEP was preparing to match-fund his contribution, once it had funds.

Pull that system apart. He has, let’s say £10,000. It’s lent to a company. He receives £5,000 from the government – it’s money he had previously paid in tax. The LEP wants to match that £10,000 – and where does the LEP get its money? From the government (that’s the taxpayer) or a Lottery Fund (still the people) or investors looking for a tax break. In effect the scheme allows £15,000 of publicly donated cash to be lent to a company. The company has to repay the £20,000 loan, and interest payments. The investor gets £10,000 plus interest from the company, plus £5,000 from the taxman.

It’s a system that fails to really help the emerging company, although it does place an obligation to repay with the attendant pressures that may bring, especially as the loan is over a short-term, unlikely to be more than five years.

It helps the rich get richer, and ensures that the remaining tax-payers have to contribute more, or to have reduced services provided.

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Meet the Braiswick Boar that is Trevor Lockwood

Braiswick: www.braiswick.com

Jacart: www.jacart.org.uk is our new online shop – we will sell our books but anything else as well – perhaps we can help you reach a customer?

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South Lookout, Aldeburgh

Reverend Koan at South Lookout

She says:

‘So there it is, this unique and interesting building sitting on an east-facing beach in Aldeburgh Suffolk, England. As a contemporary arts venue, as a place for seeking and reviewing the whole concept of how art affects us it has truly come to life. It has found a wonderful modern facet, to add to the many that have gone before, under the ownership and guidance of Caroline Wiseman.

To be invited to have the opportunity to reside in The Lookout for a week created, in me, a whirling dervish of thoughts and mad tangents but in the end, the simplest was, as usual, the best. I decided to reconstruct a Zen Temple, although in miniature, and allow the threshold of The Lookout to become a threshold of another kind. As people came through the door they were invited to sit zazen – seated meditation- in a very formal Zen way. Instruction in zazen and then kinhin- mindful walking – was given and some instruction on Zen form and practice. Following half an hour of these activities and with the mind, by then, a calm oasis we adjourned to sketch using a variety of media, which was close to hand.

I can only say the effect was sensational. Folk would pour in needing the calm and serenity which they knew or hoped could be achieved via zazen and mindful walking. Whilst they were in this settled and non-thinking state of mind they enthusiastically put pen, pastel, crayon or charcoal to paper and were soon actively engaged in bringing something forth, although they may not know what. Incredible. Some were moved to tears at the release from having to be something to being allowed to be no thing .

It was as if permission had been given to relax and be creative. With the usual demands of the mind stilled for a few moments colours and forms just erupted onto the paper. Those who declared an inability to draw just did something and felt as if something else had been released. Many came back again and again.
It was a thought provoking week for me. I so appreciated every single person who had the courage to step-over the threshold and enter into the unknown. I had an idea that zazen could release a creativity and all who chose to join me at The Lookout absolutely proved that. Although Zen can be seen as very contemporary the success of the week was,I believe , based on the authenticity of its doctrine, practice and the fact that around 640 AD Zen blossomed out of the many Buddhist teachings of a thousand years before to become the way to still the mind and just allow ourselves to be right here and now, in the moment. This was reinforced during my residency with the privilege of showing so many of you a glimpse into the dazzling serenity which is available to us all.

Thank you.

Jan Koan Candy’
www.nohandzen.co.uk Go to this web site for details of the fortnightly meetings held at the Welcome Hall, Trimley and the Sesshin, to be held in July at Ringsfield Hall, near Beccles.

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A brave woman, from Grundisburgh, Suffolk, confronts a man in the street after the killing. The photograph appeared in the Daily Telegraph

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To suggest that inward investment creates jobs is both ironic and a tragedy. They are making British people into wage slaves. It’s not jobs that are important, it’s profit – and that’s being drained away, out of our hands.

The post BBC Business appeared first on East Coast Radio.

This Time is about Changes, Ascension and Accepting who we are.
All of who we are – as Divine – not without, not lacking – so we may let go of the smallness of ourselves and embrace the bigness – the endless possibilities of who we are.
There is a need to accept the smallness, our smallness, so we may see and experience the vastness. Go within to connect with your Heart and Soul, To let the mind find peace so that we may Find – Do – Be the greatest, brightest version of who we truly are.
Move beyond earthly existence out into the place of No Horizons.

In your Meditations allow for change, allow for connections, and allow for Guidance, Light and Understanding to flood your consciousness.
We are not what we think we are. Meditation isn’t what you think. Allow for your vastness to bring Light and Understanding.
Allow for the curious in you – be wedded to amazement – as the full beauty and wonder of the cosmos becomes manifest in you.
We have been given a Mind – to use it – Not for it to hold us captive within our narrow beliefs. Allow your Soul – your Heart – your Mind – unfettered – to open your wings and fly. Open to the light, allow and accept changes. Not all of which may be easy or even pleasant.
Maybe through the place you excavate and discover within, there is a cave of treasures and delights.
Allow your growth and expansion to venture where your thoughts can never take you. The vision of the world of possibilities awaits – and you have the key.

Take the step along the way – climb the ladder of light – each step will allow visions of a greater horizon. Know that you are loved and that each wrung you climb, each door you open has had your name upon it since the beginning of time. It is the time NOW to unlock, realise your full potential – step up- you are being called. Allow the power of the Light Brothers and Sisters to transport and transform the heavy weight of the human existence into a Garden of Delight and wonder.

Open your hearts.

Let go of judgements suspend disbelief and allow yourself to sink into WELL OF BEING
BEING WELL WELL BEING

Know that you are loved. Know that you never walk alone Allow this opportunity, Any opportunity to BE.
The opportunity you have been waiting for.
Take the hand of inner beauty, truth and wisdom. Allow it to guide your journey. Take heart. Take courage. Take intuition and Divine Guidance for support and companionship

Throw out the baggage of fear, pain, disbelief and apathy.
Be the light that you are. Know that the boundaries you saw as your limit no longer exist Reclaim your full Territory.
Reclaim your Birthright
Reclaim your Heritage Go within – to go with out Travel Well
Travel Light
Dreams and Desires are the unheard whispers of the Soul. Listen with your heart. Be the Creative Architect of a world of possibilities.

Be still

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It was wrong. We need to encourage our own talent, give the young people of this country a chance to present such a show.

I was disgusted of Felixstowe. I’m English, I live in Great Britain, part of the United Kingdom. I’m a European citizen, and part of the Commonwealth of Nations. The British Broadcasting Corporation – the BBC – is paid for by British people.

So what’s America got to do with it?

Good luck Bonnie

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At the end of the event, on the Bank Holiday Monday 27 May there will be an exhibition of the art work produced during the week.

Participation is free – just come to the beach at the stated times. Wear comfortable clothing as you will be sitting on the beach; everything will be carefully explained before the zazen starts. This will be a formal meditation, as practised in our Zendo and many other temples around the world.

It is intended to introduce you to the practice of Zen Buddhist meditation, hopefully to relax and free your mind, and perhaps lead to new artistic horizons.

You will be welcome. Do join us.

Download the poster to remind yourself

The post Is Anything Solid: zen meditation at Aldeburgh appeared first on East Coast Radio.