Business Matters West Cheshire & North wales Chamber of Commerce Sept 2017

BusinessMatters The business magazine of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Autumn 2017

The Big Interview Jim jones

Managing Director North Wales Tourism

Together, We’re Well Connected

Business Matters

Welcome

Welcome to our latest edition of Business Matters

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Colin Brew

Chief Executive Officer West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Enquiries Churchill House, Queen’s Park Campus, Queen’s Park Road, Chester CH4 7AD t: 01244 669988 e: info@wcnwchamber.org.uk w: www.wcnwchamber.org.uk Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Suite 5 & 6, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ t: 0151 236 4141 f: 0151 236 0440 e: admin@benhampublishing.com w: www.benhampublishing.com Published September 2017 © Benham Publishing Media no. 1594 Advertising and Features Karen Hall t: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Design Chris Moran t: 0151 236 4141 e: studio@benhampublishing.com

very warm welcome to our latest edition of Business Matters. I hope that your business is gaining maximum value from your Chamber membership following a challenging summer for the country as we continue to face both political and economic uncertainty?

Whilst politicians work to create a landscape for the future so businesses continue to do their utmost to grow and thrive under difficult conditions. Never has there been a better time to make use of YOUR local Chamber of Commerce and here at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber we strive to ensure that not only are you provided with a suite of products and services which support growth and prosperity, such as regular networking events, training programmes and affiliate products and services but we are also working tirelessly to make sure that your voice and the issues your business faces is heard loud and clear in the corridors of power through our representational work with key economic stakeholders across our great region (and beyond).

As we continue to grow as a

Chamber so we have seen a continuation of our recruitment and retention of resource and people to support the demands and needs of our membership. Our recent investment in larger office space through our relocation to the University of Chester Business School will support greater connections to the business leaders of tomorrow and through the introduction of further initiatives such as our Young Chamber programme which will see numerous local schools gain valued support from local business so bridging the gap between education and business.

Our focus on the key themes within our Chamber 2021 Vision remain at the heart of our work – Voice, Infrastructure, Skills and International Trade – and your feedback is crucial to ensure we accurately reflect the views of our membership so please take a few minutes to complete our quarterly economic survey when it arrives in your inbox.

Together we really are ‘well connected’ - may I wish you every success for the remaining months of 2017 on behalf of myself and the whole Chamber Team.

INSIDE:

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getting started Peta Pendlebury Book at Bedtime

The big interview Jim Jones North Wales Tourism

The person behind the business Ernesto Sciarrillo

24 hours with Nathan Monshin Co-Founder of SI Risk

top ten tips Danny Holborn Dee 106.3

What I’m passionate about in business Katrina Michel

Disclaimer Business Matters is mailed without charge to all Chamber members

and distributed to businesses in the region.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2017.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

Front cover: “A view across North Wales”. Photographer Kris Williams.

@Chamber WCNW West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce /wcnwchamber

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chamber news

An introduction to your new Chairman, Keith Anglesea

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would like to take the time to wish you all a very warm welcome and introduce myself as Keith Anglesea your newly appointed Chairman.

Since joining the Chamber in 2011 under my company Arriva Buses Wales, I have had the great honour of serving on the Board of Directors and it is now with great pride I accept the role of Chairman.

Following on from such noble past Chair’s such as John Newton Jones, Iain McAulay and our Immediate Past Chair William Hogg, I would like to congratulate them all individually for guiding the Chamber to where it is today. Your time, effort and dedication will always be remembered.

Speaking on a personal level I am a Welsh born man living in Ewloe. I enjoy most sports, but my main passion is motorsport as the

members who know me will agree. I have competed in both racing and rallying in the past and still enjoy getting out in my race car on track days.

I have just purchased a race prepared Porsche 911 that needs refurbishing, so that will keep me entertained at weekends in between the odd game of golf for the rest of 2017 as I plan to compete again in 2018.

Starting off my career, I served as an apprentice technician with the Braid group, I then moved onto Royal Mail where my management career started and continued with Oulton Park Racing Circuit until I moved to Arriva Buses Wales in 2008, I have a wealth of experience in all aspects from HR, financial and Health & Safety.

My first few weeks as Chairman certainly have been eventful. In

between relocating our office to Churchill House in Handbridge, the Chamber has also taken the decision to promote three members of our hardworking staff, Debbie Bryce to our Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Jenny Davidson to Membership Support & Events Manager and finally Matthew Hodgson to Policy & Communications Manager. I truly believe a huge congratulations is in place for them all and I look forward to see how much they can achieve in their new roles and new office. We also have some very exciting developments in the pipeline that we will be revealing soon – watch this space.

If you would like to contact me please do, I would love to hear from you! I am reachable by email chairman@ wcnwchamber.org.uk and remember to say hello if you see me at an event.

WCNW Chamber of Commerce move offices

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L to R: Debbie Bryce, Chamber Deputy CEO, Clare Schofield, Acting Dean of the University of Chester, Colin Brew, Chamber Chief Executive Officer

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t the end of July, the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce relocated offices.

The new offices, based within Churchill House, Chester, will enable the Chamber to expand and enter into some exciting new ventures. The move has provided the Chamber with immaculate new meeting rooms and offices, with incredible views overlooking the River Dee. Churchill House is an immaculate building with an interesting and extensive history; the building served as the headquarters of Western Command during the Second World War and was used by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, General

Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Charles de Gaulle.

Last year, the WCNW Chamber of Commerce released its ‘Vision 2021’.

In 2021, the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its centenary year; with this incredible achievement in mind, the Chamber has created a strategic vision that aims to not only enhance the Chamber, but drive our economy forward.

The Chamber is therefore constantly striving to achieve the vision by 2021, this office change will allow the space for growth to enable this extremely important vision to happen.

Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer said: ‘We

are delighted to move over to Churchill House and build our relationship with the team there. I’d like to pass on our sincere thanks to Clare Schofield, Acting Dean of the University of Chester, for facilitating this move and making us feel so very welcome. I look forward to the Chamber’s continual growth at Churchill House and being able to carry on with our progress in the direction of our 2021 Vision for the Chamber.’

The Chamber team is extremely excited for our future growth within Churchill House and to be able to continue to excel within our services that we provide our members.

strategic members news

Chamber welcomes Tree Frog Digital as one of our newest Strategic Partners

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trengthening their alliance with the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, we are very proud to welcome Tree Frog Digital as one of the newest additions to our Strategic Members.

Joining the Chamber in November of 2016, Tree Frog Digital have taken a very proactive approach to their membership.

Regularly attending Chamber networking events and presenting in front of the ‘Start Up Club’, Tree Frog have truly utilised their membership and made good use of the benefits offered.

A specialist in the field of Bespoke Web Design and SEO, Tree Frog are a unique business with a true flare and passion for what they do. Aiding Cheshire businesses to grow and thrive using search

engine optimization, they make the internet seem a very profitable place for all businesses by using analytics and AdWords to their customers advantage.

Speaking on behalf of Tree Frog, Chris Grice Co- Founder said “Building relationships has always been at the heart of how we work as a business at Tree Frog, so after joining the Chamber as a standard member and seeing the high level of support that it was giving to local businesses both big and small, we quickly decided that this was an organisation that we wanted to be more involved in.”

Working with a wide range of companies across the region, Tree Frog are a vastly growing company that is incredibly forward thinking and unique in

what they offer. Striking a strategic alliance with the Chamber will mean Tree Frog can develop even further strong relationships with other members and give back to the community, something they are very keen to do.

Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber, spoke after saying “Joining us in November of last year, Tree Frog Digital have made the most of their membership by regularly attending networking events and engaging with the Chamber through mediums such as our ‘Start Up Club’. Moving into a Strategic Membership will only enhance our relationship and will also allow Chris and the team to engage further with other Chamber members, I am very excited for the upcoming 12 months!

Above: The Tree Frog Digital team. Below: L to R: Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and Chris Grice, Co-Founder of Tree Frog

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Nelson Myatt Solicitors in Llandudno Junction, North Wales are going from strength-to-strength as the business grows. Located straight off the A55 in the county of Conwy, the firm caters for clients from across North Wales. The firm has recently expanded again as Wills and Probate specialist, Carolyn Snellgrove, joined the team. Here, Carolyn talks about how her work impacts business clients.

Businesses Business owners spend years building up their businesses investing time, money, sweat and tears. Many hope to pass the business on in time to enjoy early retirement.

But any prudent business person should have provisions in place to prepare for the unthinkable; if they die or lose mental capacity while the business is still in their control. This isn’t a topic anyone likes to think about but it makes a huge difference to loved ones and trusted business colleagues in the worst circumstances if the best provisions are in place.

Wills If there is no Will then assets pass under the rules of intestacy. This can have unwanted results if, for example, assets end up passing to a spouse you are separated from, to children who can’t manage the assets or to another relative you barely even know.

The potential problems are magnified with business assets which must continue to be well managed right

from the date of your death through to being taken over by their eventual beneficiaries. The appointment of the right executors, choice of trustees if needed and careful decisions about eventual beneficiaries can make the whole process smoother for everyone involved.

Example: If you are separated but not divorced, and die with no will or other provisions in place, then everything will pass to your Spouse regardless of your wishes.

Lasting Power of Attorney The situation can be even more complicated if a business owner loses their mental capacity. If there are no provisions in place then it can result in complicated, repetitive and expensive Court of Protection applications which are often unsatisfactory for everyone involved.

By creating well-drafted Lasting Powers of Attorney, you can appoint people who will take control of your personal and / or business affairs if you become unable to manage them yourself.

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You can appoint different Attorneys to make decisions about your Personal and Business property and financial affairs as well as your Health and Welfare.

Example: With no Lasting Power of Attorney, if you have a sudden head injury which leaves you unable to manage your affairs, then it could take months before someone is able to get a court order to manage things on your behalf.

Business documents For those working in partnership, care should be taken to ensure that a partnership agreement is in place which explicitly deals with the death of each partner. Without this, bank accounts can be instantly frozen on death and business come completely to a halt. Similarly, company articles should be checked and business owners should consider shareholder protection policies and insurances.

We pride ourselves on finding the best solutions for each individual client’s circumstances.

Carolyn Snellgrove is a STEP qualified practitioner and member of Solicitors for the Elderly. For more information contact her at carolyn@nelsonmyatt.com or 01492 588200. www.nelsonmyatt.com

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strategic members news

Cat ‘N’ Mouse join forces with the Chamber by becoming a Strategic Partner

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aving been Chamber Members for a number of years, Cat ‘N’ Mouse have now solidified their relationship with the Chamber by becoming one of the latest businesses to join as a Strategic Member.

Based in Hope, Cat ‘N’ Mouse supply print and promotional marketing material to clients spanning a spectrum of sectors including education, financial, charity, leisure, local government, medical and tourism. Established for 20 years, Cat ‘N’ Mouse has built its client base through recommendations and they pride themselves on building lasting relationships and connections forged through trust and quality service. Over the years they have increased their services to offer a multitude of opportunities to help promote branding through business stationary, packaging, exhibitions, catalogues, clothing, vehicle graphics and promotional gifts.

Nigel Brook at work

Taking a very proactive role since joining the Chamber in early 2015, Cat ‘N’ Mouse are a familiar face at our networking events, have featured in our quarterly magazine ‘Business Matters’ and always maintained a very positive and helpful approach to both the Chamber and its members.

Looking to the future both the team at the Chamber and at Cat ‘N’ Mouse are very excited to work closer together over the next 12 months and to what we can achieve together.

Speaking on behalf of Cat ‘N’ Mouse, Tracy Brook commented on the recent partnership “We were honoured to receive an invitation to become strategic partners and are looking forward to working collaboratively within the team of strategic partners. Our objective is to absorb ourselves into new opportunities maximising contact with the wider Chamber membership to support their business growth whilst strengthening our connection to the business community. The next 12 months promises to be an exciting time for

“

L to R: Nigel Brook, Colin Brew and Tracy Brook the Chamber and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”

Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber of Commerce said ‘’We are extremely honoured to have Cat ‘N’ Mouse join us as Strategic Members, they have always been heavily involved and active within the Chamber and the business community, so we are really pleased to reinforce our goals through this new partnership. The next year is shaping up to be an exciting year for both Cat ‘N’ Mouse and the Chamber.’’

The next 12 months promises to be an exciting time for the Chamber and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

”

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strategic members news

Red Line Credit Control become a Strategic Member, solidifying their relationship with the Chamber

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he West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce that Red Line Credit Control have become part of the Chamber’s team of Strategic Partners Red Line Credit Control Limited are a Chesterbased commercial credit control and debt recovery business, who offer an unrivalled service in all aspects of credit control.

Red Line Credit Control aim to get results without resorting to an aggressive approach; as a company they have a large number of years’ experience within the credit control industry, this has allowed the team to develop the attitude, tools and techniques required in order to return great results with minimal fuss.

Since joining the Chamber in January 2017, Red Line Credit Control have taken a proactive

approach to the Chamber, attending many networking events over the short time that they have been a member.

In the future, David will become a friendly face known by many as he will be attending more events and assisting with Start-Up Club advice, as well as our upcoming venture ‘Young Chamber’.

Speaking on behalf of Red Line Credit Control, David Harrington-Wright said: ‘’Red Line Credit Control are extremely pleased to be joining the Strategic Membership of the Chamber, and look forward to strengthening our links with not just the Chamber but all members across the region. We are particularly pleased to support the Young Chamber programme, we are also looking forward to meeting other businesses at the Ask the Expert day later this year.’’

The Chamber are excited for Red Line to join the group of our fantastic Strategic Members and to further help our members with a range of different businesses offering different services. David is hoping to help Chamber members wherever possible and to assist businesses whenever he can.

Debbie Bryce, Deputy CEO, Said: ‘We are delighted for Red Line Credit Control to join

the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce as one of our fantastic Strategic Partners.

The approach that Red Line Credit Control take as a company is admirable as they aim to take a calmer approach to credit control than is normally thought of. David is ready to take an extremely proactive approach to the Chamber and we look forward to working closely with him in the upcoming future.’

Above: L to R: David Harrington-Wright, Director of Red Line Credit Control and Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer at the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Left: David Harrington-Wright

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strategic members news

A slow start can be costly P lanning for retirement is just one area in which, with the benefit of hindsight, many people wish they’d taken action earlier.

According to a study by Prudential in April of last year, two in five pensioners admit to retirementplanning mistakes which have left them struggling financially. Nearly one in five say that they didn’t save enough for retirement, and 15% regret not starting to save earlier in their working lives.

Pension contributions attract tax relief on the way in and they accumulate capital gains free of tax once inside. When you access your pension savings, the first 25% is normally tax-free. While you cannot draw on the funds until your 55th birthday, this does protect your pot against the temptation to tap into it until then.

Getting off the mark How much pension income you need in retirement is determined by a number of factors.

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

However, as stated in March this year by the Office for National Statistics, the average worker in the UK earns £26,364 per annum, so a pension income of around £20,000 might seem like a reasonable target for most people.

Assuming that the pension fund would be used to purchase an annuity, someone in their mid-20s who starts saving into a defined contribution (money purchase) pension today would need to save around £250 a month to achieve an income of £12,000 by the time they reach State Pension age.

Someone who delays until their mid-30s would need to put away £420 a month; and a 45-year-old who hasn’t started a pension would need to start saving around £850 a month.* In any case, the fact remains that the best way to secure a comfortable retirement is to save as much as possible as early as possible in your working life, and take financial advice.

The longer you delay saving, the harder it will be to build the kind of fund that will see you through retirement.

Albert Einstein said “The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.”

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

If you would like to discuss this area in more detail contact David Wall at Mercer and Associates Wealth Management Ltd on 01244 409610 or email David.wall@sjpp.co.uk *Aegon.co.uk, accessed 20 March 2017; the example is based on a male who pays basic rate Income Tax, buying a single life, level annuity, and where pension contributions are invested in a default equity and bond lifestyle.

David Wall, Associate Partner at Mercer & Associates Wealth Management Ltd

Preparing your business for GDPR in 2018

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n the 25th May 2018, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force throughout the EU. The new regulation is a comprehensive uplift on the UK’s 1998 Data Protection Act, and is aimed at harmonising data protection throughout the EU. Regardless of whether your business is in the EU or not, any business which profiles data subjects from the EU must be compliant.

GDPR places a number of responsibilities on companies who control and process personal data including: • Putting organisational and technical measures in place to demonstrate compliance • Making data protection and information security a board-level issue • Implementing robust and “state-of-the-art” cyber security solutions and reviews • A focus on transparency and consent as a basis for collecting and processing personal data • Providing enhanced rights for data subjects – including the right to be forgotten • More stringent rules around detecting and communicating data breaches to both individuals and the authorities Companies who fail to fail to comply with the GDPR face fine of up to €20m or 4% of global turnover from the Information Commissioner’s Office in the event of a data breach.

Companies who hold personal data should be preparing for GDPR now. Some of the processes, schemes and standards companies can implement in preparation include: • Risk and impact assessments for data protection • The government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme • Standards such as ISO27001 or IASME governance • Recruitment and training of personnel in preparation for GDPR • Audits of existing data, where it is held and who owns it

Protos Networks is an IASME accredited Cyber Essentials and GDPR Readiness Assessor, and offer a wide range of cyber security services and solutions. If you would like any assistance around GDPR or cyber security in general, please contact us on 0333 370 1353 or email info@protosnetworks.com.

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strategic members news

Insignia Resourcing Limited marks its third year in business

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n the 10th June 2017, Insignia Resourcing with offices in Chester, Manchester and North Wales celebrated its third-year trading. The company was originally set up by four Directors; Mark & Angelina Slane and Phill & Janet Jones to support companies of all sizes across the North West and North Wales. However, since its incorporation, Insignia Resourcing have found themselves working with a variety of companies right across the UK from Sole Traders and SME’s to large multinational organisations across multiple and diverse sectors.

Phill had this to say;

“We have had a lot of ups and downs since we started the business but most of all it has been exciting, rewarding and always challenging. I must be honest and say, I wish we had done it sooner knowing what I know now!

Our growth plans really kicked in over this last 12 months and we now have several Self-Employed Associate Directors working with us that help us to achieve our stance of being one of the most trusted, transparent and professional resourcing companies in the area and across the UK. To help with our growth, the Chamber of Commerce has played a significant part in that. I was appointed to

the Board of Directors in March 2016 and Chaired the Chambers Focus Group until I was asked to take up the role of Deputy Chairman in June 17 of which I now play a very active part supporting the Chairman, CEO, Deputy CEO, Board, Chamber Staff and most importantly the Membership.

For us as business, it’s all about team work, our clients and candidates. We work within many sectors and can provide a variety of services to our clients. Details can be found here: www. insigniaresourcing.co.uk As a Strategic Partner to the Chamber, it’s about supporting the Membership as best we can with help, advice and support.”

How can we help you?

We would like to offer all Chamber Members a significant discounted rate in our fees for permanent placements subject to our Chamber Preferential Terms and Conditions.

Phill Jones, Director of Insignia Resourcing Limited

Contact Phill on 01244 566122, 07734739472 or email phill@insigniaresourcing.co.uk for details on how Insignia Resourcing can help you

Chester banker gets national recognition

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longside his day job, supporting local businesses in and around Chester, Jake Brown has been working hard to put together some innovations that could make banking more transparent and better for customers.

Every year the Chartered Banker holds a Young Banker of the Year competition aiming to showcase individuals who sustain high ethical, professional and customer-focused standards, acting as role-models to their colleagues and peers.

Jake was nominated for this as a banker who has the potential to be ‘a future leader’ involved in the revitalised banking profession.

The competition seeks to highlight the contribution

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of individuals with the potential to lead positive, customer-focused change, as judged by a distinguished panel of industry figures.

He provided evidence of original and innovative thinking in making his proposal.

‘Hide a little less; Serve a little more’ is Jake’s idea and a concept all about being more transparent and putting our customer’s interests first, allowing them to make more informed financial decisions and even save money. His initiative focuses on how repayments change with interest rate tiers and he proposed a way to avoid customers losing out.

In June, Jake presented his idea to the Chartered

Banker Institute against seven other candidates from across the banking sector. The idea was well received and managed to secure him a semi-final position. On the 20th June, he spoke at the semi-final in front of his peers and leaders from across banking at Manchester Science & Industry Museum.

Stuart Finnerty, Director Business Banking Cheshire, went to watch the semifinal in Manchester and comments: ‘Jake’s theme was that he was ‘Proud to be a Banker’ and wanted to change things to make the industry better for our customers. In the same vein, we are all very proud of Jake, both in the passion of which he spoke and for coming up with

an idea that shows our commitment to providing the best service for all of our customers.’

Well done Jake!

Jake Brown receiving his Young Banker Semi-Finalist award from Simon Thompson, CEO Chartered Banker Institute

Yn cefnogi busnesau Cymru Supporting businesses in Wales

“Ein hymgynhorydd Fusnes Cymru, Svetlana, wedi bod yn wych. Mae wedi bod yn gefnogol a rhagweithiol ar bob lefel, mae wedi gwir gredu ynof i a fy musnes.” Sarah Heywood, Mochdre Vets

“Our Business Wales adviser, Svetlana, has been fabulous. She has been supportive and proactive at every level and really believed in me and my business.” Sarah Heywood, Mochdre Vets

03000 6 03000 busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales

Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau Superfast Business Wales Academydd wedi ymddeol yn manteisio ar dechnoleg ddigidol er mwyn mynd yn groes i’r duedd ar y stryd fawr a denu rhagor o bobl i’w siop wlân

Retired academic embraces digital technology to buck high street trend and increase footfall to her wool shop

Mae Glenys Owen-Jones wedi cymryd camau i sicrhau dyfodol ei siop yn Abergele, drwy fynd i’r afael â thechnoleg ddigidol a’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol.

Glenys Owen-Jones has taken steps to secure her Abergele store’s future, after getting to grips with digital technology and social media.

Mae camau Glenys i’r byd digidol wedi talu ar ei ganfed.

Mae Snowdonia Wool, a agorodd yn 2012, wedi cynyddu nifer y bobl sy’n dod i’r siop ac wedi dechau denu ymwelwyr rhyngwladol, gyda gweuwyr yn dod yno o wledydd mor bell â Chanada, UDA a Japan i brynu ei chynnyrch.

“Dydych chi fyth yn rhy hen i ddysgu sut mae defnyddio technoleg ddigidol.”

“Roedd yn rhaid i mi ddysgu’n gyflym, oherwydd nad oedd y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn rhan o fy nghenhedlaeth i; ond roeddwn i’n gwybod ei fod yn rhywbeth oedd angen i mi ei wneud os oeddwn yn awyddus i'r busnes barhau i fasnachu.

“Oni bai am farchnata digidol a chyfryngau cymdeithasol, byddai stori’r busnes yn wahanol iawn. Es i i weithdy gan cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau a chael cyngor a chymorth un-wrth-un defnyddiol iawn.”

Bellach, mae gan Snowdonia Wool wefan e-fasnach sydd wedi'i hoptimeiddio ar gyfer ffonau symudol, yn ogystal â strategaeth marchnata dros e-bost llwyddiannus. snowdoniawool.co.uk

Glenys’ move to digital has paid off. Snowdonia Wool, which opened in 2012, has increased footfall and started attracting international visitors, with knitters coming from as far away as Canada, the USA, and Japan, to buy her products.

“You’re never too old to learn how to use digital technology.”

“It’s been a steep learning curve for me, because social media was not part of my generation; but I knew it was something I needed to do, if I wanted the business to continue trading.

“If it wasn’t for digital marketing and social media, it could be a very different story for the business. I attended a Superfast Business Wales workshop and received really useful one-to-one advice and support.”

Snowdonia Wool now boasts an e-commerce website fully optimised for mobile, as well as an effective and successful email marketing strategy. snowdoniawool.co.uk

Am ragor o wybodaeth, chwiliwch ar-lein: businesswales.gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales/cy To find out more search online: businesswales.gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales

03000 6 03000 busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales

chamber news

WCNW Export Manager, Dave Roberts, attends the Queen’s Garden Party Every business has its heroes – and Chambers of Commerce are no exceptions

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arlier this month, the British Chamber of Commerce selected seven long standing Chamber employees from around the country, who have collectively served for their local Chambers for over 233 years, and invited them as guests to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

The West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s very own Dave Roberts was selected as one of the lucky attendees for his 26 years of service to our members.

Since starting work at the Chamber as Membership Manager, Dave has progressed through the ranks as is now our Export Manager, providing guidance and support to any exporters in the WCNW Region.

Dave attended the Garden Party alongside many other ‘Chamber Heroes’ who had all been recognised for their outstanding services to their individual Chamber, all serving a total of over 75,000 Chamber member companies and their five million employees.

Dave’s day started with a relaxed morning in London with his wife Cath, all before a short taxi ride to the front of the Palace. The pair then joined the queue to the Palace at the Hyde Park entrance. Dave said, “As soon as we joined the queue with other attendees, my nerves and any apprehension quickly went away”.

After Dave and Cath had queued to enter the palace, they then continued on to venture around the

Palace’s famous rose garden, taking in the impeccable views and talking with other attendees from the day.

Fortunately for all in attendance, the sun was shining down on London, making for a bright and cheery daymaybe even some sun tans!

As the morning progressed and afternoon came around, the Royal Family then arrived to attend the event. All guests formed a lane, as The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh made their way into the gardens and greeted the visitors.

Luckily for Dave, he was right at the front of the row, meaning he was able to speak to Prince Phillip and even share a joke about the weather.

After the Royals had greeted the guests outside, they then made their way into the Royal Tea Tent- one of the marquees set up within the garden, to enjoy the Royal Tea Party.

Guests in attendance were served a range of sandwiches, cakes and tea from an original tea urn- iced coffee was also most welcomed by guests on the hot day. Attendees used this lunch time to enjoy the array of food and to continue exploring the gardens and admire the lake at the bottom of the gardens.

After lunch, a military band played a selection of music for guests as the event slowly started to wind down.

Guests then had a final walk around the grounds of the Palace, said their goodbyes to one another and began to leave. Dave and Cath left through the main entrance, with all eyes on them, they then headed back to their hotel to unwind and recap on their day.

Dave said: ‘’Both myself and my wife Cath were very honoured and delighted to attend this prestigious event. I’d like to thank the British Chambers of Commerce for the invitation and recognition.’’

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Dave for his exceptional service that he continues to give to all exporters and Chamber members and look forward to many more years.

Above: Chamber Hero David Roberts outside Buckingham Palace Top: Dave Roberts, Chamber Export Manager and his wife Cath

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chamber news

Cheers to another successful Summer Cocktail Party W

ith the rain at bay and a warm summer breeze present, July 6th marked the iconic ‘Annual Chamber Cocktail Party’ which is held in the spectacular surrounds of Eaton Estate.

Playing host to the fabulous event on an annual basis, Eaton Estate is a local marvel of agricultural and iconic Cheshire Beauty. Part of the Grosvenor Estate, it is a private, family owned, organisation, which includes some 435 homes, 15 farms and 72 commercial units, four schools and over 10,000 acres of high quality agricultural land in Cheshire. The history of Eaton Estate can be traced back to the early 1440s.

The breath-taking beauty of Eaton Estate was on full display as guests meandered through the impressive Cheshire grounds to congregate at the famous ‘Long Room’ where they were welcomed warmly with Prosecco and delicious range of mouth-watering canapés, all provided by the fantastic caterer and Chamber member Horseradish - the official caterer for Chester Racecourse. Tantalising nibbles and beverages were plentiful as guests gathered amongst the impressive grounds, exchanging pleasant conversation with new friends and old friends alike.

Attending the event Jan Harrop of Power Solutions UK later commented “Thank you for organising such a wonderful event. It was a lovely evening with delightful canapés, greats surroundings, entertainment and company, plus I met a few new contacts!”

The iconic courtyard was to be the destination for all attendees whilst Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, alongside the Chamber’s newly appointed Chairman

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Keith Anglesea gave their speeches, reflecting on the significant progress and changes made during the past year, but also thanking all in attendance for coming and wishing them a delightful experience.

Regrouping inside, guests assembled into the Long Room to hear a selection of singers from Chester’s very own Cathedral Choir perform an array of classical and barbershop quartet, the group included none other than Chamber member Chris Collins from Select Mortgages North West Ltd! Speaking on behalf of the Chamber Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer said “The Cocktail Party is an annual opportunity to celebrate the success of not only the Chamber itself but our members, all in the super surroundings of the Eaton Estate. Our membership has grown to nearly 600 and continues to rise. This annual event is a chance for members and guests to enjoy an evening of entertainment, socialising and networking. More importantly members get to know other members on a personal basis, building relationships that matter, which often create a lot more strength and trusts in business. Thank you to all the members and support team for making tonight a huge success, I cannot wait to see you all next year.”

The Chamber would like to thank each and every single guest who attended and made the Cocktail Party the huge success it was, but also stretch our gratitude to the fantastic caterers, performers, Marketing Cheshire for their incredible support and of course the venue itself, all of whom made the evening one to be remembered forever.

Finance Manager banks a decade at the Chamber

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oining the Chamber team in July of 2007, it is now with great pride we can announce Sarah Jones, Finance Manager, has been under the Chamber’s wing for a whole decade.

Laying her roots as a Finance Assistant, Sarah was quickly recognised for her hard work and ability and promoted to Finance Manager, a role she has truly made her own. Known for her positive outlook on life and witty humour, she is a vital part to our Chamber team on a professional and personal basis. Playing a key role towards the Chamber’s success over the last ten years, she is a testament not only to herself, but to the Chamber as a whole.

Commenting on behalf of the Chamber, Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer, said “It is a real privilege to help Sarah celebrate her ten years of dedication to West Cheshire & North Wales

Chamber of Commerce as Finance Manager. Having worked with Sarah for eight years now I know just how much effort she puts into her job and just how integral her contribution has been (and continues to be) to the continued growth of the business. I cannot emphasise enough just what a credit Sarah is to herself and our Chamber, we are very lucky to have her as part of our Team and she should be very proud of her achievements over the last decade. Both myself, the team, the Chamber board and, of course, the members all look forward to Sarah’s continued contribution over the next ten years!”

Reflecting on her decade spent at the Chamber, Sarah Jones commented “In the ten years, I’ve worked for the Chamber I’ve always found it a great place to work, I’ve been supported through my AAT studies and have seen the

chamber news

L to R: Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer, with Sarah Jones, Finance Manager Chamber grow from strength to strength. I work with an awesome bunch of people every day and I’m really looking forward to working for the Chamber for many years to come.”

If you have a finance query or would like to contact Sarah, she is reachable by email on s.jones@wcnwchamber.org.uk or call 01244 669981

Chamber Annual Ball

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he West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s showpiece Annual Ball is set to return for another year on 13th October at 7:00pm.

We are delighted to announce that Power Solutions UK will be our Headline Sponsor for the evening. As one of the UK’s leading independent business energy consultants, they are committed to helping UK businesses of all sizes get the best value contracts on their business gas and electricity.

Held at Cheshire’s iconic Chester Racecourse, guests will be greeted with a glass of prosecco on arrival with a spectacular three-course meal to follow. With the return of

the Chamber Recognition Awards, Guest DJ and an after-dinner casino theme, we can guarantee it will be a night to remember!

The night will also raise money for The Countess Charity, based at The Chester Countess Hospital – a very worthwhile charity!

Following the success of 2016, Dee106.3’s resident DJ Gavin Matthew will be acting as compere for the night, hosting the charitable auction and helping to lead the way for the Chamber Recognition Awards.

This year, we have increased the number of award categories to ensure our members receive the recognition they deserve for their hard-work in their industry or sector.

The Pavilion at Chester Racecourse We can also now reveal there will be some secret additional dinner entertainments! – Watch this space!

To find out more or to book please contact the Chamber team on 01244 669988 or alternatively email:

j.davidson@wcnwchamber.org.uk

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patron news

10 steps you should have taken to protect your business since the NHS cyber-attack

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he devastating effect of the computer virus WannaCry, which struck organisations including the NHS in May, has forced organisations all over the world to take stock and review the stark reality of the constant threat of cyber-attacks and the vulnerability of all IT systems.

Microsoft said the attack, which affected hundreds of thousands of computers, should serve as a wakeup call. The computer giant also said that many organisations had failed to keep their systems up to date, allowing the virus to spread.

Recent surveys have revealed the magnitude of the issue in the UK. A recent Cyber Security Breaches Survey of UK businesses highlighted that nearly half of all UK businesses experienced at least one form of breach or cyber-attack in the last year. Whilst research from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) suggests that one in five British firms were hit by a cyber-attack last year.

This business group has urged companies to do more to protect themselves. Just a quarter of the firms the BCC surveyed said they had put in place security measures to protect themselves against hacking.

To help put this right, MWL Systems has summarised 10 key steps all businesses need to take to be cyber-safe.

1. Antivirus software and firewalls installed Viruses on your computers will leave them vulnerable to an attack, whilst firewalls will essentially ‘guard’ your network from cyber-criminals accessing your networks. Having antivirus software and firewalls installed (and regularly updated) will ensure that your first-line of defence is working effectively.

2. Regularly backing up all data If you are victim to a cyber-attack, regularly backing up your data will ensure that you can carry on with your work with very little down time.

3. Ensure the latest version of your operating system is installed Software developers are constantly upgrading operating systems to ensure security is in excellent shape, having the latest version of each operating system will allow you to benefit from the added security features.

4. All staff briefed to exercise caution when clicking on links Attachments and links in emails or downloads on sites can lead to infectious malware being transferred onto your PC. It’s advisable to hover your curser over email links to see the url it wants to take you to. If you’re unsure, check the sender is legitimate and DON’T CLICK if anything whatsoever seems suspicious.

5. Listen to the grammar police Fake links, sites and attachments often have spelling mistakes and poor English/grammar. Anything like this should be a cause for alarm and a warning not to click or go any further.

6. Access to your business’ sensitive data restricted By reducing the number of people that have access to sensitive data, you are thereby reducing the risk of exposure to an attack. It is also a good idea to see who is accessing the data and when so that any suspect activity can be traced and identified quickly.

7. Strong and unique passwords in place for each login You need all passwords to be impossible to guess; using passwords that could be easily guessed (i.e. pet names, birthdays etc.) will massively increase your risk of a cyber-attack.

You should also have a different password for each login, therefore in the unfortunate event that one of your logins is hacked, your others will be safe.

8. Be aware of unexpected offers of help It could look like an email from your internet service provider or IT help desk. Either way, it purports to be

offering a patch to protect you against a recent cyber threat – just like the NHS attack. Only guess what?

The helpful link downloads a virus.

9. Recovery plans in place in case of a cyber-attack You need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario in case a cyber-attack does occur. A disaster recovery plan relating specifically for these types of attacks is essential so that the impact on your business is kept to a minimum.

10. Ensure expert help is on hand to help with your cyber-security The key points are:a. Be cyber-security aware b. Keep your systems up to date c. Use common sense However, some of the tips we have provided in this article may not be easily implemented by yourself. Bringing in an expert that has experience in dealing with preventative measures against cyber-attacks will greatly benefit your business.

MWL Systems can provide you with a solution to all your cyber-security issues. We are experts in implementing effective cyber-security with businesses of all sizes, contact us today to see how we can help.

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patron news

Annual awards for newly-merged South and West Cheshire College to recognise apprentices’ achievements

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he red carpet event, held at the College’s Ellesmere Port Campus, included inspiring speeches by Colin Brew, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce; as well as Bentley Motors’ Lynne Williams, Head of People Development and Talent Management and Julia Teale, Future Talent Manager.

The Apprenticeship Awards celebrated the outstanding performance and results achieved by Apprentices from across the region; with more than 200 guests attending and more than 30 awards presented on the night.

Among the award winners were Nathan Richards, 19, from Ellesmere Port, who is studying an Apprenticeship at Vauxhall Motors and won Apprenticeship Ambassador of the Year, Sean Mooney, 22, from Chester, who is studying an Apprenticeship in Facilities Management at University of Law in Chester and won the Exceptional Contribution Award, Samuel Kennedy, from Birkenhead, who is studying an Apprenticeship at Brunning and Price’s The Red Fox in Thornton Hough and won Apprentice of the Year for Hospitality and Catering and Andrew Freeman, 22, from West Kirby, who is studying an Apprenticeship at Unilever and won Apprentice of the Year for Engineering Manufacture.

The awards paid tribute to those Apprentices most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from others and proving them worthy of recognition.

South and West Cheshire College Principal Jasbir Dhesi said: “We believe an Apprenticeship really can take you anywhere – we have seen both young people and their employers rise to the top of their industries thanks to high-quality, effective and industry-leading traineeships and apprenticeships.

“Employers now say that qualified Apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications, and with apprenticeships now available in 1500 job roles, across 170 industries, there really has never been a better time to start an Apprenticeship, or indeed employ an Apprentice.”

The Apprentices were joined by many of the large organisations that the College works in partnership with such as Bentley Motors, Vauxhall, Unilever and National Grid as well as representatives from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire East Council, the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and Chambers of Commerce.

To find out more about recruiting an Apprentice call 01244 656555 or visit www.west-cheshire.ac.uk

Apprenticeships have changed, and now is the time to think about how they can benefit your business

The government has introduced a new Levy on UK employers to fund apprenticeships. Our apprenticeships Team is available to help guide you through what the new changes will mean for your business. We can also help you make the most of the current funding and ensure you’re ready when the changes come into effect. You can find out more about the Apprenticeship Levy by visiting gov.uk.

To find out more about the changes to apprenticeships and the employer Levy, call 01244 656499 or email employers@west-cheshire.ac.uk.

An evening of celebration for apprentices: Apprentices from across the region celebrated their successes and achievements at South and West Cheshire College’s inaugural Apprenticeship Awards 2017 last month.

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Patron news

Employment boost for Chester residents

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hester residents are being given the opportunity to help make a difference to community facilities and a route back into work through a new initiative.

Avenue Services is providing employment and training placements for up to 16 local residents over the next four years.

Through the programme, residents from Blacon and Lache will work in Avenue Services’ grounds maintenance and caretaking and cleaning teams.

Tasks as part of the roles will include maintaining grass verges, football pitches and other open public spaces, cleaning communal areas in accommodation and keeping the streets clean and tidy.

Employees will be recruited through Cheshire West and Chester

Council’s employment mentoring programme. They will be able to gain practical on-the-job experience through the placements, obtain a vocational qualification, as well as receive training and mentoring from Avenue Services staff.

Funding for the project has been provided by the Council using Section 106 money, where private developers have donated funds to help support the local community.

Paul Knight, Head of Avenue Services, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for local people to gain the skills and on-the-job experience which will help them secure future long-term employment.

“Following recruitment, our dedicated staff will ensure they are welcomed into the team, receive the appropriate training and are supported throughout their time with Avenue Services.”

Steve Walker, Caretaking and Cleaning Manager at Avenue Services, added: “These positions play an important role in getting people who have been longterm unemployed back into the workplace.

“Their recruitment enhances both the work of the existing team and the individual employment prospects of each resident.”

Paul Knight, right, Head of Avenue Services, with some of the new recruits

Helping people to keep their property safe

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anctuary Housing has joined forces with Cheshire Police to build safer and stronger communities by helping its residents protect their properties and personal items from the risk of theft.

As part of Operation Shield, members of Sanctuary’s housing team are continuing to visit people’s homes with police officers distributing SelectaDNA marking kits.

This contains a liquid with unique DNA coded microdots which can be applied to valuable items such as TVs, phones, jewellery and lawnmowers so they can be traced back to their owner if stolen.

Operation Shield has seen a 26 per cent reduction in crime across Chester over the past 12 months with some areas of the city reporting decreases of more than 60 per cent.

A high profile campaign to promote SelectaDNA has been launched with street signs, billboards and posters helping to raise awareness of the programme in a bid to reduce the number of burglaries.

Sanctuary is also using SelectaDNA to mark copper piping and boilers in some of its unoccupied houses, as well as to mark and register bikes.

Sanctuary resident Rory, who lives in Farndon, said: “I think it’s fantastic.

I had my wooden shed broken into four years ago and my tools and bike were stolen.

“I now have a metal shed and will be marking my property and making a list straight away.”

New childcare facility launches in Blacon

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much-needed new childcare service and after school club is up and running in Blacon.

Avenue Services, a joint venture between Sanctuary Group and Cheshire West and Chester Council, has overseen a project to establish a new children’s nursery at the Dee Point building in Blacon Point Road.

Full-time day care for children up to five years old, as well as a before and after school club, is being run

by Ash Tree Day Nursery, part of the successful Chestnut House Day Nursery based in Saughall.

It follows a positive public

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consultation co-hosted by Chestnut House Day Nursery, Avenue Services and the council regarding the new service last year.

Ash Tree Day Nursery has spent a significant amount of money refurbishing the building, which had been closed for more than a year, while Avenue Services has provided financial support and helped with external works.

The Council has also secured additional government funding to develop nursery places at Ash Tree as part of its extended 30-hour childcare offer, due to start in September.

Jason Ashcroft, owner of Chestnut House Day Nursery, said: “Providing the highest level of childcare is something we pride ourselves on and this represents the perfect opportunity to expand our service into Blacon.”

Paul Knight, Head of Avenue Services, said: “We know that the childcare which was formerly provided from the Dee Point Centre is greatly missed, and we are delighted to be working with Chestnut House to bring this new vital service to the community.”

Families interested in enquiring about places can send an email to chestnuthousedaynursery@hotmail.co.uk

Are you looking to start a business or become selfemployed in 2017?

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tart-up Cheshire West & Chester is a free service offering support to individuals in West Cheshire looking to start a new business. For free advice and support and to access help to explore and develop your business idea contact support@candwgrowthhub.co.uk or call 03300 245007 You can also register your business on www.finditincheshireandwarrington. co.uk for free – this is a great opportunity to promote your business, post opportunities and access the range of events, support and advice covering the wider area.

patron news

Chester Northgate

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ollowing Cheshire West and Chester Council’s completion of both Storyhouse and the new bus station, Chester Northgate – the third key element of the strategy for revitalising the city centre – is now being geared up for delivery.

The transformational 500,000 sqft mixed-use development gained planning approval in autumn 2016 and the key anchor tenants, House of Fraser, Picturehouse Cinemas and Crowne Plaza hotel, have all been signed up.

The scheme will be delivered in phases, with the first phase bringing forward the 6-screen cinema, the

Support for SMEs across West Cheshire to become “apprentice savvy”

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heshire West and Chester Council recently hosted an awareness raising event aimed at small businesses, the intention was to: • Find out more about apprenticeships • Understand what the new funding reforms will mean • Provided an opportunity to work with local providers and ask questions to an expert panel.

The feedback received from the day was unanimously positive and we are keen to keep up momentum. If you would like to know more see the apprenticeship guide for employers: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/apprenticeships-guidefor-employers Are you thinking about recruiting an apprentice? Whatever the size of your company Cheshire West and Chester Council are hosting a series of 4 apprenticeship fairs across the borough this October. These are targeted at matchmaking potential apprentices with prospective employers and we’re looking for businesses to take part.

If you’d like to attend an event or find out more about apprenticeships just drop us an email: business@ cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

hotel, the new market plus cafés and restaurants in Hunter’s Walk arcade and around the new public square.

The quirky café-bar/restaurant, Cosy Club, has also signed for a 180cover restaurant unit in Hunter’s Walk and the leasing team is currently in negotiations with a number of other food and beverage operators.

Meanwhile, the development team is progressing 3rd party land acquisition, compulsory purchase and road closure orders whilst, at the same time, developing the detailed design in preparation for construction.

Artists impression of the Northgate complex showing Market Square

Chester Market celebrates 50 years trading in the Market Hall

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here are many generations of traders operating their business from a market stall; providing an outlet to sell their goods to customers and through the Internet.

On-line sales have become popular with traders given the opportunity of social media and deliveries.

Starting your own business is exciting and can be overwhelming; it can take time to establish a customer base. The Indoor market provides the initial stepping stone

into business providing a low risk factor with limited overheads and trading in an established environment.

We offer flexible trading terms, permanent or casual license, promotional starter offers, and staff to assist your general needs.

The Market is the pathway to starting your own business.

Call the Market team today on 01244 973040 or email: markets@ chechirewestandcheshire.gov.uk

L to R: Paula from P.S. I Love Cake; Stuart from NiceBites; Rachael from Extend & Perfect; Richard from Bookingham Palace and Megan from Chester Nailbar

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chamber events

Convivio wows again with another memorable networking lunch

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laying host to their first Chamber networking lunch of 2017, Convivio set the bar high with yet another fantastic event. Nestled in the heart of Chester, the Italian restaurant was the destination for over 50 guests who were anticipating fine food and even greater conversation.

Congregating in the outside area, guests were met with delicious canapes and spritzers, provided by the generous venue. Conversation filled the air and a flurry of business cards were exchanged before guests made their way into the venue for a

mouth-watering two course lunch.

The main of spinach and ricotta ravioli was served promptly and was swiftly followed by a delicate vanilla panna cotta.

Speaking after, Collette Salmon of Liverpool Football Club treated all in attendance to an in-depth presentation about Liverpool FC’s new stand, shedding light on how it was built and the work involved in such a large-scale project. Aiming to bring business and employment opportunities to the surrounding area, Collette spoke about how the stand

brought job prospects and training to many local people, as well as helping to regenerate the area.

Chamber networking events are an incredible way to broaden your professional contacts, raise awareness of your business and create strong friendships with likeminded business people from across your local region. The Chamber prides itself in the fantastic array of local member venues we offer, showcasing the beautiful area which we live in.

Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber of Commerce attended the event and later commented “Again Convivio has blown us away with another lunch event, the comments I have received today are a testament to this. I would like to personally thank the team at Convivo for their hard work and dedication, their efforts and professionalism were impeccable. I would also like to stretch my thanks to everyone who attended and made the event the huge success it was. I hope to see you all at the next event!”‘

Guests network outside in the sun at Convivio’

The MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel host yet another fantastic networking lunch

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ver 50 guests attended West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s most recent networking lunch at The MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel in Chester, on the 24th May. After a relaxed networking session in the Blossom’s foyer, guests headed through to the Edgerton Room where they were treated to a delicious two course main of Char-Grilled Chicken Supreme, Field Mushroom and Thyme Sauce served with Seasonal Vegetables and Potato rosti followed by a Lemon Posset and Home-made Shortbread delicious!

Dean Paton, MD and Founder of Big Heritage was our guest speaker for the fabulous event, taking guests on an informed discussion of how he established his business, inspired by the

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local area’s heritage and a passion to bring it alive to a younger audience.

Dean shared light onto a variety of projects he has created and participated in, including the fantastic ‘EcoVikings’ and ‘Wirral through the ages – pop up museum’ Bringing an air of humour and charisma to the event, Dean even showed all guests in attendance some ancient saucy pottery!

Ending the event, Debbie Bryce, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber said “The event today has been a great success! The MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel has provided a fantastic lunch and I’d like to thank the staff for their impeccable service.

I’d also like to thank Dean, for giving us a very interesting talk, and to all the guests that attended.”

Guests enjoying lunch at the MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel

chamber events

MacDonald Craxton Wood Hotel and Spa host networking lunch and AGM

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et in the beautiful surrounds of Cheshire, Craxton Wood Hotel played host to yet another highly successful monthly Chamber Networking Lunch, followed swiftly after by the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting.

Guests met at the renowned hotel where they were greeted warmly by new faces and old friends alike to embark on a fantastic networking opportunity. Hot beverages were plentiful as guests engaged eagerly with one another, securing new business contacts and firming friendships with like-minded business people from across the region.

The fantastic two course meal was served promptly. The mouth-watering main of braised beef shin, creamed potato and glazed carrots went down a treat, with a delicious option of pumpkin ravioli, herb cream sauce and smoked almond pesto scoring high with our vegetarian guests.

Following on from the main a lemon tart with vanilla chantilly was served to all - delicious!

Conversation was in full swing as everyone settled down to listen to Stuart Manifould of Cheshire FA give a highly interesting speech on the topic of “Behaviour Changes” and how lives are changed through football. Sharing a humorous and personal insight into his own life, he spoke in detail of his early life and the difficulties he faced including an injury that stopped his career in professional football. Despite the odds Stuart bounced back, attending university and training to become a PE teacher, getting married and starting a family and even climbing Everest. Addressing Cheshire FA’s advances, he spoke about the plan to build a new training facility in the Cheshire area which will bring thousands of people to the region.

Attending the event Kieran Moralee of Woodhouse Plumbing, Heating & Electrical Ltd said “Today’s event showcased Craxton Wood as a truly fantastic venue, the food was delicious and the service impeccable.

As a fairly recent member to the

Chamber I was made to feel very welcome by everyone who attended and I’ve already started to make some valuable connections within the industry. It was also great how willing everyone was to share their experiences and offer advice.”

The Chamber’s optional Annual General Meeting followed, leading the meeting William Hogg, now Immediate Past Chairman of the Chamber, summarised the last 12 months within the organisation, also announcing the reassignment and new appointments of the Board of Directors going forward for the year ahead.

Stepping down from his four years serving as Chairman to the Chamber, William appointed the new Chairman as Keith Anglesea from Arriva Passenger Services Ltd to take his place. Speaking afterwards Keith said “It is with great honour and pride that I accept the responsibility

of becoming the new Chairman for the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce. William Hogg will certainly be a hard act to follow, dedicating so much of his own time and knowledge into his role of Chairman, he has helped the Chamber come a very long way in his four years of appointment.

Looking to the future I am very excited to be involved in such a fast moving and growing business.”

Presenting William with a gift and recognition award, Colin Brew Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber thanked William personally for his hard work and dedication over the previous four years. Phill Jones of Insignia Resourcing Limited was announced as Deputy Chairman to Keith and was also presented with an award by Colin for his work as Chairman of the Focus Group over the last year.

Reflecting on the event Colin Brew said “Yet again the Chamber has lead way for another fantastic networking opportunity and luncheon, my deepest gratitude is offered to the fantastic venue and their attentive staff but also to everyone who attended and made it what it was. Our events offer a fantastic opportunity to network professionally whilst forming strong connections and friendships and the feedback we receive testifies this. I would also like to give my thanks to William Hogg, a truly remarkable man and a credit to the Chamber. He has achieved so much during his time as Chairman and will always be thought of highly by everyone at the Chamber”

Top: Colin Brew presents William Hogg with a commemorative plaque for his service to the Chamber. Right: Guests networking before lunch at MacDonald Craxton Wood Hotel and Spa.

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Getting started

Getting started Peta Pendlebury Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

With my business hat on I am an advanced kinesiologist, electrologist (permanent hair removal) and therapist and have been in business since 1995. I have enjoyed being self-employed for over 20 years now and I love being able to structure my year as I want to, working with clients to help them improve their health and well-being.

What made you set up the charity?

Things changed a little in 2010 when I was taking part in a self-development course in London (something that I was doing as a kinesiologist) that required me to set up a community project that would benefit the wider community which was on a topic that I was very passionate about.

How did the idea come about?

Having always loved books and reading, I remembered a talk that I had attended some 15 years ago about women’s refuges and the fact that women and their children often turned up in just the clothes they were wearing, a light bulb moment occurred! If they didn’t have clothes and toys then they certainly wouldn’t have books. As a child, I played librarian with my books and toys - to me the thought of not having books was just awful. So, I decided that I could start to collect books in great condition that children Right: Peta Pendlebury with the number of books required to fill two bookcases

had outgrown and donate them along with a brandnew bookcase to local women’s refuges. This idea also meant recycling books which was great too.

Who are our target audience and what is the main aim of the organisation?

From the early intentions of supporting local refuges we now intend to eventually cover every refuge within the UK so that no child in a refuge situation is without access to books. If a child has a favourite book then when they leave they can take it away with them – hopefully the start of a new bookcase in a new and more secure home.

Refuges often have dedicated child workers who work 1:1 with the children to help them deal with their emotions and the difficult situation they have found themselves in.

With our very first delivery came a request for books that they could use to help them during these sessions. From this request came the set of 18 Family Change books which are bought with donations.

A full list of these books is on the website www. bookatbedtime.org.

What have been your main achievements and difficulties?

So far, we have delivered 79 bookcases and 34 Family Change sets but there are over 350 refuges still to go in the UK and that’s a lot of books and a lot of money as we need £230 per refuge.

We have been very successful this year in gaining both the People’s Postcode Lottery and the Big Lottery (Wales) funding which has been great, but it takes a lot of time to work through the applications and it still is mainly me doing the paperwork. It would be lovely to find more people who wanted to offer a couple of hours a week/ month to help out with paperwork, applications and website updates.

What attracted you to entrepreneurship? Why was this?

I wanted to do more with the gifts I have for people who are facing challenges.

I am a great believer that

Name: Peta Pendlebury Job Title: Founder and Trustee From: Book at Bedtime

a small thing you do today could change a person’s life forever. If just one of the books we donate means that one child has a happier childhood or a better chance of having a happier adulthood then I am a happy woman!

What are your aims and aspirations?

I would like to be able to donate to every refuge across the UK during my lifetime - providing them with both bookcases and Family Change sets, to update all the refuges that have had bookcases for a while and to ensure continued support for Book at Bedtime after I’m gone. Of course, it would also be nice to be paid for the work I do for Book at Bedtime!

My immediate aim is to get the paperwork done for the Charity Commission so that we can get CC status as this is the first year that we have managed to achieve the turnover required for them to consider us.

What message would you give to fellow entrepreneurs or people looking to get involved in setting up their own business or organisation?

Go for it! The feedback from the refuges makes us feel very special. We are changing lives for the better and there’s no better feeling than that.

For more information on how you can help go to www.bookatbedtime.org and you can follow us on facebook at www.facebook. com/bookatbedtime #happyreading!

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members news

Businesses are being given a helping hand to cut down on red tape

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enbighshire County Council has produced an online guide for businesses giving them all the information needed to ensure they are meeting regulations and can access all the support available to them.

The Council’s Better Business for All programme brings together businesses and the Council’s planning and public protection department to improve how regulation is delivered to save businesses time and money.

A guide pointing existing businesses in the direction of regulatory advice has also been produced.

Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “Making sure businesses have the right information is vital to ensure they are meeting all the regulatory requirements first time and saving themselves time and resources further down the line.

“The idea of these guides is to make sure businesses get it right the first time, so I

would encourage business owners to view the guides.

“Better Business for All is all about removing the regulatory barriers to growth - and raising the economic competitiveness of Denbighshire.

“Regulatory services play an important role in supporting businesses.

This support can provide them with an economic advantage, confidence to grow and reassurance they are meeting statutory requirements.”

The guides provide up-todate advice on regulations, as well as where to go for advice and business support, ensuring businesses are informed as well as providing case studies from businesses who have been working closely with the Council.

One of the businesses which has worked with

the Council is Henllan Bakery. Tom Moore, a director at the bakery, said: “Denbighshire County Council has been really, really helpful. If I need to speak to them, there is always someone on the other end of the phone.

It is a good, speedy and professional service.

When we speak to someone they come to see us straight away. They have been absolutely brilliant. It is beneficial for our business, it helps us grow a lot quicker because they are always on hand.”

You can access the guides from Denbighshire County Council’s website at www.denbighshire. gov.uk/en/business/ business.aspx

Tom Moore of Henllan Bakery

Strategic Member goes full throttle with charity auction prize

F

ollowing the Chamber’s renowned St David’s Day Ball in March, David Wall of Mercer & Associates Wealth Management Ltd, took home the unique experience of a half day race instruction at Oulton Park.

David bid for the prize in the Charity auction that raised a fantastic sum of £3,000 for Pedal Power – Cycling for All. Donated by the Chamber’s Chairman, Keith Anglesea of Arriva Buses Wales, they met at the famous race ground in the early hours of Friday morning to embark on a day of high thrill fun.

Chamber Strategic Partner David Wall had a quick briefing on race car preparation and safety procedures before experiencing four hours of driver coaching in a BMW race car, by none other than the Chamber’s recently appointed Chairman Keith Anglesea!

Making great progression throughout the morning David was very eager to see Keith drive a demonstration lap, however just before they finished Keith offered him the chance to try it for himself – which he certainly did not refuse.

Following on from the action fuelled morning Keith commented “It was a pleasure to spend the time with David both on and off the track.

He loved it and I’m sure it won’t be long before you see him in a race car sitting on the grid eager to start a race!”

Reflecting on his day at Oulton Park David Wall said “It was a great day and very exciting.

I want to thank Keith for his generosity in providing the experience for such a worthy cause”

L to R: Dave Wall of Mercer & Associates Wealth Management and Keith Anglesea of Arriva Buses Wales

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the big interview

Jim jones

Managing Director, North Wales Tourism WCNW: To begin, tell us a little about yourself and your background I spent 8 years in the Military from age 16, serving with the Welsh Guards, but I was injured during the Falklands War aboard the ill-fated Sir Galahad, and was in another accident involving explosives a few years later - I think someone above was trying to tell me something! On returning to civilian life I got involved in managing leisure facilities and developing sport, eventually becoming Head of Leisure Development, for Conwy County Borough Council. I spent some time at the London Borough of Redbridge as their Head of Strategy & Performance before returning as the Head of Tourism & Communities in Conwy where I found a huge appetite for working in tourism.

WCNW: What made you set up the business?

The business already existed but I got to take the reins at a really interesting time. I was ambitious and had committed much of my working life to local government but had a burning desire to work in a different way that still helped communities to thrive. So, this opportunity ticked all the boxes for me.

WCNW: Once the idea was formed, what did you do next?

Once I was appointed, I instantly set about raising North Wales Tourism’s profile to see how far we could stretch ourselves in business.

WCNW: What are your main responsibilities?

The day to day running of North Wales Tourism, which is the business voice of Tourism in North Wales.

WCNW: What does a typical day involve?

Listening, listening and listening.

Followed by emails, meetings, planning, networking and more listening. I represent the business at a lot of strategic groups, so listening to our members is really important.

WCNW: Who are your target audience and what is the main aim of the organisation?

Our main audience is our members. We have a core membership of approx. 1300 tourism businesses of all sizes, and an affiliate membership of 2000. The main aim of the organisation is to promote North Wales as a regional tourism destination, attracting visitors and travellers from all over the world, but also prioritising our focus on the domestic market, Cheshire, North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

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the big interview WCNW: What projects are you currently working on?

We are working hard to build the new ‘Go North Wales Tourism & Hospitality Academy’, which will focus on tackling the skills shortage in the Tourism & Hospitality sector. We have businesses, colleges and universities as willing partners.

Also, there’s the development of the ‘Go North Wales Visitor Experience Hubs’. Some places are closing their Tourist Information Centres, but we are keen to keep them open, as we believe they are a crucial part of the visitor experience. Our plans are to make them more immersive experiences.

We are planning the Go North Wales Tourism Conference and the Go North Wales Tourism Awards which are both taking place in November.

We are also specifically targeting the Japanese and Chinese tourism market, boosted by the recent announcements that Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific will soon be operating direct flights to Manchester from Beijing and Hong Kong respectively.

WCNW: How have things gone so far?

Progress is going well. I’m delighted that Harlech Foodservice have shared our vision and agreed to become the headline sponsor of our new Tourism and Hospitality Academy.

We’re in the process of transforming the old Tourist Information Centres in Porthmadog and Caernarfon into our first two Visitor Experience Hubs.

Heart North Wales have joined us for the second year running to organise and celebrate the best North Wales Tourism has to offer at our awards in November.

WCNW: Was it hard getting others to see your vision? Or invest?

Not hard at all. There’s already a lot of loyalty and commitment across our membership; many embraced the vision long before I came on the scene. We’re seeing an increase in membership and more businesses are sponsoring our campaigns and activities. Our members genuinely want to see the best for the region, some have been members for over 25 years.

WCNW: Any difficulties? If so how did you overcome them?

a stronger voice and more funds to market the region. Our company designation allows us to apply for grants too, so we are building up the business case for some innovative large-scale projects.

We want to increase our reach on the ground with more visitor experience hubs especially across the east of the region.

We’ll keep investing in our GoNorthWales.co.uk website. The digital world evolves so fast so we need to keep it fresh and relevant to meet the expectations of our online visitors.

The challenge we do have is to break down any fragmentation of tourism marketing in North Wales. Focussing on small areas across the region dilutes the impact a joined-up message can have. In the last 16 months, we have invested in excess of £300k in promoting the North Wales brand.

WCNW: How have businesses and individuals responded to what you’re offering?

WCNW: Did you ever think ‘I’ve taken on too big a risk’? If so, how did you overcome it?

I genuinely love what I do, and love North Wales. We have a very entrepreneurial spirit, and work fast when we see opportunities to develop and promote North Wales.

Everything we’ve done since I started has carried some risk; moving into a new building, our new website, new distribution warehouse, purchasing a new distribution business, taking on two visitor experience hubs and spending a colossal amount on marketing. But I have a really capable team and total faith in our ability to deliver. Already these investments are putting us in a very strong position.

WCNW: Looking ahead, what are your main aims for the organisation and how would you like it to develop?

We want to keep building our membership base which will give us

Most people I speak to say they believe we’re on the right track.

WCNW: What attracted you to entrepreneurship? Why was this?

WCNW: Are there any particular people, business leaders or others you look up to? What have you learned from them?

As an ex-serviceman myself I’m inspired by ex-military personnel who have gone on to become great business leaders. Navy Seal Jocko Willink springs to mind. Its especially great to see so many of North Wales’ ex-military building successful businesses.

WCNW: What are your career aims and aspirations? Is there anything else in particular you’d like to achieve in your lifetime?

I want North Wales Tourism to go from being the the largest and most effective Destination Marketing Organisation in Wales to the largest in the UK. On a personal level, I want to work at the next 3 Olympic Games. I went to the last three, London, Russia and Brazil, overseeing anti-doping activity at a number of venues. It also gives me an opportunity to get the Welsh flag out.

WCNW: What message you give to fellow entrepreneurs or people looking to get involved in setting up their own business or organisation?

Don’t stay to long in your comfort zone!

The Aquatics team at Rio Olympics 2016

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ECONOMY

WCNW Results National Results

Quarterly Economic Survey indicates a slow in growth in West Cheshire & North Wales during the Second Quarter of 2017

T

he British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative privatesector business survey - based on the responses of over 7,700 businesses in Q2 2017, shows both sectors indicating the UK economy grew at a subdued rate in

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the second quarter of 2017 with rising inflation remaining the key challenge for the UK economy this year.

In West Cheshire & North Wales 144 businesses took part representing over

“

7,500 employees. The responses indicate that growth is beginning to slow with both domestic and export sales and orders balances reducing.

Although confidence as a whole remains fairly

Rising inflation remains a key risk to UK’s growth prospects

”

high, confidence in turnover has continued its downward trend since Q4 2016.

Prices have eased over the quarter, as raw material costs have eased back. Rising inflation remains a key risk to UK’s growth prospects, especially the squeeze on household disposable incomes.

International trade

International Trade Team Services and Support T

he International Trade team here at the Chamber of Commerce have been very busy in the last few months; for this edition, we thought that we would update you on our activity as we progress over the summer months.

We hold weekly team meetings to co-ordinate our team activity but also on a monthly basis, we meet with Welsh Government, Business Wales, Department for International Trade and the China British Business Council to discuss our international trade activity with the aim to deliver a co-ordinated and comprehensive body of support to import and export companies across the region.

One activity of particular interest is our international trade contract with DIT. One of our key priorities is to identify companies that we can support from the very start of their export journey

or help re-start companies to export. Through this collaboration with DIT, we can offer our usual comprehensive range of export documentation certification services and export training, plus help you access their full support to get you to market and export overseas.

Interestingly companies who offer ‘services’ can be an exporter too. If you provide ‘services’ that potentially could be paid for by an overseas company and the money is brought into the UK, you may be eligible for free support if you have not dealt with DIT in the past. You do not have to physically visit the overseas market in person and may be eligible for most DIT services such as OMIS, TAP funding for exhibitions, local and overseas International Trade Events, Trade Missions, ERDF funding and ongoing general export

L to R: Mike Beebe of Catalent, Mark Rowbotham (Chamber Trainer), Nia Green of JM & D, Debbie Hancox (Chamber Export Manager)

advice.

The help and support offered is provided free of charge to Small and Medium-sized Businesses based in the North West.

If you fit this criterion and are interested in applying, please contact Debbie Hancox on 01244 669984 or email d.hancox@ wcnwchamber.org.uk.

Certification Included in all the Arab and export document certification, we currently also offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for any documents that require notarisation or a Chamber ‘stamp’. We will process documents such as support letters for Visa applications and deal with the supply chain on your behalf, saving you time and money.

Export Trade Training Courses To date we have had an unprecedented eight successful candidates in 2017 who have passed their BCC Foundation Award in International Trade and two of these candidates are pictured to the left. This is a significant achievement for our Chamber and something we are very proud of.

It may seem obvious, but training your staff to deliver your products and services right, first time every time, will lower your

costs and improve the experience you deliver to your customers. Choosing great export training with an organisation who understands about making a profit internationally, can really help your company take off in your export markets. Combined with great quality, it makes our BCC accredited courses hard to beat. Book seven courses and get an additional 10% of the whole set.

Bespoke In-Company Export Training Courses For companies who may find it difficult to allocate several staff to attend external training courses, we are happy to visit your premises and provide ‘bespoke’ in-house training tailored to your companies training needs. This can be from delivering the BCC courses in-house for one or multiple days or our trainers can write you a ‘bespoke’ course encompassing all the topics you wish to cover.

We have successfully delivered bespoke courses to local companies and the feedback has been very positive one advantage being that the training was specifically tailored to their company’s needs and they were able to incorporate questions from staff about specific issues they were experiencing.

For a quotation for any of our services, please call Debbie Hancox on 01244 669984 or email d.hancox@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

Please remember our international trade team are here to help you, please call 01244 669985 for any certification and export advice.

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About Inspired

GDPR is coming.

Is your business ready?

B Y J O N AT H A N P R E S T E D - I N S P I R E D T E C H N O L O G Y

The EU’s GDPR is coming into force in May 2018 and, ďLJ ŵŽƐƚ ĞƐƟŵĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŝƐ going to comprehensively ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵ ŚŽǁ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ store personal data. Building upon the now outdated and ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůLJ ůĂdž ĂƚĂ WƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ Đƚ ϭϵϵϴ ŝƚ ĂƩĞŵƉƚƐ ƚŽ restrict the slightly laissezĨĂŝƌĞ ĂƫƚƵĚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŶLJ EU countries have taken to personal data in recent years.

Furthermore, the ICO ;/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶĞƌ͛Ɛ KĸĐĞͿ ŝƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ process of hiring over 300 ŶĞǁ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƐƚĂī ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ launch of GDPR. This shows how serious the ICO about catching businesses data infringements.

even know what GDPR is?

Becoming a GDPR compliant company will not happen overnight and therefore it’s ŝŵƉĞƌĂƟǀĞ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ƚŽ get educated early.

Given the lack of common knowledge and its legally uncharted territory it is vital In 2015, 90% of large that businesses of all sizes ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h< ŚĂĚ either skill themselves or a security breach with an obtain specialist knowledge average cost of £2.37 million. and consultancy. While data dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƐĞƚ ƚŽ ƌŝƐĞ ĚƌĂŵĂƟĐĂůůLJ and technology security is The GDPR also introduces with GDPR put stronger so prevalent in the news and ŵƵĐŚ ƚŽƵŐŚĞƌ ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ ƐĂŶĐƟŽŶƐ ŽŶ ǁŚĂƚ Ă ͚ďƌĞĂĐŚ͛ ŝƐ our minds many are taking on any company that’s ƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞ ĚĂƚĂ ŝƐ ĐŽŵƉƌŽŵŝƐĞĚ͘ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ĂůƐŽ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĞ advantage to merely sell tech frameworks. ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ͘ Furthermore, business can now be charged up to a Given the importance of the Make sure your business is mammoth €20 million or GDPR for all businesses based ŐĞƫŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ' WZ 4% of their annual turnover, in the EU, why in a recent and spending its money wisely. whichever is higher. Not to ŵĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ;&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϭϳͿ ϲϯй ŽĨ Security specialists are in high companies surveyed did not demand and their services are ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ͘

ŶŽƚ ĐŚĞĂƉ͘ zŽƵ ĐŽƵůĚ ĮŶĚ yourself spending £25,000 on ƉĞŶĞƚƌĂƟŽŶ ƚĞƐƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ĨĂŶĐLJ ŚĂƌĚǁĂƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŌǁĂƌĞ ďƵƚ ƵƉŽŶ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƟŽŶ ƐƟůů not be compliant. The GDPR is more than a cyber-security ŝƐƐƵĞ͕ ŝƚ ďƌŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ business process behind storing ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĚĂƚĂ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƐĐƌƵƟŶLJ͘ If you want to learn more about the GDPR and how it would apply directly to your business, we are running a ĨƌĞĞ ϰϱͲŵŝŶƵƚĞ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂƟŽŶ for all businesses that apply.

It is a personal one-on-one call with a consultant who ŝƐ ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ' WZ ƐŽ ƚŚĞLJ can cut through the security sales pitch to focus on helping your business become compliant.

We are Inspired Technology Services, the premier 360° technology partner.

We specialise in ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ in the planning, ĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶ͕ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ƵƟůŝƐĂƟŽŶ and decommission of their technology, providing access to a high level of consultancy, engineering, support and procurement.

Call us today 03333 201021 www.inspiredtech.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE YARD FOR MODERN ITALIAN DINING CHESTER

KNUTSFORD

The Yard is a family owned and run Modern Italian Restaurant in the centre of Chester.

It combines both style and substance, with food prepared by our head chef, who has previously worked for Gordon Ramsey

Brand new for 2016/2017 in the centre of Knutsford. It combines both style and substance, with amazing food and drink prepared by talented chefs and mixologists

CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS

We are now taking reservations for your Christmas parties. Our 3 course Christmas Menu is £25 and prepared by our head chef, who has years of experience under his belt.

We’ve got fine Italian cuisine with a tasty modern twist just waiting for you to enjoy

CHESTER: 26 City Road, Chester, Cheshire CH1 3AE. Email: hello@theyardchester.co.uk. Telephone: 01244 325199 KNUTSFORD: 89 King Street, Knutsford, WA16 6EQ. Email: hello@theyardknutsford.co.uk. Telephone: 01565 650607 WWW.THEYARDRESTAURANTS.CO.UK

up close

The Person behind the Business Ernesto Sciarrillo, Business Development Manager at The Yard

What are your aims?

In 2015, we started from scratch as a small independent business in Chester, our restaurant is based on City Road. Every company has goals that they want to achieve, as a company our main aim has always been to keep expanding The Yard as a brand without losing its family values and modern twist.

We’re all a close-knit family at The Yard, everybody looks after each other and makes it a fun place to work. My two sons Ettorino (25) and Mario (21) are at the helm of the business, with myself and my beautiful wife Severina helping in the background.

In December 2015, we took our first step to expand the business by acquiring the cocktail bar below our restaurant which is now called The Boardroom - a 1960s-themed cocktail bar. The Boardroom holds a chilledout vibe and an extensive cocktail and drinks list.

In December of 2016 we took our next step and unveiled the second restaurant, The Yard Knutsford. The restaurants combine both style and substance to create a modern Italian dining experience that keeps you coming back. Our food is contemporary Italian dishes made with a modern twist. We have held the top spot on Trip-advisor for Italians in Chester for a while now and we intend to keep it that way. As you can see we are on a steady, progressive upwards curve so watch this space!

Describe your role?

My role at The Yard is the Business Development Manager, alongside this I also mentor my two sons. I get up early every morning to be prepared for the day ahead, I meet with the chefs at 9am for a daily catch up meeting and to taste test samples from each day’s menus. This is to ensure each of our customers receive the best quality tasting food when they dine with us.

During the meeting, we also design our specials for the week using locally sourced, seasonal-fresh ingredients. I also liaise with my manager about the

bookings ahead, how we are going to market ourselves on social media and make people aware about our brand and what we do.

During the week, I float between both of our restaurants with my manager to ensure standards are kept high and consistent. Once a week I sit down with our accountant and go through the facts and figures, this is important to allow us to see how our business is doing and to forecast future sales.

As we are a family business, we like to have weekly family meetings to see how we could improve and what we have done well. I endeavour to pass all my business knowledge and experience down to my family as I want them to build a stable future for themselves.

I have always wanted to go into business, as my father had a construction firm, which is still running successfully today. I worked for him for a number of years before I then went to work for a PLC in the same industry, where I learnt a lot about myself and the construction industry at an advanced level. My biggest job there was building the M6 toll road and many large schemes.

What’s the best bit about having a job like yours?

I get to watch my two sons grow their own business with my helping hand.

Of course, tasting all of the dishes, we serve in the restaurant on a daily basis has its perks.

My favourite part of being involved with our restaurants is interacting with our amazing customers and building relationships with our regular guests. I like to be involved in all of the events that The Yard takes part in. For example, this year I attended the Taste Cheshire food and drink festival with our Executive Chef Carl Noller. Carl has previously worked with Gordon Ramsey and Paul Heathcote MBE. We always try to give a little back to the community by taking part in the cooking demonstration each year. I had the pleasure of meeting celebrity chefs Greg Wallace and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The team at The Yard, Ettorino Sciarrillo, Carl Noller, Ernesto Sciarrillo and Mario Sciarrillo Do you have a special memory?

My favourite memory is watching my two sons receive their first award at the Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Awards. In the first year of opening The Yard, we had been voted 3rd best small restaurant in Chester. This year we have also gone on to secure the same accolade for the second year running.

In an ideal world what else would you like to be?

As a teenager, I wanted to be a professional footballer, I had a short spell at Aston Villa/ which I enjoyed immensely. I also played for England School Boys. Therefore, in an ideal world I would have liked to have been a professional footballer.

What advice would you give for future start-ups?

Have a clear and detailed business plan and don’t deviate from that.

Make sure you do your research into every aspect of your business and use tools such as networking events to be consistently building your business connections.

Surrounding yourself with the right people is key to staying one step ahead of the game. Above all, ensure you find a healthy work-life balance. My old man once told me ‘What’s not for you, will go by you’ and this has always stuck with me through-out my life.

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Leading organisations to growth by reducing security risks We are a risk management company who specialise in reducing risks associated to travel and security.

What we offer 24/7 Global Tracking Global Security Operations Centre Integrated Approach Travel Risk Management Crisis Management Emergency and Medical Evaluation Business Continuity For more information contact: info@sirisk.uk +44 (0) 2031 981 231

www.sirisk.uk

Also, introducing the new bespoke Security Risk Management Service...

Cyber Risk Information Security Business Continuity & Resilience Physical & Personnel Security Travel Risk Management Fixed Costs

www.TAS24.com

24 hours

24 hours with...

Nathan Monshin A brief overview I’m the co-founder of SI Risk, we assist organisations with Travel and Security Risk Management issues.

Most of what we do is international, that said, we’ve assisted some of the UK’s major sporting centres with their security and terrorism assessments.

We operate globally, anywhere from Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Malaysia to Germany… We operate anywhere (without embargoes).

How long have you been in this role?

It feels like forever... however, we’re in our third year now.

What types of disciplines do you usually work with?

We have a diverse client base. We have small organisations of 2 to 3 people working on very niche services, right up to multinationals who have 50,000+ staff over 25+ countries.

A little about your background Aside from my days as an exotic dancer, prior to getting into commercial and corporate security I was in the military and UK law enforcement. I’ve worked for NGO’s to Energy organisations all over the world from Europe, Middle East and large parts of Africa.

How do you begin your day?

I scan my emails almost as soon as I wake up (around 0400) and see what’s come in overnight. We operate globally so I tend to receive a lot of emails between

22:00 and 07:00 from the US. Our clients have access to the 24/7 Ops team; however, all BD tends to come to me.

What does your morning usually involve?

I clear my emails, include any additional priorities in that day’s schedule and then start to self-brief on our current Operations and what’s going on. I then check the current and emerging large-scale incidents (anything from civil unrest, wild fires to acts of terrorism) and see how that’s going to impact us or our clients. We have a 0900 daily briefing where the team discuss daily tasks, emerging incidents etc.

How many people do you work with?

We’re a fairly small office team of 12, we also have a couple of remote workers in the South East. We get together once a month, this allows us to communicate all developments and for the guys to tell us anything that’s on their mind or that may be of use to us. We have a variable number of consultants that work internationally, these

are embedded security managers who work closely with our clients.

What is a typical afternoon?

If I’m client facing then its meetings or strategy reviews etc. if I’m in the office then it’s a combination of supplier reviews and updating our insurance with regards to where we are operating.

There is usually a lull between 12:00 and 13:30 until east coast US is awake then it all starts again with emails and calls.

When do you finish work?

When I finish, it’s a variable there’s no set time, it really depends on what is going on. Every time there is a catastrophic event it usually means long hours, it’s common that we will pull 18 to 20-hour days when there is political meltdown in country or a large scale environmental disaster.

What are the best parts of work and why?

I really enjoy helping a client break into a new market previously inaccessible, or identifying a way to save them money on their security. It would

be easier to list what I don’t like… dealing with receipts!

Even though we have this awesome App where we scan them on and then someone else deal with them. I really hate having to do them!

Any particular challenges?

We have a lot of challenges, we aren’t typical business people, my business partner and I haven’t got a business background so the learning curve was like walking up Everest in high heels!

Our biggest weakness is marketing, we are rubbish at it (no marketers please).

Our marketing isn’t about flashy social media ads, it’s about building a following and a tribe through awesome service.

What plans for the future?

We are on top of each other and likely to move to larger premises in the next 4 to 6 months. We have a keen eye on the US market and looking at the pros and cons of having SI Risk USA. We are recruiting for more ops staff and likely have other roles soon.

Any special anecdotes?

We get to see and help people with strange and interesting issues, so this isn’t a tough one. A funny one was receiving a call from a night club in Myanmar, they told us that one of our client’s employees was with them and couldn’t remember where his hotel was, he was offering $50 to anyone who would let him sleep on their floor (we located his hotel and got him back safely).

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education & training

Maximise your business growth with training Never has the need for developing skills of new and established staff been more apparent for businesses as the economy works to tackle increasing challenges, including the skills gap.

T

raining and Continuous Professional Development can play a key role in helping companies to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and can allow staff to bring forward fresh ideas because they have been exposed to different ways of thinking.

It is important not to forget that education does not stop when you leave college or university, it is a lifelong process.

Training programmes can provide the vital skills to maintain this culture throughout the working lives of employees.

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Training typically falls into two categories; the training of people for new roles and the training of those already in jobs who wish to develop their skills further.

A key part of training is teaching practical skills, everything from understanding the fundamentals in leadership to keeping on top of effective customer service, but training programmes also help employees to recognise opportunities when they

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

see them. Sometimes, the opportunity to step aside from the day job and spend time on a training programme can have dramatic outcomes.

Bangor University is a research-led University with a developing international reputation for its teaching and research as well as a strong mission commitment to working with business. The institution has a longstanding track record for delivering high quality

The opportunity to step aside from the day job and spend time on a training programme can have dramatic outcomes

â&#x20AC;?

and award winning business support focused on inspiring innovation, improving performance and promoting sustainability.

In many instances, by working with Bangor University you will be able to access financial support enabling you to get down to business and focus on what needs to be done. Among the comprehensive business support available, the ION leadership programmes and the 20Twenty Business Growth Programme both offer training focused on the key drivers of both profitability and growth.

T

he ION leadership programmes have been running at Bangor University for over 12 months delivering transformative leadership training for businesses and aspiring leaders of North West Wales who want to raise their game. Accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, ION leadership is the meaningful alternative to a regular course. ION leadership provides life changing ‘experiential’ leadership training for

aspiring leaders; research confirms that learning has more impact when it is gained both from and with peers.

Felicity Roberts, Business Development Manager said: “We have helped over 1000 leaders in Wales to grow their turnover by 26% through the LEAD Wales programme and the ION leadership programmes, with support from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government and Bangor and Swansea Universities”.

The part-funded ION

“

education & training We have helped over 1,000 leaders in Wales to grow their turnover by 26%

leadership programmes, New Leaders and Leading Growth, are available for businesses to help them develop and enhance their individual leadership and management skills.

Leadership changes as an organisation grows in size and learning from our research and experience (from the LEAD Wales programme), we are confident that our suite of programmes will

”

develop higher level skills for Supervisors, Managers and Business Owners.

Geoff Lofthouse, General Manager of the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno said: “I have learnt so much from ION and I’m very grateful for what it’s done for me.

This year the growth in our business has been 20% ahead of where we have been in sales and revenue.

It goes to show that this does make you look at what you are doing and put a value on it”.

Businesses in North East Wales (Flintshire, Wrexham and North Powys) can also benefit from the 20Twenty Business Growth Programme which is subsidised up to 70% by the European Social Fund through Welsh Government.

Performance under pressure

O

CTO has a powerful reputation for excellence promoting the effective leadership and management of challenging situations. Clients include government departments, emergency services, local authorities and large corporations in chemical, oil and gas, utilities, nuclear, infrastructure and transport.

Core skills: • Pro-active crisis and incident management, with methods and systems to support decision-makers; • Risk management, indicators and warnings; • Leadership development; • Preparing response organisations, arrangements and facilities; • Personal coaching, assessment, competence accreditation and selection.

OCTO’s advisers have deep personal experience in leadership and incident management acquired in top levels of industry, military and regulatory organisations.

Contact: Mark Hart Tel: 01244 405270 email: octochester@octo.uk.com www.octo.uk.com

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education & training

Bangor University is a research-led university delivering high quality and award-winning business support Jackie Whittaker, the Business Development Manager for 20Twenty said “we are looking to recruit ambitious organisations onto our 20Twenty Business Growth programme from Flintshire, Wrexham and North Powys, to help them deliver impressive and sustainable growth.

We do this by equipping managers, leaders and owners with the skills required to deliver improved efficiencies, plan growth strategies and implement expansion goals. 20Twenty has proved to be remarkably successful in nurturing business expansion in South Wales even in the toughest and most competitive sectors”.

Collin Singer from Wagtail UK Limited who is on the programme said:

“I have found the North Wales 20Twenty Business Growth programme challenging and very rewarding so far. It has helped me focus on a Business Growth plan as well as improving my leadership and management skills. It also enables excellent networking opportunities with the leaders of other businesses on the scheme. I would highly recommend the programme to other business leaders”.

20Twenty is the only Chartered Management Institute (CMI) leadership and business development programme to offer a progression Higher Education route from Level 3 to level 7, valued as a third of an MBA with Cardiff Metropolitan University.

If you would like to know more about how to enhance your skills or that of your staff, contact Gwenllian Owen (Project Leader for both ION leadership and 20Twenty Business Growth Programmes), on 01248 382530 or gwenllian.owen@bangor.ac.uk

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A

cas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law.

We support good relationships between employers and employees which underpin business success. But when things go wrong we help by providing conciliation to resolve workplace problems.

We also provide good value, high quality training and tailored advice to employers.

Our expertise is based on millions of contacts with employers and employees each year and we are governed by an independent Council, including representatives of employer and employee organisations and employment experts.

For more information call 0300 123 1150 or visit acas.org.uk/wales

e: j.whittaker@bangor.ac.uk. t: 01248 382569

wwww.20TwentyBusinessGrowth.com

Rhaglen Twf Busnes - Business Growth Programme

20Twenty

Wedi’i ran-ariannu hyd at 70% ac ar gael i fusnesau yng Ngogledd Ddwyrain Cymru.

Up to 70% funded and available and delivered to businesses in North East Wales.

Cymhwyster CMI Lefel 3 – 4 - rhaglen 3 mis • Datblygwch eich sgiliau arweinyddiaeth • Delio gyda materion perfformiad yn hyderus

Wales’ Flagship 20Twenty Leadership Programme

“

Cymhwyster CMI Lefel 5 – 7 – rhaglen 10 mis • Rhaglen 10 mis a chymorth i ddatblygu Strategaeth Twf Busnes ar gyfer eich busnes.

CMI Level 3-4 Award– 3 month programme • Build your leadership capabilities • Confidently tackle common performance issues CMI Level 5-7 Award – 10 month programme • A 10 month programme to help develop and implement a Business Growth Strategy for your business

With a little help from your course we managed to triple the size of the company... If you could thank the team that takes the course it would be appreciated! The change in thinking towards running the business has been a result of some of the great tips picked up on the programme

Lee Roblin - ION Delegate

Find out how you can grow your business

”

“

Gyda thipyn o help gan eich cwrs chi, fe lwyddon ni i dreblu maint y cwmni... A fyddech mor garedig a diolch i’r tim a roddodd y cwrs! Mae’r newid yn y ffordd o feddwl am redeg y busnes wedi digwydd oherwydd rhai o’r cynghorion gwych a gawsom ar y rhaglen. ^

^

”

Lee Roblin - Cynadleddwr ION

I gael gwybod sut gallwch chi dyfu eich busnes

CRACK THE ACAS CODE The Acas Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance comes into play as soon as an employee raises a grievance with their employer or an employer raises an issue of misconduct or poor performance with an employee.

Failing to follow the Code does not necessarily make a person or organisation liable to proceedings, but employment tribunals will take the Code into account when considering relevant cases. Tribunals have the ability to adjust awards by up to 25 percent for unreasonable failure to comply with the Code – and when you consider that the average pay out for a claim of unfair dismissal is £13,851, it’s crucial that you crack the code before embarking on a disciplinary process.

Without actually completing a disciplinary hearing yourself, it’s not always easy to understand how they work and know when’s best to start the process – we’re often told that people can get things wrong, but only realise this in hindsight, when arguably it’s too late.

LIFT THE LID ON DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS Acas are at the forefront of developing and improving Employment Relations, people management and HR practice in the workplace. We have been one of the leading experts in this field for over forty years and we work every day with organisations large and small. This unique experience brings valuable insight to our training and good practice events.

We’ve developed a ‘Mock Disciplinary Hearing’ to help organisations explore investigations and disciplinary hearings in more detail. We will delve into best practice for handling misconduct allegations and initial investigations, followed by a live disciplinary hearing where you will witness snapshots of the proceedings and help decide the outcome!

Our expert Advisers, and leading law firm Aaron & Partners, will lead you through the scenario and will explain the pitfalls, so that you can avoid finding yourself in the same position and come away with the knowledge and confidence to effectively conduct disciplinary hearings.

Mock Disciplinary Hearing Ewloe For more information and to book your place, call 0300 123 1150 or visit acas.org.uk/wales 16/02/18 £170 per delegate

Expert legal advice for business

39

focus on

Chester - a historic city on a journey to be fit for the future

Graham Pink, Director of Commissioning and Commercial Management, Cheshire West and Chester Council

R

egenerating and transforming any city takes time, and usually a significant amount of it.

That’s true even when developments don’t uncover Roman roads that are nearly 2,000 years old, or have twotiered medieval galleried shops from the 13th century. The historic city

Chester’s distinctive Eastgate Clock

40

of Chester has been a centre for commerce since the Romans first arrived in 79AD, and their passion for culture and entertainment is evident in the city which attracts eight million visitors a year.

Today’s visitors to Chester, as well as being able to view its rich history, will also see a city on a journey to be fit for

the future. Some things, however, don’t change.

Culture, retail and commerce remain at the very heart of the Council and its partners’ vision for the city.

Back in 2012, following major local analysis and extensive consultation, a single, coordinated vision set out the direction for Chester. Called the One

City Plan, it established how partners would work together to make the best of the wealth of very special historical assets and better capitalise on opportunities for inward investment and sustainable economic growth.

Five years on, Chester is well on its way to becoming the city partners and residents aspire to.

focus on

A wealth of stories

C

hester’s cultural offer is rich in history – visitors place bets at the country’s oldest racecourse dating back to 1539, walk the country’s oldest, longest and most complete Roman city walls, and they enjoy the famous Mystery Plays dating from the 14th century retelling biblical stories.

One of the newest cultural offers in the city has given a more recent piece of modern history a new tale to tell.

Storyhouse is a world class cultural centre that opened in May 2017 in a repurposed Art Deco cinema dating from 1936.

More than 79,000 people visited the stunning Storyhouse building in the first month to see for themselves how the £37 million transformation (around

“

£30 million invested by the Council) has successfully brought theatre, cinema and the city library under one roof.

The opening season saw sell out performances of The Beggars Opera, Alice in Wonderland, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar.

The exciting autumn season highlight will be a world’s first stage adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Secret Seven.

The same operating company – formally Chester Performs and now also named Storyhouse – once again transformed the city’s Grosvenor Park for its annual theatre in the park offer.

This winter, Storyhouse will host musicals, international drama, stand-up comedy, dance, opera and music. West End hits, Footloose and

Blood Brothers, will be joined by Spamalot and the musicals All or Nothing and Cilla. And famous comedians bringing their individual brands of humour include Jon Richardson with his Old Man tour, Joel Dommett, Stewart Lee, Jenny Éclair and Rich Hall.

Chester also has a vibrant and diverse events programme that

sees the streets filled with parades and celebrations for Chinese New Year, Eid, Pride, St George’s Day, Midsummer Watch Parades and more.

This autumn sees the return of international Rally cars with Chester Rally Week (23 – 27 October) which, last year, saw over 10,000 spectators line the city’s streets.

Chester also has a vibrant and diverse events programme that sees the streets filled with parades and celebrations

”

Left: An art deco cinema has been repurposed into the Storyhouse cultural centre.

Above and Top: The Mystery Plays being performed at Chester Cathedral return in 2018

41

Cullimore Dutton

Cullimore Dutton Solicitors celebrates 225th anniversary Chester law firm credits exceptional staff and strong client relations as it reaches its landmark year

C

ullimore Dutton Solicitors, one of Chester’s oldest family law firms, is celebrating an extraordinary 225 years of legal practice in 2017. The city centre solicitors practice is marking its landmark year with a series of special anniversary events and sponsorships.

The law firm’s community sponsorships and charitable donations over the year to date include support of the Chamber’s St David’s Day Gala Ball in March, women’s cricket development at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club, a donation to Hoole Community Centre, marketing support and kit sponsorship for Frodsham Juniors FC, and agricultural sponsorships at the Nantwich, Anglesey, and Denbigh & Flint Shows, and the Cheshire Ploughing Match.

Throughout the summer, the firm hosted a variety of 225th anniversary events for clients and associates on its legendary lawn and in the historic boardroom at the Chester firm’s city centre premises at White Friars – where solicitors have practised since 1792.

Partner and commercial litigator, John Arnold, said: “Over the course of more than two centuries this law firm has delivered expert legal advice to some of the region’s leading companies, individuals and organisations.

As you would expect of a family solicitors practice with such a long and illustrious history, we act for second, third and even fourth generations of some of the most well-established farming families and landowners in the region.

“We have a truly exceptional team of longserving partners who focus on maintaining strong and supportive relationships with each client. What sets us apart is not just these strong personal relationships but the impressive

depth of knowledge and expertise throughout our team.”

“We are a traditional family law firm but one with a very modern and dynamic approach,” said Managing Director, Andrew Wright. “We utilise the latest technologies to deliver outstanding levels of service and efficiencies to our clients and at a fair and totally transparent cost.”

“Our dynamic growth is all down to a committed team of highly experienced legal experts with niche specialisms, allied to recruiting the best young legal talent to work with our truly impressive client list. Great clients demand great expertise, and that’s exactly what our commercial litigation, commercial property, conveyancing, agricultural, wills, trusts and estates and family law teams provide,” he added.

The business services offered

by Cullimore Dutton include a strong commercial litigation offering from John Arnold, who is not only a Solicitor but as an Authorised High Court Enforcement Officer, has wide experience in Enforcement and the power to enforce

For the full range of services offered by Cullimore Dutton Solicitors visit the firm’s website www.cullimoredutton.co.uk or call 01244 345789 or email info@cullimoredutton.co.uk

42

Judgments obtained through the Courts.

“All too frequently, I see SMEs and sole traders failing to implement the measures available to them to hold bad debtors to account,” says John, who is also the Under Sherriff of Cheshire.

“Rigorous contractual provision, robust enforcement measures and ultimately, debt collection through the Courts are all measures on which we can provide expert advice and guidance to help businesses protect that all important cash flow.”

Right: John Arnold Left: Andrew Wright

focus on

Regeneration and retail

T

he crowd-pleasing Storyhouse has brought new vibrancy to an area of the city of Chester that is getting ready for even more significant transformation.

Known as Chester Northgate, a £300 million investment project is a major chapter in the city’s journey to be fit for the future. Anchored by a 100,000 square foot House of Fraser department store and a six-screen Picturehouse cinema, Chester Northgate is set to provide 50 new shops and major stores, around 15 new cafés and restaurants, a 4-star Crowne Plaza hotel and conference centre, up to 70 homes and the city’s largest car park.

In July 2014, the Council appointed Rivington Land as its development manager to provide expertise with planning approval granted in September 2016 for a plot that covers a 5.8 hectare area bounded by Town Hall Square, Hunter Street, Watergate Street and St. Martin’s Way. Cheshire West and Chester Council currently owns around 85 per cent of the site and is making a Compulsory Purchase

Order (COP) to acquire 70 properties as part of the next phase.

Making positive changes and delivering big regeneration projects in any city is clearly going to have a significant impact. The council has been engaging with those likely to be affected by the project for some considerable time.

What seemed like a distant vision is now closer than ever before to being delivered with a sustainable retail and leisure offer that enhances the great shopping and recreation opportunities that Chester already has, such as the two-tier 13th century Rows, department stores, high street shops, and independent and specialist retailers.

Major UK restaurant brand, Cosy Club, has secured space in the first phase of Chester Northgate for one of its quirky venues. The 180cover restaurant will be in Hunter’s Walk, an arcade to be formed from the old library building linking Town Hall Square with a new public space in front of the relocated market and the Picturehouse cinema.

The development will be delivered in two main phases. Phase 1 will see the arrival of the cinema together with cafés and restaurants set around a market square.

A new market hall will replace the current Chester Market and a 167-bedroom, 4-star Crowne Plaza hotel and conference centre will be built. The existing hotel, together with the Forum Shopping Centre and several other buildings, will

then be demolished, so that work can begin on the construction of Phase 2 to create the main retail offer, including the department store and the residential elements.

The Council has just advertised for a construction partner to deliver Chester Northgate.

Phase 1 is targeted for completion by the end of 2019, while Phase 2 is expected to be finished in early 2022.

The Chester Northgate area includes the former Chester Bus Exchange on Princess Street that has now moved to a new £13m facility at Gorse Stacks.

The new Bus Interchange opened in June 2017and offers a 24-hoursa-day service with an average of 90 buses per hour at peak times. The comfort of passengers has been a priority with free Wifi, public toilets with changing facilities and an information desk. A newsagent is onsite and a café will follow providing hot drinks and snacks for passengers. A free shuttle bus service runs from the Interchange to the Town Hall with accessible buses running every 15 minutes from 8am to 6pm.

Above: Former Chester library, site for Chester Northgate and Storyhouse in the background Below: The new bus interchange opened in June this year.

Left: Cosy Club restaurant is coming to the Chester Northgate development.

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focus on

A city for commerce

T

he Chester Growth Partnership, working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, is driving investment in Chester including attracting new business, supporting the delivery of new infrastructure and housing and increasing dwell time in the city. The partnership includes experts in business support, skills, recruitment, regeneration and marketing offering bespoke packages of support that add real value to any business from the initial vision through to

practical delivery.

One of the key priorities of the Chester Growth Partnership is to deliver improved rail infrastructure. The Growth Track 360 strategy is supporting improved rail capacity and frequency including links with the Northern Powerhouse and HS2.

Chester remains the principal economic centre in Cheshire West and Chester, providing 46 per cent of employment and 44 per cent of the borough’s total business stock.

Chester is highly focused on the service sector, banking, financial service and insurance sector businesses and employment.

Employment in this sector has expanded rapidly since the early 1990s predominantly driven by strong growth at the Chester Business Park on the outskirts of the city centre, which has remained resilient during the recession.

Since 2013, over £250 million of public and private sector funds have been invested in the city.

Over 1,000 new jobs have been created or are forecast to be delivered.

Chester’s new Business Quarter including One City Place, the recently completed 70,000 sq ft office building next to Chester Station, is now occupied by businesses including RSM UK, Sykes and Power solutions.

By 2028, the scheme will provide in excess of 500,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, associated retail and leisure facilities, as well as 200 residential units.

Left: Improvements can cause temporary upheaval but the benefits, such as the improved bus facilities, are worth it. Below: One of the new bollards along Frodsham Street.

Eggs and omelettes

I

t might be a cliché but the old saying that you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs is still true.

Earlier in the summer, the Council completed improvements to some of the city’s roads including Frodsham Street, an integral route for buses through the city. People that work in and visit Chester were going to be affected and this certainly proved to be the case.

44

When your journey to work is delayed it is difficult not to be frustrated and see the bigger picture of city wide developments – and the council works hard to get messages about road closures and bus route changes out.

Hopefully, as we continue on this journey for a better Chester, everyone will see that real benefits are being delivered. As we move ahead, it becomes easier to see why things are happening and how

they link up with other developments in the city.

Frodsham Street has now been transformed into an attractive shared area with a reduction in the dominance of vehicles, making the street more peoplefriendly. Professional artist Katayoun Dowlatshahi designed a series of unique bollards along the road inspired by Chester’s architecture, adding to the area’s attractiveness.

focus on

Investing in the future

T

he One City Plan established a shared direction for the continued transformation of Chester. It’s vision and the intelligent approach to implementation is now being realised, and it’s a truly exciting time for the city.

Shaping Chester city centre to write a new chapter of its history is no small task. Always central to achieving the vision will be creating a city that people want to live in, work in, study in and visit.

Balancing the need for new development with

our duty to capture the potential of old buildings remains a priority and it’s important to build on the successes that have already been seen.

Along with its partners, and with the support of Chester’s residents and businesses, Cheshire West and Chester Council is delivering on its promises.

Whilst the city is growing and transforming, the challenge remains to value its incredible history whilst shaping a city that’s fit for the future.

The new Storyhouse centre has successfully brought theatre, cinema and the library together under one roof.(picture courtesy Peter Cook)

Well-connected workspaces

Download the app and get started

G

lobal workspace provider Regus has a network of three business centres in and around Chester.

The Regus centre on Chester Business Park is in a well-connected location just south of Chester, providing a range of workspace options for all business sizes including; offices, meeting rooms and virtual office services.

The Regus Express hubs are located at Broughton Shopping Centre and Chester Motorway services which offer convenientlylocated drop-in workspace, meeting rooms and office space for those working on the move. Both are easily accessible from the M56 motorway.

Interested? Call or drop into any of these centres for more information.

Telepone 0800 756 2501 or visit our website regus.co.uk

0800 756 2501

regus.co.uk

O!ce space in Chester that lets your business grow Take the space you need today with the !exibility to take more or change location as your business expands. You’ll "nd everything you need, all covered by a simple, all-inclusive price.

Visit one of our 3 locations in Chester and we’ll show you how.

0800 756 2501

regus.co.uk

45

top tips

Top tips for making radio advertising work

by Danny Holborn, Commercial Director, Dee 106.3, Dee on DAB, Love 80’s Liverpool The Message: Is the most important element of making radio work for you. Getting the message right gives you the best chance of your campaign being remembered by the listener!

Who – do you want to target?

What – do you want them to do?

Why – should they do it?

The Station: Choose the station to suit you best: Locality, audience type, music played, and commitment to the local business economy (does the station run ads for local companies?), are all important factors that can help you choose the right station to reach your potential customer.

Campaign Timing: Run the campaign for as long as you can, before and during the period that you want the campaign to be most effective for.

An example is that most businesses that target the ‘Christmas’ season often run their campaigns from much earlier, to ensure they gain an unfair share!

Investment: Advertising on radio is an investment that will reach many thousands of listeners over the period of your campaign. The campaign must be affordable and sustainable, with a realistic return on investment expectation. How much response do you need, in terms of enquiries, and conversions to sales? Clearly state the proposition, so that the response is easily identifiable to you.

Stand Out: Choose a campaign strategy to enable you to stand out on air from your competition.

Unique and exclusive Creative

Campaign approaches (memorable commercials) are more likely to be measurable in response terms, and accountable in terms of the enquiry to sale conversion ratios.

Response Mechanisms: Make it simple! Most consumers have a limited recall range so don’t ask listeners to remember too much detail, as they won’t do it. Ideally, feature only one way to respond (website address, retail location, phone number, social media channel), or at the most, feature two.

Partnership: Look for a partnership with the radio station that you work with, as opposed to being supplied a service, at a price. By committing over time, you get a better chance of receiving more for your money. Demanded stations are a good sign, it shows they get results. Look for a station that will offer you more than just airtime spots but Sponsorships, Promotions, On Line and Social Media.

Create Engagement: Radio has lots of exciting ways to encourage engagement and interaction and help make it work for you.

You can promote your business, products, services, and communicate important messages, as well as potentially hiring new employees from a recruitment campaign.

• Our FREE Brand Builder presentations take place during September 2017, book your place now!

• For more information on how Dee Radio Group can help your business, go to www.dee1063.com • Call Danny on 07770 364364 or email Danny at danny.holborn@dee1063.com

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pescado

Straight talking technology for your business E

stablished in 2006 Pescado have an in-depth understanding of business telecoms solutions and IT services. Pescado don’t just sell products, but understand the benefit they will bring to their customers.

When you engage Pescado, they question and understand your wants to ensure the right communication products are deployed.

On these foundations Pescado have built a successful and ever expanding business. With a team of over 60 people and offices in

North Wales and Belfast, Pescado have customers throughout the UK, ranging from sole traders to International PLC’s. If you are looking for a provider that will keep the explanations simple, even when the technology is anything but, then Pescado are the right partner for you.

A Message from Fraser

Case Study – Cullimore Dutton Solicitors

“

We have come a long way since our days as a team of three at the technology centre in Ellesmere Port back in 2006. It has been an exciting journey and I couldn’t be more proud of what we have achieved. Buying our new offices last year and moving this February has had a huge impact on the services we can offer our customers, the demonstration suites are in high demand and its great hosting customers and getting them to meet the wider Pescado team.

It’s our people and our commitment to great service that we believe sets us apart. Every email we send to a customer, prospect or supplier has a button asking them to ‘let the Big Fish know how we are doing’, and we really want them to do just that.The feedback we get is invaluable, we love great feedback but appreciate we can always improve.

The team and I look forward to continued success and would love the opportunity to work with more chamber members in the near future.

Fraser Watson

”

Managing Director

Pescado Services include: Business Mobiles, Office Connectivity, Office Phone Solutions, IT Services & Cloud Solutions

Pescado have been working with Cullimore Dutton since we took over the management of their business Mobiles in 2013. In the last couple of years we have also implemented a Leased line Internet connection and a hosted VoIP telephony solution for their 50 strong team. Cullimore Dutton may be celebrating 225 years in business and have traditional values but that doesn’t mean they are an old fashioned business. The technology they have implemented ensures they are as current today as they have always been.

Experts in providing Legal advice, Cullimore Dutton wanted a Business Telecoms provider who mirrored their values and showed equal levels of expertise in their own field. The solutions implemented by Pescado have given the team more robust systems, increased functionality as well as lower operational costs. The relationship continues to go from strength to strength and Pescado are very pleased to congratulate Cullimore Dutton on 225 years of business.

Contact our friendly and professional team today on 033 000 22 000 or email sales@pescado.co.uk

Pescado Technology Must Haves • Connectivity As technology evolves the right connectivity for your business is a must.

When it comes to connectivity you need a solution that will grow with your business. Pescado work with all major providers to make sure you get the best connection available at your location at the right price.

• VoIP (Voice over IP) The technology and telecoms landscape is changing, with BTs 2025 switch off of the ISDN network and a move towards more flexible solutions.

Pescado has a number of options around VoIP dependant on both budget and requirements. Not ready for a full hosted solution, Pescado have several options where VoIP can be used but with no major telephony changes to your systems.

• Microsoft Office 365 The power of Microsoft Office but fully cloud based. Never again will you need to purchase a software upgrade or store your files on a laptop. The product suite offers the powerful apps we are all familiar with (Word, Excel & Powerpoint) but adds access to Skype for Business, online storage and an ability to use your software on multiple devices.

• Email Security Email security is a priority for all businesses, with the growing threat of hackers, viruses, spam, phishing and identity theft, as well as the need to secure business information.

Pescado’s Industry leading email service provides full protection against all of these threats – no hardware, no software, no maintenance, no hassle – Just peace of mind that you and your business are protected.

• Cloud Backups & Disaster Recover (DR) Lost files and critical failures can paralyse a business. Cloud Backups and Disaster Recovery planning safeguards your business against these worries.

Pescado’s backup and DR Services help you save money, save time and ensure your business is always ready in the event of a major issue.

The Service is easy to use, reliable and works around your business ensuring you never have to face multiple days of downtime.

• Business Mobiles A good business mobile contract is more than just choosing the right network, working with Pescado or a network partner will ensure you get the right advice and that your fleet is managed.

47

new members

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

20-20 Management Enterprise Ltd Les Murray Foxley Brow House, School Lane, Antrobus, Cheshire CW9 6LB T: 07793 539075 E: les.murray@20-20management.com www.actioncoach.com/lesmurray

Brand 9 David Lampkin c/o FD Analytica, The Old School, 100 Liscard Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 5TN T: 0151 6360063 E: david@brand9.co.uk www.brand9.co.uk

Fitztherapy Works Jacqueline Fitzlynam 44 Whetstone Hey, Great Sutton, Cheshire CH66 3PH T: 0151 3480404 E: info@fitztherapyworks.co.uk www.fitztherapyworks.co.uk

3 Fitt Group Chris Lampitt Chester, Cheshire T: 07528 712165 E: chris.lampitt@3fittgroup.com www.3fittgroup.com

Bridge Street Townhouse Amanda Craggs 49-51 Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS T: 01244 567300 E: amanda@richmondliverpool.com www.bridgestreettownhouse.co.uk

Fuze Research Ltd Tom Williams Rossett T: 07742 341779 E: tom.williams@fuzeresearch.com www.fuzeresearch.com

Aldium Insurance Services Ltd Steve Webb Viscount Housem High Street, Neston, Wirral CH64 9AD T: 0151 3365881 E: steve.webb@aldium.co.uk www.aldium.co.uk

Clickery Financial Ltd Claudia Liberatoscioli PO Box 220, Mold, Flintshire CH7 9EQ T: 01352 382402 E: info@clickery.co.uk www.clickery.co.uk

GetStarted UK (EDM) Ltd Paul Manning Chester, Cheshire T: 0800 2461486 E: paul@getstarteduk.com www.getstarteduk.com

All Seasons Recruit April Brown Chester, Cheshire T: 07787 112270 E: april@allseasonsrecruit.co.uk www.allseasonsrecruit.co.uk Apollo Blinds & Curtains Marc McQuilliam 15 Handbridge, Chester CH4 7JE T: 01244 561321 E: chesterandwirral@apollo-blinds.co.uk www.apolloblinds.co.uk Aroma Indulgence Steph Olsen Ellesmere Port, Cheshire T: 07753 429912 E: info@aromaindulgence.co.uk www.aromaindulgence.co.uk Aspection Ltd Warren Mclennay 10 School Green, Clutton Chester CH3 9SG T: 07712 163706 E: info@aspection.co.uk www.aspection.co.uk Bamboo Smart Growth Lenny Davies 27b High Street, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 5BY T: 01606 536648 E: lenny@bamboosg.co.uk www.bamboosg.co.uk Be a Happier You Sarah Stanyer Clotton, Cheshire T: 07799 372682 E: sarah.strengthkindness@hotmail.com www.beahappieryou.co.uk BIPV Ltd Paul Bates PC Accelerator, Shotton Works, Deeside. Flintshire CH5 2NH T: 01244 892069 E: info@bipvco.com www.bipvo.com

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Concept Building Solutions North West Stephen McKinlay Oakdale, Pant Lane, Gresford, Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough LL12 8HB T: 01492 233444 E: northwales@concept-solutions.co.uk www.conceptinsuranceclaims.co.uk/ northwales Continental Bottle Company Ltd Nicola Shaw Barlow Drive, Woodford Park Industrial Estate, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2JZ T: 01606 862525 E: nicola@continentalbottle.co.uk www.continentalbottle.co.uk Debbie Turnbull Coaching Debbie Turnbull Holywell T: 01352 715420 E: debbieturnbullcoaching@outlook.com DRB Power Transmission Ltd Mark Williams First Avenue, Deeside, Flintshire CH5 2QR T: 01244 280280 E: mark.williams@drbgroup.co.uk www.drbgroup.co.uk Duct Hygiene NW Ltd Mark Hughes Mainetti House, Bedwell Road, Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough LL13 0TS T: 0300 0536135 E: mark.hughes@ducthygiene.co.uk www.ducthygiene.com Family MoneyTree Ltd Paul Gunson Liverpool T: 07951 843056 E: gunson.paul204@gmail.com Feelgood Ali Wheeler Frodsham, Cheshire T: 07824 627594 E: ali@feelgoodco.org.uk www.feelgoodco.org.uk

Gibson Strategy Ltd Dr Stuart Gibson Beachside Business Centre, Rue du Hocq, St Clement, Jersey, Channel Islands JE2 6LF T: 07840 127199 E: stuart@gibsonstrategy.com www.gibsonstrategy.com Glamour Booth Natalie Silverstone Broughton T: 01244 749057 E: sales@glamourbooth.co.uk www.glamourbooth.co.uk Green Mole Angela Kelly Unit 9, Tarran Way South, Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside CH46 4TP T: 0151 6051469 E: info@molegroup.co.uk www.green-mole.co.uk Guide Dogs Jacquie Hughes Jones West Cheshire and North Wales T: 0345 1430195 E: jacquie.hughesjones@guidedogs.org.uk www.guidedogs.org.uk Harlech Foodservice Ltd Mark Lawton Parc Bwyd, Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd LL52 0LJ T: 01766 810810 E: sales@harlech.co.uk www.harlech.co.uk JayKay Events Judith Kenyon Frodsham, Cheshire T: 07941 986806 E: judith.kenyon@jaykayevents.co.uk www.jaykayevents.co.uk Lawson Civil Engineering & Utilities Amanda Lawson-Stoner Graig Farm Buildings, Graig Road, Denbigh, Denbighshire LL16 5US T: 0800 0831296 E: info@lawsonltd.com www.lawsonltd.com

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce Location Photography Photographic Services 4 Old Port Square, Chester CH1 4JP T: 07957 548633 E: ian@locationphotography.co.uk www.locationphotography.co.uk M&P Survey Equipment Ltd Keith Ferguson Meridan House, Stanney Mill Road, Chester CH2 4HX T: 0151 3571856 E: keith.ferguson@mpsurvey.co.uk www.mpsurvey.co.uk Mark Rowbotham Mark Rowbotham 3 Edgefield, Astley Village, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1XH T: 01257 413032 E: portcullismarine@gmail.com Mark Watson Photography Mark Watson 10 Watergate Row, Chester CH1 2LD T: 07495 152471 E: mark@mdw-photography.co.uk www.mdw-photography.co.uk Mersey Drinks Ltd James Barnes Unit 2293 Smart Storage, No.1 Candy Park, Bromborough, Wirral CH42 3PE T: 0151 9093101 E: james@merseydrinks.co.uk www.merseydrinks.co.uk Mole Home Services Angela Kelly Unit 9, Tarran Way South, Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton, Wirral CH46 4TD T: 0151 6051469 E: info@molegroup.co.uk www.molehomeservices.co.uk Mole Utilities Angela Kelly Unit 9, Tarran Way South, Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton, Wirral CH46 4TP T: 0151 6051469 E: info@molegroup.co.uk www.moleutilities.co.uk Momentum Performance Coaching Susan Gallagher Thursby House, Thursby Road, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 3PY T: 0151 3481202 E: susan@mpcforprofit.com www.mpcforprofit.com

National Hire Centre Ltd Amanda Lawson-Stoner Graig Farm Buildings, Graig Farm, Denbigh, Denbighshire LL16 5US T: 0800 0831296 E: info@nationalhirecentre.uk www.nationalhirecentre.uk National Training Centre Ltd (NTC) Amanda Lawson-Stoner Graig Farm Buildings, Graig Road, Denbigh, Denbighshire LL16 5US T: 0800 0831296 E: amanda.lawson@nationaltrainingcentre.net www.nationaltrainingcentre.net Needle Films Neil Wyn-Jones Ty Cerrig Tafarn Y Gelyn, Llanferres, Denbighshire CH7 5SQ T: 07877 523691 E: neil@needlefilms.com www.needlefilms.com North Wales Honda David Paveley Broadway Garage, Mostyn Broadway, Llandudno, Conwy County Borough LL30 1YR T: 01492 875991 E: dave@northwaleshonda.co.uk www.northwales-honda.co.uk Old Mutual Wealth Private Client Advisers Sarah Waring International House, Kingfield Court, Chester Business Park, Chester CH4 9RE T: 01244 621721 E: robert.beswick@omwealthpca.co.uk www.omwealthpca.co.uk Oliver & Co Solicitors Tim Polding Douglas House, 117 Foregate Street, Chester CH1 1HE T: 01244 354697 E: tim.polding@oliverandco.co.uk www.oliverandcobusiness.co.uk Owls Business Advisers David Hardman Chester T: 07801 231722 E: david@textilepeople.co.uk Pearson Management Consultants Ltd Bill Pearson Hillside, 6 Stephens Grove, Helsby, Cheshire WA6 9NQ T: 07387 159676 E: bill@pearsonmc.uk www.pearsonmc.uk

MV Finance Joe Thwaites Altrincham T: 07803 614379 E: joe@mvfinance.co.uk www.mvfinance.co.uk

PFC Finance Mark Parson Dragon Hall Barn, Whitchurch Road, Whitchurch Tattenhall, Cheshire CH3 9DU T: 01829 738799 E: mark@pfcfinance.co.uk www.pfcfinance.co.uk

My Personal Life Coach Amanda Greatorex Chester T: 07715 437065 E: amanda@mypersonallifecoach.co.uk www.mypersonallifecoach.co.uk

PSS Business Services Ltd Robert Gladwin 130 Pioneer House, Ellesmere Port CH65 1AD T: 0151 5504586 E: info@pssbusiness.co.uk www.pssbusiness.co.uk

new members

Quality Education With Care Ltd Annette Cunningham Bryn Tirion Hall, Mold Road, Caergwerle, Wrexham LL12 9HA T: 01978 760034 E: annette.cunningham@qewc.co.uk www.qewc.co.uk Safer Surfacing Ltd Ian Dixon Canalside, Ellesmere Port CH65 4EN T: 0151 3571391 E: ian@safersurfacing.co.uk www.safersurfacing.co.uk SG Holding & Partners Howard Morris 323 Chester Road, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port CH66 3RF T: 0151 3398181 E: howard@sgholding.co.uk Stella and Dot Frances Nesarajah Warrington, Cheshire T: 07825 446366 E: franceshopkins@mac.com www.stelladot.co.uk/sites/ francesnesarajah Stonehewer Moss Solicitors Charlotte Isherwood Citadel House, Solvay Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8LD T: 01606 872200 E: info@stonehewermoss.co.uk www.stonehewermoss.co.uk The Celtic Arms (Northop) Ltd Wayne Barlow Northop Country Park, Northop, Flintshire, CH7 6WA T: 01352 840423 E; wayne@waf-group.com www.thecelticarms.co.uk The Chefs Table Tom Hughes 4 Music Hall Passage, Chester CH1 2EU T: 01244 403040 E: tom@chefstablechester.co.uk www.chefstablechester.co.uk Volec Limited Steven Whipday Brynford House, Brynford Street, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 7RD T: 01352 609115 E: sales@volec.co.uk www.volec.co.uk Zip World Carly Redgers Zip World Base Camp, Denbigh Street, LL26 0LL T: 01248 661135 E: carly@zipworld.co.uk www.zipworld.co.uk

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feature

What I’m passionate about Katrina Michel Chief Executive at Marketing Cheshire, tells us what she is passionate about in the world of business

“A product is something made in a factory; a brand is

something that is bought by the customer. A product can be copied by a competitor; a brand is unique. A product can be quickly outdated; a successful brand is timeless.”

Stephen King (the branding one not the horror one)

I

am passionate about brands.

I am lucky to have worked on some of the world’s most valuable corporates such as American Express, Ford and HSBC, and consumer brands such as Gaviscon, Boots No7, Comfort, The Guardian and KFC. I’ve also been involved in the creation of new brands such as First Choice Holidays.

Jeremy Bullmore is one of the most revered and most loved ad men.

And his comment on brands is one of the most often quoted.

“People build brands like birds build nests, from scrap and straws they chance upon” Brands are organic living things; they are born, they grow, they have a head and a heart, they develop a look and a language, their image changes according to who is using them and how they are being used.

The strongest own benefits and emotions that can build entire dynasties. Even in the egalitarian world of Google when, in theory with the right SEO everything can be found, it is so much easier (and probably in the long run cheaper) if you have a unique brand.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” said William Morris. Is this why Apple continues to be the world most valuable brand? Not so much because of

50

its technological sophistication but because it does things for us that makes our lives easier and richer and gives us a frisson of desire every time we touch it. I can’t believe its Coca Cola’s taste that makes it the world’s fifth most valuable brand but I’m prepared to believe that it is all those years of associating the brand with good vibes - Instant happiness in a can.

And the point about branding is: more margin.

People will pay a premium for a brand they trust or love. Spray deodorant is perfumed water and a couple of chemicals. Lynx is a brand that makes adolescent boys irresistibly attractive - the Lynx effect. This magic bit of branding enables Lynx to command a significant premium over similar cans of water and chemicals and to defend their retail space.

Yes, there are some areas where brands might struggle – cornflour? aggregate? Low interest equals low frequency products. People are always ready to be delighted by new brands that bring them new benefits and that elicit new emotions, comforted by old familiar, trusted brands that deliver certainty in a world of constant change.

“

People will pay a premium for a brand they trust or love

”

Yn cefnogi busnesau Cymru Supporting businesses in Wales

“Daeth Richard FraserWilliams atom er mwyn ein helpu ni gyda phrosesu ceisiadau am grantiau CCBT. Rhoddodd cymorth a chyngor amhrisiadwy i ni.”

Mel Harley, Catch 22 Brasserie

“Richard Fraser-Williams became involved with us in order to help with the processing of the TISS grant applications. The assistance and advice he has given us have been invaluable.”

Mel Harley, Catch 22 Brasserie

03000 6 03000 busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales