Business Matters, West Cheshire & North Wales December 2019

BusinessMatters The business magazine of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Winter 2019

The Big Interview ANDY AINSCOUGH Managing Director,

Adventure Parc Snowdonia

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WELCOME

Business Matters

Welcome to the Winter edition of our Business Matters magazine.

As we move towards the end of 2019, West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce continues its efforts to support its members. Whether this has been through our recent Business Brexit Readiness Events, which saw just under 100 firms receive support on how to prepare for Brexit, or our regular suite of membership benefits including; Networking Events, Business Support, Policy & Representation and Promotional Opportunities.

By the time this magazine is delivered to your door, we will know the outcome of the 2019 general election. No matter the result, the Chamber network will push the incoming government to drive the UK’s growth trajectory forward by investing in infrastructure and reducing the upfront costs of doing business.

DEBBIE BRYCE

Chief Executive Officer, West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Contact Matthew Hodgson Churchill House, Queen’s Park Campus, Queen’s Park Road, Chester CH4 7AD t: 01244 669988 e: info@wcnwchamber.org.uk w: www.wcnwchamber.org.uk Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Suite 5 & 6, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ t: 0151 236 4141 f: 0151 236 0440 e: admin@benhampublishing.com w: www.benhampublishing.com Published December 2019 © Benham Publishing Media no. 1695 Advertising and Features Karen Hall t: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Design Peter Wilkinson t: 0151 236 4141 e: peter@benhampublishing.com

The Chamber will also continue to focus on the key themes of our Vision 2021; • Ensuring we are the Authentic Voice of business that can deliver locally.

• Creating enhanced Infrastructure & Connectivity for our region.

• Bridging the Skills gap across West Cheshire & North Wales.

• Promoting International Trade and stimulating regional Business Ambition.

We recently celebrated the Chamber’s Annual Ball & Recognition Awards 2019 on what was a truly incredible night at Chester Racecourse. A Massive congratulations to the winners and commiserations to the runners up, the judges had a really tough time making their decisions and highlighted the quality of the entries.

I want to thank everybody that attended for making it a wonderful occasion and a great evening of celebration!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a wonderful Winter break and the Chamber is very much looking forward to supporting you in 2020.

INSIDE:

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Managing Director, PuzzleDuck

Chamber support for trading internationally

24-25

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GETTING STARTED Mal Blackburne,

YOUNG CHAMBER Latest news and events

26-27

THE BIG INTERVIEW Andy Ainscough, M.D.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia

Disclaimer Business Matters is mailed without charge to all Chamber members

and distributed to businesses in the region.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2019.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

WHAT I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT... Cheshire West Voluntary Action

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24 HOURS WITH Simon South, Magician @ChamberWCNW West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce /wcnwchamber WCNWChamber

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CHAMBER NEWS

Award Winners Revealed at Chamber Annual Ball Businesses from across the region were celebrated at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Ball & Recognition Awards, sponsored by Protos Networks, on 15th November at Chester Racecourse.

The prestigious ceremony, which is recognised as one of the highlights of the region’s business calendar, saw 300 guests enjoy a Hollywood themed night that celebrated the success of Chamber Members over the last 12 months.

The Chamber’s Recognition Awards received a record number of nominations with the finalists of the nine different categories announced before the evening. The awards are designed to ensure that Chamber members receive the recognition that they deserve for their hard work over the previous year.

The judges commented on the amazing quality of the nominations and expressed how difficult it was choosing the winners.

After the award ceremony, guests enjoyed a fantastic three-course meal before raising money for the chosen charity for the evening – Blacon Adventure Playground. Paul Night, Head of Avenue Services, and Sandra Hewitt, Neighbourhood and Blacon Adventure Playground Manager, gave

the audience a brilliant insight into “The Venny” and highlighted how the playground has helped to cut down on anti-social behaviour in the area.

Guests then showed their support for the playground by raising an outstanding £6185 through a raffle and auction!

Paul Knight, said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Chamber Focus Group for choosing to support Blacon Adventure Playground. We were totally overwhelmed by the generosity of the members and the support we received from them.”

“The money raised will be invaluable in maintaining and improving this important community facility for the benefit of local families today and for generations to come.”

Following the raffle and auction, DJ Gary Carr kept guests entertained long into the night with another standout music selection.

Awards, and we were extremely proud to be the Headline Sponsor. Huge congratulations to the winners of the awards and we are already looking to next year’s event!” said Joe Joinson, Managing Director at Protos Networks.

Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber, said on the occasion “Wow, what another amazing night!

Thank you to all those that attended and made it such an incredible occasion.

The amount raised for Blacon Adventure Playground is astonishing, thank you to all those that took part in the auction and raffle and for those businesses that donated prizes. Congratulations to the winners of the awards, it was a really tough choice for the judges this year and you should be incredibly proud of your achievements!”

Thank you to the below companies for supporting the event; • Carol Anne’s Florist • Design 2 Print (Llandudno) Ltd • Glamour Events Hire • Heulwyn Roberts Photography • MAD Sound and Lighting Ltd • Umbrella Marketing Team

“We had such a great night at the Chamber Annual Ball & Recognition

n Chris Grice & Karen Grice from Tree Frog Digital

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n The Pavilion decorated in a stunning Hollywood theme

n Becky Stark, of Stark Export Focus, & Spencer Stark

CHAMBER NEWS

Recognition Award Winners 2019 Protos Networks Award for Digital Innovation – Sponsored by Protos Networks

Young Chamber Award – Sponsored by Whittingham Riddell LLP

Winner: Lisden Technology

Congratulations to Bryn Tirion Hall School who received this award.

Congratulations to the other finalists: Cimteq Ltd & North Clwyd Animal Rescue ........................................................................

........................................................................

Start-Up Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Zodeq Ltd

Business of the Year Award – Sponsored

by Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

Winner: Monopoly Buy Sell Rent – Chester

Winner: Wagtail UK Ltd

Congratulations to the other finalists: Dewberry Candle & Spencer’s Friends ........................................................................

Congratulations to the other finalists: Liverpool John Lennon Airport & R A & C E Platt Ltd ........................................................................

Young Person/Apprentice of the Year Award – Sponsored by Altimex Ltd and MJ Lighting Ltd

Special Recognition Award

Winner: Nathan Johnson – NatWest Business Banking Congratulations to the other finalists: Carys Fieldhouse – Entyce Creative & Ethan McDermott – R A & C E Platt Limited

n Award Winners & Sponsors

Robert Ellis, Director at Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, was revealed as the recipient of a Special Recognition Award for his dedication to supporting local businesses.

Thank you to the following businesses who donated prizes for the raffle and auction: n Abode Chester n Adventure Parc Snowdonia n Arbonne n Bangor On Dee Racecourse n Bartley Portrait Studios n Bridge Community Farms CIC n Bridge Physio Ltd

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n Chester Zoo

Export & International Trade Award – Sponsored by Ashton Consulting

n DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester

n Delve Recruitment Ltd n EA Technology Ltd n Edge Transport Ltd

Winner: The Lobster Pot

n Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

Congratulations to the other finalists: Recycling UK Ltd & Wagtail UK Ltd ........................................................................

n Gallagher Insurance Risk Management and Consulting n Gladstone’s Library

Business Growth Award – Sponsored by NatWest Business Banking

n Hospice of the Good Shepherd n Howard Worth Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers

Winner: Valto IT Ltd

n Lisden Technology

Congratulations to the other finalists: Delve Recruitment Ltd & itas ........................................................................

Made a Difference Award – Sponsored

by Cimteq Ltd

Winner: Tree Frog Digital Ltd

n Liverpool Football Club n Liverpool John Lennon Airport n Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel n Oriel Hotel

n Robert Ellis receiving his Special Recognition Award from Debbie Bryce

n Palé Hall Hotel n Paradise Island Adventure Golf n Picanha Grill - Chester n Puzzleduck

Congratulations to the other finalists: Chester FC Community Trust & Groundwork North Wales ........................................................................

n Rage Fitness Company n Recycling UK Ltd n Red Door n Rowton Hall Hotel and Spa

Customer Excellence award – Sponsored

by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

n SHEQ Health and Safety Consultants Limited

Winner: Picanha Grill Chester

n Tanya Whitebits

Congratulations to the other finalists: Broughton Shopping Park & Monopoly Buy Sell Rent – Chester

n Spencer’s Friends n The Townhouse Chester

n The team at Protos Networks with Debbie Bryce (centre right)

n Umbrella Marketing Team n Whittingham Riddell LLP n Xceed Care Compliance Ltd

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ADVENTURE PARC SNOWDONIA

How to Nurture a Can-Do Culture – Energising Team Building at Adventure Parc Snowdonia Team building activities are an increasingly significant part of HR plans and budgets, and an energising team away day can add significant long-term value to any business or organisation.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia is helping businesses and organisations to achieve their goals.

Since it launched as Surf Snowdonia in August 2015 – the parc rebranded earlier this year – Adventure Parc Snowdonia’s inland waves have built a loyal corporate following.

Larry Page, co-founder of Google was one of the first to get there – he flew in from California a day ahead of the official launch to be one of the first to try out the parc’s world-first inland waves.

Since then, brands like Sky TV, Coca-Cola, O’Neill and John Lewis have enjoyed the unique setting and offer, visiting for team away days, incentives and rewards.

Audi filmed at Adventure Parc Snowdonia as part of its ad campaign for the Quattro 2 SUV. Nitro Circus, the successor to US hit show Jackass, visited the parc for their Nitro World Games 2020 promotional tour.

It’s easy to see the appeal. Guaranteed surfable waves which roll against a magnificent inland mountains-and-forests backdrop is something you don’t see every day.

ADRENALINE INDOORS The launch of its giant new weatherproof Adrenaline Indoors facility in August 2019 has only broadened Adventure Parc Snowdonia’s appeal.

New activities aimed at engaging teams in a fun and dynamic environment include indoor and outdoor climbing, an

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aerial assault course, one of the world’s longest artificial caving systems, and extreme kicker flight slides.

There’s also a zip line which flies its riders over the heads of surfers on the worldfirst inland lagoon – a thrilling ride with spectacular panoramic views of the parc and the landscapes beyond.

n Zeb Taia of St Helen’s RFC takes a ride on the zip line To find out more about Adventure Parc Snowdonia’s corporate away days, event facilities and meeting + activity packages contact Tansy Rogerson on t.rogerson@ adventureparcsnowdonia.com www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com

For corporate team building, the emphasis is on fun, leadership and team bonding. And there is a certain amount of encouragement for competitive boundary pushing for those that like that kind of thing.

THE TEAM THAT PLAYS TOGETHER… SUCCEEDS Amongst the first groups to put the new Adrenaline Indoors activities through their paces was St Helen’s rugby league squad.

One of the most dominant teams rugby league has ever seen, the Saints visited for a final team bonding away day ahead of a hugely anticipated semi-final play-off: a high stakes battle against Wigan Warriors for a place in the Super League Grand Final.

Fans will know that this worked out pretty well for St Helens. In fact, two weeks after their resounding win over Wigan, the Saints went on to win the Super League with a spectacular Grand Final victory over the Salford Red Devils at Old Trafford on October 12, 2019.

EVOLVING PLANS FOR 2020 – A HILTON GARDEN INN Adventure Parc Snowdonia will launch a Hilton Garden Inn in autumn 2020. With views over inland waves to the mountain landscapes beyond, the hotel will feature: n 106 bedrooms n Conference facilities n Destination dining n Wellness spa n Meeting spaces n Corporate packages

CHAMBER NEWS

RFCA for Wales forms Strategic Partnership with Chamber of Commerce n Tony Fish, Regional Employer Engagement Director (North Wales) at RFCA, with Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber

West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that the Reserve Forces & Cadet Association For Wales (RFCA) have become Strategic Members.

RFCA for Wales is an ‘arm’s length body’ of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), established by an Act of Parliament and charged with giving advice and assistance to the Defence Council and to the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force on matters that concern reserves and cadets in Wales.

RFCA provide free guidance and specialist support to businesses in a number of areas including; Employment of reservists, support through flexible HR policies, identifying career opportunities and support for cadet adult instructors.

“As the MoD’s Regional Employer Engagement Director for the North Wales

Area, I am looking forward to further developing the ‘Supportive Network of Armed Forces Friendly Organisations and Businesses’ across the region and beyond.” Said Tony Fish, Regional Employer Engagement Director (North Wales) at RFCA. RFCA’s new partnership with the Chamber will see them supported by an enhanced level of membership and RFCA will also be playing an important role in the Young Chamber programme.

Tony continued; “The strategic relationship with WC&NW Chamber will help RFCA For Wales promote to a wider audience; the numerous benefits

and advantages of supporting Service Leavers into Employment, Reservists, Spouses & Family Members of Service Personnel, Cadet Force Officers and Adult Volunteers with their transferable skills and expertise from which the business community can benefit hugely.”

“If you are a Business or Organisation already supporting Members of the extended Armed Forces Family, we would like to recognise you for your support and Nominate you for a MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Award.”

Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber, welcomed the news saying “We’re delighted to have RFCA become our latest Strategic Member. The work that Tony and the team do is amazing and we can’t wait to help spread the word about their organisation!”.

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STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

Celebrating three years of Zodeq At the end of September, the Zodeq team celebrated three successful years in business, and what an amazing three years it has been.

Established in September 2016, the concept behind Zodeq was to provide a personalised service to businesses that answers their individual financial and back office support requirements.

Like any new business, the Zodeq team had goals and aspirations for their first few years, however the reality of what they actually achieved went above and beyond any expectations they may have had.

By November 2017, Zodeq had welcomed its 50th client on board, and just under a year later that figure had doubled, with over £130 million in working capital finance provided to local businesses.

In July 2018 Zodeq launched its Zodeq 360 service, having been inspired to support recruitment companies struggling to keep up with their back-office administration requirements. Since its introduction, Zodeq 360 has proven to be a hit amongst recruiters, who are able to operate more efficiently as a result of the service provided.

established, the Zodeq team has more than tripled in size. Comprising of industry experts and all-round great people, our team is truly second to none, going above and beyond to provide the best possible service to each and every one of our clients.”

Speaking of reaching the three-year landmark, Managing Director at Zodeq, Paul Cooney, has said: “Our ultimate goal when starting the business was to allow business owners and managers the working capital to grow their business efficiently, whilst also providing support in those arduous and time-consuming back office tasks that take them away from their core business responsibilities.

Out of all of our achievements over the past few years, what I am most proud of is the amazing team we have built. Since we

Chester accountants keep local

football team on the field

A CHESTER football team is kicking off the season with a new football kit.

Chester Nomads under 9s Colts team has a new kit thanks to sponsorship from Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.

Established in 1904, Chester Nomads is an FA Charter Standard football club, home to 21 teams ranging from age six to over 35’s.

The new kit, which will be worn by the team for the next two seasons, has Ellis & Co’s logo emblazoned on the front of the shirt.

The team unveiled their new kit during the

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first match of the season on September 14th, ending in a nail-biting 2-2 draw.

“We’ve got high hopes for the season ahead and want to continue on with our success,” said the team’s manager John Farrell, who is also Accounts Senior at Ellis & Co. “We want to play good football and for the team to develop, but most importantly for the players to enjoy themselves.”

Ellis & Co joins a group of local sponsors all keen to support the local football team.

“Because there are so many teams within Chester Nomads, with a large number of

players, the support from local businesses is very much needed and welcomed by the club,” said John.

“Huge thanks to Robert Ellis for sponsoring the team, it is greatly appreciated.”

Robert Ellis, director of Ellis & Co added: “As a company, we don’t only offer accountancy services and business advice, we also strive to support businesses and communities wherever we can.

“We’re thrilled to be supporting the Chester Nomads under 9s, good luck to all the players for the season ahead.”

n Chester Nomads under 9s Colts team with coach Chris Evans (far left) and manager John Farrell (far right).

STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

Umbrella Marketing Apprentice -

You’re Hired!

Umbrella Marketing Team welcomes its newest member of the team and our first apprentice! After graduating from university with a Psychology BSc degree, Tori wanted to move into the world of marketing. She found herself a digital marketing apprenticeship with an experienced provider. Now nearing the completion of her apprenticeship, she has been developing her skills in social media, PPC, graphic design and analytics. All of which she is now bringing to Umbrella and our clients. Tori’s day to day role consists of writing social copy, creating a social media plan, scheduling content, exploring trends, running paid adverts, community management of channels and more.

We asked her some questions to find out a little more about her:

Why did you become an apprentice?

‘After I finished university I applied for a lot of different marketing jobs, and work

experience opportunities. I eventually started looking at other ways to get into marketing and for me, it wasn’t about the qualification of an apprenticeship, although a Merit in a CIM is a great bonus, but, it was more about the opportunities and experience the apprenticeship could offer me.’

Tell us an impressive project you’ve been involved in.

It’s not just the Umbrella team that is growing, it’s our client sector base too!

We are proud to work with a wide variety of clients, both local and international, award-winning and start-ups. Our diverse team with their different industry backgrounds and specialisms allows us to cater to all our client’s needs.

‘In the first year of my apprenticeship, I created a new brand from scratch to promote apprenticeships to businesses, in less than a year we had a substantial following on Twitter and LinkedIn through only organic growth. I also had the opportunity to visit and film apprentices and apprenticeship managers from wellknown brands, such as Bentley, Marstons, Kids Allowed and more’ Claire Davies Director of Marketing said; “Tori has fitted in so well with the Umbrella Team, and her knowledge of social media is a great asset to the team and to our clients”

n Tori Jones, Marketing Executive at Umbrella Marketing Team

Tree Frog Digital’s New Podcast SEO Without the B*** S*** things to do with marketing your business on Google. You can expect hints and tips, to algorithm updates and guest interviews, but don’t worry you don’t have to be a tech-whizz to be a listener. This podcast is aimed at business owners and marketers alike.

n The No B.S. SEO Show “Anyone who has been to one of our marketing clubs or workshops know that we are about sharing the love of digital marketing” said Tree Frog Director Chris Grice We have started a brand-new podcast “The No B.S. SEO Show” talking about all

We set this up as an extension of our other free offerings to the business community and to offer a way for small (and not so small) businesses to be able to gain a bit more clarity around the industry and the various updates that seem to happen closer and closer together nowadays.

Each week we address a topic such as the latest Google updates, a specific type of SEO strategy or something more business related like measuring you search activity.

“This is definitely not an hour-long geek fest each week, each episode will be between 10mins to 15mins each, which is perfect for lunch time listening, on your commute, or even traveling to your next Chamber event.”

You can subscribe to our podcast on Spotify, Stitcher and of course Google Podcasts, or you can listen on our website at treefrogdigital.co.uk/podcast.

If you would like to be a guest on the show (which can be done face to face or on the phone) please contact karen@ treefrogdigital.co.uk

As well as inviting you to subscribe, we are also looking for guests to come and take part and talk about their business.

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STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

IR35: How ready are you for the April 2020 deadline?

Just when you thought it was safe to move on from GDPR, close on its heels is IR35.

Private businesses have six months to comply with the new IR35 legislation.

IR35 in a nutshell IR35 is a complicated, yet important piece of tax legislation which sets out to shift the responsibility of managing tax affairs and NI for contractors on to businesses. Anyone in finance and resourcing needs to get up to speed with the impact this update will have on how their business will work. It is a crucial change and employers, employees and selfemployed people alike will be required to understand this complex area of law.

IR35 was introduced in 2000 to reduce tax avoidance by ‘disguised employees’ working

as contractors who worked as full-time employees, then billed for their work via a limited company to achieve tax efficiencies.

The onus for employment status was declared by the contractor, not the business.

The major change afoot is a reversal of this situation.

Who does IR35 affect?

These off-payroll rules will soon apply to freelance contractors in the private sector from April 2020 (the IR35 situation in the public sector changed in 2017). Medium and large businesses will be affected as they will become responsible for employment status of the work force, and freelance contractors who do not fall within the HMRC’s definition of self-employed will be affected.

What should you be doing now to be prepared?

It is recommended that any business owners, directors, or other decision-makers responsible for the HR and financial aspects of a business begin assessing freelance contract status. Depending on individual circumstances, it is also a good idea to seek expert advice from a tax expert and solicitor who specialises in employment law. Once a comprehensive audit has been undertaken, your business will be able to put in to place an effective plan to ensure you are ready to comply by April 2020.

For further advice about preparing your business for IR35, please contact Justine Watkinson, Head of Employment Law at HM: enquiries@law.uk.com

MEMBERS NEWS

Pink Spaghetti Chester & North Wales wins national award Michelle Collins, owner of Pink Spaghetti PA Services Chester & North Wales, has returned from the Approved Franchise Association Awards night triumphant, as the proud winner of the Franchisee of the Year award.

The AFA was set up in 2012 to support the rapidly growing UK Franchise Industry.

Their aim is to help grow and support the franchise industry in the UK by providing accreditation and membership to franchises of every size, and this year marked the inaugural annual conference and awards.

Michelle was thrilled to find out in July that she had been nominated for the Franchisee of the Year award, and travelled to Milton Keynes on Thursday 19th September for the awards ceremony.

Michelle says, “I have been running Pink Spaghetti Chester & North Wales for the past five years, and have many happy customers who needed the 25th hour in the day my team and I provide. Providing an efficient service to satisfied customers is of course its own reward, but it’s always nice to be

n Michelle Collins, Owner of Pink Spaghetti (right) and Nigel Apperley, CEO of Trustist (left)

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recognised for what you do, so I’m thrilled to be coming home with this award.”

Michelle is going to have to make a space in her trophy cabinet as she is no stranger to winning industry awards. She is a Small Business Saturday #SmallBiz100 Alumni, and is the current Pink Spaghetti Franchisee of the Year. She has also won the Pink Spaghetti ‘People’s Choice’ award, as she is always willing to share her expertise, and is highly regarded within the nationwide Pink Spaghetti network.

She understands her strengths, and is a capable businesswoman who regularly seeks opportunities to develop both her own skills as well as those of her team.

These are some of the strengths which won her the award. A spokesman for the AFA said, “The standard of application was so high and many awards so close.”

Michelle and her team are looking forward to helping small businesses in Chester and North Wales for many years to come by providing the 25th hour in the day so many people desperately need.

Busnes Cymru wedi helpu dros 11,000 o bobl i gychwyn neu dyfu eu busnes yn barod.

Ai chi fydd y nesaf?

Business Wales has helped over 11,000 people start or grow their business.

Will you be next?

DEWCH O HYD I’R FENTER YNOCH CHI FIND THE BUSINESS I N S I D E Y O U

01745 585025 busnescymru.llyw.cymru/dechraubusnes businesswales.gov.wales/startup

N+P Group

From Holland to Ellesmere Port Hooton Park - The First Merchant Gasification Project in the UK

By Mark Hitchman, UK Commercial Manager (North West & Midlands) N+P Alternative Fuels With over 5 Million tonnes per annum of MSW and similar C&I waste still being landfilled in the UK, plus a further 3Mtpa being exported, there is a legitimate case for new waste treatment infrastructure in the UK.

Consistently one of the largest exporters of AF out of the UK and into Europe, the company’s current focus is centred around the development of new facilities in the UK that will have a long lasting, positive impact on the UK environment.

The benefit of building new facilities on UK soil like the ones that N+P are developing, is that they provide an alternative option to waste being exported and in doing so, contribute towards the Government realising their targets to reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Additionally, they help divert waste from landfill, as well as displacing the use of fossil fuels for the production of energy.

This bold plan to move into this business sector in the UK was first conceived by the company in 2016 and meant collaborating with capable engineering partners. Such partners would not only develop largescale projects but would assist in securing funding in a market where subsidies and PFI contracts were quickly becoming unpopular and phased out, as Government and Local Authorities were seeking better value.

The N+P Group are one of the leading alternative fuel (AF) specialists in Europe.

They achieved industry recognition from the creators behind the Global Cement publication by being awarded the Global Alternative Fuels Supplier Award for the 5th consecutive year at the beginning of 2019, as well as winning the award for Outstanding Alternative Fuel Project in 2018 and more recently receiving an award from the British Government’s Department of International Trade for Most Sustainable Company.

It was during this time that N+P met CoGen, another ambitious and successful project development and engineering company that had a background in Biomass Generation who were keen to transition to the Waste Sector. Together, the two companies developed a plan to build four ACT (Advanced Conversion Technology) facilities in the UK. These plants would provide a solution for low-grade, black-bag waste that could not be recycled, otherwise known as RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel).

The first of these projects to come to life is based in the North West, located at Ellesmere Port. Construction began in November 2018, with the project build being executed by BWSC. Due to come online mid-2021, the plant will produce enough power to meet the energy demands of up to 40,000 homes and will save up to 80,000tonnes of CO2 per annum.

With an annual capacity for 240Ktpa, there are some key benefits of gasification compared to the mass burn technology used in incinerators including the fact that the process releases fewer emissions and has higher efficiencies; additionally, the amount of ash produced and requiring disposal is significantly less.

The leading Japanese technology provider Kobelco agreed to provide their equipment, know-how and considerable experience to support this exciting project.

When all four plants are built they will generate a combined waste treatment capacity close to 1 Million tonnes per annum, plugging a proportion of the UK waste infrastructure gap, but not solving it. However, N+P are not stopping there!

Parallel to these developments, N+P have also just completed construction of the first UK-based SUBCOAL pellet production plant in Teesside. SUBCOAL is an even more highly refined version of SRF and arguably the most refined AF available on the global marketplace.

SUBCOAL is a trademark owned by the family business and the product itself is currently utilised by the cement sector, with other successful trials being conducted within the steel and coal fired power plant sectors.

With big plans, the company is looking to work with customers who are keen to make a difference and want to secure better, more efficient solutions for their waste streams.

Currently the UK Commercial Team is actively engaging with waste management companies in relation to the Hooton Park project and also for the SUBCOAL project in Teesside.

We encourage any interested parties, wherever they are in the UK, to get in touch by reaching out via the company email info@np-recycling.com

MEMBERS NEWS Altimex Ltd and MJ Lighting Ltd Managing Director – Davinder Lotay has been honoured in The Manufacturer Top 100 in the UK. The Manufacturer Top 100 is part of Digital Manufacturing Week, an annual celebration of UK manufacturing that brings together technology, finance and advanced manufacturing – in the Liverpool City Region, the UK’s biggest advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

outstanding achievements in manufacturing and are profiled publicly in celebration, both in the printed publication and on the website.

The Top 100 individuals were presented with a trophy and their own copy of the report on the launch evening. They also receive lifetime VIP passes to The Manufacturer Summit events, and the opportunity to win a Manufacturing Director’s Scholarship in association with Cranfield University. They also become lifelong members of a 500-strong community of movers and shakers.

Davinder Lotay Managing Director of Altimex & MJ Lighting was also nominated as being an Inspiring Leader.

Digital Manufacturing Week is organised by The Manufacturer magazine, which for the last 20 years has connected ideas, talent and opportunities.

Davinder had been nominated as an inspiring leader who has created wealth and stable employment at UK-based manufacturing firms while remaining committed to investing in developing the value of their manufacturing businesses through people, processes and technology.

Those who have been chosen as a listed member of The Manufacturer Top 100, show that they have gained recognition for

Since February this year, the manufacturing community has been nominating role models to be featured in this year’s list. It

Professor Phil Harris Delivers Lecture at Jiangsu University School of Management Following a research project undertaken in 2018 titled; Internationalisation, Sustainability and Key Challenges Facing SMEs, Professor Phil Harris of the University of Chester, recently delivered a lecture at Jiangsu University School of Management.

After a brief introduction of the speaker

by Jiangsu University Professor Jianguo Du, Professor Harris stated that the objectives of the research on Internationalisation, Sustainability and key challenges facing SME’s were: 1. To assess firm’s Internationalisation, Sustainability level in the UK and China.

2. To explore key barriers and challenges facing businesses in the UK and China 3. To compare the differences between business in UK and China as well as SME’s and large companies.

The methodology used for the research was large-scale cross national, quantitative

survey. A total of 450 UK respondents and 560 Chinese responses were received. A total usable response rate of 63.5% was achieved.

The results of the research indicated that: 1. The Internationalisation level of Chinese respondents is higher than UK respondents in all aspects.

2. Chinese businesses were also found to have a higher proportion of overseas sales. 9.9% of Chinese businesses indicated that the proportion of overseas sales was over 50%. This is in comparison with 4.2% of UK Businesses indicating a proportion of overseas sales

took the expert team of judges a month of deliberation to decide that Davinder’s dedication to the manufacturing sector couldn’t go unnoticed!

Davinder was nominated by Archie Anson from The Manufacturer, and the winners were announced at The Top 100 Awards evening which took place on 13 November at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool. The awards were followed by an evening of drinks and the opportunity to network with the 2019 cohort of Top 100 winners and previous years.

Said Davinder Lotay, “I am delighted to be listed in The Manufacturer Top 100, this along with our other business awards, is true testament and recognition for my highly skilled team at Altimex & MJ Lighting. We have a very clear vision of how we want to operate and manufacture our products and the team is at the heart of everything we do. I am a huge advocate of STEM subjects and innovative technologies so anything I can do to help promote this industry sector is a huge win for me on a personal level.”

2019 has certainly been a year of celebration for Davinder and his team at Altimex & MJ Lighting, as this is the 3rd business accolade for his organisation that also recently won Cheshire College Small Employer of The Year and The Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the recent Cheshire Business Awards.

“Sharing the best of research from North Wales and Cheshire in China on International Business and sustainability for SME’s, has attracted considerable interest in the work of Business Research Institute and the Chamber, its businesses and people from China. We have spoken about our joint research with the Chamber and its findings at six major universities across China in Fujou, Jiangsu and Shandong over the last 18 months.

It has fostered considerable comment and interest in how we can build-up joint research and businesses between our two great countries” commented Professor Harris.

3. Over 76.3% of Chinese businesses and only 21.1% of UK Businesses have employees directly involved in international businesses.

4. Chinese companies appeared to be more internationally focused than UK firms in both imports and exports.

n L to R: Professor JIanguo Du of Jiangsu University with Professor Phil Harris of University of Chester

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CHAMBER EVENTS

Business connections blossom at Chamber Networking Over 40 guests were welcomed by staff at the MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel in Chester City Centre for a Chamber Networking Lunch.

First opened in 1650, MacDonald New Blossoms Hotel is situated within the famous Chester City Walls and is only a stone’s throw away from the Eastgate Clock Tower, a perfect location for a Networking Lunch.

The event began with open networking at the hotel bar as guests arrived, before they were seated in The Egerton Suite and welcomed by Helen Pullin, Membership Support Officer at the Chamber.

The Chamber has designed its networking events to bring local firms together and help them build those all-important business connections. The lunch events allow guests to build relationships whilst enjoying lunch at some of the region’s best locations.

Helen then welcomed Steve Frehley from Jeffrey’s Tonics, to speak about his journey of setting up his company, talking about the hurdles he encountered along the process of creating his tonic brand. Steve then explained the difference of each tonic

flavour they produce and the drinks they accompany best. Steve also generously allowed all attendees to take a couple of bottles of tonic to try for themselves!

Phillip Breen, Picanha Grill; “This was a really great event, the venue is near my business so it was a great opportunity to get out and network, and I can’t wait to get back and try a Gin & Tonic!”

Helen Pullin, Membership Support Officer; “This was an excellent event, everyone really enjoyed the venue and had plenty of time to create new connections and it was also great to see a lot of familiar faces! Thank you to Alexa and the team at the New Blossoms Hotel for hosting a fantastic event.”

Alexa Ashton, Sales, Events & Marketing Manager at MacDonald Hotels and Resorts, introduced the guests to the hotel and outlined its features, including meeting rooms and private dining facilities, plus the upcoming events being held at the venue; before guests were treated to a delicious two course meal.

Caer Rhun Hall makes a stunning location for Chamber Networking On 19th November, businesses from across the region attended a Networking Lunch at the stunning Caer Rhun Hall, organised by West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

lagoon, indoor activity centre and soft play zone, with further developments coming, including a Hilton Hotel being built on site!

“It’s always a pleasure to attend the Chamber’s networking events and today’s was no exception. Great people, great lunch and a beautiful Conwy Valley setting in Caer Rhun Hall. As after lunch speaker, it was also a much-appreciated opportunity to update fellow members on our ongoing phase two developments including our new Adrenaline Indoors adventures, our growing corporate events provision and our forthcoming Hilton Garden Inn and conference facilities.” said Louise.

Nestled in the foothills of the Snowdonia mountains in North Wales, Caer Rhun Hall is a magnificent 19th century country hotel that is hidden amidst 17 acres of enchanting gardens, making it a beautiful location for a spot of networking!

Guests were welcomed to the hotel where they had time to catch up with familiar faces and create new connections before being seated for a delicious two-course meal. Attendees were able to form deeper connections with those on their table and discover areas of potential collaboration.

After the delightful lunch, attendees heard from Louise McWatt, PR Manager at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, who spoke about the latest developments at the world-first inland surf lagoon and new indoor adventure facility -Adrenaline Indoors. Louise explained that the site

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After the brilliant talk from Louise, guests had further opportunity to connect with businesses in the room before the event came to a close.

in Dolgarrog, in the Conwy Valley, was purchased in 2008 and for the previous 100 years it had been the home of heavy industry – the Dolgarrog Aluminium Works.

Now, the site is home to an inland surf

Jenny Davidson, Events and Young Chamber Manager at the Chamber, commented; “Caer Rhun Hall is an amazing location, all the guests enjoyed networking in such a historic venue. I would like to thank all the staff for their welcoming hospitality and Louise for her amazing talk.”

CHAMBER EVENTS

Guests Race to Networking at The White Horse West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking lunch event was hosted by The White Horse on October 22nd. Over 40 local business people arrived to the picturesque views of the historic Chester Racecourse as they entered the ‘pub on the course’ for 12:30 pm.

Just before dessert was served; Frankie Hobro, Owner and Director of Anglesey Sea Zoo and Marine Resource Centre, spoke about her journey from her wildlife conservation efforts in Mauritius and the Seychelles, to returning to the UK and buying a zoo in Anglesey!

Guests who arrived early enjoyed some open networking to start the event, where they were able to create connections in the White Horse’s lovely conservatory. Everyone was then seated in the restaurant and Helen Pullin, Membership Support Officer at the Chamber, welcomed all in attendance and gave a brief overview of the day’s event.

Caroline Pattinson, Director of Cheshire Homeshare, said about the lunch event; “Frankie was an inspiring speaker,

she brought a much-needed boost of creative energy, and it’s always a pleasure to meet someone new at a Chamber event.”

After the insightful and educational talk form Frankie, dessert was served; Dark Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla Ice-Cream went down a treat!

Jenny Davidson, Events and Young Chamber Manager at the Chamber, commented: “It was great to see so many local business people making connections and thank you to all the staff at The White Horse for the excellent hospitality and the delicious food!”

A delicious main course of; Roasted Chicken Breast, Seasonal Greens, Olive Oil Mash, Chicken Jus, or Imam Spiced Aubergine and Chick Pea Stew, Charred Flatbread, Coconut Yoghurt, was then enjoyed by all guests whilst they created new business links and caught up with familiar faces.

NCAR makes a Purrr-fect venue for Chamber Networking!

North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR) hosted guests of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce to a sunny afternoon of networking and touring the facilities.

NCAR is a registered charity founded in 1978 by Anne Owen. From one thin little Lurcher, they now care for over 1800 domestic pets a year. They have grown to meet these new demands and, with the current economic situation, these services are vital for the wider community.

25 business people were welcomed to the event by Helen Pullin, Membership Support Officer at the Chamber of Commerce, at the on-site café; Doris’ Bunker. Tea, coffee and cakes were served to guests before Phil Jones, Chairman of North Clwyd Animal Rescue, talked about the work NCAR do to help rescued animals and talked about his role and involvement with the charity.

at NCAR, they explained what happens day-to-day at the facility and went through all the functions NCAR provide.

NCAR staff then took guests to see the agility and obedience shows in the exhibition area. There was then a guided tour of the main facilities by NCAR staff, guests split into two groups and were shown around the cattery and dog centre before heading into the dog retirement village and then the behavioural unit.

Adam Hobbs, Dog behavioural consultant at NCAR, then gave a talk about his role in training some of the worst behaved dogs at the centre to be more obedient, so they can eventually be re-homed!

Pip Elms, Senior Accounts Manager at Whittingham Riddell, said; “The event was amazing and wellorganised by both the Chamber and NCAR site. Staff were very welcoming and informative, and it was very heartrending and uplifting in equal measures.”

Helen Pullin, Membership Support Officer at the Chamber of Commerce, commented: “This was a fantastic networking event, and all the guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was great to see all the important work that NCAR do. Thank you to all staff at NCAR for putting on a great event and to all the guests that attended.”

Nicky Owen, Media and Fundraising Manager and Owain, Area Shop Manager at North Clwyd Animal Rescue, then talked to guests about all the great work they do

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PATRON NEWS

Council helping borough’s business leaders prepare for Brexit Dozens of business leaders from across the borough met at a special event to hear the Council’s future plans and how it can guide them through this uncertain Brexit period.

Up to 100 business leaders met with Council Leader Louise Gittins and senior officers of the Council at the Lets Talk Business event in Oulton Park to find out the support on offer.

Cheshire West and Chester Council and its partner West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce will be offering businesses advice on how to tackle the impact of Brexit.

Support includes: n Qualifying business could receive up to 10 hours fully funded tailored marketing support. It is available until 31 March 2020 and allocated on a first come basis n Businesses are being offered practical tips on building international relationships, including advice on export documentation and international trade. It is available until 31 March 2020.

The business leaders also learned about the Council’s future plans for investment, regeneration and business support.

Council Leader Councillor Louise Gittins said: “The Council is focused over the next few years in supporting our local businesses to thrive. If they are thriving then that helps our local economy to grow, businesses will expand, new businesses will invest in our borough and jobs will be created, which will ultimately help our residents to prosper.

“This event was a great opportunity to meet some of the borough’s business leaders, speak to them about our plans for the future and discuss current schemes such as the ERDF project, the LEADER project, the Northgate project and the expansion of Winsford Industrial Estate.

“We are planning similar events in the future when we will discuss other issues such as procurement, skills and apprenticeships. We will keep residents and businesses informed about these forthcoming events and our future plans.”

For further information contact business@cheshirewestandchester.gov. uk or visit the Let’s Talk Business website: https://letstalkbizcw.co.uk/ twitter:ltb@ cheshirewest

Business views sought on the Council’s Zero Carbon Agenda In May 2019, the Cheshire West & Chester Council declared a Climate Emergency. This was to help the region reduce carbon emissions across the Borough to net-zero by 2045 at the latest. This is a vitally important agenda, to both help mitigate the impacts of climate change and take advantage of the opportunities for prosperity of businesses and the health of the residents in the area. Our zero carbon goals are a substantial challenge that will need the engagement of the Council, Businesses and the Residents of the Borough to achieve this ambitious goal.

A formal stakeholder engagement plan is being developed to fully understand the impact of climate change, and as part of this process the Council is seeking to understand business views.

A number of Cheshire business leaders have already been working with the Cheshire and Warrington LEP and the recently published Local Industry Strategy which aims to be becomes a clean growth pioneer, with the potential to grow the economy from £30.9Bn to £50Bn by 2040.

The Council is working in partnership with the Chester Sustainability Forum and the forum is offering one-to-one meetings with climate specialists from the Chester Sustainability Forum.

This would give valuable input to our thinking and plans as well as offering advice and support.

If you already have a clear plan for carbon reduction in your business, we would welcome your input. You can email this to climatechange@ cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

If you feel that your business would benefit from a presentation and open discussion on climate change and your plans, please contact either (CW&C contact) or colin.d.watson@outlook. com to arrange a time that is convenient.

n Let’s Talk Business event at Oulton Park

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PATRON NEWS

Collaborative Technologies

the Key to Business Success into one cohesive solution, allowing a business to work more efficiently.

Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is a powerful tool for any business, with huge capabilities to transform the way in which departments within a business work together. It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint streamlining communication channels and enabling colleagues to work together in real time from any location.

It facilitates collaborative working on documents and virtual meetings, whilst ensuring that the business maintains high levels of security and compliance.

In the modern workplace, collaborative working is a key component of the efficiency, growth and overall survival of a business. This is something which has become increasingly important as working practices have changed and more people are working remotely.

Of course, working collaboratively is not solely beneficial to companies with remote workers, as every business will find significant benefit from implementing the right tools that will allow their teams to work together more effectively. In fact, a recent study found that 96% of employees cited lack of collaboration as the dominant reason behind workplace failures.

With customers now demanding an increasingly efficient service, collaborative working is something that should be a priority for businesses to implement. Just some of the benefits include: n An increase in the creativity and innovation of your team n A quicker turnaround n Increased productivity n Ability to work as part of a team from wherever you may be based n Greatly improved team morale leading to higher employee retention rates As IT specialists, we here at MWL Systems have seen innovations in collaborative technology move forward leaps and bounds in recent years. From implementing some of the top tools out

there for our clients, we have seen firsthand the impact that they can have on the running of a business.

Following our acquisition by Elite Group, our existing clients and new customers alike are benefitting from a wider range of services that aim to improve efficiencies within their business. Allowing for an increase in collaborative working is just one of the features of this new service offering.

There are numerous ways to achieve better collaborative working in an organisation.

One practical approach that any business can take is to implement Unified Communications in the workplace.

Unified Communications Unified Communications brings together all aspects of communication in one integrated system. This could include: email, voicemail, calendars, scheduling tools, video conferencing, instant messaging, desktop sharing and VoIP. Depending on the requirements of the business it could integrate social media accounts and other business tools such as CRM systems.

This has transformed the way that businesses operate. Not too long ago, each step in a project, from initial quote to communication with a client or colleague through to the completion of a project and approval would require a separate system. This meant that if communication within your business wasn’t highly refined, a project could run the risk of errors and delays.

Unified Communications turned this way of working on its head, providing an application that brings all communications

This isn’t just a way to enhance your current working practices, but a way to completely change the way in which teams work together. Whilst this prospect may seem a bit of a leap, it’s such a positive step as the significant benefits that Microsoft Teams produces rapidly improves business performance.

For any business, collaboration is vital to improving efficiencies, productivity and overall team satisfaction. Implementing just a few effective tools will allow your team to increase collaborative opportunities and drive projects forward.

Group Director of IT Operations, Matt Kingsley-Williams, said: “Joined up collaborative tools have always been available for big businesses, but now with Microsoft Teams being rolled out as part of Office 365, we have seen a real transformation in the ability of the SME sector to access and basically take advantage of these productivity enabling tools. Ultimately, this means smaller and medium sized businesses can collaborate more effectively and compete on a more equal footing with big business, which is good news for all companies in our region.”

“If anyone wants to learn more about how they can harness the important technologies that are now available to them, I’d urge them to contact us at MWL. As part of our technology roadmap service, our consultants can identify where Teams and other collaborative products can help businesses develop their competitive edge and be as successful as possible in these competitive times.”

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PATRON NEWS

Academy Restaurant wins AA College Restaurant of the Year… Again!

AA College Rosette deli and restaurant, the Academy, has won the prestigious AA College Restaurant of the Year Award 2018-19.

The training restaurant within Cheshire College – South & West received the accolade during the AA Hospitality Awards at the JW Marriott Hotel in London, on Monday 23 September 2019.

This is the second time that the Academy have received this prestigious award, the team also won in 2017-18.

Developed in conjunction with the AA College Rosette Scheme was designed to recognise the efforts of learners, both front and back of house, who are the future of the hospitality industry. The College accreditation process, provided by Peoples 1st recognises colleges offering exceptional hospitality training and those that perform above and beyond in a specialist field as centres of excellence.

Andy Doyle, Membership Operations Manager at Peoples 1st International, said: “Holding the ‘Highly Commended’ AA College Rosette, Academy Restaurant is recognised as a quality training restaurant in the North-West of England offering service and dishes which comfortably stand alongside other establishments in the area.

As well as its award-winning restaurant, the Academy works with a growing number of successful industry partners including Brunning and Price, Luke Thomas and The Little Food Company. The links to industry provides excellent training opportunities for learners and supports the commercial elements of the Academy’s business, which plays an important part in the teams’ overall success.

“Throughout the competition the team from Academy impressed with their passion, confidence and forward-thinking approach.

This was exemplified by the presentation from their learners to the panel of judges where they highlighted the commercial attitude of the College with outside events, connections with Nantwich Town and other local businesses. These ensure they are experiencing the diversity that the hospitality sector has to offer, enabling them to decide on their chosen career path and gain the experience and knowledge to make themselves appealing future employees.”

n Left to right: Shane Guilford, Lecturer in Hospitality and Catering, Kate Silverton, AA Hospitality Awards Presenter, Daniel Hunter, Assistant Director – Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Retail Operations,. Mark Parsons, Assistant Principal Curriculum – Faculty of Services, Engineering and Construction , Andy Doyle, Membership Operations Manager at Peoples 1st International and Simon Numford, Managing Director at AA Media.

Boost your career with Cheshire College – South & West!

Whether you’re looking to upskill, retrain, or are just in search of practical advice, exploring your education options can be challenging. At the College, we’re dedicated to helping individuals thrive and are here to support you every step of the way. As one of the leading training providers for young people, adults and Apprentices across the Cheshire region, everyone can benefit from studying a course with us. Find out more by visiting www.ccsw.ac.uk

CCSW makes commitment to support learners and staff with their mental health and wellbeing!

Cheshire College – South & West have pledged to tackle mental health issues which are believed to affect 1 in 5 of the population.

CCSW has reaffirmed their commitment to staff and learners by signing up to a brand new national Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter – created by the Association of Colleges in conjunction with mental health experts.

The 11-point document includes commitments to: n Promote equality of opportunity and challenging mental health stigma n Provide appropriate mental health training for staff

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n Provide targeted individual mental health support where appropriate Colleges across England teach and train 2.2 million people each year – including 685,000 young people. Every year, 1 in 10 young people experience a mental health problem and 1 in 5 young people aged 16-24 experience a common mental illness such as anxiety or depression at any one time. Add to these facts, 75% of adults with a diagnosable mental health problem experience their first symptoms before the age of 24 years, means Cheshire College – South & West plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its learners and staff.

With a firm commitment to providing a positive culture, the College recognises the importance of mental health and

wellbeing, and has already put a number of initiatives into practice during the last academic year.

Dhesi, Principal and CEO, said: “Every learner and staff member deserve to work, study and train in an environment that supports them to be healthy, happy and secure. That is why I am proud to sign the AoC Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter on behalf of the College.

“We take our commitment seriously and whilst we have a great track record, we are always keen to do more. This charter provides a clear direction of travel for our learners and staff as we continue to work together to support their health and wellbeing whilst they are at College.”

PATRON NEWS

Green light for health centre and apartments in Blacon Work on a new health centre and apartments in Blacon is due to get underway in the new year following the granting of planning permission.

Sanctuary Homes, the development arm of Sanctuary Group, has been given the green light to deliver 16 new apartments, a GP surgery and health centre on land next to the existing Parade Enterprise Centre.

Comprising three storeys, the health centre will be on the ground floor with the 12 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments above.

Work is scheduled to begin in January and is expected to be completed by January 2022.

It is part of Sanctuary’s wider development programme in the area which also consists of plans to build 29 homes for the over 55s at Kelsall.

Land has been acquired and work is due to begin before the end of the year.

There will be two-bedroom apartments for shared ownership, two-bedroom bungalows for affordable rent and two and three-bedroom bungalows for outright sale.

Sanctuary’s senior development manager, Danielle Wrigley, said: “These developments further underline Sanctuary’s ongoing commitment to the Cheshire West and Chester region “I am particularly delighted to see the redevelopment of The Parade continuing to take shape with the new GP surgery and health centre which, along with 16 apartments, will be a significant addition to Blacon.”

Sanctuary has also completed six apartments on a former garage site in Church Road in Saughall, providing muchneeded affordable homes in the village.

If you have any land opportunities that you would like to discuss with Sanctuary Homes, please contact Danielle Wrigley on 01244 305563 or send an email to danielle.wrigley@sanctuary-housing.co.uk

New Blacon gym opened by city MP Chester MP Chris Matheson has officially opened a new gym for the residents of Blacon.

Mr Matheson was among a number of guests who attended the launch party of the gym, which is being run by Rage Fitness Company at Blacon Adventure Playground.

He was joined for the ribbon cutting ceremony by 12-year-old Luca Apollonio, who has been helped by Rage to improve his self-confidence.

Featuring a wide variety of state-of-the-art equipment, including one of the largest

functional fitness tracks in the UK, the gym welcomes people of all ages and abilities, with support and training on offer from Rage’s team of expert instructors.

Blacon Adventure Playground is owned by local social enterprise Avenue Services, a not-for-profit organisation and a joint venture between Sanctuary Group and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Avenue Services has been working with Rage to develop its business and expand the range of services it offers to residents in Blacon.

Chris Leicester, Neighbourhood Partnerships Manager at Avenue Services, said: “The new gym is a fantastic addition to the facilities on offer at Blacon Adventure Playground and something that will offer considerable benefits to the whole community.

“Rage provides a valuable and accessible service for residents in Blacon and we’re delighted to be supporting them with their work.”

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MEMBERS NEWS

Three Chamber Members Win BCC Awards for Wales Region!

Three members from West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber have been crowned winners in the Wales heats of the BCC Chamber Business Awards 2019.

Now in their 16th year, the Awards are a highlight of the business calendar, recognising the key role that local businesses play in driving the UK economy.

Advatek UK Ltd, an Innovative, Managed ICT Services Company from Wrexham, has been announced as the High Growth Business of the Year winner, Platts Animal Bedding, a manufacturer and supplier of quality animal bedding from Wrexham, has been announced as the Small Business of the Year winner and Edge Transport Ltd, a logistics and distribution company from Deeside, has been announced as the Family Business of the Year winner.

Simon Koscinski, Director at Advatek UK Ltd, commented:

n Debbie Bryce, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce presenting the awards with Platts Animal Bedding (left image), Advatek UK Ltd (centre image) and Edge Transport Ltd (right image).

“Winning the award for High Growth Business in the Wales region is testament to the hard work and dedication that the team at Advatek display on a daily basis.

The commitment of the team enables Advatek to provide a first-class service to our clients and that coupled with our innovative technology solutions, has seen us continue to deliver fantastic year-on-year growth.”

Caroline Thedens, Managing Director of Platts Animal Bedding, commented: “After winning the 2018 Business Growth Award last year at the WCNW Annual Recognition Celebration, as well as one of our Apprentices, Ross Thedens being awarded the Young Person of the Year, we were inspired to enter some more Awards – to celebrate our successes. Earlier on this year, some of our team attended the BCC Annual Conference, where we first heard about the National Awards- and decided there and then to enter! The deadline soon came around, but it was a great surprise to be announced as Welsh winners.

Aaron & Partners break records for third consecutive year Annual fee income at Chester law firm has surpassed a record-breaking £10.5 million The firm, who employ over 140 partners and staff across its Chester and Shrewsbury offices, have invested in growing and developing their team Leading Chester legal practice Aaron & Partners is celebrating after a third consecutive year of increased annual income, that saw fees grow by more than 8 per cent to over £10.5 million for the 12 months to the end of April 2019.

The announcement comes following a significant year for the firm, with the appointment of a new Senior Partner to lead the future growth strategy. Nick Clarke, who joined Aaron & Partners in 1999, has taken on the position, with Simon Edwards stepping down from the role after 22 years.

The increase from last year’s total marks a milestone in the firm’s 36-year history as annual fees surpass the £10 million mark for the first time, with all of the firm’s

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teams across its offices in Chester and Shrewsbury matching or improving on their results from 2017/18.

The increase in income has allowed the firm to invest in developing its people and recruiting new staff members to broaden the firm’s expertise.

“The past 12 months has been a time of change for us as a firm, but I’m very proud that the firm has achieved another year of impressive growth across all of our offices, said Nick Clarke, Senior Partner at Aaron & Partners.

“As an organisation we have never been stronger, and we owe our success to the talented and driven people we have.

Over the last 12 months, our team have worked hard to continue to meet our targets for sustained growth, broadening our export market and future-proofing despite challenges we face.”

Jenny Edge, Commercial Director at Edge Transport Ltd. Commented: ““Family” is what we are all about! We’ve 86 years of Edge family members in the business but it really is our “extended family”, the whole team at Edge, that makes our company a great place to work in and as successful as it is today.”

Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, was delighted to present each winner with their certificates, saying “A huge congratulations to Advatek UK Ltd, Edge Transport Ltd and Platts Animal Bedding! We are so proud to have three of our members as winners for the Welsh region.”

“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with excellent service and our continued growth is a reflection of the work we do for our clients.”

Aaron & Partners is also celebrating another year of impressive rankings in both The Legal 500 and The Chamber & Partners guide – recognised independent industry guides to the top professionals working in the top legal practices.

Independently, Aaron & Partners’ 121-strong Chester team saw fees increase by 7 per cent year-on-year reflecting an impressive year for the team in Cheshire.

For more information about Aaron & Partners, visit http://www.aaronandpartners.com n The team at Aaron & Partners LLP

MEMBERS NEWS

Remsdaq Wins Innovation, Technology & Enterprise Award at Flintshire Business Awards 2019 The thirteenth annual Flintshire Business Awards were celebrated recently at an award ceremony at Soughton Hall.

The Awards recognise excellence and outstanding performance by businesses across the county.

n Robin Koffler, Sales and Marketing Director at Remsdaq (left) receives the award on behalf of from Chris Wallis, Business Development Manager for Kingspan Insulated Panels (right)

Remsdaq won the Innovation, Technology & Enterprise category, sponsored by Kingspan Insulated Panels and were one of nine winners on the night. The exclusive black-tie award event was attended by more than 200 influential businesspeople, celebrated the success of Flintshire companies from a range of industries.

Remsdaq won the award for their EntroPad range of access control readers, keypads and request to exit buttons which have antimicrobial protection built in. The

Breakthrough in the Crawfish Challenge!

Juvenile Spiny Lobsters have been successfully reared for the first time through a captive breeding and rearing programme based in the Marine Resource Centre at Anglesey Sea Zoo. The European Spiny Lobster or Crawfish, known locally in Wales as Cimwch Coch, was once common around the coasts of Anglesey, Bardsey and Aberdaron but is now rarely seen in Welsh waters. It once provided an essential livelihood for lobster fishermen on the Llŷn Peninsula and other areas around North Wales. During the 1980s the number of spiny lobsters caught on the Llŷn Peninsula declined by over 90% and the species has not recovered since.

In 2012, RAS Aquaculture Research Ltd (RASAR) and Anglesey Sea Zoo collaborated to establish a spiny lobster breeding programme using advanced water treatment technology in order to tackle the immense challenge of breeding the species in captivity. In 2013, grant support was secured from the European Fisheries Fund Programme for Wales delivered through the Welsh Government to commission construction of a laboratory and purpose-built water treatment system at the Anglesey Sea Zoo.

After 5-6 years of dedicated hard work, the project has produced a number of captive bred juvenile spiny lobsters during the 2019 season, which is a huge achievement and a first for this species in Europe. The project is ideally located at the Anglesey Sea Zoo, where it has already generated significant interest. The Marine Resource Centre has housed a common lobster hatchery for over 30 years, several hundred juvenile common lobsters are still released annually through the programme around the coast of Anglesey to contribute to wild populations.

Dr David Fletcher, Owner and Director of RAS Aquaculture Research said: “It’s particularly satisfying for Wales to have taken the European lead in developing techniques that may one day assist in restoring the European spiny lobster to its former haunts like Bardsey Island. While further work is still required, farming the spiny lobster in land-based farms, using water treatment technologies also developed in North Wales, may offer fishermen an additional income source while also assisting with the financing of spiny lobster restoration projects. However, any attempts at restoration programmes can only be considered after a detailed assessment of the residual wild spiny lobster

EntroPad range is designed to reduce contamination in clean environments including hospitals, laboratories, surgeries, food manufacturing & preparation companies and works with any Wiegandcompatible access control system. Third party testing to ISO 22196:2011 proves the integral antimicrobial protection on the new EntroPad devices kills up to 99.99% of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria over a 24-hour period.

Robin Koffler, sales and marketing director at Remsdaq says: “We are thrilled to win the Flintshire Business Award as recognition of our agile innovation strategy, allowing us to rapidly develop products for specific niches which are then manufactured at our Deeside facility.”

stocks in Wales. This is especially important to avoid any negative impacts of releasing cultured juveniles”.

Cooperation between RASAR and the Sea Zoo as an educational tourism business focussing on marine conservation is an ideal opportunity for raising awareness of the plight of the spiny lobster species globally.

Ms Frankie Hobro, Owner & Director of Anglesey Sea Zoo adds “I am delighted that we have been able to house the spiny lobster breeding project here at the Sea Zoo for so many years. We want to continue to raise public awareness of this incredible, iconic and valuable native species, which used to play an important role in the local fishing economy but has become incredibly rare in recent decades.

With this success we hope to progress to the stage where we can release juveniles which we have bred in captivity to help boost wild spiny lobster populations in key areas around North Wales”.

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CHAMBER NEWS

Businesses Discover HS2 Supply Chain Opportunities Business from across the region attended an event on 1st October at Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel which highlighted a host of opportunities that are available for businesses in West Cheshire and North Wales to become part of the HS2 supply chain.

High Speed Two (HS2) is the new highspeed railway that will be the backbone of the national rail network. It will link London and Birmingham to Manchester, the East Midlands and Leeds.

By delivering new, dedicated express routes between cities, HS2 will provide much-needed capacity to Britain’s rail network and free up space for local and freight services on existing lines. The delivery of other transformational schemes,

including Northern Powerhouse Rail, rely on the connections that HS2 will make.

The event gave businesses from the region the opportunity to hear from Robert Slater, Supply Chain Manager at HS2 Ltd, who provided the audience with an overview of HS2, an update on its procurement programme, explained what HS2 is looking for from its supply chain and how suppliers of all sizes can get ready to be part of Europe’s largest infrastructure project.

Robert said: “We work closely with West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and welcomed the opportunity to engage with local businesses. We will need companies of all sizes to fill our order book

BCC: Skills shortages impacting businesses as labour market remains buoyant The percentage of UK firms facing recruitment difficulties has returned to previous highs, while one in four businesses expect to increase headcount according to the UK’s largest survey of employers.

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You can find out more about how to access the HS2 supply chain here: https:// www.hs2.org.uk/supply-chain/.

Looking forward, one in four businesses plan to increase their headcount in Q4 2019, and two in three expect to keep their workforce consistent. Just 8 per cent of UK firms expect to decrease their headcount in Q4 2019. Supporting signs of a buoyant recruitment market, over 740,000 job vacancies advertised on Totaljobs in Q3 2019, with over 13 million applications made on the platform.

BCC Director General Adam Marshall said: “Jobseekers will welcome the fact that many businesses are continuing to hire staff, but policymakers should be alarmed that skills shortages continue to bedevil firms – particularly in the skilled roles that will be needed to drive healthy manufacturing and export performance following Brexit.

n One in four (27%) British businesses plan to increase their headcount in the next quarter (Q4 2019), with two thirds believing their workforce will remain constant.

Skills shortages were predominantly felt across skilled manual roles and professional roles, with 80 per cent of construction firms and 71 per cent of transport and distribution businesses facing difficulties recruiting the right staff. In the run up to Christmas,

Phill Jones, Chairman of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce added: “HS2 has the potential to bring a host of benefits to our region and there are real opportunities for local businesses to get involved in the supply chain. This event gave firms a great insight into those opportunities, as well as advice on the application process”.

Although over half (54 per cent) of UK businesses tried to recruit in Q3 2019, just one in four (28%) micro- businesses attempted to recruit. In contrast, 75% of small and mid-sized businesses (250+ employees) and 90% of large businesses (250+ employees) recruited in the same period.

n Over half (54%) of British businesses recruited in the last three months, with nearly three quarters reporting recruitment difficulties, as skills shortages persist.

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce reveals that almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of businesses who attempted to recruit faced recruitment difficulties in Q3 2019, compared with 64 per cent in Q2.

and build Britain’s new railway. HS2 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-balance Britain and we look forward to working with more companies in the region as work progresses.”

70,000 transport and distribution roles were advertised on Totaljobs in Q3, receiving an average of 23 applications per vacancy.

Despite concerns over Brexit deadlock, labour market performance and expectations are holding up fairly well. Only 11 per cent of businesses have decreased their workforce in Q3, with one in four businesses increasing their total headcount.

Headcount remained consistent at 62 per cent of responding businesses.

“The next government must swiftly translate election promises into action and deliver more generous investment in high-quality technical and vocational education at all levels, alongside a flexible, fast and affordable immigration system that provides access to a broad range of skills.

It must radically reduce upfront business costs so firms have the confidence and cashflow to back this up with on-the-job training and apprenticeships.”

GETTING STARTED What have been your main achievements and difficulties?

To begin, tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I spent over 20 years teaching A-Level Computer Science and ICT at a sixth form college. I found teaching to be an amazing opportunity to make a difference to someone’s life and the energy and enthusiasm of the students helped keep me switched on and engaged in my job. Every day was different and you could never predict what was going to happen – it certainly was a dynamic profession!

What made you set up the business?

I had made the decision to leave teaching as I felt I wanted to do something more with my career, possibly

in the sphere of team-building. I wasn’t sure what exactly, but I had always advocated teamwork with my students, so it seemed like a natural progression.

How and when did the idea come about?

I’d always liked the idea of puzzles, clues, and conundrums. I had also done some professional quizzing for corporates and charity fundraising – so I’d already thought about possibly combining the two. In addition to this, I had played about with a basic piece of software that allowed you to build GPS hunts. Once I’d used it, I came up with a long list of things it didn’t do which it should. That was my “Eureka” moment. A digital treasure hunt that involved trivia questions, visual puzzles and a host of innovative and unique features. I just had to get the system and the app built then!

Who are your target audience and what is the main aim of the organisation?

Everyone is my target audience!

Corporates looking for a fresh approach to team building, universities wanting to orientate and inform new students, stags and hens who want a change from the traditional weekend activity, charities looking to offer new ways of fundraising. In fact, I cannot think of a reason not to do a Digital Treasure Hunt! The main aim of PuzzleDuck is to provide its customers with a fun and engaging, shared collective experience that allows them to explore the locations of the hunt, discover new and interesting information and connect with each other in an active and unique way.

The main achievement I think was getting all the ideas I had for the system and app, from out of my head and into lines of code that actually did something! I worked closely with the Informatics Centre of the University of Chester in the development of the technology and amazingly enough, the lead developer I worked with was an ex-student of mine. So it was nice to see he had taken notice of what I taught him and made himself a career in computing!

The biggest difficulty was trying to decide on the right market for the app. I initially started with a team-building focus – but that didn’t seem to grab people’s attention. I thought I’d made a huge financial mistake! I then realised that the hunts were attractive in many ways. They didn’t have to be sector-specific; anyone could find a use for them. Once I opened up to the possibility of multiple markets, everything made more sense.

What attracted you to entrepreneurship? Why was this?

I don’t think I made a conscious decision to become an entrepreneur – I’m still not sure I am one now! What I wanted was the freedom to work for myself and create something which I had thought about for a long time. Running PuzzleDuck allows me to freely consider anything and everything that could be incorporated into the business. Nothing is ever a stupid idea – until I analyse it carefully – and then possibly identify it as a stupid idea

What are your career aims and aspirations?

Simply to have fun running PuzzleDuck.

I love every moment spent creating a hunt, researching locations and creating puzzles and as long as I continue to experience that passion, all my aims and aspirations will be satisfied.

What message would you give to fellow entrepreneurs or people looking to get involved in setting up their own business or organisation?

I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask, as I literally put my life savings into something which only existed in my head! But I guess out of that comes the message, if you believe in something, want it badly enough, and have faith in yourself, then why not have a go? If you feel scared about doing it – that’s good. It shows you think you aren’t ready to do it. So do it – and grow.

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YOUNG CHAMBER

Another Great Year for the Young Chamber Programme!

2019 has been another amazing year for the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s Young Chamber Programme.

We have seen eight Young Chamber Members join the scheme, taking the total number of schools and colleges being supported to 16. The number of businesses that sponsor the programme has also grown considerably to 96, highlighting the commitment from firms to actively tackle the skills gap in the region and help students gain the experience and knowledge required when entering the workplace.

Sponsors have engaged with over 2500 pupils at 24 different events, which equates to a staggering 200 business hours of support for students in the West Cheshire & North Wales region.

“The support that our sponsors have given over the past 12 months has been nothing short of incredible. Each and every Sponsor should be proud of their contribution to the programme which is beginning to make a real difference.” Said Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber.

With a host of events already planned for the new year, 2020 is set to be another busy one for the Young Chamber Programme with Jenny Davidson, Events & Young Chamber Manager at the Chamber, saying; “We have some great events planned already and are working on some exciting projects for Sponsors to get involved in next year. I’d like to thank each Sponsor that has supported the programme over the last 12 months and look forward to seeing you at events next year!”.

Below is some of the feedback we’ve had from students at Archers Brook School over the last year: Chester Zoo talk: “We enjoyed the talk from the zoo because it was about conservation. We have been doing work on conservation in school and about honey bees. We learned that we can do a lot at school to help our local wildlife, like making bug hotels or hedgehog homes”. - Lucas, Year 8

Finance and Marketing (Enterprise Event): “It was a great event. We had to think about our enterprise project like a business. We had to work out the cost and then make it affordable for people to buy it. We then looked at how we can market our bird houses so that people would want to buy them. We also had tea and biscuits which was good.” Chris, Year 9 Careers Event: “The people from the businesses were kind and they were interested in us. Each business was different so they had something for everyone that attended. They asked lots of questions and they wanted to know our strengths and our qualities. It gave me confidence” - Ronnie, Year 10.

Sam, a student at Christleton High School, said on his experience: “The Young Chamber programme has helped me to build my confidence in so many ways, from interacting with different businesses to exposing me to different career paths.

Working with them has been a fantastic opportunity.”

n It’s been a busy year for our Young Chamber Sponsors! This is a collection of images from events over the last 12 months.

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YOUNG CHAMBER

Young Chamber Making an Impact Davinder Lotay, Managing Director of both companies, has worked closely with Young Chamber Members to support students across the region and bridge the skills gap. Through attending Young Chamber events, such as; careers fairs, enterprise projects and mock interview days, Davinder has been able to provide invaluable help and support to schools and colleges that are part of the Young Chamber programme.

After engaging with Young Chamber Member Chester International Studio (CIS) at previous events, Davinder was keen to engage further with the school and has since hosted a student on a week-long work experience.

Altimex Ltd, an advanced manufacturer of electronics and optics, and MJ Lighting Technology Ltd, who design and manufacture high quality bespoke LED lights, have been long supporters of the Young Chamber programme.

Matthew Marsland, a 16-year-old student at CIS, has a passion for engineering and manufacturing which made a perfect match for Davinder’s two companies.

Matthew was able to experience some essential skills needed in the engineering and manufacturing sectors including; testing circuits, soldering and wire cutting. These experiences will be a great addition to

Matthew’s CV when applying for jobs in the future. Throughout his week at Altimex and MJ Lighting, Matthew had a taster at every job role within the companies, giving him a varied knowledge of how the electrical manufacturing firms work day-to-day.

Matthew said on his time at Altimex and MJ Lighting; “I have really enjoyed my time at Altimex Ltd and MJ Lighting. I have learnt lots of new skills that will help me in the future!

I especially enjoyed testing the circuits that I made.”

Davinder commented on Matthew’s work experience: “Matthew has been very confident from his first day at Altimex, and has got to know the staff really well. He has approached each task thrown at him with open arms. He is working on real life projects and has a real willingness to learn each job role.”

n Matthew Marsland working on a circuit board

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Andy Ainscough Managing Director, Adventure Parc Snowdonia

WCNW: To begin, tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I grew up in Wigan, Lancashire as one of five siblings. I always loved being active and trying new sports as a youngster: kayaking, rock climbing and swimming – anything in the outdoors really. We spent a lot of family weekends and holidays in The Lakes and North Wales.

As I got into my teens, I started playing a lot of rugby league, and when I was 16, I signed semi-pro, playing with Leigh Centurions and Swinton Lions until my early twenties. For a few years I thought that would be where my career would go.

When I left school, I went into the family business, Ainscough Crane Hire.

I did an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering, but much as I loved the job, I never saw myself as doing it forever. I started to work as an outdoor instructor during the summer months.

I surfed a couple of times as a kid on family holidays but given the lack of waves near Wigan it only became a regular thing after I was old enough to drive. By my early twenties I was spending

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most of my weekends up at the crack of dawn driving around the country in search of waves.

WCNW: What made you set up the business?

We acquired our site in the village of Dolgarrog, in the Conwy Valley, in 2008. For the previous 100 years it had been the home of heavy industry – the Dolgarrog Aluminium Works – which had operated for around 100 years. It went into liquidation in 2007.

Our vision was to use the site to develop a leisure attraction, one that would fit with the region’s emerging adventure tourism sector.

Around the same time, I had just come across the Spanish engineering company Wavegarden. They had spent the previous 10 years developing their pioneering wave technology and were looking for a site for their first commercial venture. It seemed like a great fit for us – we had a large site with plenty of space for sizable lagoon. We also had a source of water, because we’re right next door to a hydroelectric power station. Finally, we also had a place to drain our water when necessary – we’re just 150 metres from the Conwy River. What had initially seemed like a completely leftfield idea started to stack up.

WCNW: Once the idea was formed, what did you do next?

From a practical point of view, it was clear from the outset that the most challenging aspect of the development would be the environment clear up. There was over 100 years of heavy metal contamination in the ground, and it needed very careful management to remove it safely. We worked in close partnership with Natural Resources Wales to achieve that.

WCNW: What are your main responsibilities?

As Managing Director I’m involved in most aspects of the business, but I suppose my overarching responsibility is to make sure the business is evolving in a way that is consistent with our values and vision. The last 12 months have been dominated by the construction and then launch of our new adventure facility, Adrenaline Indoors.

It opened on 1st August this year, four years to the day after we opened our surf lagoon. We also had a re-brand this year to reflect our wider offer, changing our name from Surf Snowdonia to Adventure Parc Snowdonia.

THE BIG INTERVIEW WCNW: What does a typical day involve?

I’m usually into the office before 8am, and whilst I try to have a daily catch up with our department heads, there’s no typical day if I’m honest. The biggest challenge for me is to make sure I get some quiet time to catch up on emails and do my admin - my meetings can really stack up so it’s not always easy.

Ideally, I’ll try to end the day with a surf.

WCNW: Who are your target audience and what is the main aim of the organisation?

We’ve got a really broad audience who want to engage with our adventures – particularly since we launched Adrenaline Indoors. A real growth market for us this year has been our corporate guests. Adrenaline Indoors is a great place for a day of team building, with activities like artificial caving, aerial obstacles, extreme slides, stunt jumps, zip lines and freefall drops. It’s a lot of fun, and a great way to bring a team together.

We had St Helens Rugby League squad here for a team building day just before they won the Super League. I shouldn’t say it as a Wigan lad, but we like to think we had a small hand in that!

It probably goes without saying that we get a lot of committed surfers who come here week in week out for our guaranteed waves. But we also get a lot of novices who want to learn in a safe environment, family groups, and even stags and hens. We see a lot of parents, grandparents and children enjoying the same activities, which is great.

WCNW: What projects are you currently working on?

Most of my time right now is taken up with our phase two developments, which are ongoing this year. We’re just about to finish steel piling for a 106-bedroom Hilton Garden Inn, which we’re building on the north shore of our lagoon. It will open in Autumn 2020, with conference and spa facilities.

WCNW: How have things gone so far?

So far we’re on track, but it’s definitely not been without its challenges. And there have been a lot of meetings to get through.

WCNW: Any difficulties? If so how did you overcome them?

On a project of this size, difficulties crop up on an almost-daily basis. You have to take the rough with the smooth, take calculated risks when called for, and recognise when it’s time to consult the experts.

WCNW: Did you ever think ‘I’ve taken on too big a risk’? If so, how did you overcome it?

I’ve had my moments! When we launched Surf Snowdonia in 2015 we had some operational difficulties which gave me some sleepless nights. But that comes with the territory – this was a world-first engineering project, and those kinds of teething issues are to be expected.

A combination of fine-tuning the functionality of the product and increasing the frequency of our maintenance cycles has seen us overcome those snags.

WCNW: Looking ahead, what are your main aims for the organisation and how would you like it to develop?

The key ambition for us right now is to develop a sustainable business which is operational 12 months of the year.

Our weather-proof adventures at Adrenaline Indoors and our high-quality accommodation at the Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia are key to us achieving that.

WCNW: How have businesses and individuals responded to what you’re offering?

We always collaborate when possible and have invested time in getting to know our local community and local businesses. It’s always been pretty positive.

WCNW: Are there any particular people, business leaders or others you look up to?

What have you learned from them?

I have to tip a nod to my dad here, Martin Ainscough. A great businessman who has done a lot of amazing charitable work too – he was one of the founders of the Wigan Youth Zone. Richard Branson is an obvious one, and I really admire Yvon Chouinard, the environmentalist and founder of the Patagonia clothing brand.

WCNW: What are your career aims and aspirations? Is there anything else in particular you’d like to achieve in your lifetime?

Business growth is always on the cards, but for now my focus is here.

WCNW: What message would you give to other people in business?

Take it one small step at a time.

“Adrenaline Indoors is a great place for a day of team building, with activities like artificial caving, aerial obstacles, extreme slides, stunt jumps, zip lines and freefall drops.”

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ECONOMY

Economic Survey Indicates Fall in Business Confidence The latest Quarterly Economic Survey from West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce has revealed that business confidence in the region has slumped to its lowest level since the EU referendum in 2016.

The number of businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales reporting an increase in Domestic Sales and Orders fell to the lowest level since Q4 2016 whilst Export Sales and Orders fell into negative territory for the first time (meaning more reported a decrease than an increase).

These findings could be as a result of the notable slowdown in global growth prospects and the unwinding of stockpiling that we saw ahead of the original Brexit deadline at the end of March 2019.

In Focus with SHEQ Health & Safety Consultants Paul Hughes, Managing Director at SHEQ Health & Safety Consultants, has more than 20 years’ experience working in the health and safety sector and during that time has worked within the major construction, civil engineering, rail, oil and gas and highways sectors.

Here, Paul talks us through his response to the Quarterly Economic Survey for the third quarter of 2019: You’ve indicated that sales and interest in your service offering has been growing steadily over the last three months, are there any specific reasons behind this?

There is a real lack of awareness in the SME marketplace regarding statutory Health and Safety obligations and the consequences of none or inadequate compliance which can result in prosecution, injury or imprisonment. I have spent a lot of time networking and meeting with Snr. Stakeholders of local businesses to highlight the potential risks and how to mitigate these through bespoke tailored solutions that protect the company their

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employees, clients and customers. SHEQ H&S Consultants has also been chosen as a preferred partner for Gamlins Law’s Go for Growth initiative helping SMEs achieve their business and growth goals. My passion for providing robust, relevant and unbiased advice has resulted in several new customers and numerous enquiries that my team and I are still working through.

Do you have any concerns about external factors? If so, what are they?

From a purely Health and Safety perspective, legislation is constantly changing and adapting in response to real life events, keeping up to date with these changes is paramount in ensuring our customers are and remain compliant. As businesses themselves change, adapt and grow in response to the markets within which they operate, they should in turn perform a review or audit of their health and safety procedures and working practices to ensure these remain fit for purpose.

From a broader business perspective however, uncertainty around Brexit and the UK’s future relationship with the EU has led to concerns around the impact that inflation and corporation tax could have on our business. The potential change to our UK government could also potentially impact our future business costs in regards to inflation and corporation tax.

Firms’ investment intentions in plant & machinery remained unchanged from the previous quarter. After a rise in training investment plans seen quarter two of 2019, responses indicate that intentions have dipped to levels seen at the start of year.

Firms also continue to be plagued by recruitment difficulties with 93% of businesses that tried to recruit staff in the three months leading up to the survey fieldwork, encountering problems.

“To boost and incentivise investment, our business communities are looking for a bold growth agenda here at home. The next government must hit the ground running and introduce measures to reduce the upfront cost of doing business, deliver major infrastructure projects, and unblock the arteries of Britain’s skills and immigration systems” said Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the Chamber.

Your confidence going into the next 12 months remains high. Are there any particular reasons behind this?

There has been a lot of media focus recently on the often-tragic events resulting from inadequate health and safety provision. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that in Great Britain in 2018/2019 period there were 147 fatal injuries at work and 1.4 million people suffering from a work-related illness.

There were 364 cases prosecuted resulting in a conviction with fines from convictions totalling £54.5 and 28.2 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. The estimated economic cost to Great Britain totalled £15billion in 2017/2018.

Every business whether it has 1 or 100+ employees needs some level of Health and Safety it is not something a business can afford to do without.

What would you say is the biggest challenge facing businesses in your industry at the moment?

I suppose readers are expecting me to say Brexit however the good news is that legal requirements will remain the same as they are now post Brexit. As I see it the biggest challenge is educating businesses and employees in good Health and Safety practice, ensuring these and associated behaviours are embedded in company culture to keep everyone safe.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Chamber Business Brexit Readiness Events a Huge Success Just under 150 firms from the West Cheshire & North Wales region have received support for the Chamber of Commerce on how to prepare for a No-Deal Brexit.

The support ran throughout October and included three Business Brexit Readiness Events, a full day training course and one-to-one support sessions. These have all focused on the practical steps that businesses can take to prepare for the changes that Brexit may bring to their firms.

During the readiness events, delegates heard from Becky Stark - Director of Stark Export Focus, Simon Booth - Transport and Supply Chain Specialist at DSV, Justine Watkinson

– Head of Employment Law and Group Engagement Director at Hillyer McKeown and Kevin Walsh – UK Sales Director at LV Shipping.

“The feedback that we have had from those that received the support has been incredible. It was really important for the Chamber to highlight the steps that businesses could be taking in order to plan for a no-deal Brexit scenario and I believe we have done that extremely well” said Hayley Gray, Export Documentation Manager at the Chamber.

There are several steps businesses can take now to start planning ahead, for example;

n Has your business devoted time to considering the potential consequences of Brexit on your businesses? n Have you mapped your supplier and customer base and considered how changes could affect them? n Is your sector is included in the planning notices issued by the UK Government and European Commission?

“With the new Brexit date of 31st January 2020, a no-deal is still a possibility so I would urge those that are yet to think about how Brexit might impact your business to get in touch with the Chamber” added Hayley.

To find out how your business can prepare for Brexit, go to https://wcnwchamber. org.uk/voice-of-business/brexit/ or email export@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

New Training Courses to Support Firms that Trade Internationally West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce has released its International Trade Training Course schedule for 2020.

The courses, which start from 23rd January 2020, have been designed to take firms through all aspects of international trade and highlight key areas for consideration for their specific business.

The courses are accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and cover the full exporting journey - from an introduction to documentation, methods of payment and routes to market - and have seen numerous businesses in the region successfully take part previously.

“I’ve been exporting around the world in various jobs for many years, but the Chamber of Commerce course gave me a much better understanding of the terms and how critical they are,” said Jo Windeler, Customer Service Team Leader at Tate & Lyle.

By taking part in six of the training courses, participants gain a Foundation Award in International Trade, certified by the BCC, which is equivalent to an NVQ 2 qualification.

2020 sees the introduction of a new set of INCOTERMS®, published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). INCOTERMS® help exporters and importers avoid misunderstandings by clearly defining each other’s responsibilities in the delivery of goods.

Those wanting an in-depth look into the new INCOTERMS® can attend a training course on 23rd January that will help firms get to grips with the changes.

“The training courses that we provide are a great way for firms that trade internationally to upskill employees and give them in-depth knowledge of how to export efficiently and compliantly,” said Hayley Gray, Export Documentations Manager at the Chamber.

“With uncertainty remaining around the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU, our courses are kept up to date with latest developments and allow firms to prepare for potential changes in procedures”.

To view upcoming course dates, go to https://portal.wcnwchamber.org.uk/ training.html

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WHAT I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT...

Cheshire West

Voluntary Action

n A recent networking meeting with the Cheshire West Voluntary Action members

Our passion is the third sector. We have the privilege of working with people who have a desire and commitment to make a real difference to the community they live in. The majority of people we have helped to set up a community group or charity are volunteers themselves, living on social benefits and operating on a shoe-string budget. They do so because they have a passion and belief in what they want to achieve; it is inspiring and humbling in equal measures. This is why the third sector is our passion. In fact, we personally don’t refer to it as the third sector; for us, it’s the first sector.

It is the sector the government reaches out to so it can bridge funding cuts and social and health issues.

As businesses have the Chamber of Commerce, voluntary organisations in Cheshire West have us. We are the essential infrastructure service that supports every level of charitable organisation and we are more than aware every voluntary organisation needs a strong infrastructure it can depend upon to thrive. We work hard to provide a voice for charities and

community groups to improve the lives of local people, from mothers suffering postnatal depression, to those experiencing social isolation and poverty.

And we’ve been doing this for over a hundred years.

If you ask most people what we do, they’ll say something about ‘volunteering’ and to some extent, they’re right. We do have an accessible, regularly-updated online database of the latest voluntary opportunities in Cheshire West. But we do so much more. There are over 6,000 charities in Cheshire and we provide capacity building advice, support and essential skill building training to around 800 of them each year and there’s only six of us!

We believe it is a wonderful sector to work in; full of inspirational people from diverse backgrounds, each one with a story to tell, and it is these stories that ensure our levels of motivation remain high. We share their overwhelming sense of driving change in the face of funding restrictions and ever increasing financial challenges. The third

sector is, if anything, resilient. Cheshire West Voluntary Action will always find a way to ‘fix a problem.’ One of our successful projects is Skillshare. It was a unique bridge between the business and voluntary sector.

Businesses in Cheshire West have kindly embraced Corporate Social Responsibility and have become an important auxiliary support for many groups.

“The majority of people we have helped to set up a community group or charity are volunteers themselves, living on social benefits and operating on a shoe-string budget.”

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FINANCE

Commercial Mortgages: laying the foundation for business growth

By John Clarke, Head of Direct Sales, Wesleyan Bank Buying, rather than renting, can be a welcome dose of certainty in uncertain times. For every business working from rented accommodation, there is a point where it may be more advantageous to purchase your own premises. This decision may be driven by a requirement for more office or storage space, or influenced by your landlord seeking to raise your rental agreement.

A commercial mortgage offers several advantages over financing a property purchase from capital. Agreed monthly payments make cash flow forecasting easier while the interest portion of the repayments is usually tax-deductible, although this is down to your personal circumstances and is subject to change in the future. Commercial mortgage loans can also offer security and financial benefits. Businesses can maintain greater control by having the necessary working capital to invest towards driving growth and expansion and if the property increases in value, business capital will go up.

The decision whether to buy rather than rent can be a pivotal moment in enabling your business to prosper so it is essential to look at the pros and cons before committing. Good research is vital to find the right premises which will meet both your immediate and future needs. Is the property situated in the right location for your type of business? Is there room to expand if the business grows?

Is the building easy to maintain or will it need constant attention? Can you visualise yourself being there in five, ten or 20 years’ time?

Having located your preferred property, the next step is to select a commercial mortgage solution which is tailored to your business’s needs. There are a multitude of commercial mortgage products on the market and financial providers offer a variety of options. These will typically include the minimum figure they will lend against the value of the property (referred to as loan-to-value), different repayment periods and the availability of fixed or variable interest rates.

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Selecting the right commercial mortgage is just as important as finding the property itself. Some specialist lenders offer makeweight security options. For example, if you are looking for a 75% mortgage against a commercial property but can’t put down the 25% deposit, niche financial providers may make up the outstanding deposit by taking another charge against a property you may own.

Whether it’s to procure a solid foundation for your business to grow on, or to protect yourself from rising and restrictive rental agreements, a commercial mortgage could make a lot of sense.

John Clarke is Head of Direct Sales at Wesleyan Bank and has amassed 19 years’ experience in the commercial finance industry.

Five top tips when selecting a commercial mortgage 1. Not all commercial mortgages are created equal. Some alternative finance providers can offer greater flexibility, so shop around to get the best deal for your business.

2. When opting for a finance partner,

make sure you have access to a dedicated point of contact that fully understands your business.

3. Gather all relevant financial

documents before approaching a lender as you will need to demonstrate that you can comfortably afford the monthly repayments.

4. Ensure you are familiar with the

premises of the commercial property you wish to purchase (size, number of units, location etc.) as this encourages confidence from the financial provider.

5. Decide how you will be utilising the

commercial property as this will influence the terms and conditions you are able to negotiate.

A CASE IN POINT Based in Exeter, the Fresh Accountancy Company provide a range of accounting and financial services. Established in 2011, initially out of Founder and Director Tom Baker’s home, the firm moved into rented office space following the employment of three full-time staff.

After a period of rapid growth, Tom discovered larger premises had become available in a more visible location on a busy road which was ideal to support his expanding number of clients and employees.

The Fresh Accountancy Company subsequently selected a commercial mortgage solution comprising a six-figure loan over a term of 25 years to purchase the modern and spacious building.

From start to finish, the transaction was completed in six weeks.

“Although there is a big cash commitment in terms of putting down a deposit to get a commercial mortgage, if you decide to continue to rent you will probably exceed the amount of money you would pay on a mortgage due to commercial rents being quite high compared to interest rates at the moment,” explains Tom.

PLANNING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? It’s vital that you invest in your business as you continue to grow, but often the cost can be prohibitive. Whether you are purchasing equipment or machinery, relocating or upgrading to the latest IT solutions, cost can be a major barrier to taking the next step. Asset finance from Wesleyan Bank can give you flexibility and control over your finances whilst ensuring your business gets the equipment and assets that it needs to flourish.

Key benefits: Solutions tailored to your needs Spread the cost of your investments over 1 to 7 years Maintain existing banking lines and retain working capital No security required Quicker ROI and breakeven point

Call us on 0800 980 9348 (Mon - Fri 8.30 - 5.30pm) Or visit wesleyan.co.uk/secure/wesleyan-bank-smes-asset-finance Wesleyan Bank acts both as a broker and a lender.

Depending on the circumstances and where required by law, loans will be regulated by Financial Conduct Authority and the Consumer Credit Act. Written quotations are available on request from Wesleyan Bank Ltd. Credit facilities are subject to status and only available to UK residents over the age of 18. Wesleyan Bank Ltd reserves the right to decline any application.

Wesleyan Bank Ltd (Registered in England and Wales No.02839202) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No.165116). Registered office: PO Box 3420, Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AE. Tel: 0800 358 1122. www.wesleyanbank.co.uk. Telephone calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

FINANCE

Changes to offpayroll working (IR35) RULES EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 2020 n Andrew Tweedie, Partner of Whittingham Riddell Chartered Accountants

If your business engages with contractors who operate through their own personal company then you need to be aware of certain potentially far reaching changes which look set to apply from April 2020.

For many years HMRC have had rules in place that address perceived tax avoidance by individuals providing services through their own personal company (often known as personal services companies or “PSCs”). These are usually referred to as the IR35 rules and apply where an individual is providing services through their PSC but would in fact be considered to be an employee if they were providing the services directly.

The effect is that the income received by the company is to all intents and purposes treated as if it was employment income and taxed as such.

The IR35 rules are a self-assessment system and HMRC believe that many such PSCs are not applying them correctly. The first part of their response was the “off payroll working in the public

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sector” rules which were introduced in 2017. These rules now require a public sector body to make an assessment of whether the contractor they are engaging through a PSC is in fact in an employment type relationship. If they determine this to be the case then they are required to treat the payments to the PSC as if they were employment income and apply PAYE, pay national insurance contributions (“NIC”) and so on. This in effect puts the onus squarely on the payer to determine the status of the payments they are making.

These decisions are not easy and each will depend upon its own specific facts and circumstances. There is a large body of tax case law that addresses these situations and while there are some typical pointers there is no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes employment as opposed to genuine contracting.

There is no quick fix in determining the application of the rules in any given situation. If your business is of sufficient size and engages with contractors through their PSCs then the new rules are expected to apply from April 2020.

Anecdotally the application of these rules has led to a great deal of confusion and inconsistency between public sector bodies. Despite this the rules are now set to be extended to large private sector business with effect from April 2020. Businesses that will now have to make these kind of employment status decisions are companies with more than 50 employees, turnover of more than £10.2 million or assets of £5.1 million. The rules will also be extended to unincorporated business such as partnerships, although the precise criteria here are still not known.

The fine detail of the new rules is still subject to consultation but it seems unlikely the government will backtrack now. Although HMRC may initially adopt a “light touch” when policing the system, it is likely to be critical to be able to show, as a minimum, that your business has considered the impact of the new rules and made a reasonable effort to apply them.

To find out more contact Andrew Tweedie, Partner of Whittingham Riddell Chartered Accountants based on Wrexham Technology Park on T: 01978 261579 or E: wrexham@wrllp.co.uk

Rewarding Innovation Access2Funding are specialists in helping SMEs access R&D Tax Credits and providing our customers with unparalleled customer service to maximise their claims as much as possible.

Research & Development Tax Credits have been an ongoing scheme from HMRC since 2000 and are available to any SMEs undertaking research and development that seeks to benefit the advancement of the industry in which they operate, and the wider market.

HMRC and the UK Government are awarding billions of pounds worth of rebates through the R&D Tax Credits Scheme because they want to reward innovation. They want to acknowledge that the engine that keeps this country running are small, independent businesses working in conjunction with larger business to create a symbiotic relationship that is going to yield the best return for the UK Economy. They realise that they must begin to recognise the importance of self-sustaining companies that, despite the adversity that Brexit has caused, are continuing to prosper through hard work and innovation. Now, more than ever, those creative individuals who have always been overlooked for their imaginative approach to business, can flourish.

Despite being available for nearly two decades, R&D Tax Credits are still massively underclaimed throughout the United Kingdom, and this is thanks, in large part, to the definitions of the scheme provided by HMRC. Many of our clients have told us that they have investigated R&D Tax Credits in the past but did not think they were eligible as they were not doing anything ‘ground-breaking’. This is a common misconception about R&D Tax Credits as there are multiple possibilities

ACCESS2FUNDING

of R&D that don’t involve completely reinventing the wheel.

We often describe R&D as creative problem solving – this means that any company that has come across difficulties and had to come up with a creative solution to overcome it may be entitled to R&D. If you come across a problem that can not simply be resolved by asking Google or another expert in your industry, then there is potential for eligibility for R&D Tax Credits.

There are some criteria you must meet to be eligible for R&D Tax Credits, even if all the above sounds like your day to day life. You must be registered in the UK and liable to pay corporation tax, as CT plays a big role in the R&D rebate.

This is axiomatic but needs to be said.

The second criteria you must follow depends on whether you’re applying as a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) or a Large company; if you’re applying as an SME, you must have under 500 employees, under £100 million turnover and under £86 million on the balance sheet. To be considered a large company under the RDEC, you must have over 500 employees, over £100 million turnover and over £86 million on the balance sheet.

Case Study

One of our most recent claims saw a cheese manufacturer receive over £20,500 for their research into current cheese recipes available on the market and developing brand new products to bring to market. They experimented with alcohol infused cheese, passionfruit crunch cheese and even attempted to make their raspberry and prosecco cheese a different colour by finding colouring that would allow them to be a similar colour to raspberries. To the directors of the company, this was just seen as a necessary part of business and a way to separate themselves from the rest of the industry, however in undertaking trial and error and striving to be different to and better than any other company by offering something nobody else can, this made them eligible for R&D tax credits.

Neil Platt joined Access2Funding in October and is our Business Development Executive covering North Wales, Chester and Cheshire. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and management, having held positions such as Sales Director at Great Orme Brewery and Key Accounts Manager at Forth Wines.

Most recently, Neil has been selfemployed, and his company NCP Business Solutions were responsible for selling Merchant services, Telecoms and Business Mobiles to companies, as well as providing commercial finance and commercial energy. Moreover, he worked on retainer for The Cheese Fridge company, providing refrigeration solutions to farms and wholesalers of cheese.

Neil has a keen understanding of businesses and can identify when a company is undertaking R&D through his sharp attention to detail and knowledge of innovation and product development. Neil’s area of expertise is highlighting how our process works, leaving you with no doubts and ensuring you that we are the people you want completing your R&D claim.

Contact details

Our opening hours are 9-5, Monday to Thursday and 8-4 on Fridays.

Contact No. 0333 990 0125 Email: hello@access2funding.co.uk www.access2funding.co.uk

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WAGTAIL UK

Wagtail UK Wins

WCNW Business of the Year 2019 It was a combination of compassion and expertise gained during a career spanning almost 25 years in the Royal Air Force as an operational explosive dog handler that led Collin Singer to setting-up Wagtail UK in 2003.

Since then, Collin and his 76-strong team have been training and supplying canines for the detection of explosives, drugs, tobacco, cash, ‘live’ body detection and conservation from the company’s headquarters in Flintshire, North Wales.

Collin commented: “Wagtail UK are extremely proud and honoured to receive the Business of Year award which recognises the hard-work and dedication shown by the team.” “Wagtail has come a long way since 2003 and we are always looking to be the best we possibly can.”

For Collin, success is not just measured in profits and balance sheets, it’s the joy of making a go of the company in the first place that brings him so much satisfaction.

Wagtail UK provides detection dogs and related services for government agencies such as HM Revenue & Customs, Police, Trading Standards and Armed Forces. In addition, Wagtail is contracted by the UK Border Force to provide ‘Body Detection Dogs’ (searching for illegal immigrants on lorries and in containers) in Northern France 24/7, 365 days a year.

Wagtail offer a suite of detection dog handler courses and taster days for those wanting to learning more about the industry. The Company have dedicated training facilities on site and a wide range of ‘live’ training areas in the local area to enrich the learning experience. Wagtail are always on the lookout for additional training areas such as warehouses, cinemas, theatres, shops, sports arenas and HGV vehicle compounds.

The past few years has seen Wagtail UK go from strength to strength with the formation of sister companies Conservation Dogs and more recently Event Detection Dogs, not to mention the development of Wagtail International School of Excellence training school.

“The development of the training school happened organically. At Wagtail we have high standards and aim to be the best in the industry. We wanted to pass our knowledge and skills on, maintaining these standards across the profession,” explained Collin.

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“And there is also the thrill of taking a dog that could have come from rescue kennels and might have been put to sleep and training it so that it could save people’s lives,” Colin said.

He added: “I love every minute of what I do, I really love my job. You just can’t beat the satisfaction of training the dogs.”

“When I was in the RAF I thought my job as an operational explosives dog handler was the best possible and now I sit here as MD of Wagtail UK and I still think I’ve got the best job I could possibly have.”

RECOGNITION AWARDS ADVERTISING FEATURE

Congratulation to all 2019 winners We feature here three of the category winners Business Growth Award winner – Valto IT Now in it’s third year of business, Valto IT has gone from strength to strength this year and this has been recognised by winning the Business Growth Award at the WCNW Chamber Recognition Awards.

The award, sponsored by NatWest Business Banking, is testament to the continued growth of the company and plans for the future.

Valto specialise in deploying Microsoft technologies including SharePoint, Azure, PowerApps and EM+S. Providing support, training, consultancy and design for the platforms.

n (L) Adam Vizard, Operations Manager UK & Overseas at Wagtail UK with John Farrell, Accounts Senior at Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.

Business of the Year Award winner- Wagtail UK Wagtail UK Ltd has been named as Business of the Year at the West Cheshire and North Wales (WCNW) Chamber Recognition Awards.

The Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Ellis & Co Accountants, is given to a business who can demonstrate a successful track record of excellence and achievement, along with measurable growth, increased trading profit and new product/service development.

The Awards ceremony took place on Friday 15 November at Chester Racecourse, and saw 300 guests enjoy a Hollywood themed night that celebrated

the success of Chamber Members over the last 12 months.

Wagtail were also announced as finalists for another award: the Export & Trade Award. For this award companies must stand out from the crowd on the international stage and demonstrate that they have generated significant and/or sustained increases in their export activity.

The past few years have seen Wagtail UK go from strength to strength with the formation of sister companies Conservation Dogs and more recently Event Detection Dogs, not to mention the development of Wagtail International School of Excellence training school.

The growth is based around four core values – Customer Service, Latest Technology, Automation and Value. Further details on these and the services Valto IT provide are on P37.

Start-Up Business of the Year Award winner Monopoly Buy Sell Rent – Chester Sponsored by Zodeq, this award is open to businesses that have been trading for less than 2 years and recognises the determination of regional entrepreneurs in not only setting up their own businesses but making a success of them.

One such local entrepreneur is Gavin Belton-Rose who runs Monopoly Buy Sell Rent – Chester. His hard work saw him collect the Start-Up Business of the Year Award. His services make moving home easier than ever before. There is no minimum contract, no withdrawal fee and no sale no fee as well as customer service available 24/7 every day of the year. Further information on Monopoly Buy Sell Rent – Chester can be seen on P38.

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MONOPOLY BUY SELL RENT

Monopoly Buy Sell Rent are REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT TO OTHER ESTATE AGENTS YOU WILL COME ACROSS.

No Minimum Contract No Withdrawal Fees No Sale No Fee That is because the unique combination of our people, our marketing of properties and our company, aims to give you the very best service available, whether you are selling, buying, or both. We believe it is an unbeatable package which makes moving easier – and more enjoyable too!

The ethos of Monopoly Buy Sell Rent is to offer vendors and landlords the perfect combination of the financial savings of an office based and online estate agency with the benefits of the full service and support of a traditional high street agency.

At Monopoly Buy Sell Rent, we realised a long time ago, that when instructing

Superb Customer Service Available 24/7 365 days a year

an Agent to market your home, you are looking to achieve a relationship and rapport that is based on honest communication and trust.

When choosing Monopoly Buy Sell Rent as your Agent, you are choosing people that are highly trained to the most professional and ethical of standards, as well as utilising the full resources of a team that is firmly on your side.

Whether you are selling, buying or letting, our friendly staff will listen carefully to your needs and use every endeavour to meet your highest expectations.

To ensure you receive a high standard of Customer Care and bring your transaction to a successful conclusion, we bring together modern methods and traditional values, whilst always working to our Professional Codes of Conduct.

We are very accessible at Monopoly Buy Sell Rent and can be contacted via phone or email outside standard office hours: Our phone lines are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This means we never miss a viewer or even more importantly an offer for your property.

For all your Residential Property requirements, discover the benefits of using Monopoly Buy Sell Rent by contacting us.

Tel: 01244 560610 | E: gavin@monopolybuysellrent.co.uk | W: www.monopolybuysellrent-chester.co.uk 38

VALTO IT

Chamber member Valto IT goes from strength to strength in 2019 Valto a fast-growing tech company into their 3rd year have won the business growth award from the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Following on from their success earlier on the year of winning the Micro Enterprise Award for the High Sheriff of Cheshire.

Valto specialise in deploying Microsoft technologies including SharePoint, Azure, PowerApps and EM+S. Providing support, training, consultancy and design for the platforms.

Valto continues to grow Managing Director Hugh Valentine believes it’s the core principles of the organisation that helps it grow. n Customer Service: Aiming to provide the best service possible to our clients ensuring our projects are successful and have a return on investment. n Latest Technology: We strive to understand the latest technologies in the field working with cutting edge technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Bots and more.

n Automation: Our principle as an organisation is to find an automated way to complete a task and save both our staff and clients time and money. This delivers our final principle. n Value: Ensuring our clients get the best value for our services by saving time, money and taking the extra mile to make sure we under commit and over deliver.

Our values in the organisation drive everything we do. Aiming to provide the best customer service, using the latest technologies available and driving value for our clients. This methodology has seen us grow at an exceptional pace outgrowing our competitors and working with amazing global clients including,

Over the past 30 months Valto has grown at a staggering rate in terms of turnover, profit and staff size. Over the coming 18 months we plan to continue this growth by starting an apprentice scheme for local students and help grow their abilities and skillset which will hopefully address the skills gap we have in the market currently.

Winning the award highlights the amazing efforts of the team at Valto and all of the hard work that they put in. I couldn’t be more proud of our achievements so far and we’ll continue to grow and improve.

n WL Gore

Valto – Microsoft Technology Specialists

n Sony Music

10 Watergate Row, Chester. CH1 2LD.

n City of London

Call 03335 779 009 or Email info@valto.co.uk www.valto.co.uk

n Food Standards Agency n Grosvenor Estates n Chester Zoo

TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS VALTO CAN TRANSFORM YOUR ORGANISATION USING CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY n Digital Transformation n IT Strategy & Roadmap n Support & Security

n Azure n Office365 n SharePoint

We work across the whole of the UK and would love to work with you so please get in touch 03335 779 009 | www.valto.co.uk Valto HQ: 10 Watergate Row, Chester CH1 2LD | Telephone: 03335 779 009 | Email: info@valto.co.uk Valto London: The News Building, Shard Quarter, London SE1 9SG | Telephone: 03335 779 009 | Email: info@valto.co.uk

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LOTHBURY UK As we draw towards the close of 2019, it is clear that the “hard insurance market”, which has been on the horizon, is finally upon us in some classes of business.

We are seeing the indicators in Property lines for high-risk clients as well as Management Liability policies. However, a hard market is most evident, discussed and reported in the Professional Indemnity market, particularly in the design and construct arena.

The Lloyd’s of London Performance Review in the second half of 2018 identified non-US PI as the second worst performing class of business at Lloyd’s. Lloyd’s required that syndicates take action to put an end to the losses being incurred.

In the ensuing months, many insurers exited the non-US PI market, including the likes of Aspen, Brit and Chaucer.

Other insurers removed themselves from individual sector markets, most notably the Design & Construction PI sector.

Those who continue to write non-US PI do so with increased stringency. Insurers are restricting their capacity, with a focus on profits rather than growth. This means that risks are being scrutinised more than they have been for the past 10+ years.

With insurers leaving the market and those that are left being limited and selective, supply of non-US PI has decreased, with no new entrants to the market to replace said supply. However, the demand for this type of insurance is the same as ever; basic economics tell us that prices will go up.

Whilst we have significant increases in PI annual premiums of up to 40-50 %, there are extreme examples where the increase has reached 200%. Price is not the only way that insurers are reacting to the changes in the market. Some insurers are looking for co-insurance on risks that they previously held in full, whilst others

move from “any one claim” to “in the aggregate” policy wordings. There is a general reduction in line size and use of more limited wordings, all to limit exposure and usually for an inflated premium.

The Lloyd’s review is not the only cause of reduced capacity in the PI market. The Grenfell disaster has led to “cladding” being the buzzword on all D&C risks, along with other related professions. The other buzzword in insurance, much like every other industry is Brexit. These clouds of uncertainty naturally encourage a guarded approach from even the most risk taking insurers. Furthermore, the reinsurance market has had an impact on premiums, particularly in high risk sectors.

Further, 2017 is considered one of the worst years on record for losses due to natural disaster. With large scale hurricanes, earthquakes and forest fires causing damage. Insurers feel the brunt of these catastrophes, as do their reinsurers. Reinsurance companies provide cover to direct insurance providers. When losses caused by natural disaster present themselves, reinsurers and the reinsurance market are hit from multiple directions.

In order to balance their books, reinsurers distribute their major losses across their entire pool of risk. This means that insurers feel reinsurance premium increases in every sector across every class of business. This will have a negative effect on insurer’s cash flow and will lead to internal business and product reviews to recuperate these losses elsewhere.

The areas of business with high financial

risk or low profitability trends are likely to be the first to be selected for increased premiums, reduced capacity or even complete withdrawal. Hence, the Professional Indemnity market’s hardening is aggravated by the reinsurance market due to the unprecedented natural disasters around the globe in recent years.

Has your PI premium (or your clients’ PI premium) increased substantially?

Would you be interested in an alternative opinion, with a view on the best cover your premium can provide your business rather than just the best price?

Lothbury UK Ltd understands the current market conditions and we are working with Underwriters and Reinsurers on relationships and capacity for our clients well in advance of renewals. We are committed to understanding the requirements of our clients and obtaining sufficient coverage at the best price possible.

We are an independently owned Lloyd’s of London broker and would be happy to undertake a review of your business’ insurances free of charge and obtain noobligation quotes on your behalf. If you are interested then please get in touch.

Email: info@lothburyuk.com Telephone: 01244 322 456

Lothbury UK, as an independently owned Broker at Lloyd’s Insurance Broker, specialise in delivering complex commercial insurance and risk management strategies to a number of large established construction companies.

With offices in the City of London and Chester, we are uniquely positioned to support our customers’ development through our expert knowledge of construction risk and the markets, providing the breadth of insurance covers required for this complex industry.

Lothbury UK, as one of only 250 Lloyd’s Brokers, are able to provide customised commercial insurance covers by drawing on our extensive connections in Lloyd’s, the London and Composite Markets.

To find out more about Lothbury UK or to talk about your commercial insurance requirements, please contact us.

Lothbury UK Ltd Watergate House, Watergate Street, Chester, CH1 2LF e-mail: info@lothburyuk.com Tel: +44 (0) 1244 322 456

www.lothburyuk.com

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URENCO

Generating Power INTO THE FUTURE In May 2019, Urenco announced the completed construction of a new multi-million pound Tails Management Facility (TMF) in Capenhurst near Chester, as part of a long standing commitment to help provide reliable, cost effective and sustainable power generation. The new facility which represents a major investment in the local regional economy by the company, was opened by senior representatives from Government, industry and the local community.

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URENCO Urenco’s core business is enriching uranium to provide sustainable energy for the world. Enriched uranium is an integral component in civil nuclear power generation. The responsible management of the by-product of the enrichment process, known as tails, is crucial to Urenco’s commitment to sustainability.

Tails are converted to uranium oxide, which is stable and allows long-term storage prior to either further enrichment or safe disposal of the residual uranium.

This commitment led to the design and construction of the new TMF at Capenhurst which is both a nuclear and a chemical facility. Material at the facility is available in the short and medium term for further enrichment minimising the need for mining for fresh materials.

During its construction phase, seven million hours of safe working were achieved making the TMF one of the safest construction sites in the UK. With its construction now complete, the Capenhurst facility is made of 55,000 cubic metres of concrete, the equivalent to fill 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, as well as enough steel to build an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower – 7,300 tonnes. The project also laid down enough pipework to reach from England to France.

The TMF is operated by a Urenco subsidiary company, Urenco ChemPlants (UCP). A multi-skilled team is managing the facility’s transition from active commissioning to being fully operational next year. Once operational, the facility will deconvert Urenco tails from the UK, Germany and Holland. Looking to the future, the facility has the potential capacity to deconvert tails from other sources.

UCP recruits its workforce from both nuclear and chemical backgrounds.

The company has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion which is demonstrated by its ability to attract and retain talent within the company. It supports people’s personal development both on the job and through diverse roles and where appropriate further education at institutions. With an established apprenticeship programme, the scheme is part of Urenco’s commitment to developing the engineers

of tomorrow and its investment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

for power generation within a framework of high environmental, social and corporate responsibility standards.

Urenco UK (UUK), the nuclear licence holder and the largest Urenco business at the Capenhurst site, is one of Urenco’s first enrichment facilities which began operations in 1973. It operates three enrichment plants, the largest of which produces more than 80% of the plant’s enrichment capacity and employs more than 300 people.

The energy industry is undergoing significant change with a huge shift taking place in the market price for enriched Uranium. To meet this challenge, the company’s strategy is to improve efficiency and reduce costs in its existing businesses, expanding its customer base.

Urenco Nuclear Stewardship (UNS), a wholly owned Urenco subsidiary is also based at Capenhurst and has been operating since 2012. The company plays a leading role in the responsible stewardship of nuclear materials through waste management and decommissioning services.

The Urenco group of companies are international suppliers of enrichment services and fuel cycle products with its head office based close to London, UK. As well as in the UK, the Group has plants in Germany, the Netherlands and the USA. The company uses its own centrifuge technology to provide safe, cost effective and reliable uranium enrichment services

Urenco is building a business in markets such as specialist isotopes used for medical purposes and Urenco looks forward to making a valuable contribution far into the future and look for new business opportunities.

Nuclear energy is a key source of low carbon energy with enriched uranium continuing to be an essential source of fuel.

Tel: 0151 471 3129 www.urenco.com

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MEMBERS NEWS

Ambitious law firm launches new Cheshire office in Tattenhall One of the UK’s oldest law firms has opened its first dedicated office in Cheshire as it continues an ambitious expansion programme.

Swayne Johnson Solicitors, which can trace its roots back over 200 years to the early 19th century, has celebrated the opening of its new office in the centre of Tattenhall, near Chester.

The opening confirms Swayne Johnson’s presence in the busy Cheshire village and continues the development which has seen the company grow from two branches to six in just ten years and now employ over 60 staff.

The launch event, attended by a steady stream of clients and visitors, was hosted by Swayne Johnson Director Lynette Viney-Passig who said: “This is an

important step for us as it gives us a real high street presence here.

“It gives us the facilities of a client meeting room and free car parking to deliver a comprehensive legal service to clients in the area.

“We are specialists in just about every aspect of the law and have experts in most fields across the group and having offices across North Wales and in Cheshire means we have strength and depth and a great geographic spread.”

The Tattenhall office in Mercury House on the High Street replaces their previous arrangement where they shared space with specialist transport, haulage and environmental legal practice Dyne Solicitors nearby at The White House.

n L-R Abigail Blakemore, Lynette Viney-Passig, Claire Sumner, Rebecca Robinson from Swayne Johnson Solicitors The new office is headed by private client expert Rebecca Robinson and Claire Sumner, from Swayne Johnson’s commercial team, with legal secretary Abbie Blakemore.

Lynette Viney-Passig added: “We have been in Tattenhall for five years and have put down strong roots there, but it had always been our intention to have our own independent presence, it was just a case of finding the right place.

“We have that now with customers able to walk in to our office and with a proper reception area and interview rooms close to our previous office.

“We have a strong and enthusiastic team based here who have built connections with the local community and its organisations – Tattenhall has a vibrant sporting scene and we want to be part of that.”

A Christmas Tree for Life, not just for Christmas at Chester Cathedral A stunning new Christmas Tree has joined the sparkling Christmas Tree Festival at Chester Cathedral this year.

Conservation artist, Jacha Potgieter – who created the summer installation ‘Saving The Deep’ at the Cathedral this summer designed the tree, and it was created n The plastic Christmas tree made with 500 recycled plastic bottles

by blacksmith Gerallt Evans. The tree is made up of 500 plastic bottles, collected following a public appeal for people to donate their empty bottles.

as participants have decorated their trees by incorporating elements of re-cycling, or items that have had a previous life – and generally considering sustainability.

Jacha Potgieter says “Almost everyone in the UK has used a plastic bottle at some point, many would have used one today or at least in the last week. And why wouldn’t they have done, after all it is so easy to use and fits in so well with our busy modern lives.

We seem to have lost the ability to see the destructive impact our need for instant items is having on our planet.”

Jacha continues “Our plastic use could be said to be out of control globally; two recent statistics being reported could back this thought up. The first is that globally, humans buy a million plastic bottles per minute.

The second is that 91% of all plastic is not recycled. Add to that the estimate that over half a trillion plastic bottles will be sold in 2020 and you can appreciate the problem.”

The Christmas Tree Festival rounds off the Cathedral’s year of ‘waves’ – an extraordinary year of special events themed around the theme of water, which also sought to provoke thought about how we care for and abuse the world God has given us.

Once the Christmas Tree Festival comes to an end the plastic bottles from the tree will be recycled, the tree frame will be used elsewhere, all of our ‘real’ Christmas trees will also be recycled by Cheshire Waste and all decorations are recycled responsibly.

Consequently, this year’s festival has been dubbed The Christmas Tree-cycled Festival

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The Christmas Tree Festival – including the ‘Christmas Tree for Life’ is open daily until Sunday 5 January 2020.

MEMBERS NEWS

Young talent pool at Russell Taylor Holdings holds key to further growth A workplace strategy of training and developing “home grown” talent is continuing to drive Russell Taylor Holdings on its ambitious expansion pathway.As more new apprentices join the workforce at the business’ Cheshire headquarters at Burton Manor, company chairman Peter Russell said: “Although we are now the fastest growing, privately-owned recruitment business in the UK, our family and business roots remain here in the local community where we see our loyal and engaged employees as our most important asset.

“This means training and up-skilling our teams to contribute to the creation of a vibrant economy driven by a local workforce.

“By developing our own people to our high-performance culture – starting with those on apprenticeships – it’s a way of us ensuring a continuous pipeline of skills to drive the business forward. This is also

programmes run at the Wirral headquarters and with staff travelling long distances – in all weather conditions and despite demanding day jobs – to fulfil their potential. something that’s vital to narrowing the region’s current skills gaps.”

Russell Taylor Holdings’ new apprentices are Isaac Heyes,18, a recruitment resourcer who has joined the company straight from school; 17-year-old administration apprentice Issy Crotty, who is also a schoolleaver, and Louise Lloyd, aged 30 and mother of two young children, who is part of the company’s accounts team.

Throughout its business journey, Russell Taylor Holdings has supported more than 50 apprentices within all its subsidiaries, most of them now firmly positioned at the core of operations.

Apprenticeship programmes throughout the group have expanded in recent years to include recruitment sales, business administration, customer service, finance, IT and in leadership development, all facilitated by sectorspecific industry experts.

Equally important to staff development is collaboration with a small number of learning and development partners in Apprenticeship Levy-funded bespoke training initiatives, aimed at enhancing skills of the workforce across the business. These have included Level 3 and Level 5 leadership

Bridgewater House in Ellesmere Port named as Flexible Workspace Operator of the Year Portal Business Centres is delighted to announce that its Bridgewater House business centre, based at North Road, Ellesmere Port, has been named as Flexible Workspace Operator of the Year (1-5 locations) 2019/2020. The award was presented to the centre by FlexSa, the flexible workspace industry’s trade body at their annual gala dinner in London last week.

Opened in March 2017, the centre occupies the site of the former Bridgewater paper mill, and was converted by Portal Business Centres into a serviced office business centre, providing office accommodation, meeting rooms and virtual office services.

The company is also examining ways of utilising the Apprenticeship Levy to up-skill its considerable number of contractors.

As champion of the group’s learning and development programme, Peter Russell is now realising his life-long passion to give young people opportunities to thrive, grow and achieve their career goals.

He said: “We are very proud of our record in developing apprentices who have become valuable, loyal and committed members of the Russell Taylor team. One of the greatest incentives for me to come to work is to see the progress of so many young people, some of whom joined us at the ages of 16-18 and who have now developed into mature, high performing stars.

“As the business grows so dynamically, with more acquisitions along the way, it is imperative that our partnerships with employers, educationalists and training organisations further develop and strengthen to provide the business leaders of tomorrow.

“Our new young apprentices belong to the future of our business – as we grow so does this ‘home grown’ talent which will develop and become key members of our workforce.”

n Bridgewater House based in Ellesmere Port

The centre proved very popular from day one, and is now home to a number of local businesses.

achieve. The team at Portal makes the centre what it is, and this award is for each and every one of them.”

Commenting on the win, MD Sallie Maskrey said, “I am absolutely delighted that we have been named Flexible Workspace Operator of the Year. The centre has only been open for a short space of time, and this award is fantastic recognition of everything that the team does here at Bridgewater House. At Portal, we have always believed that excellent customer service is key to making the business a success, and for our clients to nominate us in this way backs up everything we have always strived to

Portal Business Centres was established in 1992 and has three centres throughout the North West, in Ellesmere Port, Warrington and Bromborough. It offers a range of services across the three centres, from serviced offices for one to over 20 people, meeting rooms from small informal lounges to training rooms for 30 guests, and virtual office services including telephone answering, mail handling and business address. To find out more about how Portal can help your business, please contact the team on 0151 305 2260.

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TRANSPORT

UK road and rail networks not meeting business needs Business satisfaction rates fall, underlining need for parties to make good on infrastructure promises UK businesses are even less satisfied with UK infrastructure than they were a year ago, according to research published today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Stagecoach.

The survey of 1,200 business leaders finds that only around one third (35%) of UK businesses feel that the UK road network is meeting their needs when reaching customers, suppliers, and employees. This is a reduction from 47% in 2018. 60 per cent had experienced delays resulting in increased travel costs, loss of business or client dissatisfaction across a one-month period.

Satisfaction with the UK rail network is even lower. Less than one quarter (24%) agree that it is meeting their needs. In 2018, the figure stood at 34%.

The BCC is calling on the next UK government to deliver promised investment in road and rail schemes, and to give businesses a greater voice for businesses in local decision making. According to today’s research, the majority of businesses do not feel that their views are taken into account when decisions are made about infrastructure. Only one in ten feel their views are either somewhat or very much taken into account in national decisions. A little over one quarter (24%) feel their views are considered at the local level.

BCC Co-Executive Director Claire Walker said: “This election has generated a barrage of promises on infrastructure spending, but unless we see real action in the early months of the new parliament, our hardpressed firms will struggle to deliver the economic resurgence we desperately need. Upgrading our road and rail capacity would send a vital signal that businesses are finally being heard, would kick-start business investment across the country and will pay dividends long into the future.

“Alongside an immediate commitment to revitalise our ageing roads, the next administration should waste no time in delivering HS2 and promised investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail as part of a UKwide high-speed rail network.”

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Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “Britain’s congestion crisis is getting worse, directly impacting businesses and their employees, as well as causing further damage to air quality in our towns and cities. This research underlines a growing frustration that, despite transport authorities having powers right now to improve our road infrastructure, there is a lack of radical action to address the problem.

“If we are serious about supporting jobs and our regional economies, as well

delivering cleaner air and healthier communities, we need urgent measures to prioritise public transport and incentivise a large-scale switch from cars to more sustainable bus and active travel.”

In 2020 and beyond, business priorities for the next UK government, the BCC is calling for public investment in infrastructure to rise to at least 1.4 per cent of GDP per year – exceeding the funding guideline of 1.2 per cent recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission.

FEATURE

An insight into itas itas is an award-winning family-run business, offering accounting solutions to small-medium sized businesses.

candidates you get through the door. itas has always been proactive in supporting young people in the community. We have continued to recruit through the Jobs Growth Wales Scheme given the initial success with the first recruit ‘Luc’, and have since taken on Lauren, who has progressed to Technical Analyst, and our most recent recruit Owen who has joined the Support Team.

Established back in 1995 by Ron Lincoln a former Royal Marine. It wasn’t until 2011 when the devastating Christchurch earthquake hit New Zealand that Hannah (Ron’s daughter) decided to return home to North Wales to be closer to her family.

As part of the itas core values, we encourage a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible working hours which means itas are an attractive option for those returning from maternity leave.

Hannah is a strong believer in taking care of her staff and offering flexibility which, in turn, creates a strong sense of loyalty and advocacy among staff members.

Initially, Hannah had no plans to join the family business but after attending a software course organised by Ron she quickly got the ‘bug’. The business was going great for the duo, so they decided to take on their first recruit ‘Luc’ through the Jobs Growth Wales Scheme. Luc is still within the business and is an integral part of the itas team as a Senior Technical Consultant and the go-to man for any recruit.

Hannah’s drive and determination saw the business double turnover year-on-year, despite being in a male-dominated industry. itas customers have always found Hannah’s approach to business refreshing. As a forward-thinking leader, Hannah has been able to secure clients, where the traditional approach to financial software has failed.

Hannah’s ‘go-getter’ approach certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Sage, which has meant that itas have been part of the strategic team for new product launches which lead to itas receiving ‘Sage Financials Partner of the Year’. For the team at itas, this was an impressive award especially when we were up against some of our larger London based partners.

Not your typical ‘techie’ Given the rapidly expanding client base, Hannah changed her focus to developing a highly skilled and personable team to appeal to the new clients who were wanting more than just the ‘typical techie’.

She knew that her approach to recruitment needed to emphasise some of the softer

This approach to recruitment has meant over 56% of the staff at itas are women which is 9% higher than the national average of 47% within a Software/ IT environment. Hannah is a strong advocate for ‘Women in Tech’. Gender or sexual orientation is not important for itas, the ability to learn and adapt to the constantly changing environment is.

skills required and a can-do attitude, as product knowledge could be learnt over time. When opening the door for recruits a slight change in wording and including some softer skills will widen the appeal: n A great telephone manner n Ability to learn new skills and technologies fast n Good problem-solving skills n Fantastic communication skills Over time this approach to recruitment has meant that we deliver an extremely high level of service as standard, and we are often referred to as ‘not your typical techies’ which forms part of our appeal as a Sage Business Partner. Some small amends to the job specification can have a massive impact on the type of

n Luc Seago, Senior Technical Consultant at itas (left) and Owen Perkins, Trainee Support Analyst at itas (right)

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

Access2Funding Neil Platt Unit 8, Woodside Business Park Birkenhead Wirral Cheshire CH41 1EL 07851246371 0333 990 0125 n.platt@access2funding.co.uk http://www.access2funding.co.uk

Cassius Retail Group Ltd Lee Bradburne Ground floor, Portal House Unit 2, Botterley Court Calverley Tarporley Cheshire CW6 9GT 01829 705010 info@cassiusretailgroup.com http://www.cassiusretailgroup.com

Action Coach Chester Alan Bark 01244 555800 alanbark@actioncoach.com https://actioncoach.co.uk/coaches/ chester/ Adapt Environment Ltd Shea O’Neill 07702 916908 adapt.environment@gmail.com anoa Design Studio Alex Perkins 17 Pinewood Avenue Connah’s Quay Deeside CH5 4SQ 07832 129160 info@anoadesignstudio.com http://www.anoadesignstudio.co.uk Atlas Copco IAS UK Limited Julie Salisbury Second Ave Deeside Ind Park Deeside Flintshire CH5 2NS 01244 837220 julie.salisbury@atlascopco.com http://www.atlascopco.com Beckwith and Fuller Events Ltd Anthony Beckwith 07421 019082 info@beckwithandfullerevents.com http://www.beckwithandfullerevents.com Capacity Funding Stephen Maund 07779 338343 info@capacityfoundation.org.uk https://www.capacityfoundation.org/

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Cheshire Phoenix Basketball Club Paul Gordon Ellesmere Port Sports Village Stanney Lane Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 9LB 07800 554699 pauljohngordon@aol.com http://cheshirephoenix.com Chwarae Teg Alexia Mei Anchor Court Keen Road Cardiff CF24 5JW 03003 650445 an2@chwaraetag.com http://www.chwaraeteg.com Country Marketing Carrie Jones 07912 686431 carrie@countrymarketing.co.uk http://www.countrymarketing.co.uk Concept Property Solutions Christopher Lane 9 Shephards Lane Chester Cheshire CH2 2DH 07796 000172 chester@concept-solutions.co.uk https://conceptinsuranceclaims.co.uk/ chester/ COCO Learning Ltd James Wood Bank House Market Street Congleton Cheshire CW12 1ET 07768 831794 hello@coco-learning.com https://www.coco-learning.com

Dewberry Candle Sofia Dewberry 07730 227065 dewberrycandle@gmail.com http://www.dewberrycandle.com Expense Reduction Analysts Alastair Baker Unit 17, Mold Business Park Mold Flintshire CH7 1XP 01352 744284 abaker@expensereduction.com http://uk.expensereduction.com Eyton Solutions Limited Steven Hembury Suite 29, Llay Business Centre Rackery Lane Wrexham LL12 0PB 01978 852723 steve@eytonsolutions.co.uk https://www.eytonsolutions.co.uk Fortis Technologies Ltd Mark Woodruff 45 Coalbrookdale Road Clayhill Business Park Neston Cheshire CH64 3UG 01513 362266 markwoodruff@fortis-technologies.com http://www.fortis-technologies.com/index.html GE Tools Ltd Neil Coleclough Unit 2, Deva Business Park Welsh Road Deeside Flintshire CH5 2HR 01244 836968 chamber@getools.co.uk http://www.getools.co.uk Gareth Griffiths - The Legal Director (Chester-based) Gareth Griffiths 02039 608999 gareth.griffiths@thelegaldirector.co.uk https://www.thelegaldirector.co.uk/ Ingenico UK Limited Marc Docherty 20 Eastbourne Terrace London W2 6LG 07841 031252 marc.docherty@ingenico.com http://www.ingenico.com

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

Less Common Metals Ltd Georgia Macey Unit 2, Hooton Park North Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 1BL 01513 356643 georgia.macey@lesscommonmetals.com http://www.lesscommonmetals.com

Online Business Builder Ltd Felix Clarke Wrexham Enterprise Hub 11 Rhosddu Road Wrexham LL11 1AT 01978 898652 hello@onlinebusinessbuilder.co.uk http://www.onlinebusinessbuilder.co.uk

PPC Media London Institute of Banking and Finance Dion Martin Chris Hampson Unit 2, The Woodyard 07388 380842 Glascoed Road champson@libf.ac.uk St Asaph http://www.libf.ac.uk Denbighshire LL17 0LH Metro Mechanical 01745 603088 Mike Box hello@ppcmedia.co.uk Unit 7, Acorn court http://www.ppcmedia.co.uk Butts Street Leigh Lancashire WN7 3DD 01613 410669 mike.box@metromech.co.uk http://www.metromech.co.uk

Nettl of Nantwich Pam Jones Unit 7, Excalibur Industrial Estate Fields Road Alsager Cheshire ST7 2LX 01270 567781 pam@nettlofnantwich.co.uk http://www.nettlofnantwich.co.uk Nimbus Foods Ltd Barbara Hopley The Marian Dolgellau Gwynedd LL40 1UU 01341 424100 barbara.hopley@nimbusfoods.co.uk http://www.nimbusfoods.co.uk Northwest Heating Solutions Ltd David Lukeman 11 Elm Court Newbridge Road Ellesmere Port Cheshire CH65 4LY 01244 371445 info@northwestheatingsolutions.co.uk http://www.northwestheatingsolutions.co.uk

Rawson IT Services Craig Davies Unit 4, The Bridge Business Centre Wrexham Industrial Estate Wrexham LL13 9UG 01978 280198 cd@rawsonit.co.uk https://www.rawsonit.co.uk RCFR Ltd Sarah Rotheram 15 Grosvenor Court Foregate Street Chester Cheshire CH1 1XG 01244 980591 sarahrotheram@rcfr.co.uk http://www.rcfr.co.uk Russell Taylor Group Peter Russell Burton Manor The Village Burton Cheshire CH64 5SJ 01517 375560 peter.russell@russell-taylor.co.uk http://www.russell-taylor.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS

Tarporley Wealth Management Matthew Pidd 4 Alpraham Hall Barns Alpraham Green Alpraham Tarporley Cheshire CW6 9LJ 07745 042560 matthew.pidd@sjpp.co.uk http://www.matthewpidd.co.uk The Sassy Planner Andrea McCormack Office 10 The Printworks Sealand Road Chester Cheshire CH1 4RN 07910 620386 a.mccormack@yahoo.com http://www.sassyplanner.com Titan Webtech Ltd David Clinton 114-120 Northgate Street Chester Cheshire CH1 2HT 01244 911960 contact@titanwebtech.co.uk http://www.titanwebtech.co.uk/ Top Mark Electrics Ltd Jolene Swiffen 07931 511217 topmarkelectrics@outlook.com https://top-mark-electrics-ltd.business.site/ Up The Hill Consulting Brian Robert 07713 285941 brianrobert@upthehillconsulting.biz https://upthehillconsulting.biz/

Word of Mouth Languages Ewa Hogarth-Jones 21 Sandy Lane Chester Cheshire CH3 5UL SDHR Solutions Ltd 07477 903760 Simon Dorset info@wordofmouthlanguages.co.uk 07908 156060 http://www.wordofmouthlanguages.co.uk s.dorset@sdhrsolutions.co.uk

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FEATURE

24 hours with...

Simon South A day in the life of a Magician

A brief overview of your role and company Hello! So, I’m Simon, professional magician and all-around good guy! I perform both close up and stage magic with a lot being based around sleight of hand. My speciality is cards and elastic bands but I’ve been known to do some very odd things in the past with nails and needles!

Ideally, I look for things happening in bars or restaurants, as that is my specialty as a close-up magician, walking around bars and restaurants and entertaining the crowds within. I, of course, do a lot of weddings and corporate work. I also get a lot from my close-up magic residencies, as well as attending networking events.

If I cannot attend an event then I work with a selection of other magicians who are really quite good. The company is quite young as I only really started properly after returning from Spain and year one was quite slow, but has picked up a bit in year two.

When I am not gigging, my day is quite ritual.

I do everything in a specific order when I can before heading off to the job. It helps to have the ritual as it leaves less to think about, like ‘did I pack that spare deck of cards’ because I get to it 3rd on the list. Allowing the time required really has helped me stop running around like a headless chicken, which I have definitely been known to do.

Can you tell us a short overview of your average day?

How long does it take to perfect a magic trick?

So, during my average day I tend to look at which networking events to attend that week if I’m not out working that day, and do try to make it to at least one event a week. I also look for new magic tricks to learn!

It can differ most definitely! Some tricks can be highly technical and the problem is getting it slick enough so that it looks like nothing happened, that is hard! The trickiest bit though is actually performing it. The first

time you go out and do a new trick, you know at some point it will go wrong, so it’s how do you get out of that if it does? You need to take every eventuality into account before performing something to make sure that when it is performed it looks like whatever happens was meant to happen.

When you’re being paid to do what you do you want to make sure that you don’t mess it up, and so family members and my fiancé definitely bear the brunt of ‘can I show you this new trick?’.

Some of them however, are additions on what I already know, or use misdirection which personally I adore. Being able to distract someone in the right way at the right time always puts a smile on my face!

Then it’s down to timing to figure out the best time to do it. There is lots to consider that people don’t realise. For that quick minute of magic, I’ve put about 2-3 weeks, sometimes more of work and practice behind it before showing it at a paid event.

What are your plans for the future?

Future plans are ideally to have my own one man show in a posh venue as part of a regular event held there, where people come for a three-course meal and afterwards I perform my show for them every week or every month and tickets are very expensive to make it as exclusive as possible.

Short term plans are to get a few more residencies in place, ideally in Chester or Liverpool, and push weddings and private events, my job is to make people happy and I love it, and I can add to any events experience!

n Sleight of hand specialist, Simon South

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