It’s always a privilege to be in a room full of people who genuinely care about the strength and future of Somerset’s visitor economy.

My talk focused on navigating uncertainty — something many businesses are feeling right now. From rising costs to shifting consumer behaviour, the landscape continues to evolve. But what stood out most in the room was resilience.

Somerset businesses are not standing still. They are:

• Tightening up cashflow management
• Diversifying income streams
• Collaborating locally
• Investing carefully, but intentionally

Tourism isn’t just about visitor numbers. It’s about confidence, adaptability and long-term thinking. When hospitality, leisure, retail and professional services work together, the whole regional economy benefits.

Thank you to the Visit Somerset team for the invitation and to everyone who shared their insights so openly afterwards. Conversations like these matter.

If you’re running a Somerset business and want to sense-check your financial position or plan ahead with more clarity, I’m always happy to talk.

#SomersetBusiness, #VisitSomerset, #SMEs, #TourismEconomy, #BusinessResilience, #Cashflow, #EconomicOutlook