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NEWS
WeMindTheGap welcomed the Minister for Employment, Mims Davies to the heart of the charity, with a visit to the Moneypenny HQ in Wrexham. Rachel Clacher, founder of WeMindTheGap and co-founder of Moneypenny, alongside Joanna Swash, CEO of Moneypenny were pleased to give Mims Davies an insight to how the charity and the largest local employer are working together to act upon the lack of provision for vulnerable young people in the community and beyond. WeMindTheGap gives new opportunities in life and work to underserved young people in our local communities through running totally holistic 12-month employment programmes, delivered with unashamed love and care, for ten young people at a time. Participants are unemployed, young people aged 18-25, often referred by agencies such as Leaving Care, Youth Justice, homeless hostels and refuges. The programme comprises sixmonths of paid employment, five varied work placements, one-to-one life coaching sessions, new experiences and essential skills. Followed by six-months of continued support, focusing on wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem to help each young person develop and achieve their goals. The charity which started in Wrexham now also runs programmes in Flintshire and Manchester too. MINISTER VISITS LOCAL CHARITY
www.wemindthegap.org.uk
FLOOD RELIEF FUND LAUNCHES The Welsh Government has formally launched a £2.5 million flood relief fund which is available to Welsh businesses to help them recover from damage and disruption caused by recent storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge. Businesses recovering from the devastating effects of the floods, are able to apply for a grant of £2,500 to help get them fully functional as quickly as possible. The grant can be claimed by businesses that meet the following criteria: • The business must be an SME based in Wales • The business needs to demonstrate that they have suffered severe disruption as a result of storm Ciara and/or storm Dennis and/or Jorge: • Directly impacted by the weather event, i.e. flood damage to the property, equipment and / or stock; • Indirectly impacted by the weather event, i.e. the business has had no/highly restricted access to premises, equipment and/or stock as a result of flooding; restricted access for customers, suppliers and/or staff; suffered loss of trade and have issues with regards to wages for employees. • Funding can only be used to cover
costs that cannot be recovered from insurance • One application per businesses • Businesses will need to provide: – details of estimated affected costs to their business – evidence of business address (within the last 3 months) – photographic evidence of damage
The Business Flood Relief Fund is open to applications until 20th August 2020, funds permitting.
AWARDS SUCCESS FOR ANWYL Anwyl Homes was crowned ‘Housebuilder of the Year’ at the North West Business Insider Residential Property Awards 2020. The North Wales housebuilder fought off tough competition from other high profile names within the industry to be presented with the prestigious award in front of a gathering of more than 800 people at a black tie event at Manchester Central Convention Centre. In presenting the award, comedian and compere Jon Culshaw praised Anwyl for its strong and sustainable growth strategy. He also highlighted the company’s commitment to its people and the growth of its team, for acquiring sites and consistently delivering a quality product. Housing managing director Mathew Anwyl was joined at the awards by Phil Dolan, managing director of Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, John Grime, managing director of Anwyl Homes Lancashire, Tom Anwyl, managing director of Anwyl Partnerships, Lucy Wasdell, financial director and other members of the sales and marketing teams. “We are thrilled to be recognised as Housebuilder of the Year and this award is testament to the hard work and continued commitment of each and every one of our team who consistently go over and above to deliver an exceptional product and outstanding service for our customers,” said Matthew. “Looking ahead, we remain committed to further growth and have exciting plans in place that will see us expand further across the North West region and at an even faster pace.”
RECRUITER ON HAND TO SUPPORT WORKERS Supertemps is confident they’ll be able to help employees from Marco Cable Management (MCM) in Llangefni find new jobs when the factory closes for the final time in the coming weeks. The company announced in October it would shut down the Anglesey site, leaving 40 people to either relocate to West Bromwich or find work elsewhere. Supertemps, which has offices in Bangor, Colwyn Bay and at M-Sparc in Gaerwen, had an existing relationship with MCM and has placed several employees there. “It is always devastating when any job is lost, let alone so many at one of the island’s biggest firms,” said business manager Vicki ArmstrongSmith, who is based at the new Bangor office. “The majority were not in a position to uproot their lives and move to the Midlands, so we are on hand to help these candidates into new jobs, on a temporary or permanent basis. There are opportunities out there on Anglesey and across Gwynedd into Conwy so we will be here if they need us and wish them the best of luck for the future.”
www.supertempsltd.co.uk
INAUGRAL BUSINESS FOUR EVENT PROVES SUCCESSFUL The first of a series of free business events was held by four of the top companies in North Wales. Williams Denton Accountants, Edward Hughes Solicitors, Bowden Financial Planning and Knox Commercial & Insolvency Solicitors hosted the inaugural Business Four North Wales Event at Porth Eirias restaurant in Colwyn Bay. Those in attendance were given four presentations on the theme of exit planning, from ‘business divorce’ to wills and probate advice, guidance and the pitfalls of failing to address your financial affairs ahead of retirement or a possible commercial split. With 81.6% of the UK workforce employed by SMEs, John Bowden, Director of Bowden Financial Planning in Colwyn Bay, said it is vital business owners look after themselves, not just commercially but mentally and physically. “Perhaps it’s human nature, but it’s incredible how many people will insure equipment or machinery but not themselves,” said John. “We often overlook our health, and nobody wants to consider their own mortality, but in doing so we can be better prepared and avoid the financial risks if something were to happen. You can rebuild a building or buy a new van if something happens to it, but with people it’s not that simple.” Meanwhile Andrea Knox, director of Knox Commercial & Insolvency Solicitors, based in Anglesey and Colwyn Bay, spoke about ‘business divorce’ and how partners can plan for an eventual parting of the ways without conflict. “It is poor preparation to go into a commercial partnership and not have a ‘business pre-nuptial agreement’, or at least have discussed your values and viewpoints so you know you can work together,” she explained. The next Business Four North Wales event will be held at M-SParc in Gaerwen, Anglesey, on Tuesday 12th May from 9am.
BRENIG CONSTRUCTION PROVIDES LIFELINE A former homeless person is off the streets and forging a new career in the building industry after being given a chance by a fast-growing North Wales construction company. Jordan Thomas fell on hard times and ended up on the streets two years ago when his father died – his mum had passed away when he was just 12 – and he was left with nowhere to live. But now the 29-year-old from Old Colwyn is a trainee bricklayer with rising building company Brenig Construction. “I had some setbacks and it affected me mentally a lot so from where I’ve come from to where I am has been a massive leap,” said Jordan. “It wasn’t good. I stayed with my sister but she has three kids so I was under her feet and I wasn’t in a very good position. I ended up on the streets and my head wasn’t in the right place. I didn’t really have a home and I was on the streets which wasn’t very nice.” Then he was handed an opportunity to get into building work after attending the Construction Industry Training Board Passport to Construction course run by Mochdrebased Creating Enterprise, a division of social housing provider Cartrefi Conwy. Brenig Construction then offered him employment and he is currently working at its site at Glanrafon, in Llanrwst, where Brenig is carrying out a project to refurbish 30 apartments. “I started in December with Brenig and I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it,” said Jordan who did a six-week Passport to Construction course with Creating Enterprise to gain his CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme - card which allows him to work on building sites.
CO-FOUNDER OF MONEYPENNY COLLECTS CBE Rachel Clacher, the co-founder of Moneypenny, was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace last month. Rachel has been honoured with the prestigious award in recognition of her dedication to bettering the lives of under-served young people and services to business. 20 years ago, Rachel co-founded Moneypenny with her brother Ed Reeves. Today Moneypenny has grown to be the world’s lead provider in telephone answering, outsourced switchboard and live
chat technology, with a dedicated team of over 750 employees across the UK and US. Encompassing the same values as Moneypenny, Rachel established social mobility charity WeMindTheGap in 2014. “I am truly honoured to be receiving this CBE, and see it very much as recognition of the hard work, commitment and ambition of our amazing people at Moneypenny and WeMindTheGap,” commented Rachel. “We all share a belief in treating other people as we would want to be treated ourselves, and that has resulted in us, as important and caring teams, making a huge impact in our clients’ and employees’ lives as well as the lives of under-served young people in our communities.” www.moneypenny.com
LAW FIRM PARTNERS WITH HOSPICE The partnership between a law firm and a beloved North Wales hospice has been further strengthened following a £2.5 million building redevelopment. St Kentigern Hospice in St Asaph opened the doors to its new-look facility after months of improvement works by Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction. Among the guests at the unveiling was Shian Hughes from Edward Hughes Solicitors, based in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, who has been helping patients and families with advice and guidance on Wills and Probate matters. With new facilities including a landscaped open space, café, conference room, relaxation and education areas and an increased bed provision from eight to 12, Shian believes they will be in an even better position to offer support to those who need it most. “The new buildings are incredible and will enable St Kentigern Hospice to care for even more people in the future,” she said. “As well as being a warm and welcoming space where we can discuss anything of concern to patients and their families around Wills and Probate issues, it’s a community hub where the public can come and offer their support by visiting the new café or using the meeting areas. We are proud to be in partnership with the hospice and wish them well in their new home – the transformation is amazing.”
NEW RECRUIT FOR LANYON BOWDLER A law firm has expanded its residential property team in North Wales ahead of a special event to help people take their first step on the property ladder. Residential conveyancer, Vicky Clishem, has joined Lanyon Bowdler’s Conwy office following time at a renowned firm in Chester and a high street firm in rural North Wales. Born and raised in Porthmadog and a fluent Welsh speaker, Vicky is looking forward to assisting people with a range of property related legal services. “I have specialised in property law, and particularly residential conveyancing, since completing my academic studies in 2013,” she said. “It’s an area of law I really enjoy because you are helping people with one of the most important transactions they will ever undertake – buying or selling their home. It can be a stressful time, but the right legal advice can certainly help take some of that stress away.” The firm is holding a special event for first-time buyers at Conwy Culture Centre on April 28th when people will be able to talk to Vicky and other property experts about the legal process of buying their first home. www.lblaw.co.uk
CYBER ATTACKS ON THE RISE Credent Commercial Insurance has warned businesses to be extra vigilant after a huge rise in the number of cyber-attacks. New figures from internet service provider Beaming revealed UK companies were forced to repel a staggering 66 attacks per hour on average in 2019.
And the Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey last year showed just 11% of firms have purchased specific cyber insurance policies, while 15% had considered cyber insurance, but not invested in it. Niel Jones (pictured), managing director of Colwyn Bay-based Credent – the largest commercial insurance firm from North Wales – said preventative measures should be taken. “The rise has been quite alarming, with cyber criminals using an incredible number of different ways to try and penetrate IT systems,” he said. “The costs of trying to piece a business together after an attack are far greater than initially seeking out any issues and putting systems right, especially loss of revenue from disturbed trading and the possibility of claims by a third party affected by a security breach. Cyber insurance has a value beyond repairing the damage done to infected systems, or financing website rebuilds. It can help deliver access to specialist expertise, ensure key elements of protection exist and better manage a business’s overall cyber risk. After a broker’s assessment, key strategies can be employed, to avoid a business becoming yet another cyber statistic.”
www.credentinsurance.co.uk
ADRA COMPLETES REFINANCING PROCESS Housing provider Adra has announced that it has successfully completed a major refinancing process worth £155m with new lenders. As a leading supplier of social and affordable homes in North Wales it will now, through this new funding deal, be able to build even homes affordable homes, which and have a positive impact on local communities we work in. Director of Finance, Rhys Parry, said: “Securing this new refinance deal gives us much more flexibility to grow as a company and enabled us to reduce our overall interest rate payable by half. It was time to remove the restrictive covenants and business plan controls that we faced on the legacy debt as a result of being a stock transfer association, so that we could fulfil our potential to deliver new homes and drive even more investment in our current stock, delivering much needed new housing across north and mid Wales.”
www.adra.co.uk
VILLAGE LEADING A GREEN REVOLUTION A historic North Wales village is on course to be the greenest in Wales after ditching fossil fuels for renewable energy at the local community centre, a former water mill. Abergwyngregyn was the home of the last Welsh Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who led a revolt against the English but over 700 years later it’s at the forefront of a green revolution. The village’s old three-storey water mill is powered by an air source heating system which keeps the ground floor café warm as toast and also heats the second floor, home to a number of village organisations, and the upper level where the snooker club have two tables. It has been installed by Denbigh-based Hafod Renewables whose managing director David Jones said: “It’s a big area to heat but air-source works perfectly here because the system provides a constant comfortable heat for the building all year round.
Its reliability and the hassle-free controls are an added help for the users of the building too.
The air source heating made the gas system redundant which means the building produces no emissions so it’s safer, cleaner and easier to manage as they only have one utility to look after.”
TRADE EXPO SUCCESS Record breaking deals of almost £500,000 were secured at a high-profile two-day trade expo led by a growing food distribution firm. The Harlech Foodservice Food and Drink Expo 2020, now in its 42nd year, welcomed almost 2,000 visitors to the event in Venue Cymru, Llandudno which saw around 165 UK-wide suppliers showcase their produce. Sales generated by the event were up by more than 30 per cent from close to £350,000 in 2019 to almost £460,000 in 2020. There were an additional 30 new businesses showcasing their produce this year. The expo aims to allow Harlech Foodservice suppliers to talk directly to the customer, giving them a chance to tell the story behind their product and offer free taster to representatives from the leisure, education and health industries across Britain. Andrew Foskett is joint managing director of Harlech Foodservice which has its headquarters in in Llanystumdwy, near Criccieth, Gwynedd. “Visitors were just so keen to get in because there is a lot to see and some great deals to be had,” said Andrew. “There are many benefits to both our customers and our suppliers. The customers are able to come and see, taste and feel the products for themselves and there’s no substitute for that. They have a chance to talk to the supplier and find out more about the story behind the particular product, which can be very important, and find out how best it can be used. It helps them to find out the latest food trends and to stay on top of the changing patterns in the industry.”
www.harlech.co.uk
FINANCE FIRM DONATES TO HOMELESS A kind-hearted truck driver who helps feed the homeless every week without fail has thanked a Wrexham finance firm for collecting food, bedding and warm clothing to give to rough sleepers. Matt Pyne has been taking supplies to the homeless community in Wrexham for the past four years and after hearing about his selfless work from a client, Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management were keen to support his efforts. Emily Mooney, who works as a PA for the company which is based in the former Wrexham Lager brewery building on Central Road, has been coordinating a staff collection which includes vital equipment such as sleeping bags and insulated roll mats as well as scores of food snacks. “We take out 30 hot meals and 30 snack bags every week,” said Matt. “I have various cooks around Flintshire who help make the meals and put the bags together. Then we use three cars to take it all down to Queen’s Square. Any left-over food is given away to the local night shelter so it doesn’t go to waste. At the moment we’re in desperate need of warm clothes, sleeping bags and roll mats which provide insulation. I’m really grateful to Hadlow Edwards for helping us out with this. They’ve heard about what we do and know I’ve been doing it for a long time so it will get to the people who need it. I’m not a charity so I won’t take money, I give out a shopping list instead!” To donate look up Matt Pyne on Facebook
CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM PALLETT DONATION An Children at a Gresford nursery will be making the most of unwanted wooden pallets and old truck tyres donated by a North Wales distribution firm. McCarthy Distribution, based on Wrexham Industrial Estate, delivered the items to Homestead Nursery where they will be used outside to construct treehouses, adventure trails and other structures for the children to play on or turned into work stations inside for them to sit at and paint or play. The new partnership between the two businesses was created after co-owner of Homestead Nursery Kim Sankey-Jones met Mike McCarthy, McCarthy Distribution managing director and his wife Louise, marketing manager, through a mutual friend. She told them about her Reggio-inspired nursery which focuses heavily on outdoor learning and using natural materials and reused items during playtime to encourage children’s innate curiosity and imagination. Kim said she hoped the link up with McCarthy Distribution would be the first of many with local businesses who might have other items they no longer need and welcomed Louise McCarthy (pictured) to Homestead to see for herself how the firm’s donations would fit in. If you are interested in donating unwanted items or stock to Homestead Nursery, please call 01978 853946 or email enquiries@ homesteadgreford.com
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