Isle Assist

Quick bike ride before work this morning 🚴‍♂️☀️

There's nothing quite like getting out on the bike first thing to clear your head, wake you up, and set you up for the day ahead. Fresh air, quiet roads, and a great start before the work begins.

Who else likes an early morning ride? 👌

I really enjoyed attending the Isle of Man–Liverpool MOU Celebration at the Comis yesterday with BITA.

It was great to catch up with familiar faces, make some new connections, and hear some thought-provoking discussions about how we can build stronger links between the Isle of Man and Liverpool.

One thing that really stuck with me is that a Memorandum of Understanding is only the starting point. The real success comes from turning those commitments into genuine relationships, collaborations, and business opportunities that benefit everyone involved. That's exactly where I see Isle Assist adding value—connecting people, opening doors, and helping turn conversations into action.

A topic I found particularly exciting was the opportunity to work more closely with universities. Liverpool is home to so many talented graduates every year, and I genuinely believe the Isle of Man has so much to offer them. Whether it's building a career, gaining valuable experience, or enjoying an incredible quality of life, the Island is a fantastic place for ambitious people to thrive. If we can create stronger links between universities, graduates, and businesses here, we can help address skills shortages while giving graduates another exciting option for their future.

I've come away with plenty on my "to do" list, but that's exactly what events like this should achieve. I'm looking forward to building on the connections made yesterday and helping turn this MOU into something tangible—creating real partnerships, real opportunities, and real business for both the Isle of Man and Liverpool.

Looking forward to seeing where these conversations lead.

Controversial opinion: most small business owners don’t actually have a time problem, they have a control problem.

I say that with respect because I see it all the time. People will say they’re too busy to grow the business properly, too busy to plan, too busy to market, too busy to take time off. But at the same time they’re still replying to every email personally, double-checking work that’s already been finished, rewriting things just to make sure they’re right, and holding onto tasks that could easily be handed over because it feels quicker to just do it themselves.

And I completely understand why. When you’ve built something from the ground up, letting go of even the small things doesn’t feel easy.

But here’s the part most people don’t say out loud. Sometimes “I’m too busy” really means “I haven’t let go of enough yet.”

And the result is the same business owner doing everything, just with more stress than necessary.

So I’ll ask this properly… are you actually too busy, or are you just holding onto too much?

You may have wanted to support the campaign from the beginning but the survey wasn't for you because you're not directly affected.

The Tynwald petition is different.

It can be signed by anyone resident on the Isle of Man who supports formal consideration of this issue by Tynwald and meaningful protections for people already on existing settlement routes.

That includes:
• People who already have Indefinite Leave to Remain
• British citizens
• Manx-born individuals
• Employers
• Colleagues
• Friends and neighbours
• Teenagers, adult children and other family members

The survey helped us understand the potential impact. The petition is your opportunity to add your voice.

Whether your concern is workforce stability, healthcare, education, the economy, community cohesion or fairness for people who moved here under existing rules, this is the moment to make your voice heard.

The survey wasn't for everyone. The petition is.

Petition signatures required by Friday 12 June.

Download the petition and signature sheet: https://linktr.ee/fairsettlementiom

🏝️ Thinking about a move to the Isle of Man?

For some, it starts with a holiday. For others, a job opportunity, family ties, or a search for a better pace of life.

And for many recent visitors especially after TT fortnight it becomes a question they can’t quite shake:

Could I actually live here?

If that sounds familiar, I’ve created a Facebook group called Relocation to the Isle of Man for people who are considering, planning, or actively preparing to move.

It’s a simple space to:
• Ask questions
• Share experiences
• Get practical, real-world insights about life on the Island

Moving is a big decision, and having the right information makes all the difference.

If the Isle of Man is on your radar, you’re very welcome to join us.

👇 To join the group, simply comment “GROUP” below and I’ll send you the link.

And I’d still love to know—what first sparked your interest in the Island?

Vicky | Founder, Isle Assist