Business survivors must avoid the blame game. Instead, focus on winning in these turbulent times—there's never been so much help

It should have come as no surprise that bankers were awarding themselves generous pensions, or that the majority of the financial system would collapse. The system was set up to encourage excess and it is a convenient escape to blame bankers.

The problem now is that public services we hold dear still have to be paid for by wealth creators. A company like my own, with a turnover of £3m and 30 employees, will contribute up to £750,000 a year in VAT, National Insurance, income tax and business rates, irrespective of profitability.

As directors on the front line, we must focus every ounce of our energy on the job in hand and avoid wasting it on the blame game. It is a truism that there will always be someone to accuse, whether it is the media, government, quangos, Europe or the US. But winners have no time to waste on this. The truth is that someone, somewhere always makes life worse for the rest of us. Deal with it.

At the Bucks Economic Summit of 200 business leaders earlier this year, speakers focused on winning by cutting costs, increasing return on investment and protecting cash. The spirit was defiant. You could taste in the air how sick everyone was at the continual pessimistic reporting of our economic prospects and at the antagonistic daily political posturing.

For winners and survivors, more help is available than has ever been the case—from VAT deferments to local councils paying their bills early, and loan guarantees to free business audits. If you are out there landing orders, surviving, and even prospering in the absence of a clear rallying call to come out fighting, my message to you is: "Yes, we can!"

Alex Pratt OBE is founder of www.seriousreaders.com