West Cheshire & North Wales June 24

Welcome to the Summer edition of our Quarterly Business Magazine

With the announcement that a General Election will take place on 4th July 2024, I have been working closely with colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce with the launch of their Election Manifesto: Future of the Economy.

The Manifesto focuses on five key areas:

• An Industrial Strategy with green innovation at its heart.

• Better skills planning, bringing businesses and training providers together.

• Business rates reform to encourage growth and investment.

• Improved relations with the European Union to cut costs for business.

• A Government appointed AI champion for SMEs to spearhead uptake of new technology.

You can read more about the Election Manifesto on pages 40 - 41 of this magazine and, as always, we continue to be the voice of our members so please get in touch if there is anything we can support on.

We have had another busy few months of events with our recent North Wales Dinner being a highlight. We had a brilliant night in The Quay Hotel & Spa in Deganwy and we even saw the Northern Lights! A huge thank you to our sponsor for the event, Sales Geek North Wales.

We also held our Annual Golf Day at Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf & Spa which saw over 60 players enjoy a great day of networking whilst competing on the 18hole championship course. You can read more about these events on pages 6-7. There is also some excitement building as we are set to launch our Annual Recognition Awards on Monday 1st July! This is your opportunity to nominate your organisation for 10 different categories with finalists announced and winners revealed at our Annual Ball & Recognition Awards in November. I strongly encourage you to view the award categories on page 6 and look out for the invitation to nominate when it lands in your inbox in July!

If there is anything that we can do to support your business, please do not hesitate to reach out on 01244 669988 or info@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

Contact Matthew Hodgson Churchill House, Queen’s Park Campus, Queen’s Park Road, Chester CH4 7AD

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Published June 2024

© Benham Publishing Media no. 2060

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SARAH BAILEY

E2E become Patron Members of WCNW Chamber of Commerce

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that E2E has become a Patron Member. The move sees E2E Marketing join the E2E Integration offering that has been a Strategic Member of the Chamber since April 2023.

E2E Marketing is dedicated to providing bespoke digital marketing services that empower UK businesses. Their expertise lies in SEO, social media, and comprehensive digital strategies which are designed to enhance clients’ online presence, drive targeted traffic, and boost engagement.

E2E has been incredibly active throughout their membership with the Chamber, supporting members when needed, attending networking events on a regular basis and offering advice to businesses as part of the Chamber’s Start-Up Clubs.

“This partnership is a testament to the strong strategic relationship we have nurtured with the Chamber and its members over the years. As Patron Members, we are excited to deepen our commitment and bring enhanced marketing support to the Chamber’s diverse network. Our goal is to leverage our expertise in SEO, social media, and digital strategy to foster growth and success across the community. We look forward to creating dynamic new synergies and helping our fellow members thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.” said Darren Pritchard, IT Director at E2E.

“In a relatively short space of time, E2E have become a huge part of the Chamber’s business community and we are thrilled to strengthen our relationship further with their move to Patron Membership. E2E’s expertise in digital marketing, alongside their IT services, will undoubtedly be of assistance to members going forward.”

By becoming Patron Members, the relationship between E2E and the Chamber of Commerce has been enhanced further, opening new doors for the business and connecting them to new opportunities.

Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news saying; “In a relatively short space of time, E2E have become a huge part of the Chamber’s business community and we are thrilled to strengthen our relationship further with their move to Patron Membership. E2E’s expertise in digital marketing, alongside their IT services, will undoubtedly be of assistance to members going forward.”

n Sarah Bailey, CEO of WCNW Chamber of Commerce, presenting Darren Pritchard (L) and Dan Pritchard of E2E with their Patron Membership

Bathgate Business Finance becomes Strategic

Member of WCNW Chamber of Commerce

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to welcome Bathgate Business Finance as a Strategic Member.

Bathgate Business Finance is an independent, privately owned and award-winning business finance provider established in 1991 as Bathgate Leasing. Over the past three decades it has developed into a fully-fledged business finance solutions provider, offering both own-book lending and access to an extensive network of external finance providers for its clients.

As a Strategic Member of the Chamber, Bathgate gains access to a superior membership level, enhancing their engagement with the business community in West Cheshire and North Wales.

Bathgate Business Finance BDM, Chris Mcloughlin, said: “West Cheshire and North Wales is a region packed with a vast range of industries and sectors, some established and others that are newer and bursting with potential. As a sector-agnostic business with a wealth of experience that can be applied to start-ups, SMEs, and larger businesses, we are looking forward to bringing our skills, expertise and networks to the table to help the region thrive.

“Our success is built on developing strong, long-term relationships with

businesses and peers in the professional service sector, so we’re looking forward to embedding ourselves in the professional community.

“Our Strategic Membership with West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber will allow us to support its work to help local businesses achieve their potential through providing appropriate, efficient and effective routes to finance.”

Bathgate Business Finance’s commitment to Strategic Membership includes supporting the Young Chamber Programme, which aims to bridge the gap between education and business. Through this initiative, Bathgate will contribute to events like mock interviews and career talks in local schools and colleges.

Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are so pleased to welcome Bathgate Business Finance as a new Strategic Member. Having been members of the Chamber for 9 years, Chris and the team have been a familiar face at networking events and we are really excited to work with them even closer to support our membership community.”

“Our Strategic Membership with West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber will allow us to support its work to help local businesses achieve their potential through providing appropriate, efficient and effective routes to finance.”

View all our Patron and Strategic Members on our website and to express your interest in joining them, email: info@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

n Sarah Bailey (centre) welcoming (L to R) Ian Adams, Tracey Hamilton, Gordon Andrews and Chris McLoughlin of Bathgate Business Finance as Strategic Members

Celebrate Excellence!

Our Annual Recognition Awards Await You!

Mark your calendars! The Chamber’s Annual Recognition Awards open for entry on Monday July 1st, giving all members the chance to shine.

Nominate Yourself: Whether you’ve conquered challenges, demonstrated innovation, or gone above and beyond, now’s your moment! Nominate yourself for any of our 10 award categories and get the recognition you deserve.

Deadline Alert: Don’t miss out! The submission window closes on Friday, August 30th. So, go ahead and enter as many categories as your heart desires.

The Thrilling Finale: Who will emerge victorious? Our panel of judges will select finalists, and the winners will be revealed at the dazzling Annual Ball & Recognition Awards ceremony on Friday, November 15th.

“Our awards celebrate your achievements, your dedication, and your journey over the past year,” says Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber.

“So, gear up, seize this opportunity, and let’s make the Awards Ceremony in November an unforgettable night!”

2024 Categories

• The Ellis & Co Business of The Year Award: Sponsored by - Ellis & Co

• Export & International Trade: Sponsored by - Recycling UK

• Digital Innovation: Sponsored by - Protos Networks

• Start-Up Business of The Year Award: Sponsored by - Zodeq

• Young Person/Apprentice of the year award: Sponsored by - The HR Department Wrexham & Chester

• Business Growth Award: Sponsored by - E2E

• Made A Difference Award: Sponsored by - Type on Data

• Customer Excellence Award: Sponsored by - DELSOL

• Young Chamber Award: Sponsored by - Bathgate Business Finance

• Excellence in Sustainability Award: Sponsored by - Pathway to Carbon Neutral

Tee-rific time had by all at Chamber Golf Day

On 9th May we welcomed guests to our third annual Golf Day at the Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa.

Attendees were truly in par-ridise as they took to the Hotel’s beautiful Championship Course.

Filled with expansive water hazards, towering trees, and cascading waterfalls, the course’s stadium-style layout provided a challenging yet enjoyable day for all the teams!

The event kicked off with breakfast in the hotel’s lounge area, where attendees were welcomed by Jeff Mills, the National Golf Sales Director at Macdonald Hotels. Jeff provided an overview of the day’s

schedule, detailing the shotgun start format, and the fantastic prizes generously sponsored by Equals Money. These prizes were to be awarded to winners of various side games, including the longest drive competition, hole-in-one challenge, nearest to the pin, and for the top three teams overall.

Shortly after, the Golfers headed out onto the course to tee off!

A cloudy morning turned to a beautiful sunny afternoon as a brilliant time was had by all, before attendees made their way into the lounge for some well-earned rest and a couple of celebratory drinks, followed by a delicious two-course dinner!

To round off a wonderful day, it was time to reveal the winners and hand out the prizes!

Congratulations to the top three teams: 1st Place overall: Porcelanosa!

2nd Place overall: Development Bank of Wales! 3rd Place overall: Staingard Ltd!

Jeff had the following to say about the day: “Macdonald Hotels were delighted to host the 3rd Annual Chamber Golf Day at the stunning Portal Golf Resort, it was great to see so many different businesses take part in the day and provide such positive feedback. We are delighted to work with the Chamber to hold this event and hope to see many of the players back again at Portal later this year”

Thank you to Jeff, and all the team at Macdonald Portal for making this event possible and for their amazing hospitality!

n A cloudy morning turned to a beautiful day for the Chamber’s Annual Golf Day!

n Last Year’s Business of the Year Winners, Protos Networks

A special night to savour during our 2024 North Wales Dinner!

The Chamber’s North Wales Dinner returned to The Quay Hotel & Spa in Deganwy on Friday 10th May for a wonderful evening filled with laughter and joy, and even a surprise display from the Northern Lights!

With stunning views over River Conwy estuary and the warm spring sun beaming down, it was the perfect setting to welcome guests for a celebration of North Wales business. The event, kindly sponsored by Sales Geek North Wales, started with a welcome drink as guests took in the beautiful surroundings before being welcomed to the event by WCNW Chamber CEO, Sarah Bailey. Helen Nellist, Chair of the Chamber, then thanked Sales Geek North Wales for their support as sponsor and introduced the evening’s chosen charity, Your Space.

Based at Llay Resource Centre in Wrexham, Your Space offers support to young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and their families. Your Space has families registered from across North Wales and surrounding areas, and is passionate about helping young people with autism have access to the support they need.

Guests’ kind support across the evening helped raise over £1000 for Your Space.

A huge thank you to those who donated and to the businesses that kindly supplied prizes for the raffle!

After the meal, a DJ was on hand to keep the songs flowing before a surprise display from the Northern Lights captivated guests and provided a perfect ending to a fantastic evening.

Sarah Bailey, CEO at the Chamber said: “It was a magical evening in Deganwy for our North Wales Dinner! Thank you so much to Sales Geek North Wales for their sponsorship of this event, and to all those who helped us raise funds for a brilliant cause.”

Aaron Sussex, Sales Geek North Wales added: "This is the second year that Sales Geek North Wales has sponsored the North Wales dinner, and it never fails to disappoint. The Chamber team worked hard to deliver a superb event in a beautiful location. It's a highlight for me personally and I'm already looking forward to next year!"

It was a magical evening in Deganwy for our North Wales Dinner! Thank you so much to Sales Geek North Wales for their sponsorship of this event, and to all those who helped us raise funds for a brilliant cause.”

Thank you to the below businesses that donated prizes towards the raffle on the evening!

• Anglesey Sea Salt Company Ltd

• Artezzan Restaurant & Bar

• Bangor-On-Dee Racecourse

• Becoming the Great

• Cryoblast Deflashing UK Ltd

• Dice Business Ltd

• Frank Marsh Sales Performance Specialists

• Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia

• HM3 Legal

• Inspire by Sbarduno

• Jami Q’s

• Joie de Vivre by Jyoti

• Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors

• Lavinia Stamps

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport

• Milby’s

• My Home Deal

• P & A Group

• Pink Spaghetti PA Services Chester & North Wales

• PR Lift Equipment

• Recycling UK Ltd

• Spectra Media Group Ltd

• The HR Dept Wrexham & Chester

• The Literacy Company

• The Littler Places Art

• Venue Cymru

• Wild Wonder Box

• WR Partners Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

• Xplore! Science

n The Northern Lights stunned guests

Thank you to our Headline Sponsor: Sales Geek North Wales

STRATEGIC MEMBERS

Zodeq celebrates growth with office and team investment

Team growth

The Zodeq team has grown by more than 10 over the past few months across all departments. This not only allows the business to work with a broader portfolio of clients, but also adds to the already elite pool of talent that Zodeq has.

Investment in the Zodeq offices

As the Zodeq team work on a hybrid basis, office space is highly important for when departments come together. Having been headquartered in their current office in the heart of Chester for over six years, it was high time for a refresh, and that is precisely what Zodeq

2024 is set to be one for the books for the team at invoice finance and back office support specialists, Zodeq, having experienced significant growth in the first two quarters of the year.

To celebrate, we sat down with the Zodeq team to find out some of the highlights the year has brought so far…

has done. With fresh paint, new carpets, engaging artwork adorning the walls, a new welcome area and new furniture for the team, the transformation has been a huge success.

Supporting the community

Despite working nationally, supporting the community on a local level is crucial to Zodeq’s CSR policy. As a result, not only do the team regularly attend networking meetings and events (both Chamber and otherwise), but they are also dedicated to attending charity events throughout the year. In the last few months alone, Zodeq has

participated in the Variety Vixens Charity Lunch, a 10-mile race in Liverpool and the Chester Half Marathon.

Record-breaking client wins MD at Zodeq, Paul Cooney has said of the business’ success in 2024: “19 was the magic number for the Zodeq team in April as we reached a new record of welcoming 19 new clients during the four-week period. An outstanding achievement that is testament to the hard work of our dedicated team.”

To find out more about Zodeq, visit zodeq.com or email paul@zodeq.com.

What makes your business different?

In the competitive landscape of today’s economy, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face the daunting task of distinguishing themselves from a sea of competitors.

This has been a topic that I’ve talked at length about with some of my clients and network. A value proposition succinctly communicates the unique benefits and value a business offers to its customers, making it a crucial component of any successful sales & marketing strategy.

For SMBs, a well-crafted value proposition serves several vital functions. Firstly, it clearly defines what sets the business apart from its competitors. In an age where consumers are inundated with choices, a strong value proposition helps a business stand out by highlighting its unique selling points, whether it’s exceptional customer service, innovative products, or superior quality.

Moreover, a value proposition plays a pivotal role in aligning a company’s efforts with customer expectations. It helps businesses understand and articulate the specific problems they solve for their customers, thus ensuring that their products or services are consistently meeting market and customer needs. This alignment not only helps in winning new customers but also

fosters loyalty, as clients are more likely to return to a business that reliably delivers on its promises.

Additionally, a compelling value proposition can streamline marketing and sales efforts. By providing a clear and concise statement of value, it serves as a foundation for all sales and marketing communications, ensuring consistency and coherence across various platforms and campaigns. This consistency helps build a strong brand identity, which is particularly important for SMBs looking to establish a foothold in their respective markets.

The importance of a value proposition for SMBs cannot be overstated.

It differentiates the business from competitors, aligns its offerings with customer needs, and provides a clear and consistent message that underpins all marketing efforts. In an environment where every advantage counts, a compelling value proposition is an essential tool for driving growth and achieving long-term success.

n The new look Zodeq office in Chester

n Aaron Sussex, Director at Sales Geek North Wales

Delivering for the community in Blacon

The spring is always a busy time here at Avenue Services. Alongside the work we’re constantly carrying out to support the Blacon community, it’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to preparations for the biggest event in our calendar, the Blacon Festival.

Now in its 27th year, the free event is recognised as Chester’s largest community-led festival and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

This year’s event takes place at Queen Elizabeth Fields, in Blacon Avenue, on

Saturday 6 July and is already shaping up to be another fantastic community celebration.

As well as the usual stalls, games and attractions, we’ll have a host of talented local musicians taking the stage to keep

visitors entertained. We hope you can join us there!

We always have lots of events during the winter months too, and this year a particular success has been our brandnew cinema club.

Working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, this initiative has brought the big screen to Blacon, with free screenings of hits such as Wonka and the Super Mario Bros Movie at the Parade Enterprise Centre.

The screenings have proved a hit, with one resident telling us: “We’re so thankful to have a lovely event on our doorstep, as we usually have to travel to Cheshire Oaks to watch a movie.”

Another important way we support Blacon and its residents is through our Community Support Fund, which provides opportunities for individuals and groups to apply for funding for local projects.

Since 2015, we’ve distributed more than £600,000 of funding, supporting 136 unique projects that have benefitted the community, environment, health and wellbeing, employment, education and financial inclusion in Blacon.

We recently invited applications for this year’s round of funding and are looking forward to supporting more fantastic causes over the coming months.

UK employees spend over a month a year on automatable tasks

New research has revealed that business AI adoption is more widespread than perhaps previously thought, with over three quarters (77 per cent) of UK financial leaders actively adopting, or experimenting with AI in their processes.

The research, commissioned by Equals Money, surveyed 400 UK financial decision makers and found that a further 18 per cent of respondents are looking to adopt AI tools in the near future in a bid to boost efficiency, improve decisionmaking and streamline tasks.

This comes as the research reveals on average UK employees spend 65 minutes a day on automatable tasks, totting up to 38 days a year.

Financial processes were shown to be a key area for automation, with 59 per cent of businesses having automated receiving payments, issuing payments (52 per cent) and generating invoices (57 per cent).

Highlighting this trend, businesses are investing significantly in AI, with a mean

spend of £74,297,52 per business in 2024 alone.

Steve Paul, Deputy CFO at Equals Money said: “Embracing AI automation is crucial for finance leaders to gain a competitive

edge. We must be receptive to change and treat AI adoption like any other transformative project.

That’s not to say we should let AI run unchecked - it’s our job as decisionmakers to ensure the correct level of oversight is applied to AI processes and that they are effectively managed. Not all processes should be automated and it’s key to understand which tasks can be given to AI, and which should be left to the experts.”

Equals Money helps free up time and resources that finance leaders can reinvest into more critical digital change projects. If you’re looking to optimise your financial processes and harness the power of digital transformation, chat to the experts today.

n Crowds enjoying the Blacon Festival

Chester Business School named best in the North

The University of Chester’s Business School has been named the best in the North of England. It was given the accolade of Business School of the Year in the Educate North Awards held in Manchester this spring.

This year is the 10th Educate North Awards, recognising and sharing best practice and excellence in education in the North.

The Awards bring together the North’s leading higher, further and sixth-form institutions and organisations to celebrate world-class achievements, developments, and success.

Chester Business School was recognised for its commitment to making a positive difference to Cheshire’s economic growth and for embarking on a new and purposeful phase of business engagement. Flourishing despite the challenge of changes in external funding, the Business School team has worked in partnership with other business support providers and Cheshire West and Chester Council, to make a difference in the region.

The School has expanded its business network and provided support from grant development to coaching and workshops.

In just six months, from summer 2023, it has worked with local businesses to realise around £1.7m of business investment and more than 60 new jobs locally, while creating opportunities for future growth and for students.

The University was also shortlisted in the category of Innovation for its Westminster Centre for Research in Veterans’ project, Where Are All the Veterans? This project carried out research into the prevalence of mental health disorders among ex-service personnel using primary healthcare records and resulted in more valid and reliable data on the mental health needs of the ex-service personnel community.

whole. I’d like to thank everyone involved in this fantastic achievement.”

Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, Dean of Chester Business School, said: “I am so proud of this amazing result which demonstrates the clear difference colleagues from the Business School are making, not only to the lives of our students but to our communities and region as a

Louise Goodman, Knowledge Exchange Manager at Chester Business School, added: “The Chester Business School team has supported some remarkable businesses through Cheshire West and Chester’s UK Shared Prosperity Innovation Programme. This accolade is particularly rewarding as it recognises the value of our business engagement activities and showcases the impact of business innovation as a catalyst for growth.”

High Sheriff’s Awards celebrate enterprise and impact

The winners of The High Sherrif awards were unveiled at an awards ceremony at the University of Chester.

The annual High Sheriff of Cheshire Awards for Enterprise evening took place at the University’s Queen’s Park site, the home of Chester Business School, earlier this year. The welcome speech was given by Cheshire’s then High Sheriff, Dennis Dunn MBE JP DL who talked about the Awards, which are now in their 17th year in partnership with the University of Chester, and how they celebrate innovation, initiative and impact across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington. Legendary music producer, Pete Waterman OBE, delivered the keynote address sharing his business expertise, passion for Cheshire and his commitment to supporting mental health projects in the county. Pete also has an honorary degree from the University of Chester.

The winners were:

1. Inclusive Business Practice. Winner - Stand Out Socks. Runner-up - Storyhouse.

2. Outstanding Community, Education and Business Engagement Sponsored by Encirc Winner - The Cat Radio. Runner-up - Frodsham Youth Association.

3. Environmental Innovation and Impact Sponsored by Grosvenor Winner - Let’s Farm. Runner-up - Genesys.

4. Wellness at Work Sponsored by Warrington Borough Council Winner - No Brainer Agency. Runner-up - Bents Garden and Home.

5. Exceptional Start-Up Sponsored by the Holroyd Foundation Winner - KR Fleet Solutions. Runner-up - The Autism Wellbeing Project.

6. Outstanding Family Business Sponsored by EA Technology Winner - Pulse Fitness. Runner-up - Hayrack Church Farm.

7. Apprentice of the Year Sponsored by Barlows Winner - William David. Runner-up - Patrick Ithell.

8. Young Business Person of the Year Sponsored by Mornflake Winner - Kate Fox from Nantwich Clinic. Runner-up - Melissa Ellis from HL Financial.

9. Excellence in Enterprise

Sponsored by the University of Chester Winner - Valto.

Runner-up - Genesys.

The Awards were closed with a note of thanks from Lady Redmond MBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire.

Dennis Dunn MBE JP DL, said: “I would like to thank everyone who was involved in such a wonderful evening. It was truly inspiring to hear about the work being carried out in Cheshire and the successes of our companies, apprentices, young people and charities.

“I’d also like to thank the sponsors of the Awards and all those who submitted entries. It was so inspiring to hear their stories and receive their support.”

n Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, Dean of Chester Business School and Professor Kurt Allman, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise.

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SAFE, SECURE & RELIABLE LOGISTICS

Delivery Solutions (DELSOL) Ltd was incorporated in 2003, by two friends Simon and Tony who shared their love of motorcycles. Initially established as a motorcycle courier service in Caernarfon. The company rapidly expanded to operate a fleet of vans delivering parcels for The Alternative Parcel Company (APC) across North Wales. In 2009, DELSOL broadened its services by joining The Pallet Network (TPN) and introducing an international department following a strategic acquisition in Sandycroft. Further growth included handling hazardous goods for The Hazchem Network in 2016, which brought in new customers. In 2017, DELSOL expanded to offer storage facilities at its Sandycroft site. By 2019, DELSOL enhanced its capabilities by acquiring HF Owen Transport & Storage Ltd, thereby establishing its own haulage department.

In December 2023, Kathy Jones, formerly Head of HR & Business, was promoted to Group Chief Executive. Under her leadership, DELSOL has expanded its parcel delivery services into the Wirral and have set new objectives to improve organisational efficiency, to expand market presence and brand awareness through strategic partnerships and collaborations. Aiming to be the best courier company in the region by fostering a positive culture and promoting employee wellbeing for increased retention and satisfaction, making DELSOL the employer of choice.

DELSOL prides itself on being a comprehensive logistics provider, offering services including parcel and pallet deliveries, hazardous goods transport, international shipping, storage, same-day delivery, and full-load haulage. DELSOL emphasizes superior customer service, with local teams dedicated to ensuring a positive customer experience. PARCELS | PALLETS | STORAGE | INTERNATIONAL | SAMEDAY | HAZCHEM

Five Chamber Members Receive King’s Awards

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce was delighted to hear that five (yes five!) of its members have recently received the prestigious King’s Awards.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, represent the pinnacle of recognition for UK businesses. These prestigious awards celebrate exceptional accomplishments in the following areas:

• Innovation

• International trade

• Sustainable development

• Promoting opportunity (with a focus on social mobility)

So strict is the entry criteria, that this esteemed accolade has been bestowed on only 252 companies in 2024.

Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce: “We are thrilled that five of our members have been recognised with the King’s Award for Enterprise! These prestigious awards celebrate the success of dynamic and innovative companies that lead the way in their various fields and it is a huge testament to the work they have put in over the application period.”

Huge congratulations from the Chamber of Commerce!

The winning members

EA Technology: King’s

Award for Enterprise - Innovation

EA Technology is a specialist in asset management solutions for owners and operators of electrical networks and assets.

EA Technology’s entry focused on the significant innovation and rapid growth achieved by the VisNet arm of the business. A pioneer in the field of Low Voltage management, VisNet has brought to market a unique monitoring solution and analytical software platform that provides valuable insight into electricity network efficiency, optimisation and fault management.

Tension Control Bolts:

King’s Award for Enterprise - International Trade

Tension Control Bolts Ltd, based in Wrexham, started trading in 1984 and supplies a high strength bolting assembly used for safety critical connections within the structural steel sector.

Tension Control Bolts are produced with an advanced, eco-friendly corrosion protection system called Greenkote. Products are supplied to a variety of sectors, including nuclear, bridges, wind

energy, building structures, stadia and high rise, and distributed to markets in Europe, Asia, Canada and South Africa. It has agents and distributors in Australasia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and East Asia and a Chinese joint venture with overseas sales growing by 601% over the six-year application period and the proportion of sales exported has increased to 58% of total sales.

Dave Roberts, Managing Director of VisNet, commented: “It’s been an exciting few years for our business, with lots of product development and rapid growth. In fact, we recently celebrated the milestone of 10,000 VisNet Hub units dispatched. I’m positive that this fantastic award will only galvanise our efforts further, as we continue to develop and innovate in the LV power solutions sector to deliver more cuttingedge solutions that improve the overall network resilience and enhance the customer experience.”

n Dave Roberts, MD VisNet alongside a VisNet Hub

Limb-art: King’s Award for Enterprise - Innovation

Limb-art was founded in 2018 by former Paralympic Medallist Mark Williams PLY and his wife Rachael. It designs and manufactures the worlds coolest prosthetic leg covers for amputees all over the world.

Mark discovered many amputees felt their prosthetics didn’t represent their personality and style, leading to feelings of self-consciousness. In the UK, there are approximately 500 new amputees every month, and in the USA, 500 every day. Research showed that 10% of amputees regularly didn’t wear their prosthetics or never wore shorts or skirts. They felt their leg was ugly, wasn’t part of them, or invited negative comments.

After making a cover for his prosthetic to get a leg shape under trousers, the founder customised it to look “cool” by spraying it to match his car. Many amputees commented on his social media posts and asked to make them one. Realising there was a market, the company was founded and now offers customised decorations.

Mark Williams PLY Founder and CEO of Limb-art: “This is a tremendous honour not only for Limb-art but all the companies, individuals and customers that have helped us along the way”

Ruth Lee: King’s Award for Enterprise - Innovation

Ruth Lee Limited, a North Wales manikin manufacturer, has been recognised for its excellence in innovation with its Pool Rescue Training Manikin.

Ruth Lee Ltd is dedicated to improving rescue and safety training around the world by creating manikins which accurately represent a casualty in specific training scenarios including water rescue, emergency evacuation, technical rescue and patient handling. Back in 2016, Ruth Lee Ltd received a request from a Canadian lifeguard, who was frustrated with the traditional training

method, which she felt was ‘disjointed’ and did not accurately replicate a real emergency rescue, Ruth Lee set about creating a manikin which lifeguards could use to complete a full simulated rescue. The result was the Pool Rescue manikin, which lifeguards can recover from the bottom of the pool, tow to the side and perform a safe extrication from the water.

Ruth Lee Ltd.’s Managing Director, Paul McDonnell:

“We are absolutely thrilled and proud that we have been successful in winning the King’s Award for Enterprise; indicating that the Pool Rescue manikin is considered to be an outstanding innovation. Drowning prevention and the role that effective water rescue has to play in this is a core foundation of our business.

We are delighted to be awarded one of the highest business accolades in the country and will continue to bring innovation to rescue training communities.”

Cokebusters: King’s Award for Enterprise

- International Trade and King’s Award for EnterpriseInnovation

Since incorporation in 2005, Cokebusters has been based at Hawarden Airfield in North Wales. Family owned, the company’s foundation centred on the mechanical ‘decoking’ of tubing and pipeline systems for the oil refining sector. The technique is essential in maintaining operational efficiency and lower energy consumption.

The company subsequently introduced ultrasound inspection technology using an ‘intelligent pig’ which passes through small diameter tubing and pipelines collecting and analysing data not only to assure cleanliness, but to identify and qualify any areas of corrosion, so ensuring process safety and asset integrity.

Now nearly 20 years old, the company employs over 100 employees internationally and delivers services across South America, USA, Europe and the Middle East.

James Phipps, Managing Director: “This double win is extraordinary, a King’s Award in both International Trade and Innovation is indeed a proud success. It’s clear that one feeds the other whereby the client belief in our leading tube inspection technology has directly fuelled growth in export trade. Cokebusters is small enough to be nimble, to energise R&D through close site operation links and react swiftly to customer demands. Across our business we are delighted to receive this supreme accolade, especially knowing we’ve been so thoroughly vetted.”

n Coronation Leg Designed by Limb-art

n A Cokebuster inspection tool

Events Round-Up

It has been brilliant to see so many members connect with each other over the past few months! You can view some of the events below:

28th February - Round the Table Networking at Wrexham University

20th March - Networking Lunch at Ramada Plaza Wrexham

26th April - Sales Club 2.0

5th March - Round the Table Networking at Venue Cymru

21st MarchWest Cheshire Women’s Network

30th April - Networking Lunch at Chester Football Club

12th March - Liverpool Airport Tour

17th April - Round the Table Networking at Cheshire College

Upcoming Chamber Networking Events

The networking opportunities keep coming over the next few months! We’re hosting an incredible line up of events over the coming months and members are advised to plan ahead to secure their places. Events are on our website until December with more being added all the time. You can view our upcoming events below and find more information by following the QR code on this page.

For any events enquires please email info@wcnwchamber.org.uk or call 01244 669988

25th June – Networking Lunch and AGM at Rossett Hall

18th June – Networking at Cheshire Fire & Rescue HQ

12th July – Sales Club 2.0

16th July – Networking Lunch at Boughton Hall Cricket Club

6th August – Round the Table Networking at Chester Cathedral

2nd July – Networking and Tour at Cheshire Military Museum

SCAN THE QR CODE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE!

28th June – Networking Event and Insight into EV Ownership at Tesla

11th July – Round the Table Networking at Theatre Porto

21st August – Networking Lunch at Leonardo Hotel Chester

Supporting care leavers into employment

Businesses can play an important role by providing care leavers with the opportunities to start their journey into paid employment.

Care leavers are individuals who have spent time in care as children, including foster care, residential care like children’s homes or other arrangements outside immediate or extended family.

Vivo Care Choices, an in-house care service at Cheshire West and Chester Council, supported care leaver Alicia into employment almost 18 months ago. She has been providing care and support to people with learning disabilities and autism ever since, helping them become independent in the local community and enjoy life to the full.

Alicia said: “The Council’s Young People’s Service was a big help, supporting me to put together a CV and arrange an interview.

“It was a bit daunting starting my job at first because I’d never done this kind of work before, but there’s a big team here and everyone made me feel so welcome.

“The best thing about my job is the relationships you form with the people you’re supporting.

“People ask for me, ask where I am and appreciate what I do for them so that’s really nice to see.

“My upbringing has been challenging, spending time in foster care, and I’ve got a little boy of my own now so working for Vivo gives me a normal routine.

“It’s given me a lot more motivation, helping other people, and something to get out of bed for each morning.

“The longer you’re in the job, the more you can progress and the more responsibilities you’re given.”

Care experienced young people can be the professionals, business owners and neighbours of tomorrow when they’re given the opportunities and you can support them as you would your own child.

The Care Leaver Covenant is a national promise made by the private, public and community sectors to provide support for care leavers aged 16 to 25 to help them live independently and thrive in their local communities through employment. Businesses can sign up at: mycovenant. org.uk and advertise their opportunities through the Covenant app.

For an informal chat, you can also email: info@mycovenant.org.uk or louise. mcalley@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and learn more about how communities and businesses play a crucial role being a corporate parent to young people with care experience.

New UKSPF Business Support Programme

On 16th May, the Council launched the Year 3 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Business Support Programme at an event attended by over 100 businesses. The event at the Macdonald Portal, Tarporley, was an opportunity to celebrate and highlight the businesses supported through the projects delivered in Years 1 & 2 of the 3-year UKSPF programme. The event also introduced the projects and delivery partners for the Year 3 programme, which will run until March 2025.

The Year 2 programme supported over 200 new jobs and safeguarded a further 1000 jobs. It created 30 new businesses, with over 190 receiving non-financial support and 330 businesses attending workshops, networking and other business support events. 129 grants were awarded (17 in rural areas) and these were matched by over £2m in private sector contributions.

The Investor and Innovation projects supported growing businesses to invest in adopting new technologies and

processes to build their resilience and supported new development and sustained growth.

The Decarbonisation project supported the installation of over 32,000 square ft of green infrastructure, saving over 280 tonnes of CO2. It provided support and grants to help businesses improve their energy efficiency.

The Start & Micro Project supported enterprise activity to encourage new businesses to start and helped micro businesses to develop and innovate.

The Workspace Project worked with existing workspace providers to encourage entrepreneurship activity and collaboration space, with wrap-around business support. This supported start-up businesses and home-based businesses and staff, to develop, grow, network and share good practices and knowledge.

The Year 3 projects focus on delivering the outstanding outcomes required as part of the three-year plan, which includes supporting businesses to improve productivity, adopt new technologies and introduce new products.

At the May launch businesses were introduced to the new Year 3 projects, which include support to help growing businesses to innovate and look at opportunities to progress to Net Zero, as well as entrepreneurship activities aimed at supporting businesses to develop. The event also introduced support to help businesses recruit, retain and upskill staff. There is more information about the Year 3 projects on the Council’s Let’s Talk Business website, www.letstalkbizcw.co.uk

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Visit www.gov.uk for more information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus. Visit the Cheshire West and Chester Council website for information on the UKSPF Communities and Place, and People and Skills projects.

n Alicia (right) supporting people at Vivo to take part in a baking session

History Connecting Generations Thanks to National Lottery Funding Boost

Local history, personal stories and even past secrets are being recorded and kept for future generations thanks to a new project launched across Gwynedd and Ynys Môn to coincide with Global Intergenerational Week

A Menter Môn project, ‘Ein Hanes Ni’ (Our Own History) was first trialled in Llannerchymedd in partnership with the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Local children gathered and recorded stories from the area in conversations with the older generation about their memories of the village. Now, with the help of a £250,000 National Lottery ‘People and Places’ grant, the scheme is being rolled out to communities across both counties. The new funding will help ‘Ein Hanes Ni’ achieve its aim of connecting different generations – to each other and to their communities, giving residents a platform to share stories and changes they’ve seen over the years. Giving children and young people the opportunity to create new relationships with older generations, the project will also work with communities to create digital and print resources to record local stories that have been gathered.

Aaron Morris is a project officer with Menter Môn and leads on this scheme,

he said: “This is a great opportunity for people to own their history and make a digital record of it for future generations –this is content that would not necessarily be found in books, archives, academic work or on the web.

“People are at the heart of what we are trying to achieve with Ein Hanes Ni. We want to preserve and record the stories of individuals – from the landscape to names of buildings, to the streets and local characters, to the language spoken. By filming conversations between older and younger members of a community we hope to create an opportunity for them to learn and develop relationships as well as showing young people the value of the older generation and their surrounding area.”

Across both counties, 24 communities have signed up to take part in the project.

Catrin Jones, Language and Community Manager with Menter Môn added:

“We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Feedback from the original trial project was fantastic, with some quite emotional, and stories shared locally and further afield thanks to social media. With these new funds we can help more people reminisce and learn about what makes their area unique.”

This latest boost comes in time to celebrate Global Intergenerational Week, a worldwide campaign to encourages people to embrace intergenerational practice and relationships Through the scheme Menter Môn will work with the adults to undertake the research, before engaging and filming with the children. As well as recording local history the project hopes to help people develop volunteering skills, share connections, and focus on some of the themes that matter to their community.

Young Chamber supports Christleton High School student’s EPQ presentations

Throughout the school year, students at Christleton High School have been planning, researching and developing their EPQ on a subject of their choice that they are passionate about. The aim of the EPQ is to provide students with invaluable skills, including; independence, time

Young Chamber Sponsors were invited to the final part of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) at Christleton High School on 27th February, where Year 12 students delivered 15-minute presentations on topics of personal interest.

management, researching, referencing, communication, responsibility, resilience and presentation skills.

Topics of the presentations ranged from ‘How has safety in Formula 1 changed since the 1950s?’ and ‘Does corruption play a big part in Football?’ to ‘Is a colony on Mars actually feasible?’ and ‘Was The Soviet Union destined to collapse?’. Students were asked questions at the end of their presentations and were given feedback aimed at helping them understand the areas they could improve.

Students at Castell Alun High School showcase their creative talent during a visit from Young Chamber sponsor Platts Agriculture

Platts Agriculture recently delivered an engaging presentation along with a thought-provoking marketing activity to students at Castell Alun High School in Hope, North Wales.

Nadia McKane, Sales & Marketing Director at Platts Agriculture, started the session by introducing herself and offering an insight into Platts as well as some of her daily responsibilities and areas that require more lead time, such as converting enquiries from trade shows into full working relationships.

Nadia then gave the students an insight into her journey of how she worked her way up to Sales & Marketing Director at Platts Agriculture.

After the presentation, the students had the chance to get creative as Nadia set them a task to plan a marketing campaign for the launch of a Platts agriculture-themed clothing range aimed at farmers aged 17 – 25. The students used information that Nadia had given to them in her presentation to brainstorm ideas that could be incorporated into the range. The students also utilized the 7p’s of marketing to devise a strategy for promoting their idea to consumers.

Nadia commented following the event: “It was great to be able to share with the Year 12s at Castell Alun, some examples of campaigns we run at Platts to bring the theories the students have been learning to life.

“I was really impressed with the creative ideas they came up with when set a task to develop a marketing plan for launching a new range of branded clothing for farmers!”

Thank you to the following Young Chamber Sponsors for helping make these events a great success:

• Aaron & Partners Solicitors

• Abrasive Technology Ltd

• Altimex Ltd

• Byotrol Technology Ltd

• Cheshire College – South & West

• Cheshire West & Chester Council

• Complete Education Solutions

• Countess of Chester Hospital

• Knights PLC

• Maria Davison Business & Skills Consultant

• Nuffield Health

• Pinestar Ltd

• Platts Agriculture Limited

• The Fencing Bloke Ltd

• The HR Dept Wrexham & Chester

• Wrexham University

• Zodeq Ltd

n Young Chamber Sponsors, L to R: Davinder Lotay (Altimex Ltd), Ian Wainwright (Pinestar Ltd), Niamh Kelly (The HR Dept Wrexham & Chester), Paul Cooney (Zodeq), Jamie Cooper (Complete Education Solutions).

n Nadia presents the students with their task.

Career talks delivered to inspire next-generation

Business professionals recently delivered career talks to pupils at Christleton High School as part of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s Young Chamber Programme.

Taking place as part of morning assemblies during National Careers Week, three sponsors of the programme spoke about their career journeys and how they got to where they are today.

The first to deliver a talk to Year 9 pupils was Maria Davison, Business & Skills Consultant, who spoke about her academic journey to gaining a degree and teaching qualifications which led to a career in the education sector. Maria then encouraged pupils to push themselves and step out of their comfort zones as it helps to develop resilience and a positive mindset.

Maria said: “It was a pleasure to speak to the year 9 students at Christleton High School about my qualifications and career journey. Events like these are important because they give students a wider understanding of the

qualification routes and career opportunities that are available. I wanted to highlight that there are many routes to employment.”

Year 11 pupils then heard from Davinder Lotay, Managing Director at Altimex Ltd, who gave an interesting presentation about his career and education journey so far which has taken him all over the country following his passion to learn from the best lecturers in the field of fibre optics. Davinder told students about setbacks he faced in his early career and how he dealt with these by utilising his secondary skills in coding.

Trainee Solicitor at Aaron & Partners, Grace Roberts, then delivered her talk to Year 13 pupils about her route into law. Grace explained her journey and also emphasised how important work experience was to those who are interested in a career in law.

Following the event, Grace commented: “I had a great time at Christleton High talking to Year 13 about my career so far as a trainee solicitor. I explained my route into law and talked about the different routes that can be taken. The pupils were engaged and interested. I look forward to seeing the next generation of lawyers coming through!”

Young Chamber programme helps to equip students with crucial skills

Sponsors of the West Cheshire & North Wales Young Chamber programme recently supported Sixth Form students at Castell Alun High School during a mock interview day, organised to prepare the students for future steps after education.

Six sponsors of the Young Chamber programme helped make the event a great success as over 40 students were interviewed for roles that they had previously prepared for. The aim of these mock interviews was to equip students with experience and insight into the skills that potential employers, colleges, and universities are looking for during the interview process.

Lauren Robinson, Assistant Director of Sixth Form Studies at Castell Alun, commented the following about the event:

“Our warmest thanks to the employers for giving up their valuable time and effort to help our Year 13 students develop their interview skills. Our learners welcomed feedback from the employers; it was inspiring to see them motivated, engaged and professional during the interview process. As always, we value the Young Chambers support in meeting our school vision.”

Get involved with Young Chamber...

YOUNG CHAMBER

Career Fair supported by Young Chamber programme

Sponsors of the Young Chamber programme recently helped to provide advice and support to over 1000 students at Christleton High School during the school’s annual Career Fair for students of all ages.

Each sponsor had their own stall which allowed students to gain useful information and ask inquisitive questions about different industries, including skills requirements, career prospects, further education and potential apprenticeship opportunities.

Lynsay Lawson, Careers Co-Ordinator at Christleton High, commented:

“We can’t thank the Young Chamber Programme enough for supporting us with this event. The speakers they sent were engaging and inspiring for the pupils, sharing their own career journeys as well as information about their current employer”

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Events & Young Chamber Manager, Jenny Davidson, added:

“I’d like to give a huge thank you to all the Young Chamber sponsors who helped to support this event, seeing the pupils engaged, intrigued and excited by different companies and career options is something that the Young Chamber Programme strives to do so it was really rewarding to see this in action throughout the day!”

Welcome to our new Young Chamber Sponsors Young Chamber was established to tackle the skills gap that businesses were reporting and to help pupils, at schools and colleges from across the region, develop the necessary skills to hit the ground running when they leave education.

It does this through the running of events at schools and colleges that are part of the programme. These include career talks, interview days and workshops, all designed to give students an insight into the world of work and to help them as they start their careers.

If you are not a sponsor of the programme but you want to help the programme to continue to support students across our region, please email youngchamber@wcnwchamber.org.uk for more information.

n Davinder delivers his career talk to Christleton High’s year 9 students.

n Young Chamber sponsor, Niamh Kelly, Director of The HR Dept Wrexham & Chester provides a Castell Alun student with a mock interview.

n Representatives from Cheshire West & Chester Council speak to Christleton High students during the Career Fair.

CALLING NORTH WALES BUSINESSES

Sign-up for support and funding to reach net zero

A Busnes@LlandrilloMenai initiative aims to help businesses improve their digital and net zero capabilities. Funding and mentoring are available for up to 175 SMEs to develop their decarbonisation action plans.

One company which has benefitted from the opportunity is Mold-based Celtic Financial Planning. Established in 2018, the awardwinning, independent, chartered financial planners are known for their community commitment and have always taken their environmental responsibility seriously.

Green Digital Academy Journey

Keen to continue to improve their sustainability, the business signed up to the Green Digital Academy. Director, Rob Lewis, felt the programme aligned with the business goals of being an environmentally conscious firm and were looking for support to go the extra mile.

He said: “The programme has been very beneficial for us as a business. Often you don’t know what you don’t know, so having an independent expert evaluate your business and providing advice is invaluable.”

Through the Green Digital Academy, the business has been able to review its five-year carbon reduction plan and thanks to the funding they can take their plans even further by monitoring their impact.

Celtic Financial Planning now have a detailed plan in place thanks to the advice and support they received through the programme. They are excited at what the future holds as they continue to build on their carbon zero status.

Want to sign-up?

Businesses should contact green.digital@gllm.ac.uk / 08445 460 460 or visit www.gllm.ac.uk/busnes/projects/green-digital-academy to sign up.

Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is part of Grwp Llandrillo Menai and provides training and support to businesses across the region. The Green Digital Academy has received £1.4m from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Project partners are the Isle of Anglesey County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire Council and Flintshire Council.

GALW AR FUSNESAU GOGLEDD CYMRU

CALLING NORTH WALES BUSINESSES

Cyfle i dderbyn cefnogaeth ac arian i gyrraedd sero net

Sign-up for support and funding to reach net zero

CALLING NORTH WALES BUSINESSES Sign-up

for support and funding to reach net zero

Mae Busnes@LlandrilloMenai am helpu busnesau i gyrraedd sero net. Gyda chyllid a mentora ar gael ar gyfer hyd at 175 o fusnesau bach a chanolig, y nod yw darparu cefnogaeth i greu cynlluniau datgarboneiddio.

A Busnes@LlandrilloMenai initiative aims to help businesses improve their digital and net zero capabilities. Funding and mentoring are available for up to 175 SMEs to develop their decarbonisation action plans.

A Busnes@LlandrilloMenai initiative aims to help businesses improve their digital and net zero capabilities. Funding and mentoring are available for up to 175 SMEs to develop their decarbonisation action plans.

Un busnes sydd eisoes wedi manteisio ar y cyfle yw Celtic Financial Planning o’r Wyddgrug. Wedi’u sefydlu yn 2018, maen nhw’n gynllunwyr ariannol annibynnol, sydd wedi ennill llu o wobrau ac wedi ymrwymo i’w cymuned ac yn cymryd eu cyfrifoldeb o ran yr amgylchedd o ddifri.

One company which has benefitted from the opportunity is Mold-based Celtic Financial Planning. Established in 2018, the awardwinning, independent, chartered financial planners are known for their community commitment and have always taken their environmental responsibility seriously.

One company which has benefitted from the opportunity is Mold-based Celtic Financial Planning. Established in 2018, the awardwinning, independent, chartered financial planners are known for their community commitment and have always taken their environmental responsibility seriously.

Academi Ddigidol Werdd

Diolch i’r Academi Ddigidol Werdd, roedd y busnes yn gallu adolygu eu cynllun pum mlynedd i leihau carbon. Roeddent hefyd yn cael mynediad at arian sydd wedi golygu eu bod mewn sefyllfa i fynd â’u cynlluniau gam ymhellach drwy fonitro effaith.

Through the Green Digital Academy, the business has been able to review its five-year carbon reduction plan and thanks to the funding they can take their plans even further by monitoring their impact.

Through the Green Digital Academy, the business has been able to review its five-year carbon reduction plan and thanks to the funding they can take their plans even further by monitoring their impact.

Green Digital Academy Journey

Green Digital Academy Journey

Keen to continue to improve their sustainability, the business signed up to the Green Digital Academy. Director, Rob Lewis, felt the programme aligned with the business goals of being an environmentally conscious firm and were looking for support to go the extra mile.

Keen to continue to improve their sustainability, the business signed up to the Green Digital Academy. Director, Rob Lewis, felt the programme aligned with the business goals of being an environmentally conscious firm and were looking for support to go the extra mile.

Cofrestrodd y cwmni â’r Academi Ddigidol Werdd am eu bod yn awyddus i wella’u cynaliadwyedd amglcheddol. Roedd Cyfarwyddwr y cwmni, Rob Lewis yn teimlo bod y rhaglen yn cyd-fynd ag amcanion amgylcheddol gyfeillgar y busnes ac roedd yn edrych am gefnogaeth i fynd y filltir ychwanegol.

He said: “The programme has been very beneficial for us as a business. Often you don’t know what you don’t know, so having an independent expert evaluate your business and providing advice is invaluable.”

Dywedodd: “Mae’r rhaglen wedi bod o fudd mawr i ni fel busnes. Yn aml, mae’n anodd gwybod ble i ddechrau, felly mae cael arbenigwr i mewn i werthuso’ch busnes a darparu cyngor yn amhrisiadwy.”

He said: “The programme has been very beneficial for us as a business. Often you don’t know what you don’t know, so having an independent expert evaluate your business and providing advice is invaluable.”

Bellach, mae gan Celtic Financial Planning gynllun manwl yn ei le, diolch i’r cyngor a’r gefnogaeth a gawsant drwy’r rhaglen. Maen nhw’n edrych ymlaen at y dyfodol wrth iddynt barhau ar eu taith tuag at sero net.

Celtic Financial Planning now have a detailed plan in place thanks to the advice and support they received through the programme. They are excited at what the future holds as they continue to build on their carbon zero status.

Celtic Financial Planning now have a detailed plan in place thanks to the advice and support they received through the programme. They are excited at what the future holds as they continue to build on their carbon zero status.

Want to sign-up?

Want to sign-up?

Eisiau cymryd rhan?

Gall busnesau sydd am gymryd rhan gysylltu â digidolgwyrdd@gllm.ac.uk / 08445 460 460 neu fynd i www.gllm.ac.uk/cy/busnes/projects/green-digital-academy i gofrestru.

Businesses should contact green.digital@gllm.ac.uk / 08445 460 460 or visit www.gllm.ac.uk/busnes/projects/green-digital-academy to sign up.

Businesses should contact green.digital@gllm.ac.uk / 08445 460 460 or visit www.gllm.ac.uk/busnes/projects/green-digital-academy to sign up.

Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is part of Grwp Llandrillo Menai and provides training and support to businesses across the region. The Green Digital Academy has received £1.4m from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Project partners are the Isle of Anglesey County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire Council and Flintshire Council.

Mae Busnes@LlandrilloMenai yn rhan o Grwp Llandrillo Menai ac yn darparu hyfforddiant a chefnogaeth i fusnesau ar draws y rhanbarth. Mae’r Academi Ddigidol Werdd wedi derbyn £1.4m gan Lywodraeth y DU drwy’r Gronfa Ffyniant Gyffredin. Mae Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn, Cyngor Gwynedd, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy, Cyngor Sir Ddinbych a Chyngor Sir y Fflint yn bartneriaid.

Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is part of Grwp Llandrillo Menai and provides training and support to businesses across the region. The Green Digital Academy has received £1.4m from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Project partners are the Isle of Anglesey County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire Council and Flintshire Council.

Getting Started with Justin Mason

Trydanol Energy Solutions

What’s in a name?

Trydanol is Welsh for electrical and my family’s heritage; hence a catchy name that provides both regional context of who I am and what I do, with the colours in my logo symbolic of three-phase electrical wiring.

Your position?

Founder & Director

About your business?

I’m a consultant electrical engineer focused on renewables together with oil and gas. I provide high-level design and risk reviews together with project execution leadership.

About you!

I’ve worked internationally as an electrical engineer in oil and gas, with assignments in Russia, Africa, Singapore, and the USA; corporate life concluded as global head of electrical engineering for a bluechip energy company. My experience covered the full asset lifecycle from early concept through to operations, managing large teams, giving me a well-rounded skill in delivering complex activities in challenging environments. Why?

I’d become tired of global corporate life, and needing a positive change. With restructuring during the pandemic, I took redundancy and retrained, studying for a postgraduate diploma in renewables. My transition outplacement package allowed me to explore the possibility of

starting my own business as I craved a more flexible working arrangement. At the same time, I had enquiries for consultancy support from my network and needed a mechanism to be paid, hence Trydanol Energy Solutions was born.

Who is your ideal client/customer?

Clients that play to my strengths where I can provide added value leading to potential repeat business. Additionally, work packages that are technically challenging and stimulating give me the opportunity to learn and develop are highly valued.

Best moment so far?

Securing a long-term call-off contract for a large client has provided me with stability in my workload. This allows me to be more selective on opportunities, enabling me to plan my business direction.

Biggest challenges?

Starting during the COVID pandemic was challenging; for example, banks were either not interested or offering an opening appointment in 6 months and I needed a mechanism to be paid. I also wanted to branch out into renewables and locally. Both of these were incredibly hard as my contacts were mainly international corporates in the energy sector as opposed to UK-based ones. As with most sectors, people don’t take you seriously as a consultant unless you have many years of pedigree in that environment, I needed to build a portfolio fast.

I engaged with my contacts particularly those that were independent regarding support networks; fortunately, one of these lived close by and was able to provide me with guidance, linking me with Business Wales and WCNW Chamber of Commerce, this was a real bonus for me. I gained introductions and small work scopes followed from Welsh renewable companies; often packages were taken at a low rate but I needed to build a portfolio.

I was invited to join a trip to the All-Energy conference in Glasgow for a business meeting with a contacts client. This came to nothing, but by chance, I met with a Scottish-based start-up that needed help. This proved lucrative over the year

providing a portfolio of bankable onshore and offshore renewables experience. The point is that you need to get out and talk; conferences offer the best opportunity to network with a broader audience and don’t be afraid to sell yourself and don’t kid yourself that your existing network will provide you with work.

Benefits of the Chamber Start-Up club since you joined?

It’s a great networking opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs to learn business basics, particularly as in corporate life others provide all your support needs, now that person is you! It’s a very steep learning curve and everyone faces similar issues. The big benefit of attending the Start-Up club is teasing out nuggets of wisdom that can really help you work smarter. It is also a two-way street and you only get out what you are prepared to put in, so be open and honest and people will genuinely want to help you without feeling it’s a hard sell.

Lessons learnt…what would you do differently and why?

Ideally, I would have started earlier, trading and building my client base whilst employed; however, I was constrained by time, and a restrictive employment contract. Starting up in a global pandemic was a challenge but the opportunity of a redundancy package provided a safety net for me to try my idea.

Lesson - Make sure that you keep your options open with sufficient resources and a realistic timescale of when you need the business to perform.

My first year faced the challenges of any new company with limited trading, trying to convert new leads into business and executing work at the same time was difficult.

Lesson - Understanding trading cycles to avoid famine and feast; summer holidays and end-of-year budget close can be particularly challenging if you have not lined up a pipeline of work.

Finally, have faith in yourself. It was the right time for me to enter business; busier than in my corporate life and I now command my own destiny, success or failure. Pob lwc!

PATRON FOCUS

Cheshire College students build their skills in construction competition

Cheshire College – South and West hosted the dynamic Cross College Skills Competition for Construction at its Ellesmere Port Campus in April.

The competition is an annual tradition and a collaborative effort between Cheshire College and three other local Further Education providers; Reaseheath, Warrington & Vale Royal, and Macclesfield. A rotational approach to the competition’s venue means that a different College will host the highly skilled event each year, with 2024 being Cheshire College’s turn, and an opportunity to showcase Ellesmere Port Campus’s pioneering facilities.

Among these was the College’s new £680K Sustainable House; a fully functioning facility fitted with the latest in sustainable technologies. Construction competitors met in the Sustainable House for an introductory briefing, as well as generous hot drinks and pastries provided

by Hospitality & Catering students at Ellesmere Port Campus’s prestigious onsite restaurant, Academy West.

Bricklaying, Electrical, Joinery, and Plumbing competitors then moved to the College’s bespoke Construction workshops, where the competitions began in earnest.

After several hours of hard work, concentration and displays of skill, teaching staff from each of the four Colleges worked together to judge the winning entries; a task which they admitted was extremely difficult across all categories due to the consistently high standards set by the students.

Among Cheshire College’s notable victories were Level 3 Plumbing student Jack Whitehead, who won first place

After several hours of hard work, concentration and displays of skill, teaching staff from each of the four Colleges worked together to judge the winning entries; a task which they admitted was extremely difficult across all categories due to the consistently high standards set by the students.

in the Plumbing (Senior) division, and Level 3 student Jack Willson who secured second place in Brickwork (Senior). All competitors won Constructionthemed prizes specific to their area of study, which they can use during their College course or in their future careers. Throughout their studies, Cheshire College’s Construction & the Built Environment students have access to state-of-the-art facilities consisting of industry standard equipment and specialist workshops for training. Find out more at www.ccsw.ac.uk

Jack Wilson secured second place in Brickwork (senior)

The competition took place at the College’s new Sustainability House.

Jack Whitehead won first place in the Plumbing (senior) division

Welcoming our new Payroll Manager Katie

Staying on top of the ever-changing payroll legislation can be a major headache for businesses.

From minimum wage requirements to properly calculating holiday pay, sick pay, and maternity pay, there are a multitude of laws and regulations that must be followed. For this reason, many of our clients choose to outsource their payroll processing to Ellis & Co – we run payroll for clients ranging from single director monthly payrolls up to large variable weekly payrolls.

“Although payroll can be undertaken by our clients using software, it can be incredibly time-consuming and there is a huge amount of legislation to be considered,” said Ellis & Co director John Moorhouse. “We offer an all-in payroll service which can take that burden off our clients, leaving them free to

concentrate on running their business.”

To enhance this key service offering, Ellis & Co recently welcomed Katie McDonna as the firm’s new Payroll Manager.

“I’m really pleased to have started working for Ellis & Co and I’m looking forward to working with our client base to help them with their payroll issues,” said Katie. “My aim is to make payroll as smooth and hassle-free as possible for our clients.”

To discuss any payroll issues please contact Katie on 01244 343 504.

“I’m really pleased to have started working for Ellis & Co and I’m looking forward to working with our client base to help them with their payroll issues.”

How manufacturers can benefit from a chartered accountant

When it comes to running a business, choosing an accountant is crucial no matter what industry it operates in; however, due to its unique nature, the manufacturing industry in particular can benefit hugely from the support and guidance of a chartered accountant.

Having supported countless businesses within the manufacturing industry throughout our time, Ellis & Co is well versed in the intricacies of running and growing a business of this nature. We have put together some of the key benefits that our manufacturing clients experience when working with a top chartered accountant, take a look below… Guidance on the appropriate software

With so many reputable accountancy software companies out there, it can be daunting for a business owner to know which option is the most

appropriate. Your chosen chartered accountant will be on hand to help you analyse your specific requirements, make recommendations on the best option and, importantly, support you in implementing the software into your business processes.

Business data tracking

Your accountant isn’t just on hand to provide details of your profit, loss and turnover, they are key to gaining extensive and detailed insights into your overall business so that you can make any necessary improvements to aid in growth. Not only will this include a clear view of your business’ cash flow in real time, but for manufacturing businesses in particular, they can support in implementing processes for inventory tracking, obviously crucial figures for any manufacturer.

Improve your process

With the appropriate data reporting in place your business, alongside your accountant, can analyse your business processes together as a whole. Whether that be where bottlenecks are occurring, any variance in budgets,

analysis of your profitability for each product manufactured and so on. With this analysis you can identify areas for improvement, ultimately increasing productivity and profitability, not to mention providing the ideal platform for growth.

John Farrell, Director here at Ellis & Co has said:

“Accounting for the manufacturing industry is a unique field, and we are lucky here at Ellis & Co to have a team with significant experience in this area. With the right processes in place, manufacturers can see huge benefits therefore we would always recommend seeking the support of a specialist chartered accountant, leaving business owners free to focus on running and growing their business.”

Are you a manufacturing business seeking the support of an experienced chartered accountant? Speak to the Ellis & Co team today to find out more about how we have supported manufacturers just like you and our recommendations for your accountancy requirements.

www.ellis-uk.com

Katie McDonna joins Ellis & Co as Payroll Manager

Daniel Conde

General Manager PORCELANOSA

WCNW: To begin, tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Over the past 11 years, I’ve been privileged to be part of the Porcelanosa family. My journey began as a representative of one of Porcelanosa’s brands, and I subsequently assumed the role of manager for Porcelanosa Scotland. This experience laid a strong foundation for my transition to overseeing operations in Porcelanosa Northwest and Yorkshire from our headquarters in Warrington.

Throughout my time with Porcelanosa, I’ve encountered countless opportunities for professional growth and development. Each role has presented unique challenges and rewards, contributing to my overall journey and the success of the company.

WCNW: What attracted you to the company?

What initially attracted me to Porcelanosa was its reputation for excellence in the tile, kitchen, and bathroom industry. Founded in 1973, Porcelanosa has established itself as a leader in the industry, known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and design excellence.

As I delved deeper into researching the company, I was impressed by its global presence, diverse product portfolio, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

I saw Porcelanosa as a dynamic and forward-thinking organization that offered tremendous opportunities for growth and career advancement.

Overall, it was Porcelanosa’s strong values, reputation for excellence, and

commitment to innovation that drew me to the company, and I’m grateful for the chance to be part of such a reputable and esteemed organization.

WCNW: What are your main responsibilities?

As the General Manager of Porcelanosa, my main responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of our company’s operations, strategic planning, business development initiatives, ensuring the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction, and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within the organization.

Overall, it was Porcelanosa’s strong values, reputation for excellence, and commitment to innovation that drew me to the company, and I’m grateful for the chance to be part of such a reputable and esteemed organization.

WCNW: What does a typical day involve?

A typical day for me at Porcelanosa involves a dynamic mix of team collaboration, decision-making, customer engagement, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement efforts. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to drive our company forward.

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

Porcelanosa’s target audience includes developers, architects, interior designers, contractors, and homeowners seeking high-quality tile, kitchen, and bathroom products. The main aim of the organization is to provide innovative and elegant solutions for interior design projects while maintaining a commitment to quality and excellence.

WCNW: What projects are you currently working on?

I’m excited to share that Porcelanosa is expanding into Chester! Our grand opening event is scheduled for the 4th of July. The new store will showcase over 40 displays of bathrooms and kitchens, complete with a dedicated specification area for professionals such as architects and designers. Additionally, we will offer a builder range of products tailored for specifying multi-unit projects, including tiles, sanitaryware, and kitchens. Save the date and get ready for an unforgettable launch!

WCNW: How have things gone so far?

Despite the economic challenges facing the UK economy since 2022, Porcelanosa has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. We have successfully continued to serve a diverse clientele across a range of projects, including commercial, residential, and bespoke house projects. Our provision of tiles, bathrooms, kitchens, and facades has contributed to the success of numerous ventures. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, we have navigated these economic fluctuations successfully, ensuring continued growth and success for Porcelanosa.

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

Yes, there have been moments when we questioned whether we had taken on too big a risk. However, our company overcame these doubts through careful analysis, strategic planning, and proactive measures. We mitigated risks by diversifying our product offerings, expanding into new markets, and implementing cost-saving measures.

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

Looking ahead, our main aims for Porcelanosa include expanding our presence in Cheshire and North Wales to bring more options for local residents to improve their homes.

We aim to become the go-to destination for high-quality tile, bathroom and kitchens in these areas. Our goal is to not only provide top-notch products but also offer exceptional customer service and expert guidance to help homeowners transform their spaces.

Additionally, we aspire to strengthen our partnerships with local developers, builders, architects, and designers to collaboratively enhance the quality and aesthetics of residential and commercial projects in the area. By fostering these relationships and staying attuned to the evolving needs of our customers, we aim to become an integral part of the community and a trusted source of home improvement solutions.

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

Businesses and individuals have responded positively to what we’re offering, demonstrating enthusiasm for our products and services. We’ve received favourable feedback from our customers, who appreciate the breadth of our product range, personalized service, and commitment to customer satisfaction. As a result, we’ve built strong relationships with our clients, fostering loyalty and repeat business. Overall, the response to what we’re offering has been encouraging, motivating us to continue delivering excellence in everything we do.

We aim to become the go-to destination for high-quality tile, bathroom and kitchens in these areas. Our goal is to not only provide top-notch products but also offer exceptional customer service and expert guidance to help homeowners transform their spaces.

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

As a professional, my career aims and aspirations revolve around continued growth, learning, and making a meaningful impact in my field. I strive to advance within my current role, taking on increased responsibilities and contributing to the success of my organization.

WCNW: What message would you give to other people in business?

I would say, staying true to your values and vision. Let passion and purpose be your guiding lights, driving you forward even in the face of adversity.

Porcelanosa’s Chester showroom

Hoffech chi gael cymorth gydag arbedion effeithlonrwydd a lleihau eich allyriadau carbon busnes?

Gyda phecynnau adnoddau ac astudiaethau achos ar gael, ysgwch sut allwch gymryd camau cadarnhaol i ysgogi newid o fewn eich busnes.

03000 6 03000

busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales

Would you like support with efficiency savings and reducing your carbon emissions?

With resource packs and case studies available, explore how you can take positive steps to implement change within your own business.

An Insight into Grosvenor Hart Homes

Initiated by the Duke of Westminster and established in 2022, Grosvenor Hart Homes is a new social enterprise with a mission to improve the life chances of vulnerable young people, children and families, such as care leavers and families living in temporary accommodation. Addressing three critical foundations, we provide highquality affordable homes paired with employment and wellbeing support programmes, tailored around the needs of individuals and designed to empower them to overcome disadvantage and achieve better outcomes in life.

We feel it’s important to avoid the ‘one size fits all’ approach of larger providers, so instead we focus on providing a high quality and tailored approach ensuring that our tenants receive personalised support and guidance that gives them the best chances to thrive. The different elements of our approach:

Affordable Homes

We are providing much-needed highquality affordable homes for families with children and vulnerable young people requiring support in their transition to adulthood, helping to address local housing pressures. We have begun with a small number of homes in the Chester area, with the ambition of scaling to 750 homes across the north-west of England and central London in 10 years.

Family Assistant

The Family Assistant Service plays a key role in the referral, onboarding, and goal setting process with our vulnerable tenants, and will actively signpost and guide them to connect to a range of support services. Importantly, they continue to support tenants throughout their time with us to ensure they reach their goals.

Life Skills Training

A structured training programme designed to build skills for independent living and parenting support. Created for Grosvenor Hart Homes tenants who have particular vulnerabilities, this is key to helping them thrive in their home and wider life scenarios.

Mental Health

Supporting tenants to engage with relevant and appropriate communitybased services, helping them to better manage their mental health needs and build resilience, leading to a more stable and fulfilling life. Also creating pathways for timely assessments and specialist treatment at times of crisis.

Business Incubator

The Business Incubator, due to start later in 2024, aims to provide our tenants and other entrepreneurs with access to a comprehensive suite of services, resources, tools, and mentorship to help them to build the skills, confidence and connections needed to launch and grow their business successfully. We will be looking for industry specialists to deliver talks and workshops, and volunteer career mentors to help support participants in their start-up journey. Interested parties can contact us below.

Flexible Workspace

Grosvenor Hart Hub; a high-quality, contemporary, co-working space in the centre of Chester. With meeting rooms, training rooms, event spaces and desk space, this is a welcoming and vibrant

community where tenants and local business users can work and collaborate in a supportive environment. We are keen to grow our community, particularly with people and organisations who align with our aims of helping young people, families, and small businesses. Make contact below for a tour or to enquire about desk, room or event space.

Job Brokerage

Providing tenants with access to a network of employers and job opportunities, we aim to help them overcome barriers to employment and secure meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities. The service focuses on improving confidence, skills and employability, in order to achieve financial stability and independence. Partner businesses receive support from Grosvenor Hart Homes during onboarding and employees have access to ongoing mentoring from volunteer mentors. If you are interested in providing work opportunities for this scheme, or in being a career mentor to employees taking part, please let us know.

For more information on the above or any of Grosvenor Hart Homes’ projects please contact us on hello@grosvenorhart.com

We feel it’s important to avoid the ‘one size fits all’ approach of larger providers, so instead we focus on providing a high quality and tailored approach ensuring that our tenants receive personalised support and guidance that gives them the best chances to thrive.

n The Hart Hub, a space for tenants and business users

Celebrating Culinary Excellence: A Taste of Chester Food Tour Wins Experience of The Year Again!

Thursday 21st March marked a momentous occasion as Chamber member, A Taste of Chester Food Tour, clinched the prestigious title of Experience of The Year for the second consecutive year at the grand finale of the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2024. The glittering event unfolded within the splendid confines of Chester Cathedral, serving as a fitting backdrop to honour the exceptional contributions of individuals, accommodation providers, eateries, and beloved attractions that constitute the vibrant tapestry of the region’s tourism sector. With an impressive annual influx of 50 million visitors, these awards play a pivotal role in acknowledging the driving forces behind Cheshire’s allure as a premier destination. Amidst an audience comprising approximately 300 guests from the

tourism and hospitality sectors, winners across 16 diverse categories were revealed, each reflecting the essence and excellence of Cheshire’s tourism landscape.

“It’s fantastic to win for the second time in succession and a super way to recognize the terrific work of our guide team and our indie venue partners.”

Gareth Boyd, the Founder and Managing Director of Walking Food Tours UK, This accolade not only underscores the tour’s exceptional quality but also acknowledges the collaborative spirit

and dedication of all those involved in curating unforgettable experiences for visitors.

Already renowned for their immersive gastronomic journeys in Liverpool, Chester, and Shrewsbury, Walking Food Tours now sets its sights on Wrexham, aiming to unveil the vibrant food and drink culture of the area. Scheduled to commence operations on July 6th, 2024, the company is eager to introduce ‘The Taste of Wrexham Food Tour’ to locals and visitors alike

Growth boost for 150+ SMEs thanks to Help to Grow

More than 150 businesses have taken advantage of the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management programme.

Now in its third year and currently supporting its tenth cohort, the wraparound programme of learning, mentoring and peer collaboration –which is funded by the Department for Business and Trade and in partnership with the Small Business Charter and the Chartered Association of Business Schools – is enabling leaders in the region to navigate economic uncertainty and continue to thrive.

Delivered in the city by the University of Liverpool Management School, a recent IPSOS MORI Survey into the programme found:

• Over 70% of attendees said they had greater confidence in leading and managing their business.

• Over 50% had made changes in the way they manage, organise, or operate their business.

• Over 60% said they had improved their leadership and management skills.

• And almost two-thirds said they had increased awareness of factors that drive business productivity.

Professor Robert Blackburn, Director of the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Liverpool said:

“It’s a challenging time for business leaders, so it’s great to see that Help to Grow is providing not just insight but practical support that’s making a tangible difference in this tough economic climate.”

Ambitious SMEs who are looking for support are invited to apply for the next Help to Grow Programme kicking off in September.

Vahid Nagori, CEO of Green Bell Packaging said:

“On Help to Grow, I learnt so many new things and after completing the course we managed to increase our revenue by three times. Our annual turnover is now £1 million, and we’ve added two new job roles.”

Hazel Walker Group Chief Executive Officer at Glenville Walker & Partners said:

“It’s helped us in all kinds of ways. Everything from increasing our brand awareness, helping us to analyse new markets to break into, and attracting the right talent to fuel our next stage of growth.”

Businesses can find out more and register interest in the September programme here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/ management/for-business/help-to-grow/ programme/

n Gareth Boyd, Founder and Managing Director of Walking Food Tours UK celebrating his company’s award win.

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL!

It’s time to stand out from the crowd – time to think brand not bland

There’s far too much bland out there - blands as far as the eye can see. Every business, regardless of its size, stage or type, is a brand whether it deliberately set out to create one or not. The problem is that too many businesses are more accurately blands because they just bland in with the competition and don’t stand out from the crowd. They are commodities, not brands and they are clearly suffering from delusions of blandeur.

Logos and names are not brands. They are simply brand identifiers that help your target audience to identify your product or service offering from that of your perceived competitors.

Your brand, on the other hand, is what your business stands for and is seen to stand for because that is what people

buy – not what you are or what you do. That is why branding is fundamentally the art of managing perceptions, of managing what you want and need to be perceived to stand for.

Strategy before execution –

Brand before marketing

Sadly, new businesses often make the mistake of diving into execution and marketing, coming up with names and having logos designed, websites built before they have identified what their message needs to be.

They have failed to identify what they need to be seen to stand for in order to positively differentiate themselves from their perceived competitors. They simply don’t know what their brand is.

Necessity is often the mother of re-invention

Established businesses need to periodically take a step back and take a long hard look at themselves from the outside in. This is because what matters is

how they are perceived and what they are seen to stand for by those viewing them from an external perspective.

Too many businesses present themselves as they did when they originally launched. They do this unthinkingly, despite the fact that they may have changed significantly due to changes in the market over time, new competition or the fact that they have changed their offerings.

To remain relevant and current, every business should periodically review actions that they might need to take in order to manage their perceptionsactions necessary to revitalise, refresh and reinvigorate their presentation and perhaps even reinvent and rebrand themselves if this is required.

n Phil Strachan

Are you gearing up for a staff away day, off-site meeting or AGM?

It can be a daunting task finding the right venue; somewhere convenient but away from the office where your team can spend the day strategizing rather than being amongst the weeds. Xplore! offers a unique opportunity to try something a bit different!

At its heart Xplore! is a visitor attraction; a Science Discovery Centre and educational charity located in Wrexham city centre. But what comes alongside that is a fantastic venue hire facility for local businesses.

We have modern, professional meeting rooms, additional flexible break-out spaces, a 100 seat theatre with AV equipment and a café to keep everyone fuelled. All of this is set amongst our unique exhibition hall with over 80 handson STEM-based exhibits, puzzles and competitive activities to keep energy levels high and a spring in people’s step. The space also provides a great opportunity for employers to host an all-weather staff family fun-day, with daytime, evening or weekend options available, a dedicated host and a fabulous live science show.

How about getting out in the fresh air?

Xplore! are also the proud custodians of a beautiful Forest School site set in ancient woodland in Northop that provides an amazing opportunity for you and your team to experience a relaxed Woodland Wellbeing session or an active WildCraft adventure day, run by our fullyqualified Forest School Leader. Perhaps you’re looking to upskill your staff? Xplore! are now offering a ½ day staff training day at Xplore!, focused on Climate Change, becoming more environmentally aware and how we can

reduce our climate anxiety by making small steps to reduce our own carbon footprint.

So, if you want to add a team-building activity to your day, simply choose from;

• An away-day at Xplore! in Wrexham and add an ‘Escape Room’ style activity or our popular ‘Cold Case Conundrum’ activity.

• A well-being or an active outdoor day set in our ancient woodland in Northop.

• A climate change training session based on your own site or at Xplore!

WHAT I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT

What I’m Passionate About...

David Foulds

MHA (Methodist Homes) is one of the largest social healthcare charities in Britain and we are passionate about supporting our local communities.

Founded in the roots of the Methodist Church movement over 80 years ago, MHA is an independent charity caring for and supporting people aged 55 and over to live their lives well. We have care homes, most of which are dementia specialists, supported living complexes, for people who want to live independently but with support, and community support services for people still living in their own homes in the community. MHA Communities Cheshire West is the second oldest community scheme in MHA formed over 30 years ago in 1992.

I have worked in the third sector for over 25 years for various organisations such as WRVS, the Big Issue Cymru and for over seven years running MHA Communities Cheshire West. Operating in Ellesmere Port, Neston and surrounding areas, we are an all-inclusive service providing a variety of support services ranging from our well-established social hubs, which are our front door to the community, to our mental wellbeing and dementia community support services. Membership of our services is free and we operate an open referral system which means anyone can refer into us including selfreferrals. Seven years have flown by in which we have had to deal with the COVID pandemic and keep our services running to support vulnerable people

Communities Manager at MHA Communities Cheshire West

who were isolated in their own homes during this time. This was a real challenge which we met head-on and from which we came out forming new services to deal with the aftermath of the pandemic and new needs we identified during this period.

There is a lot of fun and pleasure in developing new services for the community. We have an award-winning Green Care Wellbeing project, our Hawthorns supported living complex in Ellesmere Port, which has been established now for two years. It has won two prestigious RHS awards and we will be going for a third this year. The project has been funded by the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, the National Lottery Awards for All fund and the Screwfix Foundation. We are now moving into the second phase of the project which is to establish a forest school in the grounds which will be a dementia, intergeneration

we are an all-inclusive service providing a variety of support services ranging from our well-established social hubs, which are our front door to the community, to our mental wellbeing and dementia community support services.

and community project with a teepee as a central and practical attraction. The community aspect of MHA is selffunded, which remains consistent in our work. To deliver and develop our services, we heavily rely on funding from various sources. These include grant funding from the local authority, Cheshire West and Chester, as well as the Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Integrated Care Board. Additionally, we apply to other bodies such as the Big Lottery and DWP, and have cultivated relationships with local businesses that sponsor our social campaigns. These campaigns not only enhance the lives of older people, but also benefit people in the broader local community that take away something from engaging with older people. We’ve recently expanded into corporate volunteering days and intergenerational activities with local schools. One of our key partners, who is very supportive of the third sector, is Cheshire West Voluntary Action who represent the many voices of the third sector throughout Cheshire West. There are many changes happening in social care in the community for all sectors with more demands on stretched NHS and community support services. This is where the third sector helps by identifying the gaps in service that can be filled and I see our mission as giving a voice to local communities, providing a resource for those who want to give back and volunteer. Our dedicated volunteers are essential to our success, and we ensure they feel a sense of achievement and fulfilment in the part they play in giving back to the local communities.

n The award winning Hawthorns supported living complex in Ellesmere Port

Coming in Hot!.. Our Hot Topic briefing returns to update you on all you need to know in 2024 so far!

Following the success of last year’s sessions, and two more insightful sessions this year, we are delighted to be hosting the next edition of our International Trade Hot Topic later this month!

On June 18th, along with International Trade expert, Becky Stark from Stark Export Focus, we’ll be taking you through all the biggest updates and changes in the world of International Trade in 2024 so far!

Join us for this free online session as we dive into the latest changes and updates in import and export trends, trade agreements, and the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model. During this session we are also keen to hear from delegates about the impact

of the latest developments on their businesses, in particular trade restrictions and sanctions, staff and cost challenges, and also environmental challenges. With this in mind, we will present some core information throughout the session, but also open up to a more general discussion with delegates to enable an exchange of issues/challenges and best practice.

Visit our website or email internationaltrade@wcnwchamber.org.uk to find out more.

During this session we are also keen to hear from delegates about the impact of the latest developments on their businesses, in particular trade restrictions and sanctions, staff and cost challenges, and also environmental challenges.

UK Goods Trade struggling for impact

Responding to the latest ONS Trade figures, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The first quarter of 2024 shows the challenges UK goods exporters face, with a further drop in sales to both EU and non-EU markets, despite a brighter global economic picture.

“Services remain the good news story on UK export performance, with travel and other transport provisions, providing the impetus for a decent 1.1% increase across the quarter.

“But we need further action from policymakers to reverse recent declines in trade in goods. This means a focus on digital trade and more efficient customs processes to cut costs.

“Other steps include removing some of the trade frictions with Europe, completing free trade agreements already underway, and working with business to get more value for exporters out of our existing deals.

The UK Trade Picture In Detail

Goods Imports

Overall goods imports volumes were down by 2.8% (£1.1bn) from February to March. Imports from the EU fell by 5.3% (£1.2bn).

Goods Exports

Export values to the EU fell by 3.5% (£1.6bn) during Q1 2024 after removing inflation. Non-EU goods exports fell by a lower amount – 1.6% (£0.7bn) over the same period.

An overall fall of 0.3% (£0.1bn) was reported for UK goods exports volumes in March, with a 0.9% (£0.1bn) rise in sales to the EU being offset by a 1.4% (£0.2bn) fall in exports to the rest of the world.

Services

In Q1, UK services exports values, adjusted for inflation, increased by 1.1% (£1.3bn). Services import values by contrast fell by 0.4% over Q1 2024.

“Services remain the good news story on UK export performance, with travel and other transport provisions, providing the impetus for a decent 1.1% increase across the quarter.”

Chamber’s upcoming International Trade Training Course dates

Our British Chamber of Commerce accredited International Trade Training Courses give delegates a clear understanding of the key areas that underpin the world of International Trade.

These courses run twice a year and we are delighted to announce new dates for later this year:

12th September:

BCC Introduction to the Export Process.

25th September:

BCC Incoterms ® 2020 Rules.

9th October:

BCC Understanding Commodity Codes.

16th October:

BCC Export Documentation

24th October:

BCC Introduction to Import.

5th November:

BCC Methods of Payment and Letters of Credit.

21st November:

BCC Customs Procedures and Documentation.

5th December:

BCC Customs Special Procedures.

15th January:

BCC Understanding Rules of Origin.

There are a total of nine accredited courses covering a whole host of topics and with these dates now available to book, you can make sure that you are fully trained in the most important areas of international trade.

Visit our website or email internationaltrade@wcnwchamber.org.uk to find out more.

The Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is one of 38 LSIPs that have been approved by the Department of Education Secretary of State. It has been developed to ensure that employers’ most pressing skills needs are re ected within the local skills system.

The Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is one of 38 LSIPs that have been approved by the Department of Education Secretary of State. It has been developed to ensure that employers’ most pressing skills needs are re ected within the local skills system.

The Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is one of 38 LSIPs that have been approved by the Department of Education Secretary of State. It has been developed to ensure that employers’ most pressing skills needs are re ected within the local skills system.

Our LSIP aims to support employers in articulating their skills needs, whilst brokering links with Post-16 technical education to shape current and future provision; skills for your new and existing workforce.

Our LSIP aims to support employers in articulating their skills needs, whilst brokering links with Post-16 technical education to shape current and future provision; skills for your new and existing workforce.

In order to develop our LSIP, we have already engaged with many local employers and as a result been able to establish our Roadmap, focussing on key themes of Technical Skills (with priority areas of Manufacturing, Health & Social Care, Life Sciences, Digital and Low Carbon), Accessibility, Employability Competencies, Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance, and Educational Professionals. Our aim is to ensure the current and future workforce have the necessary skills and access to local opportunities, as well being able to upskill or reskill to meet changes within industry. We also want to ensure that we can be responsive to the developing needs of

The Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is one of 38 LSIPs that have been approved by the Department of Education Secretary of State. It has been developed to ensure that employers’ most pressing skills needs are re ected within the local skills system.

Our LSIP aims to support employers in articulating their skills needs, whilst brokering links with Post-16 technical education to shape current and future provision; skills for your new and existing workforce.

Our LSIP aims to support employers in articulating their skills needs, whilst brokering links with Post-16 technical education to shape current and future provision; skills for your new and existing workforce.

In order to develop our LSIP, we have already engaged with many local employers and as a result been able to establish our Roadmap, focussing on key themes of Technical Skills (with priority areas of Manufacturing, Health & Social Care, Life Sciences, Digital and Low Carbon), Accessibility, Employability Competencies, Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance, and Educational Professionals.

Our aim is to ensure the current and future workforce have the necessary skills and access to local opportunities, as well being able to upskill or reskill to meet changes within industry. We also want to ensure that we can be responsive to the developing needs of employers.

In order to develop our LSIP, we have already engaged with many local employers and as a result been able to establish our Roadmap, focussing on key themes of Technical Skills (with priority areas of Manufacturing, Health & Social Care, Life Sciences, Digital and Low Carbon), Accessibility, Employability Competencies, Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance, and Educational Professionals.

If you would like to be part of making a di erence to skills training within Cheshire & Warrington, or would just like to nd out more, please get in touch – we’re

In order to develop our LSIP, we have already engaged with many local employers and as a result been able to establish our Roadmap, focussing on key themes of Technical Skills (with priority areas of Manufacturing, Health & Social Care, Life Sciences, Digital and Low Carbon), Accessibility, Employability Competencies, Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance, and Educational Professionals.

If you would like to be part of making a di erence to skills training within Cheshire & Warrington, or would just like to nd out more, please get in touch – we’re here to make things easier!

Our aim is to ensure the current and future workforce have the necessary skills and access to local opportunities, as well being able to upskill or reskill to meet changes within industry. We also want to ensure that we can be responsive to the developing needs of

LSIP@sccci.co.uk or via our website: www.cheshireandwarringtonlsip.co.uk

LSIP@sccci.co.uk or via our website: www.cheshireandwarringtonlsip.co.uk

Our aim is to ensure the current and future workforce have the necessary skills and access to local opportunities, as well being able to upskill or reskill to meet changes within industry. We also want to ensure that we can be responsive to the developing needs of

If you would like to be part of making a di erence to skills training within Cheshire & Warrington, or would just like to nd out more, please get in touch – we’re here to make things easier!

If you would like to be part of making a di erence to skills training within Cheshire & Warrington, or would just like to nd out more, please get in touch – we’re here to make things easier!

LSIP@sccci.co.uk or via our website: www.cheshireandwarringtonlsip.co.uk

LSIP@sccci.co.uk or via our website: www.cheshireandwarringtonlsip.co.uk

Chester Racecourse announces exciting collaboration with Artezzan for Summer Music Weekend

Chester Racecourse is to collaborate with Artezzan Restaurant & Bar for an exciting raceday takeover of The White Horse in July.

The multi-award-winning city centre restaurant is to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to the world’s oldest racecourse on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July, as part of a Summer Music Weekend.

Adding flavour to a line-up that features an Ibiza Classics Evening and feel-good funky beats at Soul Sunset Racing, Artezzan will offer a unique Mediterranean-inspired dining experience in the racecourse’s popular hospitality facility.

Guests will be able to rekindle memories of visits to golden beaches and sunsoaked terraces while indulging in dishes synonymous with the Mediterranean way of life, served in a modern, fresh, feelgood way.

Those attending the Ibiza Classics Evening will be entertained by Ibiza in Symphony, a 10-piece live orchestra after racing, while one of the UK’s foremost

Funk and Soul DJs, Craig Charles, will take to the decks after the races at Soul Sunset Racing.

Rupert Worden, Group Catering Director at Chester Race Company, said:

“We’re excited to be working in collaboration with Artezzan on this raceday takeover of The White Horse.

“Artezzan is renowned for taking guests on a journey through the Mediterranean and allowing them to indulge in the taste and flavours that make the cuisine so unique.

“Given the theming of our Summer Music Weekend, we’re delighted that the Artezzan team will be bringing that authentic Mediterranean dining experience to the racecourse for what is set to be an unmissable occasion.”

Jim Dorrington, Operations Director at Artezzan Restaurant & Bar, said: “We couldn’t be happier to be working with such an iconic venue like the

New Chester office premises for Bennettbrooks

Bennettbrooks, a leading North West Chartered Accountancy practice, has recently moved its Chester office to the Coachworks Arcade, part of the vibrant new Chester Northgate development.

racecourse. Being a part of the Chester community is at the core of everything we do at Artezzan so we couldn’t think of a better collaboration for us.

“Our wonderful chefs have created a bespoke menu that perfectly combines the flavours of summer with our usual authentic, Mediterranean offering and we can’t wait for guests to experience it for the first time.”

Driven by sustained growth and expansion, the practice made the strategic decision to relocate from its Grosvenor Court site to larger premises based in the heart of the historic city. The new setting provides high-quality office accommodation and enhanced amenities and is centrally positioned in the bustling centre of Chester with easy access to key landmarks and attractions. The Chester office comprises three dedicated client directors, a team of experienced accountants along with specialist tax, payroll and technology professionals and forensic accounting expertise. Supporting a diverse range of clients spanning Chester, North Wales and the wider UK, the practice advises SMEs from all sectors but has considerable experience in supporting medical professionals and technology start-ups. The comprehensive range of services offered underpins the practice’s commitment to delivering full-service solutions to businesses across the region. Director, Claire Hills said, “When we made the decision to look for new premises in Chester, the Coachworks Arcade really stood out. It is in a fantastic location and offers our team a modern and attractive workspace which is easily accessible for them and our clients. We are excited about this new chapter for bennettbrooks and look forward to continuing to support our clients from this fantastic new location.”

n (L to R) Jim and Rupert shake hands outside the Racecourse’s White Horse hospitality facility

Cheshire Geoenergy Observatory gears up for debut

The UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire is nearing completion; drilling has been completed and the surface infrastructure is now being installed.

The Cheshire Observatory, located in the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park, will provide scientists with at-scale test facilities that can be used to optimise and de-risk a range of subsurface energy technologies, including geothermal energy.

It is part of the £31 million UK Geoenergy Observatories project, led by the British Geological Survey (BGS), which has also

delivered an observatory in Glasgow for the investigation of mine-water heat and a core scanning facility at BGS Keyworth.

Construction has been in progress since July 2022, informed by technical advisors Ramboll and led by AECOM as principal contractor. With the construction phase coming to a close the observatory is set for an official opening in spring 2024.

3D mapping of heat and fluid flow

A closely spaced array of 21 boreholes has been drilled to enable researchers to map thermal transport through the Observatory rock volume. The close spacing of the boreholes ensures that heat and fluid flow can be related to specific geological features such as faults, fractures, pebble beds and sandstone permeability.

Ground truth is provided by over 1000m of drill core and geophysical wireline log data,

and a dense array of sensors has been installed to monitor temperature and rock properties in close to real time. Installation of the borehole array involved 10 months of drilling within a 36 x 36m area and to a depth of 100m. This necessitated very careful planning and close monitoring of borehole verticality.

Data from borehole monitoring systems activated during the construction phase has highlighted important flow paths within the aquifer, which will be key targets for transport research in the operational phase. Open fractures in the sandstone created interesting challenges for the drilling team as they worked out how to avoid modifying them by enlarging them, clogging them with sediment or allowing grout to migrate along them.

Reports detailing the design and construction of the Cheshire Observatory, together with during-drilling monitoring and commissioning datasets will be shared openly online in due course.

Spotlight on microbiology

In order to provide a snapshot of life in the rock of the Cheshire Observatory BGS microbiologists took samples from the boreholes and the recovered cores.

The samples taken will provide information on life in the subsurface and how the microbial community changes within a relatively small volume of rock — something we know very little about. It also gives us a ‘starting point’ to compare the microbiology after experiments, such as heating and cooling of the aquifer, have taken place at the Observatory.

The most important thing to be learnt from this study is whether changes in the microbiology could have an effect on activities planned in the subsurface. Perhaps the microbes are beneficial and can be used to intentionally produce methane or help seal fractures? Or could they change the chemistry of the groundwater or the physical properties of the rock, which could result in clogging of flow paths, corrosion of metal infrastructure or the production of unwanted gases such as hydrogen sulphide?

Developing surface infrastructure

With drilling activities complete, focus has shifted to installing the surface infrastructure that will enable the site to operate.

Data from over 1800m of fibre optic cable and 1500 individual sensors is being channelled to an on-site data centre which will host network servers and sensor driver and monitoring systems. This is designed to facilitate big-data approaches to the analysis of the high volume, multi-system data that the Observatory will generate.

Subsurface heating, cooling and groundwater circulation systems will be controlled via a building management system in the site plant room. Work on the plant room and data centre is progressing well together with work on concrete plinths around the boreholes and wellhead cabinets. Additionally, a galvanised steel gantry has been built to accommodate the large volume of pipes and cables.

Final steps to delivery

Any of these things could cause problems for industries such as storage of hydrogen, geothermal energy or nuclear waste disposal. Therefore, understanding the microbiology could be valuable in improving the effectiveness of these technologies. To

The Cheshire Observatory is a complex, at-scale research facility that will soon be open to provide scientists, researchers and developers with the data that will help derisk geoenergy technology.

It will support the development of one of the most comprehensive datasets in the world on the geological environment, with data free and open to the public, public bodies, researchers and industry.

“The Cheshire borehole infrastructure is complete and development of the surface control and monitoring systems is well underway. In the new year we will begin full-scale testing of the control and monitoring systems with a view to first use

The

of the Observatory in Spring 2024. Findings from the testing of individual systems has highlighted the wealth of science and innovation opportunities that will soon be available to the research and innovation community.”

Dr Mike Spence, Director of Science, UK Geoenergy Observatories

The observatory will be available to the whole of the UK science community for research, innovation and training activities. It will operate in the same way as the Natural Environment Research Council’s other services and facilities. Research studies funded through any source are welcome, including outside UKRI and industry-led research.

Cheshire Observatory is a complex, at-scale research facility that will soon be open to provide scientists, researchers and developers with the data that will help de-risk geoenergy technology.

ASK THE EXPERT

Chris Hallett Wave Communications Group

Wave Communications Group offers Marketing, Training and Coaching services to help business grow organically.

Wave was founded by West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber member Chris Hallett. It aims to help businesses grow by utilising tried and tested marketing, personal growth and team growth strategies through the 5M Business Growth Model™.

Chris is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and holds an Undergraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing (DipCIM). He is an Accredited Professional Coach (IAPC&M), Certified Business Growth Coach™, Certified Trainer of NLP, Hypnosis Time Line Therapy™ and NLP Coaching.

Why the 5M Business Growth Model?

The 5M Model evolved during my 20+ yrs. experience marketing my own consulting services and working with business owners on their own personal development and business growth. I was studying for a Chartered Institute of Marketing accredited marketing degree and realised that business growth is more than just marketing. Growth is also linked to how we grow personally and overcome the emotional barriers that so often hold business owners back. I realised that it’s time to rethink how we approach marketing and focus on strategy, team growth; how businesses are organised and managed, and naturally, how you measure the outcomes of those efforts.

At Wave we help business owners navigate the dynamic tides of business with precision, empowering success through strategic direction and innovative practical solutions that reap tangible results.

DipCIM MCIM

What are the Key Elements?

The 5M Business Growth Model focuses on five key areas of business. Whether you’re a solo business owner or a large enterprise employing hundreds of people, all five areas should be worked on and measured. Each area is independent of each other and yet they need to work simultaneously to achieve your growth goals.

How does it work?

Every business is at a different stage. I knew a different approach was needed to the typical programmatic, linear approach favoured by training companies. Our approach is a cyclical model that targets one of five growth areas depending on individual business needs. We assess your current position and focus your attention in specific areas to have maximum impact on your growth goals. The starting point is different for each business whilst the outcome is the same, business growth.

Who is it for?

Typically, it’s service-based businesses that employ teams of 3 or more. Our approach is to coach business owners through the model, keeping them accountable for their actions, unless the CEOs prefer a completely managed solution where we manage their team on their behalf.

Where should you start?

Sales and cash flow are key to all businesses and so many businesses are chasing sales without any form of plan or growth strategy. I’ve seen many owners throw thousands of pounds into training and marketing tactics without knowing if it’s the right approach and without the means to measure the results. The first step is to create a business and marketing strategy giving you a sense of direction and purpose.

Member Offer

Whether you’re a small or large business, managing marketing is a minefield and you may be already using many tactics with some success. For a free no-obligation Marketing Growth Assessment email Chris at chris@wavecommsgroup.co.uk.

Quarterly Business Report – Q1 2024

As the UK reaches two years into the inflation shock caused by disruption to global supply chains due to the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine, prices are stabilising but at a much higher level, and uncertainty for businesses remains high. Further rises in the minimum wage are likely to impact pay differentials, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza, alongside shipping disruption in the Red Sea, is potentially a source for greater instability.

For Q1’24, the Chamber Quarterly Business Report received 107 responses from businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales (WCNW) representing over 9400 employees. 19% of the businesses that responded were from the manufacturing sector whilst the remaining 81% came from the services sector. The fieldwork for this survey took place between 12th February and 6th March 2024.

Key Outcomes

• Domestic sales eased to similar levels seen in Q2 ‘23. Domestic orders also eased to the lowest point since Q1 ’23 reflecting the slowdown in consumption as higher interest rates, continued inflation above the Bank of England’s target of 2%, and a slowdown in employment, weigh on confidence.

• Both export sales and orders entered negative territory (more businesses reporting a decrease than an increase)

In focus with Wurkplace

Wurkplace is a leading provider of outsourced HR and Health and Safety solutions for businesses. In this feature, we are speaking to Mark Whitfield, Business Development Director, about his response to our first Quarterly Business Report of 2024:

How have you found the last few months at Wurkplace?

It has been an exciting yet challenging period for us, as we have worked tirelessly to adapt to the ever-changing business environment. Despite the difficulties, we have managed to maintain our composure and even experience growth thanks to our innovative approach and unwavering commitment to our clients. The economic landscape continues to be challenging for businesses, has Wurkplace been affected?

While the economic landscape has presented its fair share of challenges, we have embraced change as a fundamental part of our business. We have been proactive in finding creative solutions to address the rising working wages and the financial strain felt by many of our clients. Our non-scripted

advice and personalised guidance have allowed us to assist our clients in navigating these complex situations successfully.

n Mark Whitfield, Business Development Director at Wurkplace

Looking ahead, we have exciting investment plans for the upcoming year. We are set to launch our new software, a cutting-edge HR and health and safety system. This project, in collaboration with Wrexham University, has demanded significant effort and resources. However, we are confident that it will be ready for commercial use by November 24. With this innovative product in our portfolio, we anticipate substantial growth for Wurkplace in the next 12 to 24 months, securing our position in the market as the digital world continues to evolve.

with orders falling to a three-year low last seen in the midst of the Covid pandemic. This is likely to reflect weak global demand and uncertainty caused by the escalation in geo-political tensions.

• Recruitment difficulties fell to the lowest level in three years indicating an easing in labour market conditions for businesses, reflecting the slowdown in sales and orders referred to previously.

• Investment intentions in training saw a sharp decline, falling to a three-year low underlining the easing in labour market conditions.

• Inflation remains the top concern for businesses, but has eased since the alltime high seen in Q4 ‘22.

• Finance cost pressures on prices continued to rise but labour costs remain the highest contributor to businesses raising their prices.

Looking forward, how do you see the next 12 months for your business?

We understand that the next 12 months will bring their own set of challenges. The introduction of the new software and the integration of new employees and apprentices will require careful planning and execution. However, we are committed to putting our clients first and embracing change as it comes. By continuously updating our business plans and aligning them with the evolving needs of our clients, we are confident that we will not only survive but thrive in the coming months.

Business Manifesto outlines 5-point Action Plan

A five-point plan for immediate action by the new government is at heart of the British Chambers of Commerce Election Manifesto published May 29th.

The five-point plan is part of the BCC’s ‘Future of the Economy’ manifesto. The manifesto includes the biggest ideas from a series of extensive policy documents published this year, focusing on the key economic challenges identified by the BCC. The challenges are: Green Innovation, People and Work, Local Economies of the Future, Global Britain and the Digital Revolution. The manifesto has been brought together after extensive consultation with the Chamber network, the BCC’s Business Council, external stakeholders, and academics.

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, President of the BCC said:

“In the frenzy of the election campaign, it’s crucial that all politicians focus on the power of British business.

“As I travel across the UK meeting Chambers and their businesses, I hear amazing stories of people determined to grow their businesses and make a difference in our remarkable country. But time and again businesses tell me they want to see a long-term vision for the economy.”

“Our manifesto showcases practical ideas on how politicians can help companies successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities our economy faces. It’s a blueprint for boosting productivity and a pathway to higher growth.

“Whichever party is in power after July 4th the immediate focus must be on implementing our five-point-plan for business. The stakes for business from the next government could not be higher.”

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, President of the BCC

The BCC wants to see:

GREEN INNOVATION

Industrial Strategy with green innovation at its heart Action

For green jobs and business investment

PEOPLE AND WORK

Plan better for skills Action

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC said:

“A General Election is an important time for our country, our economy, and our businesses.

“The companies we represent are the drivers of economic growth and the employers of millions of people. They need to know that politicians have got their back. Once the votes are counted – we want government to know how to help business. Our fivepoint-plan is clear.

LOCAL ECONOMY FOR THE FUTURE

Business Rates Reform Action

You

To boost investment in skills, bringing businesses and training providers together to tackle skills shortages and support sustainable career opportunities for all.

To develop a long-term business rates strategy to encourage economic growth and investment in communities across the UK.

GLOBAL BRITAIN

Improve EU relations to cut costs for business Action

For the new government to negotiate improved UK trading terms with our largest partner the European Union.

DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Government to appoint an AI Champion for SMEs Action

For an AI Champion to spearhead uptake of latest technology amongst SMEs to boost productivity and competitiveness. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

“As companies play their part in the UK’s net-zero journey, we desperately need an industrial strategy with green innovation at its heart.

“Firms are constantly telling us they can’t get the skills they need. We need better strategic planning on skills that helps business and training providers work together.

“In local communities, firms are crying out for a fairer business rates system. Over a quarter (26%) of companies told us earlier this year they’d changed plans to upgrade or open premises because of the system.

“The EU is the UK’s biggest market, so we urgently need to get a better trading relationship with our closet neighbour. It’s not about rewriting the referendum result, it’s about cutting red-tape and promoting trade.

“The world of AI has huge potential to boost economic productivity. But it’s important that SMEs aren’t left behind, or vulnerable, as new technology accelerates. A Government appointed AI champion will help spearhead a boost in AI uptake by SMEs.

“We believe our 5-point plan creates an immediate pathway for a new government, of whatever party, to help businesses succeed. When business succeeds, the country succeeds.”

“The EU is the UK’s biggest market, so we urgently need to get a better trading relationship with our closet neighbour. It’s not about rewriting the referendum result, it’s about cutting red-tape and promoting trade.”

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

7x19 Building Adventure

Sports and Recreational Activities

Unit 10, The Old Creamery Station Road

Mochdre Colwyn Bay

Conwy County Borough

LL28 5EF

03300 438719 www.7x19.co.uk

AKS Accountants (North West) Ltd

Accountancy and Business Advisers

Suite A3, Steam Mill Business Centre

Steam Mill Street Chester

Cheshire

CH3 5AN 01244 952440 www.aks-accountancy.com

Almiren

Software Development

Lytchett House, 13 Freeland Park Wareham Road

Lytchett Matravers Poole

Dorset, BH16 6FA 01244 722473 www.almiren.com

Archdruid Interactive Ltd

Entertainment

Unit 3a, Penrhos Business Park

Holyhead Isle of Anglesey LL65 2FD 07842 336439 www.archdruidinteractive.com

Bimeda UK

Medical Goods & Services

Unit 2, Bryn Cefni Industrial Park Llangefni Isle of Anglesey LL77 7XA 01248 725400 www.bimeda.com

CADA Consulting Limited

Data Services 07799 430491 www.cadaconsulting.co.uk

Circular Refining & Products Company

Gas, Oil and Petrochemical

Park House

Park Road Manchester

Greater Manchester

M34 5QW

01616 673352 circularrefining.co.uk

County Insurance Brokers

Insurance Brokers

Crewe Business Park

Crewe

Cheshire

CW1 6AY 01270 506984 www.countyins.com

Depaul Charities

The Portal, Wellington Road

Ellesmere Port

Cheshire

CH65 0BA 07890 432897 www.depaul.org.uk

Devafest Festivals www.devafest.co.uk

Holt Lodge

Hotels & Restaurants

Wrexham Road

Holt Wrexham

Wrexham County Borough LL13 9SW 01978 661002 www.holtlodge.co.uk

Hubtivity Limited

Social Media & Design Agency

Hubtivity Limited, Unit 7 Telford Court, Dunkirk Trading Estate, Chester Gates, Dunkirk Chester Cheshire, CH1 6LT 07896 909117 www.hubtivity.co.uk

Inner Solutions Life Coaching Ltd

Business & Life coaching 03300 433631 www.innersolutionsltd.co.uk

Dice Business Limited

Management Consultants

Dice Business Limited, George Street

Chester Cheshire

CH1 3EQ 07488 376738 www.dicebusiness.co.uk

EHW Consulting Ltd

Strategy Consultant 07703 639590 www.linkedin.com/company/ ehw-consulting-ltd/

Grow Her Business

Business Coaching 07871 115259 www.growherbusiness.com

JB Removals & Storage

Removals & Storage 01978 253826

Layer 4 Limited

IT Services

1st Floor, 11 Church Street

Flint Flintshire, CH6 5AD 03302 368970 www.layer4.co.uk

Mc Media Creative

Video Production 07889 381574 www.mcmediacreative.com

Healthbox CIC

Health and Wellbeing

Healthbox CIC Unit 6, Venture Point, Stanney

Mill Road

Stanney Mill Road Chester Cheshire, CH2 4NE 01513 550205 www.healthboxcic.com

Mitchell Charlesworth

Accountancy and Business Advisers

24 Nicholas Street

Chester Cheshire, CH1 2AU 01244 323 051 www.mitchellcharlesworth.co.uk

MM Packaging Deeside Ltd

Manufacturing

170 Parkway

Deeside Industrial Park

Deeside

Flintshire

CH5 2NS 01244 289885

Northwest Payments Ltd

Business Services

Cholmondeley House

Dee Hills Park Chester

Cheshire, CH3 5AR 07784 559271

www.northwestpayments.co.uk

Platform for Life Charities

Unit 8 The Parade Enterprise Centre

Blacon Chester Cheshire

CH1 5HN 07552 219806

www.platformforlife.org.uk

Positive Being Coaching

Coach, Business & Life Coaching 07973 695439 www.positivebeing.co.uk

Scitech Adhesive Systems Ltd

Consultants Unit 1, Cambrian Commercial Centre Castle Park

Flint Flintshire CH6 5AX 01352 732007

SIM Consulting Consultancy and Training 07904 586733 www.simconsulting.co.uk

Viva Positiva Ltd

Health and Wellbeing 07542 882769

Spotted Dog Ecommerce 01606 889629 www.thespotteddogcompany.co.uk

Warrington & Vale Royal College

Education

Warrington & Vale Royal College (Winsford Campus) Weaver Street

Winsford Cheshire

Cheshire, CW7 4AH 01925 494494 www.wvr.ac.uk

Wild Wonder Box Ltd

Ecommerce

Unit 2 The Yew Tree Business Centre

Hope Wrexham County Borough LL12 9RG 07794 963128 www.wildwonderbox.co.uk

Starfish Training First Aid Training 07825 288969

Prism Work Psychology Limited

Organisational Development Specialists

07880 730174

www.prismworkpsychology.com

Professional Surveyors Ltd

Surveyors

1 Overleigh Road Handbridge

Chester Cheshire, CH4 7HL 01244 952289

www.professionalsurveyors.co.uk

Reference Me

Human Resource Services 07549 311972

The Townhouse Hotels & Restaurants 49-51 Lower Bridge Street

Chester Cheshire CH1 1RS 01244 567300 www.chestertownhouse.com

Uniforms Stores UK Ltd

Ecommerce 03330 117254 www.uniformstores.co.uk

Vicky Cutler

Utility Provider 07990 526907 www.dothisforyou.co.uk

Join the largest accredited business organisation in West Cheshire and North Wales today and let us connect you to opportun ity, support you and help your business grow wcnwchamber.org.uk

Leveraging AI Tools

By Klaire Tanner

AI has become an integral part of our daily lives. Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant utilize AI to understand natural language and perform tasks such as setting reminders, answering queries, and providing recommendations.

Image recognition powered by AI is used in various applications, including facial recognition on smartphones, content tagging on social media, and medical image analysis for diagnostics. Additionally, recommendation systems driven by AI are employed by streaming services like Netflix and music platforms such as Spotify to analyze user preferences and deliver tailored recommendations for movies, shows, or songs.

Thanks to advancements in technology and the growing availability of AI tools, AI is more accessible than ever. Whether it’s automating repetitive or mundane tasks, freeing up you and your team to focus on more meaningful endeavors, personalizing customer interactions, or gaining insights from data, AI can help businesses thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Integrated AI tools

Before considering new AI solutions, it’s always good to investigate the tools you’re currently utilizing or investing in to determine if they already integrate AI capabilities. For instance, software like Adobe Creative Cloud often includes AI-powered features that can enhance productivity and creativity. By evaluating your existing tools, you may discover AI functionalities that align with your needs, potentially saving you from unnecessary expenses.

Enhancing Your Tasks

Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots like Chatfuel and ManyChat excel in handling customer inquiries, providing support, and assisting with lead generation on business websites or messaging platforms, enhancing customer service and engagement.

Content Creation: Tools such as Writesonic and Copy.ai leverage AI to generate content ideas, headlines, and assist in creating articles based on input parameters. This enables businesses to create engaging and relevant content quickly and affordably.

Website Optimization: Platforms like Unbounce offer AI-powered tools to optimize website design, layout, and messaging, resulting in improved user experience and conversion rates.

These examples offer just a glimpse into the diverse range of tasks that AI can optimize, there are thousands of choices available, if one doesn’t work for you, try another!

When exploring AI tools, consider those that offer versatility across multiple functions.

By selecting tools with diverse functionalities, you can maximize their value and address various needs.

Using AI to Address Challenges

While AI has become the buzzword of the century, it’s crucial to ensure its application aligns with the right reasons and use cases. Simply implementing AI for the sake of it can result in more time spent than saved. It’s essential to utilize AI to address specific challenges effectively rather than chasing trends blindly.

Three questions to consider when determining the challenges AI can address:

• What are the current pain points?

• Are there repetitive tasks in the workflow?

• Which processes can be accelerated?

Getting the Most Out of AI:

• Make tasks easier by automating them

• Learn from data and gain insights

• Get creative with content creation

• Bridge language gaps

• Improve customer service with chatbots

• Personalize user experiences

• Optimize marketing campaigns

Limitations

AI technologies have their limitations, but they’re constantly improving. It’s crucial to double-check AI-generated outputs for accuracy. While AI can save time, it’s not infallible, so human intervention is essential for ensuring correctness.

By recognizing and addressing limitations, businesses can mitigate risks associated with AI adoption and make more informed decisions about when and how to leverage AI to enhance their operations and competitiveness

Pricing

Many AI tools offer scalable options suitable for startup to Enterprise, offering subscription-based pricing, where you pay a monthly or yearly fee based on usage, the number of users, or the level of features you require.

For this you can expect to pay anywhere from a few pounds to a few hundred pounds per month.

The cost of AI tools may also depend on whether you opt for off-the-shelf solutions or custom-built solutions tailored to your specific needs. Off-the-shelf solutions are generally more affordable and accessible. It’s crucial to consider the value and return on investment that the AI tool can provide.

Strategies for implementing AI internally

Identify Pain Points: Reflect on the challenges you and your team have encountered. Are there repetitive tasks, data analysis needs, or customer interactions that could be streamlined with AI?

Research Solutions: Look into AI tools and platforms that address identified pain points.

Evaluate Potential Impact: Consider how AI tools could enhance your business processes, improve efficiency, and help you deliver better products or services to your customers.

Start Small: You don’t need to implement complex AI systems from the outset. Begin with simple AI tools or solutions that address your most pressing internal needs and gradually expand as your business grows.

Stay Informed: Keep informed of developments in AI technology and how other businesses, including startups, are leveraging AI to their advantage. Learning from their experiences can help you make informed decisions about integrating AI into your own business strategy.

Stay informed with valuable online resources like www.futuretools.io , an upto-date repository of thousands of AI tools. With its regularly updated content and user-friendly search feature, it’s a go-to destination for discovering the latest AI tools.

With the right strategies and a clear understanding of your objectives, AI tools can empower you to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and efficiency. So, seize the opportunities they offer, experiment, and pave your path with AI, one step at a time.

Bold thinking needed to keep UK at top table

The British Chambers of Commerce has launched its Global Britain Challenge report to boost exports and channel overseas investment into the UK. Among the 28 recommendations are:

• The creation of a ‘Team UK’ to champion an updated ‘Brand Britain’ and show the world the best of what we can offer.

• A change in mindset, so the UK takes a more vigorous approach to fighting for its future success.

• Finally stepping out of Brexit’s long shadow, so politicians take bold decisions to make it work better and grab the opportunities it offers.

• An injection of more investment into the UK by targeting the big, and growing economies, with the money and understanding to make the most of what we can do.

• A greater emphasis on services exports in the UK’s trade deals.

The ‘Global Britain’ report was published at an event hosted by Heathrow Airport, on Wednesday 27 March. It is the fourth of five policy documents from the BCC’s new Business Council, as part of the ‘Future of Economy’ project. The report draws on expertise from businesses of all sizes, academia, Chambers and think tanks. Its proposals have two aims; to raise the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United Kingdom and to increase the amount of goods and services we export. It recognises that the UK is starting from a position of great strength – it is currently the sixth largest economy in the world, the fifth largest exporter, and has the third largest stock of inward investment assets. The country has an embarrassment of riches – its universities, legal system,

culture, creativity and can-do spirit are the envy of the world.

But none of this can be taken for granted. The UK is the only G7 country yet to regain its pre-pandemic level of trade intensity.

To keep its seat at the top table Government, business, higher education, and cultural and societal institutions must work together. Only then can Britain’s place in the world, and the world’s place in Britain be guaranteed.

Martha Lane Fox, President of the British Chambers of Commerce and Chair of the Business Council, said:

“Trade and inward investment are two vital pillars that hold up the UK economy. But despite new free trade agreements and a raft of other deals, the intensity of our exports and imports is lagging behind our main rivals.

“This is about much more than Brexit, it’s about the UK’s attractiveness as an investment location and our reputation as a trading nation in the world.

“But Brexit casts a long shadow. There is sometimes a reluctance among politicians to either recognise problems or suggest solutions, because of how they may be viewed either side of the Brexit divide.

“This must stop. Our politicians must be bolder in their decision-making. They must set out a strategy on how we mange EU regulation and where, it makes sense, we diverge, so British business can benefit.

“The UK has so much going for it, and we need to make the most of the huge opportunities that presents. Rather than deciding strategy based on parochial

political concerns, let’s decide on what’s best for the long-term future of the UK.

“That means taking stronger positions and negotiating better deals with the EU and the rest of the world, to champion our world-leading services sector.

“We must also do more to improve the flows of investment into the UK, by going after the big fish – the nations with the biggest and deepest pockets.

“And it is crucial that we sell the UK’s unique offering and its many advantages to the world as loudly as can.”

Michael Hayman, Chair of the Global Britain Challenge Group, said:

“This report calls for the creation of a new ‘Team UK’ to champion and revitalise ‘Brand Britain’ by showcasing to the world the best of what the UK can offer inward investors.

“There is a world of choice for business and the UK is faced with competition from the entrepreneurial zeal of economies globally. That’s why we need to urgently focus on accelerating our position as a leading nation for foreign direct investment with a new and coordinated focus on presenting the country’s capacity for innovation.

“Trade has continued to change and develop, and we are more than capable of changing with it. The gear shift required is from an incumbent, to one of a challenger. The UK is a great country for business but too often, investors told us, we are seen as unpredictable and uncertain. They want to know where they stand and where things are going.

“The opportunity is to provide that clarity and certainty with a message to the world that the UK is very much in business and for business.”

BRITISH

PERSON BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Ray Webb

Wills & Estate Planning LLP

An overview of yourself and your current role.

I am the principal partner of Ray Webb Wills & Estate Planning LLP. My business partner is my son Bill, who does all the formal business documentation work for me and helps with technical research. We set the business up in February 2023 to provide people with access to quality advice in an approachable, friendly and caring manner, with transparent, fixedfee pricing.

I spent over 30 years as a financial adviser and Bill is a fully qualified solicitor, so we have a great combination of skills and knowledge. My experience as a financial adviser means I have a deep understanding of inheritance tax, care fees legislation, business succession and pensions, all of which enable me to advise my clients on how these issues can affect their estate and how they can incorporate provisions within their Will to mitigate adverse outcomes.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Meeting people and learning all about their families and their hopes for them. Also, the fact that I am providing genuine help for people and that they truly appreciate the advice, guidance and service given, on what is, let’s face it, not the most pleasant of topics, our demise. I enjoy the process of establishing circumstances, discussing their requirements, confirming our advice in writing and the follow-up meeting to discuss, fine-tune and finalise a client’s Will or LPA provisions.

Everybody’s circumstances are different and whilst requirements for a Will can be straightforward, there can often be quite challenging family or business situations that we need to find suitable solutions for.

Was a role like this always what you aspired to?

My father worked at Vauxhall Motors and shortly before I left Blacon High School way back in 1980 (!!), he arranged an interview for me, which I was very reluctant to attend. I did my best to flunk

it, but in those days if your father worked there, a job was offered. I had to find something else, and quickly, so I got a job in a shop in Chester. I enjoyed the customer interaction and could connect with people easily. That aspect of any role I’ve had since has never felt like work, so yes, in a way I guess you could say that not working was an aspiration!

Tell us about your previous roles/ business journey.

I had lots of retail jobs in Chester during the first 3 years of leaving school, much to the despair of my mum. “You change your job as often as you change your underpants!” It was always onwards and upwards, but I switched tack and started working for Molyneux Estate Agents, progressing to become the manager of their Chester branch. From there I joined Pearl Assurance as a local agent and it was a great grounding in financial services. After a couple of years, I left to become a mortgage adviser within a firm of estate agents in Crewe. A fateful move as I met my wife there...

n Ray with his Granddaughters, Lucy & Chloe

Everybody’s circumstances are different and whilst requirements for a Will can be straightforward, there can often be quite challenging family or business situations that we need to find suitable solutions for.

As my career in financial services progressed, I secured a role as an investment adviser with Yorkshire Building Society which involved relocation to Cardiff. We stayed in South Wales for 10 years but decided to come back to Chester in 2001, by which time I had become a self-employed IFA and worked for a company for 15 years. When that company sold the business, I did not like the culture of their successors and I decided to stop as an IFA. After an extended break, I missed doing what I do best, which is providing advice faceto-face. I had no desire to go back as an IFA and so undertook the required training to provide advice on Wills and LPAs, which is a natural extension of my earlier career.

Tell us a bit about what you do outside of work to relax.

I am a season ticket holder at Chester FC and I’m at every home game. If they’re playing away then it’s either a weekend at our caravan in the Shropshire countryside or spending time with my two granddaughters, Chloe and Lucy who are 5 & 2. I walk our cocker spaniel, Megan, every day around the fields and woods in Buckley where I live and every week I have a singing lesson, which I’ve been doing for about 5 years. Ed Sheeran need not worry, but I enjoy it. And of course, the occasional beer or three.

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

I’d like to be a radio DJ along the lines of Danny Baker, chatting away, playing music, interviewing guests etc. That said, in my dreams, I’ve been asked to step in for Noddy Holder at a Slade concert in 1973 because he’s got a sore throat.

What advice would you give to anyone else in business?

Persevere, network, be cheerful and enjoy what you do. Your enjoyment will show and your clients will like doing business with you.