All mouth - no trousers

One of the problems we've noticed with Boston over the years is that whilst it abounds with people who talk the talk, we seem to be a bit hamstrung when it comes to walking the walk.The latest example of "all mouth and no trousers" comes from the NE group, which manages the ill-fated Boston Enterprise Centre.
Today sees the start of a 12-month series of courses, and NE tells us: "In light of the current economic climate, it is a critical and important time to support the survival and growth of the region’s businesses. It is recognised that local economic growth and development is provided to a large extent by the SME (small and medium enterprises) sector.
"As a direct response, Boston Enterprise Centre is to launch a structured 12-month business support programme (which) will be delivered by local experts and include free training including access to business skills, networking opportunities, workshops, seminars and access to qualifications including National Vocational Qualifications. These events will be open to all businesses in the region, and will go a long way towards cementing Boston Enterprise Centre’s role as a local hub for enterprise."
So what's on offer in these troubled times?
Subjects include "increase your sales," "digital photography for your business, " "teamworking and networking," "planning an e-mail marketing campaign."
So far, so good, you might say, but then we get seminars such as "social media and your business" which for the uninitiated means using such vital tools as Facebook and Twitter; "creating an innovative culture" which is sub-headlined "the incredible power of a creative approach to solving unusual problems especially when individuals are placed non programmed situations."
Then there's "speed networking - an increasingly popular way of increasing business contracts in a fun and interesting way" at which attendees get just four minutes to swap information with a new contact before moving on to the next person possibly meeting more than 20 contacts at a single event.
And finally, how about "To success and beyond," aka "Making tough decisions," which tells interested applicants .... " many businesses are living with the anxiety of not knowing what they are 'supposed' to do.
"The purpose of this event is to show businesses how to begin to find what to do by themselves."
Heaven help us.
The desperation for customers is so great that adverts in collaboration with the equally uselsess BARC (Boston Area Regeneration Company) were appearing as recently in yesterday's local press.
If you recall, the Enterprise Centre cost £3.6m, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund in partnership with Boston Borough Council, Lincolnshire County Council, and Lincolnshire Enterprise.
However, for the convenience of the BBI its lack of success can be squarely blamed on the previous council administration (haven't we heard this one before?)
Not too long ago, the occupancy of Boston Enterprise Centre on Enterprise Park was a pitiful 17%, although the Dear Leader Richard Austin told us that it was likely to rapidly rise to a stonking 75% - equivalent to 26 more tenants joining the eight who are already there. Since then things have fallen very silent.
Could it be that the anticipated improvement has not materialised?


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