Overall, the Chancellor gave a steady budget taking into account the need to reduce the deficit.

It did not have any surprising giveaways for Kent businesses before the election but it is good news that the economy is continuing to grow with further growth predicted.

It is also the resilience of our businesses that has contributed to this and the future looks positive. We are also pleased that there is a review of business rates and hope this proves beneficial to our members.

However, despite positive figures on employment and the announcement on apprentices, we still have a skills shortage in manufacturing, rural and construction industries that needs addressing.

Away from the budget, we are approaching April – the start of a new financial year for many.

It is the month of new budgets, new targets, new expectations but what about motivation?

Whether you welcome the new financial year because you are moving out of a challenging run, or you dread it as you have to build on the success of the last 12 months, we could all do with a little boost, whatever role you play in the business.

We are looking forward to introducing a new theme of events – the 0859 Club. This will be a series of breakfast meetings to discuss relevant business topics and share experience.

By drawing on the solution of the others, this will ensure you leave the meeting, not only time for work but also with some used and proved ideas to introduce to your own business.

The first theme is timely around the start of another financial year and we will be looking at employee engagement and how to keep those most important assets firing on all cylinders and even to inject new energy.

Good advice includes tackling your issues one at a time. Also think about a time when you were at the top of your game.

Success goes in cycles – if you are in a rut, focus on how to climb out. Praise people’s talents, hard work and strategies, not just the results. Also, remind people it’s about the effort not just the skills.

Jack Welch famously said: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

We hope you will join us to discuss great ways to do this.