Business Wales Pages
In association with Business Wales
Help your business to grow W
HETHER you’re just starting out, wellestablished, a familyrun company, or a co-operative, Business Wales can help support the sustainable growth of all types of enterprise in Wales. Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s business support service, offering free, expert guidance and support to small and medium-sized enterprises in the private, public and third sectors. A Wrexham-based company that designs and manufactures bespoke MDF wooden products has employed two fulltime members of staff, after receiving free support from Business Wales. Custom Craft Shapes, which is run by former Wrexham FC football player Steve Roberts and his wife Rebecca, has experienced steady growth since it began in January 2014, thanks to high levels of repeat orders from a range of satisfied customers. After his footballing career was cut short due to an injury, Mr Roberts, who has always had an interest in art and graphic design, attended night school for two years to get his carpentry and joinery qualification. He then worked for a local company manufacturing cabinets and bespoke items by hand, before starting Custom Craft Shapes. To support the pace of Custom Craft Shapes’ growth, Mr Roberts turned to Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s
●●Former Wrexham FC player, Steve Roberts, now runs Custom Craft Shapes business support service, for advice on managing internal efficiency in order to maintain this growth. As a result, the business has now employed two full-time members of staff; one through the Jobs Growth Wales scheme and another through REACT
(Redundancy Action Scheme), which assists people who have been made redundant. The company also received specialist human resources advice from Business Wales on how to write employment contracts. Mrs Roberts said: “Business
Wales has been brilliant, enabling us to employ local members of the community to help our business grow. “Advisors have also visited us at our premises in Wrexham on numerous occasions to offer advice and check on how the business is progressing.
“I would highly recommend any business in Wales to take advantage of this free service. “Having this kind of help and support when starting a new business is invaluable. I will definitely use Business Wales’ services again in the future.” For more about Custom
Craft Shapes visit www.customcraft shapes.co.uk. To find out how Business Wales can help develop your business, call 03000 6 03000, follow @_businesswales or visit www.business.wales. gov.uk or www.busnes. cymru.gov.uk.
Business Wales on the road DURING August the advisors from Business Wales will be out and about around North Wales offering business advice ‘on the road.’ Whether you’re just starting out, wellestablished, a family-run company or a cooperative, Business Wales can help
support the sustainable growth of your business. From advice on how to write a tender through to mentoring, marketing and financial guidance, Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s business support service, offering free expert guidance and support
to small to medium-sized enterprises in the private, public and third sectors. If you want to find out more about how Business Wales could support your business then you can find advisors at the Anglesey County Council stand at Anglesey Show from
9am-5pm on August 11-12 and the FSB stand at The Denbigh and Flint Show from 9am-5pm on August 20. Here are comments from Business Wales clients in North Wales: “I would highly recommend any business in Wales to take advantage of
this free service. “Having this kind of help and support when starting a new business is invaluable. I will definitely use Business Wales’ services again in the future” – Rebecca Roberts, Custom Craft Shapes in Wrexham “Knowing that the support
is there when you need it has been an absolute lifeline. “The advisors from Business Wales are professionals in their fields and their specialist advice has been extremely helpful to us” – Ffion Roberts, TJ Roberts & Son in Bala
Business Wales is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government
03000 6 03000 busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk @_busnescymru @_businesswales
busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk
Busnes Cymru Business Wales
Cysylltwch â Busnes Cymru am wybodaeth, cyngor a chymorth i ddechrau neu dyfu eich busnes. Contact Business Wales for information, advice and support to start or grow your business.
Brothers head for more success I
SLE of Anglesey-based neighbourhood bistro The Marram Grass is predicting its best year to date, with turnover forecasts set to make 2015 another consecutive record breaking year, building on an already impressive 500% growth since its first recorded turnover in its opening year. The family run business, set up by brothers Liam and Ellis Barrie, was named best bistro and café in the Anglesey Tourism Awards in 2013. The winter period is where the brothers are most proud of the growth, and have aimed to create a bistro that caters for the residents of Anglesey and not just the Anglesey tourism summer market. Marram Grass manager Liam Barrie says advice received from Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s business support service, has helped set the foundations for the business’ success so far. Liam Barrie said: “What we have achieved has been down to sheer hard work and very high expectations. We are passionate about employing local people and developing our staff; and the help Business Wales gave us with the practicalities of employment and HR has built our confidence in taking on staff. “They have also given us help with improving our environmental impact and energy consumption. “Business Wales is a brilliant port
of call to get help with progressing ideas and making them a reality, especially when businesses like ourselves are being innovative and really pushing in new directions. “We always do our homework, but some ideas, especially those we have lined up, take us into new areas where we have little experience. That’s where our business mentor really helps, acting as a sounding board and challenging the stream of new ideas that we have.” The brothers’ passion for developing people and giving back to the local community is reflected in the Marram Grass apprenticeship scheme, which is open to 16-24 year old unemployed school leavers who are ambitious to become chefs. Three young people have gone through the scheme so far, with another employed at the Marram Grass and working towards their NVQ Level 3. The Marram Grass is now recruiting for another two apprentices to start working towards their Levels 1 & 2 Catering & Hospitality qualifications. Business Wales is also providing ongoing help with the Marram Grass’ IT systems, overseeing the acquisition and implementation of new technology. For more information on the Marram Grass, visit www.themarram grass.com or to apply for an apprenticeship position, email info@the marramgrass.com.
●●Brothers Ellis and Liam Barrie, who run The Marram Grass
Alan Dop
Invaluable advice helps Blue Leaf flourish
●●Nicky Nelson of Blue Leaf Event Hire has been growing her business with Business Wales’ support
A Wrexham-based company, which supplies accessories and venue-dressing services for weddings and parties, has grown its staff base and has plans to expand, after receiving support from Business Wales. Blue Leaf Event Hire, which is run by 46-year-old sole-trader Nicky Nelson from Wrexham, has experienced steady growth since it began four years ago. Following advice from the Welsh Government’s business support service, Business Wales, Mrs Nelson has secured preferred supplier status with a number of Wrexham venues, and taken on a bookkeeper and two part-time members of staff. Mrs Nelson has worked to grow
03000 6 03000 busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk @_busnescymru @_businesswales
busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk
Busnes Cymru Business Wales
the business from an online company that offered chair covers for weddings to a unique service designed to transform venues with special finishing touches and decorative items, such as chair covers, table runners and fairy light backdrops for weddings, corporate parties and gala dinners in venues around Wrexham and Chester. The mother-of-three turned to Business Wales’ mentoring service when she felt the time had come to further expand and develop her business, receiving advice, knowledge and insight to help her business reach its full potential. Mrs Nelson explained: “I needed to make the company
more profitable, but without killing myself by working every hour of the day. As a sole-trader, you have to be disciplined, but sometimes things get side-lined. Business Wales gave me the clarity on how to do this. “Business Wales provided me with constructive criticism and invaluable support to help me prioritise what was important for the growth of the business, meaning I have now more time to focus on growing the business, with the ultimate goal of having more of a presence in adjoining counties by finding more venues that regard me as their preferred supplier for events.” For more information visit www.blueleafeventhire.co.uk.
Tudalennau Busnes Cymru
Mewn cydweithrediad â Busnes Cymru
Helpwch eich busnes i dyfu B
OED yn cychwyn busnes, yn fusnes sydd wedi’i hen sefydlu, yn gwmni teuluol, neu’n gydweithfa, gall Busnes Cymru helpu i gefnogi twf cynaladwy pob math o fentrau yng Nghymru. Busnes Cymru yw gwasanaeth cymorth i fusnesau Llywodraeth Cymru gan gynnig arweiniad a chymorth arbenigol, rhad ac am ddim i fentrau bach a chanolig yn y sector preifat, y sector cyhoeddus, a’r trydydd sector. Mae cwmni o Wrecsam sy’n dylunio a gweithgynhyrchu cynnyrch pren MDF sydd wedi’u teilwra wedi cyflogi dau aelod staff llawn amser ar ôl derbyn cymorth gan Fusnes Cymru. Mae Custom Craft Shapes, sydd wedi’i redeg gan gynchwaraewr pêl-droed Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam, Steve Roberts a’i wraig Rebecca, wedi profi twf cyson ers iddo gael ei gychwyn ym mis Ionawr 2014 yn dilyn nifer fawr o ailarchebion gan gwsmeriaid bodlon. Erbyn hyn mae’r cwmni wedi cyflogi dau aelod staff llawn amser ychwanegol. Wedi iddo orfod rhoi’r gorau i’w yrfa bêl-droed yn gynnar yn dilyn anaf, mynychodd Mr Roberts, sydd wedi ymddiddori mewn celf a dylunio graffig ers sbel, ysgol nos am ddwy flynedd i ennill ei gymhwyster gwaith coed a saernïaeth. Yn dilyn hynny gweithiodd i gwmni lleol a oedd yn gweithgynhyrchu cabinetau ac eitemau sydd wedi’u theilwra cyn sefydlu Custom Craft Shapes.
●●Erbyn hyn, mae’r cyn-chwaraewr pêl-droed dros Glwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam, Steve Roberts, yn rhedeg Custom Craft Shapes I gefnogi cyflymder twf Custom Craft Shapes, trodd Mr Roberts at Fusnes Cymru sef gwasanaeth cymorth i fusnesau Llywodraeth Cymru am gyngor ar reoli effeithlonrwydd mewnol er mwyn cynnal y twf hwn. O ganlyniad i hyn, erbyn hyn mae’r busnes wedi cyflogi dau aelod staff llawn amser; un
trwy’r cynllun Twf Swyddi Cymru ac un arall trwy gynllun REACT sy’n cynorthwyo pobl sydd wedi colli eu swyddi. Hefyd derbyniodd y cwmni gyngor adnoddau dynol arbenigol gan Fusnes Cymru ar sut i lunio cytundebau cyflogaeth. Meddai Mrs Roberts: “Mae Busnes Cymru wedi bod yn
ardderchog gan ein galluogi ni i gyflogi aelodau o’r gymuned leol i helpu ein busnes i dyfu. Hefyd, mae’r ymgynghorwyr wedi ymweld â ni sawl gwaith ar ein safle yn Wrecsam i roi cyngor a gwirio cynnydd y busnes. “Byddwn yn argymell yn fawr i unrhyw fusnes yng
Nghymru fanteisio ar y gwasanaeth rhad ac am ddim hwn. Mae derbyn y math hwn o gymorth wrth gychwyn busnes yn amhrisiadwy. Byddaf yn sicr yn defnyddio gwasanaethau Busnes Cymru eto yn y dyfodol.” Am wybodaeth bellach am Custom Craft Shapes ewch i
www.customcraftshapes.co. uk. Am wybodaeth bellach am sut y gall Busnes Cymru helpu i ddatblygu eich busnes ffoniwch 03000 6 03000, dilynwch @_businesswales neu ewch i www.business.wales.gov.uk neu www.busnes.cymru.gov. uk.
sector preifat, y sector cyhoeddus a’r trydydd sector. Os hoffech chi ddysgu mwy am sut y gallai Busnes Cymru gefnogi eich busnes bydd modd i chi drafod ag ymgynghorwyr ar: Stondin Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn yn ystod Sioe Môn o 9.00yb tan 5.00yp ar 11eg a
12fed Awst 2015 Stondin FSB yn ystod Sioe Dinbych a Fflint o 9.00yb tan 5.00yp ar 20fed Awst 2015 Dyma rai o’r sylwadau gan gleientiaid Busnes Cymru yng Ngogledd Cymru: “Byddwn yn argymell yn gryf bod unrhyw fusnes yng Nghymru yn manteisio ar y
gwasanaeth rhad ac am ddim hwn. Mae derbyn y math hwn o gyngor a chymorth wrth gychwyn busnes newydd yn amhrisiadwy. Byddaf yn sicr yn defnyddio gwasanaethau Busnes Cymru eto yn y dyfodol” – Rebecca Roberts, Custom Craft Shapes yn Wrecsam.
“Mae gwybod bod y cymorth ar gael pan fydd angen i chi ei ddefnyddio wedi bod yn rhaff achub. Mae ymgynghorwyr Busnes Cymru yn swyddogion proffesiynol yn eu maes ac mae eu cyngor arbenigol wedi bod yn help mawr” – Ffion Roberts, TJ Roberts & Son yn y Bala.
Busnes Cymru ar y lôn YN ystod mis Awst bydd ymgynghorwyr Busnes Cymru yn teithio o amgylch Gogledd Cymru yn cynnig cyngor busnes ‘ar daith’. Boed yn cychwyn busnes newydd, yn fusnes sydd wedi’i hen sefydlu, yn gwmni teuluol, neu’n gydweithfa, gall Busnes Cymru helpu i gefnogi twf
cynaliadwy eich busnes. O gyngor ar sut i lunio tendr i gyngor ar fentora, marchnata ac arweiniad ariannol, Busnes Cymru yw gwasanaeth cymorth i fusnesau Llywodraeth Cymru sy’n cynnig arweiniad a chymorth arbenigol, rhad ac am ddim i fentrau bach a chanolig yn y
Ariennir Busnes Cymru gan Gronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop trwy Lywodraeth Cymru
03000 6 03000 busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk @_busnescymru @_businesswales
busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk
Busnes Cymru Business Wales
Cysylltwch â Busnes Cymru am wybodaeth, cyngor a chymorth i ddechrau neu dyfu eich busnes. Contact Business Wales for information, advice and support to start or grow your business.
Gwaith caled yn talu i ddau frawd M
AE bistro ar Ynys Môn, The Marram Grass, yn rhagweld mai eleni fydd ei flwyddyn orau hyd yma a’r rhagolygon trosiant yn argoeli bydd 2015 hefyd yn torri record am ei drosiant gorau erioed gan adeiladu ar y twf syfrdanol o 500% ers y tro cyntaf i’w drosiant gael ei gofnodi yn ei flwyddyn agoriadol. Cafodd y busnes teulu, a sefydlwyd gan ddau frawd sef Liam ac Ellis Barrie, ei enwi fel y bistro a chaffi gorau yn ystod Gwobrau Twristiaeth Ynys Môn 2013. Mae’r brodyr y mwyaf balch am y twf a brofwyd yn ystod cyfnod y gaeaf ac maent wedi anelu at greu bistro sy’n cynnig rhywbeth i drigolion Ynys Môn nid ar gyfer marchnad twristiaeth yr haf yn unig. Yn ôl rheolwr The Marram Grass, Liam Barrie, mae’r cyngor a dderbyniwyd gan Fusnes Cymru, sef gwasanaeth cymorth i fusnesau Llywodraeth Cymru, wedi helpu i osod y seiliau ar gyfer llwyddiant y busnes hyd yn hyn. Meddai Liam Barrie: “Y rheswm dros yr hyn rydym wedi’i gyflawni yw gwaith caled a disgwyliadau uchel iawn. Rydym yn angerddol dros gyflogi pobl leol a datblygu ein staff ac mae’r cymorth y rhoddodd Busnes Cymru i ni o ran y pethau ymarferol sy’n ymwneud â chyflogaeth ac Adnoddau Dynol wedi magu ein hyder o ran cyflogi staff. Maent hefyd wedi rhoi help i ni wella ein heffaith amgylcheddol a’n defnydd ynni. “Mae Busnes Cymru yn lle gwych i
dderbyn cymorth o ran symud syniadau yn eu blaen a’u gwireddi yn enwedig pan fo busnesau fel ein busnes ni yn bod yn arloesol ac yn gwthio i gyfeiriadau eraill. Rydym bob amser yn gwneud ein gwaith cartref ond mae rhai syniadau, yn enwedig y rhai sydd gennym ni ar y gweill, yn mynd â ni i feysydd newydd ac nid oes gennym ni lawer o brofiad ynddynt. Dyna le y mae ein mentor busnes wir yn ein helpu ni gan weithredu fel seinfwrdd a herio’r llif o syniadau newydd sydd gennym ni.” Mae angerdd y brodyr tuag at ddatblygu pobl a rhoi yn ôl i’r gymuned leol wedi’i adlewyrchu gan gynllun prentisiaeth The Marram Grass sydd ar gael i’r rhai 16 i 24 oed sydd wedi gadael yr ysgol ac yn ddi-waith ond sy’n awyddus i ddod yn gogyddion. Mae tri pherson ifanc wedi dilyn y cynllun hyd yn hyn ac mae un arall wedi’i gyflogi gan The Marram Grass gan weithio tuag at ennill ei gymhwyster NVQ Lefel 3. Erbyn hyn, mae The Marram Grass wrthi’n ceisio recriwtio dau brentis arall i gychwyn ar weithio tuag at ennill eu cymwysterau Arlwyo a Lletygarwch Lefel 1 a 2. Mae Busnes Cymru hefyd yn rhoi cymorth parhaus o ran systemau Technoleg Gwybodaeth The Marram Grass gan oruchwylio prynu a gweithredu’r dechnoleg newydd. Am wybodaeth bellach am The Marram Grass ewch i www.themarramgrass.com neu i ymgeisio am brentisiaeth anfonwch e-bost at info@ themarramgrass.com.
●●Y brodyr Ellis a Liam Barrie sy’n rhedeg The Marram Grass
Alan Dop
Cyngor defnyddiol yn helpu cwmni Blue Leaf i ffynnu
●●Mae Nicky Nelson, Blue Leaf Event Hire, wedi bod yn tyfu ei busnes trwy gymorth Busnes Cymru
MAE cwmni o Wrecsam, sy’n darparu ategolion a gwasanaeth addurno lleoliadau ar gyfer priodasau a phartïon wedi cynyddu nifer ei staff ac yn bwriadu ymestyn y busnes ar ôl derbyn cymorth gan Fusnes Cymru. Mae Blue Leaf Event Hire, sydd wedi’i redeg gan Nicky Nelson, sy’n unig fasnachwr, 46 oed o Wrecsam, wedi profi twf cyson ers iddo gael ei gychwyn bedair blynedd yn ôl ac, ar dderbyn cyngor gan wasanaeth cymorth i fusnesau Llywodraeth Cymru, Busnes Cymru, mae Mrs Nelson wedi
ennill statws dewis gyflenwr gan nifer o leoliadau yn Wrecsam ac mae wedi cyflogi person i gadw’r cyfrifon a dau aelod staff rhan amser. Mae Mrs Nelson wedi gweithio i dyfu’r busnes o fod yn gwmni ar-lein a oedd yn cynnig gorchuddion cadeiriau ar gyfer priodasau i wasanaeth unigryw sydd wedi’i ddylunio i weddnewid lleoliadau trwy gynnig cyffyrddiadau olaf ac addurniadau arbennig fel gorchuddion cadeiriau, llieiniau cul a chefnlen sy’n llawn goleuadau bychain ar gyfer priodasau, partïon
03000 6 03000 busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk @_busnescymru @_businesswales
busnes.cymru.gov.uk business.wales.gov.uk
Busnes Cymru Business Wales
corfforaethol a chiniawau gala mewn lleoliadau o amgylch ardal Wrecsam a Chaer. Trodd y fam i dri phlentyn at wasanaeth mentora Busnes Cymru pan deimlodd ei bod yn bryd iddi ymestyn a datblygu’r busnes ymhellach trwy dderbyn cyngor, gwybodaeth a mewnwelediad i helpu ei busnes i gyrraedd ei botensial llawn. Esboniodd Mrs Nelson: “Roedd angen imi droi’r cwmni yn un mwy proffidiol ond heb ladd fy hun trwy weithio bob awr o’r dydd. Fel unig fasnachwr mae angen i chi fod yn ddisgybledig ond
weithiau mae pethau’n cael eu symud i’r cyrion. Rhoddodd Busnes Cymru yr eglurder i mi ar sut i wneud hyn. “Rhoddodd Busnes Cymru y feirniadaeth adeiladol a’r cymorth gwerthfawr i’m helpu i flaenoriaethu yr hyn sy’n bwysig ar gyfer tyfu’r busnes sy’n golygu bod gennyf fwy o amser erbyn hyn i ffocysu ar dyfu’r busnes a’r nod uchaf yw sicrhau presenoldeb gwell yn y siroedd cyffiniol trwy ddod o hyd i fwy o leoliadau sy’n fy ystyried fel eu dewis gyflenwr ar gyfer digwyddiadau.” www.blueleafeventhire.co.uk.