I wasted a lot of time in 2024 thinking about how I could have handled the past four years differently. The hope was it’d allow me to enter 2025 with all the experience, skill and energy I can muster because change is in the air. I detest rerunning over mistakes. But from this uncomfortable position of hindsight, I’m trying to learn the lessons and shift my mindset for 2025 to be our best year ever. It’s a landmark year for us. In 2025 we are going to be starting our 25th year of trading.

At Small Business Britain, I was on a roundtable discussion on #MakingWorkPay. I listened to all the fabulous business owners and their employment procedures and the difference they could make to people’s lives through employment.

Reflect on your successes and challenges as you plan ahead

While my procedures have room for improvement, I have done some of my best work supporting colleagues this year. Some colleagues only stay for 18 months at the most. However, many choose to stay as they value their work and the benefit they are to the area. One of my colleagues with a master’s in German literature is starting her 10^th year. There have also been some unexpected positives that came like buses at the end of the year.

First bus: a letter from the ACS asking me to be an ambassador. I’m now a retailer ambassador with over two decades of experience and, now my mum is semi-retired and I work in the post office, I’m a cross between Mrs Goggins and Dorcas Lane, with community at my heart.

Second bus: I was asked to speak at the House of Lords on behalf of the participants of the Small Business Britain BT Sustainability course I had undertaken.

These are the highlights in what has been a constant juggle to drag us back into profit. I’m hoping the next two successes for the business are of a financial nature and again not expected or planned, just a reflection of commitment and hard work for our community.

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