West Cheshire & North Wales Business Magazine Sept 23

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

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Published September 2023

© Benham Publishing

Media no. 1984

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As we move into Autumn, the economic conditions facing businesses in West Cheshire and North Wales continue be challenging with recruitment difficulties being high on the list. Fierce competition for skills, wage demands and candidates’ expectations has left many businesses with job vacancies they can’t fill.

The Government must redouble its efforts to get people back into work and create the right conditions for employers to invest in staff training and development. Where firms cannot recruit and train from their local or national labour market, a flexible, efficient and affordable immigration system is crucial.

Our Young Chamber programme has been running for over five years and has played an active part in bringing our local business and educational communities closer together. With the new school year just around the corner, now is a brilliant time to get involved with an array of events we

have planned over the next 12 months. You can reach out to the team on youngchamber@wcnwchamber.org.uk to find out more.

It is not long now until we welcome members to our Annual Ball & Recognition Awards Ceremony on 17th November at Chester Racecourse! We have once again had an incredible response from members nominating themselves for the awards and thank you so much to everyone that has taken the time to enter. By the time that you are reading this, the finalists may have already been announced and I wish you luck for the next stage! You can find out more about the ceremony on the next page and it would be great to see you there.

As a Chamber member, you remain at the heart of everything we do and 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.

The magazine is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed to businesses in the region.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2023. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

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

Phill Jones thanked for his seven years of support

Phill Jones has stepped down from his role as President of the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and this brings an end to a sevenyear tenure as part of the Board of Directors.

Phill said: “As I step down from my role as President of the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Debbie Bryce, CEO, the Board of Directors, the staff and the members for the last seven years.

“It has been an incredible journey with many challenges but ultimately a rewarding experience to work with and to serve our region’s businesses alongside Debbie and the team.”

Phill was presented with a Welsh slate plaque by Deputy Chair of the Chamber, Sarah Bailey, who passed on her thanks on behalf of the Board, members and staff of the Chamber for his time and dedication over the years.

Phill Continued:“I have learned a lot from all concerned and I will always reflect on the memories and friendships that I have made during my time with the Chamber.

“I have held various positions during the last seven years including Ambassador, Focus Group Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chairman and finally President and each one has given me a unique perspective and an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I am grateful to Debbie and everyone involved for your trust, guidance and support throughout these years.

“Thank you for everything. It has been an honour and a privilege to be part of this amazing Chamber and I wish you all the best for the future.”

The Countdown is on for our Annual Ball & Recognition Awards!

There is not long to go now until we welcome guests to our Annual Ball & Recognition Awards

Ceremony taking place at 6:30 pm on 17th November 2023 in the Pavilion at Chester Racecourse.

The highlight of the Chamber’s events calendar, businesses from across the region will come together to celebrate the success of the last year.

Awards

The night will see the winners of the Chamber’s Recognition Awards announced and with 10 categories up for grabs, it is set to be a great evening of celebration!

Meal & Entertainment

A fantastic three-course meal will be provided by the Racecourse’s culinary experts, Horseradish:

Starter

‘Ham, egg & chips’, pressed ham terrine, quail’s egg, sweet mustard ketchup, heritage potato crisps

Vegetarian: Apricot & Cashew ‘Meatloaf’, carrot & orange puree, sweet mustard ketchup, heritage potato crisps

Main

Roasted chicken supreme, confit leg & parmesan arancini, fricassee of fresh peas, beans and baby radish, salsa verde, chicken jus

Vegetarian: Twice cooked cauliflower steak, wild mushroom arancini, fricassee of fresh peas, bean and baby radish, salsa verde, cep reduction

Dessert

Blackberry Bakewell, vanilla creme anglaise, honey infused clotted cream, bee pollen

After their brilliant performances at past events, the superb live band Skyknights will be returning to wow guests once again! The 5-piece party band turn their musical

skills and on-stage charisma to almost any style of music you can think of: pop, folk, rock, funk, soul, Motown, indie - even a dance tune or two! So be sure to wear your dancing shoes!

Raising funds for Hospice of the Good Shepherd

We will be raising funds for Hospice of the Good Shepherd through an auction and raffle on the night.

If you or your company would like to donate a prize for the charity auction or raffle taking place on the evening, please email info@wcnwchamber.org.uk

Any members who donate a prize will be included in the programme on the evening and in the next edition of the Chamber’s Quarterly Business Magazine. (Deadline for donations - Friday 20th October).

With thanks to our Headline Sponsor –

n Phill Jones was presented with a Welsh slate plaque by Chamber Deputy Chair, Sarah Bailey

The Chamber’s Sales Club is back with version 2.0!

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is delighted to launch its new, re-vamped Sales Club 2.0 in collaboration with Sales Geek North Wales!

Sales Club has provided support to businesses of all sizes and sectors over the last 12 months, exploring topics including setting goals, building pipelines and understanding your customers.

Sales Club 2.0 will build upon the success of previous meetings with even more content and support available for those attending the sessions.

The club is open to both members of the Chamber and non-members and will take place over four sessions at Village Hotel Chester St David’s, covering the below topics:

Sales Acceleration in a Challenging Economy - 6th October 2023

In this workshop session, we will work through how to not only survive but thrive in tough trading and economic conditions.

Do you want fries with that? –12th January 2024

In this interactive workshop, we explore how you can build longer term

relationships with the customers that you already have and, as a result, grow your revenues. Do you want fries with that?

Managing your sales cycle –26th April 2024

In this interactive workshop, we will learn how to stay on top of managing your sales cycle and how it can have a positive impact on performance!

Change Perceptions and you Change the world! – 12th July 2024

The word ‘sales’ can be perceived in many positive and negative ways by both customers and potential prospects. In this workshop, we will show you how changing perceptions can change your business world!

“We are looking forward to the launch of Sales Club 2.0 following a brilliant first year of the club! Our 2.0 version takes the support to another level and will allow individuals to progress from session to session.

We were keen to add additional value to Chamber members and through the support of Aaron, members have been able to gain insights into a crucial aspect of business. We can’t wait to get started on the new 2.0 programme!” said Jennifer Kennedy, Head of Membership at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

Individuals will have discounted access to any future training with Sales Geek and will be enrolled on to the online Sales Geek Sales Academy, as well as access to the Sales Geek app.

“I’m so excited that we get to build upon the success of the first year of Sales Club by launching Sales Club 2.0. We’ve had such lovely feedback from attendees as to how it has helped them achieve goals, both personally and professionally, and we want to continue to add this kind of value to members in the future,” said Aaron Sussex, Director of Sales Geek North Wales Ltd.

“Sales Club has helped me focus on having the right mindset to better engage on a personal level with clients to build trust. For me, the sessions have more than justified my Chamber membership fees.”

“I’ve attended three sessions of the Sales Club and it’s genuinely brilliant! Aaron is a great storyteller, all sessions are really engaging, and I always come out feeling inspired. The advice and tips I’ve taken away from the sessions are things that can be implemented straight away.”

Charlie Wetton JVP Group

For more information and to book onto Sales Club 2.0, scan the QR code.

“I would recommend Sales Club for both the simplicity of the sessions and the expert knowledge and facilitation skills of Aaron Sussex. These sessions are just one of the ways the Chamber has supported me in my ‘selfemployed’ journey, which I am extremely grateful for.”

Philippa Fairbrother Satori People Development

Below we hear from some members that have attended previous Sales Clubs and how it has helped them and their businesses.

Ray Webb Ray Webb Wills & Estate Planning LLP

Chamber and its Members Help to Raise over £4000 for Local Hospice

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce have raised an incredible £4028 for local hospice, Nightingale House.

The funds were raised through a raffle at the Chamber’s North Wales Dinner on Friday 12th May and when a group of Chamber members and staff took part in the hospice’s flagship fundraising event, The Midnight Walk, on 1st July.

The funds will go towards the running of the hospice which provides specialist palliative care services, completely free of charge, to patients and their families across a wide area stretching from Wrexham, Flintshire and East Denbighshire to Barmouth and the border towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch.

Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Bryce, said “We were delighted to support the fantastic Nightingale House through these two events and the generosity we have seen from businesses has been outstanding. Whether this has been providing a prize for, or taking part inour raffle or donating to the team that took

part in the Midnight Walk, we couldn’t have done this without your amazing support. A special thank you must go to Less Common Metals who were our main team sponsor for our Midnight Walk.”

Sarah Povey, Corporate Partnership Lead at Nightingale House, commented: “We are so grateful for the efforts the WCNW Chamber of Commerce team have made in their fundraising for Nightingale House these last few months. We were delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary for the North Wales dinner back in May and it was great to have a group come together to take part in our flagship event the Midnight Walk.

It costs over £4.5 million a year to run Nightingale House Hospice, their incredible donation of £4,028.45 will help us to continue providing much-needed care and support to our patient and their families.”

n The Member Focus Group presented the charity with a cheque for over £4000

“We were delighted to support the fantastic Nightingale House through these two events and the generosity we have seen from businesses has been outstanding. Whether this has been providing a prize for, or taking part in, our raffle or donating to the team that took part in the Midnight Walk.”

n The team that took part in the Midnight Walk included sponsors from LCM, staff from the Chamber and Board Directors

n Sarah Povey spoke to guests at our North Wales Dinner in May

Liverpool John Lennon Airport become a Strategic Member of the Chamber

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome back Liverpool John Lennon Airport as a Strategic Member.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport handles over 5 million passengers per year with flights to over 60 destinations in the UK, across Europe and more recently with onward worldwide connections to a host of global destinations.

By joining the growing number of Strategic Members of the Chamber, Liverpool John Lennon Airport will be able to access an enhanced level of Chamber membership and further share their message with West Cheshire and North Wales business community.

“We’re delighted to once again become a Strategic Member of the Chamber. As the nearest airport for Chamber members across West Cheshire and North Wales, we are keen to support the Chamber and work together to promote the growing choice of flights available from Liverpool and the award-winning customer experience that we have become known for in recent years and to understand more about what new destinations and services members would like to see in future,” said Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The move to Strategic Membership will also see Liverpool John Lennon Airport support pupils across West Cheshire and North Wales through the Young Chamber Programme. With the aim of reducing

the skills gap between education and business, Young Chamber sees businesses support events, such as mock interviews and career talks, at local schools and colleges.

“We are so pleased to welcome back Liverpool John Lennon Airport as a Strategic Member. As a key driver of tourism to the West Cheshire and North Wales region, the airport plays a massive part in contributing to the region’s economy and we’re looking forward to working even more closely with the Airport going forward,” said Debbie Bryce, CEO at West

Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

n Debbie Bryce, CEO at the Chamber, with Robin Tudor, Head of PR at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

“As a key driver of tourism to the West Cheshire and North Wales region, the airport plays a massive part in contributing to the region’s economy and we’re looking forward to working even more closely with the

Airport

going forward.”

Find out more about Liverpool John Lennon Airport at www.liverpoolairport.com and find out more about becoming a Strategic Member at wcnwchamber.org.uk/become-a-chamber-patron/

Image by Wikicommons

Planning to Plan?

Having spent the last 18 months as a new business owner myself and working alongside clients in that time, a common theme that comes through is how important planning is and how little time is usually spent on this critical activity.

I’m obviously biased towards sales specifically, (the clue is in the business name!) as effective sales planning will help set a roadmap for profitable sales growth for your business. Remember the famous saying from Benjamin Franklin, “Failing to plan is planning to fail!”

Here are some geeky tips when thinking about your sales planning.

Gather your data.

This is usually the first stumbling block! In most cases but not all, locating your past and current data can be difficult as it could be in multiple places. If you’re fortunate that you have a fully built financial platform, CRM and dashboards then that

definitely helps! If not, spend some time gathering your sales data and try to put it in one place.

Set KPI’s

Setting KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) is another important step as understanding what you need to measure will help you focus on what’s important. Measuring everything for the sake of it will just confuse matters and measuring the wrong things will not help! Measuring ARPU’s (Average revenue per unit), AOV (average order value), conversion rates (through your funnel and pipeline) to name but a few, will be a good starting point.

Chester charity banks donation to support with cost of living

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd was nominated for the funding by Sarah Bailey, NatWest Director of Business Banking, who nominated the charity for its work to support people in the county through the cost of living crisis, with increases to the price of food and energy all adding to the cost of providing palliative care.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd helps local people living with life-limiting illness to make the very best of the last chapter of their lives, offering both in and out-patient care that is largely funded by fundraising efforts. Bank staff that live and work in Cheshire were invited to put forward charitable groups that are making a difference in their community to benefit from the funding allocated by NatWest’s North Regional Board.

Justin Caroe from the Hospice of the Good Shephard said: “Our heartfelt thanks go to Sarah and NatWest for helping to make such a difference to our patients and their families. For many of our patients living with a life limiting illness, the hospice is a safe

place of comfort where they are able to access a wide range of services, in a warm, welcoming and relaxing environment.”

The donation to the hospice comes from a £1 million charity pot being distributed to local charities across the UK by the bank’s Regional Boards, volunteer committees that are active in each UK region.

The funding forms part of a wider £5.7 million commitment from NatWest Group to support communities throughout the UK via partner organisations including the Federation of Small Business, the Trussell Trust and Responsible Finance.

Malcolm Buchanan, Chair of the NatWest North Regional Board, said: “There is a real risk that smaller, local charities that rely on community support could suffer during the crisis as their costs have risen at a time when many supporters might be forced to cut back on their outgoings. This localised funding is an opportunity for the bank to target support to those charities that are working hard every day to deliver vital support to our communities.”

Plan ahead

If you have your data and have set your KPI’s, then you can plan as far into the future as you need. Having the end goal in mind is always a good place to start. At Sales Geek North Wales, we work on the Theory of Twelfths. “What’s that?” I hear you cry! Well, simply put you should be able to plan for 12 quarters, 12 months and 12 weeks as a minimum and don’t forget to keep SMART in mind as you want to be realistic about what you can achieve. Follow these tips and you’ll already be ahead of most other businesses in the planning and hopefully your competitors.

n Aaron Sussex, Director at Sales Geek North Wales

A Chester hospice has received £7,000 from NatWest Group to help support its essential work through the cost-of-living crisis.

n L to R: Caroline Siddall, Director of Income Generation at the Hospice, was presented with a cheque for £7000 from Sarah Bailey, Director of Business Banking at NatWest.

“For many of our patients living with a life limiting illness, the hospice is a safe place of comfort where they are able to access a wide range of services, in a warm, welcoming and relaxing environment.”

Employee Burnout in the ‘Remote Work’ Era:

Businesses are grappling with a pressing issue: employee burnout in the remote work era. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work, offering flexibility and convenience.

However, as Harriet Cooke of The HR Dept Wrexham and Chester explains, the lack of clear boundaries between work and personal life, reduced social interactions, and increased screen time have led to heightened stress levels and burnout among employees.

“HR departments play a pivotal role in addressing this emerging challenge. They hold the responsibility to not only identify the signs of burnout; but also implement effective measures to mitigate it.

What can you do to prevent employee burnout in your workplace?

Promoting work-life balance is essential, encouraging employees to establish regular work hours, take scheduled breaks and fully disengage from work-related activities after business hours, can maintain a clear boundary between professional and personal life.

Fostering employee well-being such as implementing ‘wellness programmes’ can

be an effective tool to combat burnout. From mental health webinars to stress management workshops, HR can provide resources that promote holistic well-being. Finally, one of the most significant measures would be to implement regular check-ins with your employees! Regular one-on-one check-ins can help businesses identify potential signs of burnout early on. It also provides a platform for employees to voice their concerns or difficulties they may be facing in their work environment.”

While the shift to remote work brings new challenges like increased employee burnout, Harriet believes that HR departments can effectively mitigate them proactive measures. As organisations continue to adapt to the new normal after COVID-19, maintaining employee wellbeing should remain a top priority.

For more strategies and HR advice contact Harriet and the team on wrexches@hrdept.co.uk

The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize launches in

Chester for 2023

Sovereign has recently moved its UK Corporate and Trustee Administration Services division to the Coachworks Arcade in Chester city centre.

Sovereign Corporate & Trustee Services (SCATS) is a subsidiary of the Sovereign Group, which is one of the largest independent providers of corporate, private client, retirement planning and insurance services globally.

Sovereign are immensely proud of its charitable arm, The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) – a charitable organisation founded in 2003 to recognise, support and promote contemporary art talent and to bring the therapeutic benefits of art to disadvantaged children.

The SAF Students Prizes are annual awards that champion the importance of art in the education system. SAF is delighted to announce the arrival of the inaugural edition of the SAF Students Prize, Chester, new for 2023. SAF runs eleven Student Prizes around the world and Chester is the latest addition to the portfolio. This annual award will celebrate the talent and quality of artworks of

secondary school-aged art students, whilst rewarding secondary school art programmes for nurturing this talent.

Art teachers of secondary schools in Chester are invited to nominate their best art students to submit artworks to the competition, online, before 6th October. The 20 shortlisted artworks, selected by the judges, will be displayed in the Chester Cathedral in the Finalists’ Exhibition from 20 – 27 November.

The winners of both Chester prizes (Judge’s and Public) will be automatically entered into the 2024 SAF Global Students Prize,

MEMBERS NEWS

showcasing their talent on an international stage and facilitating cultural exchange and dialogue. The winners of this will be announced in Q1 2024.

Howard Bilton Founder and Chairman of The Sovereign Art Foundation, commented: “The Sovereign Art Foundation began life in Hong Kong in 2003 with the aim of raising funds to help disadvantaged children using art as a form of therapy. Since then, we have raised over US$11 million, we work around the world and have helped many thousands of children. We are thrilled to see the SAF Students Prize coming to Chester in tandem with our new office opening there and relish the chance to engage with the community and explore the artistic talent of the local students.”

If you know any budding young local artists, please share this with them. If you are a business who would like to support this prize and gain fantastic community exposure in the process, please get in touch.

All enquiries: Nicole Holland, nholland@sovereigngroup.com

“Fostering employee well-being such as implementing ‘wellness programmes’ can be an effective tool to combat burnout.”

Award-winning Tatton Flower Show garden moved and recreated in

local charity’s

grounds

As the diggers moved in to remove the dozens of stunning gardens and displays at this year’s RHS Tatton Flower Show, one award-winning garden was being carefully dismantled in readiness for a new lease of life in Chester.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the hard work of a small army of volunteers, the long border sensory garden – complete with its 370 plants – has been meticulously recreated and rebuilt over four days at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd at Backford.

The 7X2 metre garden entitled ‘Staying in touch with the garden’ was a silver Gilt medal-winner at RHS Tatton.

It was designed by Sarah Marsh, Shereen Din and Imogen Reeves who all studied Landscape Architecure at Gloucester University. Their efforts attracted sponsorship from Barclays Bank, The Lyjon Group, Branch Legal, St David’s College and Tours Around Chester. Many of the plants were generously

provided by Wyvale Nurseries and the support from local craftsman Ben Benson was invaluable.

Sarah, 23, from Bulkeley is the daughter of Aaron & Partners’ Finance Director Steve Marsh. The Chester-based law firm has selected The Hospice as its nominated main charity partner and came up with the idea of gifting the entire garden to them.

All the elements of the garden were transported to Backford and carefully rebuilt under Sarah’s personal direction, supported by the extensive plant expertise of Rob Duncan, Head Gardener at Bulkeley Hall and the hard work of volunteers from Aaron & Partners.

“It’s taken a great deal of commitment and effort to move and recreate this fabulous garden here at the hospice,” said Director of Income Generation, Caroline Siddall.

“It will be a fantastic asset: a peaceful and relaxing space with seating where

families can spend quality time together, and people can relax and reflect. It will be valued and enjoyed by patients, families, staff and volunteers for years to come,” she added.

The law firm Aaron & Partners, which is celebrating 40 years of business this year, employs more than 120 staff from its headquarters in Chester city centre.

Aaron & Partners’ Steve Marsh, Finance Director, added: “We are proud to be able to continue to support the hospice and the exceptional work they do, and it’s fantastic to be involved in bringing this garden to Backford for the enjoyment of residents and their families.

“We have nothing but admiration for the work that the hospice team does for families and individuals in communities across our region. We’re looking forward to supporting their endeavours and collaborating with them much more in the future.”

More Than 130 Young Women Attended An Event Designed To Attract Females Into Engineering And Construction

event, they absolutely loved it. Next year I will bring more girls!”

Elaine Whybro, a Year 5/6 teacher at Penygelli Primary School in Coedpoeth, added: “The girls had an amazing time and learned a lot. The lecturers who taught them were fantastic and really spoke at their level.

Karl Jackson, Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology and Site Lead at Bersham Road was thrilled with the response.

They were given a tour of the £10m complex, met with leading names from industry and had a go at a series of practical challenges and tasks with staff in numerous departments, including Fabrication and Welding, Automotive Engineering, Plastering, Painting, Joinery, Plumbing, Electrical Engineering and more. Among them were learners from Victoria Community Primary School in Wrexham, whose headteacher Debbie Eccles said: “Our pupils had a fantastic time at the

“I talked to the students afterwards and quite a few of them did say they would like to work in engineering and construction, which is probably the best feedback we could ever give – thanks so much to everyone involved.”

Amelie Owens, a Year 9 Argoed High School student, was in agreement and said: “I really enjoyed the whole experience, and the welding was great fun.

“The teachers were really helpful and kind, and overall it was a great opportunity. It has definitely made me think about careers in this field and going on to study engineering in the future.”

“Coleg Cambria has held these events for several years now as we want to play our part in breaking down barriers for young women in Wrexham and beyond,” said Karl. “Construction and engineering are historically male-dominated fields but as we’ve demonstrated there is an appetite and opportunities out there for girls who want to pursue a career in these areas.

“The feedback has been fantastic, we are thankful to everyone who came along and will continue to work closely with local schools to support the next generation of female engineers, trades and construction workers.”

For more on the wide range of courses and qualifications available at Coleg Cambria, visit the website: www.cambria.ac.uk.

Hosted at Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham, the taster day was enjoyed by pupils aged seven to 13 years old from schools across northeast Wales.

n The long border sensory garden at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd

Students support organisations and explore careers

University of Chester students have taken on roles from radio presenting to flying police drones, gaining invaluable work experience and supporting a range of organisations.

Work Based Learning (WBL) placements have been successfully completed by students this term in over 330 organisations including businesses, charities, schools and tourist attractions, across Chester, the North West, North Wales, and the wider UK.

The University of Chester Business School is thrilled that their Placement Coordinators have facilitated placements for more than 480 students who have then gained rewarding insights into graduate careers and where their degree might take them. Students have been welcomed by placement providers from a wide range of sectors including Storyhouse, Merseyside Police, Chester Zoo, Waterco - a national environmental consultancy, Calon FM,

the RSPCA, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, The National Trust and Encirc.

The flagship Enhancing Your Employability module has been running successfully in continuously improving forms for more than 25 years at the University. At its core is the five-week placement undertaken during the second year of undergraduate study.

Kirstie Simpson, Associate Professor and Dean of Chester Business School, said: “Our thanks to the many employers who have given such career-enhancing opportunities to our students. Work Based Learning is a unique experience for students to develop their employability skills within the workplace, whilst giving employers an opportunity to influence the workforce of the future and gain help,

Pioneering research brings sense of place to the fore in UK race to cut carbon

Students at the University of Chester are celebrating publication success for their pioneering research on reducing carbon emissions and creating opportunities for communities.

Eleanor Lewis and Reace Edwards have worked together on the research which highlights the importance of geography, collaboration, education, training and skills for UK industries to move away from fossil fuels as a power source and achieve net zero - where greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal - by 2050.

Eleanor, the paper’s main author, and Reace are both studying for a PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) in the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise, and are passionate about supporting policy and industry to deliver social and economic benefits in industrialised locations.

Their article has been published in the latest edition of the journal, Geography. The piece, Delivering the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge: geographical considerations for decarbonisation, co-authored with Professor Joseph Howe, exemplifies how important a sense of place is for sustainable energy transitions.

Eleanor, who also works as a research assistant, said: “As more attention is given to energy transitions, I hope that my research will support

policy and industry in realising that skills are both a benefit and a barrier. In realising that, the opportunities of industrial decarbonisation in areas of deprivation should be capitalised on for the communities in those localities - in the form of job opportunities and reskill or upskill opportunities to transform the socioeconomics of industrialised locations and enable just transitions.”

Reace said: “It was great to be involved with the publication of another research article that recognises the importance that industrial clusters could have in achieving UK net zero targets.”

Professor Julieanna Powell-Turner, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty added: “As we know, we cannot deliver net zero without the right skills to decarbonise industry, and it is here where Eleanor and Reace are developing a socioeconomic framework to address the skills challenge, whilst examining ways to work with industry and people, and, maintaining the environment. This is a novel approach to the North West energy skills landscape in addressing industrial decarbonisation, and Eleanor, Reace, and the University of Chester are at the forefront of this agenda.”

The full article can be read at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/

support and input. As students build their portfolio and shape their plans, they can contribute to a specific or ongoing project, share their subject knowledge, offer fresh ideas and bring a new perspective.”

Information for employers who would like to find out more about WBL placements and how to offer a student an opportunity for 2024, is available at: www.chester.ac.uk/wbl

Alternatively, please email one of the Business School’s Placement Coordinators at: wbl@chester.ac.uk The University welcome placement offers from organisations from September onwards for the following May and are very keen for local businesses to get involved!

“It was great to be involved with the publication of another research article that recognises the importance that industrial clusters could have in achieving UK net zero targets.”

Students awarded prizes for achievements and making a difference

From setting up their own businesses and volunteering in the community, to excelling in their studies, supporting fellow students and making an impact with new research, soon-to-be graduates have been recognised for their achievements.

The University’s Business School Valedictory Prize Winners for 2023 have been announced as: Liam Boyle; Hannah Taylor Murphy; Arfana Ali and Kirsty Curtis.

The awards and a ceremony at Queen’s Park, the home of the Business School, acknowledged and celebrated their outstanding accomplishments, talent and dedication.

n Chloe Pay during her WBL placement at Ty Gwyn Pets.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund Business Support Programme Launch

The Council launched their UKSPF Business Support Programme on the 27 July at a business event hosted by Ellesmere Port based EMS Healthcare Ltd.

Businesses heard from Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Director of Housing and Economy, Gemma Davies, about the Council’s plans to make Cheshire West and Chester a greener, fairer and stronger place to live, work and play.

Gemma also introduced the Borough Plan for 2024-28 and encouraged everyone to get involved to help share the challenge and support the conversation

Hayley Owen, Head of Economic Growth,

programme, which is designed to support local businesses to increase productivity by creating the conditions for businesses to start-up, scale-up and innovate and to build a stronger business base which supports our sustainable and inclusive growth objectives Hayley also introduced the delivery partners for each project in the programme:

•Start and Micro Project - West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Aimed at encouraging enterprise activity, supporting new business start-ups, and helping micro businesses (less than 10 employees) to develop and innovate

•High Growth Investor Project - Blue Orchid

Aimed at supporting growing Cheshire West and Chester businesses to expedite their investment and growth plans

For more information about the UKSPF Business Support Programme and how to apply visit Let’s Talk Business website, letstalkbizcw.co.uk.

The UKSPF Business Support Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and delivery partners

The UKSPF 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

Two New Key Appointments at the Council

In July, Del Curtis was appointed the Council’s new Chief Executive and Professor Helen Bromley was appointed new Director of Public Health

•Decarbonisation Project - Groundwork

Aimed at supporting Cheshire West and Chester businesses towards improving their

•Innovation Project - University of Chester

Aimed at supporting growing Cheshire West and Chester businesses to invest in adopting new technologies and processes to build their resilience and support new development and sustained growth in their business

•Workspace Project – Cheshire West and Chester Council Business Growth Team

Aimed at using a mix of existing workspace to encourage entrepreneurship activity and collaborative space, with wrap around business support, for start-up businesses and existing home-based businesses and home workers to develop and grow, and share good practice, knowledge and networking.

Businesses also heard from Keith Austin, Chief Executive, EMS Healthcare, who hosted the event. EMS are the UK’s largest mobile clinical research partner and work alongside NHS Trusts, Health Boards, and private providers across the country, in delivering mobile capacity that eases the burden on hospitals. Last year EMS received a grant through an earlier project the Council delivered which supported EMS to invest in new machinery for their workshop

The event concluded with tours of the EMS mobile units, networking and a fabulous lunch provided by Chester based, Artezzan Restaurant & Bar

place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills

In addition to the UKSPF main programme, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CW&C) were allocated an additional £0 9m under the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). The rural Plan was approved in April 2023 and is aligned to the main programme, with some small additional capital allocations for rural broadband and business growth

For more information on UK Shared Prosperity visit: https://www.gov uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Del joined Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2017 and was formerly deputy chief executive of health and wellbeing and NHS director of place for the council. More recently, she was appointed as acting chief executive to cover the role following the departure of former post holder Andrew Lewis, who left to take the helm at Liverpool City Council

Helen’s career began in nursing. From there she moved into academic and international public health, working in some of the world’s poorest regions for more than 20 years She joined the council in 2013 as a consultant in public health and was recently appointed as interim director of public health to cover the role, pending arrangements for permanent recruitment. Helen replaces Ian Ashworth, who recently took up the position of Director of Population Health at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside

On-demand rural Cheshire bus service

An on-demand rural bus service covering remote areas of Cheshire no longer served by commercial operators has been launched. The Council has secured just over £1m worth of Government-funding for a three-year pilot scheme. The new ‘itravel’ service will cover a wide area of the borough including the likes of Helsby, Frodsham, Delamere and Acton Bridge.

The bus service can be booked online, via a mobile phone app or by phone call, allowing a resident or group of people to request a bus schedules

Information on how to book the service can be found at cheshirewestandchester.gov uk/itravel. Alternatively, ring 0330 678 1545, between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Events Round-Up

We have had a great few months of events with incredible turnouts and great times had by attendees! You can view some of the events below:

23rd May – Networking Lunch at The Quay Hotel & Spa

27th June – Networking Lunch and AGM at Rossett Hall

6th July – Thursday Is The New Friday Networking

8th June – Round the Table Networking at Costco

5th July – Round the Table Networking at Mercure Chester Abbotts Well, Sponsored by Equals Money

13th July – Networking Lunch at Boughton Hall Cricket Club

22nd June - West Cheshire Women’s Network

4th & 7th July – Sales Club

17th May – Round the Table Networking at Brewhouse and Kitchen

Work begins on Hydrogen Hub site

The launch of an archaeological survey at Parc Cybi marks a significant milestone for the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub. A key part of meeting planning conditions, the survey will be carried out before construction starts on site.

The Hub, which is a Menter Môn project supported by the Isle of Anglesey County Council, will be the first of its kind in Wales. It is seen as an important step as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions as well as a catalyst to boost the local economy. Green hydrogen will be produced at the site and distributed as fuel for zero-emission hydrogenpowered vehicles.

The company undertaking the survey is Wardell-Armstrong. The work will be supervised by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. North Wales contractors, Jones Bros and Cadarn Consulting Engineering have been appointed to support the project at this early stage. The work started on June 26th and is expected to last around 28 days to complete.

Justin Mason, Energy Business Development Manager at Menter Môn, said: “Seeing work starting on the ground is an important step for us at the Hub. Coming just a few weeks after the announcement of our Memorandum of Understanding with international hydrogen business, Hynamics, this is an exciting time to be involved with the development.

“The launch of the archaeological survey is the culmination of several years’ work by Menter Môn and our partners. Planning consent was secured in 2022, this followed an earlier feasibility study which recognised local employment and supply chain opportunities as well as the environmental benefits of a hydrogen hub. I’m pleased that Menter Môn is again leading the way in terms of renewables and tackling climate change.”

Dafydd Gruffydd is Managing Director at Menter Môn; he added: “We are pleased that work is now underway at the Parc Cybi site. It means we are a step closer to making the Hydrogen Hub a reality and becoming a greener island which is making an important contribution to reaching the net zero targets of both Wales and UK governments. As a home-grown project, it also means benefits and opportunities can be kept local.”

The Hub is part of the Energy Island programme. Welsh Government has provided seed funding from 2020-2023 enabling the project to progress to this point with additional support expected to be announced over the coming weeks. UK Government has also pledged support as it aims to achieve its net zero targets by 2050.

“We are pleased that work is now underway at the Parc Cybi site. It means we are a step closer to making the Hydrogen Hub a reality and becoming a greener island which is making an important contribution to reaching the net zero targets of both Wales and UK governments.”

n The proposed hydrogen hub in Holyhead

How a 3D printer donation is helping to train the current workforce and the next generation

For the next generation entering the workforce and those already in it, having access to such equipment so that they can develop their skills, is extremely beneficial.

That’s why the generous donation of two 3D printers to Cheshire College – South and West’s Chester Campus back in June, courtesy of one of the College’s employer partners, Altimex Ltd, is all the more invaluable.

Altimex is a local, award-winning fibre optics solutions company and industry acclaimed lighting specialist, based at the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park.

Their donation of the two Ender 3D printers to the College’s Digital Hub at Chester, is enabling students to learn about design, engineering, and manufacturing principles in a hands-on manner, which is helping to foster a deeper understanding of complex concepts, as well as addressing the skills shortage.

3D printer usage on the rise across the economy

3D printing use is on the rise across the science, technology, and engineering sectors, with the technology offering new possibilities for research, development, and innovation. Therefore, for the college’s mechanical engineering students, as well as those already in industry looking to upskill, it’s vital that they can access the technology as the automotive sector is using 3D printing to create prototypes, custom parts and fuel innovation.

Additionally, through 3D printing, engineers are now able to create highly customised, intricate components that may have previously been challenging to produce using traditional manufacturing methods. Meanwhile, the healthcare sector is leveraging the technology for the creation of patient-specific medical implants, prosthetics, and anatomical models for surgical planning.

This technology has a whole host of applications and its increasing deployment across a range of sectors. This means that it’s vital that both the current workforce and the next generation can gain hands-on experience with such equipment to ensure they can meet the needs of the industry, as well as plug the skills gap.

Equipping students with key industry skills

The Altimex-donated printers use industrystandard software, that most students will be familiar with, but crucially both students and the local community will be able to use them to create fully realised models as part of their learning and training.

This is an important part of Cheshire College’s mission to improve digital skills and access to technology for the community and its students through the Digital Hub initiative, which is equipped with industrystandard technology and equipment designed to enhance learning.

Benjamin Bennett-Stanley, Assistant Director for Science, Computing and Business believes that the donation of these printers will bolster the College’s capacity to provide students with the skills they need for industry. He explained: “This donation is fantastic. It’s really going to benefit our students and give them the experience they need for the world of work.

“They can go out there and use this equipment to benefit their own learning and then develop that knowledge and refine their existing skills.”

Using 3D printers will introduce students to advanced technologies and software and allows them to learn valuable skills in computer-aided design (CAD), 3D modelling, and operating 3D printing machinery, which are becoming increasingly relevant in STEM industries.

Altimex Ltd. MD, and Cheshire College Governor, Davinder Lotay is a proponent of

STEM and lifelong learning and has a particular interest in encouraging students to pursue the subject.

Davinder said of the donation: “I’m hoping the Ender 3D printers will help to make the student’s learning more tangible, as they will be putting theoretical knowledge into practice and bringing their models to fruition in some way.”

One of the many students who will benefit from the 3D printers is twenty-year-old Bartosz Otfinowski, who is studying towards a Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computing.

Bartosz decided that this course at the College would be the right educational pathway for him as he looked to pursue his passion for computing, professionally and is relishing the opportunity to use the technology

He believes that: “These 3D printers are going to give us some very important skills for the workplace.

“It will really benefit other students too because for a lot of people – despite these machines becoming more and more ubiquitous – this might be their only chance to access this technology and put their practical knowledge to use.”

For more information about courses at Cheshire College and their key employer partners, visit www.ccsw.ac.uk

3D printers are becoming an ever more important industry tool in sectors such as computing and IT, science, and engineering.

n L-R Altimex MD Davinder Lotay showcasing donated 3D printer, Assistant Principal, Paul Browne, Cheshire College students and Assistant Director Ben Bennett-Stanley.

Successful trio of Young Chamber events takes place at Christleton High School to end the academic year

Christleton High School Students from a variety of different year groups recently had the chance to benefit from the Young Chamber programme during the final school term.

Year 8 & 9 “Hot Scholars” students participated in a logo branding workshop with Young Chamber Sponsor, Claire Davies, Director of Marketing at Umbrella Marketing. The students had been selected for their interest in business and had been tasked with designing a “Hot Scholars” logo. Claire delivered some expert knowledge to the students before it was time for them to get creative as they set to work on designing and creating their own logo.

The Young Chamber programme also helped to deliver some beneficial sessions to Christleton’s Year 10 students during their Careers Week. The sessions included Interview Techniques, CV Building, Team Building Exercises, In-Tray Exercises and Careers Talks. These sessions helped to meet the aims of the Young Chamber programme by helping the students to gain the skills & experience necessary to bridge the gap between education and the working world.

Students at Christleton further benefited from the Young Chamber programme during their final term as the school’s Year 12 students gained some first-hand experience during a mock interview session with Young Chamber sponsors.

Sponsors of the Young Chamber Programme Support Assessment Day at Helsby High School

The Young Chamber programme recently helped to deliver an Assessment Day for 6th Form students at Helsby High School.

Sixth-form students from Castell Alun High School put through their paces

A group of sixth-form students from Castell Alun High School recently gained some vital experience of the working world.

They were put through their paces during a mock assessment day by recruitment specialists Russell Taylor Group.

The day started with an introdction by Peter Russell, Chairman of Russell Taylor Group, who gave the students an insight into the

During the day, the students heard from Business & Skills Consultant, Maria Davison; Russell Taylor Group Chairman, Peter Russell; and Mark Gillooley, Inclusive Employment & Apprenticeship Coordinator at Cheshire West & Chester Council.

Maria Davison explained how the Eisenhower Matrix can be used to assist decision-making & prioritisation in the workplace before setting the students an in-tray exercise.

business. Peter then gave the students some initial advice about how to approach the day and how to get the most out of the experience before they began the activities which included mock interviews, soft skill assessment and aptitude tests

The students also took part in a Psychometric Assessment with Peter Russell who gave the students an overview of Psychometric Assessments, explaining how and why they’re used during the recruitment process.

The student’s knowledge was further enhanced during a CV-building session with Mark Gillooley. Mark showed the students how to design a standout CV before setting them the task to start creating their CV.

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

• Aaron & Partners Solicitors

• Altimex Ltd

• Atherton & Associates

• Brownlow Furniture

• Cheshire College South & West

• Cheshire West & Chester Council

• Complete Education Solutions

• E2E – Integration Limited

• Glyndwr University

• Inspire by Sbarduno

• Knights PLC

• Russell Taylor Group

• Smurfit Kappa

• Specialist Chauffeur Services

• The Countess of Chester Hospital

• The HR Dept Wrexham & Chester

• Umbrella Marketing

n Christleton High School students presenting their “Hot Scholars” design to Claire Davies.

Over 2000 pupils supported through the 2022-23 academic year!

2022-23 was another fantastic academic year for the Young Chamber programme as over 2000 students from Young Chamber Schools & Colleges across the West Cheshire and North Wales region were supported with a vast range of events. These included career talks, assessment days, mock interviews, factory & office Tours, CV building, and workshops.

The unwavering support of Young Chamber sponsors was evident once again through this academic year as 38 businesses and over 110 employees gave up a total of 170 business hours to help make the events a great success and in turn go a long way to bridging the skills gap.

Jenny Davidson, Events & Young Chamber Manager at WCNW Chamber of Commerce, commented: “Recent stats show that businesses feel 37% of vacancies are hard to fill, and 72% of businesses say that skills shortages have caused increased workloads on other staff, this there-

fore shows the imperative importance of bridging of the skills gap.

“Young Chamber continues to help bring the education and business sectors together and we are delighted that the programme has had such a successful 2022-23 academic year. We’re now looking forward to next year where we will continue to work towards easing pressures in the region for both students and local businesses.

“A huge thank you to every sponsor that took part in the programme this year, without your time and support the events wouldn’t be possible.”

Young Chamber event at Hawarden High School a great success

Young Chamber Sponsor Complete Education Solutions recently gave students at Hawarden High School a useful talk on interview techniques.

Jamie Cooper, Operations Manager at CES, gave an engaging presentation, which allowed the students to see first-hand an employer’s perspective on how to ace an interview.

The students then prepared answers to questions they might be asked at future interviews, giving them a helpful start to their career journey.

James Kitchen, OSIC Lead Teacher at Hawarden High, commented: “I am very thankful for the help and support we received from the Young Chamber and extremely grateful for the time Jamie spent with the pupils. The pupils who engaged with the session got a tremendous amount out of it.”

Welcome to our new Young Chamber Sponsors

Get involved with Young Chamber

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 would like more information, please email youngchamber@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

Effective Strategies to Reduce Tax Liability for Your Business

save tax. If you don’t keep track of your expenditure, then the chances are you will miss out on tax deductions for legitimate business expenses.

Tax incentives for innovation:

business can impact your tax obligations. Which structure is right for your business will depend on the size and profitability of your business combined with your personal requirements.

Managing tax obligations is critical to running a business, and finding legitimate ways to optimise your business’ tax position can significantly impact your bottom line.

Paul Brown, Tax Partner & Director of Advisory at WR Partners, explores several effective strategies that can help you reduce your business’s tax burden while staying firmly within the letter of the law.

Keeping up to date

Keeping accurate and up to date accounting records is the easiest way to

The tax system rewards genuinely innovative companies with incentives to lower their tax bill and even get cash back from HMRC. If your company undertakes research and development which leads to advances in technology, you can obtain enhanced tax deductions for the cost of that research. Companies which own registered patents can also access a lower corporation tax rate for products which include patented parts. Maximise the benefit of capital investment: Companies which spend money on brand new qualifying plant and machinery can obtain a 100% tax deduction for that equipment in the year they purchase it. For unincorporated businesses or companies buying used machinery these businesses can claim up to £1 million per year of tax deductions on their investment in that kit.

Optimise Business Structure:

The legal structure you choose for your

Running a Ltd Business?

Are you a proud limited company owner seeking to enhance your business journey? Our downloadable guide is tailored to you!

Content includes:

• How to start your limited company

• What you need to budget for

• Flexible salary/dividend models – how do they work?

• IR35 for contractors and for SME clients

• Directors’ Loans

• Insolvency and Bounce Back Loans

• Thinking about growing your business?

WR Partners offer accounting, auditing and business services including; tax advisory, consultancy & payroll.

wrpartners.co.uk/running-a-ltd-company

08000 664 664

Saving for your retirement:

Saving for your retirement may not seem exciting or glamorous but can produce significant tax advantages both now and in the future.

Tax deferred is tax saved…

Certain expenses can only be deducted against tax when they are actually paid. Make sure you pay these in time for your year-end then you can bring the tax deduction forward by 12 months.

Effectively managing your business’s tax liability requires an accurate and proactive approach. A skilful tax adviser can make sure you are on top of your tax obligations, saving you tax and allowing you to concentrate on running your business.

If you’d like support with your tax liabilities contact our team on 08000 664 664 or email hello@wrpartners.co.uk.

Paul Brown, Tax Partner & Director of Advisory at WR Partners

Getting Started with Type on Data

What’s in a name?

The name emerged from a conversation with my now-husband. I playfully remarked that he was my type on paper, but with room for improvement. This idea gave birth to Type on Data. Just as in business, you might have all the data needed for success, but refining it for optimal efficiency is where Type on Data steps in to support your journey. Your position?

I’m Rhianne Wray, the Founder and CEO of Type on Data. My career spans diverse roles, collaborating with FTSE 50 giants and SME’s alike. This journey shaped me into a versatile professional, adept at adapting while keeping sight of the bigger picture. Employing these skills to cultivate teams, processes and systems has been instrumental in my success.

About your business?

At Type on Data, we specialise in guiding you through your data journey. Whether you require a data strategy, a new software implementation, process improvements, or a tailored solution, we’re here for every phase of your journey. Our offerings encompass both support and solutions, tailored precisely to address your unique challenges and requirements. We align with what your business needs, enhancing efficiency and propelling your success.

About you!

Starting as an IT apprentice and moving into development, I have had a strong and varied career. Supporting the business, identifying process improvements, implementing software and creating bespoke systems, has given me a wide range of skills and knowledge to bring to everyone we support at Type on Data. Continuous professional development is also key for us, so that we can bring you the latest and best support we can. Priding ourselves on impartial advice that align with our values.

Why? - What made you consider selfemployment/starting a business?

Running my own business has always been a dream. I wanted to create something that makes a real difference, helping organisations reach their full potential and compete effectively with bigger companies that have more resources to invest in improvements.

The light bulb moment!

The realisation that being in a fixed corporate setting was restricting what I wanted to achieve, Type on Data was born. It started with a vision which I am so lucky to say is now a reality.

Who is your ideal client/customer?

My ideal clients are those seeking to enhance their team, recognising that it’s not always about adding more staff, but rather refining the way things are done. Likewise, if you’re considering implementing an IT solution but aren’t sure where to begin or what exactly you require, I’m here to help. For organisations requiring technical expertise without the need for more personnel, the fractional CTO service might be the ideal solution.

Best moment so far?

One of our proudest moments was when messages began pouring in, indicating that we were becoming the trusted source for the guidance and assistance people sought. Of course, securing our first client without the support of a massive corporate team was a significant achievement that still brings us immense pride.

Biggest challenges?

Our journey came with its share of hurdles, especially in areas not traditionally part of our careers. As a startup, we found ourselves wearing multiple hats - from being the Head of Sales and Marketing to

handling Finance. Navigating these diverse roles required drawing on skills we had to develop along the way

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

The Chamber Start-Up Club has been an invaluable resource. Its support, connections, and insightful sessions have significantly eased the challenges we faced. From enhancing our brand, setting goals, and establishing sales pipelines to managing cashflow, maintaining our website, and refining customer onboarding and marketing strategies, the club filled crucial gaps that startups often encounter. This support has played a vital role in propelling our growth journey.

Lessons learnt…what would you do differently and why?

You don’t need everything that you are being sold, everyone will try and sell you something on your journey, being new you think that is what your business needs but take a step back before you buy anything and think of the benefits it will bring and if it is worth it. When you are networking remember, you aren’t selling to the room, you are selling to their room, their customers. When making those connections the importance of authenticity stands out – genuinely supporting others’ growth ultimately bolsters your own. Authentic connections, beyond mere transactions, ensure collaboration with those who align with your growth.

Rhianne Wray, the Founder and CEO of Type on Data

“The Chamber Start-Up Club has been an invaluable resource. Its support, connections, and insightful sessions have significantly eased the challenges we faced.”

A guide to inheritance tax

At Ellis & Co. we support our clients to manage their assets in a tax efficient way. An area of tax that can present the biggest tax exposure is often the one that is least thought about. This of course being inheritance tax; charged at a rate of 40%, the tax payable could be huge.

For many years there have been whispers of total reform, and more recently of total abolition. So far these rumours have not led to significant changes. We would be surprised to see this tax abolished, particularly as HMRC have made moves in recent years to catch more offshore matters within the inheritance tax net. These are not the actions of a government soon to abolish the whole thing, so unfortunately, we expect this tax to stay.

Recent developments in inheritance tax

The latest development relevant to most was back in 2017 when we saw the introduction of the Residence Nil Rate Band (an extra tax-free value that could be passed on without an inheritance tax charge). Changes prior to this came in 2009/10 when the nil rate band was uplifted to become £325,000, the level at which it still stands despite the passing of 13 years’ worth of inflation. It is set to remain at this level until 2028.

The availability of the Residence Nil Rate Band (up to £175,000) and the ordinary Nil Rate Band (up to £325,000) are the foundation of the inheritance tax landscape. Combined they mean that an individual could, in theory, pass on £500,000 of assets without their Estate incurring an inheritance tax charge.

In 2007 we saw the introduction of the ability to use a deceased spouse’s bands, if they had not used them on their own death. This means that up to £1M of assets could pass on without the Estate incurring an inheritance tax charge. Naturally, however, things are never as straight forward as they appear. At Ellis & Co. we help our clients navigate the complexities and highlight nuances that they may not have been aware of.

When HMRC write the rules they often have the nuclear family in mind, a concept growing less commonplace. For example, the Residence Nil Rate Band

was a welcome addition, however, it only applies when passing a home to direct linear descendants. This excludes renters, low property values areas, people without children passing wealth to siblings/nephews and nieces, blended family arrangements and many others, and is somewhat discriminatory by concept.

Reform would be welcome, and we are interested about what shape that might take.

Misconceptions and common issues

An effective way to reduce the value of your wealth on your death is to have given it away before your death. The obvious problem here is the uncertainty of when this might be!

Give it away too late and you could fall foul of the 7-year rule, give it away too early and you may deplete what remains. Give it away far too early and you may burden your inheritance recipients with too much wealth and exposure to failing relationships resulting in loss outside the family line.

For the team and I at Ellis & Co. your family circumstance and personal preferences always take a high priority in the planning process. We can also explore whether Trusts would be an appropriate balance of control and gifting and help navigate what it all means. We often encounter situations

where someone, having some knowledge of inheritance tax, has transferred the ownership of their own home to an adult child. They knew enough about inheritance tax to give away some wealth, but not enough to have been aware of the ‘Gift with Reservation of Benefit’ rules. These rules catch out the well-meaning but unaware. The Gift with Reservation of Benefit rules state that if you give a ‘thing’ away then you can no longer have the benefit of that ‘thing’. If you do retain a benefit of the ‘thing’ then it is still regarded as being yours when it comes to assessing your Estate. Another area that we frequently encounter is that no Wills have been written, or the Wills are old and were written before the introduction of the transferrable nil rate bands, often involving the first spouse passing their half of value to a Trust rather than to their surviving spouse. This was commonplace before the introduction of the transferable nil rate band, but for many people it is now nothing more than a redundant complexity.

It is worth taking stock of your overall position every 10 years or so to ensure that you are doing what you can to mitigate any potential inheritance tax exposure.

If you would like to discuss your position with Ellis & Co. please get in touch on 01244 343504.

It is worth taking stock of your overall position every 10 years or so to ensure that you are doing what you can to mitigate any potential inheritance tax exposure.”

Melanie Tomkins, Tax Manager at Ellis & Co

Protos Networks Appoints Sean Kinsella as Head of Enterprise Networks

Chester-based network and cyber security specialist Protos Networks is pleased to announce the promotion of Sean Kinsella as the new Head of Enterprise Networks. Sean’s appointment comes as a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the company and his exceptional growth since joining as a graduate straight out of university five years ago.

Throughout his tenure at Protos Networks, Sean has demonstrated unwavering commitment, expertise and a passion for driving excellence in network engineering. Starting as a bright-eyed graduate, he quickly impressed us with his technical acumen, strong work ethic and natural leadership skills.

Commenting on Sean’s promotion, Darren Kewley, Technical Director of Protos Networks, said, “We are thrilled to announce Sean Kinsella’s promotion to Head of Enterprise Networks. Sean has been an integral part of Protos’ success, and his journey from working on our helpdesk to leading our Network Operations Team is truly inspiring. He has shown incredible dedication, innovative thinking, and consistently delivering outstanding results. All our customers and staff love Sean, so this promotion is well deserved.”

A series of achievements and milestones have marked Sean’s rise within the company. He was pivotal in deploying several critical projects for our enterprise and public sector clients, winning praise for his technical expertise and client-focused approach. His deep understanding of network security technologies and acquiring industry certifications allowed him to design and implement tailor-made solutions that exceeded client expectations.

“As a graduate, joining Protos Networks was a dream come true for me,” Sean remarked. “I had the opportunity to work with a team of industry experts and learn from the best in the network security industry. The support and trust the company placed in me from the beginning allowed me to grow professionally and personally.”

Sean’s promotion to Head of Enterprise Networks further solidifies Protos Networks’ commitment to nurturing and promoting talent from within the organisation. This approach fosters a culture of innovation, excellence and long-term employee engagement. Sean’s journey inspires other young professionals within the company, highlighting the opportunities for growth and development that Protos Networks provides.

In his new role, Sean will oversee network operations, manage a team of talented professionals and drive the development and execution of innovative network solutions for our clients. He will also play a key role in collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of our cyber security offerings with the network infrastructure.

“I am excited and honoured to take on this new challenge as the Head of Enterprise Networks,” Sean said. “My focus will be on further strengthening our position as a leading provider of cutting-edge network solutions and delivering exceptional value to our clients. I look forward to leading a team of dedicated professionals with the same passion for excellence and innovation.”

Protos Networks continues to invest in its people, technology and infrastructure to meet its clients’ ever-evolving network and cyber security needs. With Sean at the helm of the Network Operations Team, the company is well-positioned to drive growth and deliver unparalleled network security solutions to customers all over the UK and overseas.

“I had the opportunity to work with a team of industry experts and learn from the best in the network security industry. The support and trust the company placed in me from the beginning allowed me to grow professionally and personally.”

Sean Kinsella is Protos Networks’ new Head of Enterprise Networks

Jim Dorrington

Operations Director/Shareholder

Artezzan Restaurants Ltd

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

One could say I found my love of food, drink, hospitality and restaurants early on, starting in the industry at 15 years old. I have had a career in hospitality that spans over 35 years, working for some of the biggest names in hospitality like Planet Hollywood, Living Ventures & Greene King, opening restaurants all over Europe. Eventually returning and settling back in the UK in 2000, I married Iris, my Dutch wife with whom I had been together with since 1993 and finally put down roots in Warrington before having our two amazing children, Oscar and Charlotte.

WCNW: What made you set up the business?

Artezzan was born because of one man’s desire to break into the hospitality industry with a view of building something so special it could evolve into a brand. Stuart Murphy contacted me through a common friend asking if I would be interested in beginning on this journey with him, allowing me full control on everything from concept to design, as well as ultimately having a share of the business. After 10 years as Head of Operations for Loch Fyne restaurants, it felt like the perfect time for me to do something that would be partially mine, making my dream a reality.

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

I left Greene King in October of 2002 and I began shaping the concept that we now know is Artezzan. I had to consider everything from the branding to the guests’ journey, as well as the all-important food and drink offering. I knew that the menu is what would make or break us in a city that boasted so many great eateries like Chester. I wanted Artezzan to feel luxurious yet still accessible, whilst always providing world

Guests enjoy the Mediterranean cuisine at Artezzan

Our menu was designed to have something for everyone, ensuring our Mediterranean dishes always feel accessible is key to everything we do.”

class service that surprised and delighted every guest, making them feel like family. The concept was there, it was now how we made it a reality.

I appointed a designer who helped create the aesthetic Artezzan, how it would look, feel and even smell. From the mosaic tiles at the entrance, the colour of the walls, to the lighting and textures of the fabric, we considered every aspect to create something that embodied the Mediterranean. Once the look was right, it was time to get the word out there. Our marketing team came in the form of Nineteen Agency, the owners of which I’d worked with 13 years earlier. I needed a company who understood me and my vision and Nineteen totally did that. I attribute a large part of our success to our marketing strategy and how it was executed.

And then the most important piece of it all, recruiting the team. I needed a great Executive Chef who could start the journey with us and develop an outstanding menu, a bar specialist and a management team who could bring the culture and ethos to life… In our ‘Artezzan Bible’ our people recruitment policy is that we employ primarily on personality. We of course need certain ability and skill in our kitchen or bar but the most important attribute is the hospitality gene. We can teach the rest.

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

We operate at the top end of the casual dining market. We want to be considered great value for money for the food, drink and experience we deliver and will go

above and beyond to ensure that is always the case. Our guest demographic is extremely varied, with guests of all ages and backgrounds visiting us regularly. Our menu was designed to have something for everyone, ensuring our Mediterranean dishes always feel accessible is key to everything we do.

WCNW: What projects are you currently working on?

Anyone in the hospitality industry knows the wheel’s always turning and we’re always looking towards the next big thing. From our seasonal menu changes, popular celebration days like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day to the craziness of Christmas, there’s always something to work on.

In 2022, we also created ‘Artezzan Events’ delivering dishes like our Neapolitan pizzas and Greek Souvlaki in street food style at different festivals, shows and corporate events including the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, Deva Fest and Hide & Seek festival.

WCNW: How have things gone so far?

We are extremely happy and very lucky. We have won a number of awards and even shortlisted for a Catey this year, the equivalent of an Oscar in the hospitality world. We have also exceeded all financial targets and feel like we’re well on the way to becoming one of Chester’s best restaurants.

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

The current financial environment is extremely challenging for the hospitality industry. For a business that depends heavily on utilities to deliver our product, the rising cost of gas, electric and water make the margins smaller and smaller. We have chosen not to pass on the full costs to our guest but this is becoming harder to maintain. Many of our guests feel like family, visiting us regularly and we’re so conscious of keeping Artezzan accessible to

the people who’ve supported us since day one. It’s an incredibly fine line and a real balancing act.

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

Never, I have found that in business you need to have a resilience that is tested and tried, you need to be brave and take calculated risks.

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

Keeping our Artezzan team happy and engaged is of the utmost importance to us so we’re always looking for ways to develop their skills and adapt the environment to work best for them. Next on the agenda is finding our second site, wherever that may be…

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

There are many people I have worked with who have inspired me, too many to mention but one person who I have very much built our Artezzan philosophy on is the memoirist, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. She said “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

People truly never forget how you make them feel. Imagine every interaction you have with anyone you give a little extra focusing on how you make them feel, what a great world this would be. In hospitality, this becomes a very powerful ambition ensuring everyone leaves with a positive memory of how they felt with us.

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

Surround yourself with likeminded people who challenge you, take time to celebrate success however small, learn quickly from mistakes and go again.

A selection of Artezzan’s pinchos from their current menu

Welding your way to a brighter future

something that gains positive feedback and that want to return for further training with us. Over the course of the last two years, we have built great working relationships with companies nationwide.

We have an ongoing collaboration with Energas/Air Liquide. As well as providing our gas and consumables, we work with the team to provide joint promotion and as an international company, they are an amazing support to us as a new training provider. In January this year, we provided training for 40 of their sales team to give them a practical insight into the use of the materials they promote. The training feedback was exceptional, and the team were grateful for the experience.

TWA Certifications Limited (The Welding Academy) are a specialised training academy supporting new and experienced welders in the UK. Providing practical training at all levels on intensive welding training programmes. Whether you are looking for a new career path, learning as a hobby or gaining a qualification to advance your skills, TWA Certifications can provide the right course for you.

Established in May 2021, here at TWA Certifications, we pride ourselves on providing a training experience that our learners want to return to again and again.

Our expert tutors have a vast wealth of industrial welding knowledge, having all been time served welders themselves. They are all happy to share their advice and experiences to guide learners in their training and to build confidence in their individual abilities.

Our administration team are on hand to guide potential clients into a pathway that is bespoke and suitable to their individual requirements. By contacting either our information email address or simply by giving the team a call, we provide that personal contact to discuss end goals and priorities, to provide the best outcome for every learner. This applies to both individuals and larger companies requiring group training and potential qualifications.

Choose from City & Guilds Level 1-3 for complete beginners through to advanced

Customer Comments

“I have successfully completed two courses with TWA Certifications and will be going back again.

You will get as much out of your time here as you allow yourself to, listen, practice and persevere. The instructors are open books with a wealth of knowledge and experience. It’s not just course related help they are

welders, or simply brush up on your skills with our in-house upskill courses. We also provide coding tests for BS EN ISO9606 and BS4872 in either ferrous or non-ferrous materials.

All our training courses are intensive, practical sessions. This gives the learners an opportunity to train in a live workshop environment. We provide additional theory documents, links and information to accompany the course and practice an open-door policy for any guidance or questions learners may have. Courses start every Monday, teaching mixed abilities based on individual requirements. We operate a safe, relaxed and friendly environment for our learners to enable them to train with confidence and be part of the TWA Certifications family whilst they are with us and beyond. With this in mind, we always reassure our learners that the service we provide continues long after their course is complete, with contact available for any future advice they may need. This is

Other examples of larger companies we work with are BMW, Jaguar, Continental, Imperial College, to name but a few. One of our aims for the future is to work with local schools to provide practical sessions in Welding for students looking to move into the trade profession.

prepared to offer, I have certain products I’ve been making for over 17 years after a short conversation with the instructors I have a few new ideas to improve on what I’ve been doing.

Each time I have left a much better welder than I arrived. Competence breeds confidence”.

We have just completed training with students from Flintshire High School, Flintshire. Over the course of the last year, a team of students have attended weekly session with us gaining both City & Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Welding Skills. This was an amazing experience, not only for the students, but for our team here at the academy. To see the development over the course of the year and the confidence grow in the students was job satisfaction of the highest level. Especially seeing one of the students go on to gain an apprenticeship with a local company was fantastic. We aim to continue this with another group joining us in September.

Image by Rob Lambert at Unsplash

An Insight into Explorage

A passion for solving problems and improving things is what

Explorage.com founder and CEO Anna Roberts describes as both her superpower and kryptonite.

Explorage.com is the quickly growing online marketplace for finding and booking self storage instantly. “It should be as easy as booking a hotel room or taking out insurance,” Anna explains, “In other aspects of our lives we can reel off names of a few brands where you can go to find the information you need and purchase from a range of options there and then. In the UK, self storage just hasn’t been like that and there are some valid reasons why, but today, with access to technology, and with customer understanding and use of online services more than ever before, things are changing”. And of course, that’s where Explorage.com comes in.

On her approach to work Anna shares, “Perhaps rather naively I’ve never feared a challenge, I think quite laterally; if something needs doing, I enjoy the game of figuring out how to do it. From humble upbringings, I decided at a young age I wanted to make life better for myself and family; when you are blessed with that kind of motivation you develop an amazing level of resilience”.

challenging, and soon realised her ability to study was directly linked to the outcome she could see it achieving. “The careers centre sent me to do a “Morrisby” psychometric test – I wanted something that would tell me not only what I enjoyed, but also what I would be good at so that I could get results! Building Surveying was a suggestion that came up and 20 years later after a successful career as a Chartered Surveyor, I’d like to think they were right”.

“Being an entrepreneur wasn’t on my radar, but it should have been obvious with hindsight. At the age of 7 I rallied my friends to set up a stall and sell things to raise money to replace the village playground.

By the end of the day, we raised £75 which I thought paid for it in full.” Anna laughs, “but the important thing was we got the park!”.

are great, but strategy, partnerships and empowering your team mean the effects of your efforts have a wider reach”. Explorage have a network of over 100 self storage operators registered on the platform and are gaining momentum all the time. “Our mission is to make life easier for people, and we believe in doing this by treating people as people first, with intuitive and innovative technology as the enabler. We spend a lot of time listening to feedback and improving the user experience for both customers and storage operators.

“In sixth form, I would spend my weekends working for the Marcher Radio Group where I would prepare and read the news, I would be up at 6:30am to drive to the station, as well as juggling an after-school doorstep selling job and waitressing on other evenings. I just did what I needed to keep my car on the road and progress my career prospects”.

Anna attended Manchester University to study Social Anthropology but felt her prospects as a graduate would be

At 22 Anna, had her first mortgage; “I went 50/50 with my parents on a derelict small holding near Rhosneigr in Anglesey. It was at the time of self-certified mortgages but let’s not go there! I didn’t appreciate what a huge commitment it was, but I knew I was willing and able, so I submitted the planning permission to convert the barn, lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate to overturn some conditions, and over the next 12 years managed to transform it. I would literally be there every weekend replacing lintels or underpinning walls, a labour of love doesn’t cut it, but it has paid off”.

On Explorage.com Anna comments, “I’ve learnt that sheer action and determination

Our marketing efforts are starting to gain effectiveness; we just keep learning and iterating”. Anna continues, “People often don’t realise the scale of the market, the global self storage industry is valued at $48billion annually and is expected to grow to $89billion by 2028, there is huge potential, and we are just at the start. We want Explorage.com to become the brand associated with making life easier for people globally”.

If you own a self storage facility or are thinking about getting into the industry, it is well worth speaking to Explorage.com They also offer Remote Management Services which is a great solution for owners who don’t have the time to deal with the day-to-day operations of running a site. Anna also adds, “If you would just like to learn more about the business please get in touch, we are always open to new potential partnerships and stakeholder relationships”.

“Explorage have a network of over 100 self storage operators registered on the platform and are gaining momentum all the time.”

CEO

at Explorage, Anna Roberts

The Explorage team at the Rising Start Awards

Llandudno Insurance Company prepares for charity Great Orme walk to Support ‘Ambulances for Ukraine’

BIS Insurance, a renowned insurance company in Llandudno, is gearing up for a sponsored charity walk up the Great Orme on the 15th of September, to raise funds for its nominated charity of the year, ‘Ambulances for Ukraine’.

The team at BIS have already managed to raise an impressive sum of over £1,300 through a charity raffle, and they are hopeful that the walk will significantly contribute to this.

Managing Director of BIS Insurance, Roger Stevens, expressed his concern regarding the distressing situation in Ukraine and the team’s desire to make a difference.

He stated, “Every day we hear terrible news from Ukraine and we wanted to do what we can. Clients and friends of the business gave generously to our recent raffle, but we wanted to do more, so we agreed to get out and walk.”

As part of The County Group, the team at BIS Insurance have been actively supporting British Ukrainian Aid with the aim of raising £30,000 for two second-hand ambulances. So far, The County Group’s ‘Ambulances for Ukraine’ fundraiser has raised over £11,500.

The County Group CEO Alastair Christopherson, said: “Our branches pride themselves on being part of the community, doing their bit to support local causes.

“We are also part of a global community shocked by the atrocities in Ukraine. The

Growth surge for NMS Recruit’s Telecoms Sales Division

Rapid expansion of the UK Telecoms industry is powering up specialist recruiters NMS Recruit to a predicted year of significant growth.

Already in pole position for high-speed delivery of vital jobs in the sector, focus is now on filling a nationwide need for sales roles, largely due to further massive movement in the provision of full-fibre broadband and its impact on the economy and the environment.

To service this huge client demand, NMS Recruit has embarked on its own expansion path for its Sales Division, based at the company’s Wirral headquarters of Burton Manor.

Already, the Sales team has doubled in size over the past 12 months and, headed by Divisional Manager specialist Alex Drury, the business is expecting this move will greatly contribute to its turnover tripling within the coming year.

Operations Director Lisa Carew explained: “Ongoing plans for new installations of full-fibre networks and high-speed cable broadband throughout the UK – and operators’ commercial recruitment campaigns – have taken us to high levels of activity.

“We’re in a situation where the Telecoms industry climate is constantly changing, opening up more doors of opportunity for employment. In recent years, we’ve experienced a huge boost to the UK jobs market with new installations of full-fibre networks and high-speed cable broadband – but now we’re looking at even greater real growth in the sector over the next three years.” NMS Recruit took a forward leap in activity in the early post-Covid years when investment in broadband connectivity spurred jobs growth due to nationwide working from home arrangements, greater focus on supply to rural and hard-to-reach areas and a boom in TV streaming.

Lisa added: “As a result, since 2020 we have seen year-on-year growth, each period from then onwards seeing our turnover tripling. Already, 2023 figures for the half-year are extremely positive and likely to show even greater significant growth by the year end.”

The latest additions to Alex’s team in the Sales Division are Recruitment Consultants Jayden Crimp, Danny Mongan and Louis Frost.

medical infrastructure has suffered badly and on the front line, 4x4s are being used to rescue casualties. This is where the ambulances will come into their own, transporting the wounded back to main hospitals.”

Alastair has extended his best wishes to the team at BIS, and added: “We’re sending our best wishes to Roger and the team. It’s a big effort they are making but for a great cause and no doubt the breath-taking views will help to power every step.”

A ‘Just Giving’ page has been set up for anyone who can help. https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/thecountygroup

Alex said: “Jayden, Danny and Louis have become vital members of our expanding division at NMS as our focus is firmly fixed on the growing demand for sales roles in the Telecoms and IT industry.

“We are operating in a fast-moving environment that’s constantly changing and advancing. Full-fibre development is helping to resolve issues of slow internet speed and greater productivity for a remote workforce still operational post-Covid and whose former reliance on work travel – many of them living in remote, rural areas – has actually begun to reduce carbon emissions.

“The delivery of the right people to fill Sales roles is therefore crucial to the successful operation of clients such as Internet Service Providers, many of the smaller ones now beginning to take a bigger share of the marketplace.”

The team from BIS Insurance will be tackling the Great Orme Walk

The NMS Telecoms Sales Division has seen incredible growth

Are you looking to improve how you respond to an Invitation to Tender (ITT)?

Bidding for contracts is hard. You have to step out of your usual day to day activity and commit to producing a bid that shows what a good job your business could do. This takes a lot of effort and calls on the time of some of your busiest people. Would you benefit from some input and support from an experienced advisor?

Ian Wainwright, Director of Pinestar Ltd. has let major contracts, produced ITT responses and mobilised delivery for major organisations including Transport for London, National Express and Telent.

He can help you address challenges such as:

• How to bring out the key reasons why your tender should be successful.

• How to answer those difficult questions where you may not have the expertise or experience.

• Planning your bid to ensure it tells a great story.

• Setting up your governance so that you make best use of the skills and experience within your business.

If your business is looking for some help with producing bids, Pinestar Ltd, can provide a range of services including:

• Planning sessions to review the ITT and prepare your team for producing your tender response.

• Setting up bid review so they improve the quality of your submittal as it’s being produced.

• Customised staff training, from. simple guidance to a full 2-day simulation course that takes you through all the stages of producing a bid.

If this is of interest, please contact Ian on 07802 431794 or email ian.wainwright@pinestarconsulting.com to discuss your needs. For further information visit: www.pinestarconsulting.com

Calling all Importers & Exporters! Save the date for our next International Trade Forum!

The West Cheshire & North Wales International Trade Forum has been established to bring together importers and exporters from across the region to network, share best practice and gain insights into key international trade topics. The next edition is sponsored by Equals Money and focuses on Money Management Solutions in International Trade!

Minimising risk and maximising profits are key to the success of every business. However, companies involved in international trade are only too aware of the additional challenges involved in financing their imports/exports.

Be sure to join us at Wrexham Glyndwr University on October 11th as we look at the payment and foreign exchange options available to you when trading internationally, and also hear from expert guest speakers: Equals Money, Stark Export Focus, and UK Export Finance.

Hayley Gray, Export Documentation Manager/Customs Agent at the WCNW Chamber of Commerce, commented the following about the International Trade Forum: “It was fantastic to see so many local importers & exporters benefiting from the previous session of the West Cheshire & North Wales International Trade Forum earlier this year, and we hope that even more can join us in October and benefit from the expertise of our guest speakers.”

For more information about the International Trade Forum and to book onto our next event, scan the QR code on this page.

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 the latest sessions are underway now!

20th September:

BCC Introduction to Import.

27th September:

BCC Incoterms ® 2020 Rules.

10th October:

BCC Export Documentation.

18th October:

BCC Methods of Payment and Letters of Credit.

25th October:

BCC Customs Procedures and Documentation.

22nd November:

BCC Customs Special Procedures. With fun, interactive sessions and an expert trainer, be sure to get the knowledge you need in the most crucial areas of International Trade!

Visit

Coming in Hot!... Our Hot Topic briefing returns!

BCC Trade Manifesto International Trade Vital For UK Growth

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for Government to focus on boosting services, advanced manufacturing, green and digital trade if it wants to hit its £1tn trade target.

Boosting exports is key to the UK’s future economic prosperity, but firms of all sizes are facing a wide range of stumbling blocks. These include inflationary pressures, a restructuring of global supply chains and a continuing flow of new requirements from the EU trade relationship.

The BCC’s newly revised Trade Manifesto sets out a comprehensive list of steps to get more UK businesses, currently just 10%, involved in international trade.

Among the Manifesto’s key proposals are:

•Establishing an Exports Council to focus on boosting the UK’s services, green, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing exports - achieving the £1tn exports target early in 2030s

•Raising the proportion of UK exports done digitally to 60% by the end of the decade

•Building upon trade documents digitalisation by moving to online border processes at pace.

•Updating the UK Export Strategy with specific support and promotion for green exporters.

•Earmarking additional dedicated UK Export Finance for green trade.

•Reaching an agreement between the UK and EU in the coming months on electric vehicles and batteries’ rules of origin, to avoid damaging new tariffs.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:

“The world of international trade is where British business belongs. If our economy is to grow then we must export more, it’s as simple as that.

“Firms that trade overseas, grow faster, pay better, and are more resilient. If the UK wants to remain one of the world’s largest economies, then we need more firms selling more goods and services internationally.

“Our new Manifesto sets out a long-term strategy on the key areas where the Government must focus if it wants to hit its target of £1tn of exports.

“If we all work together to take action then we can revitalise our export growth and help power up the UK economy.”

Following the success of the previous four sessions that have taken place throughout 2023, we are delighted to be hosting the next edition of our International Trade Hot Topic later this month!

On September 27th we’ll be updating attendees on the latest ‘Hot Topic’ in the International Trade world as we take a look at Customs Process and Compliance Updates.

Join us for this free online session as we dive into the latest customs developments, provide examples of the types of spot investigations taking place (not necessarily full audits) and highlight some of the other recent ‘Hot Topics’ in international trade.

“The world of international trade is where British business belongs. If our economy is to grow then we must export more, it’s as simple as that

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After over 20 years working with service industries, PA Services Virtually opened it’s doors. Last year we grew to a team of four who help provide solutions to your admin problems. We work with you to provide flexible services so that you can concentrate on your core business, while we take care of the rest. On time, on budget, everytime !

Typical tasks to outsource

✓ Collating monthly expenses, Xero reconciliation

✓ Taking and preparing meeting notes/minutes

✓ Compiling reports, formatting documents

✓ Document Management

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Freelance PA offering flexible solutions to small businesses.

Your one stop for self-serviced short term accommodation across the UK. Fully furnished apartments to feel like your home away from home. Corporate or leisure, we have something for everyone.

Quarterly Recruitment Outlook: People Problem Key To Tackling Inflation

•Government must fix people problem to ease inflation and take pressure off interest rate rises

•79% of businesses surveyed (92% of whom are SMEs) attempting to recruit have faced challenges, with hospitality and construction firms the most likely to report difficulties

•Three in five (60%) businesses attempted to recruit in the quarter

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO), a survey of 4,800 UK firms of all sectors and sizes by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) reveals there is still no easing in the recordhigh difficulties in finding staff.

The second quarter results for 2023 show that the percentage of firms facing recruitment difficulties has fallen just three percentage points from the historical high of 82% in Q4 2022. This has now remained above 75% for the last two years.

Attempted recruitment in Q1 was virtually unchanged from the previous quarter, with 60% of those surveyed looking to find staff (59% in Q1 2023).

While recruitment difficulties are being experienced across the economy, the construction & engineering, and hospitality sectors were the most likely to report problems with 86% of firms reporting difficulties (up from 81% and 83% respectively in Q1). This is closely followed by manufacturing on 81% (83% Q1) and then professional services on 77% (79% Q1).

Of the firms in the construction & engineering sector facing recruitment difficulties, 76% faced difficulties in finding skilled manual/technical workers. However, for hospitality businesses that struggled to recruit, 69% faced difficulties in finding semi/unskilled workers.

Investment in training remains stubbornly low with just over a quarter of firms (27%) reporting an increase in their training investment plans over the last three months (the same as Q1), while 14% report a drop (also the same).

In terms of cost pressures, the data show that the main factor for increasing prices is now coming from wages rather than utility bills or raw materials.

“The tight labour market continues to ramp up wage costs, fuelling inflation, and creating huge difficulties for businesses. With the Bank of England expected to increase interest rates again, it is vital that Government boosts efforts to increase the supply of labour to help break the cycle.

“Firms are being squeezed on all sides. With 36.8 million jobs in the economy, there are more employment opportunities than ever before. But we also have low unemployment, and over a million jobs are currently left unfilled. Firms cannot fulfil order books and are turning down new work.

“They are caught in a vicious circle where the lack of people holds back growth and reduces opportunities for investment, including in training – part of the long-term solution.

“While firms can do more to make workplaces more flexible and jobs easier to access, the government must redouble its efforts to support people into work.

With concern around utility costs dropping, 63% report these as an issue (74% in Q3 2022), the number of firms reporting labour costs as a source of pressure has risen to 68% (67% in Q1) and is now the lead cost pressure. Although, overall, the percentage of firms expecting their prices to rise fell below 50% for the first time since Q3 in 2021.

Responding to the findings, Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the BCC, said:

“But where there is evidence of critical national skills shortages, that are crippling business sectors and pushing up wages, the government must look again at the role immigration can play in easing difficulties in the short term. This includes making sure the criteria for the Shortage Occupations List are proportionate and realistic, as well as expanding access to youth mobility schemes

“Access to a skilled workforce is a major concern for businesses across the UK. The longer these shortages continue, the more long-term damage is caused. Government has made a start but has yet to shift the dial. If we are to get the economy growing again we need more action, now.”

n Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the BCC

Im age by Pexels

24 Hrs with 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership

A brief overview of your role and company

I am the Community Rail Officer for 3 Counties Connected Community Rail Partnership. We cover the rail services and engage with the communities along the railway lines between Chester - Shrewsbury – Crewe. We are a new Community Rail Partnership established in April 2022, funded by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast and hosted by Groundworks North Wales. The overall purpose of the Partnership is to encourage greater use of sustainable travel on rail services through increased participation of local communities in their rail line.

This is achieved through a range of activities at, and surrounding, local train stations to provide economic, social, and environmental benefits to the region’s residents and visitors.

The aim is to engage people with a green way of living, encourage different community groups to get involved in station adoption and invest in the Chester – Shrewsbury –Crewe Transport for Wales line as a gateway to show what all North Wales and the border areas have to offer.

Can you tell us a short overview of an average day at work?

No two days are the same which is what I love. Not only geographically due to the nature of my job but the range of things I can be doing can be very diverse too. From taking part in community planting days in railway stations, delivering art workshops in local venues, even railway carriages...to taking community groups out for day trips.

Today, I have been delivering a Victorian Open Day in Chirk Parish Hall to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Chester to Shrewsbury line being open to the public. We had over 200 visitors to it from local families dressed up as Victorians to retired railway workers wanting to share their stories. All whilst enjoying the entertainment from tightrope walking to making Victorian posies, to learning about heritage skills and the history of the line. It’s a great job and I count myself very lucky and privileged to get to share these moments with communities.

What has been the reaction since you were established last year?

The Partnership was set up in April 2022 and I started my role in September of that year. From humble beginnings with just a few stakeholders, we have delivered many art projects, workshops and events across the Chester to Shrewsbury to Crewe Lines. From Community group visits to Shrewsbury to, Station Art Projects in Wrenbury Nantwich and Wrexham, to events in heritage railway settings and most recently the celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of the Chester to Shrewsbury line.

As a result of the many projects we have delivered, the Partnership has grown substantially with the stakeholders having a diverse range of skills and knowledge to offer.

Have you faced any particular challenges recently?

It can be occasionally challenging in my role as a Railway Community Officer if there are delays or cancellations with trains. My role is community outreach and I want my users to build up confidence to travel whilst having the best experience. How do I do that? Well, I keep positive.

Recently I took seventeen members of a local group from Brymbo on a day trip to Shrewsbury as part of a project we are working on together. When the train arrived, it was full so we had to stand for most of the journey. We dealt with it with humour, talking with the other passengers finding out where they were going and even having a sing song! We all came off the train laughing and some of the passengers even asked if could they spend the rest of the day with us. Keep smiling and stay positive, that’s the way I get things done.

What are your plans for the future?

To promote sustainable travel along our lines. Linking in with organisations and destinations along the line to showcase the wonderful places and spaces there are out there to be enjoyed by local communities.

If there was an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it?

Very selfishly, with a coffee cake and a view. I love nothing more than sitting by myself and getting lost in a view, in my role I am usually dashing about from place to place, person to person and seldom get that chance.

A trip out to Shrewsbury by train with a community group from the Brymbo Enterprise Centre

Group-buying solar scheme opens for west Cheshire residents

Residents in west Cheshire have an opportunity to sign-up to a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage. As part of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s work to help the borough to become carbon neutral by 2045, the Council is working with neighbouring local authorities to offer residents the opportunity to benefit from Solar Together Cheshire and Warrington. The scheme is a first for the area and will help Cheshire homeowners feel confident that they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from preapproved installers.

It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation.

West Cheshire residents can join the groupbuying scheme, which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points. The scheme also offers retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, as well as increase their independence from the grid. This innovative scheme builds on six years of a successful Solar Together programme, run across the UK. To date Solar Together has delivered over 22,000 installations and over 460,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is working in partnership with Cheshire East Council, Warrington Borough Council, and independent

experts iChoosr, to help make the transition to clean energy as cost effective and hassle-free as possible.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Energy and Green Spaces, said:

“This is a great opportunity for residents who may be considering installing solar PV in their home to find out more about the process and get a quote from pre-approved installers in the area. By using group-buying power, residents can expect a more competitive price compared to the open market and once installed they can help cut future energy bills.”

It’s really simple to register online and there is no obligation to accept the recommendation made.”

Residents have until 10pm on Friday, 27 October 2023 to register their interest in the scheme. To find out more and to register, visit:Solar Together Cheshire and Warrington How does it work?

Householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation.

Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction, where installers bid to provide the service to you and others registered households. They can offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.

After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.

If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.

Telephone and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.

Advice on other home energy schemes and support for those who are worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food and transport can be found on the Council’s website. Visit: Marie-Louise Abretti, iChoosr UK Solar Manager, added:

“With energy prices remaining high, residents in Cheshire and Warrington are looking for opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions, save on energy bills and increase their independence from the grid. The Solar Together group-buying scheme offers a straightforward way to make an informed decision and to access a competitive offer from a trusted, vetted provider..”

Image by Como una Reina from Pixabay

5 years after opening; here’s 5 Facts about M-SParc

1.

What is M-SParc?

M-SParc is Wales’ first dedicated Science Park! Wholly owned by Bangor University, M-SParc’s main site is on Anglesey, with popup locations across northwest Wales. Within the main building and wider ecosystem, M-SParc supports 50 physical tenants and 30 virtual tenants, all in the science and technology sectors. Their mission is to ignite ambition for a sustainable Wales! They do this with a sector focus on digital, energy, and life sciences, and by providing dedicated business support to all tenants. The support includes specialist advise, bid writing, a dedicated Skills programme to bridge the regional skills gap, relevant and sector-specific events, and a real passion for supporting innovation and driving forward economic opportunities. M-SParc also has the ambitious target of being the first science park in the UK to reach NetZero by 2030!

2. Where can you find M-SParc?

As well as the main M-SParc headquarters on Anglesey, they are also always #OnTour across the northwest, and currently have 2

pop up locations, one in Bangor and one in Pwllheli brining, all the best of M-SParc out into the community! They host exciting (and free!) events throughout the year in all their locations. This includes making using of the maker space for workshops, events just for children, a repair café to support the circular economy, and sector-specific business events on topics of national significance. You can of course find M-SParc online too, on all the main social media platforms, just search for @ msparc to keep up to date on all the goings on.

3. What developments are taking place at M-SParc?

M-SParc houses 3 Bangor University spinout projects, supports tenants to create cutting-edge ideas and take them to commercialisation, and specialises in housing national and international companies with a dedicated ‘soft landing’ programme to help them settle in the region. As well as ensuring tenant companies contribute to the regional economy, M-SParc operates as a commercial SME itself and has a dedicated team for both Digital and Energy activities, working on various commercial projects and contracts in order to bring further value and opportunity to the region. Excitingly, M-SParc is also expanding to a second building (5 years ahead of schedule!) which will be focused on the low carbon sector in the region. This further supports innovation in Wales and helps put M-SParc on the map!

4. What is at the core of M-SParc’s values?

Their 3 main values are responsiveness, openness and positivity, and recently their focus includes upskilling and inspiring the next generation through their new Skill-SParc programme. They’ll be going out to schools and conducting workshops in line with the new curriculum for Wales, responding to the regional skills gap. They also have a Skills Academy where an individual can get a fully-paid member of staff for 6 months, and an individual has an opportunity to work in industry. 74% of Academy members have to date gone on to work after ‘graduating’. This helps create even more opportunities for local people and creates economic diversity for the region; M-SParc’s key ambition.

5. What can M-SParc offer me?

Those looking to start a business in the region can get in touch with M-SParc to access business support, or even to enquire about becoming a tenant! M-SParc’s events are open for anyone to join in, from in-person events to hybrid events, and even the occasional pop-up event as far afield as London! Importantly, M-SParc is also driving forward the regional economy and this involves creating well-paid careers, regularly advertised on the website.

All this and more is available, so check out the website to find out for yourselves:

m-sparc.com

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey: Signs Inflation Pressure Easing

• Less than half (45%) of UK firms expect their prices to increase in the next three months, down from 55% in Q1.

• Labour costs are the biggest driver of price rises, cited by 68% of businesses.

• Domestic sales, cash flow, turnover and profitability indicators all remain largely unchanged from Q1.

The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q2 2023 shows that less than half of firms now plan to raise prices in the next three months as cost pressures ease.

But the data also reveals that the main factor for increasing costs is now coming from wages rather than utility bills or raw materials.

The survey, by the BCC’s Insights Unit, of over 5,000 firms – 92% of whom are SMEs – also reveals business performance across different sectors varies considerably, with hospitality and retail firms suffering more widely from cashflow difficulties.

The research took place between 15 May and 9 June and before the Bank of England increased the base rate to 5%. Respondents were split into 27% manufacturing and 73% services industries, with 47% exporting. Growth in business activity remains weak, with no significant improvement to sales and cash flow data.

The percentage of firms reporting increased domestic sales remained largely static, with 35% reporting a rise (broadly unchanged from 34% last quarter). Meanwhile, 24% reported a decrease and 41% reported no change. For cash flow, more businesses continue to report a decrease, rather than an increase and again the picture remains largely unchanged since Q1. Just over one in four (26%) businesses said their cash flow has increased over the last three months (25% in Q1), while 29% have seen it decrease (30% in Q1).

Pressures remain highest in the retail and hospitality sectors with 38% and 37% respectively reporting reduced cashflow, while PR and Marketing was the most positive sector with 33% reporting growth.

After business confidence showed signs of a rebound in Q1 2023, it has now stalled again.

There was a small increase in the percentage of firms believing their business turnover will rise over the next 12 months, up to 54%, from 52% in Q1.

Profitability confidence also improved slightly to 44% from 42% in Q1, but it continues to remain weaker than turnover confidence.

This slightly improved outlook is not translating through to increased business investment.

The number of respondents reporting an increase in investment in plant/equipment dropped to 23% from 25% in Q1. Over the last six years this measure has dropped as low as 9% of firms, at the start of the pandemic, but it has never gone higher than 28% (Q1 2018).

Labour costs are now the number one cost pressure for businesses.

With concern around utility costs dropping, 63% report these as an issue (74% in Q3 2022), the number of firms struggling with wage costs has risen to 68% (67% in Q1) and is now the lead cost pressure.

But there remain wide sectoral differences with 75% of manufacturers citing raw materials as the main factor driving price increases, while in hospitality, 85% of firms were most worried about utility costs. The retail sector was least worried about labour costs, with 56% citing it as an issue, against 64% flagging utilities and 67% raw materials.

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Once again, data from the Quarterly Economic Survey sees no major improvement to key business indicators.

Inflationary pressures continue to ease but still remain the top concern.

The percentage of firms expecting their prices to rise fell below 50% for the first time since Q3 in 2021. It has fallen from 60% of firms in Q4 2022 to 45% in Q2 2023.

While inflation remains firms’ biggest concern, the level has dropped for the second quarter running, with 69% of firms now worried compared to 74% in Q1. However there has been a corresponding 5 percentage point rise in businesses worried about interest rates, increasing from 36% in Q1 to 41% in Q2.

“Three years of economic shocks in the form of Covid-19 lockdowns, inflation, and new trade barriers with the EU have placed clear obstacles in the ability of firms to trade and grow.

“Now many SMEs face further pressure following interest rate rises, as borrowing costs increase. Predictably, investment suffers in such tough conditions.

“Despite this, business confidence remains buoyant, following a big drop in 2022, as inflationary ease further. This optimism should be reinforced with greater clarity from government on a plan for economic growth.”

business confidence remains buoyant, following a big drop in 2022, as inflationary ease further. This optimism should be reinforced with greater clarity from government on a plan for economic growth.”

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce

CONTRACT PACKING

by Staeger Clear Packaging, Coventry

Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd, are an Award-winning, professional packaging company based in Coventry, offering contract packing with cost-effective, innovative & timely solutions to your contract packing needs.

We pride ourselves on having expertise and flexibility to manage a wide range of products from small sampling jobs to high volume production runs.

Our contract packing area is designed to provide you with confidence that our team will manage your company’s item assortment, ensuring that all hand assembly, disassembly, and hand packing requests are carried out with speed, efficiency, and accuracy.

Our experienced and dedicated team are on hand to support you at every stage of your project.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd, based in Coventry, we provide secure storage for a wide range of products, whether it be: documentation, packaging, raw materials or finished goods, whether you are a large blue chip company, a public sector organisation or a small local business, we can securely manage and store your product.

We pride ourselves on having expertise and flexibility to manage a wide range of products.

Our experienced and dedicated team are on hand to support you at every stage of your storage needs.

For further details please contact our office: Staeger Clear Packaging Ltd

Unit 1, Swallowgate Business Park, Coventry. CV6 4BL

Office: +44 2476 58 11 97

https://www.staegerclear.co.uk/

https://staeger.eu/en/#

Niki Taylor Director at Taylor Waste Solutions

Here at Taylor Waste Solutions, we are passionate about disposing of waste in an ethical and sustainable manner, through our reuse, reduce, and recycle methods.

As a waste management company, we are continually seeking out innovative approaches to tackle waste management - working against the environmental damage our planet is experiencing.

We aim to stay at the forefront of technology and industry advancements, constantly exploring new ways to enhance recycling processes, improve sustainability and work towards our aim of a greener planet. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with companies that share this mission statement.

My passion for working within the waste and recycling industry started when I began my career in a waste management company at the age of 17. Beginning there as an administrative assistant gave me the opportunity to build up my knowledge and experience within the industry, working my way up through glass ceilings into operations, and then into transport management.

I have built up a plethora of skills and techniques along my decades-long journey, which have carried me through my working career to the point of working for the largest waste manageable company in the UK as a regional manager. Although this was a huge personal and professional achievement, my growth didn’t stop there.

I started Taylor Waste Solutions Limited last year after being made redundant during Covid-19. After 27 years in the waste and recycling industry and working for two of the largest corporate waste management companies, I felt the need to provide companies with a more “hands-on” approach to waste management - providing them with a more customer-focused approach.

I felt my time in these big corporate companies showed me how overly formal this kind of business can be, and I didn’t want to be a part of that any longer. I wanted to work with businesses, almost becoming a part of their teams and working directly with them to figure out their waste goals and desires, as well as finding greener alternatives to waste disposals.

We have worked on some very interesting projects over the past year that I am incredibly proud of - I have been pushed as a business owner and professional, as well as personally as these growths and developments have been made.

A recent opportunity that I’m proud of sharing was assisting a local company to find a waste route for their old and out-of-date fire extinguishers. The customer was concerned that too many of them were ending up in landfill due to manufacturers not being able to take them back - and was not being offered alternative disposal routes. This didn’t sit right with us.

passionate about helping to undo its existing damage to ensure an environmentallyfriendly future.

Our next project is to look at alternatives for the safe disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). While disposal of waste, recycling and reuse schemes have steadily progressed over recent years, an area that seems to have fallen behind is battery disposal and WEEE. The awareness around safe battery disposal is still extremely limited, with many people not realising the hazards these everyday items can cause.

We want to help rectify this, not only to help the environment with safer disposal routes, but to help educate people on potential risks they could be inviting into their homes.

We worked with the company to find an ethical, safe, and recyclable option for these products and presented Natural Resources of Wales with a disposal solution that we can do in-house at our depot in Holywell, North Wales. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, and it’s this kind of passion from my customers and clients that continues to help push me forward.

Finding new and innovative ways to dispose of waste, in an eco-friendly way that considers the natural environment being preserved, should be at the forefront of all waste businesses’ minds. For Taylor Waste, being a smaller company, we are always able to keep this at the front of our decisionmaking. We only have one planet, and we’re

The next stage of Taylor Waste Solutions Limited has come about organically with our natural growth and development of a business. Since opening the business in April 2022, we have stuck to our ‘family feel’ routes, and have taken on my husband, Neil, as Operations Manager; as well as my daughter assisting with our social media and marketing strategies.

We are keen to expand our company beyond my immediate family when the time is right, introducing enthusiastic individuals into the world of waste and welcoming them into the small Taylor Waste business family. I would love to explore apprenticeship routes next year and offer a new opportunity to young people to take their first step on the professional career ladder.

I started in the industry with no relevant qualifications or skills, but hard work has allowed me to grow to this level - starting my own business!

Niki Taylor, Director at Taylor Waste Solutions

Taylor Waste Solutions has recently produced a disposal solution for used and old fire extinguishers

NEW MEMBERS

Arbonne Independent Consultant

07860 245855

www.anngirling.arbonne.com

CF Fertilisers UK Ltd

Ince Chester Cheshire

CH2 4LB

01513 575603

www.cffertilisers.co.uk

Bennett Brooks Accountants

14 Grosvenor Court

Foregate Street Chester

CH1 1HG

01244 401010

www.bennettbrooks.co.uk

Bennett Brooks Accountants

19 Trinity Square

Llandudno

Conwy County Borough

LL30 2RD 01492 860055

www.bennettbrooks.co.uk

Bennett Brooks Accountants St Georges Court

Winnington Avenue

Northwich

Cheshire

CW8 4EE 01606 721300

www.bennettbrooks.co.uk

BIS Insurance

22 Trinity Square

Llandudno

Gwynedd

LL30 2RH

01492 555444 bisinsurance.co.uk

Blooming Mind

New Brighton

Wirral

CH45 5BQ

07538 511809

www.bloomingmind.co.uk

Brolsh Cyber Security Advisory

Unit 32

St Asaph Business Park

St Asaph

Denbighshire

LL17 0JA

07702 755689

www.brolsh.co.uk

Charity Bank

Charity Bank North West CH63

07513 826618

www.charitybank.org

Cheshire County Football Association Ltd

Cheshire County Football Association Ltd Hartford House

Hartford Moss Recreation Centre Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4BG 01606 871166

www.cheshirefa.com

Cheshire Surveys Ltd 01829 741859

http:/www.cheshiresurveys.co.uk

isla_grace_mortgages

Unit A

The Enterprise Centre

Blast Road, Brymbo

Wrexham LL11 5BT 07730 481065

www.islagracemortgages.co.uk

Joanne Finnerty Recruitment Limited

Room 305

The Lauries Centre

142 Claughton Road

Wirral, Cheshire

CH41 6EY 01516 015288

jfrecruitment.co.uk

KLM Design & Prints LTD

41 Hope St, Chester, CH4 8BU 07984 064580

www.klmdp.com

Commercial Funding at 75point3

75point3

14 Madoc Street

Llandudno

Conwy County Borough LL30 2TL

01492 877299 75point3.co.uk

Equicantis Ltd 01244 911904 equicantis.com

Lenami Limited 07932 764360

www.lenami.co.uk

Hargreaves & Woods

Cholmondeley House

Dee Hills Park

Chester Cheshire

CH3 5AR 01244 400219

www.hargreaveswoods.co.uk

Let’s Farm 11 Coronet Ave Kingsmead Northwich Cheshire CW9 8FX 07759 638729

Live!

New Scene Centre Lime Wood Close

Hoole

Chester, Cheshire CH2 2HD 01244 320479

livecheshire.org.uk

MacDonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa

Parkgate Road

Puddington Cheshire

CH66 9PB

0151 3474000

www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel

St John Street

Chester Cheshire

CH1 1HL

01244 323186

www.macdonalds-hotels.com

Mars-Jones limited

Unit 4

Glendale Business Park

Glendale Avenue

Sandycroft, Cheshire

CH5 2QP

01745 818721 www.mars-jones.co.uk

Mole Group

Whitfield Business Hub

180-200 Pensby Road

Heswall

Wirral, Merseyside

CH60 7RJ

03333 359929 molegroup.co.uk/

North Light

Unit 1 Coachworks Arcade

Northgate Street

Chester Cheshire

CH1 2EY

01244 737050

www.northlight.uk.com

North West Air Ambulance Charity

North Mersey Business Centre

Woodward Road

Knowsley

Merseyside

L33 7UY

08005 874570

www.nwairambulance.org.uk

Northwood Consuma Tissue

Northwood Consuma Tissue Head Office

Hurlingham Business Park

Grantham

Lincolnshire

NG32 3HL

01400 262802

www.consumapaperproducts.co.uk

Pathway to Carbon Zero Limited

Drefechan Farm 4

Penycae

Wrexham

Wrexham County Borough

LL14 1UE

07960 534016

pathwaytocz.com

Phillips & Co Accountants

Obsidian Offices

Chantry Court

Chester

Cheshire

CH1 4QN

01244 220062

www.phillipsco-accountants.co.uk

Prosper Bailey Accountancy Ltd

Office 56 Cassidy House Station Road

Aldford

Chester, Cheshire

CH1 3DW

01244 421206

prosperbaileyaccountants.com/

RACS Industrial

Unit 63 Coworkz sealand

Minerva Avenue

Chester West Employment Park

Chester, Cheshire

CH1 4QL

01244 561 990

www.racs-industrial.co.uk

R-EV Power & Rawson Solar 4 Bridge Business Centre

Ash Road South

Wrexham Ind East

Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough

LL13 9UG

01978 808517

www.r-evpower.co.uk

Signature Group

1 Spinningfields

Manchester

Greater Manchester

M3 3EB

01618 500648

Steggles Wealth

Cedar Hall

The Green

Gresford

Wrexham County Borough

LL12 8RG 01978 856199

www.steggleswm.co.uk

Trydanol Energy Solutions Cyf 07787 984190

www.trydanolenergy.solutions

Vigo IT Solutions Limited

The Lauries 142 Claughton Road

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH41 6EY

01519 097160

www.vigoitsolutions.com

Wincanton

E.R.F Way

Middlewich Cheshire

CW10 0QJ

01249 710000

www.wincanton.co.uk

Wrexham Insurance

8-10 King Street

Wrexham

Wrexham County Borough

LL11 1LE

01978 264000

www.wrexhaminsurance.co.uk

Spectra Media Office 129

Pioneer House

Pioneer Business Park

Chester, Cheshire

CH65 1AD

07703 409356

spectra.media

St John Ambulance Cymru Unit F

Ellice way

Wrexham

Wrexham County Borough

LL13 7YL

07827 922792

www.sjacymru.org.uk

Northwood Consuma Tissue expansion plans

Northwood Group successfully launched Northwood Consuma Tissue (NCT) in December 2022, we are now pleased to announce the expansion of our converting capability with the purchase of a new 14-acre (5.7 hectares) site housing a 235,000 sq ft (22,000 sq m) facility in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

This will dramatically increase our available output of toilet tissue and kitchen towel and allows us to be true cross-category paper partners to our premium grocery customers.

A brand new, high speed, state-ofthe-art and fully automated line will be commissioned and operational during Q 3 2023. Phased installation of a further 3 lines will give the site a total finished roll product output of more than 55,000 tonnes per annum.

In addition to mainstream toilet tissue and kitchen towel output, NCT in Grantham will retain its point of difference in Facial, Toilet Tissue and Kitchen Towel with specialist

print, lotion, fragrance and added-value capability for events and seasons, to protect the magic and to bring fun to the paper category.

As the largest private label facial tissues supplier in the UK, the Grantham site will remain NCT Head Office and a Centre of Excellence for the production of Facial Tissue. This site will benefit from further investment as we automate our downstream production lines.

Northwood Group has planning approval at the Disley Tissue Mill where advanced plans are in place to expand our paper-making facilities with the installation of a new

100% virgin paper machine with an output capacity of 70,000 tonnes. This is additional to the existing four paper mills which manufacture some 100,000mt of paper made from 100% recycled fibre across the UK and Spain.

All these exciting investments will cement Northwood Group as a fully vertically integrated supplier to both the retail and away-from-home, sectors.

We shall continue to issue updates on the progress of projects during the coming months.

For further information visit www.consumapaperproducts.co.uk

SAS Daniels Scoops Conveyancing Award

SAS Daniels LLP, the leading Cheshire-based solicitors, is jubilant after receiving the Conveyancing Firm of the Year award at a recent prestigious ceremony.

The firm’s team of conveyancing and residential property lawyers and legal experts received the esteemed recognition at the Trinity Financial mortgage award ceremony. Steph Lyke, partner at SAS Daniels’ Chester office and associate Angela Fergus were presented with the accolade at the annual event, an anticipated occasion to celebrate the work of those that support the Londonbased brokers in arranging a significant number of mortgages for clients each year, in addition to rewarding staff members for their dedication.

Jeremy Orrell, chief executive officer at SAS Daniels commented: “It is an honour to receive such valuable recognition and to be presented with the Conveyancing Firm of the Year award from a highly-respected partner.

“We are very proud of the strong reputation we uphold at SAS Daniels in supporting our clients through what quite often can be incredibly stressful times, using our expertise, technical know-how and friendly approach. We firmly believe that communication is key,

particularly during the conveyancing process, so we are passionate about ensuring that each and every client is provided with a dedicated conveyancer to guide them every step of the way.”

SAS Daniels LLP is a Cheshire-based law firm with offices in Stockport, Chester, Macclesfield and Congleton, servicing both businesses and individuals throughout the local area and nationwide.

The firm is committed to helping clients thrive in both their personal and professional lives, using their expertise, technical know-how and friendly approach to understand the needs and protect the interests of their clients. SAS Daniels’ 120-strong specialist team and 19 partners are all equipped to help resolve any legal matter regardless of size, ensuring a personalised experience is delivered from an experienced and approachable legal specialist.

To find out more about SAS Daniels, visit www.sasdaniels.co.uk

Northwood Consuma Tissue’s new facility in Ellesmere Port.

L to R Steph Lyke, partner at SAS Daniels’ Chester office and associate Angela Fergus

Together, We’re Well Connected

Chamber members unite to educate local schools on rare earth metals for green technology

Two Chamber members have united to design and deliver school workshops to educate local primary children ages 9-11 about rare earth metals for green technology. These ‘Mine to Magnet’ workshops are the first of their kind and are tailored to fit the National Curriculum.

Xplore! is a Science Discovery Centre and educational charity based in Wrexham city centre. As a charity, its mission is to communicate and share science in exciting and innovative ways with everyone regardless of age, ability, or background. They do this by providing a visitor attraction full of exciting hands-on exhibits that encourage children, and adults alike to explore, discover, and experiment.

Less Common Metals (LCM), an SME based in Ellesmere Port, manufactures complex alloy systems and metals predominantly for the permanent magnet industry. You can find many of these alloys in everyday items such as laptops, mobile phones, headphones and speakers. The larger permanent magnets are used in wind turbines and electric vehicles. The company exports to 17 countries and sits in the mine to magnet supply chain as a midstream manufacturer.

Georgia Rigoni, Communications Executive from Less Common Metals, and Katie Williams, Business Development Officer from Xplore!, met at a Chamber event in 2020 that was being hosted on the Xplore! site. It soon became apparent that the two organisations

shared similar values and the pair connected following the original meeting to discuss ways they would be able to support each other’s objectives. After several meetings, LCM and Xplore! entered into an agreement that has been the basis of a continued, successful partnership ever since.

In the first instance, members of the LCM team met with several science communicators at Xplore! The LCM team began to explain the complex ‘mine to magnet’ process and left the Xplore! team to turn the content into a fun workshop that would be enjoyed and understood by primary school children. The result was an activity-packed 45-minute workshop aimed at children aged 9-11. Through a suite of 6 hands-on activities, children were able to get to grips with the process of modern-day mining and processing.

Through the activities, pupils are able to dig the rare earth elements (fools gold), sift and separate them, and then heat and mould them to show how the mined metals are turned into permanent magnets used in green technologies.

Katie said: “Membership of the Chamber of Commerce was a brilliant move for Xplore!, giving us access to businesses that wouldn’t otherwise be on our radar. I firmly believe that we make our own luck in life and this wasn’t a chance meeting. This partnership was only ever formed by putting ourselves in the right place at the right time. And for us, that moment was the Chamber of Commerce meeting back in 2020! “Our partnership has since gone from strength to strength with connections from other organisations within the supply chain interested in rolling out the successful engagement workshop.”

Georgia added: “The Chamber events are brilliant for engaging with like-minded professionals and LCM has gained a lot of positive relationships from these kinds of events, one of them being with Xplore! Since 2020, our relationship has grown, and we continuously look for ways to work together and support initiatives.

I would encourage current Chamber members to actively participate in events as you never know who you are going to meet and what it will lead to!”

We’re launching a brand-new feature in our magazine which embodies the Chamber’s tagline “Together, We’re Well Connected”. We’ll be showcasing examples of members connecting, collaborating and working together, highlighting how their membership with the Chamber has helped them build relationships and opened new doors for their businesses.

Does this sound like you? If so, we’d love to hear your story! Get in touch with us on 01244 669988 or email info@ wcnwchamber.org.uk.

The power of the WCNW Chamber of Commerce!

Julie Littler, The Littler Places Art, joined the Chamber in October 2022 and has since gone on to collaborate with a number of fellow members by creating many colourful architectural art pieces. One of these pieces was made for Rhianne Wray, Type of Data, who said “I am always raving about how much I love the Chamber, I have created so many wonderful connections and now friendships with many members. Julie is an example of this.

“We met during a tour of Liverpool Airport and instantly hit it off. I asked Julie to create a wedding gift for my now husband. Working together was so easy. From there, Julie has been such a wonderful support to me, being a soundboard and providing an impartial ear! The Chamber is a prime example of how an IT nerd and an artist, who may never have crossed paths without it, can bring you together!

Julie said “I am immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to my unique business journey thus far. I eagerly look forward to meeting more Chamber members at upcoming networking events and exploring new collaborations and strengthening connections with the local business community.”

LCM and Xplore! teamed up after meeting at a networking event in 2020

An overview of yourself and your current role.

I am an Adventure Psychologist which combines my background as a Chartered Psychologist and Mountain Leader. At CognitvExplorer, I help people become more adventurous in thought, attitude and action. I do this through delivering inspiring and informative adventure-themed talks and workshops on stress management and performance coaching, as well as sessions in the outdoors to get people thinking a bit differently about the challenges they face in life and work.

Blending insights from neuroscience with practical and experiential techniques, I help folks find purpose, enhance mental wellbeing and improve performance. In recent times, I’ve been working a lot with mental health, social welfare and youth development charities that give people a sense of purpose through adventure, building mental fitness, resilience and confidence.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It is so stimulating to engage with people and tap into their adventurous spirit! Enthusiasm is contagious, and when people embrace challenges, be that in a corporate workshop setting or even on a mountain ridge in a led group, there is a real sense of connection and insight. People go away equipped to better deal with stress and their passion and purpose shine through!

It’s about camaraderie at a group level –bonding through common purpose – and those breakthrough moments in individuals as they are empowered to take more control over their lives using concepts from adventure psychology.

Dave Gallagher CognitvExplorer

Was a role like this always what you aspired to?

I’ve been building to this point from the beginning of my career, but it was a circuitous journey to get there. Life doesn’t always make the path easy or straight. This is something I talk about a lot when encouraging people to find and follow their purpose. The distant summit might be the goal, but often you go off-piste due to circumstance, and end up mapping a different route, learning all sorts of things along the way. I believe this makes you more rounded, more adaptable, and ultimately more expert. So yes, I aspired to this from the start, but expected a more linear progression, though possibly losing out on the richness of experiences I have actually had.

Tell us about your previous roles/ business journey.

After academic-based research, I pursued a career in industrial R&D. I worked for over 20 years in a prominent multinational FMCG company doing a mixture of fundamental and applied scientific research. This involved studying consumers in their ‘natural habitat’ around the world to understand needs, demands on time/energy, and aspirations, feeding insights from this into product design and innovation. It resulted in new products on the shelf and even getting patents for pack designs. I gained a lot of experience liaising with corporate stakeholders, design agencies, marketing and academic partners, leading to innovation of consumer products and experiences.

I specialised in what captures people’s attention, feeding into design of products for shelf stand-out, as well as helping people manage the demands on attention in everyday life. CognitvExplorer takes this expertise and applies it in more adventurous contexts to help people manage stress, unlock aspirations and perform at their best.

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

Relaxation is an odd concept for me as I actually feel relaxed in many situations people would find stressful! As a keen climber, mountaineer, kayaker and SCUBA diver, I like to get out into the wild, find a remote spot, and chill out…It’s about finding comfort and rest even in situations that can be challenging. Alternatively, I play the drums in a band, but my style isn’t exactly what you would call relaxing!

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

Well, I always wanted to be a film director… Someone who really inspires me is James Cameron. It’s because he not only is highly successful as a film director, but he pushes the boundaries of scientific and technological innovation in order to make groundbreaking, entertaining films. He is also an explorer, diving to the depths of the Mariana Trench and the Titanic (as preparation for that particular film)! So, I ultimately ‘want to be’ James Cameron, haha! (I have actually directed a couple of very small-scale adventure films as it happens…)

What advice would you give to anyone else in business?

If you want to live the dream/do the dream job and be successful, be realistic! And be persistent. Perseverance is a must in order to keep pursuing what you are passionate about, and success definitely doesn’t happen overnight. But believe in what you are doing, clarify your goals and the target market and keep at it. It’s a marathon, not a sprint to coin a cliché! And true to my mission, be adventurous…

CognitvExplorer’s adventures in The Andes!

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