YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM
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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
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.
01978 437070 | 07702 736763
clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
Vicky Heathfield Creative Director & Advertising
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.
01978 855459 | 07740 945795 vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk
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Full details are on page 53.
Welcome to our latest issue of VOX
You might feel like you’ve blinked and missed the summer, but hopefully you managed to get out and about when the sun did decide to shine. Now regardless of whether you have children or not, we have hit the ‘back to school’ phase of the year. As we head into this new quarter (September to November), we have also reached our eighth issue, which marks two complete years of publishing VOX.
The interviewing, writing, researching, designing and developing that goes into each issue is still a lot of work, but it’s also starting to become second nature. We are thrilled with how the magazine has been received and the feedback we have had. While new readers are still discovering VOX all the time, as each new edition comes out, other readers are starting to anticipate its arrival – and this is hugely satisfying. Perhaps now, as we enter our third year, we can stop counting and celebrating each issue – or perhaps that’s half the fun!
So, what is VOX? – a quick reminder VOX is the Latin word for ‘voice’ and this is what we want to provide for local businesses around Chester and Wrexham – a voice and a platform to showcase your work, share your successes and offer help and advice to one other.
What’s in store?
We have some great articles included in this issue. We were delighted to carry out a number of fascinating interviews recently, from Craig Weeks, general manager at JCB Transmissions on Wrexham Industrial Estate, through to Dr Tim Stratford, the Dean of Chester Cathedral. We were also lucky enough to catch up with the High Sheriff of Clywd, Kate Hill Trevor and speak to Steven Hesketh, the Chair of Chester Hospitality Association (CHA), ahead of the inaugural CHA People Awards in July. Check out their interviews and find out the winners of the awards too.
You will also find lots of interesting business and charity news in our latest issue of VOX, from updates on the Wrexham Business and Community awards through to new appointments and charity achievements. Plus, you’ll find lots of business insights and interviews, along with all our usual features, throughout the pages of issue eight.
Help us raise your voice
Once again, we would like to thank our advertisers and contributors, who have helped us to create our latest issue. And, as always, huge appreciation goes out to our resident artist Emma Gore, who has developed another stunning piece of original cover artwork depicting Town Hall Square and Chester Cathedral.
We want to make VOX the voice for local businesses – a platform where we can share your stories and experiences of the region, celebrate your successes and be proud to be part of a community uniting these two important economic hubs. To make this happen, we would love to hear your views and find out what you would be interested in reading about.
We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of VOX!
Clara and Vicky
Croeso i'n rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX
Efallai eich bod chi'n teimlo fel bod yr haf drosodd mewn chwinciad, ond gobeithio eich bod chi wedi llwyddo i fynd allan pan oedd yr haul yn gwenu. Nawr, ni waeth a oes gennych blant ai peidio, rydym wedi cyrraedd adeg 'yn ôl i'r ysgol' o'r flwyddyn. Wrth i ni fynd i mewn i'r chwarter newydd hwn (Medi i Dachwedd), rydym hefyd wedi cyrraedd ein hwythfed rhifyn, sy'n nodi dwy flynedd gyfan o gyhoeddi VOX.
Mae'r cyfweld, ysgrifennu, ymchwilio, dylunio a datblygu sy'n mynd i bob rhifyn yn dal i fod yn llawer o waith, ond mae hefyd yn dechrau dod yn ail natur. Rydym wrth ein bodd â’r croeso y mae’r cylchgrawn wedi’i gael a'r adborth rydym wedi’i gael. Tra bod darllenwyr newydd yn dal i ddarganfod VOX drwy’r amser, wrth i bob rhifyn newydd ddod allan, mae darllenwyr eraill yn dechrau disgwyl ei ddyfodiad – ac mae hyn yn rhoi boddhad mawr i ni. Efallai nawr, wrth i ni ddod i mewn i’n trydedd flwyddyn y gallwn ni roi’r gorau i gyfri a dathlu pob rhifyn – neu efallai mai dyna yw hanner yr hwyl?!
Felly, beth yw VOX? - nodyn atgoffa cyflym VOX yw’r gair Lladin am ‘llais’ a dyma beth rydym am ei ddarparu ar gyfer busnesau lleol o amgylch Caer a Wrecsam – llais a llwyfan i arddangos eich gwaith, rhannu eich llwyddiannau a chynnig cymorth a chyngor i’ch gilydd.
Beth sydd ar y gweill?
Mae gennym erthyglau gwych yn y rhifyn hwn. Roedd yn bleser gennym gynnal nifer o gyfweliadau hynod ddiddorol yn ddiweddar, o Craig Weeks, rheolwr cyffredinol JCB Transmissions ar Ystad Ddiwydiannol Wrecsam i Dr Tim Stratford, Deon Eglwys Gadeiriol Caer. Roeddem hefyd yn ddigon ffodus i ddal i fyny ag Uchel Siryf Clwyd, Kate Hill Trevor a siarad â Steven Hesketh, Cadeirydd Chester Hospitality Association (CHA) cyn y gwobrau CHA People Awards cyntaf ym mis Gorffennaf. Edrychwch ar y cyfweliadau hyn a darganfyddwch enillwyr y gwobrau.
Dylech hefyd ddod o hyd i lawer o newyddion busnes ac elusennol diddorol yn ein rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX, o ddiweddariadau ar wobrau Busnes a Chymuned Wrecsam i benodiadau newydd a chyflawniadau elusennol. Hefyd, fe welwch lawer o fewnwelediadau busnes a chyfweliadau, ynghyd â'n holl ysgrifau nodwedd arferol, drwy gydol tudalennau rhifyn rhif wyth o VOX.
Helpwch ni i godi eich llais
Unwaith eto, hoffem ddiolch i’n hysbysebwyr a’n cyfranwyr, sydd wedi ein helpu i greu ein rhifyn diweddaraf. Ac, fel bob amser, mae gwerthfawrogiad enfawr yn mynd allan i'n hartist preswyl Emma Gore, sydd wedi datblygu darn syfrdanol arall eto o waith celf gwreiddiol ar gyfer y clawr.
Rydym am wneud VOX yn llais i fusnesau lleol – llwyfan lle gallwn rannu eich straeon a’ch profiadau o’r rhanbarth, dathlu eich llwyddiannau a bod yn falch o fod yn rhan o gymuned sy’n uno dau ganolbwynt economaidd pwysig. Er mwyn gwneud i hyn ddigwydd, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed eich barn a chael gwybod am yr hyn y byddai gennych ddiddordeb mewn darllen amdano.
Gobeithio y byddwch yn mwynhau darllen ein rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX!
To celebrate 10 years of supporting an incredible talent, Leigh Lambert, Watergate Street Gallery hosted an exclusive event on 22 July 2023. Visitors were able to explore his artworks up close and personal, meet the artist himself and gain a deeper understanding of the magic behind his masterpieces. Leigh Lambert has been compared to legendary English artist L.S Lowry for his ability to capture life in its simplest form and evoke powerful emotions with just a few brushstrokes. His artwork has become iconic in many homes across the world, bringing back fond memories and transporting us back to our childhoods with a glance at one of his pieces.
Educational charity Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is today announcing the launch of Xplore! Nature – its brand-new environmental science hub. The woodland on Wrexham Glyndwr University’s (WGU) Northop campus will be the home of Xplore!’s first ever forest school sessions, as well as providing a space for their specialist environmental science activities.
Xplore! Nature will breathe new life into an area of ancient woodland through hosting schools, community groups and birthday parties. In centuries gone by, WGU’s Northop campus has been home to an immense amount of history – from a 16th century flour mill to a Second World War prisoner of war camp, as well as an ancient Roman road to the famous Wat’s Dyke.
As well as bringing opportunities for visitors of all ages to engage with the natural world, Xplore! is proud of the fact that the 95 acres of forest will be protected and managed for future generations.
A leading North Wales tourist attraction has connected a global biopharmaceutical company in Wrexham with local primary schools, to help break down barriers when engaging in STEM activities. To spark the next generation’s interest and safeguard careers in the sciences, technology, engineering and maths, Xplore! Science Discovery Centre has worked with Ipsen to increase access to these subjects for learners at a younger age.
Ipsen partnered with the charity as part of an adjustment to its outreach programme, to include key stage two students and is now encouraging more companies to consider the collaboration. Xplore!, which is based on Henblas Street in the city centre, hosted four activities during British Science Week, where 52 Year 5 and 6 pupils from two schools replicated the scientific processes carried out at its Wrexham lab.
Ipsen scientist and STEM coordinator Siân Richardson said:
“As part of our mission of inspiring the next generation in the sciences, it made sense to focus on increasing access right on our doorstep. Across the border in Cheshire, more than 100 STEMbased engagements are taking place every year, whereas in Wrexham we are seeing significantly lower numbers, and it is said that from the age of six, pupils already start to lose interest.”
As part of the visit to Xplore!, nine Ipsen STEM volunteers led activities including using a spectrophotometer to test the concentration of squash, experimenting with electronic kits and using microscopes, as well as trying on lab clothing.
A table tennis academy will look to develop and inspire the best young players across North Wales.
The new strategic partnership between Coleg Cambria and Table Tennis Wales, which will also include a high-performance hub, aims to provide an inclusive community club programme and dedicated grassroots coaching.
Focused on all five of the college’s sites – Deeside, Northop, Llysfasi, and Yale and Bersham Road in Wrexham – the academy is urging people of all abilities to get in touch to advance their skills and take advantage of the specialist facilities available.
Aaron Beech, Regional Development Officer for North Wales, is liaising with schools and local organisations in a bid to find the area’s next Olympic, Commonwealth or World champion. He said: “As well as attracting talented players, we also want to develop talent right here at the college, as I’m sure there are plenty of students with the potential to go far in the sport. Our priorities are to develop an academy alongside their studies and there will be free sessions available for them to do that. We will also be looking to connect with as many community organisations, charities and schools as possible, to really raise the profile of table tennis in this part of the country.”
Forge Property Consultants has announced a further expansion of its business with the news that the company is opening a new office in Wrexham, North Wales, taking its network of regional offices up to four. Forge Property was founded by Managing Director Charles Lawson in 2010. Starting with one office at West Felton, near Oswestry, the company has grown year on year, with its second and third offices established in Staffordshire and South Wales.
Charles commented: “We are really excited to move into our new office. Located at 41 King Street, in the heart of Wrexham’s vibrant and inclusive business community, we are looking forward to getting to know our neighbours, particularly those operating in the professional services sector. Demand for our services, both residential and commercial, is up across North Wales, and Wrexham, now Wales’ seventh city, is undergoing a real transformation, so it was an obvious choice of location for our fourth office.”
Delyth Curtis has been appointed as chief executive at Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), taking over from Andrew Lewis, who has taken on the same role at Liverpool City Council. Delyth joined CWaC as deputy chief executive of health and wellbeing in 2017 and has also acted as NHS director of place for the local authority.
Previous positions also include director of social care and deputy chief executive of Blackpool Council, as well as NHS management positions across performance, commissioning and service transformation with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Fylde and Blackpool Primary Care Trusts.
Taking on the role of chief executive of CWaC will see Curtis supporting the borough’s future, the wellbeing of residents and the engagement of colleagues.
Delyth said: “It is an honour to have the opportunity to lead our talented and dedicated workforce, as well as working closely with our partners, to build on the great work already being done across the borough and the wider region. I am passionate about the positive difference that can be achieved when public services work together with their residents and partners. Whilst there will be challenges, there are some great opportunities for our borough and I am really excited about our future.”
Voting is now closed (25 August 2023) on this year’s Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Awards. The awards are Cheshire's only publicly voted awards and they have been running for over 20 years.
This year will be the awards’ 21st birthday and the winners will be announced at a fantastic night of food, drink and celebration on 27 September 2023 at Chester Racecourse. There are 14 categories, from restaurants and cafes to shops and event venues, including Best Small Restaurant, Best Large Restaurant, Best Casual Eatery, Best Event Venue, Best Local Produce shop, Best Use of local produce in a menu, Best Bar, Food Producer, Drink Producer, Best Pub, Best Accommodation, Family Friendly, Green Award and Best Newcomer.
Taste Cheshire General Manager, Briony Wilson said, “The awards have gained such a following over the past 21 years and we’re happy that many people in our region consider them to be a standard of excellence. Our region’s dining and drinking culture has really taken off and we think our awards accurately represent the extraordinary quality on offer. The County of Food and Drink is Cheshire, in fact. The Taste Cheshire Awards serve as a measure of quality for our region’s talent and produce, and we are happy to recognise those at the top of their fields.”
Enrichment learners at Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site created and shaped a ‘story time chair’ for pupils at nearby Victoria Community Primary School.
As part of their regular school links sessions with Cambria’s Carpentry and Joinery department, the group – made up of pupils from Ysgol y Grango, The Maelor School and Ysgol Rhiwabon – also built three benches and installed a planter for outdoor lessons.
Phase One Records held a Record Fair at the Bridge End pub in Ruabon recently, called ‘The Last Phase’ – closing the circle from when the record shop opened in 1982 through to its close, 41 years later. The event was a celebration of vinyl records and recognition of the shop and its impact in Wrexham town centre over its formative years.
Chester Model Centre, a leading independent hobby shop, is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of only seven selected retailers in the UK to stock the highly anticipated TT Scale trains from Hornby. This exclusive partnership allows Chester Model Centre to bring the exciting world of TT Scale to enthusiasts and collectors, offering a new level of detail and realism.
Paul Boyland, owner of Chester Model Centre, expressed his enthusiasm saying, "We’re honoured to be selected as one of the exclusive retailers for the new Hornby TT Scale trains. As a local family-owned hobby shop, one of our goals is to keep hobbies alive for future generation.
“We love sharing the skills and experiences our team and loyal customers have gained over many years. Our team alone have over 100 years combined experience with all sorts of hobbies!”
Haines Watts Chester is proud to be announcing its continued growth and development, with the promotion of four key team members.
Joe Walters has been promoted to Associate Director. Joe has been an integral part of the Haines Watts Chester team for the last five years, since joining as a tax semi-senior.
Allan Jones has been promoted to Regional Payroll Manager. Allan joined the business during lockdown and has rapidly proven his credentials as a very accomplished Practice Payroll Manager, while Ann Neal is promoted to Accounts Manager. Having been with Haines Watts for over seven years, she delivers constantly high standards of professional accounting services to its clients.
Finally, Amy Rogers has also been promoted to Accounts Manager. With nine years’ experience within the business, she manages the accounts department to include workflow, job planning and technical reviews.
These promotions recognise the hard work, knowledge and dedication shown by all these individuals and the roles they all play in the wider Chester team. Haines Watts Chester continues to grow through supporting business owners across Chester, North Wales and the wider north-west region.
Heroes behind Cheshire and Warrington’s fantastic visitor economy will be celebrated in stunning surroundings, with Chester Cathedral confirming it is to host the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2023/24.
Entries for the awards are now closed and the shortlist will be announced in October, before the final in March 2024. Organised by Marketing Cheshire, the awards highlight just why the region’s tourism sector is among the nation’s finest. Visitor economy businesses entering also have the chance to enter the VisitEngland Awards For Excellence and showcase themselves on a national stage.
More than 130 young women recently attended an event designed to attract females into engineering and construction. Hosted by Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham, the taster day was enjoyed by pupils aged seven to 13 years old, from schools across north-east Wales. They were given a tour of the £10 million complex, met with leading names from industry and had a go at a series of practical challenges and tasks with staff in numerous departments, including Fabrication and Welding, Automotive Engineering, Plastering, Painting, Joinery, Plumbing, Electrical Engineering and more.
Karl Jackson, Assistant Principal for the Institute of Technology and Site Lead at Bersham Road, was thrilled with the response. He said: “Coleg Cambria has held these events for several years now as we want to play our part in breaking down barriers for young women in Wrexham and beyond. Construction and engineering are historically male-dominated fields, but as we’ve demonstrated there is an appetite and opportunities out there for girls who want to pursue a career in these areas. The feedback has been fantastic, we are thankful to everyone who came along and will continue to work closely with local schools to support the next generation of female engineers, trades and construction workers.”
Redevelopment of a disused school building will create up to 30 jobs and breathe new life into a picturesque Cheshire village. Bolesworth Estate has submitted plans to transform the Grade II-listed former Harthill School and schoolmaster’s house into a high-quality restaurant and pub.
Proposals also include a staff apartment, the demolition of a 1960s extension and conservatory, construction of a single-storey rear extension with patio and the rebuilding of an existing barn as a storage facility for plant and bicycles. Neglected outdoor space would be utilised for landscaping, parking for up to 59 vehicles and an accessible children’s play area and dog-friendly 1000 metre trail, which will later feature interactive displays and sculptures.
Bolesworth’s Managing Director Nina Barbour said their long-term vision is to work in partnership with Sandstone Ridge Trust – Sandstone Ridge has been shortlisted for Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designation – and create a venue which supports the local economy, while complementing its scenic surroundings, nature and biodiversity.
The school building dates back to 1868 but was ravaged by fire in 1922. It was rebuilt, but closed 15 years ago with just nine pupils. It then became a cookery school, but shut down in the pandemic and has been empty ever since.
More than 17,000 visitors enjoyed this year’s record-breaking Bolesworth International. The lifestyle and equestrian festival packed hundreds of activities into five days on the border of North Wales and Cheshire, featuring celebrity guests, international showjumping competitions and a feast of fun for all the family.
The Brand New Heavies, Rick Parfitt Jr and DJ Trevor Nelson were among the stars who took to the live music stage over the weekend and from Wednesday to Sunday there was a wide selection of things to do – from falconry displays, freestyle motocross and a wildlife and reptile show, to a celebrity BBQ masterclass, fancy dress parade, BMX displays, a dog activity zone, EV and hybrid automotive test drive zone and much more.
There was also a Women in Business panel with broadcaster and journalist Louise Minchin, Ernst and Young tax leader Victoria Price, and Wrexham AFC CEO Fleur Robinson, before a networking event the following day with sporting legends Michael Owen and Sir A P McCoy, who regaled the sell-out crowd with tales from their successful careers.
Storyhouse, Chester’s awardwinning theatre, cinema and library, has appointed Annabel Turpin as its new Chief Executive (CEO).
Annabel, who joins at the end of October, comes from a highly successful 15-year stint at ARC Stockton Arts Centre, one of the North East’s largest arts venues. She is also Co-Director of Future Arts Centres, a national network of 130+ arts centres, committed to championing their artistic and social contribution to the cultural and civic life of UK towns and cities.
She is Deputy Chair and Strategic Lead for Creative Place for the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Business Board (LEP) and sits on a number of other boards and advisory groups. Her consultancy work includes organisational development for theatre companies, venues and local authorities, and mentoring and facilitation at both executive and board level.
Annabel joins Storyhouse at an exciting time, as it prepares to launch its new three-year strategy and positions its charity for its next stage of development. Annabel’s broad and diverse leadership credentials will enable Storyhouse to maximise its offer to the widest range of audiences in its unique programme of work.
Up to 9,000 school pupils, university students and members of the community benefited from business mentoring sessions and a range of employability and skills events at Coleg Cambria. In the last 12 months alone, the college’s Learner Experience team has delivered more than 170 workshops, talks and seminars across its sites in Deeside, Wrexham, Llysfasi and Northop.
With the support of Welsh Government funding, activities were presented by leading organisations from across the country, including Big Ideas Wales. Cambria’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Coordinator Judith Alexander said there is even more planned for the next academic year, including a series of inclusive celebrations.
She said: “We have crammed so much into this year, it’s been incredible, and we are very thankful to everyone who attended our events and gave their time. The team has focused on delivering as many sessions as possible that will be of value to our community and learners, especially given this is such a challenging time for so many.”
Among the inspiring Big Ideas Wales role models to visit the college were Giggles and Games founder Alice Murray, Hoola Nation supremo Sasha Kenney, coach Marina Kogan and Mark Williams, the driving force behind awardwinning design and manufacturing prosthetics company, Limb-Art.
Green Expo is the North West and North Wales’ regional event to celebrate and show progress on fighting climate change and achieving carbon reduction towards Net Zero, sustainability and all things Green. June’s exposition in Chester was part of the UK-wide Great Big Green Week and attracted 4,500 attendees across its three days. Bigger and better than the first Green Expo, it generated 34% more renewable energy than it used, demonstrating how solar and wind power can power up ‘popup’ events. A programme of talks delivered over the three days showcased progress in the region and also presented solutions for electric vehicles, homes and for water power. Refreshments, much-needed ice cream, artisan products and information from local green charities and companies were also available.
Event Director, Jane Harrad-Roberts, said; “The 2023 Green Exposition was especially significant because it was carbon neutral, showed the best green activities in the region and because hydro power was demonstrated a few yards from what used to be Chester’s Hydroelectric building. In the 1920s to 1950s, the equipment there met much of the City’s power needs. Green Expo is also raising money to help restore this building as the Hydro Hub.”
The Green Expo Photography Competition winners were displayed at Chester Cathedral during June, with plans to continue this in a new vacant venue in Chester city centre throughout the autumn. The Green Expo Youth Conference run by Chester YouthCAN was oversubscribed and may be run over two days next June.
Jane added; “The Green Expo Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday 9 November and we are seeking entries from innovators and organisations across all business sectors and sponsors. There is also a new award for ‘Youth initiative of the Year’ and for ‘Community Engagement’ which was won last year by Eco Communities UK. Great things are going on in the region and we need to shout about them and learn quickly from the skills we are developing here. Put the date in your diary now.”
More information about the Awards Dinner tickets and tables are available at: greenexpo.uk/awards
Chester Business Club (CBC) has elected Jan Chillery as its new chair at its recent Annual General Meeting. As the new chair, Jan has vowed to ensure the organisation continues to strive to ‘make a difference’ to the city.
Jan, who replaces outgoing chairman Roy Shelton, told those in attendance: “I am determined Chester Business Club is a ‘club’ in the best sense of the word. A group of people brought together in common cause – in our case, our love for Chester – and a desire to ‘make a difference’ and have fun doing it.”
Plans for a £2.5 million revamp of Chester Railway Station have been approved. Network Rail submitted a listed building consent proposal to Cheshire West and Chester Council to carry out a series of changes and improvements, as a result of some parts of the Grade II* listed station being ‘in a poor state of repair’.
The extensive plans include a new customer information and ticket desk, customer information screens, ticket machines, a changing places toilet, concourse seating and signage. Work carried out at the station will also see the refurbishment of the platform 4/7 toilets and waiting room, as well as the concourse toilets. A new concourse clock and CCTV will be installed, along with new benches across platforms 3, 4b and 7. Other improvements include a water refill unit in the toilet lobby area, and cycle locking stands and repair station located to the western concourse entrance.
The major revamp forms part of the long-term ‘Gateway’ vision to turn the area of the city around the railway station into a ‘destination for business, living and tourism’.
Chester’s first ever Active Travel Festival – ATfest – took place on Sunday 18 June at Castle Square. This pilot event was officially opened by Chester MP (and GAS ambassador) Samantha Dixon, Council Leader, Louise Gittins, Lord Mayor of Chester Sheila Little and Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region active travel commissioner and a former ‘Brookside’ actor.
Aimed at all ages and abilities the purpose behind this free-entry festival was to encourage local residents to walk, cycle and wheel for those everyday short journeys to work, school or the shops. A crowd of almost 1,000 experienced a range of interactive activities including Ginger e-scooters and e-bikes, as well as walking tours and as part of the fringe festival, a schools poster competition and a preview film screening at Storyhouse. For more information, visit atfest.uk
Wrexham-based Beth Cole, Director of Populi Media has been recognised by Wales Business Insider magazine as one of its Rising Stars. This accolade is awarded each year to ambitious, high-achieving entrepreneurs. Beth is honoured to receive this award and explains that what makes this accomplishment even more special, is the fact that she is the only individual from Wrexham and one of just two from North Wales to be honoured with this prestigious recognition.
The Wrexham Gateway Project could be in line for a £4.79 million pound funding boost. It has been invited to join the North Wales Growth Deal portfolio, after members of the North Wales Ambition Board supported a recommendation to invite five new projects.
Subject to agreement of certain conditions, each project will now go on to develop an outline business case. The Wrexham Gateway Project aims to regenerate key sites and transport infrastructure around Mold Road – a key corridor into the city.
It includes improvements to rail, bus and car travel connectivity, new hotel and conference facilities, office space and improvements to the Racecourse stadium that will allow international football to return to North Wales.
The North Wales Growth Deal is a £1 billion investment to the region, £240 million of which has been funded by both Welsh and UK Governments. New projects included in the latest round have been awarded a provisional allocation of Growth Deal capital funding, subject to the approval of their business case.
Cllr Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “It’s certainly an exciting time for Wrexham and the plans we and our partners have has the potential to transform the Gateway to Wrexham. They will also see a boost towards employment and skills for local communities.
“We now look forward to working with our partners, to produce an outline business plan that will show how the project will be delivered sustainably and within the budget.”
Nominations for the Chamber’s Annual Recognition Awards 2023 closed on 1 September and the winners will be announced at its prestigious Annual Dinner & Recognition Awards ceremony on 17 November.
The event will provide a chance for its members to come together, reflect and celebrate the success and creativity of the last 12 months.
There are nine different award categories:
• Award for Export & International Trade –sponsored by Equals Money
• Digital Innovation Award –sponsored by Protos Networks
• Start-Up Business of the Year Award – sponsored by FI Real Estate Management
• Young Person/Apprentice of the Year Award – sponsored by HR Dept Wrexham and Chester
• Business Growth Award –sponsored by NatWest Business Banking
• Made a Difference Award –sponsored by Wurkplace
• Customer Excellence Award –sponsored by Topwood Ltd
• Young Chamber Award –sponsored by Bathgate Business Finance
• Excellence in Sustainability Award – sponsored by WR Partners
• Business of the Year Award –sponsored by Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers
An animal bedding company has unveiled ambitious expansion plans, following a multi-million-pound investment to buy a new eight-acre site. Platts Agriculture, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is aiming to more than double annual sales to £20 million, as part of a new three-year growth strategy. The news was revealed during a visit by Welsh Government Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths to their headquarters and manufacturing plant on Llay Industrial Estate. According to managing director Caroline Platt, the Welsh Government has played a key role in the company’s growth in recent years.
The family firm was founded by Caroline's parents, Robert and Christine Platt, in 1973 and her son, Chris Whittaker, is a third-generation director. The company headquarters is called Parkleigh after the nearby pig farm where it all started. Since then, Platts, which was awarded a Royal Warrant in 2018, has grown into a market leader supplying customers across the UK and Ireland with animal bedding for cattle, horses, poultry and pets.
Last year the multi-awardwinning company was crowned the UK's Family Firm of the Year by the Federation of Small Businesses.
Caroline said: "We are very lucky to have had support from the Welsh Government over the years, especially with the European social funding through the Welsh Government that helped us acquire Parkleigh offices. They also helped with the initiative to set up the garage, which enabled us to create another business, Platts Commercial Services, to maintain vehicles, not to mention the funding we received towards our new weighbridge.
“The turning point for me in terms of support was the 20TWENTY business and leadership programme that me and a number of the senior management team did. That's been transformational for us as a company, because it helped me create a three-year growth plan to go from a turnover of £4.4 million to £6 million – and we hit the target a year early.”
Lesley Griffiths said: "Platts is a really impressive business. From humble beginnings they have achieved a lot and it’s been really interesting hearing how the business has grown over 50 years and how they have kept up with innovation and developments, to make sure the company is so sustainable and employs over 60 people.”
Michael Shone from Buckley achieved the Employment strand of the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme, aimed at people aged 16-18.
Michael spent six months at Cummins Independent Financial Advisers (IFA), based in Rossett, between Wrexham and Chester, where he received mentoring, guidance and gained valuable experience. The programme was subsidised by Cambria – based in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi – whose Jobs Growth Wales+ team were on hand to conduct monthly reviews, support Michael and the employer, and advertise any other roles via the college’s Job Shop. He has now been offered a full-time position with the organisation as a trainee administrator, following in the footsteps of family members already working in the sector.
Michael explained: “Participating in the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme gave me the opportunity to gain an insight into a career in financial advice. I am really happy to be offered employment by the company and my next steps will be to study for the necessary exams and hopefully progress to become a financial adviser in the future.”
Gerry Cummins, Director of Cummins (IFA), pursued the partnership after being made aware of the 26-week age subsidy allowance. This resulted in the company being the first to be awarded the funding via Coleg Cambria.
Commented Gerry: “The funding enabled our company to offer the employment opportunity to Michael and help him follow his future career. We have been able to share our skills and knowledge with him over the 26 weeks and he has progressed quickly, completing tasks competently and confidently. We are happy to offer Michael a full-time position and welcome him to the team.”
announced as
The Eisteddfod’s campaign launches this month (September) and will be followed by a twoyear community grassroots project combining awareness and fundraising events with a microlocal project, aiming to attract local groups and individuals to get involved in preparing for the festival itself, and learn more about Welsh language and culture.
Councillor Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Welsh Language Champion, commented: “The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the great cultural festivals of the world and the largest competitive festival of music and poetry in Europe. Everybody knows there’s a real buzz about our city now and this is going to be a fantastic opportunity to welcome people from far and wide to celebrate our language and culture. The last time the Eisteddfod was held here in 2011, it was a huge success and had a positive impact on communities across the county borough. I’ve no doubt 2025 will be even better, and the eyes of Wales – and much of the world – will be firmly fixed on our wonderful city.”
Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses added: “We’re delighted to be returning to Wrexham in two years’ time. Much has changed in the city over the past fifteen years and we’re looking forward to being part of Wrexham’s story for the next two years. We had an excellent team of volunteers across the borough back in 2011 and we’re keen to get as many people involved as possible in our projects this time, as we prepare for a wonderful festival in August 2025. Wrexham is the place to be nowadays and we can’t wait to be working locally in the community for the next two years.”
Meadow, the Chester-based value-added ingredients businesses, has acquired Kentbased Naked Foods for an undisclosed sum. The move is a further step towards Meadow strengthening its position as a trusted partner of bespoke critical food ingredients to some of the UK’s most famous brands, growing the business through organic expansion and acquisition.
Naked Foods is a proven manufacturer within the food and beverage industry, producing a wide range of fruit and confectionery sauces for UK and Irish food companies from its BRC A* grade factory in Kent.
The acquisition allows Meadow to expand its portfolio into new product areas, while enabling customers to benefit from the many synergies between the businesses, including product knowledge and manufacturing expertise. Meadow is also able to enhance its customer offering, while leveraging the company’s existing manufacturing, sales and NPD capabilities.
Meadow is the essential ingredient in many favourite food brands. The company now employs more than 500 people across five BRC AA and A* accredited sites.
A partnership between Barclays Bank plc, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Cathedral will see a major piece of the Cathedral’s architectural heritage return into the Cathedral’s care during the summer/autumn of 2023.
In 2021 the Cathedral initiated discussions with Barclays Bank and the local authority to investigate bringing the Cathedral corner currently occupied by the bank back into its care. Despite its prominent location on St Werburgh Street, Chester Cathedral is difficult for city visitors and tourists to identify, with the Northgate frontage of the sandstone building strongly branded as Barclays Bank – the face of the building which faces Town Hall Square.
Not wishing to leave the city, Barclays Bank worked closely with the Cathedral and Cheshire West and Chester Council to identify new locations for the bank’s revitalised high-street banking offering. These plans are now in place, with Barclays relocating to the Forum on Northgate Street and a second site in Abbey Square.
Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, notes, “I’m delighted that the Board of Barclays Bank were so receptive to the idea of returning such an important element of the Cathedral’s fabric back into our care, and without any loss to the city – of service or employment.”
Redevelopment of the wing will be the focus of an £11m project at today’s prices –Project Discovery – which will seek to reconnect the Cathedral with the city centre and its communities, revealing the building and its contents to new and wider audiences and re-affirming its part in city life.
Work on Project Discovery is intended to commence in autumn 2023 and be substantially complete in 2028. Updates will be available on chestercathedral.com
Tell us your business news. Deadline for our Dec/Jan/Feb 2024 issue is: 6 November 2023 please email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
“There is a chocolate factory in Ohio that play our Evensong services to its employees every day”
As I sit down to interview the Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, the Dean of Chester Cathedral, the staging from the recent much-acclaimed Mystery Plays is being dismantled from the nave of the cathedral. Tim, who has been Dean of Chester Cathedral since 2018, is full of praise for this year’s Mystery Plays – and it’s not hard to see why, when they have received such a level of national and international acclaim and attention.
With THE VERY REVD DR TIM STRATFORD, Dean of Chester Cathedral
Tim explains, “The Cathedral is very proud to have hosted the mystery plays since the 1990s. For this year, staging for an entire street was erected in the cathedral nave, bringing the outside inside. It was incredibly impressive and the performances were amazing. That being said, it has also been quite disruptive to the normal running of services and other usual activities, and it will be good to have room for our congregation back in the nave.”
A place in the city
Tim describes the Cathedral as being a big place in the spiritual landscape of the city. To that end, it is important that it finds its place within contemporary society. He describes it as somewhere people are welcome to come to ask the big questions about humanity: “As well as religious services, the cathedral hosts many art and cultural exhibitions, events, installations and performances throughout the year. Through these, we provide a platform for people to ask the burning questions. An example of this was when Luke Jerram’s ‘Gaia’ was hosted here earlier in the year. Visitors flocked to the exhibition and it provided a fascinating backdrop for conversations around science and faith. I strongly believe that it isn’t the church’s place to provide the answers, but it is our place to offer a safe environment to ask the questions and explore alternative views.
“Tim describes the Cathedral as being a big place in the spiritual landscape of the city”
“The Gaia installation also provided a stage for contemplation. There was something very spiritual about seeing the world from a different perspective – especially one from the comforts of a deckchair, looking up. We have also hosted a silent disco within the Cathedral this year. I believe that even – or especially – an event like this provides an opportunity for a spiritual encounter!”
Other exhibitions have been more challenging, like Global Images of Christ, which featured 70 paintings and sculptures depicting Jesus through non-European eyes. Tim adds, “We are thrilled that, following the exhibition, we have retained some of the images on loan. There is a particularly striking portrait which is currently hanging in our Refectory, which generates some interesting conversations.”
The three pillars
The Cathedral, like any business, needs to ensure that it has a sustainable future and as part of its strategic plan, it has identified the three pillars to provide this. At its heart, it needs to be an active place of worship and this will be supported by its role as a tourism destination and also as a events venue. When asked to describe the role of the Cathedral, Tim explains: “It can be summarised by the words ‘discovery’, ‘encounter’ and ‘faith’. In fact, these are also the top level of our strategic plan.
“Discover; people don’t know what to expect when they come to the cathedral and we are keen to let them explore and find out for themselves what intrigues them. You won’t find a guided trail to follow around the cathedral, it is a much more organic experience.
“They should have at least one holy experience while they are with us. The cathedral is a quiet and spiritual space. It also has elements that are incredibly grand and can make your heart sing. For some people it’s a space to think and for others, it might be an encounter with another person. Whatever people are looking for, whether they know it or not, they should find that encounter within our grounds. And of course, we offer faith. This isn’t the same for everyone. It is like layers of an onion. We offer wellordered and relevant worship, but we also have one of the country’s best choirs and musicians, and of course there is space for silent reflection too. All this is underpinned by our core values of love, grace and welcome.”
Changing culture for changing times
The cathedral is currently working on its plan, initially developed 2018-23, but which has been amended and extended by two years to 2025. Of the 50 projects originally planned, half were delivered prior to Covid, but the cathedral is focusing on just six up until 2025, including culture change. Meanwhile, in line with the Cathedral Measures 2021, a new governing body has been appointed to prepare the plan for 2025-30.
Reaching new audiences
Prior to Covid, Chester Cathedral welcomed in the region of one million visitors a year. While visitor numbers
“I strongly believe that it isn’t the church’s place to provide the answers, but it is our place to offer a safe environment to ask the questions and explore alternative views”
haven’t quite caught up to the preCovid high, this year the Cathedral is anticipating approximately 700,000 visitors. When asked about the impact of Covid, Tim recalls that while obviously the impact was extensive and very hard at times, by moving the services online, the cathedral was actually able to welcome new worshippers in. “Our online presence doubled our congregation numbers to many of our services. We even have a worldwide reach now. In fact, there is a chocolate factory in Ohio that play our Evensong services to its employees every day. It is broadcast to the factory on monitors, as it is their lunchtime.
There is so much of a connection between us and the factory, that the employees even sent us boxes of chocolates at Christmas.”
Let there be light
Environmental sustainability is also important to the Cathedral. Chester was one of the early trendsetters of cathedrals installing solar panels – it was about the third in the country to install them. The solar panels, which have been sympathetically installed by mounting on a structure rather than fixed directly on the roof of this iconic building, provide about a quarter of the electricity needs within the cathedral.
Other environmental measures adopted by the Cathedral include electric cars, LED lighting and becoming a paperless cathedral.
The Cathedral owns a large estate, from the city walls, along Northgate Street and through to the cathedral itself. A third of its income comes from this estate. However, as much of this is old Georgian and Victorian properties the upkeep is challenging. With much of the estate made up of older properties, the Cathedral has had to ensure that it maintains a skilled workforce to manage the upkeep of the building stock. It has introduced a new Heritage Skills team as part of its direct workforce and they are trained in heritage skills, techniques and materials. They also offer apprenticeships in these skills, to help keep them alive.
Tim said, “As you know, Chester is a walled city and the old Roman walls regularly need extensive repair. The council is currently contracting three of the Cathedral’s stonemasons to carry out repairs of the city’s walls. This type of partnering is great for everyone, as it helps keep the skills and expertise local and alive. Grosvenor Estates also have a lot of skilled workers in the heritage sector and we partner with them when the opportunity presents itself too.”
The Cathedral is an important part of Chester’s business community and it is keen to engage in partnerships which will help embed a citywide culture of welcoming tourists to the place. Strategic planning is needed to improve the infrastructure and the Cathedral is already engaging with groups, businesses and the council to try and make a difference. Tim concludes, “We want to play an active role within the local and business community. The Cathedral is a popular tourist destination, but we are inclined to be overlooked rather than celebrated and promoted. We are trying to change that now.”
As so much change and new development has taken place around the cathedral, especially in the last few years, it’s important that this landmark remains intrinsic to the fabric of the city, in its many roles.
“The Cathedral owns a large estate, from the city walls, along Northgate Street and through to the cathedral itself. A third of its income comes from this estate”
The Chester Mystery Plays are a historic theatrical event presented under professional direction by the people of Chester. Their performance, once every five years, has become a rare and much-anticipated highlight of the British arts’ calendar, attracting people from all over the world. The production is one of the largest community events in the UK, featuring hundreds of enthusiasts of all ages among the cast, crew and the support teams working in administration, marketing and front of house.
The Chester Mystery Plays originated in the 14th century. At that time, church services were conducted in Latin and the monks at the Abbey of St Werburgh (now Chester Cathedral) enacted stories from the Bible to help those who couldn't otherwise follow or understand. Eventually this proved too disruptive and the plays were moved outside, after which individual companies of Chester Guilds adopted them. For example, the Grocers, Bakers and Millers performed The Last Supper, and the Ironmongers undertook The Crucifixion.
The guilds staged the plays on open pageant ‘waggons’. Each waggon trundled through the streets to ‘stations’ where the audience gathered. The first station was outside Abbey Gate – audiences today pass through the same place to see the modern version of the plays. The medieval route continued down Northgate to the Cross then along Watergate Street, cutting next into Bridge Street then towards Eastgate. Twenty-three of the ancient company guilds still survive in Chester today. The staging of the plays twice a decade keeps this tradition alive and brings history and mystery to a new generation of audiences.
Despite its rich industrial history and heritage, being located at the centre of the UNESCO Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and being a designated conservation area, the village of Cefn Mawr sits in disconnected isolation and fails to benefit in any way from the hundreds of thousands of annual visitors to the nearby Aqueduct.
By DAVID METCALFE
ONCE THE BEATING HEART OF THE AREA BUT NOW SEEMINGLY OVERLOOKED AND FORGOTTEN AND IN NEED OF REGENERATION, Cefn Mawr is often missing from or incorrectly located on maps, guides and signage produced for tourism and other purposes.
A rich industrial history and heritage
The origins of Cefn Mawr (its meaning in English is ‘Great Ridge’) date back to the industrial revolution and the coming firstly of the Canal and secondly, the Railway. For centuries, Cefn Mawr, like its neighbouring villages, was dominated by industry and grew rapidly following on from the canal era.
The community is shaped by its topography and natural resources and settlements grew up around stone quarries, ironworks, clay works and coal mines. Cefn Mawr was of great industrial importance and significance in terms of the development of the local area and transport infrastructure but all these industries have long gone, including the more recent chemical and pressure vessel industries, leaving Cefn Mawr a community trying to rediscover its identity, purpose and future.
Time for levelling up
Discussions are ongoing with Wrexham Council for investment support in terms of better connecting and integrating Cefn Mawr with the The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the main tourist and visitor attraction and the jewel in the crown of the World Heritage Site. This is key to the required regeneration process and included within these discussions is the potential for the re-opening of what is known as Jessop’s Tramway as a simple public byway and footpath. This would provide a much needed connection with the Aqueduct and also a direct route across the valley between Cefn Mawr and Froncysyllte which would be ideal for walking and cycling.
This would clearly support the Welsh Government’s policy for Active Travel Wales where people are being encouraged to use alternative forms of transport to cars. Jessop’s Tramway would be a big boost for the Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) Decarbonisation Programme concerning transport and would help offset transport issues caused by the Newbridge Road landslide.
“The community is shaped by its topography and natural resources and settlements grew up around stone quarries, ironworks, clay works and coal mines. Cefn Mawr was of great industrial importance and significance”
It is our hope that WCBC and partners will work with us and our community to achieve practical cost-effective solutions. The Council currently has a £4.2m Levelling Up Fund set aside for our section of the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site which could easily cover this and perhaps help fund other key priority initiatives.
One major initiative which has been started in Cefn Mawr is the creation of the world’s first Citizen Science-led Climate Crisis Mitigation Centre in the recently re-opened Ebenezer Chapel which dates back to 1874. A privately funded initiative, The Ebenezer Chapel was bought in addition to The Holly Bush Inn in an effort to maintain what little remains of Cefn Mawr’s once prosperous local economy. The main purpose was to address the Climate Crisis and the urgent need to boost footfall in our community by encouraging people visiting the Aqueduct to also visit our village centre.
Such initiatives are essential in helping to facilitate Cefn Mawr’s transition from a post-industrial economy to a viable and vibrant economy based on sustainable tourism development.
In addition to housing the Climate Crisis Mitigation Centre, The Ebenezer Chapel will also play a pivotal role as a community facility and visitor hub with among other offerings, a cafe, a coffee and wine bar, a visitor information point, an art gallery and exhibition space for local artists and craftworkers and as an events venue that can make full use of Cefn Square in front of the building.
Other potential initiatives under discussion to put Cefn Mawr back on the map and attract visitors and footfall into the village include what is called The Cefn Merry Go Round where a Zipwire system will be used to complete a loop between the village centre and the new central parking area.
Additionally, the re-opening of Jessop’s Tramway will allow horse-drawn hackney carriages to operate between Cefn Mawr village centre and the new central parking area and the Aqueduct. These initiatives and others represent possible partnering, investment or sponsorship opportunities for interested businesses in the area.
David
Metcalfe
Plas Kynaston Canal Group Project Manager
07796 260666
pkcgroup@hotmail.co.uk
In June we held our third networking of 2023 at Croes Howell near Rossett. It was a lovely sunny evening and many of our guests took the opportunity to take their networking outside onto the terrace of this delightful venue.
THE TEAM LOOKED AFTER US WELL and we were then treated to a fascinating presentation from Joe Bickerton, Wrexham tourism manager,
We are always on the lookout for interesting or different speakers to present at our quarterly VOX networking. If you have a unique story to tell, or have a useful business insight to share, please get in touch with us.
Future dates
Thursday 21 September
Our September networking takes place at takes upstairs at Artezzan on Pepper Street in Chester on Thursday 21 September. We are looking forward to welcoming our special speaker on the night, Louise Minchin. She will be talking about her new book, which she launched back in May.
In addition, the restaurant is offering a 20% discount on food on the night, for anyone that books in for dinner after the networking, so it’s sure to be a great evening.
Thursday 18 January 2024
We will be starting off the new year well, with a networking session in January. Simon O’Rourke has kindly agreed to join us at the Croes Howell and share some of his stories from the wonderful world of wood carving.
For those of you who don’t already know Simon, he is an awardwinning wood sculptor, who produces fine pieces of artwork, using waste timber or standing stumps, and a variety of power tools and hand tools.
Book your place online at: ezpublishing.co.uk/events
Last call for entries into the Wrexham Business and Community Award. The awards close for entries on Monday 25 September 2023, ahead of the judging. The winners will then be announced at an exciting event on 10 November 2023. But if you haven’t entered yet, you still have time. It’s really simple to enter, with each submission only being 500 words or less.
With eight categories to choose from, you should find one to enter:
Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £60 billion to the economy and employing around two million people. The Social Enterprise award is designed to celebrate these companies.
With the race to Net Zero gathering more momentum, green policies need to be given more than lip-service. The Green Wrexham award goes to a business or individual that can demonstrate a tangible impact and an ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives.
The Next Generation award goes to the business that demonstrates an established, successful apprenticeship programme. The number of apprentices is not important – what matters is the company’s commitment to creating a programme that engages the apprentice and helps to create tomorrow’s skilled workforce.
“ The awards close for entries on Monday 25 September, ahead of the judging”
The Business Learning award is designed to recognise the business that has best collaborated with a local school or college, to provide benefits to the students and the workforce. It will recognise the best business-based, student-led project that has empowered and motivated the students involved. We want to celebrate businesses that encourage the next generation – and the students that take advantage of the opportunities.
Our One Wrexham award goes to a business or individual that can demonstrate a continuous commitment to diversity and inclusion in all its forms, showing a positive impact on colleagues and customers.
The Up-and-Coming award is aimed at celebrating new businesses that were established in 2021 or later.
The Spirit of Wrexham award looks to recognise the organisation that takes its social responsibility seriously. This award is for the business that embodies the spirit of Wrexham and its people. It must hold social responsibility at its heart and continually look to see how it can help local people achieve more.
The Gwobr Cymraeg award goes to the business that recognises the value of the Welsh language for its colleagues and customers, creating an environment for the language to flourish. It recognises the organisation with a particularly innovative approach to supporting and encouraging the ongoing use of Welsh within the business.
Turn your website visitors into paying customers. If you’re a business owner, then lead generation is likely to be one of your top priorities. Because without leads, there are no sales, right? To get more leads, it’s not just website traffic that we need, it’s the RIGHT kind of traffic.
YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, “WHAT? I THOUGHT WEBSITE TRAFFIC WAS A GOOD THING?” But we’re here to tell you why you should care more about leads than website traffic.
If you want to convert website visitors into customers, you need to attract qualified traffic to your website and use the right strategies to encourage people to buy from you. This article will take you through five proven strategies you can implement, to level up your visitors to leads and then nurture them into becoming valued customers.
1. Sell the outcome, not the product Although outcome-based selling is nothing new, all too many websites fail to answer the question “What’s in it for me?” Step into your customer’s shoes and take a deep dive into understanding what they need and what they struggle with. Brainstorm what they’ll get from your product or service, then tailor your
By CLARE MOORHOUSE
“Step into your customer’s shoes and take a deep dive into understanding what they need and what they struggle with”
content around that. Doing so will mean all your hard-earned website traffic is more likely to convert into paying customers.
2. Create content for transactional user intent
People carry out a search in Google to find something, whether it’s products or services, but they may have different intentions behind their search (to research information, to find a specific brand, or to buy). Transactional user intent is when they already know exactly what they want, and they just want to get to that specific page on your website right away.
Transactional queries aren’t always about buying. They do however reflect an intent for some level of action. It could be to find specific information, download your eBook or sign-up for a free trial. To attract these qualified visitors, create specific landing pages
on your website that align with your brand’s transactional search intent with clearly accessible calls to action.
3. Create a lead magnet
A lead magnet is an incentive for website visitors to enter their email address in exchange for a freebie. It might be a useful eBook or guide, a free trial, a blueprint, or an interactive quiz. Not everyone who visits your website is ready to buy from you. Lead magnets help you nurture these visitors and remarket to them via email with useful information, moving them further through the sales funnel, until they’re ready to buy.
4. Be a valuable resource
Picture this. You’re in the market for some new bifold patio doors. You land on a website and you like the look of their products. You come across their blog which contains tonnes of useful information about maintaining bifold doors, the installation process and choosing different materials and colours. All this information is helping to inform your decision-making and moving you closer to requesting a quote from this company. Creating useful content around your products and services helps build trust and credibility, and will serve you well in the long run.
5. Make it easy for people to do business with you
It doesn’t matter what you’re selling online, whether it’s products or services, make it easy for people to buy from you or contact you. If you have a business where the location is important, like a hotel, shop or restaurant for instance, then make a big effort to clearly show where you are and how to find you. Try using different calls to action that spark their interest and appeal to the specific stage of the sales stage they’re in.
Turning your website into a revenuegenerating asset for your business doesn’t have to be rocket science. Sometimes the simplest of things can deliver great results. In the age of content overload, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your customers, the keyword phrases they might use and the right call to action, to turn your website visitors into leads.
Clare Moorhouse Moorhouse Digital Marketing moorhousedigital.com 07584
483393
“Creating useful content around your products and services helps build trust and credibility, and will serve you well in the long run”
moorhousedigital.com/website-audit
Craig Weeks, general manager of JCB Transmissions on Wrexham Industrial Estate, has worked in the business since 1995. He accepted a job offer as an JCB Temporary Axle Assembler, after finishing university, and joined with his father and cousins, working on the shopfloor. Now Craig heads up the North Wales site, which is the largest component factory, and is responsible for the business and its 600 employees.
Changing gear – transforming the workplace
Manufacturing axles, gearboxes and drive train solutions, JCB Transmissions in Wrexham supplies JCB globally, exporting thousands of units a week worldwide. Craig has the privilege and pressure of running the business and has responsibility for every aspect, from sales, design, health and safety, product development, financials, profit and loss – it has been a huge learning curve and one that he relishes.
“Going from the shopfloor to management/leader has been a difficult journey, but despite the challenges, the transition was one that I was driven to make. I have been fortunate over the years and have had some great mentors along the way, who have encouraged me to strive for the next step.”
Welcoming innovative ideas
As with any good business leader, Craig recognises that his team are what makes the business successful and he’s keen to inspire the people around him and is “creating a culture to deliver excellence”. When Craig first took over the general manager role, the business
identified that there was a high turnover of staff and this was something that Craig needed to address. As part of this culture shift, he recognised that he needed to ‘build and engage’ the team, but that this would only happen through good leadership and genuine shopfloor engagement. Craig explains some of the initiatives he has already introduced.
“Recruiting staff has been challenging and there has also been a high staff turnover. However, there are lots of things that can be done to create a better working environment. But I also know that some of the best ideas will come from the people carrying out the work themselves. They are closer to it and can often see what is needed to improve a situation. We implemented a suggestions and questions boards early on around the site. Some of the suggestions have been fantastic, with one particular example leading to a £300,000 annual saving – by refurbishing rather than replacing some worn out machinery. The team is also half way through replicating this again, which will take us to a £600,000 annual saving, and bring more work back in-house.”
“Going from the shopfloor to management/ leader has been a difficult journey, but despite the challenges, the transition was one that I was driven to make. I have been fortunate over the years and have had some great mentors along the way”
Leading by example
Craig’s successes at the Wrexham plant have been recognised, and in many cases, replicated at other JCB sites nationally and internationally. One of his key achievements is that all 600 members of the team have received Mental Health Awareness training. “To have reached everyone on site has been a big ask, but we have provided signposting and help, through the sharing of basic tools, to the whole team. Our next step will be to back this up with regular Toolbox Talks covering things like drug, alcohol and gambling abuse, overall wellbeing and recognising today’s challenges, like cyberbullying through social media channels – something we didn’t need to worry about when we were first in the workplace. We have already seen a reduction in absenteeism as a result.”
Following a challenging incident that happened on the shopfloor, Craig decided to set up a Leadership Alliance Group on the industrial estate. He invited the key influencers from the other big manufacturing businesses to come together to share best – and worst – practice. He shared his lessons learnt from his incident: “It was important to share what had happened, so that other companies could learn from it too. My honesty with the group has led to a very trusted cohort being formed. The Leadership Alliance Group has now developed into a powerful lobbying group and we are using our combined power to make a difference for everyone.”
“We had no women working on the shopfloor
when I took over as general manager”
Another of the initiatives he is particularly proud of is the introduction of a Women’s Forum. Craig explains: “We are working in a heavily maledominated environment, and I wasn’t sure how we could make JCB a more attractive place for women to work. We had no women working on the shopfloor when I took over as general manager. I wanted to push diversity, and the first lady we employed was a forklift truck driver. After a few weeks of her being here and having a massive positive impact, I knew we had to do more. We now have over 18 women working on the shopfloor and what a great addition to the team they are. I wanted to understand what this demographic of the workforce needed and what could be done to improve their working environment, from their point of view, which is where the idea of the Women’s Forum came from.
“Some of the changes we have since implemented seem obvious now, but without us asking, might not have happened. We have looked at the changing room environment, shift patterns, maternity leave, female showers. All these things make a substantial difference. We also invite guest speakers – women in industry – along to speak to the forum. Some of the stories are fascinating.
“There are smaller initiatives that the whole company benefit from too, like a visiting ice cream van when the weather is hot and flowers to mark key
personal events, rewards for suggestions and questions interaction, football competitions – axles against gearbox – and a golf society. To be honest, these sorts of things can make as much of an impact as some of the more significant changes we have made.
“We have also just completed a financial workshop for all employees, with a local financial company. This is again, part of supporting our amazing team inside and outside of work, and all part of ensuring the wellbeing of the team.
“I am passionate about giving people opportunities, which is why we are supporting the local schools to ensure that they know what opportunities are available around them, especially within in JCB. We are particularly keen to encourage girls into engineering. We support mock interviews and offer site tours, so young people can get a taste of what real life working is like.
“I was a late learner and I want to tell young people that is OK. When your time comes, embrace it and love what you do. There is too much pressure on some young people to follow an academic path, when there are a lot of other avenues to a great career. I wish somebody had told me this when I was younger, and I suppose that’s what drives me to support the next generation now. It’s also lovely to be able to support young people at a very challenging time of their lives.”
Careful of the shadow you cast Craig has been nominated to take part in JCB’s executive development programme, which will help him further develop and grow into his role.
“I believe in continuously learning and that everyone should have the opportunity to gain experience. I don’t want to be a micro-manager, more of a coach, mentor and leader. I have five direct reports and it is so important that my relationship with them is strong. I am working with them to set and manage expectations.
“I was once told to be careful of the shadow you cast. I want mine to provide welcome shade and protection, rather than block out the sun. At JCB Transmissions, ‘we are creating a culture to deliver excellence’”.
MiiM Media Ltd, a Rossett-based company, successfully launched its new app in July. ‘Guessmiim’ – a game using a unique symbolic language – had been viewed in numerous countries around the world within the first three days from the launch.
MIIM (MI INSTANT MESSAGING) IS A UNIQUE MULTI-PLATFORM
INFORMATION PICTURE LANGUAGE, based on symbols called ‘Pictrons’ (electronic pictures). MiiM allows the user to communicate without the need for words and enables anyone to have the freedom to say what they need.
The MiiM symbolic language can help young people with dyslexia, ADHD and autism communicate more effectively than through normal letter-based language.
Realising at a young age that he was dyslexic and diagnosed in later life with autism, the company’s founder, Timm
Harriss, has made it his life’s work to help as many people as he can. The genuine wish to see this wonderful language in everyday use is a dream Timm has held for many years. The symbology enables anyone of learning age to make themselves understood, whatever the circumstances. If you live with dyslexia, ADHD, Asperger syndrome, or have suffered a stroke or have any other neurological condition you can still communicate without barriers. MiiM creates a level playing field for everyone.
MiiM Media launched its first app in the MiiM language. ‘Guessmiim’ is a fun game that enables anyone of learning
age, nationality or learning deficit to play. Instead of guessing words, you guess what the pictrons are describing.
Operations Director Nat Cargius said: “We are proud to announce the release of ‘Guessmiim’. We believe that the MiiM language will enable millions more people to communicate freely. On the day of the launch, a significant investment was made to propel the company to the next level by an investor. The game is now available on guessmiim.com and it is a fun approach to learn a new way to be heard.”
For more information about MiiM Media, visit miimmedia.com
Digital Dragons was founded in 2015, and has quickly become a market leader in Cloud Technology, IT Support Services, Cyber Security Solutions, and Agile Project Delivery. With our Multi-Cloud Partner Practice, we support Government and commercial customers on their cloud journeys and provide ongoing IT support to a wide range of customers.
Back in early July 2023, the ‘hospitality superstars’ of Chester gathered at Chester Racecourse to celebrate the inaugural Chester Hospitality Association (CHA) People’s Awards. Designed to recognise the incredibly hard work of individuals in the hospitality industry, the glittering ceremony held in the racecourse’s Pavilion saw the award winners crowned and the whole of Chester’s hospitality sector celebrated by the 270 attendees.
THE CHA EXECUTIVE BOARD IS MADE UP OF EMPLOYERS FROM 10 KEY HOSPITALITY VENUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, including the Grosvenor Hotel, Abode, Queens Hotel and Townhouse. Before the event, we spoke with the owner of Townhouse and CHA Chairman, Steven Hesketh. He is the driving force behind the awards and of raising greater awareness of the people who make up Chester’s hospitality industry. He is passionate about change and is urging the people of Chester to:
‘be bold and to come together to become the number one city in the UK!’.
Originally from Australia, Steven has focused on hospitality in the UK for over 25 years, working in a number of roles, before establishing the Savvy Hotel Group. He took on the position of Chairman of CHA in 2019 and is working hard to raise the profile of Chester hospitality – locally, nationally and internationally.
Another one of the key areas Steven is championing is the Hotels/Schools Programme, which has the primary goal of educating students on the wide and varied career options available in the industry. The concept is based on a proven programme run with Manchester hoteliers, where students have the chance to go behind the scenes and experience the range of opportunities available. With 12 hotels and 15 schools in Chester already on
board, the programme has got off to a positive start in its first year. Year two is aiming to reach more than 2000 students.
Steven says: “Our programme is designed not to be too prescriptive; we encourage the hotels and schools to define the relationship between themselves. This way, they can develop something that really works for everyone. For example, this year the Grosvenor Hotel partnered with Queen’s Park High School, Chester, and students saw firsthand a whole host of roles from front of house, to seeing what really happens in a hotel kitchen.”
“Students have the chance to go behind the scenes and experience the range of opportunities available”
About Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action was established in 1837 and has offered vital assistance to all who work or have worked within hospitality in the UK. It is aimed at all positions and levels within the hospitality sector, from chefs, waiters, housekeepers and managers, through to concierges, receptionists and kitchen porters, as well as sommeliers, bartenders, catering assistants and cooks across the UK.
Regardless of the venue, the charity has been set up to provide the help, advice and support needed whenever times get tough – whether those challenges are from physical illness, addiction or mental health issues to financial difficulty or personal and family problems.
And the winners are...
The CHA Awards raised an incredible £6500 for the charity Hospitality Action and the worthy winners recognised on the night were:
RISING STAR
(sponsored by Staff 86)
James Ellams, Fish and Chips @ Weston Grove
BARISTA OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Chester Bid)
Theo Ioaniddis, Bean & Cole
SALES AND REVENUE STAR OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Chester Racecourse)
Lorna Hobson, Chester Cathedral
UNSUNG HERO
(sponsored by WLGT)
Laura Howley, Chester Zoo
BAR MIXOLOGIST OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by City Framers)
Patryk Kapelinski, Carden Park
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Matthew Clarke)
Emilia Bartlett, Storyhouse
FRONT OF HOUSE STAR
(sponsored by EPAY Merchant Services)
Sue Hesketh, Mercure Chester Abbots Well
HEART OF HOUSE STAR
(sponsored by Chester Business Club)
Radek Moszan, The Chester Grosvenor
CHEF OF THE YEAR
(sponsored by Horseradish)
Elliot Hill, The Chester Grosvenor
EXCELLENCE IN FOOD SERVICE
(sponsored by The Lock Keeper)
Daniel Speak, Chez Jules
TOP HOSPITALITY TEAM
(sponsored by The Guide Liverpool)
Artezzan Restaurant & Bar
Two special awards were presented on the night – one went to Georgina Slawinski in recognition of the amazing work she has done to develop hospitality at Chester FC. The other was awarded to Izzy Grey, owner of We Love Good Times, who was honoured with the Chairman’s Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to hospitality in Chester over the years.
The summer months are always packed full of events and entertainment. Check out just a flavour of what took place across Chester and Wrexham.
If you are out and about, in and around Wrexham, look out for the new essential guide to the area launched this summer. The new Wrexham tourism brochure is a 68-page, bilingual publication, that has been printed in a handy travel size, and highlights some of the very best of the area.
THE TEAM AT ‘THIS IS WREXHAM’ IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LINKING UP ALL THOSE GREAT PLACES THAT MAKE THE AREA WHAT IT IS, AND THIS NEW BROCHURE FURTHER DEMONSTRATES THIS COMMITMENT. From a curation of some of the top best attractions and places to visit, through to an overview of history, heritage, natural features, cultural experiences, food and drink, and places to stay, the brochure provides a taste of what’s on offer in the county. It also includes a handy city centre and county-wide map to help people get their bearings, as well as a full listing of all the ‘This is Wrexham’ tourism partners for 2023/24.
For further information on the area or to pick up a copy of the brochure, visit Wrexham Visitor Information Centre
“From a curation of some of the top best attractions and places to visit, through to an overview of history, heritage, natural features, cultural experiences, food and drink, and places to stay”
Newly formed community interest company and think-and-do tank, Chester Great and Small (GAS), is to collaborate with Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) council. Together they are to produce a ‘how to’ guide for the Reimagining the Rows project, which has emerged as a priority from the recent review of the One City Plan (OCP). The guide is intended to attract investment in the mixed-use development of the city’s world famous, unique and historic 750-year-old Rows.
CWAC WILL BE WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF LEADING PROFESSIONALS IN THE CITY and the team will initially be led by senior CWaC officers Rob Charnley and Lee Nickson. GAS expertise will be provided on a probono basis from three of its ambassadors and leading architects –Tony Barton, chair of Donald Insall Associates (DIA); Guy Evans, director Cassidy + Ashton (C+A) and Tony Swindells, founder director of developer Openhome (OH) and GAS vice-chair. The trio will combine their respective expertise across architecture, heritage, planning, development and investment strategy.
The Reimagining the Rows guide will comprise of a series of case studies, spelling out the challenges as well as showing best-practice of Rows properties – such as the recently completed C+A scheme at 19 Eastgate Street, together with speculative suggestions for both the Dutch Houses on Bridge Street and Grade 1 listed Leche House on Watergate Street. The guide will showcase the ‘living over the shop’ concept adapted for 21st Century needs, whilst respecting and retaining original historic features.
These case studies, alongside supporting policy documentation, will complement the existing Conservation Management Plan/Chester Rows Design Guide already produced by DIA for CWaC earlier this year.
“Private investment is much needed to develop the vacant upper floors of the Rows into residential accommodation”
Currently undergoing a 12-month trial, a summary document will be published in 2024. The review will coincide with the Q1 launch of the Reimagining the Rows guide, with the intention to formally present the finalised version at UKREiiF in May 2024, with GAS as a supporting partner to Chester BID’s #InvestChester campaign.
A unique historical asset
With local authority budgets being put under increasing pressure and scrutiny, it is recognised that there is a real opportunity for GAS volunteers from the private sector to work collaboratively to help drive regeneration and economic growth. With the decline of the high-street in a post-pandemic, climate-emergency landscape, private investment is much needed to develop the vacant upper floors of the Rows into residential
accommodation, resulting in an increased, sustainable and diverse city-centre population.
Councillor Richard Beacham, Leader’s Champion for the One City Plan said:
“The Rows have a vibrant and exciting history, but over the past century the hidden spaces above the lower levels have become used for storage, or worse, not used at all.
Now is the time for Chester to be encouraging property owners to invest in bringing these spaces back into use as homes or studio spaces. People want to live here and they want to work here, and what better place than the distinctive Chester Rows. These quirky and interesting spaces, steeped in hundreds of years of history, need to return to their original purpose as homes and business places for the people of Chester.”
Tony Swindells, director, OH and GAS vice-chair commented: “The key to regeneration is collaboration. Within Chester there is the talent, expertise and insight to deliver internally. Together, working as a team, we can unlock the full potential and historical significance of the Rows as a unique mixed-use set of buildings.”
“The Rows have a vibrant and exciting history”
The Reimagining the Rows project will not only bring about positive action against a key OCP objective, but also provide much needed protection for one of Chester’s most iconic heritage assets. Unique to Western Europe and dating back to the 13th century, the system of half-timbered galleried walkways run above the street-level shops, giving access to a second tier, which has been added to and rebuilt over the following centuries. Meeting at ‘The Cross’ the Rows are a surviving element of the Roman fortress and as Chester’s four main streets they have strongly influenced the form and layout of the surrounding city.
In recent years the Rows have also benefited from Government funding of £1.08M for Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) improvements which are still being rolled out.
North Wales Social was formed with the primary aim of providing a business community driven platform to empower businesses in North Wales. Its website is an article/story-driven online magazine, with other additional business tools. Whether you are interested in best practice, thinking of starting a new business or looking to grow your existing business, North Wales Social is designed to give you engaging content, networking opportunities and the resources to thrive.
LAUNCHED IN JULY 2020 BY DAVE LEDWARD, ROBERT LEWIS AND ADAM SOUTHWELL, North Wales Social is a networking venture for businesses across the North Wales region. There are three established businesses behind the North Wales Social brand – North Wales Tweets, Celtic Community Network and Adam Southwell Media.
Dave Ledward, who also runs Social Media Studios, launched the #NorthWalesTweets brand and network on Twitter and Facebook in March 2013, commented: “We all have a real passion for business, the community and North Wales. We wanted to create a service that supported all of this, and during the Covid pandemic, we came up with this solution!
We want North Wales Social to be a hub of activity, so you can register for a free account to make comments, take part in discussions and engage with fellow members.”
In addition to the website, North Wales Social also offers:
• Regular networking opportunities
• Training and development via workshops and tuition
• Social media engagement and encouragement
• Marketing opportunities with business development
• Platform for showcasing events across North Wales
• An engaging business directory.
“We want North Wales Social to be a hub of activity”
To find out more about North Wales Social, visit the website at northwalessocial.co.uk
Lightfoot Cleaning Services is the first and only Trading Standards Approved provider of professional Sanitisation, Carpet, Hard floor, Upholstery and Deep Cleaning services in North Wales and Cheshire.
SafeContractor Approved, and on the procurement list of several Councils, our business and private clients include Schools, Solicitors, Hotels, Property Agents, Nurseries and Care Homes, Car Dealerships, Food Production and Manufacturing.
in Flintshire and serving North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral,
Kate Hill-Trevor is the current High Sheriff in Clwyd, in post for a 12-month tenure and keen to make a difference to the area in that time. Appointed by the King, the position is self-funded, non-political and voluntary, but Kate still sees it as a huge honour and one she is keen to use to encourage others to see the manifold benefits that come with volunteering.
“I am fortunate to be in the position to have been able to juggle my day-to-day work commitments on the Estate to enable me to be able to commit sufficient time to this role. I am also a trustee at the Clwyd Special Riding Centre, based just outside Wrexham in Llanfynydd, and volunteering has always been important to me. Being High Sheriff is a tremendous privilege and a humbling opportunity to get to know more about volunteers all over the county.
“Crimebeat is the High Sheriff Association’s national charity, so I am delighted to be supporting its North Wales arm, which incidentally celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Crimebeat helps young people to develop projects that make their communities safer places to live by providing small grants to proposals that meet the criteria. If you would like to find out more or support, then please take a look at the website crimebeatnorthwales.co.uk.”
“I am also keen to work with and promote rural charities, like FCN (Farming Communities Network), Tir Dewi, Yellow Wellies and Papyrus, which focus on mental health in agricultural and rural communities. It can be a very isolating existence and young men can be particularly susceptible.”
“Kate firmly believes that volunteering provides opportunities for people of all ages, skills and experience”
Volunteering can be fun
Kate firmly believes that volunteering provides opportunities for people of all ages, skills and experience. If there is something that interests you or something you have a passion for, there will be a charity out there desperate for your time and support. Even a shortage of time need not be a barrier. “There is a misconception that volunteering is only for the retired or those that don’t need to work. The reality is that many charities are happy with whatever time you can spare – and the more we can inspire the younger generation to get involved, the better.
“Already, since I have been in office, I have had a chance to find out more about many of the amazing local charities and voluntary roles in the area, including Blood Bikes, which provide transportation of urgent and emergency medical items, such as blood, X-rays, tissue samples and human milk, between hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
“Also, as part of my commitment to learning more about the many elements of law and order and emergency services within the country, I attended an internal award ceremony, held by the Welsh Ambulance Service. It was so impressive. One award went to someone who has achieved an incredible 50 years of service to the NHS. I didn’t realise that the Welsh Ambulance Service also has over 1000 volunteers, who carry all sorts of roles, from drivers to support staff.
“Another incredible charity working with the emergency services is North Wales Search and Rescue, which saves the police a huge amount of money and time a year through its volunteering work. I was also delighted to recently present a new cohort of Police Special Constables who are volunteers with their passing out certificates and to be able to thank them and their families for all they do.”
A lot of Kate’s time as High Sheriff is taken up with visiting charities and meeting the incredible people carrying out amazing work. The High Sheriff’s term will culminate with the High Sheriff Awards in March 2024. These awards are designed to recognise those working in the voluntary sector.
“A lot of Kate’s time as High Sheriff is taken up with visiting charities and meeting the incredible people carrying out amazing work”
The awards will be held at the stunning Brynkinalt Estate in Chirk. “Nominations are now open, and we are looking to recognise and thank the remarkable individuals and organisations that are out there.”
You too can make a difference Kate explains it’s all about mindset. “You don’t have a duty to volunteer, but you do have an amazing opportunity to. There really is something out there for everyone. It is a chance to connect with people and use your skills to make a difference. It is not without its benefits for the volunteer too. It is great for confidence building and a real opportunity to establish new friendships and learn new skills.
“Many people have a favoured charity, but if you don’t know how to go about finding what opportunities are out there, organisations like the Association of Voluntary Organisations Wrexham (AVOW) and Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) can help signpost you to a charity or community group that you can help.”
The role of the High Sheriff
This role is the oldest secular or non-religious office in the UK after the Crown.
There have been High Sheriffs in England and Wales for at least 1000 years.
There are 55 in total, with eight of these serving in Wales.
The High Sheriff is appointed by the King to represent him in a county in matters of law and order and supporting the Crown.
The Judiciary and Emergency Services remain central elements of the role today.
While High Sheriffs used to have extensive powers, today the role has evolved and adapted to keep it relevant and promoting and encouraging the voluntary sector, particularly those involved with crime reduction and social cohesion, has now also become a large part of the position.
For more information about the awards or to follow what Kate is doing, please email clwyd@highsheriffs.com or follow the High Sheriff of Clwyd social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
highsheriffs.com/clwyd
When an employee leaves a role, it’s a big change for everyone – both for the employee themselves and their employer. For the employee, if it is something they haven’t planned, then it will be outplacement that will help to ease the process. For the employer, it might be that the change has been forced upon them and they want to handle the situation as sympathetically and smoothly as possible. Although the change might not be something either party wants, it needs to be a favourable outcome for both of them.
By SUE THOMAS
Positive steps
Outplacement plays in important part in supporting people leaving a role, providing them with a positive experience of something that can feel quite negative. In this way, even someone leaving a role that they didn’t necessarily want to can still feel positive about the company. They will be able to provide positive references about the business in the future. If the decision has not been the individual’s personal choice, it can take some reconciling in their own mind. If you leave with unresolved differences and issues, then it’s very difficult to view a former employer in a positive light. However, outplacement and talking to professionals who can offer tangible solutions, is a way of taking positive steps in the right direction.
Impacts of change
I’ve talked a lot in the past about the emotional impacts of change and how these can affect our personal and working lives. A change in one part of our lives often has a knock-on effect elsewhere. A major change at home can disrupt working lives, and equally a change at work can disrupt all aspects of our personal lives. This can be especially true if your job and working arrangements are finely balanced around wider commitments, for example caring for young children or elderly parents.
It’s important not to allow your sense of direction during such transitionary periods to veer off track.
Building resilience
At Career Evolution, we can help employees move to a more positive place mentally and our key objective is to get them back in control of their own situation and future. We also encourage building resilience in such times and talking to someone familiar with the impacts of change can help with that.
Preparedness too, of such things as CVs and interview techniques, can help going forward. When someone looks back at their transition between jobs, it’s important not to dwell on the negative aspects, but look forward at the positive ways that change has impacted them.
Sue Thomas Managing director Career Evolution career-evolution.org
So, the script is sorted and the filming dates are in the diary, but do you know what you need to do in the run up to the shoot and on the day itself?
BEFORE WE VISIT YOUR OFFICE, BUSINESS PREMISES, FACTORY OR OTHER LOCATION, we will talk to you and draw up a realistic filming schedule for the day that works for everyone. This will include guidelines on how we’ll carry out the filming, but also how to get the best experience with us. Filming can be daunting for a lot of people, but it needn’t be – and being prepared and aware of what to expect can make all the difference on the day. You and your team might even have fun!
Access all areas
Parking is often a big deal to us because we usually have lots of kit to carry. If our vehicles are located nearby it means we don’t have to bring everything in, in one go. One reserved parking space on the premises, which gives good access to the filming location, can be invaluable in terms of saved time. Also ask yourself whether we will need security or parking passes. If so, arrange these in advance.
A fresh start
Filming nearly always takes longer than you think. If interviews are to be part of your video, we recommend that we shoot these in the morning, when the contributors are fresh and alert. This is purely what we’ve learned from experience, but we understand this can’t always be done. Usually however, morning shoots tend to get the best out of interviewees, leaving afternoons to film general shots (AKA B-roll) - footage that illustrates and explains the dialogue from the interviews.
By RICHARD KNEW
“Our video directors have years of experience in getting the best from people and putting them at ease”
It’s all about timing
It’s best to allow a bit of time for the film crew to get the camera, sound equipment and lighting set up. For interviews, this might be in a designated boardroom or the largest meeting room. It’s also helpful if you can identify somewhere secure the crew can store the kit and use as a base throughout the day. This could be in the room that the interviews take place in, or somewhere else that is central to where the majority of the filming will happen.
During setup, we’ll light the room and test the sound quality and levels for recording. Air conditioning units may have to be turned off, as well as any other noisy equipment like phones. Delays caused by sound problems can be irritating, but can be easily avoided with some simple prep. This ideally would have been checked and addressed before the filming day as part of a site recce and planning meeting.
Looking good!
Before we arrive, it’s a good idea to tidy and clean any areas that will be seen on-screen, and also clean any signage (indoors and out) if it’s going to appear in the video. The same goes for your company vehicles, if for example we will be filming your fleet of vans or company cars. This will help show your premises and vehicles off at their best and make the biggest impact.
You should also ensure all your employees are kitted out in the correct workwear, especially if this involves
branding, and the correct, clean PPE where appropriate. A representative from your company must be in attendance during filming, to liaise with the crew and to approve procedures, the content and to flag any potential health and safety issues in each shot.
As a final quick tip, branded pop-up banners can be useful to have on hand. They’re great when you need to hide that dying pot plant or add some colour to a plain room, not to mention reinforcing your brand!
Be prepared
Just before filming starts it will save time if you make sure that all the required equipment, clothing, props and any other resources needed, are in position, on hand and ready.
Brief any employees and operatives who might appear in the film, even if they are just working in the background.
Celebrating 25 years of Knew Productions
Everyone needs to know what is required of them - even if it’s to “ignore the camera and work as normal”.
If someone is a little camera-shy, worry not. Our video directors have years of experience in getting the best from people and putting them at ease on set. But if someone really doesn’t want to be involved, no problem, we aren’t all Hollywood wannabes!
The video production process can be complex at times, but that’s why you hire a good production company. We are here to make you look goodit is completely different to opening your doors to “the media” or some tabloid looking for a scoop. You are in charge and nothing happens or is released without your approval.
Now you’ve had a few pointers of what to expect, you can concentrate on enjoying the filming experience and making your business look great onscreen. It is always a rewarding, fun and enlightening experience for everyone involved.
Richard Knew Knew Productions
01244 570222 knewproductions.co.uk
Over the course of 250 years, Trafford Hall has watched countless stories unfold within its walls. Hidden in a quiet corner of Chester, this remarkable place has lived many lives, from a cherished family home to a bustling factory and a joyous wedding venue.
BEYOND ITS DIVERSE HISTORY, TRAFFORD HALL’S ENDURING LEGACY LIES IN ITS PROFOUND IMPACT AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITIES, inspiring and propelling them towards positive change. It has become a beacon of empowerment, encouraging individuals and groups to come together to mobilise and drive transformative initiatives that shape the very fabric of their neighbourhoods.
The story begins
This legacy began when the building was acquired by the National Communities Resource Centre (NCRC) in 1994. Charity founders Professor Anne Power, Richard Rogers, Sir John Riddell and Brian Able-Smith saw the potential of the building as a place to bring their vision to life. A space away from the day-to-day, where people from all backgrounds could come together as equals and find collaborative solutions to issues in their communities.
As one of the original trailblazers of tenant engagement, the charity’s first focus was on empowering residents to play an active role in their communities, helping them use their voices and skills
to create positive change. Over the years, the scope widened, with the charity starting to deliver transformative programmes to inspire young people and provide essential support for families under pressure.
Since NCRC began its work, training has been provided for more than 40,000 residents, including young people, families, and housing staff. 2500 community projects have been initiated or extended through the charity’s training and small grants programmes, creating positive impact in communities with a social value of approximately £8 million.
The next chapter
Despite more than 25 years of delivering measurable impact, the charity was forced to close in 2019, falling victim to cashflow problems brought on by austerity cuts to the budgets of housing agencies and charities that funded the training. But the charity’s story reflects the resilience it inspires in others. This was not the end for it or the hall and in 2021, it opened its doors once more.
Now part of The Regenda Group, the NCRC has been able to continue its
mission and retain its home at Trafford Hall, which is an essential part of its delivery model. The YHA (Youth Hostel Association) was appointed to run the Trafford Hall site, making use of the 35 bedrooms that were previously only used to support training courses. It has welcomed more than 10,000 guests to enjoy the hall and its grounds since.
With these three partners working together the hall is thriving. Throughout the year it seamlessly cycles through high energy school residentials, peaceful family retreats and productive housing sector think tanks, each made better by the added support and connections of the partners.
So, now that the mysteries of this hidden gem have been revealed, you too can be part of the positive story being written within the walls of Trafford Hall. Whether you stop by the café for some delicious coffee and cake, or you have a business or community group interested in collaboration. NCRC welcomes everyone who believes in their mission and can support them as they help people and great ideas grow.
Find out more – traffordhall.co.uk
Whether you are looking for a venue for a business event, or somewhere to take your clients for corporate hospitality, Chester and Wrexham have a host of choices to consider. Here are our latest suggestions for venues.
Chester arthousecafe.co.uk
The Arthouse café offers three areas available for hire – its ground floor and first floor café, and the lower ground floor Makers Space, also known as the Crypt. The 13th century Crypt is one of only a few remaining of its age and condition. It houses a creative Makers Space, where the venue runs art and craft workshops. The venue is available for events for up to about 50 people, while the Crypt can accommodate up to 30 people for a dining experience.
The Maesgwyn, Wrexham mghall.co.uk
The Maesgwyn, Wrexham is an impressive landmark building centrally located and easily accessible with a large free on-site car park. Across the road from the Racecourse football stadium, it is a great space for all types of business gatherings, from small board meetings to public information events. The venue has recently been renovated to a high standard. The main function room has space for 50 to 120 people. The top bar and snug can cater for a private meeting for two people up to a small private function with its own bar.
The Lemon Tree, Wrexham thelemontree.org.uk
The Lemon Tree Restaurant offers a relaxed, informal dining experience for all occasions. Serving AA Rosette award winning food throughout the day – from breakfast to afternoon tea, sharing deli boards and of course a dinner menu. The venue also has 18 bedrooms, so can provide a base if you are working away from home. The Lemon Tree was original called Abbotsfield and was designed in the 1860s as a private residence by the Wrexham architect J.R. Gummow.
The White Horse, Chester thewhitehorsechester.co.uk
Situated within the grounds of Chester Racecourse, The White Horse is a cosy gastropub dedicated to race day hospitality and private hire. The pub can host up to 250 guests and offers a relaxed rustic interior, featuring botanical floral arrangements and whitewashed tables. Meanwhile, the heated conservatory has a fully retractable roof and can hold up to 85 people for a sit-down meal, or up to 100 for a buffet setting. Both spaces have the dramatic backdrop of the Roodee and free on-site parking is available.
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.
A round-up of some of the business events happening in and around Chester and Wrexham from September to December 2023
WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
09:00 - 11:00
Round the Table Networking at Theatre Porto
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Theatre Porto, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port CH65 6QY wcnwchamber.org.uk
WEDNESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
12:00 - 14:00
Chester Business Network Lunch
The Double Tree by Hilton, Warrington Road, Chester CH2 3PD business-network-chester.co.uk
THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
09:30 - 11:30
West Cheshire Women’s Network
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT wcnwchamber.org.uk
FRIDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER
10:00 - 12:00
Chester 100 Club, sponsored by Engage Web
Guest speaker Sykes CEO, Graham Donoghue
Sykes Holiday Cottages, One, City Place, Chester CH1 3BQ alan.knell@hospicegs.com
SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
Pantomime Horse Race
The first ever Hospice Pantomime Horse Race
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD hospiceofthegoodshepherd.com
SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
11:00
Chester Business Club’s Charity Walk
A 6-mile charity walk
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD chesterbusinessclub.co.uk/ events/charity-walk/
SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER
Farndon Soapbox Derby
A fun-packed, thrilling Sunday with lots of laughs!
Farndon village, nr Chester farndonsoapboxderby.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
10:30 - 15:00
Wirral and Chester Business Fair 2023
Join us for this lively and friendly business-to-business event
New Brighton Floral Pavilion, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 2JS wirralbizfair.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
17:30 - 18:30
SHARE networking
Networking and a drink after work
SHARE shop, Pepper Street, Chester CH1 1DF shareaid.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
12:30 - 14:30
Networking Lunch at Artezzan Restaurant & Bar
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Artezzan Restaurant and Bar, 33 Pepper Street, Chester, CH1 1DF wcnwchamber.org.uk
THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
09:30 - 12:30
Multiply Your Finance SkillsFinance for Non-Finance managers
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Theatre Porto, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port CH65 6QY wcnwchamber.org.uk
THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
17:00 - 19:00
VOX Networking
Join us and special guest speaker Louise Minchin for an evening of interesting conversation
Artezzan Restaurant and Bar, 33 Pepper Street, Chester, CH1 1DF ezpublishing.co.uk/events
SATURDAY 23 & SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
10:00 - 16:00
Wrexham Feast Fair Event Management Chester Street, Wrexham wrexhamfeast.co.uk
SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 08:00 10K Run for Nature
Organised by Chester Zoo, and starting and finishing within the zoo grounds
Chester Zoo, Chester chesterzoo.org/run
WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
17:00 - 19:00
The Business Network Chester Drop in An early evening networking for Chester members and businesses from the area
Chester Beer & Wine, 20 Handbridge, Chester CH4 7JE business-network-chester.co.uk
THURSDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
19:00
Oktoberfest Beer & Cheese
Tasting night
Fundraising event for SHARE
Chester Beer & Wine, 20 Handbridge, Chester CH4 7JE shareaid.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 4 OCTOBER
09:00 - 11:30
Employment and Immigration
Hot Topics
The panel will share insights into important changes to employment and immigration law
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD tinyurl.com/yc42mh3u
THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER
10:00 - 17:00
Chester: The Big Conversation
Chester Residents’ Associations Group (CRAG) inaugural conference
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD crag.uk/conference
THURSDAY 5 OCTOBER
17:00 - 19:00
Thursday Is The New Friday Networking
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Moxy Hotel Chester, Boughton, Chester CH3 5AF wcnwchamber.org.uk
FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER
09:30 - 12:00
Sales Club 2.0
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Village Hotel Chester, St Davids Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3YB wcnwchamber.org.uk
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER
19:00 - 01:00
Winter Wonderland Charity Ball
Black Tie Ball, three-course meal, auction and raffle
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD chesterbusinessclub.co.uk
TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER
09:30 - 13:00
Women Mean Business Tour Businesswomen who will be sharing their stories and experiences.
Rossett Hall Hotel, Chester Road, Rossett LL12 0DE networkshe.co.uk
WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER
09:00 - 12:00
International Trade Forum
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Glyndwr University, Mold Road Wrexham LL11 2AW wcnwchamber.org.uk
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
09:30 - 12:00
KCC North Wales Speed Networking Vibrant and friendly speed-networking events
Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester CH4 9PX kccnetworking.co.uk
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
12:30 - 14:30
Networking Lunch at Ramada Plaza Wrexham
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Ramada Plaza Wrexham, Ellice Way Wrexham LL13 7YH wcnwchamber.org.uk
FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER
19:00
Wrexham Business and Community Awards
Winners of the inaugural awards to be announced
Net World Sports, Bryn Lane, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham LL13 9UT wrexhambca.co.uk
THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER
10:00 - 14:30
Chester Business Show
Free to attend business show
Crowne Plaza, Chester Trinity Street, Chester CH1 2BD chesterbusinessshow.co.uk
THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER
12:30 -14:30
Networking Lunch at Brewhouse & Kitchen
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Brewhouse and Kitchen Chester Love Street, Chester CH1 1QY wcnwchamber.org.uk
FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER
19:00
Red and Black Christmas Ball Fundraising for SHARE
Chester Racecourse, New Crane Street, Chester CH1 4JD shareaid.co.uk
FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 10:00 - 12:00
Festive Social - Enrichment Networking: Women's Networking Group (Chester)
A gentle social/business networking event
The Kitchen, Storyhouse Hunter Street, Chester CH1 2AR tinyurl.com/yc524n3b
TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER
12:00 - 15:00
Chamber Christmas Lunch & Networking
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Village Hotel Chester, St Davids Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3YB wcnwchamber.org.uk
THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER 11:00 - 14:00
West Cheshire Women’s Network –Christmas Networking Lunch
West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT wcnwchamber.org.uk
If you have an event taking place between December and February 2024, please let us know, so we can include it in our next issue. email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
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. Sessions take place fortnightly at each venue. 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. It does this by enhancing mental performance and wellbeing, improving physical fitness, talking and collaborating with likeminded people.
BNI bninorthwales.co.uk
bnicheshire.co.uk
BNI provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals.
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.
It has been documented in many studies that walking while talking has many benefits with regards to mental wellbeing, focus, ideas generation and it’s generally good all round to get to know new people.
Tarporley Business Club tarporleybusinessclub.co.uk
The Tarporley Business Club was set up in the pandemic as an online network for local business owners to generate connections.
Now it’s a purely face-to-face meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month 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.
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.
Serving the business community in these diverse regions for over 100 years, the Chamber aims to support every type of business – from sole traders to large corporations. It tailors its service to suit its' members, developing an enviable portfolio of member benefits, business advice, export knowledge, events and training opportunities to help make your business a success.
Institute of Directors (IOD) iod.com
FSB
fsb.org.uk
FSB membership means inclusive support, market-leading benefits and a voice heard in governments at all levels. If you are self-employed or own a small business, membership is built from the ground up, to help you achieve your ambitions. Together, we are stronger.
Join virtual events, including networking and business surgeries at: fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html
The Institute of Directors was founded in 1903 and within three years was awarded a Royal Charter to support, represent and set standards for business leaders nationwide. It 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.
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 is a diverse membership group of around 100 companies, sharing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help grow each others’ businesses. The ethos behind the group is "know, like, trust" – a belief in building long-lasting relationships with other senior decision makers. Meeting at lunchtimes, 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
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.
The Croes Howell near Rossett, just outside Wrexham, is a modern bar and restaurant, where great service and fresh delicious food are always on the menu.
Part of a group of restaurants and bars owned by Kingdom Thenga, which includes the Yard in Chester and Suburbs in Hoole, the Croes Howell not only offers food and drink, but also has the space to host events – from weddings and christenings to networking and corporate events.
Kingdom is well known locally and nationally throughout the hospitality industry. He has appeared on ITV and BBC on many occasions, to share his views on environmental factors which impact the industry, such as the decline in footfall on local high streets and more recently, the impact of COVID-19.
Kingdom explains, “I came across this beautiful venue in August 2021 and by September I was lucky enough to have taken ownership. I immediately began
transforming this venue to realise its potential, starting with meeting the guests, changing the menu and a focus on service.
“The Croes Howell is a spectacular building with amazing views, great space and a real sense of warmth. I wanted to build on this to create a country pub, somewhere all the family could enjoy a good hearty meal – where children can play and dogs are welcome.
“It’s a relaxing atmosphere, where people can pop in for a beer, or stay awhile for food. It’s been a journey and I welcome you to join us at the Croes Howell.”
For more information on booking an event, visit croeshowell.com
Other than your mobile phone and your computer, what work ‘tool’ couldn’t you live without?
“For me it would have to be my A5 notepad. Journalling is really important to me. It is critical to be able to go back and reflect, learn and move on.”
Craig Week general manager at JCB Transmissions
“A drinks chiller! Seriously. Being open and hospitable is such an important part of the teachings of The Bible. And actually, if I could have two, then other one would have to be The Bible.”
Dr Tim Stratford the Dean at Chester Cathedral
“In a digital age, paper is still crucial to my working life. I would be absolutely lost without my paper diary, A5 notebook and my lists – there is nothing more satisfying than crossing out something on my ‘to do’ list!.”
Clara Hughes editorial director at VOX
“A sense of humour, because when times or people are challenging, humour helps you reflect, deal with the situation and move on.”
Kevin Baxter Communications Director, Chester Cathedral
“Running a multi-faceted business involving people, animals and a very old house, we are always being thrown unexpected challenges and every day is different, so a flexible attitude and a sense of humour are essential!”
Kate Trevor-Hill High Sheriff of Clwyd
“On my desk I have an A4 notebook (in a lovely leather cover!) which I use everyday for my ‘to do lists’ and reminders. I’d be lost without it.”
Vicky Heathfield
creative director at VOX
“The only tool other than my laptop and mobile phone, I couldn’t live without is my pen! I’m a scribbler, I love to write little notes to myself –my issue is I don’t often include a note pad with this, so I write on the back of business cards, I also love a post it – so yes, the pen is truly mightier than the sword! ”
Steven Hesketh Chair of Chester Hospitality Association
Our charity pages are an opportunity to highlight the good work local charities are undertaking, promote fundraising success and future events.
A team of 10 P&A Group employees tackled the Three Peaks Challenge on 30 June to 1 July, to raise money for Dementia UK, the company’s chosen charity of the year. The team made up of employees from each division of P&A Group, travelled from its distribution centre in Saltney, North Wales, to Ben Nevis in Scotland on Friday 30 June, travelling onto to Scafell Pike in the Lake District, before completing the challenge at Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on Saturday 1 July.
In just over 27 hours, six members of the team completed the arduous challenge, with others postponing completing the final ascent of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) until the following weekend, due to adverse weather and injury.
Commenting after the challenge, Louis Artess, P&A Group People Services Advisor, said: “What an incredible experience to take part in and one that I will remember for a long time to come. When the going got tough through dismal weather, fatigue or self-doubt we pressed on, keeping in mind that our trials on the mountains were minor and transient in comparison to some of the difficulties faced by people living with Dementia and their families. Personally, I found aspects of the climbs quite frightening, but it was the support and kindness of my colleagues that allowed me to continue. I am very pleased and proud to be part of an organisation with so many amazing colleagues.”
The Woodworks Garden Centre held a fun-filled quiz night on Thursday 7 September, with all the proceeds being donated to Dementia UK, P&A Group’s chosen charity for 2023.
More than 100 Wrexham volunteers were recognised during the Volunteer Week Celebrations hosted by the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) on Wednesday 7 June at Coleg Cambria’s iâl Restaurant. For the first time, two events were held; an afternoon event for adults in volunteering and the evening event was specifically for youth volunteers.
AVOW’s Chief Officer, Dawn Roberts-McCabe, welcomed the guests and introduced the special guests and keynote speakers. The Mayor of Wrexham, Andy Williams, was the keynote speaker and certificate presenter for the afternoon event. High Sheriff of Clwyd, Kate Hill Trevor, presided over the youth event later in the evening.
Have you ever dreamed of owning your very own race horse? Well, your dreams are about to come true. The Hospice of the Good Shepherd will be making racing history, by holding the first ever Hospice Pantomime Horse Race at Chester Racecourse on Saturday 16 September. The Hospice is looking for 25 ‘horses’ to take to the start line and race for the victory in front of 20,000 spectators. This will be a full race experience, including the horse owners proudly parading their horses around the parade ring, and the winning horses will be presented with a trophy after the race with the proud owners.
Find out more, contact alan.knell@hospicegs.com
A team of hikers from Wrexham have raised more than £6000 to support seriously ill children in their local area. The team of 13, who work together at Clwyd Compounders Ltd and are part of the walking group ‘Clwyd Climbers’, conquered the national Three Peaks Challenge recently to raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices.
One of the hikers, Chris Davies, said “This is the first time any of us have tackled a challenge this big. We felt strongly that we should do this to raise money for Hope House. Most of us are parents and it’s a cause that’s very close to us.”
Hope House fundraiser Cat Dowdeswell said: “The Clwyd Climbers team is absolutely incredible. We cannot thank the team enough for wanting to put themselves through such a feat and look forward to welcoming the full team the hospice in due course. Hats off to Chris, Craig, Chris, Carl, Morgan, Gavin, Cameron, Declan, Ieuan, Geraint, Gareth, Ruwan and Ian for raising so much money for our wonderful hospices.”
A huge thumbs up from the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) as five new defibrillators have been installed at community buildings and green spaces across the county. This exciting and lifesaving project was made possible by Cadwyn Clwyd LEADER funds and is appreciated by the community.
The AVOW team has worked with local groups to identify locations where the defibrillators were needed most. Wrexham-based community buildings and venues were invited to apply for defibrillators and those successful were selected on a range of factors, especially distance from the nearest defibrillator.
Lifesaving equipment has now been installed in some of the most used recreational spaces and buildings across Wrexham County, including Citizens Advice Bureau, CRNA IN Cefn Mawr, Bettisfield Village Hall, The Salvation Army and the football playing field in Coedpoeth. All defibrillators will have 24/7 access and will be registered.
The P&A Group has joined the North Wales Wildlife Trust after recently working with the organisation on a number of projects. The Trust, together with members, volunteers and supported by a growing network of thousands of people in diverse communities, is committed to bringing wildlife back, empowering people to take action for nature, and to create a society where nature matters.
Over the past 12 months, employees from the P&A Group have volunteered on several projects, to assist with replanting and bringing wildlife back to specific areas. One such initiative was the Woodlands for Water Project. Employees, representing the Group’s various divisions donned their wellies and worked alongside other volunteers, to plant 2000 hedgerow plants on wetlands on farms in Flintshire.
Commenting on the announcement, Rhys Hughes, Strategic Development & Supply Chain at the P&A Group said: “We are delighted to now be members of the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Part of the P&A Group’s Mission is to ‘contribute to the communities in which we serve’, be this raising money for local charities or by having a positive impact on the local environment.”
Brave wing walkers take to the skies to raise over £10,000 for children’s hospices
A group of brave fundraisers have taken to the skies to wing walk and raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices recently. The charity’s Chair of Trustees, Steve Henly, and Lottery Manager, Emily Pearce, are part of the group taking on the daring challenge of being flown an incredible 600ft into the air atop a 1940s Boeing Stearman, reaching speeds of up to 140mph, while dressed as the Hope House Hound and a Teletubby.
The 10 daring wing walkers have been brought together by husband-and-wife team Anthony and Vanessa Watts from Knighton, Powys, who have very generously donated the places, meaning every penny raised goes directly to the charity. Organiser Anthony said: “We have been supporting Hope House for a long time and we are delighted to once again be pulling together a great group of people to take flight and raise money to support seriously ill children and their families.”
Earlier this summer, Sue Richard’s KCC Business Expo raised over £1300 for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. A round of applause for the 25 incredible business owners who showcased their businesses and services with such creativity and flair. You made the expo a vibrant hub of entrepreneurial spirit.
Chester Business Club donates to local charities
Representatives from SHARE Aid, Adoption Matters, Cheshire Autism Practical Support, Clwyd Special Riding Centre, the Samaritans and Countess of Chester Hospital ‘Blue Skies Balcony’ appeal, were presented with donations from the Chester Business Club (CBC) charity fund at its recent Annual General Meeting. CBC’s Charity Walk takes place on Sunday 17 September. It is free to register and open to everyone to use to raise funds for their own chosen charity, with free refreshments en route.
Lawyers, accountants and other Chester professionals took to the rounders pitch to raise funds for local palliative charity The Hospice of the Good Shepherd. Chester-based law firm Aaron & Partners has raised almost £500 by hosting a Charity Rounders Championship that saw its legal experts face off against other professionals. The event came as part of the hospice’s Corporate Challenge 2023, which saw businesses launch their own fundraising campaigns with a £50 budget. Entering the tournament alongside Aaron & Partners were leading Chester firms including Empire Commercial Finance, Legat Owen, Handelsbanken, RB Surveyor Services and Bennett Brooks, with Champion Accountants emerging victorious.
Nine intrepid thrill-seekers from Wrexham-based wealth management company Hadlow Edwards took part in a sponsored skydive, to raise much-needed funds for local charity Hope House Children’s Hospices last month (August).
Participants raised over £5000 for the charity to help with its incredible work. Available to children and families living in Shropshire, Cheshire, Mid- and North Wales, Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith care for children and young people who have lifethreatening conditions and are not expected to live beyond early adulthood. The charity also offers counselling and bereavement support to any family living in the local area who has suffered the death of a child in any circumstance.
Commenting Warren Hadlow, director at Hadlow Edwards, said: “The team was really excited about the skydive, although there is some trepidation too. We have chosen Hope House as our charity to fundraise for, as it is such an amazing local charity, which really provides something special to parents and children going through a traumatic time.”
Hadlow Edwards is an appointed representative of St. James’s Place and is committed to supporting individuals and businesses with making a plan for their financial futures. The company provides financial advice and services such as planning for retirement, buying property, investment planning and protecting what matters most.
Cat Dowdeswell, Fundraising Team Leader at Hope House Children’s Hospices, said: “We are so fortunate to have such a strong partnership with Hadlow Edwards and the fact that the team is preparing to jump out of a plane to support local families is testament to this relationship. Over 69 families in Wrexham alone are supported by our hospices, either through respite care or end of life support. We are all hoping it’s third time lucky for these brave individuals and the funds raised will help us work towards our mission that no family will face the death of their child alone. Over 85% of our income comes from events like this and we are ever grateful for people who are willing to set themselves a challenge in the name of Hope House Children’s Hospices.”
BTEC Business students have again demonstrated their generosity and community spirit, by donating project profits to a selection of charities. Learners on the Coleg Cambria course hit the headlines last year when they opened a pop-up shop at the Yale site’s Enterprise Hub in Wrexham, raising hundreds of pounds for Nightingale House Hospice. This year the Level 3 cohort has gone even further, gathering £637 for The Dogs Trust, WWF, Hope House Hospice, Ronald McDonald House based at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, MIND Cymru and Cancer Research UK.
Lecturer Anne Williams explains how they did it. “As part of the programme, the learners were tasked with planning and running their own business. They all chose to launch a social enterprise, so they could have an impact on the local community and economy, and decided that all profits would be donated to charity. There was a wide-ranging selection of ventures, from photography to recycling, pet treats, sports and more. But one thing was constant: their unwavering determination to make as much money as possible for these worthwhile causes.”
Targeting start-ups, established SMEs and corporates, the Chester 100 Club promises low-cost membership, quality speakers and unusual meeting venues. Members will also be able to participate in regular events including walks, clay pigeon shooting and other activities.
Run quarterly, these 90-minute meetings will offer an opportunity for like-minded business people to come together in a very informal, mutually-supportive setting away from the pressures of work. Those who opt to sign-up as members will have the satisfaction of knowing that every penny of their modest membership fees will go towards the work of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in caring for those individuals in the final chapter of their lives, and their families.
16 staff from Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham took on the Welsh Three Peaks recently, raising more than £3450 for Stepping Stones North Wales, an organisation providing therapeutic counselling and support services for adults who were mentally and physically abused as children. The team climbed Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan, and managed to achieve the full set within just 22 hours – a total of 27.4 kilometres and an ascent of 7,657 feet.
Chester Zoo is looking for 2500 runners to take on a charity 10km through the zoo’s grounds, in aid of its efforts to save endangered Asian elephants. The 10K Run for Nature will take place on Sunday 24 September and runners of all abilities are invited to take part.
Beginning inside the 128-acre zoo, participants will race past the elephant, giant otter and giraffe habitats before heading out and around the zoo’s wider countryside estate. A special one-mile ‘zoom’ fun run around the zoo will also be held for children under the age of 12-years-old.
All funds raised will go towards the zoo’s efforts to find a vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens elephant populations globally, known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV). Scientists at the zoo are currently undertaking the world’s first vaccine pilot study to fight the virus.
All participants will receive a sustainable medal and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, which include annual memberships, animal experiences and meal vouchers for the Zoo’s gastropub, The Oakfield, as well as a selection of animal adoptions.
To enter the Chester Zoo 10K Race for Nature or the one-mile Zoom run for children, visit: chesterzoo.org/run
North West Cancer Research (NWCR) representatives spoke to visitors to The Ice Cream Farm at the start of August in a bid to inform them of the dangers of the disease, after the charity’s research showed rates of skin cancer in the North West were 10% higher than the rest of the UK.
NWCR’s research also found significant rates of melanoma in Cheshire, with reported cases at a rate 22% higher than that experienced nationally. The charity’s summer campaign, Think Again, centres around the message that sunscreen is not just for holidays, but something we should all think about every day to protect our skin from preventable skin cancer.
As visitors entered The Ice Cream Farm, three members of the team from NWCR gave out free sun cream samples, alongside information on spotting the signs of skin cancer and knowing the risks. A large digital advertising board was also parked outside the entrance to the award-winning family attraction, with snippets of information to read whilst families waited to go inside.
NFU Mutual Agents and their staff at the Wrexham agency recently nominated local charity Wrexham Foodbank, to receive a donation of more than £6400 from NFU Mutual’s national £1.92 million ‘Agency Giving Fund’. The leading rural insurer has launched this fund, now in its fourth year, to help local frontline charities across the country. The Agency Giving Fund forms part of NFU Mutual’s £3.25 million funding pledge for both local and national charities in 2023, to assist with recovery from the pandemic and to help tackle the impact of the rising cost of living.
The generous donation to Wrexham Foodbank will be used in a variety of ways. Some will go towards buying food stock for their warehouse, as they don't always receive donations of all the food items needed for food parcels. They will be able to keep the Foodbank van, which is used every day, on the road and also cover the rent and utilities costs for the warehouse.
Wrexham-based video production company Knew Productions has raised over £1500 for local charity Nightingale House. This donation follows its director, Richard Knew, fundraising by completing the Chester Half Marathon recently. This donation is the latest in a long history of collaboration with the charity, including undertaking the ‘Three Peaks in 24-hours’ challenge in 2013 and working with the charity to produce videos showcasing its role.
Richard Knew, managing director of Knew Productions, explained why he chose to run a half marathon for Nightingale House: “I’ve run a couple of half marathons before, but not for a few years, so just wanted to give it another go. I chose Nightingale House, as having worked with the charity in the past to produce videos for them, I have witnessed first-hand the quality of the service the team provides for patients and their families.
“I completed the run in 2 hours 20 minutes and although I initially set my fundraising target at £1000, through the generosity of family, friends, clients and the business community, I ultimately raised £1500 for the charity.”
Lauren Emberton, Deputy CEO of Nightingale House Hospice, said: “We are so grateful for Richard’s fundraising efforts to raise much needed funds for patient care at Nightingale House Hospice. We look forward to working with Knew Productions in the future and really appreciate everything they do to support us.”
• The team at Sykes Cottages bravely abseiled their building to support the hospice.
• On Saturday 26 August, Ian Street from Pro-Networks performed a wing walk to raise money for the hospice
If you have charity news you would like to see included in the next issue, please send details to clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
Chester Residents’ Associations Group (CRAG) is hosting its inaugural conference – ‘Chester: The Big Conversation’ – at Chester Racecourse, between 10am and 5pm on Thursday 5 October 2023. It is being sponsored by Chester Race Company Ltd.
THE AIM OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO INFORM AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS BY SPOTLIGHTING THE KEY ISSUES AND BUILD-BACK OPTIONS.
Opportunities and concerns will be tabled with an intensive focus on collaboration and debate with solution providers, to collectively share best practice and map out a route to achieving a quality city-centre environment that is cleaner, greener, fairer, more sustainable and better connected.
Thought-provoking discussions You can table questions, listen to inspiring speeches and thoughtprovoking panel discussions on the Chester One City Plan, policing and crime reduction, city-centre management and the future of Chester. All speakers and panellists have confirmed including MP, Samantha Dixon MBE and John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire.
Formed in 2019 as an umbrella organisation, CRAG comprises over 20 residents’ groups from within –
and nearby – the city walls, with the singular mission to make Chester an even better place to live, work and visit.
CRAG works with a number of local stakeholders such as the Police and Cheshire West and Cheshire Council – as well as Chester BID and local businesses – to develop strategies and proposals to help address the issues identified by its members.
Engaging key stakeholders
Mike Hogg, CRAG chair said: “CRAG enhances the ability of Chester residents to engage with key stakeholders at a more strategic level. We’re looking forward to being hosted by Chester Race Company in its firstclass conferencing facilities, and to CEO Louise Stewart formally opening the proceedings.”
Louise Stewart, CEO of Chester Race Company commented: “Chester Race Company values its relationship with CRAG as a local stakeholder and partner, and is delighted to be hosting and sponsoring its first conference at Chester Racecourse.”
“CRAG comprises over 20 residents’ groups from within – and nearby – the city walls”
The event is FREE to attend for Chester residents. A hot buffet lunch is available at £12 per head, payable on registration. For more information scan the QR code, or visit crag.uk/conference
Across
Grab a cuppa and clear your mind of work for a short while with our puzzles.
1 Touches gently (4)
3 Believable (8)
9 Secures; ties in place (7)
10 Leader or ruler (5)
11 Drowned river valley (3)
12 Lowest level (5)
13 Loud metallic sound (5)
15 Informs (5)
17 Visual representation (5)
18 Dry (of wine) (3)
19 Dens (5)
20 Involving active participation (5-2)
21 Longing (8)
22 ___ Hathaway: actress (4)
Down
1 In a servile manner (13)
2 ___ Rhymes: rapper (5)
4 World's largest country (6)
5 Medicine taken when blocked-up (12)
6 Constructor (7)
7 Fizz (13)
8 Type of food shop (12)
14 Endurance (7)
16 Composite fungus and alga (6)
18 ___ Sarandon: US actress (5)
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
Thank you to the following for their contribution:
Articles:
The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Chester Cathedral
David Metcalfe, Plas Kynaston Canal Group
Clare Moorhouse, Moorhouse Digital Marketing
Craig Weeks, JCB Transmissions
Steven Hesketh, Chester Hospitality Association
Dave Ledward, North Wales Social
Kate Hill-Trevor, High Sheriff
Sue Thomas, Career Evolution
Richard Knew, Knew Productions
Corinne McGinty, The Regenda Group
Kevin Baxter, Chester Cathedral
Vanessa Bond, CRAG
Advertisers:
Active Childcare
ArtBox
Business Network Chester
Career Evolution
Croes Howell Restaurant & Bar
Delmar World
Digital Dragons Global
DTM Legal Essentials Mag
Gallagher
Gameplan Financial
Geoff Robertshaw Ltd
Hadlow Edwards
Haines Watts
Highstream Solutions
Holly Bush Inn
HR Dept
Knew Productions
Lightfoot Carpet Cleaning Services
MD Fitout
Moorhouse Digital Marketing
Richard Carr Consulting
Think Brand - Not Bland
Thursday's Child
Xplore! Science
Zebra Marketing & Communications
We bid 2023 goodbye and welcome in 2024 in issue nine, which is due out at the start of December – just in time for the Christmas festivities. Our Winter issue covers December to February and forthcoming features in issue nine include:
• We mind the gap – find out more about the work that this incredible charity does
• Celebrating success – a review of the inaugural Wrexham Business and Community Awards, along with a rundown of the worthy winners on the night
• Winter warmers – check out the latest diary dates for networking, conferences and events this winter, including our VOX networking in January 2024.
We will also be including interviews, articles and advice from local businesspeople, along with more business news and charity updates.
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: Clara Hughes at clara@ezpublishing.co.uk
Editorial copy deadline 6 November 2023
All advertising enquiries please contact Vicky Heathfield: on 01978 855459 or email vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk
Advertising copy deadline 13 November 2023
on our website: ezpublishing.co.uk /subscribe
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