After months of appalling weather, the sun finally shone on Gloucestershire in March – in time for the National Hunt festival at Prestbury Park. Tens of thousands of people flocked to the county, not only to enjoy the Sport of Kings, but also to sample the delights that the local area has to offer.

There’s plenty to see and do in Gloucestershire from the history of our major towns to more idyllic rural settings in the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. But like any hungry child, the local economy needs feeding. And it’s occasions such as the National Hunt festival that provide our county with much needed sustinence.

Horse racing is not Gloucestershire’s only festival, of course, with music, arts, literature, tall ships and many more attractions playing their part in putting the county on the map and feeding our local economy. But it’s the activity at Prestbury Park every March that seems to provide a major impetus at just the right time – as Spring dawns and the sun begins to shine.

That was certainly the case this year, with pubs, restaurants, hotels etc. all happy to put behind them the months of flooding and poor weather generally in order to welcome hungry (and thirsty!) punters. Hopefully it will help them to recover some of the lost revenue that they will have experienced in that period.

There are two ways in which the local economy receives a financial boost. One is the influx of external money brought in by festivals such as the horse racing. The second is for businesses and people in the county to support their own economy by buying, shopping and employing locally. You would be amazed at the skill sets and facilities that are available without you having to go outside the county in search of them.

And if you are running a business locally, make the most of the opportunities that are presented to you. Don’t moan about the number of people attending these festivals, work out how they can benefit your business and capitalize on the chance. The Rugby World Cup comes to the county in 2015 – there’s something else that you might be able to make work to your benefit. Embrace it all and back a winner!