YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM
YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM
Welcome to VOX. Your voice to target the business community across Chester and Wrexham. Whether you are based in Chester or Wrexham, or are keen to reach the businesses that are, our magazine has been specifically designed to reach the people that matter.
Clara Hughes Editorial Director
Meet the team:
Clara lives in Chester and runs a successful marketing company, Zebra Marketing and Communications (www.zebra-comms.co.uk), that has been operating locally, nationally and internationally since 2010. Clara specialises in strategic marketing, copywriting, media relations and services relating to events, exhibitions and conferences.
Vicky lives just outside Wrexham and owns and produces EssentialsMAG (www.essentialsmag.co.uk) – a local monthly community magazine which is hand-delivered through 14,000 letterboxes in and around Wrexham. She is also a successful graphic designer and artist and has been working in the creative industries since 1992 and established her first business in 2003.
business magazine. If you are outside our circulation area and would like a copy delivered to your door you can subscribe.
Full details are on page 76.
Welcome
Welcome to our latest issue of VOX
What better way to celebrate the summer months than by experiencing some of the events that are taking place across the Chester and Wrexham areas. Relating to both business and leisure time, there is so much going on. We won’t be able to mention everything across our pages, but we hope to give you an insight into just some of the amazing things that are taking place this Summer. Don’t forget to check out our diary dates for further events too.
What’s in store?
With performances and events very much to the fore in this issue, we were lucky enough to meet Liam Evans-Ford, executive director at Theatr Clwyd, to find out more about the future plans for William Aston Hall in Wrexham and also hear how the big refurbishment at the theatre in Mold is progressing (page 16). We also interviewed one of the organisers of this year’s Chester Green Weekend, which is taking place this June. A collaboration between several environmentally-focused groups within the city, this event shows us all what can be achieved when organisations work together for the greater good of the community (page 24). Also, as well as our regular business news, charity updates and all the usual features, in this issue we also have articles from Harp restorer Staffan Jones (page 20) and a look at the role gaming can play in business – now and in the future (page 36).
Help us raise your voice
Our advertisers, interviewees and other contributors are vital to the ongoing success of VOX, and as ever, we would like to thank everyone who has helped us to create our latest issue. Sharing different viewpoints and insights across different businesses, is something that we love. Another thing that we love, is seeing what our resident artist Emma Gore develops for the front cover. This time her work depicts the Groves in Chester, and we hope you’ll agree she has done it credit.
We want to make VOX the voice for local businesses – a platform where we can share your stories and experiences of the region, enjoy your successes and be proud to be part of a community uniting these two important economic hubs. Please do get in touch if you have a story to share, or an idea for an article.
We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of VOX.
Clara and Vicky
Croeso
Croeso i'n rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX
Pa ffordd well o ddathlu misoedd yr haf na thrwy brofi rhai o'r digwyddiadau sy'n digwydd yn ardaloedd Caer a Wrecsam. O ran busnes ac amser hamdden, mae yna gymaint yn digwydd. Allwn ni ddim sôn am bopeth yn y cylchlythyr hwn, ond gobeithiwn roi cipolwg i chi ar rai o'r pethau anhygoel sy'n digwydd yn ystod yr haf. Peidiwch ag anghofio edrych ar ein dyddiaduron am ddigwyddiadau pellach hefyd.
Beth sydd ar y gweill?
Gyda pherfformiadau a digwyddiadau yn amlwg iawn yn y rhifyn hwn, roeddem yn ddigon ffodus i gwrdd â Liam Evans-Ford, cyfarwyddwr gweithredol Theatr Clwyd, i gael gwybod rhagor am y cynlluniau ar gyfer Neuadd Willima Aston yn Wrecsam yn y dyfodol. Soniodd hefyd am sut mae'r gwaith adnewyddu mawr yn y theatr yn yr Wyddgrug yn dod yn ei flaen (tudalen 16). Fe gawson ni hefyd gyfweliad ag un o drefnwyr Penwythnos Gwyrdd Caer (Chester Green Weekend) eleni, a gynhelir ym mis Mehefin. Yn gydweithrediad rhwng sawl grŵp sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr amgylchedd yn y ddinas, mae'r digwyddiad hwn yn dangos i ni i gyd yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni pan fydd sefydliadau'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd er lles y gymuned (tudalen 24). Yn ogystal â'n newyddion busnes rheolaidd, diweddariadau elusennau a'r holl erthyglau nodwedd arferol, yn y rhifyn hwn mae gennym erthyglau gan yr atgyweiriwr telyn, Staffan Jones (tudalen 20), a golwg ar y rhan y gall gemau cyfrifiadurol ei chwarae mewn busnes –nawr ac yn y dyfodol (tudalen 36).
Helpwch ni i godi eich llais
Mae ein hysbysebwyr, cyfwelwyr a chyfranwyr eraill yn hollbwysig i lwyddiant parhaus VOX ac, fel erioed, hoffem ddiolch i bawb sydd wedi ein helpu i greu ein rhifyn diweddaraf. Mae rhannu safbwyntiau a mewnwelediadau gwahanol ar draws gwahanol fusnesau, yn rhywbeth rydyn ni’n ei garu’n fawr. Rhywbeth arall rydyn ni'n ei garu yw gweld beth mae ein harlunydd preswyl, Emma Gore, yn ei ddatblygu ar gyfer y clawr blaen. Y tro hwn mae ei gwaith yn darlunio'r Groves yng Nghaer, a gobeithiwn y byddwch chi’n cytuno ei bod hi wedi gwneud gwaith gwych.
Rydyn ni am wneud VOX yn llais i fusnesau lleol – llwyfan lle gallwn rannu eich straeon a'ch profiadau o'r rhanbarth, mwynhau eich llwyddiannau, ac ymfalchïo mewn bod yn rhan o gymuned sy'n uno'r ddau ganolfan economaidd pwysig hyn. Cysylltwch â ni os oes gennych stori i'w rhannu, neu syniad am erthygl.
Gobeithio y gwnewch chi fwynhau darllen ein rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX.
Clara and Vicky
Oliver & Co Solicitors win prestigious award for conveyancing services
Oliver & Co Solicitors has won a prestigious industry award for the Conveyancing Firm of the Year – North. Hosted by media personality Paul Sinha, the fourth annual British Conveyancing Awards took place in London on 12 March, showcasing talent, excellence and innovation in the industry, to celebrate those organisations which stand out from the rest.
Annie Somerville, Marketing Manager at Oliver & Co, who co-authored the award submission for the firm with conveyancing team members Laura Corrigan and Brittany Evans, said: “In the last 18 months, Oliver & Co has become 100% employee owned, which has meant there have been significant changes in the way the company is run, with the firm’s employees even more invested in providing an excellent service to our clients. Being winners of this award is a huge achievement and one of which we are all immensely proud.”
Oliver & Co was pitted against some of the top law firms in the country in the category. On announcing the winner, the judges stated that Oliver & Co really ‘walked the walk’ when it came to embracing new ways of working in supporting both their clients and their staff, showing exceptional business performance and exceptional client outcomes.
Charles Owen become Bolesworth International Partners
World-leading riding helmet manufacturers Charles Owen has become official partners of the 2024 Bolesworth International Summer Festival. The Wrexhambased manufacturer, which has been producing riding helmets for over 110 years, is proud to be part of equestrian history and its future.
Dave Derby, CEO of Charles Owen, said: "After attending the event for the first time myself in 2023, I instantly knew this was an event Charles Owen should be associated with. The heritage of the location and the quality of the competition align perfectly with our brand values. It’s also very important to me to partner with as many successful local businesses as possible, so we’re really excited to have the opportunity to be key sponsor for a worldclass event right on our doorstep.”
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is bringing thrilling new adventure films to the big screen at venues around the UK and Ireland in 2024.
On 26 April it showcased its incredible film at William Aston Hall in Wrexham. The audience was treated to extreme skiing, mountain biking, climbing and more, with two new collections of gripping action films from remote regions of the globe.
Celebration of Entrepreneurship at Wrexham University
On 20 March 2024, Wrexham University hosted a successful Celebration of Entrepreneurship in the Reception and Gallery spaces at Plas Coch Campus, attended by Wrexham’s Mayor, Councillor Andy Williams, and the University’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Maria Hinfelaar.
The event, which hosted over 200 attendees, gave students the opportunity to network with local entrepreneurs and build connections with business support providers Business Wales and Business and Investment from Wrexham Council.
Celebrating Mighty Moxie Consulting
Four years ago, Mighty Moxie Consulting was born with a mission to work with legal businesses and bring bespoke marketing strategies that really brings results. To celebrate this milestone, the business recently held a lively birthday bash in Chester. The event brought together a fantastic mix of clients, connections and friends from across the North West, North Wales and beyond. It was a chance to connect, share experiences and celebrate the continued success of Mighty Moxie. Directors Rachel Booth and Christine Champion were thrilled to share this achievement with so many and hope to continue to build a strong industry community.
Fuel duty increase
Following the Chancellor's announcement that he will maintain the current 5p cut and freeze fuel duty for another 12 months, a top Chester lawyer has described the news as a ‘relief’, but questioned how far the move will go to help businesses.
Costas Nicolaou, Dispute Resolution Senior Associate Solicitor at Aaron & Partners, said: “Businesses and consumers were bracing themselves for a potential fuel duty increase, so they'll be relieved following the Chancellor’s announcement he is to maintain the current 5p cut and freeze fuel duty for another 12 months”.
Reasons to be cheerful at Big Hand Brewing
Following its exposure in the last issue of VOX, demand for Big Hand Brewing ales has increased strongly in the last quarter. This was assisted by the company’s social media campaign and targeted sales efforts, which have resulted in new retail outlets and bars stocking its beverages across the region.
Its proven ability to win awards for its brews continued in March, with success in the inaugural UNTAPPD Community Awards. Lost Abbey won gold for being voted the best Coffee Stout in Wales and 3° Degrees West also won the bronze award in the Pale Ale (Extra Pale) category. Its revamped Wombat was a huge success, with requests for more from regular customers and it is to be brewed again ready for June as a refreshing apricot, passion fruit and lemon flavoured IPA, perfect for summer.
As further evidence of its commitment to grow the business – and as will be evident on its soon-to-be-updated website – its new range segmentation involves its ales being subdivided into new categories. These include Traditionales, Seasonales, Originales and Unusuales – all of which are the result of working with Phil Strachan, the Think Brand not bland Guy – which have now been trademarked by the business.
Chester Racecourse introduces The Clubhouse
Chester Racecourse has introduced an exciting new hospitality venue for 2024, with the launch of The Clubhouse. Located within the Festival Village at the world’s oldest racecourse, The Clubhouse offers a casual luxury dining experience for up to 160 guests.
Furnished by the award-winning Bridgman, one of the UK’s leading luxury furniture and accessory specialists, The Clubhouse brings the outside in and allows you to relax and dine in luxurious comfort. With live cooking stations from sumptuous seafood to classic British Deli and a Teppanyaki grill, The Clubhouse also offers minidesserts, snacks and an inclusive drinks menu included in the package.
Foundations laid for future generations of workers in building sector
The award-winning Wrexham-based developer has supported the first cohort of BTEC Level 3 Technical Construction and Built Environment learners, as part of its Placement Enhanced Programme, funded via the Welsh Government’s Innovation Fund. Among them were Lois Jones and Josh Jones, who spent time on the college’s £10m Llysfasi development and at Read’s headquarters, over a period of months.
Lois, from Wrexham, says the experience confirmed her future lies in the construction industry: “My dad works in the plastering trade, so I’ve grown up in that world and always been around it,” said the 17-year-old former St Joseph’s High School pupil, who last year won a gold award for Enterprise at Skills Competition Wales. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps and after achieving a Level 2 and now a Level 3 at Bersham Road, I know this is what I want to do with my career.”
Read Construction’s Improvement and Engagement Manager Kasia Williamson said they were delighted to have supported the initial trial of the Placement Enhanced Programme and have plans to welcome new learners from Cambria this year.
Learning from a success story
A Level Business and BTEC Enterprise and Entrepreneurship learners from Coleg Cambria visited Net World Sports to discuss career opportunities in the retail sector. They also heard the inspiring story of how Alex Loven founded the now multimillion pound operation as a teenager, after selling cricket bats to friends in the school playground, and enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the company’s £25m headquarters.
Net World Sports Recruitment Specialist Gareth Davies said: “It has been such a pleasure to host the talented and enthusiastic students from Coleg Cambria. The sessions have been a great opportunity to introduce Net World Sports as a business, showcase our amazing new facility and range of products, and discuss the exciting careers options we have available. We brought in managers from different departments to give a balanced and varied view from across the company, and they've all been really impressed by the knowledge and curiosity shown by the group.”
Demystifying the revolutionary world of
artificial intelligence (AI)
Coleg Cambria’s new sectordriven Generative AI for Business programme is a comprehensive three-hour introduction to the groundbreaking AI tools that can generate quality text, images and relevant content based on inputted data and information.
Cambria’s Director of Business Solutions Nigel Holloway says the training is flexible, bespoke and is already gaining a positive response in North East Wales and beyond.
Trainers will delve into the essentials of generative Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and give examples of AI, the impact it can have on operations and trade, and how to stay at the forefront of advances in the technology. Themes include practical business applications, from content creation to data analysis, while also addressing the strengths, limitations and ethics relevant to AI deployments. The course concludes with insights on effective implementation strategies and a glimpse into the future of generative AI in the business landscape.
Coleg Cambria will be introducing a part-time version of the programme at its Yale college from September. The cost of the threehour course is £299 or Employer Skills North Wales funding is available for relevant organisations. This is a grant scheme allowing employers in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Flintshire and Wrexham to access cutting edge skills and shorter specialist training programmes.
The college has also announced it is a recipient of a CyberFirst School and College Award, for its continued dedication to Computing and Cyber Education.
New Zest factory outlet in Saltney opened by local Mayor
Zest, a leading supplier of awardwinning timber garden products, opened a Factory Outlet at its warehouse on River Lane in Saltney on Saturday 3 March.
It offers significant savings of up to 80% off RRP on Zest timber garden products. The official opening ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Saltney, Councillor Kim Shallcross, who was accompanied by County Councillor Jason Shallcross and County Councillor Richard Lloyd.
The P&A Group is a family business based in Mold and includes the award-winning Woodworks Garden Centre and Café, P&A Pallets & Packaging, St Andrews Business Centre for leased and virtual offices, and Zest garden products which is based in Saltney at Riverside Works.
Commenting on the opening, County Councillor Richard Lloyd said: “Since Zest came to Saltney, it has not only transformed the site that was almost derelict, but it has also gone on to build a renowned innovation centre, the ‘design.shed’, opened by The Rt Hon. Lord Barry Jones, in March 2022, to further develop its Zest timber garden range. Now two years later, it has opened a new Factory Outlet.”
All the wood used in Zest’s awardwinning and high-quality garden products is sourced from sustainable forests.
Together with its main supply partners in Eastern Europe, Zest is dedicated to re-planting and nurturing woodland habitat, both in Europe and the UK.
Moneypenny acquires Sunshine Communication Services
Moneypenny, a leading innovator in outsourced communication services, has further extended its services in the US, with the acquisition of Sunshine Communication Services. Sunshine is an award-winning provider of bilingual (English and Spanish) call management solutions to businesses of all sizes, ensuring they run smoothly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Based in Florida and founded in 1975 by the Gross family, the company is dedicated to representing clients’ business by providing customised services across a variety of industries.
The Moneypenny Group is a market leader, with its US HQ in Atlanta. The company employs over 1,000 people globally and delivers virtual receptionist and phone answering services, Live Chat, switchboard, fully outsourced customer service teams and a host of AI and technology-enabled services. It handles over 20 million calls and chats annually for thousands of businesses, from sole traders to multinational corporations. The company has ambitious growth plans and this acquisition will take the US business to almost a third of the Moneypenny Group turnover. Demand for its services is growing at a significant rate, as businesses continue to look at ways to improve how they interact with their customers, by blending technology solutions with highly-skilled personal assistants, to maximise operational efficiencies.
Joanna Swash, Group CEO commented, “We are delighted to welcome Sunshine Communication Services to The Moneypenny Group. This is our fourth acquisition in the US, following Alphapage in 2022. Sunshine Communication Services is a successful brand and its acquisition will further complement the services we can offer to our clients in the US. Our aim is to be the number one provider in the US for outsourced communications, supporting businesses of all sizes, to deliver a great customer experience with every interaction, regardless of channel.”
Transformational therapist launches new confidence company
A Wrexham woman has launched a new company to ‘help people overcome confidence issues and be the person they were born to be’. Rapid Transformational Therapist and Keynote Speaker Cat Williams, who hails from Holt, specialises in developing the confidence of adults, children, teens and couples, through one-toone and group work. Last year she launched her B.U.I.L.D. Confidence initiative, a five-step confidence programme which she tailors to suit individuals or for groups within business, school and university settings. Now, to build on her work as a confidence expert, Cat has launched a new limited company Building Your Confidence Ltd, to encompass all that she has to offer.
For details visit cat-williams.com
Students dig their generous JCB donation
Wrexham-based JCB Transmissions presented staff and learners at Coleg Cambria with parts and equipment, including motors, gearboxes, transmissions, and axles from excavators, loaders and diggers. Carl Roberts, Cambria’s Director for Curriculum – Engineering at the college’s Bersham Road site, thanked the company for the machinery, which will be used to train cohorts on the Motor Vehicle and Engineering programmes: “We are very grateful for this kind donation, the equipment will be invaluable in allowing our learners to be hands-on and work closely with a range of high-quality machinery.”
One of the UK’s largest manufacturers, JCB Group employs more than 8,000 people at its factories in Staffordshire, Derby and on Wrexham Industrial Estate. JCB Transmissions Operations Director Craig Weeks was pleased to be able to help lay the foundations for learners and apprentices at Cambria. He said: “JCB Transmissions supports local schools and colleges in a variety of ways, and we are delighted to assist Coleg Cambria by donating equipment, which will help with the training of the next generation of engineers and motor vehicle technicians.
“Among the items donated were gear boxes, axles and electrical motors, which can now be stripped down and rebuilt, to help students get a broader understanding of mechanics and electrical engineering.”
Know your speed
Twelve months after its original introduction, the process of reverting some roads from Wales’s 20mph default speed limit back to 30 will begin in September this year, the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates has announced. He is urging people to contact their local councils and tell them ‘where they think 20mph should be targeted’.
Chester ranked top shopping destination in North West
Chester has been ranked eighthbest shopping destination in the country and the top destination in the north of England, according to a new list by a specialist retail analytics team. The Vitality Rankings are created by Newmark’s Consultancy and Analytics team each year, using metrics that reflect the drivers of retail health at that time. These include retail unit vacancy rate, the change in vacancy rate, space being adapted for other uses, shopper spend per annum and footfall figures. Chester’s historic high streets, unique rows and vibrant tapestry of businesses have fought off hundreds of competitors and ranked Chester as the eighth-best shopping destination in the country, going up against London giants such as Sloane Street, Knightsbridge and London West End.
Plans for new bakery approved
Plans lodged by a popular bakery chain to open a new venue in Chester city centre have been approved. Gail’s Bakery is set to launch its third Cheshire site in a vacant former building society branch on Bridge Street in Chester. The company’s first Gail's Bakery's site opened in Wilmslow in February last year, while the second launched in the November at the vacant former HSBC bank building in Knutsford.
University students go green for Chester Green Weekend
The University of Chester has developed a connection between work and study, with its workbased learning programme and as a result four second year undergraduates are supporting the preparations for Green Expo 2024 activities in Chester in June and beyond. The third Green Expo is taking place this year in Chester and forms part of Chester Green Weekend (15-16 June), with the Green Expo Awards Dinner taking place in November.
The four students are Reece Kerekes from California, who is studying International Tourism Management and is also a Geography major with experience in retail, customer service and advisory jobs.
Rio Owen from Aberconwy, who is studying Digital Marketing, works part-time in Primark alongside his studies.
Israt Mahmud Efti from Bangladesh, who is studying Economics and has previously worked for the British Heart Foundation and set up an Economics & Math’s tutor Online platform.
Ethan Green from Southport is studying Accounting and Finance and is learning Chinese. He is a skilled water polo player and enjoys sailing and Air Cadets.
Understanding how to transition to EVs
On 21 May, Cheshire West and Chester Council delivered an event specially aimed at providing information about issues such as grant funding, tax savings, vehicle choice, availability of power supply and design of EV charging solutions for your business. With a panel of guest speakers, advice that’s simple to action and the latest EVs and clean energy solutions on display, this free to attend Business Breakfast event took place at Civic Hall, Ellesmere Port from 08:00 – 10:00, and covered the following topics:
• EVs & business benefits – including how to save up to 40% on an EV through salary sacrifice
• Understanding EV charging options and grants for business
• Moving to a net zero electricity network
• Cheshire West and Chester Council charging update
• Transitioning to EVs – local business case studies:
- Transition to eHGV
- EV fleet and workplace charging in practice
• How EVs are part of a business energy audit around renewables
• Transitioning to an EV factory.
In addition to the main presentations, there was specialist presentations on subjects such as developing local EV charging infrastructure through the forthcoming new LEVI (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) charging network. There were also a range of electric vehicles on display.
New Chester office premises for Bennettbrooks
Bennettbrooks, a leading North West Chartered Accountancy practice, has recently moved its Chester office to the Coachworks Arcade, part of the vibrant new Chester Northgate development. Driven by sustained growth and expansion, the practice made the strategic decision to relocate from its Grosvenor Court site, to larger premises based in the heart of the historic city. The new setting provides highquality office accommodation and enhanced amenities and is centrally positioned in the bustling centre of Chester, with easy access to key landmarks and attractions.
Double celebration for Walking Food Tours
Walking Food Tours, a leading culinary adventure company, is celebrating a double triumph after clinching top honours at both the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards and Marketing Cheshire’s Tourism Awards. The prestigious accolades, recognising Walking Food Tours as the ‘Experience of The Year’ in their respective regions, mark a significant milestone for the unique experience business.
Already renowned for their immersive gastronomic journeys in Liverpool, Chester and Shrewsbury, Walking Food Tours now sets its sights on Wrexham, aiming to unveil the vibrant food and drink culture of the area. Scheduled to commence operations on 6 July 2024, the company is eager to introduce ‘The Taste of Wrexham Food Tour’ to locals and visitors alike.
Gareth Boyd, the founder and Managing Director of Walking Food Tours UK, expressed his delight at the double win, emphasising its role in shining a spotlight on the diverse independent food and drink scene across the North West. For further information about Walking Food Tours and their upcoming ventures, visit their website at www.walkingfoodtoursuk.co.uk
Group dedicated to helping Chester thrive marks milestone
The first anniversary celebrations of a group dedicated to make Chester thrive and realise its full potential have taken place at Storyhouse. The sell-out event for Chester Great and Small (GAS) saw an audience of 150 gather in the venue’s Garret Theatre to check-in on progress, just 12 months after GAS held its launch there. The key takeaway from the evening was the ‘art of the possible’ – that transformational change can happen through strong leadership and genuine and creative collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Proceedings were formally opened by town crier, David Mitchell, who introduced Louise Stewart, Chester Race Company CEO, GAS ambassador and recently named ‘Woman of the Year 2024’ by Downton in Business.
GAS chair Tim Kenney followed with an overview of the past 12 months on projects such as the opening of ōH Design Foundation, the forthcoming Chester Green Weekend, the imminent launch of the ‘how to’ guide Re-imagining the Rows, Digital Chester and the One Chester App, before welcoming special guest speaker Andy Spinoza, best-selling author of Manchester Unspun. Andy told the inspirational story of how Manchester went from 1980s decline to become an international destination for culture and sport and one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.
To watch the event video, find out more about GAS or to get involved. visit chestergreatandsmall.co.uk
Chartered Accountants celebrate a century of excellence
Hall Livesey Brown Chartered Accountants (HLB) is thrilled to announce its 100th anniversary, marking this key milestone in a century-long journey of providing exceptional financial services to clients throughout the North West and further afield.
Since HLB was started in 1924 by accountant Leonard Hall in Manchester, the firm has continuously evolved and expanded its footprint, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted advisor and partner in financial success. From its beginnings, Hall Livesey Brown has grown, driven by a steadfast commitment to professionalism, integrity and client-centric values. Grant scheme supports Flintshire businesses on their journey to net zero
Companies in the region can apply for up to £5,000 to support the creation of carbon reduction plans. The funding can be used by businesses to access specialist advice on how to become a more sustainable organisation. There is also guidance on equipment, buildings, energy use and systems and methods that will reduce the carbon footprint and help increase profitability.
The Carbon Reduction Feasibility Fund is delivered by Antur Cymru Enterprise. It is backed by Pathway to Carbon Zero Ltd and Litegreen Ltd, in collaboration with Flintshire County Council.
For more information email flintshire@anturcymru.org.uk or call 01352 871298
Bolton Birch toasts arrival of new shop in Godstall Lane Chester
Commercial property firm Bolton Birch has announced a new retailer Milby’s, an exclusive drinks shop in the heart of Chester in Godstall Lane, between Eastgate Street and St. Werburgh Street, a spot which is Chester’s prime retail area. The retail unit is 211 square feet (19.6 square metres) with a kitchen and WC, and has a lease below the minimum threshold for business rates, meaning 100% Small Business Rates Relief.
Jonty Goodchild, Director at Bolton Birch, said: “This is a shop with character and heritage right in the retail heart of Chester, where we need to increase the number of quality independent retailers and add value, appeal and spending opportunities for visitors and locals alike. Milby’s is a specialist drinks shop selling exclusive Gin, Whisky and Wine from across the World, with snacks too. Go along and please welcome them into Chester.”
New film reveals firebreathing, chainsaw carved wood dragon
Wrexham-based chainsaw carver, Simon O’Rourke, famous for creating the Giant Hand of Vyrnwy, is to have a documentary film made about him and his work. Simon was approached earlier this year by film and TV producer, Rakha Singh, whose feature film ‘The Killing of John Lennon’ was nominated for a BAFTA award.
Central to the film will be the creation of a 5m long, fire-breathing dragon, with a 5m wingspan, carved from the trunk of a single tree. The dragon, to be named Tranquillity (Llonwddych), is being built in the garden of Arfon Hardy, a man whose life had been altered radically after a surgeon made a catastrophic error during an operation, leaving Arfon paralysed from the waist down.
Arfon wanted to create something extraordinary for his new life in the garden of his home in Gwernymynydd, near Mold. He saw some of Simon O’Rourke’s work and commissioned him at once to build the fire-breathing dragon, which will be in flight, wings outstretched, mounted above the water in the middle of a lake. Simon and Arfon have created a backstory for their dragon. which Simon has turned into a short story, ‘The Tale of Tranquillity’. The story will also be animated for the film, with illustrations by Simon, and narrated by the World-famous Welsh actor, Dame Siân Philips.
Share your news!
Tell us your business news. Deadline for our Sep/Oct/Nov 2024 issue is: 1 August 2024
please email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
The film will follow Simon from the beginning of the commissioning process to the final installation of the dragon and the climax of its first ‘flight’. The tree used for the carving, a Blue Atlas Cedar, had suffered dieback – a disease which meant the tree needed to be felled. For this project, Simon is using a range of chainsaws from smaller battery saws up to a 95cc saw with a 3ft bar. The process has been made more complex due to the dragon’s flame breathing, the addition of sound and light, and the fact that it is being installed in the centre of a pond!
The production team is financing this film. If you wish to donate towards its making, please visit: treecarving.co.uk/film-project
“We
play an important role within the local community. Our performances, acts and festivals bring in hundreds of thousands of people over the year, which is great for the local economy”
The sound of
music
William Aston Hall is Wrexham’s largest theatre and concert venue, with a capacity to seat up to 880 spectators, or 1200 standing. Located on the outskirts of Wrexham city centre, on the campus of Wrexham University, it has hosted some of the biggest names in comedy and music, as well as ballet, dance, talks and shows. It is also home to the acclaimed Wrexham Symphony Orchestra.
In 2022 Theatr Clwyd and Wrexham University came together in a new partnership to save the future of William Aston Hall. Their aim is to protect this vital arts venue as a community asset, ensuring that the people of Wrexham and North Wales have access to the best in Welsh, UK and international entertainment. We recently caught up with Liam EvansFord, the Executive Director and CEO of Theatr Clwyd, to find out more about him and the plans for William Aston Hall.
Creating the magic
Liam is a trained actor, having learned his craft at the prestigious Bristol Vic Theatre School for three years. But even while he was at drama school, he had already identified a passion for production. “If you are an actor, you are told everything – if you have an agent, if you have an audition, if you have a job or not. And then usually when you get the job, you’re told the lines you need to say, the way you need to say them, the costumes you need to wear. It really wasn’t as creative as I had imagined.”
Liam ended up setting up a production company with a number of friends. The Factory Theatre in London is still going today. “It was really edgy theatre. Our most successful production was Hamlet and it ran for six years, starting in the Old Suffolk Playhouse and nearly ending up on Broadway.”
To be, or not to be….
Following on from this, Liam and his then-girlfriend, now wife, set up a production company based out of Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire. Here they hosted site-specific Shakespeare plays, making the most of the stunning setting. However, in 2012, Liam had the
opportunity to become the community producer on the York Mystery Plays. The staging was a creative feat, wrapped around the ruins of the abbey in York Museum Gardens. “My job was to match the professional theatre-making with bringing the community on board. We had 1700 volunteers, 600 cast members and a choir of 200 people.”
“Working with the volunteers on this scale and producing something spectacular really was humbling. We had unemployed people working alongside CEOs, nurses by bricklayers – every type of person from every walk of life. It is no exaggeration to say it changed my life. All those members of the community that gave their spare time to do this, reflected back to us –the professionals – how lucky we are to work within this industry.”
Following the 2012 Mystery Plays, Liam worked on numerous communitybased productions and also various theatre build and capital investment projects. These things all led to him realising the impact the arts can have within a community setting.
“William Aston Hall has its own personality, distinct from the theatre, and as such, it deserves its own journey”
A new era
In 2016 Liam was headhunted to Theatr Clwyd as Executive Director and CEO. He now works alongside Kate Wesserberg, its Artistic Director.
“Theatr Clwyd offers a powerful tool for change and cohesion. Through my role and the work that I do at the theatre, I can also enact more positive change in the world than I ever could have through acting. Locally, the theatre provides significant economic impact, cultural impact and community impact. Our community impact in particular is an area I am incredibly proud of. We have set up major referral partnerships with social services, housing associations and health boards, and we are one of only two theatres that have been awarded sanctuary status for refugees.
“We also provide all the music lessons to the 72 schools across Flintshire. We have 32 musicians teaching everything from Welsh harps to drums.”
A rocky road
William Aston Hall is the biggest auditorium in Wrexham. Previously run by a private and commercial operator, it unfortunately went into administration during the Covid pandemic. As the third biggest client of the Arts Council Wales – and the biggest in North Wales –Theatr Clwyd realised that it was wellplaced to take on the venue and provide the direction it needed.
“William Aston Hall is a loved and valued local asset in Wrexham and it seemed important that it was run by a local organisation, which understood the local community and embraced the focus and energy of the area. William Aston Hall has its own personality, distinct from the theatre, and as such, it deserves its own journey.”
A cultural sanctuary
The team has worked hard to curate a varied programme that appeals to as many people as possible. It has played host to all manner of performances from local bands to BBC Orchestras and popular music. It is also renowned for its comedy acts, festivals and craft days. There is not a single genre or performance type, the ambition is just to showcase local talent and bring the best there is to offer from around the world. The aim of the Hall is to forge
“Locally, the theatre provides significant economic impact, cultural impact and community impact. Our community impact in particular is an area I am incredibly proud of”
communities, bringing together people to laugh, cry, dance and sing. “In fact, we have just recently hosted the BBC NOW Orchestra along with 1500 school children.”
William Aston Hall developed a programme of over 70 performances in its first year, including the annual panto and the Rhos male voice choir, classical music, popularist offerings and tribute acts. There are plans for this to grow and develop year-on-year. And it’s not just about performances – the Hall is more than just an entertainment venue. It also offers community outreach and a myriad of work opportunities. Working with the university, it is helping to develop career skills, including sound and lighting operators.
A collaborative force for good
The creative industry is well known for bringing people together and this is also true in the business sense. “We play an important role within the local community. Our performances, acts and festivals bring in hundreds of
thousands of people over the year, which is great for the local economy. While creativity is at the heart of what we do, we are still a business and one that has a role to play in influencing the public with our behaviours.”
Theatr Clwyd itself will fully reopen to the public next year following its £50 million capital investment. “At that point, we will focus our attention on William Aston Hall. Working closely with the University, we have plans for some major capital investment into the Hall, making sure it meets the standards that Wrexham audiences deserve. This includes investment into improved flexible seating, so that we can change from a standing venue for bands like the Royston Club, to seated for audiences to listen to classical performances. While we can do that now, it takes a lot of time. We also want to improve the acoustics and front-ofhouse facilities. We also have plans to ensure the environmental and sustainable credentials of the venue are as good as they can be.”
Did you know…?
The hall is named after legendary Wrexham resident William Aston CBE (1869-1962), a renowned businessman and local politician, who played a key role in the development of Wrexham as a town and as a centre of learning.
“Working
Played for laughs Now in its second year, the Wrexham Comedy Festival returns in September 2024 (6 -15 September).
The festival is produced and run by William Aston Hall and Theatr Clwyd, in association with Tŷ Pawb. It is funded by Wrexham County Borough Council and through ticket sales.
The festival aims to bring a diverse mix of world-class comedy to Wrexham with accessible prices.
Just some of the highlights include Reginald D. Hunter, Jayde Adams, Myra Dubois and many more. There will be a gala evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening with five of the biggest comedy names in one hilarious show.
Full listing can be found at williamastonwrexham.com
Comedyfest: williamastonwrexham.com /comedyfest
Tickets can be purchased over the phone on 01352 34410 or online at williamastonwrexham.com
Heritagecrafts and timeless skills
From blacksmithing to basketry, from weaving to woodturning, there is an incredible range of heritage craft skills in the UK and some of the best craftspeople in the world. However, according to research by Heritage Crafts, more and more traditional craft skills are on the verge of extinction in the UK. One of the skills identified on the Red List of Endangered Crafts is harp making.
Despite its endangered status, Wrexham-based harp builder, repairer and restorer Steffan Jones believes that he still has an important role to play in keeping the skills he has learned at his father’s side alive. Steffan took over his father’s harp business in 2018 when he retired, but has been involved with the business – and learning from his father – all his life. Now, as one of only four or five harp restorers in the UK, his expertise is still very much in demand.
“Harps have been part of my life from a young age. I grew up watching my father, Tecwyn Jones, repair and restore harps, and when I was old
enough, I started to help my dad with his work. I’m very pleased to now have the opportunity to carry on the family business and continue the craft that my father has developed over the years.
“Like my father, I pride myself on producing the highest quality work. To ensure this, I use only the finest quality materials and ensure that all my work is completed to the highest of standards. My father still likes to have an involvement in the business and I love it when a customer that my father has worked with returns and I get the opportunity to ensure my father’s handiwork is preserved and maintained.”
The national instrument of Wales
The harp is the national instrument of Wales, so it is no surprise that much of Steffan’s work comes from Wales. “The history and heritage of Wales is very important to me. When a harp is fully restored and played properly – as it’s been designed to – the sound is incredible. The tonal quality can fill a room. We have the National and International Eisteddfod held in Wales each year (the International Eisteddfod takes place in Llangollen this month) – and there is also the Welsh International Harp Festival, which takes place in Caernarfon too. These all provide opportunities to hear the harp played as it should be.”
Steffan also gets commissions from throughout the UK and internationally too, and he has recently completed projects for customers in Switzerland and Belgium.“I don’t tend to work outside of Europe, as I have to deliver the instrument personally when the work is finished. That is why the location of my workshop is so important. I work on one or two restorations projects at a time. This is important, as I often have to strip the harp right down. There are so many individual parts, it would be easy to get them mixed up.”
Up for the challenge
“One of the things I love about working with harps is the challenges it provides. It is not an easy instrument to make, as there are a lot of forces and stresses to address. I work with all types of harps from lever harps, antique to modern concert harps and therefore I can appreciate the individual requirements of each harp I work with. I am a certified Camac technician, but I work on all makes and models of harps. However, I have particular expertise when it comes to the restoration of antique pedal harps.”
“Harps have been part of my life from a young age. I grew up watching my father, Tecwyn Jones, repair and restore harps, and when I was old enough, I started to help my dad with his work. I’m very pleased to now have the opportunity to carry on the family business”
Keeping the craft alive
While the repair and restoration techniques stay true to the traditional methods – such as the woodwork, metal work, polishing and gilding –Steffan is keen to try and make his work more relevant in today’s online world. “I try and make use of the reach that social media provides me. My wife is a skilled photographer, so between us, we are able to showcase my work to a wider audience. Perhaps this will encourage others to follow in my footsteps.”
While the harp is his first love and his livelihood, Steffan’s other passion is for the guitar and in his spare time, he enjoys making and playing electric guitars too.
Steffan Jones Harps 07791 745842
steffanjonesharps.com
The Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts
This list was first published in 2017. It was the first report of its kind to rank traditional crafts by the likelihood they would survive to the next generation. It is based on intangible cultural heritage safeguarding principles, led by the Heritage Crafts Association, which is the only UK UNESCO-accredited NGO working primarily in the domain of traditional craftsmanship. In May 2023 the fourth edition was published, increasing the number of crafts examined to 259, with five new critically endangered crafts and 17 new endangered crafts added. Along with viable crafts, the list breaks down into endangered, critically endangered and extinct.
Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners.
Our VOX networking in March offered a change of pace, with Maja Kenney from Maja’s Motorcycle Adventures sharing her journey with us at the ōH Chester Design Foundation on Thursday 21 March.
Maja shared some insights into how she turned her passion for riding motorcycles into an exciting bike touring business, and how that business is now taking her all over the world. Attendees also heard from Monika Swindell, the creative director
at the design foundation, about the fabulous space we enjoyed for the event. Catered by the VOX team, we would also like to extend a big thank you to Commonhall for providing the
Future dates
Thursday 27 June 2024
We are delighted to be welcoming Craig Weeks, operations director at JCB Transmissions to be our speaker for our June networking event. VOX networking will take place on Thursday 27 June at Holt Lodge Hotel (soon to be known as Hotel Wrexham). We are excited to hear from the new owners and find out more about their future plans.
Thursday 19 September 2024
We look forward to welcoming Jeff Hardman as our speaker in September (venue to be confirmed). Over the last 20 years Jeff has successfully run Barnhill Consulting. Through leadership coaching, Jeff has unlocked skills in individuals, which even they did not know they possessed. Find out more at our September networking event.
Book your place online at: ezpublishing.co.uk/events
NETWORKING VOX
As the twelfth issue of VOX comes out, we are continuing with our quarterly networking session. Join us for an evening of networking and interesting conversations.
DATE: Thursday 19 September 2024
TIME: 17:00 - 19:00
LOCATION: Oddfellows Chester
PRICE: £18 (includes refreshments)
A conversation with Helen Tandy
from Chester Green Weekend
The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest-ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. It takes place from 8-16 June 2024 across the country. Chester Green Weekend, which takes place 15-16 June, has been organised to run during the Great Big Green Week and is part of a wider programme of celebrations across the city.
We caught up with one of the organisers of Chester Green Weekend, Helen Tandy, director at Eco Communities, to find out more about it and get the lowdown of what’s in store across the week, but particularly over Chester Green Weekend.
Helen explains: “As its name suggests, this is all about raising the profile of Chester and highlighting all the great work that is being done around sustainability, by both businesses and individuals. Chester Green Weekend is a new event to Chester, which will be part of the national Great Big Green Week. It is a collaboration between Chester Great and Small (GAS) ambassadors and their various organisations, which are each responsible for sustainable activities over the weekend. These include Atfest, Green Expo, Sustainable Cheshire Fair (Eco Communities) and the ōH Design Foundation.
“Everyone involved in Chester Green Weekend, do so on a voluntary basis – and most of us are part of not-forprofit organisations. We have also have the fantastic help and support of We love Good Times and Reasonably Good.”
This year is not the first time Chester has taken part in the Great Big Green Week. However, it is the first time all the activities have been brought together under one umbrella. “We have held activities as part of Great Big Green Week in Chester since The Climate Coalition introduced the initiative in 2021. Tens of thousands of people in every corner of the country celebrate the heartfelt, brave, everyday actions being taken, to stand up for nature and fight climate change.
“This year in Chester it is growing, with more organisations taking part and spreading from Grosvenor Park into the centre of Chester. You don’t have to live or work in Chester to get something from this event – it will have something for everyone, wherever you live in the region.”
Chester Green Weekend is the final weekend of Great Big Green Week, with activities throughout the week ending with a big celebration in Chester. “We want to shine the light on the city, to show it as a leading sustainable hub for the North West. We want to bring residents along with us on a journey to make small changes, to support a lower impact future.”
“This year in Chester it is growing, with more organisations taking part and spreading from Grosvenor Park into the centre of Chester. You don’t have to live or work in Chester to get something from this event”
There is an aim to make Chester Green Weekend an annual event and an integral part of the city’s calendar, so the organisers are using this year to raise awareness, develop the branding and garner support across the city. Helen explains: “The event has an underlying aim of raising the awareness of what we can all do to tackle the climate and nature emergency.
However, it is designed to educate –not preach – and it is an opportunity to bring people together. We will do this by laying on lots of fun activities, taking place throughout Chester City Centre and in Grosvenor Park, over one weekend in June (15th and 16th).”
Chester Green Weekend is familyfriendly and free of charge, so anyone can attend. There will be exciting activities, workshops, walks, stalls, food and entertainment. The main activities will take place in Grosvenor Park, where you will visitors will also find information on home solar and heat pumps, general help on reducing energy bills and sustainable food, as well as conversations with the public on protecting nature.
Chester Green Weekend will form part of Chester’s support of the Great Big Green Week, which includes the following:
ōH Design Foundation
The ōH Foundation becomes one of the locations with:
Material Talks Programme – a series of talks with conscious brands and designers including Casa Ceramics and Agar Stone.
The Green Table by Product Design, University of Chester – showcasing the best ideas for sustainable solutions Seed Bank – get your bag of free seeds with every purchase.
Street Food Bar – Japanese street sweets, a new approach to food waste.
For a detailed lineup go to: ohfoundation.uk/events
Chester West and Chester Libraries
Many of the libraries have a programme of activities through the week. Keep an eye on its Facebook page: facebook.com/cwaclibrary
Picturehouse
Picturehouse has a project called Green Screen, which introduces topical
screenings with the aim of embedding sustainability into local communities. It will be showing various films as part of the week’s celebrations in Chester.
Sustainable Talks and People Planet Pint
Storyhouse Garret Theatre on Thursday 13 June at 17:00 Chester GAS is working with Eco Communities for this extended People Planet Pint event, which brings in a session ‘Sustainable Talks’ from 17:00 – 19:00, with an interesting panel of speakers from the region. ‘Sustainable Talks’ will be followed by the regular People Planet Pint event at 19:00. Thanks to the support of Storyhouse for the use of its Theatre.
Chester Green Weekend
Grosvenor Park 15-16 June
Visit the Sustainable Living Zone, organised by Eco Communities, who stage the Sustainable Fairs in the park. You will find artisan stalls, food, drink and it’s first Luggage Rummage. To take part in the Luggage Rummage, just bring two suitcases of preloved, homemade or surplus crops down to Grosvenor Park on either Saturday or Sunday. Sign in with the Eco Communities team and pay the £10 fee.
The Innovation Zone, organised by Green Expo will move from Castle Drive to the park this year, bringing you green innovation.
The Nature Zone will be full of family friendly fun activities from the likes of Chester Zoo and Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
What is the Great Big Green Week?
Chester City Centre
Chester Cathedral 15-16 June
View the winners of the Green Expo Photo Competition in the Cloisters at the Cathedral over the weekend. You will also find attend the 'Cathedral at Height' talk, which explores its solar panels, along with a walk up the tower to view the panels in action.
To find out more about what is happening, when, during Chester Green Weekend, visit: chestergreenweekend.co.uk
Atfest
Town Hall Square and more Sunday 16 June
Chester Cycling Campaign, with other local cycling, walking and wellbeing groups will be in the Town Hall Square, with a range of information and activities to encourage people to walk, cycle or ‘wheel’ around the city. Check out Exchange Square for the amazing stunt bike displays at intervals during the day.
At Storyhouse, you’ll find family fun activities with an active travel theme and an inspiring talk in the Theatre.
New Chester Market will have Bike Factory demonstrations and entertainment, late morning and mid-afternoon.
To find out more about what is happening, when, during Chester Green Weekend, visit: atfest.uk
The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Great Big Green Week sees all kinds of events take place. For 2024, it is celebrating swaps – from clothes or book swaps, to skill swaps in allotments or upcycling workshops, to knowledge swaps on discussion panels or wildlife reserves.
The first Great Big Green Week took place in September 2021. Communities came together once more in September 2022 and again in June 2023, with over a quarter of a million people getting involved during each event. National organisations, institutions, businesses and media outlets joined in, ultimately putting pressure on the government to up its game on climate change. By taking action together at the same time in every corner of the country, politicians will be unable to ignore that their constituents care about tackling climate change and protecting nature.
Booka FreeSiteVisit
and Safety Partner Introducing: Acton Safety
Delivering personal, highly professional health & safety services
Ever find yourself pondering over complex health and safety queries, losing sleep over compliance, or feeling unsure about the safest course of action?
Acton Safety is your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of health and safety. Whether you find yourself in need of expert guidance for routine compliance tasks or require a comprehensive audit complete with action plans, rest assured, we have the depth of expertise you are looking for.
Say goodbye to unanswered questions and sleepless nights - choose Acton Safety for a safer, more efficient workplace.
EXPERT GUIDANCE:
We offer tailored solutions for compliance and safety measures.
COMPREHENSIVE PLATFORM:
A user-friendly online programme that goes beyond standard policies, providing flexibility and support.
PROACTIVE CONSULTANCY:
Dedicated consultants collaborate to reduce workplace risks and enhance overall well-being.
TAILORED SOLUTIONS:
From routine compliance tasks to full-scale audits, adapted to your unique needs.
EFFICIENCY:
Streamline processes, saving time and money on health and safety obligations.
OBJECTIVE AUDITS:
Benefit from assessments to continuously improve your health and safety provision.
POSITIVE CULTURE:
Foster employee engagement and create a safer work environment.
A press release is a short, compelling news story sent to targeted members of the media. The goal of a press release is to pique the interest of a journalist or publication, and should contain all the essential information for the journalist to easily produce their own story.
Despite the changing face of media and the slow decline of print media, press releases are still the number one means of getting a story out to the public. Even if newspapers have less of a print presence now than in their heyday, there are still multiple online news channels – local and regional newspapers, national newspapers and trade publications all have websites, which need to be populated with news stories.
Competition for news space is really fierce. On average, journalists still receive hundreds of press releases every month so it’s important to make your press release relevant and newsworthy.
A press release is not an advert Contrary to an all-too-popular belief, a press release is not an opportunity for you simply to promote your products and your services via a hard sell. It is not an advert. It needs to be genuinely interesting and well written. However, don’t use this writing task as an opportunity to exercise your flair for poetic, creative writing. Keep your language simple, clear and concise. Avoid cliché and hyperbole, and never make claims that you can’t back up.
Once you have decided on the subject matter for your press release, written it up, chosen an eye-catching title, secured all the approvals necessary and included an appropriate photograph, you will feel you have made quite an achievement. That’s just one very good reason not to let your efforts end there. With a little more thought and some more time and effort, you can turn that press release into so much more, by repurposing it for further marketing material.
Transform your press release
First of all, if you have a website, you can transform your press release into a blog or news story for it. It’s important to take time over this – don’t just paste the press release on your website and leave it at that.
While a press release is written in the third person, you need to change it into the first person for your website. So, rather than “Zebra Marketing reports that…”, you would say, “We are reporting….” Change the title, so it is suitable for inclusion on your own website. Include subtitles too, as this will help boost Search Engine Optimisation.
“Keep your language simple, clear and concise. Avoid cliché and hyperbole, and never make claims that you can’t back up”
You should also adopt a different tone of voice. With a blog, you can be warmer and a bit more friendly than in a press release. It should still come across as very professional though, so don’t be tempted to use slang and still avoid jargon. Put links within the blog to other relevant points of interest on your website too. Don’t forget to incorporate a call to action and include your photos too.
Beyond the blog
Once you are happy with your blog, think about how you can use this on your social media channels. You can repurpose some of the wording, to craft a series of social media posts across all your platforms. This can encourage interaction with your followers on social media and wider engagement too. Put links to the blog in the social media posts, to drive traffic to your website.
Once someone lands on the blog, they will have the opportunity to follow the links you have included there to other parts of your website.
“Entering awards, being shortlisted or winning, is great for business”
The next step is to look at how you can use this news story more widely still in other areas of your marketing programme. Perhaps there is scope to include some more details and turn it into a case study. As well as publishing the case study on your website, you may find it a useful piece of marketing collateral when you are pursuing new business leads too, as evidence of great work you have completed. Case studies like this can make great topics for an email marketing campaign to existing and potential clients too.
Finally, entering awards, being shortlisted or winning, is great for
business. Don’t forget to assess your news story and see if it could provide the basis for an award entry too. By this stage, you have probably exhausted that original story’s marketing potential and it will be time to start seeking the topic for your next press release.
Maggie Austen Account Director Zebra Marketing and Communications maggie@zebra-comms.co.uk
Loads better
Family business driving success
R.F. Bellis Haulage Limited is nationwide haulage and distribution specialist, which celebrates 55 years in business this year. Set up in 1969 by Russell Bellis, the business is now run by his son James and his two daughters, Katie and Fiona. There is also some of the next generation already out in the trucks, learning the business from the ground up.
With much of its customer-base emanating from the Wrexham area, the company sees itself as an important part of the fabric of Wrexham, in particular the industrial estate where it has been based for the last 15 years.
“We have a reputation locally for being a good employer,” explains Katie Bellis, “Our drivers know we will look after them and that there will be as much work as they want. We can also offer flexibility. Many of our drivers have a preferred way of working and we can usually accommodate this.”
Trucks away
The business operates 24/7, 364 days of the year – it’s shut on Christmas Day! It has 40 trucks and 75 trailers, all of which are 44 tonne articulated trailers, with curtain sides for added flexibility, apart from one rigid one, which is used solely for the company’s work with JCB Transmissions. There is also one refrigerated truck, which is used for work with companies like Valerie Patisserie, where the company is required to transport a very precious cargo: cakes.
Fiona Moulding added: “JCB was one of the first contracts our father secured when he set up the business, so we have been working with JCB for over 50 years.
“Our drivers know we will look after them and that there will be as much work as they want”
We take the axels and gearboxes from the JCB Transmissions factory on the industrial estate and distribute them to the JCB factories across the UK.”
With much of the work required for ‘just in time’ production, it is imperative that the deliveries arrive when they are scheduled to. This is also true for the work the business does with its catalogue customer, Very Group, which offers next day orders.
The business offers real time tracking from its transport management system, so that customers can be kept informed on the status of their delivery.
Driving the green agenda
Sustainability within the logistics sector is challenging, but as Fiona explains, “We rotate the trucks every five years. As each new model comes along, it is becoming increasingly more fuel efficient. We have looked at options around hydrogen, gas and electric, but none of these are feasible at this time. We will continue to investigate the options available to us.
“In the meantime, we transport out full loads, and back load for the return journey wherever possible. We monitor driver performance and miles per gallon (MPG), to ensure that fuel efficiency is maximised as much as we can.”
Stepping out in the community
High tide?
As a family-run business, the company isn’t constrained by working within a particular sector, and will have a go at transporting just about anything. The more of a challenge, the more interesting the job. Just some of the unusual loads the team at R.F. Belis has transported include:
• Lighting rig to a football ground for the Tyson Fury fight
• Full size goal posts and dugouts to major football grounds
• Various pieces of agricultural machinery
• A 30 ft canal boat
• Large sections of steel structures.
As a long-established Wrexham business and local employer, the local Wrexham community is important to R.F. Bellis. This is one of the reasons it decided to become a sponsor of the Wrexham Business and Community Awards last year. It also does a lot of fundraising for Nightingale House, in fact Katie is performing the Quickstep with Mario as part of ‘Strictly Nightingale’ at the end of October.
“It was a privilege to support the very first Wrexham Business and Community Awards. As a local firm, Wrexham as an area has enabled us to develop and flourish, and so it felt right to be a part of what we hope to be an annual event. To sit on the awards judging panel as a sponsor was an honour and responsibility we didn’t take lightly, and we feel very proud to have contributed to the success of WBCA 2023!
“I am excited – and terrified – about performing the Quickstep at Strictly Nightingale this October. I am getting as much practice in as I can!”
We are delighted that Hug Academy has partnered with VOX and sponsored our distribution. Every quarter, we distribute thousands of copies of VOX to local businesses across Wrexham and Chester. Hug Academy want to help you map out your future. It’s purpose is to help you to start the journey to redistribute wealth through financial education.
Hug Academy: “Our purpose is to redstribute wealth through education”
Financial freedom
Safely navigate through personal finance, the basics of economics and how to build your personal wealth with Hug Academy. It’s free to register and get started.
www.hug.academy
Secure your financial future
Whether you are just starting out or navigating your way through the complexities of mid-life finances, Hug Academy provides practical steps you can take to reduce your debt, build a healthy surplus each month and grow your wealth.
STEP 1: Learn
Learn the principles of intelligent budgeting and how to manage your finances, so that you can reduce debt and build a surplus each month. You’ll also learn about the basics of economics and how to build wealth sensibly and sustainably.
STEP 2:
Set a goal
Use our calculator to help you set a wealth goal. For example, if you want to build a nest egg of a million pounds in 20 years time, our calculator will show you what you need to invest each month to reach your goal.
STEP 3:
Focus
Together we’ll help you build a financial blueprint so you can increase the probability that the money you are putting in will deliver you the output you need. We’ll help you work out how to increase your income, reduce your expenditure and reconcile your budget every month so you can see if you are on track.
STEP 4:
Build a better future
If you’re new to investing and need a helping hand, we also offer tuition which builds an example portfolio (which we gift to you after 24 monthsconditions apply)
Hug Academy
Join us on a journey that will give you a solid foundation in personal finance, economics, and building wealth.
At Hug Academy you will:
• Learn in a fun and flexible waythe training will be customised to you
• Receive free tools designed by financial experts, covering financial planning tools, budgeting templates, investment calculators and learn how to use them!
• Track your progress – enjoy a customised dashboard, and funky games that track your learning, help you set and stick to goals, and celebrate your achievements!
Discover your unique financial persona, and experience tuition that is tailored to your current level of knowledge and future goals. www.hug.academy
“With
a little bit of money, a little bit of knowledge and a little bit of focus anyone can change their life. At Hug we want every family to have more opportunities, to build more wealth and to have happier lives.
That’s why we’ve made the first whole section of our training completely free.”
Redefining
public relations for Cheshire businesses
Many businesses in Cheshire could significantly enhance their customer base, reputation and product visibility by integrating public relations (PR) into their brand and marketing strategies. PR offers a unique opportunity to connect with your audience, build trust and amplify your message, all of which are crucial for business growth. Contrary to popular belief, public relations is not a complex discipline. Anecdotal evidence suggests that PR is often underused by entrepreneurs looking to grow their brand, unlike social media, email, or digital marketing.
By HEATHER DALE
What is PR?
A successful PR strategy involves managing your reputation, earning understanding and support and influencing opinion and behaviour. In today’s competitive environment, your reputation is your most valuable asset and PR is a simple yet effective way to protect and enhance it. A more straightforward way to think of PR would be to compare it to your other marketing activities. Jean-Louis Gassée, a former executive at Apple, puts it best: “Advertising is saying you're good. PR is getting someone else to say you’re good.”
From speaking to many small business owners and entrepreneurs in Cheshire, it is clear that there is no lack of interest in PR or appreciation for its value; there is a perceived barrier to entry. Those wanting to outsource their PR strategy are often unable to do so, due to the structure of established agencies and prohibitive costs to smaller businesses. Even those willing and able to invest are often left disillusioned. The promise of impactful results too usually falls short, with agencies either overpromising and underdelivering, or failing to align objectives from the outset. It’s a frustrating reality that leaves many questioning the value of PR altogether.
“Unlike other marketing tactics, PR offers a level of authenticity and trust that money can’t buy”
INTERIOR FITOUT SPECIALISTS
Office design and layout can play a large part in improving office productivity.
A well thought out office space can make it a pleasure to come to work, unhindered by lack of space, a noisy environment or light issues which in turn has a positive effect on health and well-being and allows staff to be fully productive.
Please get in touch to see how we can enhance your workplace.
What is the value of PR?
In a landscape where every penny counts, the cost-effectiveness of PR cannot be overstated. Unlike other marketing tactics, PR offers a level of authenticity and trust that money can’t buy. A study by global PR powerhouse Edelman found that 65% of consumers trust earned media (which includes PR) more than any other form of marketing. Whilst a Nielsen study found that PR is almost 90% more effective than advertising in driving sales conversion. So, what is holding small businesses back from navigating the world of PR on their own? Part of the problem stems from the perception of PR as a magical art reserved for those with a bulging Rolodex and unparalleled powers of persuasion. This couldn’t be further from the truth. At its core, PR is about passion and expertise – traits that most small business owners possess in abundance. It’s not about fancy connections or silver tongues, it’s about telling compelling stories and nurturing meaningful relationships.
Another common criticism is that to create meaningful results from PR requires countless hours of dedication, which is simply not true. In reality, success in PR hinges on a few simple steps: understanding your audience, telling a compelling story and engaging with the right channels. When done right, it’s a manageable process that can yield significant returns, without draining precious resources.
Creating a shortlist of 5-10 relationships to cultivate whether they are local media, influencers or event organisers and systematically offering them value through telling your personal story and sharing your expertise will gain results in both the short and long term. There is a demand for knowledge and content from many traditional and online news providers, magazines and content creators.
Perhaps most importantly, PR offers something that other marketing tactics simply can’t match: enjoyment.
For small business owners, PR is an opportunity to do what they do best – connect with people and share their passion. It’s about building relationships, fostering trust and bringing their stories to life in a way that resonates with their audience. It's an extension of the daily activities defining their entrepreneurial journey.
So, if you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, don’t let the barriers of traditional PR hold you back. Embrace the power of PR as a cost-effective, authentic and enjoyable way to grow your reputation. It’s time to reclaim your narrative, forge meaningful connections and unlock the full potential of your business.
Technology is increasingly impacting on the business world and a recent development is the use of gamification within business, to boost customer loyalty and employee engagement. Many of us already engage with gamification on a daily basis – often without really realising it. Fitbit, for example, shows how gaming principles have been successfully implemented to drive customer engagement – enabling you to set your targets (number of steps, number of hours sleep etc) and rewarding you when you achieve them. Meanwhile, coffee shops, such as Starbucks, reward customers for purchases made.
What is gamification within business?
Gamification is not a new idea, in some form or another it has been used to educate, entertain and engage for decades. However, what is new is the ability to gamify within a digital environment. Gamification within business incorporates game-like features into non-game scenarios, with the aim of motivating and engaging the user. It takes something already in existence and adds gaming features to increase participation.
The engagement can include things like scoring points, levelling up and earning virtual currency. Common strategies for gamification in businesses include using virtual badges, interactive components, completion meters and rewards for completing goals. Basically, it is introducing mechanisms to provide ‘bragging rights’ to the user, thus increasing engagement, driving conversions or improving operations.
Gamification in business normally takes one of two forms: gamifying the customer’s experience – to encourage increased engagement or sales – or gamifying the employee’s experience, often in the form of training and development or sales targets. It isn’t just about entertaining the user, although that is part of it too. It also gives you a unique insight into your customer or employee’s behaviours.
By RICHARD HEBBLEWHITE
“Gamification within business incorporates game-like features into non-game scenarios, with the aim of motivating and engaging the user”
Learning more about your customer or employee, in turn, helps you improve their experience with you.
What has driven the acceptance of gamification?
By 2025, millennials will account for 75% of the global population and more than half of the global workforce. As a generation raised on computers and video games, gamification satisfies millennials’ appetite for collaborative and engaging interactions.
Predictions suggest that by 2027, the global gamification market will reach $46.44 billion, continuing at a similar annual growth rate of 25.6%.
Using game-design principles
At its core, game design is the art of crafting experiences that engage and entertain players. If you replace ‘players’ with ‘customers’ or ‘employees’, you can quickly see how gamification works in the business environment. Game design is the process of creating and designing a game’s rules, mechanics, goals and overall experience. It involves making decisions about how the game should be played, what challenges and obstacles players will face and how they will interact with the game world.
With careful thought, it is possible to see how the main components of game-design can inform a business
environment, from the game mechanics – the rules and systems that make a game work, through to the objectives and goals, which need to be clear to give players a sense of purpose and direction. Other principles include the player agency and of course, the progression and rewards. Balance and difficulty, feedback and immersion and narrative all have important roles to play too.
By bringing these principles together to meet a business challenge, the use of gamification can help you learn more about your user’s behaviours.
When they use game-like features, you get another view of what they like and where they spend their time. This information helps inform what their interests are. These insights help you to improve your marketing plans, design user experiences and ultimately reach your business goals. Each interaction builds the picture a little more.
Real life examples
Dynamic Wrexham-based charity, Dynamic secured lottery funding for a two-year project. Working with the university they took five pieces of gym equipment and added in virtual reality and peripherals to the machines. For example, the more someone rowed, the further along the riverbank they got. The user statistics produced by the systems allowed for tracking progress. The project provided key technology and equipment for young and vulnerable people with mobility issues and remain in use today.
Marion Surgical
“If
Richard
Hebblewhite Wrexham University wrexham.ac.uk
Working with Marion Surgical, a private medical technology and training company, our team successfully developed a prototype for a new VR training system designed to simulate Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) surgery. This gamified method of training was developed and tested alongside the Marion team that included medical practitioners. The project was made more challenging as it took place during the pandemic which made the practice of sharing VR equipment safely with others more complex. Since project delivery, Marion have gone on to release a successful fully commercial training VR platform.
North West Regional
Organised Crime Unit
Working in partnership with the NWROCU a series of mini games were developed to help raise awareness of cyber security for young people, particularly in rural areas were access to training and facilities is more limited. A number of game prototypes were produced with the top six selected in a Dragons Den style event including serving members of the NWROCU. The games were rolled out to schools and colleges across North Wales – a key target audience for the NWROCU cybercrime prevention campaign.
A
day
in the life...
of GETH THOMAS, Wrexham Chauffeurs
No one knows the roads and people of Wrexham like Geth Thomas. As the founder, manager and owner of Wrexham Chauffeurs, he has seen it all – the good, bad and ugly – in his time working in the chauffeuring sector. His role as owner has seen him meet many challenges, while his role as a driver has led him to meet many interesting people along the way. We caught up with him, to find out a bit more about his journey to date, where he may be heading in the future and what he can expect in a typical day behind the wheel.
I started working on Wrexham town centre taxis in August 2012 and quickly moved permanently to the night shift. There’s obvious advantages to this, as there’s less cars to compete against for work. My success led to me being able to buy my first Mercedes in 2015. I also secured my RoSPA Advanced driver at Gold Level after 12 months of study and then after a mammoth effort, achieved my Guild of Professional Chauffeurs accreditation in 2019.
Driven to success
I was inspired to start a chauffeur company after being told I wasn’t a ‘team player’. I took this as criticism, but also as motivation – I have a wife and three teenage children at home counting on me, so I had to make this work, while starting up from zero. In the first year, I turned a profit. Year two could have been problematic, as the timing couldn’t have been worse, with the Covid pandemic hitting the UK. Boris Johnson told everyone to stay at home. We asked ourselves, “Who still has to travel?” and found chemotherapy patients, dialysis patients, we found priceless artifacts and museum antiquities, art galleries, high-end jewellers and the delivery of legal documents. As a result of our resilience and determination, we doubled our year one figures. In year three, we trebled year two and here in year four, we’re
on track for a turnover of £200k, with four staff and four cars. As a result of this year-on-year success, we will be recruiting again later this year, ready for future expansion.
A day on the road
A typical day, in its simplest form, should run like clockwork. Everyone knows where and when they need to be somewhere – with no hiccups. Everything is booked at least 24 hours in advance and scheduled. That’s in an ideal world. In reality, the pressure is relentless. Emails, text and WhatsApp messages, Google my business and social media messages tumble in at all hours, all wanting the service that they’ve heard we provide – and of course we try to accommodate as many as we can. But the job doesn’t end there. We need to factor in car maintenance, staff absence through illness or holiday, cash flow and regulatory compliance. Having said that, it all appears graceful and elegant to the public.
Our typical client is a Wrexham-based business. Ninety-eight percent of our clients rebook with us, giving us the confidence that we’re answering their need for discreet professional service. Regulation is a huge issue for the industry, and I’ve been banging the drum about high national standards.
There is no typical day in terms of journeys – we can be going anywhere. We’ve worked all over the country, taking clients down to London and up to Scotland.
My favourite journey is North to South Wales, over the Brecon Beacons. It’s just such exquisite beauty and remoteness. We had a regular mother and son who would travel South for work and it’s always such a challenge to NOT stop at Penderyn Whiskey Distillery on the way back home when it’s just me in the car.
I think the most interesting story I’ve heard from a client, is one who arranged a fleet of ambulances to evacuate children with cancer from war torn Ukraine under the cover of darkness. I just found it totally inspiring and when someone told her it couldn’t be done, it spurred her on.
I can relate to that. It made me realise that humans are incredibly resourceful, and our achievements are only limited by our imagination.
E: admin@wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk
W: wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk
Wrexham Chauffeurs operate a 24-hour luxury chauffeur services to and from anywhere in the UK.
We have a choice of saloon or estate E-Class cars, luxury S-Class saloons, and Mercedes Minibuses. We also collaborate with other chauffeur companies so can always offer you our famous stress-free travel.
Executive and Luxury Chauffeur Driven Travel - anytime - any place - any distance!
Driving on
In terms of what the future holds, a stranger in the industry who is based in Manchester told a colleague of mine in South Wales that if there was chauffeur work in North Wales, they should contact Geth at Wrexham Chauffeurs Ltd. I’m now looking West at generating additional business across North Wales. That will tie-in with existing business between Wrexham and Chester. I love having fantastic, reliable staff that make me smile with pride every day and they in turn get a real buzz from delivering the exceptional customer service for which we’ve become famous.
We’re always right at the forefront of anything new in the industry – for example the Good Business Charter, Fair Tax Mark, Small Business Awards, North Wales Wedding Awards – and there's always more to do and room for improvement. My favourite part of the job is building a company that has intrinsic value, with the ultimate aim of making myself redundant. One day
in the future, my intention is to sell the company, so I need to build it in such a way that it can be sold – and that someone will want to buy it and take it on. That’s my hope for the future, so we’ll see.
Geth Thomas
Wrexham Chauffeurs
wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk 01978 253815
“I love having fantastic, reliable staff that make me smile with pride every day”
Money: A User’s Guide
BY LAURA WHATELEY
Published by Fourth Estate
A Sunday Times bestseller, Money: A User’s Guide demonstrates how you can take control of your personal finances. Acclaimed money expert Laura Whateley is an award-winning journalist and The Times’ consumer champion. Laura serves up a concise, timely and indispensable guide to money and finances, something we could all probably manage a bit better. Money: A User’s Guide cuts through all the panic of personal finances. It will teach you how to get a great credit score, how to save hundreds on bills and offer practical advice on every difficult conversation you’ve been avoiding, including housing (for renters and buyers), student loans, pensions, paying off debt, ethical investments and money and mental health. This essential book will give you the confidence and clarity to take back control of your bank account, enabling you to thrive in all areas of your life.
Words of Wisdom
Welcome to our book and podcast recommendations, where you'll find a curated selection of the latest and greatest in business literature and audio storytelling.
Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women BY
LOUISE MINCHIN
Published by Bloomsbury Sport
Our guest speaker at VOX Networking session in Chester in September 2023, Louise Minchin is a familiar name. She is one of the UK’s best-known news presenters and television broadcasters. Following on from her 2018 book, Dare to Tri: My Journey from the BBC Breakfast Sofa to GB Team Triathlete Louise embarks on 17 exhilarating adventures with trailblazing women who are breaking down barriers, smashing records and challenging stereotypes. This includes freediving under the ice in the dark in Finland, cycling across Argentina and swimming the straits from Alcatraz. As Louise herself says: “To get to the heart of who these women are…I decided to do it the way that I know best, by taking part, spending time right beside them to experience the things they love.” This highlyacclaimed, well-received and motivational read was a Waterstones ‘Best Book of the Year’ in Sport in 2023.
This podcast is aimed at small business owners looking to learn more about online marketing on a budget. John Jantsch has been running this weekly podcast for more than a decade, interviewing experts, authors, successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders about business hacks, the ins and outs of online marketing, and more. For 30 years, John has been a trusted advisor to small and mediumsized businesses across the United States, specialising in marketing strategy, consultancy and advertising. His expertise has led to the publication of seven books, including the best-selling Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine. As well as his popular Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, he maintains a highly-regarded blog that Forbes has recognised as one of the top five for small business marketing. The Duct Tape Marketing System empowers businesses of all sizes to achieve measurable and repeatable results.
Rob Moore’s Disruptive Entrepreneur podcast offers a mix of disruptive content and a totally unique concept. It’s unscripted and unedited interviews with both world famous and leftfield successful entrepreneurs, exclusive ‘Caffeine Casts’ episodes and blunt ‘Rob’s Rants.’ It focusses on business and entrepreneurship. Free weekly episodes of the podcast features guests from the worlds of business, literature, entertainment, sports, media and culture. The podcast is available on iTunes and episodes vary in length from 10 to 110 minutes. There are usually two video and audio episodes per week including interviews with MBEs, celebrities, athletes, and business experts.
Since its inception in 2016, Rob’s guests have included Gerald Ratner, Frank Bruno, Shaa Wasmund, John Barnes, Simon Weston, Terry Waite and Beth Tweddle. Rob also hosts the ‘Money’ and ‘Disruptors’ podcasts too.
Duct Tape Marketing BY JOHN JANTSCH
The Disruptive Entrepreneur BY ROB MOORE
For information about places please contact KIM or BECCA Tel: 01978 314912 littlescholars@activechildcare.co.uk www.activechildcare.co.uk
brand Personal
How to have more impact, just by being yourself
Often in business, we feel that we need to be polished, perfect and the consummate professional to be successful. In reality, that’s just not the case! Business is built on relationships, so it’s more important that we are genuine. Cultivating our personal brand, grounded in our individuality, can give us the most powerful tool we can possess as business owners.
The Need to Stand Out
We spend much of our lives trying to fit in and conform. However, in business, particularly in marketing and branding terms, we need to differentiate ourselves. It can feel like a challenge, but actually, it’s quite simple. We are all completely unique, so the key to standing out is tapping into everything that makes us different, everything that makes us who we are.
Where to start
It can take a bit of work to recognise and embrace our unique qualities when we’ve spent a lot of time suppressing them, focusing on what other people expect us to be, but it’s worth the effort. This all forms our personal brand and is the key to attracting and connecting with the right people.
When we look back over our history, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes up the person we are today. From our upbringing, our career path and our wealth of life experiences, to the patterns that we can recognise in our decision making along the way, our story will be filled with hooks that will be relatable and interesting to our audience.
Even more fundamental than that, our values beliefs, and personality traits will
By SARAH WHITE
often be the deciding factor in whether or not a potential customer feels comfortable working and investing with us, and how loyal and longstanding that working relationship will be. Something as simple as a shared sense of humour or a love of books or animals can draw like-minded people towards us and foster immediate affection.
Making use of this information
For many of us, our business is about so much more than just making money (although that’s important too, of course). We want to help people, drive change, improve lives, or protect our planet.
“We are all completely unique, so the key to standing out is tapping into everything that makes us different, everything that makes us who we are”
“Business is built on relationships”
It may sound obvious, but we often forget to tell our audience why we do what we do, what we hope to achieve and why we are the perfect person to help them. Just by being upfront and open, we very quickly form relationships with people who can see that we’re the kind of person they want to be around. Even letting people know seemingly unimportant information about our lives helps to confirm their belief that they like us. It can have the opposite effect too, in allowing others to know that we aren’t right for them, and that is just as useful because we don’t waste time and energy trying to work with people who we’re never going to be best placed to help.
It’s even more powerful when we share our vision for our business and the difference we want to make in the world. We allow people to get excited alongside us and, if they have similar aspirations, they are much more likely to want to come on that journey with us and support us, as well as helping to spread the word. This ripple effect allows us to achieve far more than we ever could by ourselves and it’s driven by us being true to ourselves.
Sarah White
Sarah White Branding & Visibility
sarah@sarahwhite.uk 07900 272912
WBCA
Sellout networking event launches local awards, back for 2024!
Over 100 people attended Hickory’s on 21 May for the first Wrexham Business and Community Awards (WBCA) networking event of 2024. Following its successful inaugural year, where it celebrated the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations within the Wrexham business community, charity sector and social enterprises – the awards are back again this year.
Hosted at Hickory’s Wrexham, the event was an opportunity to review the success of 2023 and look ahead to an exciting 2024.
Commented Sian Bostock, one of the founding members of the awards:
“Last year, the awards were an opportunity to recognise the remarkable contributions made by the successful award winners (and nominees) who demonstrated excellence and innovation in their respective fields. The occasion was accompanied by excellent locally
“We have reflected on our 2023 journey and identified areas which we can improve on, including revisiting the awards categories so that more companies are able to enter”
sourced food, talented entertainment and a fantastic host, a truly memorable evening.
“We were delighted to have been able to celebrate so many wonderful businesses and donate £20,000 to local charities. However, this year we want to do even more. We have reflected on our 2023 journey and identified areas which we can improve on, including revisiting the awards categories so that more companies are able to enter. WBCA is looking for businesses who are interested in supporting the awards this year. We are ready and raring to re-engage with our dynamic business networking community for 2024.”
The networking event offered local businesses and community organisations an opportunity to catch up with each other and also to learn more about WBCA’s plans for 2024. There is a programme of networking happening over the next few months, with the awards evening to be held towards the end of the year.
New home for North East Wales Skills Academy
Opened with help of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) levelling up funding, the North East Wales Skills Academy has found a new home within JCB’s grounds on Wrexham industrial Estate. Run by Gatewen Training Services, the Academy offers Forklift Truck (FLT) and Warehousing courses and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and logistics training.
Since it opened its doors earlier this year, it has already successfully run four cohorts, with the fifth one now underway. The training, which is designed as four-week courses, aims at getting people trained and employed. It has already achieved some notable results and approximately 70 people have already benefited from it.
One example of this is Mark Hughes, MIOL who came to the skills centre during his termination leave, having spent 22 years in the Armed Forces. Mark enrolled on the Warehousing pathway and by the time he had completed his course he had also secured a job with JCB, which he started in May.
Julian Hughes from Gatewen Training Services explains: “We want to encourage people from all walks of life to take advantage of the training we offer. The aim of our programmes is to get people in, get them trained and get them employed. There is a shortage of experienced FLT and HGV drivers, which was a key reason we have decided to focus on these areas initially. Our state-of-the-art simulators allow people to get a real feel for what they are like to drive, before they experience the real thing.”
Craig Weeks, operations director at JCB Transmissions, added: “There are so many potential employers, all looking for skilled people on the industrial estate alone, which means
it is ideal to have the training facility here. We have big plans for the space and want to develop it into a tangible hub, which brings industry and community together.”
There is a real enthusiasm for this centre of excellence from the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, and the centre has already had many notable visitors including First Minister, Vaughan Gething, Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates and Sarah Atherton, MP for Wrexham.
For details visit newsa.co.uk
“We want to encourage people from all walks of life to take advantage of the training we offer. The aim of our programmes is to get people in, get them trained and get them employed”
Q&A
behind the business
Getting on top of your data
By CLARA HUGHES
Topwood is helping local companies take the ‘paper out of their business’ by storing 185,000 tracked boxes of data, along with over 13 million digital images, on cloud storage. With space being at a premium for many companies, Topwood offers a solution to storing off-site, but with instant access. We met with Tom Gilruth, the managing director of Topwood, and Simon Povey, its operations director, to get an insight into the world of document storage, management and destruction.
How did Topwood come about?
Tom: In my previous job, there was an issue involving the correct storage of records. While we ultimately located the paperwork we required, it made me realise that there had to be a better solution then the current system and set about looking into it. As it happened, I live on a former farm and had some outbuildings that were empty, so I set about buying some racking and putting a basic inventory management system in place. That was over 20 years ago, seems like yesterday!
Simon: The business was registered in 2002 and officially started trading in 2003. We now have a team of 21 employees, including HGV drivers, archive and digital operatives, and an administration team.
What business challenges does Topwood address?
Simon: We offer the complete storage, retrieval, scanning and safe destruction of paper – a complete end-to-end process if you like. This has meant offices with storage issues can archive material with us, which can be accessed quickly and easily should they need it, either in physical form or as a Scan on Demand. We can also help companies in the digital transformation journey –
scanning documents for ready access or even automating workflows such as matching up delivery notes and invoices to process to payment automatically. Some sectors have to keep records for a set period of time for legal or regulatory reasons – the aviation manufacturing industry for example have to have the paperwork for everything connected with an aircraft for the lifetime of the machine. Some documents relating to social care are another example of being required to be kept for a long time, up to 80 years in fact. Our systems allow us to track the retention dates, at which point we discuss a plan for destruction with the customer.
What has been the biggest challenge or change?
Tom: Covid and the subsequent lockdowns had a drastic impact on the business. We couldn’t do the physical pick-ups and deliveries, which meant we relied on digital more heavily. In fact, it massively increased the speed of the take-up of our digital services.
Will the ideal of a paperless office ever be realised?
Tom: We are a long way from seeing a completely paperless office environment. However, the service we offer enables businesses to take the paper documents out of their office in a controlled manner. We also offer a digital mailroom service, where a company’s mail is sent to us, we sort it, scan it and save it to the portal for the client – often solicitors – to access remotely.
Do you have accreditations and how important are they?
Simon: In our industry, it is imperative that we have all the necessary accreditations from ISO27001 Information Security Management system, ISO9001 Quality Management system and ISO14001 Environmental Management system, through to BS10008 Evidential weight and legal admissibility of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) and BS 15713 Secure destruction of confidential material. We also hold Cyber Essentials Plus and we are a Silver Award holder of the Armed Forces Covenant, among others.
Tom: Due to our diverse customer base it is important that we demonstrate our robust management systems and processes through these accreditations.
All of them are important but I think that the most important – to us and our customers – are BS 15713 which ensures that all documents are destroyed in a secure and compliant manner, Cyber Essentials Plus which provides full protection of our IT systems and BS10008 Evidential weight and legal admissibility of Electronically Stored Information (ESI), which means that digital images are certified as true to the originals and can be used in UK courts.
Data security is very important, how do you ensure this?
Tom: Physical and digital security of the data is vital, particularly when many of our clients are from the legal profession, or highly regulated sectors like aviation. We also hold a lot of employment contracts and HR information, which is obviously all highly confidential. All the paper documents are stored in boxes that are anonymous. They are barcoded and stored on a system for easy tracking and location, but only our customer knows what’s in the files themselves. We also have clear policies and procedures in place in the unlikely event of a security breach.
Simon: Where we are receiving documents to be securely disposed of, we maintain a clear chain of custody from collection through to the paperwork reaching the shredder hopper. For many customers, our onsite shredding capabilities through our fleet of lorries that have built in shredders, provides real peace of mind that their sensitive information is destroyed immediately it is collected. Each shred truck can shred around two tonnes of documents per hour and has capacity for around five tonnes of shredded paper in the cargo bay. We also have requests from manufacturing customers to shred printed packaging which, due to brand protection, they want destroyed. We also have a ‘static’ shredder at our Wrexham facility, which is used for off-site shredding and also destruction of non-paper based materials. All shredding is compliant with BS 15713, whether it is on site or off site destruction.
Why have you chosen to be based in Wrexham?
Tom: The business started off at the farm near to Malpas, but eventually
we outgrew the location. We opted to move onto Wrexham Industrial Estate, as the Wrexham business community is a very important customer base for us and we feel that it is a good, central location for all of the geographic areas that we cover.
Simon: It is also a very convenient location, as we can easily get anywhere around the country from here, as we are close to the major road networks. We are in the process of building a new facility and once that is complete – during July– we will have over 60,000 square feet of operational storage space.
What business sectors do you work in?
Tom: Historically, the retail and manufacturing sectors have been very important to us and we continue to work with them. We also do a lot for the legal profession and the aviation and aerospace industries. Basically, we work within any sector or business that requires physical or digital document management services.
What happens to all the paper that you shred?
Simon: Once shredded, it is compressed and baled before being taken to a local papermill in Deeside. It is then recycled into new paper products – a process that uses a lot less water than virgin paper and saves on carbon emissions. Most of our customers have sustainability targets, as do we, and it is good to be able to demonstrate that all materials are recycled.
For further information on Topwood, and its services visit topwoodltd.co.uk 01978 464432 sales@topwoodltd.co.uk
The team makes Hickory’s special
Hickory’s opened its second restaurant in Wales, in Wrexham at the end of 2023, and since then has already welcomed thousands of people through its doors.
Craig Gibson, the General Manager at Hickory’s in Wrexham, told us more about the restaurant’s first six months and what he thinks is the secret of its ongoing success.
The most important things
“Two of the most important factors are our team and our local community,” Craig explains. “Whenever we open a restaurant in a new area, we work with the local community before we even open our doors. We want them to know who we are and what we are about. It is important to us as a business, to make a positive impact on our local communities. For example, one of the first things we did was to cut back the trees that had been imposing on our neighbours. We also worked with local residents to have a defibrillator installed.”
Working with the wider community, particularly the business community, has also been important for the company. “Moneypenny and Net World Sport have both been champions of the restaurant from day one, and of course VOX held its networking event with us back in January, and it was great to have the opportunity to showcase our venue to so many local businesses.
“Since then, we have welcomed numerous groups to use our private space and even hosted the launch event for Wrexham Business and Community Awards (WBCA) 2024.”
Number one team
However, Hickory’s internal community is equally important to the company. Before it could open its doors, it had to recruit a team. The opening of Hickory’s in Wrexham created 90 new jobs for the local area. “We carried out our recruitment at Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham. We had over 1500 applicants and carried out around 400 interviews. By the end of the process, we had recruited 35 full-time positions and a host of part-time roles too. These represent good jobs with real prospects and opportunities within the Hickory’s family. In fact, six of our original recruits have already been promoted into more senior roles since they joined.”
Train the trainer
Once in role, the team receives ongoing training and development within Hickory’s. There is basic training that all employees receive, that covers off the culture and values of the business, along with food and soft drinks tasting. Then there is role-specific training. There is a classroom upstairs and obviously a lot of it is on-the-job training.
“While a team member is in training they wear a black t-shirt. Once they have been tested and certified, they are presented with a checked shirt to wear.”
The training continues throughout their time with Hickory’s. There is FLOW, online training as well as bespoke training and six-monthly refreshers. There are also regular ‘how’s it going?’ chats. The business asks for feedback on its performance too, with the opportunity for the team to feedback to the company.
Wellbeing at work
The wellbeing and welfare of the team is important to Hickory’s. Some of it is the simple things, like the team have their own menu that they can choose from when they are working. It even includes a ‘hero’ dish that changes every month.
“We have a wellbeing champion, who is trained and accredited, and we also have an external provider, Lighthouse, who we can signpost team members to, if they need any help or advice. It is important to us that where we can,
“Moneypenny
and Net World Sport
have both been champions of the restaurant from day one, and of course
VOX held its networking event with us”
we accommodate our team’s needs. For example, I take Thursdays off, as I have an active role in a kids’ football team local to where I live.
“We all work hard and as it’s hospitality, the hours can be long. However, the company is very respectful in that, if you are off, you really are off and no one bothers you. This gives me time to recharge. The thing is, I can do this as I have a great team and I trust them to run the restaurant in my absence and make the right decisions.”
Known for its unique blend of authentic smokehouse dishes, combined with an inventive drinks and cocktail offering, the Hickory’s team really does look to welcome everyone – it’s known for its inclusive, community-focussed, familyfriendly vibe. Hickory’s Wrexham is also keen to work with local businesses, to host events in its private function area, the barn. hickorys.co.uk
Venue
finding
Whether you are looking for a meeting room for two people, or somewhere to bring whole teams and businesses together, the vicinity of Chester and Wrexham is not short of choice to cater to your needs. Here are our latest suggestions for meeting venues.
Abode, Chester abodechester.co.uk
With delegate rates going from £45 per person, Abode offers a choice of locations for meetings, events and conferences. The Brasserie Abode Bar on the ground floor comes complete with an outdoor terrace. It is available for hire for up to 120 people. Meanwhile, its Tattersalls Suite or Conservatory, also on the ground floor, each host up to 120 people. For larger numbers the Brasserie on the fifth floor, with spectacular views of the Roodee, can cater for up to 250 people.
Holt Lodge Hotel (soon to be Hotel Wrexham) holtlodge.co.uk
Change is coming to Holt Lodge Hotel and its going to be exciting! Located between Shrewsbury, Chester and Stoke-On-Trent, and close to Wrexham Industrial Estate, Hotel Wrexham is an ideal location for business guests in the North West, as well as for off-site business meetings and conferences. With a choice of meeting room and conference facilities, Hotel Wrexham’s dedicated staff are here to ensure you have a productive event.
ShiftWorks in Chester opened in 2022. It offers a vibrant and healthy workspace, right in the middle of the historic city centre. ShiftWorks Chester offers comfortable co-working space, private offices and meeting room hire. It’s a great choice for professionals seeking a professional environment for work and networking. It provides co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a boardroom, kitchen area, breakout spaces and is even dog-friendly.
Brynkinalt Hall brynkinalt.co.uk
Brynkinalt Hall has been home to the Trevor family since it was built in 1612. Over the last 25 years, the Hall has hosted a wide variety of private and business events including weddings, celebrations, conferences and a safari party. It is also a popular filming location. With easy access to the A483 and onwards, Brynkinalt Hall is available to hold private meetings, celebrate success and promote your business with conferences, dinners, awards ceremonies and outdoor events.
Do you have a venue you would like to see featured?
If you have used a hotel or other venue for a business meeting, conference, seminar, training or team building event and you think it should be featured in a future issue, please contact us with your suggestions.
What’s on
A round-up of some of the business event happening in and around Chester and Wrexham from June to September 2024
THURSDAY 6 JUNE
13:00 – 17:00
The Wellbeing Business Case for a Thriving Workforce
Join us for a deep dive into how wellbeing specialists and industry leaders can help you create the business case to attract and retain talent.
Events happening throughout the city, throughout the week. chestergreenweekend.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE
10:00 – 12:00
People, Planet, Pastry
Meet fellow businesses who are either about to start, or are well on their way to embedding sustainability into their day-to-day operations. Hosted by Helen Tandy and Monika Swindells. ōH Design Foundation, 22 Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1NQ chestergreenweekend.co.uk
THURSDAY 13 JUNE
09:30 - 11:30
West Cheshire Women’s Network
The speaker for this session will be Rose McArthur, Director for Transport, Highways and Climate at Cheshire West & Chester Council.
Cheshire Fashion Week returns to Chester in 2024. A major event in the Cheshire fashion and beauty industry.
https://tinyurl.com/3sb4fhaz
TUESDAY 18 JUNE
09:30 - 11:30
Networking at Fire & Rescue HQ
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Sadler Road Training Centre, Sadler Road, Winsford CW7 2FQ
https://tinyurl.com/ydkx3uab
TUESDAY 18 JUNE
09:00 – 17:00
Business writing – one day course
Classroom training provides you the opportunity to interact with instructors and benefit from face-to-face instruction.
Chester For venue details email: info@academyforpros.com
TUESDAY 18 JUNE
12:00 – 14:00
Women in Business Network
Women-only networking, building community, supportive and inspirational meetings with purpose, fun and friendship. And lunch.
Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, St John Street, Chester CH1 1HL https://tinyurl.com/2xjfhnfr
If you have an event taking place between September and December 2024, please let us know, so we can include it in our next issue. email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE
09:30 – 11:30
Chester & North Wales Networking
The Business of Networking is now offering its unique experience to business owners outside the group with some select events at prestigious venues. A short presentation by one of their members followed by the opportunity to carry on networking. Vista, St. David's Park Ewloe CH5 3DT
https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE
17:00 – 19:00
Chester Networking with The Business Network
The Business Network Chester informal networking session with members and visitors. Refreshments available.
The Queen at Chester Hotel, 52 City Road Chester CH1 3AH https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
FRIDAY 21 JUNE
10:00 – 12:00
Enrichment Networking: Women’s Business Networking
Welcome to women's business networking designed for introverts, gentle souls, & quietly-ambitious women in small business.
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking lunch and AGM
Rossett Hall Hotel, Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DE
https://tinyurl.com/53jaxsxp
TUESDAY 25 JUNE
09:00 – 17:00
Communication Skill Training
An opportunity to interact with instructors and benefit from face-toface instruction.
Wrexham
For venue details email: info@academyforpros.com
THURSDAY 27 JUNE
17:00 – 19:00
VOX Networking
Join us and special guest speaker Craig Weeks from JCB Transmissions for an evening of networking and interesting conversation.
Holt Lodge Hotel (soon to be Hotel Wrexham), Wrexham Road LL13 9SW https://ezpublishing.co.uk
FRIDAY 28 JUNE
Official launch of Hotel Wrexham (formerly Holt Lodge Hotel )
Holt Lodge Hotel (soon to be Hotel Wrexham), Wrexham Road LL13 9SW Invite only
FRIDAY 28 JUNE
09:30 - 11:30
Networking event and insight into EV ownership at Tesla West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Tesla, 1 Stadium Way, Chester CH1 4PZ https://tinyurl.com/2b3f4rtb
TUESDAY 02 JULY
10:00 – 12:00
The GCC Business Network
Join the Growth Coaching Collective for a networking brunch
The Cottage Tearooms, 5 Castle Street Square, Llangollen LL20 8PE https://tinyurl.com/naem458s
TUESDAY 02 JULY
09:30 - 11:30
Networking and Tour at Cheshire Military Museum West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Cheshire Military Museum, Colvin House, Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DN https://tinyurl.com/434ns4u3
WEDNESDAY 03 JULY
09:30 - 15:00
Marketing Cheshire Partner Conference
Hear from industry professionals and updates from the Marketing Cheshire. The Queen At Chester Hotel, Best Western Premier Collection, 52 City Road, Chester https://tinyurl.com/nr6uz8xs
WEDNESDAY 10 JULY
10:00 – 12:00
People, Planet, Pastry
Meet fellow businesses who are either about to start, or are well on their way to embedding sustainability into their day-to-day operations. Hosted by Helen Tandy and Monika Swindells. ōH Design Foundation, 22 Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1NQ chestergreenweekend.co.uk
THURSDAY 11 JULY
09:00 – 11:00
Round the Table Networking at Theatre Porto
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking
Theatre Porto, Whitby Hall, Whitby Park, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port CH65 6QY
https://tinyurl.com/mrv9e98u
FRIDAY 12 JULY
09:30 - 12:00
Sales Club 2.0
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce is delighted to launch its revamped Sales Club in collaboration with Sales Geek North Wales
Village Hotel Chester St David's, St Davids Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3YB
https://tinyurl.com/27788n6e
TUESDAY 16 JULY
12:30 - 14:30
Networking Lunch at Boughton Hall Cricket Club
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Boughton Hall Cricket, Boughton Hall Avenue, Chester CH3 5EL https://tinyurl.com/mwnw736a
TUESDAY 16 JULY
12:00 – 14:00
Women in Business Network
Women-only networking, building community, supportive and inspirational meetings with purpose, fun and friendship. And lunch.
Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, St John Street, Chester CH1 1HL https://tinyurl.com/auvyynxh
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY
09:30 – 11:30
Chester & North Wales Networking
The Business of Networking is now offering its unique experience to business owners outside the group with some select events at prestigious venues. A short presentation by one of their members followed by the opportunity to carry on networking. Vista, St. David's Park Ewloe CH5 3DT https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY
17:00 – 19:00
Chester Networking with The Business Network
The Business Network Chester informal networking session with members and visitors.
The Queen at Chester Hotel, 52 City Road Chester CH1 3AH https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
THURSDAY 18 JULY
09:30 – 11:00
Maximising your Membership Benefits West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Online https://tinyurl.com/mr3nvt6u
THURSDAY 18 JULY
19:00 – 21:00
People, Planet, Pint
No agenda, workshops or webinars. Just chat over some drinks. Pop down to your local People Planet Pint to find more about what’s going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved. Hosted in Chester by Helen Tandy from Castlefield and Eco Communities.
That Beer Place, 116 Foregate Street, Chester CH1 1HB chestergreenweekend.co.uk
FRIDAY 19 JULY
10:00 – 12:00
Enrichment Networking: Women’s Business Networking
Welcome to women's business networking designed for introverts, gentle souls, & quietly-ambitious women in small business. 33 Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HQ https://tinyurl.com/y6c74ve9
TUESDAY 23 JULY
09:00 – 17:00
Communication Skills – one day training
Classroom training provides you the opportunity to interact with instructors and benefit from face-to-face instruction.
Wrexham
For venue details email: info@academyforpros.com
TUESDAY 06 AUGUST
09:00 - 11:00
Round the Table Networking at Chester Cathedral
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, Chester CH1 2DY https://tinyurl.com/3r6z7shc
WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST
10:00 – 12:00
People, Planet, Pastry
Meet fellow businesses who are either about to start, or are well on their way to embedding sustainability into their day-to-day operations. Hosted by Helen Tandy and Monika Swindells. ōH Design Foundation, 22 Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1NQ chestergreenweekend.co.uk
THURSDAY 15 AUGUST
19:00 – 21:00
People, Planet, Pint
Chat over some drinks. Pop down to your local People Planet Pint to find more about what’s going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved. Hosted in Chester by Helen Tandy
That Beer Place, 116 Foregate Street, Chester CH1 1HB chestergreenweekend.co.uk
TUESDAY 20 AUGUST
12:00 – 14:00
Women in Business Network
Women-only networking, building community, supportive and inspirational meetings with purpose, fun and friendship. And lunch.
Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, St John Street, Chester CH1 1HL https://tinyurl.com/3hshmbx7
WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST
12:30 - 14:30
Networking Lunch at Leonardo
Hotel Chester West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Leonardo Hotel Chester, Pepper Street, Chester CH1 1DW
https://tinyurl.com/6363zhdc
TUESDAY 27 AUGUST
09:00 – 17:00
Communication Skills – one day training
Classroom training provides you the opportunity to interact with instructors and benefit from face-to-face instruction.
Wrexham
For venue details email: info@academyforpros.com
TUESDAY 03 SEPTEMBER
10:00 – 12:00
The GCC Business Network
Join the Growth Coaching Collective for a networking brunch
The Cottage Tearooms, 5 Castle Street Square, Llangollen LL20 8PE https://tinyurl.com/naem458s
WEDNESDAY 04 SEPTEMBER
08:30 - 10:30
Round the Table Networking at Costco
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking Costco Wholesale UK Ltd, Dunkirk Trading Estate, Chester Gates, Chester CH1 6LT https://tinyurl.com/4t7mt6dn
WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
10:00 – 12:00
People, Planet, Pastry
Meet fellow businesses who are either about to start, or are well on their way to embedding sustainability into their day-to-day operations. Hosted by Helen Tandy and Monika Swindells. ōH Design Foundation, 22 Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1NQ chestergreenweekend.co.uk
THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
19:00 – 21:00
People, Planet, Pint
Chat over some drinks. Pop down to your local People Planet Pint to find more about what’s going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved. Hosted in Chester by Helen Tandy
That Beer Place, 116 Foregate Street, Chester CH1 1HB chestergreenweekend.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 09:30 – 11:30
Chester & North Wales Networking
The Business of Networking is now offering its unique experience to business owners outside the group with some select events at prestigious venues. A short presentation by one of their members followed by the opportunity to carry on networking. Vista, St. David's Park Ewloe CH5 3DT https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 17:00 – 19:00
Chester Networking with The Business Network
The Business Network Chester informal networking session with members and visitors.
The Queen at Chester Hotel, 52 City Road Chester CH1 3AH https://tinyurl.com/4pr6seku
THURSDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 17:00 – 19:00
VOX Networking
While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned
Join us and special guest speaker Jeff Hardman from Barnhill Consulting for an evening of networking and interesting conversation.
Venue TBC https://ezpublishing.co.uk
Networking
There is a whole host of networking opportunities across Chester and Wrexham – from groups that you have to join and attend a structured weekly meeting, through to one-off events that you can ‘pay as you go’. Most membership groups offer you the chance to attend as a guest – often for the first one or two sessions – to allow you the time to work out if it is a group that suits you. If you are new to networking, try a few and see if you can find a group that works for you and your business. If you have an event you would like listed in a future issue, please get in touch.
Networx 4 Business networx4business.co.uk
Networx offers membership networking at locations in Chester and Wrexham. Membership cost is £600 for 12 months, per venue and includes breakfast. With just one business type per group, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your business and what you are looking for.
Business NetWalkers, Chester businessnetwalkers.com
Business NetWalkers helps you improve your wealth and wellbeing, whilst growing your network by enhancing mental performance and wellbeing, improving physical fitness, talking and collaborating with like-minded people.
BNI bninorthwales.co.uk bnicheshire.co.uk
BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals.
Theatre Clwyd Business Network theatrclwyd.com
Free Business Breakfast Networking Events held at the theatre.
FSB fsb.org.uk
FSB members can join virtual events, including networking and surgeries.
Network She Netwalking – Chester networkshe.co.uk
Netwalking is free to attend and was set up to help Network SHE’s members with their mental and physical wellbeing, business and personal development, as well as about building great relationships.
Tarporley Business Club tarporleybusinessclub.co.uk
Tarporley Business Club offers face-toface meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
The sessions are held at The Swan in Tarporley from 9:30-11:30 am. It is a not-for-profit group aiming to develop the local business community, resulting in maximising growth and success. Memberships available, £10 fee for first time visitors.
Elevate Netwalking hosts 5km circular routes around Delamere Forest and Bickerton Hill with like-minded business owners. It’s a walk that benefits your physical and mental health, and is good for business too.
For purpose-led business owners who love to meet like-minded people, spend time in nature and move their bodies, but are short on time to fit it all in. 10% of ticket sales go to ecolgi to help fight climate change.
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce wcnwchamber.org.uk
West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce is the leading organisation representing the business community across the whole of West Cheshire and North Wales. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, its objectives remain clear: to promote and encourage business for members and others regionally, nationally and internationally to improve commercial growth and prosperity.
Institute of Directors (IOD) iod.com
The Institute of Directors is the UK's largest membership organisation for business leaders, providing informative events, professional development courses for self-improvement, networking and expert advice. IOD is the only institute in the world to offer internationally recognised qualifications designed by directors for directors, specific to the core competencies required of directors and senior leaders.
Cheshire Networking with Leading Ladies in Business leadingladiesinbusiness.co.uk
As long as you have a strong network of professional connections, you can be confident that someone within your sphere will be able to answer even your toughest questions – and if there’s no definitive answer, you’ll have a solid sounding board to bounce ideas off and put into action step-by-step.
360 Networking Group bit.ly/details—networking
360 Networking monthly meetings are run by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Business and Investment team. All meetings, together with annual membership are now free of charge. Each meeting takes place within the Redwither Tower on Wrexham Industrial Estate between 17:00 - 18:45.
Chester Business Club chesterbusinessclub.co.uk
One of the principal activities of Chester Business Club is its Speaker Dinners. The aim of these Black Tie events is to provide an impartial forum for leading commentators to speak on a topic of their own choosing, as a positive contribution to increasing public awareness of the important issues of the day.
The Business Network Chester business-network-chester.co.uk
The Business Network Chester meets at lunchtime in prestigious venues around Chester, it provides a highly-structured event, which enables attendees to meet senior decision makers in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Attendees may also attend a free, highly-educational seminar, which runs prior to the event.
Real5 Networking — Chester real5networking.com
Real5 Networking is a business venture focused on local business networking for mutual commercial gains. The idea is that all members agree to give a minimum 5% profit share back to the referee, so there is a real incentive to maximise the network.
VOX Networking ezpublishing.co.uk/events
GCC Business Network thegrowthcoachingcollective.com
The Growth Coaching Collective, founded by entrepreneur and sales strategist Kerry Boland, operates networking brunches that are both supportive and inclusive, bringing a brand new vibe to the networking scene that is collaborative rather than competitive.
Wrexham Business Women Facebook: @2209198815949046
Wrexham Business Women hold free monthly meetings to provide a space for women in Wrexham to chat, share advice and help each other.
Amplify Referral Network puts the level of involvement and responsibility back to the member. Very few rules, but very high expectations - perfect for business owners looking to build their business.
MDA Innovation Network Business Breakfasts merseydeealliance.org.uk
MDA Innovation Network offers a series of bimonthly business breakfasts with the ultimate aim of improving business performance, by providing business to business networking opportunities and information on regional and national initiatives.
VOX Networking events take place quarterly following the publication of each issue.
The two-hour sessions provide the opportunity to meet and talk with other local businesspeople, and each one will have a special guest speaker.
Numbers are limited and tickets cost £15, including refreshments.
NETWORKING VOX
Join us for our networking session with special guest speaker: Jeff Hardman from Barnhill Consulting
As the twelfth issue of VOX comes out, we are continuing with our quarterly networking session. Join us for an evening of networking and interesting conversations.
DATE: Thursday 19 September 2024
TIME: 17:00 - 19:00
LOCATION: Oddfellows Chester
PRICE: £18 (includes refreshments)
your
ōH Foundation Committed to supporting local designers, makers and emerging talent Bitesize
Based in its concept store on 22 Bridge Street, Chester, the ōH Foundation offers an event space, atelier studio, cafe and store, which provides the opportunity for customers to purchase bespoke pieces and items made by its Collective designers. The Foundation offers a variety of events, from its circular fashion rework workshop to solo exhibitions, and even a Supper Club.
It is currently supporting 33 creatives, ranging from fashion and product design, to culinary art and ceramics. This number continues to grow, with the Foundation receiving over 30 applications a month. In April, ōH Foundation celebrated its first six months. To commemorate this milestone, it launched three new creativefocused initiatives, including crowdfunding for much-needed studio equipment. New machines are essential to the growth of its makers, and for the Foundation to fulfil its goal in fostering Chester’s independent creative scene. Alongside this, it launched a series of Masterclass Talks from several industry professionals. These talks are aligned with its Collective, but are also open to the public, to inspire, encourage and share life lessons in the creative world.
If you want to learn how to turn your creative passion into a successful business, ōH Masterclass is for you. Bringing the local community together through a shared vision of sustainable-focused design and promoting great talent is at the heart of what the Foundation does. Get involved with the Foundation by becoming a member, dropping by for a cuppa, visiting the studio, booking an event, signing up to its newsletter, or simply pop in for a browse. All proceedings from sales go back to the Foundation and the studio.
Become part of the ōH Universe!
To find out more about the ōH Foundation and its crowdfunding initiatives, visit: ohfoundation.uk/about
If you are interested in booking an event, visit: ohfoundation.uk/events Instagram: @_oh_design_foundation
Just one thing...
It’s always interesting to get other people’s take on a question. Each issue we pose one question to some of our contributors to see what their responses are.
This issue, the question is…
“What type
of holiday
do you enjoy – and do you manage to switch off entirely when you are off work?”
“Taking a break from work is crucial. We own a campervan and make it a point to get away for a weekend once a month from April to October, along with a longer vacation during the summer. Our family loves mountain biking and spending time outdoors. The French Alps in the summer are a particular favourite, and so is Scotland. These trips, and connecting with nature, help us recharge and rejuvenate. While I do manage to switch off from work, I still find myself checking emails! ”
Vicky Heathfield creative director at VOX and owner of EssentialsMAG
“I love holidays. It has taken me a while to find the balance between work and relaxation time, but I think I am getting better at switching off (just a quick check of my emails first thing!). We spend a lot of time holidaying in the UK. Our holidays tend to be near water, preferably the sea. We usually head towards the beaches of Devon, the Jurassic coast in Dorset, or the wonderful coastline of Wales.”
Clara Hughes editorial director at VOX and owner of Zebra Marketing and Communications
“I love to travel, and I enjoy wild swimming, so I spend a lot of time along the north Wales coast. I am good at compartmentalisation, so when I am off, I am off. The team are respectful of my time away from work, so I get to enjoy it fully.”
Craig Gibson general manager at Hickory’s Wrexham
“I have become very adept at switching off. I have had to, otherwise it all becomes too stressful. I love paddleboarding, so Ynys Mon is a firm favourite.”
Liam Evans-Ford executive director and chief executive officer at Theatre Clywd
“Working in the ethical and sustainable space, I worry about my carbon footprint when it comes to holidays. My husband and I have come to a compromise and take it in turns, he loves to travel and having been in the Navy, likes cruises. I prefer to holiday in the UK or self-catering in Europe. This year we are looking to take our campervan into Europe. I think I do enough for the environment to not feel that guilty…”
Helen Tandy director at Eco Communities
“We own a campervan and make it a point to get away for a weekend once a month from April to October, along with a longer vacation during the summer”
“The team are respectful of my time away from work, so I get to enjoy it fully”
“I enjoy skiing in Norway with my family. I first visited Norway as a young boy, when my father was posted there with the Army, and I have always enjoyed the excitement of skiing.”
Tom Gilruth managing director at Topwood
“I enjoy visiting Canada, having been there numerous times. I find the vastness of the country incredible, and the scenery is wonderful. My wife has family on the east coast in New Brunswick, so we tend to try to get out to see them as often as we can. Other than that, it’s family caravan holidays, exploring the best of the UK, which we love.”
Simon Povey operations director at Topwood
“I like to ski in the winter and enjoy an activity or beach holiday in the summer, with not too much lying by the pool. I can switch off if I’m out of the country, but struggle if I’m around and about.”
Katie Bellis director at RF Bellis Haulage
“I really enjoy short city breaks or getting out into rural areas with mountains and lakes. For me, natural open spaces are a great way of decompressing and managing stress! When I’m away from work, I’m mostly hanging out with my two young sons, and all of my hobbies take me far away from digital screens i.e. sports and fitness!”
Richard Hebblewhite, senior lecturer at Wrexham University
Charity Spotlight
In our Charity Spotlight section we highlight the amazing charities that are making a difference in our community.
Home-Start Wrexham
At Home-Start Wrexham, we are dedicated to promoting the wellbeing of families, in order to foster happy and healthy family relationships and routines. We are committed to ensuring children experience a secure and nurturing childhood. We provide parents with the helping hand they sometimes need, in their pivotal role of laying the groundwork for their children’s future success and empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Any family in Wrexham County Borough, with at least one child from conception to 12-years-old, is eligible to receive support from Home-Start Wrexham.
We are here to:
1. Reach out to families in need
2. Value our team of volunteers and volunteering services
3. Actively participate in partnerships aimed at enhancing family support services.
Any family member can refer themselves to Home-Start Wrexham, or anyone who is aware of a family in need can contact us on their behalf, providing the family has consented for their information to be shared with us.
Here at Home-Start Wrexham, we are constantly actively searching for more volunteers. There are families who need our help now more than ever, as we manage the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Our volunteers walk alongside families in their challenges and will develop a unique relationship with them, which can be rewarding, purposeful and such a valuable use of their time.
Home-Start Wrexham provides a range of services to families with children from prenatal through to the age of 12. We are there to help, from the provision of baby equipment and Welcome to the World antenatal programme, to family support groups and help with domestic abuse.
Sponsorship
This page has been sponsored by Time for Marketing (timeformarketing.org)
To sponsor our next Charity Spotlight - you can recommend the charity and make a donation (with a suggested minimum donation of £100). For details contact Clara Hughes: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
How you can help?
As a business in Wrexham, we need your help. Corporate partnerships are an important method of raising much needed funds and awareness, to help us continue to help families in your area. With an increased emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility, following the economic impact of the pandemic for example, HomeStart Wrexham can benefit from support from businesses by expanding our range of services. We would like to be able to offer more group sessions focusing on fathers, during the perinatal period, and even more one-to-one sessions for those who prefer help in their own homes.
We would also like to be able to expand our team of volunteers and practically provide them with a training/learning space that is better able to support them to learn and develop.
FROM A FAMILY WHO HAS RECEIVED HELP FROM A HOMESTART WREXHAM VOLUNTEER:
“Home-Start have been incredibly helpful in helping me to make positive changes to me and my family's life, with ideas, support and services.”
Our charity pages are an opportunity to highlight the good work local charities are undertaking, promote fundraising success and future events.
Chester Duck Race
The Countess of Chester Charity’s annual Chester Duck Race took place on River Dee on Saturday 20 April 2024, with Marv, sponsored by Brio Leisure, winning the race. This fun family event was an opportunity to watch fantastically dressed up rubber duckies fight their way to finish first and be crowned the winner of The Chester Duck Race – and it raised a whopping £31,200!
Business lecturer takes the plunge for transformative children’s charity
Anne Williams, a tutor at Coleg Cambria Yale in Wrexham, is participating in the epic Aquasphere Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim this summer. The 5.2-mile challenge takes place on Coniston Water in the Lake District on Saturday 22 June. Anne, from Cefn Mawr, is hoping to raise more than £250 for Level Water, an organisation which provides affordable and expert one-to-one swimming lessons for children with physical, visual and hearing impairments. A former RAF senior aircraftwoman, she swam for the military before competing in several Masters’ events in recent years.
Recognition Awards celebration for Wrexham
The F Jones Initiative, Wrexham Recognition Awards evening, held at the Maesgwyn Hall, Wrexham was a memorable evening. It recognised and celebrated the fabulous monthly winners of the 2023/24 Wrexham Recognition Awards Competition, which highlights local people, businesses and organisations in Wrexham. The F Jones Initiative was created in 2021, by the family behind the Wrexham Lager Beer Company Ltd and F Jones Food Services.
The evening’s judges and hosts, Sian Lloyd and Humphrey Ker, had the difficult task of choosing four overall winners, for the following categories, from over 30 monthly winners from the 2023/24 competition.
Wrexham Spotlight Award, which recognises local talented people went to Thomas Walley, a dedicated, young Wrexham athlete, ranked 3rd in the UK for the Pole Vault.
Be Awesome Award, for sustained fundraising went to 88 year old Enid Waterfall, accepted on her behalf by her family. Enid has raised over £80,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, in honour of her late grandson Richard.
Make a Difference Award went to Amy Pritchard, for her work developing the ‘Signing Sensations’ choir at Dynamic Wrexham.
Make Your Mark Award for a Wrexham business or organisation went to the Wrexham Outreach Team, who give up their time to provide 30 hot meals every week, to people living on the streets and in sheltered accommodation in Wrexham.
Building on the successes of the past two years, the F Jones Initiative will soon be launching the 2024/2025 Wrexham Recognition Awards Competition, with the aim of highlighting more amazing people in Wrexham.
Keep an eye out for some exciting changes in the pipeline!
Community Organising
By Ruth Marshall, TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities)
– North East Wales
We all need hope and community organising can have a positive impact on agency and happiness. By working with others towards a common goal, community leaders can feel greater control over their lives and the world around them. This can lead to increased agency or the feeling that one can make a difference and affect change. Additionally, being part of a supportive community can contribute to a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing.
Through community organising, communities can build relationships, develop new skills and gain a sense of purpose and meaning. These factors can contribute to a greater sense of agency and happiness for an entire society. Agency is vital for happiness, survival and longevity. It represents the belief that we have control over our lives, our future and what we can do so that we're not helpless.
When society adopts a victim mentality, it can become trapped in a cycle of helplessness that can negatively impact quality of life, career successes and overall happiness. People’s lives, their stories – become silenced.
Storytelling is used in community organising to inspire, inform and mobilise people towards a common goal by sharing relatable and honest stories highlighting the community’s issues. By coming together as a community and sharing stories, we can empower each other – through community organising, we can address the issues affecting us and control our lives. If you’re passionate about creating positive change and want to be part of a community actively working towards that goal, we invite you to join us and be part of something truly impactful. Together, we are TCC, and Together, we are North East Wales Community Organising.
Chester Zoo’s Run for Nature 2024
Welcome to DangerPoint
Opened in 2005, DangerPoint is a life skills activity centre which aims to inform the next generation about all things safety – from road safety, staying safe online, hazards to look out for in the home and much more! An independent charity located in Talacre on the North Wales coast, DangerPoint has something to offer everyone. From educational tours for schools and organised groups, to fantastic family days out during local school holidays. There’s a chance to take part in the Danger Detective Quest and Treasure Hunt or get artsy and crafty with CraftPoint –to create and take home your very own masterpiece – from painting to pottery and beyond.
The centre is unique. It provides an inclusive experience which immerses children and young people in real life situations thanks to its creative set-up. Visitors venture from a living room to the kitchen, from the countryside to the beach, with many more stops along the way. Throughout their journey they are faced with varying safety scenarios and potential hazards as well as being presented with lots of hands-on activities to broaden their knowledge, whilst having lots of fun.
Visitors will also get the chance to meet DangerPoint’s very own mascot and avatar, K-os. K-os is from another planet and doesn’t understand the dangers he could face on Earth. During a tour, visitors can talk to K-os and share with him any safety hints and tips they already know or any they’ve learnt throughout their visit. If you’re looking for somewhere to gain life skills in a totally immersive and interactive environment, then look no further.
If you are a school wishing to book a visit, please email bookings@dangerpoint.org.uk or call 01745 850414 Alternatively, if you’d like to book for one of our public openings please head to dangerpoint.org.uk/familyday-out/booking-your-family-day-out.
Following on from the success of last year’s 10km fundraiser, Chester Zoo is delighted to announce the launch of its Run for Nature 2024. Taking place on Sunday 22 September – World Rhino Day – you can sign up now to take part in the 10km run. There is also a one-mile zoom for the little ones too. All money raised from the event will go towards helping to save and protect this amazing species – working together to create a future where rhinos can survive and thrive.
If you have charity news you would like to see included in the next issue, please send details to clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
Charity round-up
Wrexham charity marks completion of £5 million modernisation project
Nightingale House Hospice celebrated its official opening on 15 May, following the completion of a £5 million modernisation project. Over the past five years, despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity has transformed its facilities to better serve patients and families dealing with life-limiting conditions.
Eluned Griffiths, Chair of the Board of Trustees, praised the community's generous support, which made this achievement possible. Andrea Chesworth shared a heartfelt story of how the hospice supported her family during her father's battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Guests were invited to tour the new state-of-the-art facilities, including a therapeutic bathing area and gardens, guided by Clinical Services Lead Paula Pritchard. A patient currently receiving respite care, Clayton highlighted the positive impact of its services on his wellbeing.
The completion of this project symbolises the charity’s ongoing commitment to compassionate care.
Men’s suicide prevention charity launches new peer-to-peer support group
Already welcoming more than 50 people to its free weekly meetings at the Yellow and Blue Hub in Wrexham, Andy’s Man Club (AMC) has added Coleg Cambria Deeside to its growing list of sites UK-wide. Dan Rowe, AMC’s Regional Area Lead for the West of England and Wales, says the partnership will enable them to reach even more men struggling with myriad issues – storms affecting their lives – including anxiety, depression, loss and loneliness, in Flintshire and beyond.
“We’ve been in Wrexham for two years and the numbers attending have increased week on week, so to be able to now help more men in the Deeside area is fantastic. Andy’s Man Club has over 180 groups nationwide supporting upwards of 4,500 men, yet we only had one meeting place in North Wales to this point, so this is a step in the right direction.
“We are thankful to Coleg Cambria for making their facilities available to us and for their generosity and backing of our vision to have an Andy’s Man Club in every town and city in the UK, where friendships are built and a group of men of different ages and from different backgrounds, come together in a warm, welcoming environment. We want to continue the conversation, to get men talking in a safe space where they feel comfortable opening up and sharing their experiences, in a room free of judgement.”
On average one man every two hours takes his life in the UK. It’s often said a factor is that men don’t talk. That’s why Andy’s Man Club was born. For more information, visit Andy's Man Club #ITSOKAYTOTALK | andysmanclub.co.uk and follow the Deeside group on Facebook.
P&A Group employees smash the Chester 10k
Thirteen employees from the P&A Group successfully smashed the Chester 10k on Sunday 10 March, raising funds for the company’s chosen charity of the year, North East Wales Mind. The P&A team of both experienced runners and those running a 10k for the first time represented all divisions of the business included: Andrew Baker, Hazel Bainbridge, Jenny Blackburn, Steve Gibson, James Guilfoyle, Owen Kelliher, Lowri Mitton, Ben Morgan, Zak Richards, Luke Roberts, Jason St. Laurence, James Turner and Reza Yaghoubi.
Commenting on the event, Andrew Baker, P&A Group Finance Director said: “We had a great time at the Chester 10k on Sunday and I’m really pleased that so many of us were able to take part in the race.”
To donate to North East Wales Mind, please visit p-a-group.com/charity
Financial planners go a-rambling for local hospice
On 11 May 2024, almost 50 staff, family members and clients of Wrexham-based financial planners, Hadlow Edwards booted up and hit the trail to raise money for local charity, Nightingale House Hospice.
The willing ramblers headed off on a 10km loop of the Sandstone Trail, before finishing off with a well-earned drink and social at the Bickerton Poacher. The walk was led by Hadlow Edwards director Warren Hadlow. The ramble is the latest fundraiser undertaken by the Hadlow Edwards team for Nightingale House, with previous fundraising including a 383km cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia and a Spinathon in Wrexham city centre.
DSN launches new social group ‘CAMEO’ for D/deaf adults and their families
Thanks to funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) DSN has launched its innovative new project, CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other), a fortnightly social group designed specifically for D/deaf adults, their families and carers.
CAMEO aims to provide a unique platform for social interaction, health and wellbeing activities, with sessions sometimes featuring guest speakers. The initiative reflects DSN’s commitment to fostering a supportive community for D/deaf individuals, encouraging them to come together, share experiences and enjoy a range of activities tailored to their interests and needs.
Entry to the CAMEO sessions is free, ensuring accessibility for all and attendees will be welcomed with complimentary tea and coffee. This initiative is part of DSN’s broader mission to enhance the quality of life for D/deaf individuals and their families through meaningful community engagement and support services.
Kerry Clarke, Community Liaison Officer at DSN, said: “CAMEO is not just a social group; it’s a place where connections can be made and lives enriched. We are excited to welcome D/deaf adults and their families to join us in creating a vibrant, supportive community. It’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together, learn from each other and enjoy a variety of activities that promote health and wellbeing.”
Fearless fundraisers take on their biggest ever feat for transformative children’s charity
A group of lecturers and staff led by Karl Jackson, Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology at Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham, competed in the Skye is the Limit Challenge in May. Over recent years they have taken on the Welsh Three Peaks and the Crazy 7 for Stepping Stones North Wales and collected more than £1,000 for Menstrual Health Project (MHP) by completing the Cairngorm 4000s, a three-day hike across 4,000ft+ mountains in Scotland’s eastern highlands.
Karl and lecturer Paul Standring also conquered the four-day Freezing Fingers expedition in bleak, wintry conditions over the Rhinogydd mountain range in Snowdonia. This time the team is raising money for Hope House/Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices and targeting another £1,000 by overcoming their greatest adventure yet. The ‘Skye is the Limit Challenge’ includes more than 12 hours driving in a minibus through the night before arriving at Skye and then walking for more than three days across the island, with no accommodation. Everything will be packed in 20-kilo bags and carried on the participants’ backs, including tents, food and water. The walk is not marked out and the terrain will be very difficult. This is the most difficult and uncompromising task the team has undertaken.
Hope House/Tŷ Gobaith area fundraiser for Wrexham Bethan Young thanked Coleg Cambria for its unwavering support over the past years. “We are so grateful to Karl and the team from Bersham Road for taking on this incredible feat up in Skye. It takes real commitment and they are very brave,” she said. Hope House/Tŷ Gobaith provides vital care and support for children with life-threatening conditions and has two hospices and 15 shops across Shropshire, Cheshire, Mid- and North Wales helping to raise the £7.5 million needed to fund care for every child in need.
Digital transformation
Digital transformation is crucial for companies, particularly small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), to remain competitive. However, it is important to understand how digital technologies support the transformation of a business. They do this by enabling a SMB to respond to what we call ‘good problems’. These are the challenges that arise due to growth or a change in market conditions.
Good problems push companies to think creatively and develop new solutions. For example, increased customer inquiries can prompt an investment in automated customer service technologies, enhancing efficiency and possibly customer satisfaction. Similarly, the need to handle larger datasets can drive a focus to enhance data analytics capabilities and supporting digital tools.
Dr DAVID COCKAYNE
But while digital tools help companies to respond to good problems, the heart of a successful digital transformation isn’t technology – it’s people.
Start with people, not technology
Digital transformation is fundamentally about reimagining how businesses and business processes operate in the digital age. For SMBs, this can seem daunting due to the high costs and technical complexities of new technologies. Yet, the key to unlocking the true potential of digital technology lies not in the technology itself, but in the people who use it. The focus should be on enhancing the capabilities of employees and aligning the organisational culture with a realistic set of ‘digital goals’.
Understanding the four pillars of digital transformation
Successful digital transformation rests on four interconnected pillars:
“The key to unlocking the true potential of digital technology lies not in the technology itself, but in the people who use it”
Technology: Technology is something that can help a company to respond to a challenge, or to implement a vision –it is not the vision itself.
Data: More than just collecting it, businesses need to use data effectively to drive decisions and strategies. Your company data reflects the questions you ask and the insights you demand. Think carefully about how you collect, structure and communicate data across your workforce.
Processes: Reviewing and adjusting processes is crucial, to ensure they align with new digital tools and objectives. You need to continuously review the digital tools you have access to, so that they remain fit for purpose against your goals and objectives.
Culture: Employee buy-in is essential. Without a culture that embraces
change, technological investments are likely to fail. Identify a ‘digital champion’ who can bring people onside and share benefits of a particular tool or technology. Equally, ensure that there are regular opportunities to evaluate the impact of a tool that has been adopted.
Practical steps to begin
Assess your current capabilities: Understand where your business stands in terms of technology, employee skills and digital readiness.
Set clear goals: Define what digital transformation means for your business. Is it about improving customer service, increasing efficiency, or perhaps innovating products?
Involve your team: Encourage input and feedback from all levels of your organisation. This helps in crafting a
shared vision that everyone is committed to.
Pilot small projects: Start with small, manageable projects that can scale over time. This reduces risk and allows you to learn and adapt as you progress.
For SMBs, aligning digital strategies with human capabilities and organisational culture is not just a necessity – it is a strategic advantage. By focusing on empowering employees and adapting organisational processes, businesses can not only survive but thrive in the digital age.
Dr David Cockayne Associate Professor
University of Liverpool
Management School's Marketing Group
David.Cockayne@liverpool.ac.uk
Across
Take five
Grab a cuppa and clear your mind of work for a short while with our puzzles.
1 Lead a discussion (5)
4 Lives in (7)
7 Wedding assistant (5)
8 Defeat thoroughly (8)
9 Slatted wooden box (5)
11 Giving way under pressure (8)
15 Microorganisms (8)
17 Bill ___ : Microsoft founder (5)
19 Brilliant musical performers (8)
20 Modify (5)
21 Devoted time to learning (7)
22 Lance (5)
Down
1 Communicating (9)
2 Changed or modified (7)
3 Round building (7)
4 Dried grape (6)
5 Nitres (anag) (6)
6 Apply pressure (5)
10 Goal that levels a football match (9)
12 Sculptures (7)
13 Light bun or roll (7)
14 Glimpsed (6)
16 Lived by (6)
18 Detailed assessment of accounts (5)
Crossword
If you would like to showcase your business by offering a competition prize for future issues, contact us to discuss options vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk
Check your answers
Classic Sudoku
Contributors
Thank you to the following for their contribution:
Articles:
Liam Evans-Ford, Theatr Clwyd
Steffan Jones, Steffan Jones Harps
Helen Tandy, Chester Green Weekend
Maggie Austen, Zebra Marketing and Communications
Katie Bellis, RF Bellis
Fiona Moulding, RF Bellis
Heather Dale, Hackett Communications
Richard Hebblewhite, Wrexham University
Geth Thomas, Wrexham Chauffeurs
Sarah White, Sarah White Branding and Visibility
Tom Gilruth, Topwood
Simon Povey, Topwood
Craig Gibson, Hickory’s Wrexham
David Cockayne, University of Liverpool Management School
Advertisers:
Active Childcare
Acton Safety
Business Network Chester
Delmar World
DTM Legal
Employment Law Solutions
EssentialsMAG
Farndon Soapbox Derby
Geoff Robertshaw Ltd
Haines Watts
Highstream Solutions
Hug Acedemy
Knew Productions
Liverpool University
Maidscando
MD Fitout
Mitchell Charlesworth
ōH Foundation
Richard Carr Consulting
Simon O'Rourke
Think Brand - Not Bland
Topwood
Wrexham Chauffeurs Ltd
Xplore! Science
Zebra Marketing and Communications
What’s in the
next edition?
Coming up next issue...
Coming up next time, in issue 12 (September to November 2024) we will be packing away our summer wardrobe and revisiting our business plans, with an excellent opportunity for a last push before we reach the end of 2024. Autumn is a great time for revaluation and preparation for the next business period. Check out some of our interesting articles too:
• Hotel Wrexham – we chat with the new owners of Hotel Wrexham (formerly Holt Lodge Hotel) to find out what plans are in place for the coming months
• Wrexham Business and Community Awards – there is still time to enter WBCA 2024. Now in its second year, find out what WBCA 2024 has in store this year
• Autumnal networking – check out the latest diary dates for networking, conferences and events during the summer, including our VOX networking in September. Our location will be a venue near Chester and our speaker is coach Jeff Hardman.
We will also be including interviews, articles and advice from local businesspeople, along with lots more regional business news and charity updates.
Get in touch
Features
Every issue, we publish many articles by expert guest writers. Publishing external voices is a key part of our interaction with our readers. If you have any press releases or ideas for future issues we’d love to hear from you.
Events
Tell us about your upcoming business events, meeting and exhibitions to feature in our extensive Business What’s On Guide
Charity Updates & Business News
Share your charity updates and business news - VOX is your platform to share news and achievements with the local business community.
Send all submissions for consideration to: to Clara Hughes at clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
Editorial copy deadline 29 July 2024
All advertising enquiries please contact Vicky Heathfield: on 01978 855459 or email vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk
Advertising copy deadline 12 August 2024
Get VOX delivered direct to your door, details on page
The official programme of the Farndon Soapbox Derby
Put your business in the driver’s seat - get ready to accelerate your brand's visibility and connect with a captivated local audience!
On your marks, get set...go!
As we gear up for another thrilling race day, we invite your business to join us and showcase your products and services to our enthusiastic spectators.
The Farndon Soapbox Derby programme 2024 is more than just a guide – it's a cherished keepsake for participants and spectators alike. Packed with race schedules, team profiles and exciting event highlights, the official programme of the Farndon Soapbox Derby 2024 offers a prime advertising opportunity to put your brand directly in front of an engaged audience.
Whether you're looking to increase brand awareness, promote special offers, or attract new customers, the Farndon Soapbox Derby programme 2024 is a cost-effective way to reach 1000s of families, local residents and crazy soapbox racing enthusiasts!
Farndon Soapbox Derby Sunday 15 September 2024
farndonsoapboxderby.co.uk
Advertising rates & sizes
Quarter Page: £80
Half Page: £150
Full Page: £290
Inside Front Cover: £350
Inside Back Cover: £350
Back Cover: £500
(All prices subject to VAT)
Spaces are limited...
Don't miss your chance to be a part of the excitement. To showcase your business at the Farndon Soapbox Derby, contact us to secure your advertising space.
CONTACT:
Vicky Heathfield
vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk 01978 855459
Money raised from the sale of the programmes will be donated to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and local good causes.
