The cold weather certainly slowed the engines of activity at the beginning of January. I recall seeing a twitter comment from someone on 11th January wondering whether anyone else felt like him that the year hadn't started yet!!

Anyway, time has moved on and there is now much more activity. It's important that people and organisations of whatever ilk are taking and making decisions to gain momentum and make things happen.

I'm a great believer in networking but with so many opportunities these days one has to be circumspect about those events worth attending. The last week has seen me attending:

• Urban Design and the British Urban Renaissance (by Professor John Punter of Cardiff University);
• The Innovation Network, organised and promoted by Cardiff University. An interesting session on Corporate Social Responsibility;
• Newport Business Club - with an interesting demonstration by Michelin star Head Chef, James Somerin of the Crown at Whitebrook; and finally
• Swansea Business Club with a presentation from the Chairman of the local Health Board.

In business, you cannot afford to be paracohial and therefore (all things being equal) the wider you cast your net, the greater the potential opportunities.