The party this year is being held at the Water Margin which used to be Sumo Bar. The address is 9-12 Middle Street so there's no excuse for not turning up as it's literally on our doorstep.

As in previous years there will be complimentary drinks on arrival, food will be Dim Sum (Dim Sum is a Far Eastern style light menu meaning 'to touch your heart', it consists of a variety of Dumplings, steamed dishes and other oriental delicacies) provided by the Water Margin.

The Charity Raffle will again take place this year with loads of lovely prizes to give away kindly donated by local businesses, all proceeds will go to charity, yet to be confirmed.

Entertainment will be revealed nearer the time but promises to be 'energetic'

Invitations will be going out this week, if for any reason you don't receive one, you can do so by asking a BMC member of staff.

So please make an effort to come as it would be lovely to see as many of you there as possible.

BMC's very own thespian...

Dogberry & Bob is the story of two bungling detectives on the trail of dangerous criminals and was made by Sixty6 films, a Brighton based production company. You can have a look at the website here: www.sixty6films.com and follow the link to the main page detailing how you can get tickets to the premiere.

Christian has recently starred in a much larger role on SKY Propeller (SKY195) on Saturday nights where a TV series he filmed last year is recently been aired. "Come on you Chickens" is a comedy following the fortunes of a small town Football Club as they are taken over by ruthless American rich kid Benedict Power (Christian).

So all you movie goers, please show your support for our local film makers and home grown talent!

Some of the main points follow below:

Business has many uncertainties, and the past is an unreliable guide to the future. Story given to illustrate: he was in the Grand Hotel back in the 80's at the Conservative Conference when a journalist was taking him to task about the failings of the Conservatives, and this man was banging a pillar 'in the room' next to them saying, "And that's a fact, just like this pillar is a fact.." and within an hour, that pillar was no longer a fact, as the Brighton Bomb went off and reduced it, and a lot else, to rubble.

Given the fact of uncertainty, we need to work closely with those around us, bolster our decisions with advice and encouragement from others, and not allow our focus to dwindle, so be sustained by a group - Maggie Thatcher tried to do so much alone, and in the end she was isolated and uninformed.

Michael Portillo is not shy of being controversial, and stated that Governments generally did not understand business, and politicians were not especially good at running things. It is in the Government's interest to see that business is a success, and to recognise that Wealth Creation comes first, to provide cash for health, schools, and other social wants. There are often demands from business that Red Tape needs to be cut - but when those in business are asked what they want removed, there is no response; Sussex Enterprise will need to make a list of regulations to scrap as a first step to reduce that burden.

He sees himself as an expert on Failure, and modestly stated that he makes a good living out of his failures now, telling people about them! It isn't bad to fail - it leads to reassessing priorities, to new opportunities, to see the other thing that could be done instead. Those who have experienced failure are more moderate, more realistic. More likely to learn and move forward. The Team is key to success, he feels - there is nothing more important than Teamwork, and no success can be had without it.

The Team must be made up of the right people - one wrong person can guarantee failure - and they will bond and never let each other down. In that way, the much-needed dreams and ideals, which he felt were much more common an aspiration in his youth, can be born and become reality. His final illustration, from his recent exploits as a wildlife presenter, was of a Meerkat colony, in which one female gets the upper hand, chases off other pregnant females, murders any cubs that are not hers, and rules the roost - her testosterone levels rise sharply, and those of all the males in the colony go down - be warned!

Software firm KashFlow has written to Department for Trade and Industry, Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses calling for 25 October to be named 'National Hug Your Accountant' day.

The company hopes such a day will help get small business owners and their accountants closer together so that they can better understand each others needs.

While light-hearted, KashFlow said its campaign had a serious element as it is aimed at bringing accountants and their clients closer together so that both parties can get a better understanding of the pressures they face.

According to Companies House most recent statistics, in the 2004/5 financial year, across England, Wales and Scotland 203,111 private and limited companies were fined for submitting late accounts.

Speaking about National Hug Your Accountant Day Duane Jackson, MD of KashFlow said, "'The great thing about our campaign is that it is a fun way to address a very serious issue. A large number of small business owners do not realise the importance of keeping accurate financial records until it is too late and I think business owners would like accountants to have a better understanding of what entrepreneurial spirit is all about."

There's no such thing as free advice

A doctor and an accountant were seated together at a formal awards dinner. All of a sudden the doctor was approached by a man asking about the best course of action to alleviate his back pain. The doctor gave some medical advice, then turned to the accountant and said "I really hate it when people seek free advice from me at parties."

The accountant replied "I know exactly what you mean. It happens all the time to me too."

"How do you handle it?" asked the doctor. "It seems rude not to answer when you are asked for your advice at a social gathering."

"Simple" said the accountant. "I give a little advice and the next day I send them a £50 bill for consultancy services".

"What a great idea" said the doctor. "I think that would work for me. I must remember to try it." But by the time he got home he'd already forgotten about sending a bill to the man with the back pain. He remembered the next morning though when he opened his post. In it was a £50 bill from the accountant.

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Richard Newton who used to have office Space at the Brighton Media Centre has a 'Big Gig' that he's promoting coming up on Thursday 15th November. The Dub Pistols will be playing at the Concorde2 supported by two local bands Ruderalis and The Gentlemens Club. Tickets are priced at £10.00 and £7.50 for NUS and UNISON members.

For more information on WPB Events: www.wpbevents.co.uk


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Interested in using your knowledge and technical skills to make a difference in the real world? We are looking for a senior technical analyst to join our expanding research consultancy, helping public sector organisations effectively plan, target and evaluate programmes.

You will be passionate about using information and technology to help people do more things in better and faster ways. For example you will be supporting and developing the Planning4care website and database, a web-based analysis tool that helps local authorities plan and commission social care services for older people.

You will be excited by new technologies and software, and want to apply them in your day-job. For example improving how we visualise geographical and time-series data using Google Maps, Gapfinder and other technologies, and further developing our in-house data storage and reporting tools.

Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI) work with a wide range of public sector organisations, at national, regional and local level. In current projects we’re working with the Department of Communities and Local Government to support local partnerships develop and monitor neighbourhood-level targets through their Local Area Agreements, scoping new ways of identifying rural deprivation issues across the region for the South-East Rural Community Council, and helping Brighton and Hove partnership develop new strategies for tackling deprivation and inequality across the city.

This will be a demanding and varied role with plenty of opportunity to use your experience and develop new skills in this high profile area of public sector policy. Although not directly managing staff, the position is a senior role where you will be responsible for successfully delivering and presenting internal and external projects

For further information, full job description, application details and information on OCSI go to the OCSI jobs pages : www.ocsi.co.uk/jobs.php

Customers Not Paying Their Invoices On Time?

There is a solution - Cliff Jenkins has over 40 years business expertise under his belt as a chartered accountant, a KPMG Business Management Consultant and worked with numerous small businesses to grow them profitably.

He has decided to reveal the insider trade secrets that he has applied to many of these businesses to make a whopping turnaround in profits.

If you would like to know more, please help yourself to one of the Yoolaa flyers from BMC Reception, or go to: www.yoolaa.co.uk/enquiry.htm

All this week they've made full use of our Photographic Studio in the basement of our Friese Greene building for the purpose of offering 'free' photgraphic sessions to appear in their casting directory.

Actors, extras and ordinary folk have been piling down to the studio in their hundreds to take advantage of the free photo opportunity.

So if you fancy having your fifteen minutes of fame, email Director Jason Fox at: jason@actingoutcasting.co.uk or call 08444 779929

Have a look at their website: www.actingoutcasting.co.uk

• Suite 307 - 450Sqft @ £1,600.00 + VAT (Available end November)

Old Steine

• Suite 201 - 563Sqft @ £2,000.00 + VAT (Available early December)
• Suite G02 - 328Sqft @ £1095.00 + VAT