business growth and align the community Angel network /

A city of possibility

CWAC should look to engage with Deepbridge and the wider entrepreneur networks within CWAC alongside key business individuals from the diaspora to create an angel network of local investors.

The investment ecosystem within CWAC is nascent and needs to be stimulated to attract and support early-stage business potential regardless of sector.

A compelling vision for business growth and micro business through workspace

To achieve ECON 1 & 2 within CWAC's strategic vision, there needs to be a clear strategy which builds on the changes and behaviour seen in work and lifestyle with the recognition that small and micro businesses are critical to the future development of the city, with particular focus on ICT, creative and digital as areas which will have future levels of growth. This can be achieved by bringing businesses together through workspace and addressing the “quality workspace” shortage. The approach can be staged, but the action needs to be planned to capitalise on the opportunity.

Stakeholder and community round table events for business growth and ecosystem-building.

The business community is a crucial strength of Chester. As such, it needs to be embraced across the board, codifying those who have always had a voice and bringing others to the table to ensure a shared voice, with explicit action and plan to ensure communication is open and transparent in future planning and setting business strategy and growth within the city. A collaborative approach with partners and the wider community will help define and build the ecosystem within CWAC, to grow stronger in those sectors that will expand.

Chester is not perceived as a city for early-stage or start-up businesses, so the narrative needs to adapt. The profile needs to be built in a broader context to show the region's advantages, leveraging its neighbours to highlight its talent and talent growth sectors. Chester needs to define itself as a start-up city with investment support - currently, it's not known outside of the area for its economy and infrastructure, which supports this growth. The profile and awareness must be built to attract and strengthen start-up and micro-business strengths.

Pre accelerator / Incubation / accelerator

CWAC needs to address the fragility of its sectors where a large percentage of employment is derived within the retail and visitor economy and increase the creative, technology and digital sectors to grow career awareness, talent and capability to build strength and growth markets. Identifying opportunities within the current ecosystem to develop businesses with the support of programmes which can deliver early stage growth in sectors which are high growth whilst building and retaining talent and businesses for the future.