Very, Very Bright Young Things

If anyone was expecting 2012 to be an instant improvement on 2011, they are wiser now: at the moment it seems we shall be lucky to get the mixture as before, rather than - as seems likely! - something rather worse. Or, at least, that would seem to be the case if you read the news, and forget that cheerful and upbeat is not nearly as newsworthy as death and disaster.

At the moment we are all hearing and reading a lot about rising levels of unemployment all over Europe, and the possibility of a 'lost generation' of young people who have little or no prospect of getting a job; no one seems to be interested in talking about young people who have decided that they would rather be found than lost.

End a grim month on a cheerful note! Take a look at some young people who are definitely not interested in getting lost by visiting Sharing the Making.

'Sharing the Making' would be an interesting and impressive concept at any time; in the present climate, the courage and confidence and expertise of all the 'makers' showcased on the site is an extraordinary tribute to them all.

It's also an excellent indication that SME's can thrive and prosper in Britain whatever the climate. But you won't be reading anything of the kind in your newspaper tomorrow morning...