Business Matters March 2019

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

The Big Interview ALED HUMPHREYS

Cluster General Manager at Caer Rhun Hall

Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau Superfast Business Wales

Jake Morgan Print My Route

LLWYDDIANT AR-LEIN

SUCCESS ONLINE

Mae’r entrepreneur o Fae Colwyn Jake Morgan yn dangos y ffordd i gael llwyddiant digidol – drwy Print My Route, busnes argraffu 3D wedi’i anelu at redwyr a seiclwyr.

Colwyn Bay entrepreneur Jake Morgan is showing the route to digital success – with Print My Route, a 3D printing business aimed at runners and cyclists.

Yn dilyn y cymorth rhad ac am ddim gan Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau, mae Jake yn gwneud y gorau o’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol i hyrwyddo’r busnes ac i ychwanegu at y 50% o archebion sy’n dod o dramor.

Following free support from Superfast Business Wales, Jake is making the most of social media to promote the business and add to the 50% of orders coming from overseas.

I ddysgu sut i dyfu eich busnes, chwiliwch am: Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau #Cyflymubusnesau

03000 6 03000 busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales

Find out how to grow your business, search: Superfast Business Wales #Superfastbiz

Business Matters W

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 March 2019 © Benham Publishing Media no. 1626 Advertising and Features Karen Hall t: 0151 236 4141 e: karen@benhampublishing.com Design Chris Moran t: 0151 236 4141 e: studio@benhampublishing.com

elcome to the first edition of Business Matters of 2019.

As we move into Spring, the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce continues to focus its efforts on providing the best services possible to you, our members.

Whether it’s our exciting lineup of networking events, our communications opportunities, our international trade services and training courses or the representational work that the Chamber does on your behalf, you can rest assured that the Chamber has the tools necessary to help support and grow your business.

Our dedicated Board of Directors remain committed to guiding the Chamber on a strategic level as we continue to work towards our Vision 2021.

Our focus remains on the following; l Being the authentic voice of business l Enhancing the region’s infrastructure and connectivity l Bridging the skills gap across West Cheshire & North Wales through Young Chamber l Promoting international trade

WELCOME

We have seen our Young Chamber programme continue to grow in the first few months of 2019, with a host of new Sponsors pledge their support to the programme. There is a real passion from Sponsors to help students develop the necessary skills and experience needed when entering the world of work, and this is great to see.

The UK’s departure from the EU is shortly upon us and, at the time of writing, our future relationship with the EU is still unknown. No matter the outcome of Brexit, I want to reassure you that the Chamber is ready to support your business in any way possible throughout 2019 and beyond.

The Brexit area of our website is being constantly updated with the latest developments and support available (www.wcnwchamber.org. uk/voice-of-business/brexit/) and our Policy & Communications Manager, Matt Hodgson, is on hand if you have any specific questions (m.hodgson@wcnwchamber.org.uk).

I wish you all the best for the quarter ahead.

INSIDE:

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GETTING STARTED Steve Frehley Jeffrey’s Tonic

YOUNG CHAMBER Latest news and events

THE BIG INTERVIEW Aled Humphreys, Caer Rhun Hall 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.

QES - IN FOCUS WITH Dorothy Roberts, Posib Ltd

THE PERSON BEHIND THE BUSINESS Absolutely Design

TOP TIPS Cheshire Digital Skills Academy @ChamberWCNW West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce /wcnwchamber WCNWChamber

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CHAMBER NEWS

NW Security Group become Strategic Partners with WCNW Chamber of Commerce T he West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce that NW Security Group have joined us as Strategic Partners. The partnership has also branched into our Young Chamber department, as NW Security are also now Young Chamber Sponsors.

Based in the North West, NW Security Group have been keeping businesses safe and secure since 2004. They are leading providers of high-performance IP-Based security systems, including CCTV, access control and security alarm systems.

Speaking on the new partnership, Frank Crouwel, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NW Security Group commented: “2019 will be a milestone year for NW Security Group, as it will mark our 15th anniversary.

Since 2004, we have not only been partnering with companies all over the North West, keeping them safe and secure, but we have also worked in local community projects helping children in education.

As new Strategic Partners, we look forward to extending our work through collaboration with the WCNW Chamber and its members.’’

This enhanced level of membership will see NW Security Group further support our membership base, using their expert knowledge and skills to support Chamber members when and where possible. As well as this, our new Young Chamber partnership will also see the NW Security team assisting with our upcoming Young Chamber events and projects throughout 2019, Frank Crouwel, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NW Security Group with Debbie Bryce, CEO of the WCNW Chamber of Commerce

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helping to bridge the gap between businesses and education.

Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘’I am thrilled to welcome NW Security Group on board as

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both Strategic Partners and Young Chamber Sponsors. As we commence 2019, we have exciting projects and plans upcoming; NW Security will be fantastic additions to the Strategic and Patron membership base.’’

2019 will be a milestone year for NW Security Group, as it will mark our 15th anniversary

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CHAMBER NEWS

Connect, Inspire and Succeed

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women focused networking group is growing from strength to strength, providing invaluable business connections and of course… tea and cake!

Founded in 2013, the West Cheshire Women’s Network provides an opportunity for businesswomen across the region to come together.

Co-hosted by Natwest PLC, Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and Cheshire West and Chester Council; the group meets four times a year with a different guest speaker at every event.

The network brings together female entrepreneurs and business owners in a relaxed informal way to share experiences, exchange ideas and build long term relationships.

“We are joined by new faces at each event, so we know the ladies in attendance are referring the group to their friends and contacts,” said Sarah Bailey, Relationship Manager at Natwest.

“I think that speaks volumes, and for us is the biggest pat on the back”.

All events are held in the morning from 9.30am to 11.30am, to enable attendees to continue with their working day.

On arrival ladies are greeted with a selection of tea, coffee and pastries, then it’s time for a spot of mingling

before the ladies are asked to take a seat.

“Once the ladies are seated, we start ‘round the table networking’, where the ladies take it in turns to talk about their business, what they do and maybe what they are looking for out of the group,” said Natalie Tomlinson, PR and Marketing Manager at Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.

“This is when the volume in the room goes up considerably!”

Once all tables have finished networking, the event is brought to a close by a speaker, who has an inspirational and interesting story to share.

The group has heard stories from Caroline Sanger-Davies, Head of Marketing at Chester Zoo, Peter Murray, Managing Director of Pulse of Perfumery and Frankie Hobro, Owner and Director of Anglesey Sea Zoo. And more recently, Helen Tooley Station Manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, founder of Patchwork Foods Margaret Carter and Chester entrepreneur and former Olympic hopeful Charlotte Roach.

“The West Cheshire Women’s Network events are a great way for female entrepreneurs to get together and share their experience and build important business contacts,” said Councillor Brian Clarke, Cabinet Member for Economic Development

and Infrastructure.

“There have been some fantastic speakers at these events who have stimulated lively debate and have proved inspirational to those who have been lucky enough to attend.”

Out of the four events, only one is without a speaker which is replaced with festive games and fun for networking with a Christmas twist.

All events are free to attend, with the costings covered by the organisers, however spaces are limited so booking is essential.

“We all know how important networking is in business,” said Jenny Davidson, Events and Young Chamber Manager at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

“These female only events really help to boost confidence… as well as your contacts book.”

All events are held at The Holiday Inn Chester South, parking is free but car registration details must be given in at reception due to the parking eye on site.

Dates for 2019 events are as follows: Thursday, June 13; Wednesday, September 25 and Thursday, November 28. To book your free place visit the event’s page at www.wcnwchamber.org.uk To keep up to date with events and speakers visit the network’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages - just search “West Cheshire Women’s Network”.

Business women listen to Frankie Hobro of Anglesey Sea Zoo

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HANNAMAN

Handling success at Hannaman Recognition and growth for local business

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or over 40 years Hannaman have been dealing with all Material Handling needs, operating from Deeside on the North Wales border.

Their principal business is the Hire, Sale, Repair, Servicing and Operator Training of Forklift Trucks, Access Platforms, Floor Cleaning Equipment and many other types of Material Handling Equipment.

They have built up a strong reputation for top quality service to all of their customers. This high level of service motivates the team to do well, with 2019 looking to take Hannaman from strength to strength.

Managing Director Steve Downey leads by example and this has seen the local entrepreneur nominated for the St David Enterprise Award 2019. The finalists were recently announced by First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford. Each finalist was presented with a St David Dove pin.

The Enterprise Award is awarded to those who have achieved remarkable

success in business. This may include the creation of meaningful employment for oneself and others. The St David Awards Ceremony takes place 21st March 2019 at the Sennedd – Cardiff Bay. Hannaman has also been nominated within the Soldering on Awards for 2019.

These are in recognition of a business, that was started by an individual linked with the armed forces. Hannaman is a finalist for Business of the Year which is sponsored by the London Stock Exchange.

The awards ceremony take place on 5th April at London Park Plaza Hotel.

The business is not resting on the good work already done to date and has also established an accredited RTITB training centre on site, equipped with both indoor and outdoor practical operator training areas, fitted with realistic workplace obstacles and simulations of the work environment.

These aid in providing the best practical training requirements, held to a high standard.

Hannaman Cabins

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s of 1st March 2019 – Hannaman became exclusive dealer for DFK Cabs Hannaman Material Handling are pleased to announce that we are the exclusive UK distributor for DFK Cabs, specialising in the production of high-quality cabins for forklift trucks.

The full range includes weather-proof cabs to fit most truck makes and models, from full metal cab, to front, top and rear screens with PVC canopy doors.

A full range of additional

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Courses for a wide range of material handling machinery are available as well as the ability to accommodate a unique course requirement.

Courses available on: l Counter Balance l Reach Truck l Access Platform l Telescopic Truck l Attachments Training l Manual Handling Training l Novice/Beginner l Experienced l Refresher l Conversion l IPAF/MEWP In-House Instructor can provide training on site at Hannamans in Deeside or on customer’s own premises – which ever suits a business needs.

accessories can also be fitted, from front and rear windscreen wash/wipe motors to cabin lighting and heaters, to external LED and Safety lighting and indicators.

All cabins are designed and fitted to the highest standards Featured Options Include: l Full weather proofing l Full metal cabs l Front, top & rear windscreens l PVC canopy doors These are available to supply, not only to our customers, but also other Forklift dealers for their customers.

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uring 2019 Hannamans will be launching its Giving Back Scheme where by the Company will be providing 2 novice Counterbalance courses free of charge for up to 3 persons on each course who can demonstrate that they have a genuine case of attempting to get work but have for various reasons found it difficult.

Hannamans will also be working with the successful candidates to assist them in creating a CV and helping them with interview techniques. Further details are available at: Zone 2, Unit 52 Third Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside, Flintshire, CH5 2LA www.hannaman.co.uk 01244 288652

CHAMBER NEWS

WCNW Chamber of Commerce builds business links with Consul General of Hungary

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he West Cheshire & North Wales (WCNW) Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the Consul General of Hungary in Manchester, Krisztina Kátai-Nagy, in an effort to build business links between Hungary and the West Cheshire & North Wales region.

The Consul General identified the WCNW Chamber as one to visit due to the high proportion of Hungarian population in the area.

The meeting with Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the WCNW Chamber of Commerce, proved highly valuable, as discussions were held around future collaborative work

including; opening up opportunities for Chamber members and Hungarian businesses to meet each other, the chance to build working relationships and encouraging international trade between our region and Hungary.

“It was a great pleasure to welcome Krisztina and discuss how we can work more closely going forward. Learning about the Consulate General of Hungary in Manchester and the opportunities available for businesses in both countries was a real eye opener and I am excited to see this relationship develop” said Debbie on the visit.

Krisztina added “We are keen to discuss and explore future trade possibilities with the WCNW Chamber of Commerce. The Consulate General of Hungary in Manchester will actively work on promoting trade

links between Hungary and the region” Despite ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s future relationship with the EU, both parties were passionate about forging this relationship, with Debbie adding “Regardless of the continued debate in parliament around Brexit, the Chamber will continue to build links overseas as we understand how important these connections are for our members and businesses in the region.”

Further discussions are planned and collaborative opportunities will be communicated to the Chamber membership as they arise.

L to R: Krisztina Kátai-Nagy, Consul General of Hungary in Manchester, and Debbie Bryce, CEO of WCNW Chamber of Commerce

BBC’s Dragons’ Den needs YOU - WCNW Chamber members!

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he BBC’s hit show, Dragons’ Den, has contacted the WCNW Chamber of Commerce to find budding entrepreneurs who think that they can take on the Den! The WCNW Chamber are therefore extending the invitation on to members who would be interested in the opportunity. The show is looking for people with business ideas, inventions or products with a serious business potential, hungry for investment. If you have an exciting or novel product that is directed at consumers, you might be the perfect fit for the pitch!

Dragons’ Den could be a challenging place to pitch, but with it follows genuine business opportunity and chance to secure investment. In the current series of the programme, 36 entrepreneurs accepted offers of investments from the Dragons, with a combined total investment of a

whopping £2.1 million.

Joe Lewis, Researcher for businesses in the North West said: “I’m looking for some of the most exciting, innovative businesses in the North West to pitch to our panel of Dragon investors, and I can’t wait to hear from you.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity for any of our members that are budding entrepreneurs” commented Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the WCNW Chamber.

“I urge any members that feel that they may have a product or idea that could secure investment from the Dragons to contact Joe with the below contact details.”

Entrepreneurs wanting to apply can do so by emailing Joe Lewis at the BBC directly at: joe.lewis01@bbc. co.uk or visiting their website: www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden

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STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

Dancing for charity J

oe Joinson, of Protos Networks, is currently undertaking dancing lessons to take part in Claire House Does Strictly 2019.

Based on the popular BBC Show, Claire House has challenged ten hopefuls to dance their way to victory. Following 10-weeks of training, Joe will take to the dance floor to perform the Tango.

Claire House Children’s Hospice, an active Chamber member, run the event annually, which was attended by 320 people in 2018 and raised over £47,000. This is a significant contribution to the levels of funding required for Claire House to operate.

To give an idea of how important this funding is, £47,000 could fund the entire Physiotherapy Team for 10 months. Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy make a huge

difference to the children who are cared for at Claire House, reducing muscle pain and tension.

Hydrotherapy is also a highlight for many children as their expert physiotherapists build the sessions around games, fun and splashing in the pool!

Claire House Does Strictly 2019 is being held at The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on Saturday 13th April 2019. Tickets for the event are priced at £60 per adult and £40 per child.

If you would like to sponsor Joe to help raise money for Claire House please email info@protosnetworks. com for more information or visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ joe-joinson to make a donation.

Joe Joinson, Director & Business Coordinator at Protos Networks

Boost your business with NatWest

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hether you’re starting a new business, want to grow an existing venture or are just in search of practical advice on running your business more efficiently, it can be difficult to know where to look for help.

At NatWest, we’re dedicated to helping businesses thrive and our local Business Growth Enablers and Relationship Managers are here to support you every step of the way. Nathan Johnson, Business Growth Enabler for Cheshire, shares some easy ways to help boost your business.

Maximise your time Simple admin tasks can soon eat up precious time, leaving you feeling there aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s where tools like FreeAgent, our cloud accounting software can help, supporting you with everyday business activities like invoicing and tax.

Get your finances in order Our free Financial Health Check allows you to discuss your needs and goals with

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a Relationship Manager and plan your next steps.

Widen your network Get to know your local business community and you’ll soon discover new opportunities. We

run local events throughout the year, covering different issues and specialist topics, so you can up skill yourself whilst meeting new contacts and making new connections.

Stay up to date The business world moves fast and you don’t want to be left behind, so try to dedicate some time each week to making sure you’re up to date with the latest insights and knowledge in your sector. Our free Business Matters site is a great source of information and advice, from learning how to manage costs, to discovering how technology can help you reach more customers.

Consider a mentor Our Business Growth Enablers offer free one to one mentor support and can introduce you to new networks, tools and digital content to help your business Find out more by visiting www.natwest.com/boost Nathan Johnson, Business Growth Enabler at NatWest Business Banking

STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

The damage a legacy system can do to your business

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legacy system is one that was created for a specific use and often has one or more of the following issues: l Older software was created before RESTful APIs (how we get data from and to other systems). It becomes very difficult to make upgrades and to integrate with essential programs, such as accounting packages. l Non-supported languages whose usage has dramatically fallen off puts a stress load on resources, extends response times and requires development teams who are familiar with older languages. l Efficiency and sophistication are two words that don’t sum up a legacy system. Your software should work hard to reflect your business operations and shouldn’t insist that you bend your processes to fit old and clunky ways of interacting with historic software. l If your software is no longer

supported, it will have security flaws and is unlikely to pass current GDPR and government regulations.

These are points which undoubtedly put a burden on the business and the burden is often most keenly felt by the workforce. It causes frustration, leading to work that is inconsistent and incomplete.

Businesses need to offer a robust solution that guides, not prohibits a person from doing their job and encourages them to use a variety of devices to achieve the same outcome.

Becoming a digital organisation is transformative. It could take 3 – 5 years to transition to new systems but core software can be built and integrated in a much shorter time frame.

It’s worth considering the losses that are already occurring through poor software and understanding how that will impact the commercial future of your business.

If you think we can help you to explore your options, please call 01244 455378, email lou@overbyteinteractive.com or visit www.overbyteinteractive.com

Writing a job description W

riting a job description isn’t difficult but as many things in business, it pays to keep things simple. Here are our top headings and advice to use when compiling a job description.

YOUR BUSINESS Candidates will want to know when your business was formed, what are its key products or services, whether you’ve won any awards or work within any quality standards. They will also want to get a feel for your culture. Tell them why they should want to work for your business.

JOB TITLE There should be no room for ambiguity when recruiting and that starts with your choice of job title. Get it right and potential candidates will have a good idea of what they’ll be doing. Confusing job titles are likely to attract applications from people with too much or not enough experience.

Avoid inaccurate job titles.

MAIN DUTIES Detail exactly what the successful applicant will be doing. This will help applicants decide whether they have the necessary skills, experience and attributes for the position. If there might be the occasional need to perform additional tasks, be clear and provide details. If your business is willing to provide training, say so.

ROLE As well as identifying specific duties, you should explain how the role will contribute to your business and how it fits in with the wider structure.

As an example, will the successful candidate be part of a team? Will they be expected to travel? Even if the candidate will be working independently, they’ll need to know to whom they’ll report. You can also explain how the role could develop.

Focus on knowledge, experience and skills a person must have, as well as what you would like them to have.

LOCATION Will they be based exclusively at your premises? Will they be required to work elsewhere? Candidates must be told where they’ll be working, if they are to decide on applying.

THE PACKAGE Some employees will be more money-motivated than others, and in some roles, this can be a good thing.

However, all employees should know how they will be rewarded. As well as basic pay, detail any bonuses and benefits you offer.

Insignia Resourcing T: 01244 566122 E: howcanwehelp@insigniaresourcing.co.uk

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STRATEGIC MEMBERS NEWS

NW Security Group: the IP technology behind our security systems

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ince its inception, NW Security Group has comprised of a specialist team who assist clients by using expert knowledge in IP technology to help deliver reliable security solutions. 15 years later, this ethos still remains true and we continue to ensure that the most suitable solution is recommended to our valued customers.

But what exactly are IP-based Security systems?

Devices that support Internet Protocol (IP) have the ability to be integrated and accessed via your computer network or the Internet.

You would be surprised at how much of your day-to-day life can include IP based devices, especially when it comes to connected smart homes. We in fact can inter-connect

our fridge, adjust our heating, turn on lights or even check who is at the front door and manage this all from our smartphone - anytime, anywhere.

Surely, it would be beneficial to have that same level of remote monitoring in our business security systems. Just think about all the times your business alarm went off in the middle of the night… because of a false alarm!

Integration of IP based security devices can bring a huge advantage to your business as it opens the possibility of merging your IP cameras, alarms, audio devices, gate and door entry controls into a single system. Plus, with the addition of remote managing, you can gain access to your CCTV system - from anywhere, anytime.

Networked devices also present higher levels of flexibility and scalability

when compared to closed circuit camera systems. With many IP devices being built on open platforms, you can adapt and develop your system to meet changing business needs without requiring a complete separate system to be created and wired to existing infrastructure.

An integrated IP based Security System will not only assist in reducing the occurrence of costly false alarms, but will also allow you the possibility to create a 24/7 status overview of your business. Enabling you to focus on what really matters: your core business and clients.

MEMBERS NEWS

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Chester lawyer’s charity ball raises over £11,000

rolific fundraiser, Helen Watson, helped raise more than £11,000 at an annual charity ball.

All money raised from the popular event will be split between two charities – Claire House Hospice and Women V Cancer A sell-out charity ball organised by a top lawyer from Chester saw more than £11,000 raised for two Cheshire charities.

The Merengue-style ball was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel just outside of Chester city centre where guests enjoyed a champagne reception, sit down dinner and live music.

Organised by Helen Watson, Partner and Head of Employment Law at Chester legal firm Aaron & Partners, the annual ball saw almost 200 people attend from across the region.

The money raised will be split between two charities, Wirral-based charity Claire House Hospice, and Women V Cancer, a fundraising partnership between Breast Cancer

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Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

Helen said: “The annual ball is always a wonderful way to raise awareness and, most importantly, vital funds for these fantastic charities, both of which are close to my heart.

“We had a great turn out on the evening and managed to raise an incredible amount of money for the charities. I’m always so grateful to everyone that supports charity events like these and even this year’s fundraising total exceeded my expectations.”

Helen is a long-standing board member and Trustee at Claire House Children’s Hospice. Over the years, her individual fundraising efforts have helped raise more than £100,000 for the charity as well as Women Vs Cancer and a host of other North West based charities.

She continued: “Claire House Hospice is an amazing local charity that has helped a number of people close to me. And the same goes for

Helen Watson, left, from Aaron & Partners with guest.

Women V Cancer too, which is why I always try to support them in any way I can.”

“I hope that the funds raised from the ball can go some way towards allowing both charities to continue the fantastic work they do in supporting families and individuals and providing the best care they can.”

Ffensio Lloyd Fencing - Ruthin An established fencing contractor with 15 years’ experience, Gethin Lloyd decided to take the plunge and start his own business. Ffensio Lloyd Fencing specialises in all types of fencing services, including agricultural, electric, post and rail, equine, security and garden fencing.

He approached Business Wales to discuss his idea to start his own fencing contracting business. His business adviser Sian E Jones assisted him with general start-up support and helped him complete a business plan with financial projections and cashflow forecasts. This enabled Gethin to successfully secure a bank overdraft and grant funding via the Denbighshire County Council Business Development Grant towards the purchase of a specialised track mounted machine.

Sian also provided information on the further specialist support available through Business Wales, including tendering and the Skills Gateway. Gethin has since successfully started his business and has already recruited his first member of staff.

“I can’t thank Sian E Jones from Business Wales enough for all her support, especially during the application process – from filling in paperwork to answering all my questions.

Her attention to detail and patience is incredible!”

To find out how Business Wales can help start or develop your business, call 01745 585025, follow @BusinessWalesN or email northwales@businesswales.org.uk

F O R S TA R T- U P S 03000 6 03000 busnescymru.llyw.cymru businesswales.gov.wales

MEMBERS NEWS

Chester law firm promotes agricultural solicitor as demand grows

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eading Chester law firm, SAS Daniels LLP, has promoted an agricultural specialist to Partner as it continues to grow its team of specialists in the area. It has also promoted three further Property team members across the North West.

James Goddard, a commercial property solicitor, has been made Partner at its Chester office following the significant role he has played in growing the firm’s agricultural law offering since joining in 2012, including being joint head of its dedicated agricultural law practice. During his time working in the region, James has also launched the Cheshire division of the Agricultural Law Association.

James represents the firm in the Country Land and Business Association and at local industry events including The Cheshire Show, The Nantwich Show and the Cheshire Ploughing Match.

James will be based at the firm’s new Chester office, having moved from White Friars to a larger space at 3 Vicar’s Lane.

James is one of four promotions at the firm. Scott Tams has also been promoted to Partner in the Commercial Property team and will be based predominantly at the firm’s Stockport office.

Meanwhile, two solicitors at its Macclesfield office have been promoted to Senior Associate.

Steven Percy and Victoria Bury, based in the Commercial Property team and Residential Property team respectively, will take up their new positions with immediate effect.

Steven joined SAS Daniels as a traineee in 2012 and since then has rapidly progressed and now acts for investors, landowners and developers on a wide range of commercial property matters. Victoria started at SAS Daniels in 2014 and has 17 years’ experience in residential conveyancing.

Jeremy Orrell, Managing Partner at SAS Daniels, said: “We’re delighted to be starting off the New Year with these four promotions in place. As we continue to expand in the Chester

James Goddard, Commercial Property Solicitor at SAS Daniels LLP and North Wales region having specialists in areas such as agriculture is crucial. James is bringing extensive experience in a complex area to Chester and his cases to date have shown there is a real need for it.

“Overall, each of those promoted has shown huge dedication to the firm and surpassed our expectations with the additional work they undertake to help continuously grow the firm.”

Local hospice challenges 30 businesses to fundraise for its 30th anniversary

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he Hospice of the Good Shepherd is challenging 30 businesses to get involved in the Corporate Challenge for its 30th anniversary to help raise vital funds for the Hospice.

The Hospice will give businesses £50 on 1st April and challenge them to be creative in turning it into much more by 30th June.

Abi Smith, Corporate and Major

Donor Manager, said, “Whether you would like to challenge the office to reach their full potential, or use this as a team building exercise, the Corporate Challenge is a great way to engage your team whilst raising funds for your local Hospice!”

“We have a few fundraising suggestions that do really well like dress down days, bake sales, raffles,

gala evenings, bag packing, sky dives and bake-offs. You can also enter colleagues into one of the Hospice’s organised events such as the Chester Sparkle Walk or a Parachute Jump.”

Everyone who takes part will be invited to a launch breakfast held on 28th March at the Hospice and a finale dinner on 18th July where a series of awards will be handed out.

We are delighted that Chamber members Black Mango, Chester Running Tours and Recycling UK Ltd are taking part in the Challenge.

Now in its thirtieth year, the Hospice of the Good Shepherd has an annual running cost of £4 million where less than a third comes from government funding. The remainder is generated through fundraising, donations, events and corporate partnerships.

For further information, please go to https://youtu.be/4kahbSK6cqM Hospice of the Good Shepherd

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CHAMBER EVENTS

Chamber Christmas networking at Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa

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hamber Christmas Networking at Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa proved to be an extremely popular event, with over 60 guests attending the afternoon.

With the Christmas season in full swing, there was no better time to gather Chamber members and the Chamber team to celebrate with fantastic company and food. The networking event began with guests being welcomed to the venue by the Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa team, before the Chamber Christmas quiz started. The quiz tested knowledge of all things Chamber and Christmas, as well as a festive dingbat round!

Whilst quiz sheets were marked, a delicious 2-course lunch was served to guests. On the menu was a turkey Christmas dinner or a Roasted Red Pepper courgette, caramelised onion and feta cheese parcel, followed by a Christmas pudding!

After food had been served, our four quiz winners were awarded with prizes.

Congratulations to Lynne Swinnerton,

(1st Place), Ian Girling (2nd Place), Amanda Parsonage (3rd Place) and Gareth Boyd (4th Place), who all won a variety of festive chocolate treats!

“Today was my first event as a Chamber member and I was really impressed with how everything ran” said Debby Johnston from Mortgage Advice Bureau.

“The people in attendance were friendly and the atmosphere was great. I made some new connections on the afternoon and I am already looking forward to attending the 2019 networking events!”

The event then finished with extra time for general networking, before guests were given a Christmas gift and headed back to work.

Debbie Bryce, Chief Executive Officer at the WCNW Chamber of Commerce commented: “This afternoon’s event was excellent and it was great to see so many members gather together to celebrate the festive season! I would like to thank Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa for their hospitality, the food was

Chamber members get in the festive spirit at Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa outstanding and the venue is superb. I would also like to extend my thanks to our Chamber members, without your support over the past year, we wouldn’t be where we are today and we are extremely grateful to you for this.”

The WCNW Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all members that attended the event and helped to create such a welcoming environment for all.

Another busy Liverpool Football Club event

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n the 22nd January, Liverpool Football Club played host to another fantastic Chamber networking event.

60 guests gathered in Anfield’s Executive Board room, where delegates had the opportunity to network and welcome new members.

The event then started with a warm welcome from Collette Salmon, Sales Manager at the club, who spoke about the upcoming events being held at Anfield, before lunch was served.

Guests enjoyed Goosnargh Chicken with chargrilled vegetables, sunblushed tomato, crushed potato with melting swiss cheese, or a Roasted Pumpkin Risotto, followed by a chocolate tart to finish!

After lunch had been served, our guest speaker for the day, Becky Stark from Stark Export Focus, took to the stage to speak to delegates. Becky enlightened guests on her career journey, from studying languages throughout her education and then using her gained skills in an export company as a translator. Becky then progressed to become an Export Manager, working for the Department

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The famous Anfield stadium played host to a Chamber networking lunch for International Trade and then later started Stark Export Focus to fit her time more effectively around family.

As an additional experience for the day, Chamber members were offered a ‘behind the scenes’ access tour of Anfield’s New Stand, concluding with a tour of the players changing rooms and the tunnel, where guests had the opportunity to take a picture with the famous crest.

Peter Farrell from Challenger Mobile Communications commented: “Yesterday was a great event held by the Chamber. As always, the surroundings were amazing and the tour

of the club afterwards was excellent.

The talk from Becky Stark was very interesting and once again, I met some new connections from the day.”

Speaking at the event, Jenny Davidson, Events & Young Chamber Manager, said: “As always, Liverpool Football Club co-hosted another superb event with the Chamber. The food was delicious and the added bonus of a tour of the grounds was an incredible opportunity for both myself and our members. I would like to thank all that attended the lunch and helped to welcome new and old members alike your support is greatly appreciated.”

CHAMBER EVENTS

Valentine’s Day sees business relationships blossom at ABode, Chester A Bode, Chester played host to the WCNW Chamber’s recent networking lunch on Valentine’s day, where business relationships blossomed.

With nearly 70 guests in attendance, the event proved to be an extremely popular hit amongst Chamber members and local businesses. On arrival guests were offered a glass of Prosecco, before having the opportunity to take part in a general networking session, greeting other members and gaining new business contacts.

After general networking had taken place, delegates were then seated for a delicious 2-course meal, with the surprise of a Valentine’s goody bag on their seats – compliments of ABode, Chester. On the menu for lunch was beer battered fish and chips

or Pasta pomodoro, followed by an incredible Creme Brulee!

With guests full from their lunch, it was then time to listen to our guest speaker of the day – Matt Bennett, CEO of DRB Group. For more than 40 years, DRB Group have been a trusted partner to production, processing, and heavy industrial customers in the North West.

Matt spoke to the room about the work that DRB carry out, as well as his career journey to becoming CEO in 2015.

Vicki Bartlett from Sage & Company, said: “The Chamber Valentine’s event was very well attended, offering a great atmosphere and it was great meeting old and new members. It was very generous of the ABode to offer a welcome drink and it was much appreciated. I’m looking forward to attending an event again soon!”

Matt Bennett, Chief Executive Officer at DRB Group, speaking to guests Reflecting on the event, Jenny Davidson, Events & Young Chamber Manager, commented: “Our Valentine’s Day event at ABode was fantastic and it was great to see so many members attend on the day.

Thank you to ABode, Chester for their continued support and outstanding hospitality.”

Join the WCNW Chamber at the new Spring Colour Ball T he WCNW Chamber of Commerce has launched a new exciting event, and you are invited!

The Chamber Spring Colour Ball, sponsored by Horizon Nuclear Power, is to be held at the Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy on 10th May at 7pm, mixing classic event style with a splash of colour. Guests on the evening are being asked to move away from the conventional black-tie dress and add a pop of colour to their outfit!

The evening will feature a fantastic three-course meal (menu can be found online), followed by entertainment from a local five-piece band, StereoFever.

With an extensive repertoire of uplifting

songs across all decades and genres, from rock and pop anthems, to 80s and soul megahits, their unique performances of crowd-pleasing classics are guaranteed to have everyone singing and jumping on the dancefloor by the end of the night.

The event will be raising funds for local Charity, North Clwyd Animal Rescue. All proceeds of our popular auction and raffle on the evening will be donated directly to the Charity.

If you would like to donate a prize, please contact Jenny Davidson on: J.Davidson@wcnwchamber.org.uk.

Businesses who donate auction and raffle prizes

will feature in the programme on the evening, as well as receiving a special thanks in the following ‘Business Matters’ magazine.

To find out more about the event and details of the evening, visit our website or call us on: 01244 669988 l £43.20 (inc VAT) for Chamber members l £51.60 (inc VAT) for non-Chamber members l Tables of 8 to 10 people can enjoy a 5% discount.

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PATRON NEWS

Get your business HS2 ready

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igh Speed Two is a transformative project which will reshape and rebalance Britain. HS2 trains will call at Crewe, bringing with them faster, more frequent services and more seats for passengers in Cheshire and North Wales.

It will provide the backbone for Northern Powerhouse Rail to succeed, creating an enhanced integrated Northern transport network to provide faster and better rail connections to and from the North.

But it will also integrate into the rest of the existing rail network in order to spread the benefits beyond station cities. Through the connections at the Crewe Hub, North Wales will be brought closer to the rest of the country.

More than 2,000 businesses have worked on the project to date and over 7,000 people. When construction peaks, it is estimated that HS2 will need 30,000 people to design and build the full HS2 rail network.

Businesses of all sizes can win contracts through their supply chain opportunities and not just those traditionally aligned to the rail industry.

Local businesses in Cheshire and North Wales are already benefitting and will continue to benefit from

Mark Thurston, HS2 CEO, at the event in Flintshire the jobs and growth that HS2 will bring.

Over 90 companies in the North West have been awarded contracts working on the project, and that number is expected to increase as plans to bring HS2 to the North progress with

Phase Two. Recently, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive held a roundtable at Palmers Scaffolding UK and Datascope Systems at Aviation Park, just outside of Chester, with other local businesses who have already worked on HS2.

If you’re a business and want to find out more about HS2 supply chain opportunities visit: www.hs2.org.uk/supply-chain You can also sign up to HS2 supply chain bulletin to find out how you can get involved: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HS2supply as well as following HS2 on their Twitter account @HS2ltd using the following hashtag #hs2supplychain.

New space to do Cheshire and Warrington business in West Cheshire LEP develops its Local Industrial Strategy C

heshire West and Chester Council has invested in impressive new BREEAM Excellent workspace units as it continues to encourage the borough’s thriving business community to prosper.

Through a jointly funded Council and ERDF project, three new sites have been developed across the borough aimed at businesses in the manufacturing, energy and technology sectors: Road 2 in Winsford, Duttons Business Centre in Northwich and Dee View Trade and Business Park on Bumpers Lane in Chester.

The Winsford and Northwich units have been completed and celebratory opening

events were held at each site to welcome the new tenants, including rail vehicle engineer Nick Walker who runs Smart Rail Services Ltd, one of the first tenants at the Winsford units.

Nick said: “This unit is the stepping stone to us moving from being a small company into a medium sized company and potentially bringing in additional people. Without having something like this at an affordable price, I would have been stuck.”

The project is also offering small and medium sized enterprises from the manufacturing, energy and technology sectors fully funded one-to-one support from specialist business advisers to help them realise their growth ambitions.

To find out more about this project, how to access business support or for more information about the new units contact business@ cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Winsford Business Units Far right: Less Common Metals Limited is a manufacturer and supplier of complex alloy systems.

This image demonstrates the strip caster being loaded.

Credit: Adrian Waine at Photography for Industry

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C

heshire and Warrington LEP is currently developing a Local Industrial Strategy. It is working with consultants Metro Dynamics to build up a robust evidence base which demonstrates the distinctive strengths of the area whilst highlighting potential issues that may hinder its growth aspirations.

Over the coming months, the LEP will engage with businesses and other key stakeholders to test that evidence and the initial insights and conclusions.

A conference led by the LEP and Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2018, was the first step in the area’s response to the grand challenges of the UK’s national Industrial Strategy, building on the strengths identified in the sub-regions Strategic Economic Plan.

The aim of the Industrial Strategy is to boost productivity by backing businesses to create good jobs and increase the earning power of people throughout the UK with investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.

Each local strategy needs to be place-focused to

ensure; it focuses on what is right for each locality (cities, towns and rural areas), demonstrates ambition and identifies how it will deliver long-term economic growth that benefits everyone.

Cheshire and Warrington area is part of the second wave of Local Industrial Strategies following on from the Trailblazer areas; Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Corridor whose completed strategies are due to be published in March 2019.

To learn more about the Local Industrial Strategies see: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/local-industrialstrategies-policy-prospectus

CITB Inspirational Apprentice of the Year 2018

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Cheshire bricklaying apprentice has won a top prize at the 2018 Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Apprenticeship Awards.

Mason Andrews, 24, from Buckley, employed by Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West, was named Great Britain’s Inspirational Apprentice of the Year at the ceremony which took place at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London this November.

The CITB Apprentice Awards celebrate the achievements of CITB apprentices, and their employers. The winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony hosted by the BBC Amazing Spaces presenter, George Clark.

After conquering significant hurdles in his personal life, Mason jumped back into education and started to pursue his career in construction.

Mason said: ‘’The entire experience has been overwhelming. I was nominated out of 14,000 apprentices across the UK, so I was never expecting to gain the award. ‘’I have loved every moment of my apprenticeship and with the support from the College, I have been able to progress quickly through various levels.

I am now exploring what management opportunities are available to me. ‘’I was ecstatic when I got the job at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West. Everyone is so friendly and supportive, it’s a great environment to be in. When I got into work the day after I won the award, everyone was cheering and congratulating me, it was heart-warming. ‘’I now know that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.’’

Mark Nowell, Apprenticeship Coordinator and Christopher Holland, Lecturer in Brickwork, tutored Mason throughout his College journey. They said: ‘’Mason was always keen and enthusiastic about his studies and was always striving to go the extra mile, ensuring his work was ‘just right’. ‘’He represented the College and Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West on several occasions out in local schools and the community, talking about the benefits of apprenticeships and the importance of maths and English in the industry. ‘’Mason was always polite and friendly, and his positive attitude was infectious and inspiring. We wish him the best of luck in the future.’’

Mason joined Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West in September 2016. He is currently in his third year working towards completing an NVQ Level 3 Supervisor and Management qualification. During his time with the company, he has excelled in every project and has even taken the time to advance his skills and knowledge by undertaking his own projects, such as confidently building an extension for his Mum. Stephen Cosgrove, Construction Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North West, said: ‘’Mason has overcome significate barriers within his personal life, and his background has enabled him to set long term goals not only to further his career but to provide a better life for him and his family. Having been faced with difficult situations in his younger years, Mason has adopted many life skills that others

PATRON NEWS

Mason Andrews receiving his award at the ceremony hosted in November 2018. don’t achieve in a lifetime. This has provided Mason with knowledge, skills and the tools he needs to succeed.

Mason has a passion to succeed, which he demonstrates daily and continues to remain focused on site. His belief in his own ability is what not only drives Mason to succeed, but empowers others around him.’’

Maria Davison, Director of Business Development and Apprenticeships, commented: ‘’This is a remarkable achievement for Mason and is truly well deserved. ‘’Mason has always demonstrated a can-do attitude and is highly selfmotivated, which has enabled him to quickly excel with his studies. ‘’We are incredibly proud of Mason’s achievements and his enthusiasm to inspire other young people.’’ ‘’We deliver high quality apprenticeship programmes that make a valuable contribution to both our Apprentices’ careers and the employers we work with.’’

College Hair and Beauty Lecturer awarded with prestigious City & Guilds Medal for Excellence

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ndrea Rimmer, Lecturer in Beauty at the Colleges Ellesmere Port Campus, has recently been awarded a ‘Gold Medal for Excellence’ from City & Guilds.

This well-deserved international recognition is not surprising, as Andrea has an enviable track record of learners consistently winning medals and plaudits in national competitions.

Emily Misson, 24, former learner at Bishop’s Blue Coat High School, who recently completed her Level 3 Nail Technician Diploma, competed against other Nail Technicians to win a bronze

medal at this year’s WorldSkills UK Competition. Emily said: ‘’My WorldSkills UK journey has been amazing. It hasn’t really sunk in how far I’ve come since starting my nail course two years ago. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the incredible support, I have had from my tutor Andrea. She has been my role model.’’

The City & Guilds Medal for Excellence is a distinguished work of art whose design has remained largely unchanged since 1880. Gold Medals are extremely prestigious awards and are only presented to 50 recipients annually.

L to R: Sarah Turner, North West Business Development Manager and Andrea Rimmer, Lecturer in Beauty

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PATRON NEWS

Cyber security trends for 2019 F

or businesses across the globe, the view of cyber security over the past decade has developed from something that an arguably low number of businesses took seriously, to a subject that almost EVERY business is talking about, and something that each must ensure is appropriately addressed to protect its future.

Due to the unpredictable nature of cyber-attacks, cyber security procedures, technology, as well as all associated regulations and products, continue to develop at a rapid pace, in response to the growing threat. Below, we are taking a look at our top business cyber security predictions for the next 12 months.

those with remote workers who may be accessing other cloud technologies simultaneously.

TWO STEP PASSWORD AUTHENTICATIONS As cyber attacks become more and more sophisticated in their planning, so must our security procedures to keep them out. One of the main things we all do to keep our data private is setting a password, however a complex password simply isn’t cutting it anymore, and therefore many companies are opting for multi-step password authentications.

Multi-step authentication will see users initially use their chosen password to log into a device or software, and then

CLOUD SECURITY Companies the world over have been adopting cloud technology at a rapid pace, recognising the benefits it can bring in terms of productivity, efficiency and flexibility to a workforce. This year we expect to see a significant rise in cloudbased security software being chosen by businesses to reduce risk to cyber-attack.

Due to the fact that the cloud allows for scalability to take place easily and cost effectively, this will be the ideal option for countless businesses, but particularly

be required to complete an additional method of authentication, such as a code texted to a chosen phone number, to verify that you are who you say you are.

REACTING TO REGULATION We are eight months into new regulations with regard to data protection, which transformed the way that businesses were required to think about the way they collected, stored and disposed of data, with particular emphasis on the security of said data.

Because of GDPR, companies must now analyse their cyber security procedures in minute detail, considering all potential threats and how they can be avoided. Whilst many businesses began this process in 2018, we expect countless more to continue to adapt their cyber security to ensure compliance with GDPR well into 2019 and beyond, as threats evolve and new technologies provide further opportunity.

Are you aware of the cyber security threats facing your business in 2019? Or are you looking to overhaul your current procedures?

Contact our cyber security experts at MWL Systems today to book in a security review on 01978 858 300.

The top five benefits of Power BI M

icrosoft’s comprehensive analytics tool, Power BI (Business Intelligence) has found huge success within the business world, in large part due to the way in which it provides highly useful business intelligence, that is key to ensuring a business is operating efficiently and competitively. Our own customers at MWL Systems have found significant benefit in using this popular software, below we outline the top five benefits that Power BI has provided our customers.

1. Integration with other software Power BI will integrate seamlessly with many leading software packages, this means that not only will it gather data easily, but allow you to export reports, graphs and visuals into other programmes.

2. Data from multiple sources Due to its ability to integrate with a vast array of software, Power BI can collect data from multiple sources, even those not associated with Microsoft.

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3. Personalised dashboards Not only does Power BI provide an effective tool for compiling data, but it does so in a visually engaging way, with fully customisable dashboards so that it suits the precise requirements of a business. Furthermore, with its easy to use interface, much of the software allows you to simply drag and drop features into place, therefore users, no matter what their technology knowledge, should find the software easy to use.

4. Simple and secure sharing As with all Microsoft products that we provide to our clients, Power BI offers a secure platform in which to collect and analyse data, produce reports, graphs and other visuals, that can subsequently be shared across a wide variety of devices and formats with colleagues.

5. No constraints As with many cloud applications, Power BI can be easily scaled up or down depending on the requirements of your business. And without the constraints

of memory, speed or device, users are able to swiftly retrieve the data and reports of visuals they require, wherever they may be.

Is your business ready to utilise the benefits of Power BI? Contact our team of experts today to discuss your requirements on info@mwlsystems.co.uk.

Sanctuary investing in extensive refurbishment programme

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anctuary is making a significant investment to extensively refurbish housing schemes and properties across Chester.

Around £1 million is being spent replacing fire doors at 49 low rise blocks in the city along with the upgrade of emergency lighting in the communal areas.

A programme to replace lifts at each of its nine high rises in Chester has also been brought forward, meaning it will now be completed six months ahead of schedule in 2020.

Sanctuary is also upgrading all of its warden call systems at housing for older people’s schemes in the area over the

next three years, providing a much improved and reliable service.

In addition, two city housing for older people’s schemes – Kingfisher Court and Newton House – have seen significant work with new ceilings, lighting and redecoration throughout as well as new door entry, warden call and fire detection systems.

Sanctuary’s team will also be installing a total of 125 new bathrooms, 45 kitchens, 68 external doors and 57 porches throughout its general needs properties in Chester.

PATRON NEWS

Pupils name new Chester housing development

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new housing development being delivered by Sanctuary Homes in Elton has been named by local school children.

Pupils at Elton Primary School took part in a competition to come up with a name for the four onebedroom apartments being constructed at Whitefields in the village.

Bluebell View was the winning entry and the two pupils who came up with the moniker were presented with book vouchers at a special assembly by Sanctuary’s

head of development Colleen Eccles.

She said: “This competition was a fantastic opportunity to engage with pupils and encourage them to be creative. They were hugely enthusiastic about the project and some of the names put forward were imaginative.”

The competition took place as part of Sanctuary’s MORE programme, which connects with people in places where Sanctuary is developing new homes and helps to engage future residents with the organisation’s work.

Pupils name new Chester housing development

Opportunities available at Blacon business hub

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thriving enterprise hub in Blacon is offering opportunities for startup businesses and growing firms.

The Parade Enterprise Centre has office units for rent at affordable rates, as well as a variety of other rooms for hire.

It is run by Avenue Services; whose expert staff also provide an Enterprise Service offering advice and support for all aspects of business and entrepreneurship.

Since its creation in 2015, the service has assisted more than 135 businesses, from start-ups to larger, more established firms.

Chris Leicester, neighbourhood partnership manager at Avenue Services, said: “The Parade Enterprise Centre is an ‘incubation’ workspace, designed to offer businesses an affordable base from which they can develop and expand.

“We would encourage any business which could potentially benefit to get in touch.”

For more information about opportunities on offer at the centre and the business support available from Avenue Services, call Chris Leicester on 0300 123 1741 or email chris.leicester@avenueservices.co.uk.

The Parade Enterprise Centre

Employment project delivering results for Chester residents

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venue Services, with funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council, is offering a series of nine-month employment opportunities to people from Blacon and Lache.

Working in the grounds maintenance team and the caretaking and cleaning team, the employees gain practical skills and receive training and mentoring from experienced staff.

Eight people have been employed under the scheme to date, with three of those going on to secure permanent positions with

Avenue Services.

Local resident, Karen Ramsey, who is now a valued member of the cleaning and caretaking team, said: “I have learned new skills and gained qualifications and I’m grateful for all the opportunities the scheme has made available to me.”

Paul Knight, Head of Avenue Services, added: “The job market is competitive, and by providing local longterm unemployed residents with work and training opportunities we are giving them the skills to succeed and secure future full-time roles.”

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PATRON NEWS

Three ways to boost your business in 2019 even in an uncertain economy

By PAUL SLAPA, Head of Direct Sales, Wesleyan Bank

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t the start of every financial year, many businesses reflect on potential opportunities over the coming months. While uncertainty over the UK economy pending the outcome of Brexit will influence some to exercise caution, others intend to adopt a more ‘glass half-full approach’ towards driving growth.

Whatever your short, medium and long-term aspirations are, the following three trends can have a significant bearing on your business’s ability to flourish in 2019.

LEVERAGE THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE The Government’s Autumn Statement offered UK SMEs an incentive to accelerate their investment plans following changes to the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA). The AIA is a capital allowance that enables firms to write off the cost of certain assets in full against profits in the year in which the expenditure is incurred, providing a valuable source of tax relief for capital expenditure. What’s not to like?

From 1 January 2019, the AIA limit increased from £200,000 to £1 million for a two-year period. Qualifying items include specialist equipment, IT and technology related investments as well as heating, air conditioning and lighting.

Whilst the AIA is allocated by calendar year (January to December), the ability of a business to maximise tax savings will depend on how much qualifying investment is made in its financial year.

SMEs can gain a faster return on investment through flexible asset finance solutions by spreading the cost of new purchases over one to five years. Customised finance plans with structured interest only payments also allow businesses to gain access to the equipment and technology they need, without being constrained by large, upfront costs.

PRIORITISE CYBER SECURITY WITHIN YOUR IT BUDGET There is little point investing in cutting

edge technology, products or services if you can’t provide your customers with the confidence that your business and the data you hold on them is secure.

A study compiled by risk experts Kroll reveals that IT security breaches have risen by 75% in two years, reaffirming that protecting your business against data theft is one of the biggest issues facing UK SMEs today.

Following the onset of GDPR in May 2018, the average value of fines issued by the UK Information Commissioner’s office has doubled over the last year to reach £146,000. It is easy to view cybersecurity as a cost to be absorbed, with no expected return on investment.

But in the digital age, this is a shortsighted view. There is now a strong argument for advanced protection being a service differentiator.

By exploring flexible IT finance agreements, businesses can blend hardware, software and services including consultancy and training into a combined, predictable monthly cost.

They also have the freedom to switch to different IT security solutions half way through if the cybersecurity landscape has evolved and there are more appropriate options available.

THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE FINANCE The need for businesses to have quick and affordable access to finance has not changed in recent years, however the options now available have altered drastically. While banks are typically still the first port of call favoured by SMEs, high street lenders can be inflexible in their approach and more willing to adopt risk averse policies which makes qualifying for finance somewhat onerous. While turnover and profits are a key barometer of business health, cashflow will ultimately make or break a company’s longevity.

With so much at stake, make 2019 the year when you really consider whether your current finance facilities are adequate for your business’s needs and future growth plans?

There are now more alternative

Paul Slapa, Head of Direct Sales at Wesleyan Bank funding sources available from specialist providers than ever before.

So, whether you are looking for shortterm working capital solutions to boost your cash flow, or seeking long-term funding to support investment in assets, commercial mortgages or acquisitions, it’s worth exploring all potential finance options to make an informed decision.

ENSURE YOUR BUSINESS IS A SUCCESS THIS YEAR With UK economic growth expected to remain subdued in 2019, it’s only natural for businesses to be cautious about flexing their purchasing muscles.

However, investing in new assets can often be the best way to strengthen your firm’s competitive position by ensuring you continue to remain lean and agile. Technology is constantly evolving and SMEs need to be equally as fleet-of-foot in accessing modern equipment and systems to maximise efficiency to differentiate their services in a way that customers now demand.

Don’t get left behind.

Wesleyan Bank provide short, medium and long-term funding solutions for UK businesses. For further information, please visit our website, email bankcommercialsales@wesleyan.co.uk or call 0800 980 9348.

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Local businesswoman hits the road as Blood Bikes’ first female rider in North Wales

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rexham business owner and motorbike enthusiast Maja Kenney, 44, decided to upgrade the hobby she loves, to help give back to the local community.

Maja, the founding director of The Admin Office, undertook extensive training and passed the challenging riding test, to become a fully-qualified rider for Blood Bikes Wales.

The Admin Office is a virtual executive assistant business based in north Wales. Maja started the business in 2016, with the simple ethos of: “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything”. The business provides executive assistance, bookkeeping and general admin support to local, national and international businesses – from start-ups to multinationals. Since its launch less than three years ago, the business has grown to employ two further executive assistants, and Maja has plans to grow the business to employ more executive assistants over the next 12 months.

As if her extensive development plans for the business weren’t enough, at the

end of 2018 Maja undertook training to become one of Blood Bike Wales’ volunteer riders. She passed the course to become the first female Blood Bike Wales rider in north Wales and started riding for them in January 2019. She has recently been filmed by ITV Wales carrying out her work with the charity.

Blood Bikes Wales is an enthusiastic team of volunteers committed to using their time and skills to help the National Health Service (NHS) in Wales. It is a member of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and shares its goal to provide a reliable, free, high-quality service to health trusts throughout the country. Blood Bikes Wales provides the NHS with out-of-hours transport to move blood supplies, plasma, documentation and other items between hospitals, which saves substantial sums of money that can then be used for frontline care Maja is now included in the rota for on-call duties, which will see her riding anywhere from Liverpool and Bangor, to Newtown and further afield. Commented Maja: “I am so proud to have passed the riding test

MEMBERS NEWS

Maja Kenney, Owner of The Admin Office and joined the Blood Bikes family in North Wales. The NHS in north Wales is so important to us all and I firmly believe that anything we can do to support this great institution is vital. By training to become a Blood Bikes rider I am able to help constructively, whilst doing something that I love. It’s a win-win situation.”

She continued: “I appreciate I am lucky to be in the position to help and running my own business means I have a degree of flexibility with my time. I am totally committed to helping and supporting my clients, but that doesn’t mean I have to be restricted by conventional working hours. Being able to meet deadlines – be it for Blood Bikes Wales or a business client – is all about having the ability to prioritise, plan and on occasion, react.”

For further information on The Admin Office visit www.admin-office.co.uk

Oomph! Sport England backs mental health charity’s exercise project

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hamber members and local mental health charity Chapter, have received almost £10,000 in funding from Sport Council Trust (a subsidiary of Sport England) to run the OOMPH project – a programme of physical health activities exclusively for people who live with severe and enduring mental illness.

OOMPH (Obtaining Outstanding Mental and Physical Health), which will begin in March, will offer the chance to climb Mount Snowdon to people with serious diagnoses such as schizophrenia

and bipolar disorder.

The funding will provide opportunities for Chapter’s service users to go rambling, mountaineering, take yoga classes, and join running and walking clubs. Individuals will set themselves a ‘Big Goal’, such as climbing Snowdon or running a 10k, and access Chapter’s new activities to train towards that goal.

It is hoped that by improving their physical health, Chapter’s beneficiaries will grow in self-esteem and see an improvement in their mental health, too. Chapter expects around 50 local

people to benefit from the project.

Fundraiser Matt Zeqiri said: “There is a well-established link between physical and mental health, and we are delighted that the Sport Council Trust have given our service users the opportunity to benefit from it.

“Chapter has a long history of providing physical health activities to people with mental illness, but never on this scale. By giving our service users the chance to work towards a major sporting goal, we hope that OOMPH will help them achieve things they can draw inspiration from for years to come.”

Chapter provides a programme of activities to help people with mental illness grow in confidence and become less socially isolated. They have been members of the Chamber of Commerce since May 2018.

Chapter volunteers raising money for the charity

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12th - 16th June 2019

★ International Dressage & Show Jumping ★ ★ VIP Hospitality Packages Available ★

★ Business Lunch & Networking Lunch Friday June 14th ★ ★ Bars & Evening Entertainment ★

Box Office: 0844 8000 509 or www.bolesworthinternational.com Venue Location: Bolesworth Castle, Chester CH3 9HQ

Getting started Steve Frehley To begin, tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I was born in Liverpool, I’m married, and I have one step-son. I have performed various IT roles over 23 years, the last 10 years as a Project Manager.

I’m now part owner and Director of Jeffrey’s Tonic.

What made you go in to the business?

I had always wanted to start my own business but never had enough selfbelief to do so. I was made redundant from my job and I struggled to find a new one. I had decided to do something completely different and that I was passionate about…start a coffee business. Around the same time, my mate Mike Robinson, had created a range of tonic syrups. Mike got inspired to do so from a recipe he found in the back of a book about gin. Mike asked that I join him and help run the business.

It seemed that everyone is doing coffee, but hardly anyone is making tonic syrup, and these are exceptional drinks, I was a fan the instant I tried them. It was a ‘no brainer’ as they say.

How and when did the idea come about?

Mike received a book about gin, for Christmas. In the back of the book was a recipe for a tonic syrup, created

by Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Mike made the tonic syrup, but he didn’t like it too much. But he felt it was a good idea and after some research decided to make his own. When friends and family tasted the tonic he made, they loved it. This gave Mike the idea to start a business.

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

Our target audience is split in two types, those who drink spirits with mixers and those who don’t drink at all. We are also finding out that there is a lot of people that don’t like tonic, they find it too bitter and will often use lemonade instead. When those folks try our tonics, because we use natural and authentic ingredients (the Cinchona bark rather than the extract), it’s actually less bitter and more palatable on its own.

When you add gin, it’s like a door that allows the botanicals to go through; the G&T becomes an exceptional and wonderful experience; something quite new to the taste buds and of your usual gin and tonic.

The main aim is to give customers that wonderful experience that we have, when we drink our tonics - give people great flavours to taste. There are new Gins on the market almost every month, the other tonic brands are pretty much the same nowadays, fizzy water with flavourings and extract, so it’s becoming more and more difficult to compliment those gins - they typically end up masking the gin; of course, there are some that work well. We are lucky in that our tonics work really well with a high percentage of craft gins, as well as vodka and rum. They also work as an alternative non-alcoholic adult soft drink. Plus, we have the versatility in the syrups to use those in cocktails. You can find some cocktail recipes on our website; www.jeffreystonic.com.

As well, we’d like to become well established in the drinks market and to keep on innovating.

What have been your main achievements and difficulties?

Difficulties: l Awareness l Education l Big brand contracts locking customers in and blocking competition l Distribution costs l Limited resources Achievements: l National and international awards l Manufacturing process improvements l Experts in pairing tonics with spirits l Improved sales technique l Winning nationwide customers l Growing product awareness

GETTING STARTED NAME: Steve Frehley JOB TITLE: Director FROM: Jeffrey’s Tonic Ltd www.jefferystonic.com

l Research the industry, make sure that there’s a market or need for your product or service (it’ll be a lot harder to create a new market, if it doesn’t exist already). l Make sure that your product or service is great – don’t push something that is not perfect or as flaws. l Understand your point of difference and why your product or service is better than the rest. l Keep tight control of your costs – question ‘do I really need this?’ l Be passionate, people buy in to you. l Be resilient, you are allowed to fail, you will get knocked back, but you’re not allowed to give in. l Always ask for help, find the right people to support you. Do you know someone in the industry, anyone who has marketing experience etc? l Learn from your mistakes, continuously improve. l Believe in yourself. l Promote the business at all times – take advantage of Social Media, ask friends and family to support. l Generate leads and always follow-up (get the decision maker).

What attracted you to entrepreneurship? Why was this?

This sounds cliché, but I needed to have control of my own destiny. If I fail, it’s down to me and not someone else.

Being passionate about something and truly believing in what I do makes my life exiting, it’s not a job for me, it’s become a way of life.

What are your career aims and aspirations?

To continue to improve what I do and to grow the business. If we are successful enough, then I like the idea of helping start-up businesses.

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

Steve Frehley, Director at Jeffrey’s Tonic Ltd

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YOUNG CHAMBER

Helsby High School students face ‘The Dragons’

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n 18th December 2018, Year 10 Business Studies students at Helsby High School pitched their ideas to the Young Chamber Dragons as part of the Chamber’s efforts to bring business and education closer together.

This followed an event that the students had attended at Manchester United’s famous ground, Old Trafford, in which they researched football merchandise.

Students were then asked to work in groups and were tasked to develop a new football related product; this included designing, researching, marketing and pitching their product.

Two of our Young Chamber Sponsors, Smurfit Kappa and Hybrid Search, were the acting Dragons for the morning.

The presentations were included the following products: l England X Pandora collaboration.

Charms for the Pandora bracelet such as customised England football shirts, the England flag and three lions were available to buy and add to your

existing collection. l A crossover of computer games, allowing customers to purchase their favourite football players and use them in various different games via a newly developed online gaming platform. l A Liverpool FC Subbuteo-style advent calendar, used as a healthier option than traditional advent calendars for younger children.

Judges were able to ask questions to the students about their market research, their products and their branding. They then decided on the best product and the best pitch/ presentation- prizes were then given to the winners. Students received feedback on their presentation styles and their concepts; this enables them to adapt and further their skills for future presentations.

“Thank you so much to the Young Chamber programme for organising our Dragon’s for the presentations. Our Year 10 GCSE Business students were

Helsby High School students present to ‘The Dragons’ presenting their ideas for a new piece of footballing merchandise. It was fabulous to have outside visitors to judge these and help students evaluate their presentation skills and it really helped students to understand the importance of these skills.” said Eve Dougherty, Business and Economics Teacher at Helsby High.

Mark Hughes, Sales Director at Smurfit Kappa, was one of the ‘Dragons’ on the day and said: “I was very impressed with the quality of the presentations and some great ideas. I think a couple of them have the potential to be commercialised!”

Goldy Solutions supports local school’s Creative Future Showcase

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he 29th of January saw Chamber member and Young Chamber Sponsor Ian Clowes, of Goldy Solutions, take part in Christleton High School’s Creative Future Showcase.

Art & Design and Photography students attended the event where Ian spoke about his career path and the current projects he is undertaking,

as well as giving advice and tops for students looking to enter the industry.

“When we planned our Creative Futures Showcase for January 28th 2019, we wanted a range of creative industries to be represented. When Young Chamber linked us up with photographer Ian Clowes, we were not only very grateful for their help, but also bowled over by the unique perspective Ian was able to bring.” said Ruth Pritchard, Head of Art at Christleton High School.

Ian spent most of his career as a Plant and Operations Manager in the chemical engineering sector. As part of his role, Ian started taking photographs to keep customers up to date with job progress. One picture in particular, of a boat in the sunset, stood out and from there Ian went on to produce picture brochures for clients whilst also taking family portraits and wedding pictures.

Ian then took the plunge and became a professional photographer in 2007. Ian explained the benefits and challenges of setting up his own company to the students and then spent time taking them through various

techniques and explained how to get the best results from a camera.

Ruth continued “Ian was an engaging and adept public speaker and he was able to give practical tips, as well as business know-how. Some of our students commented very quickly after the event that they liked the industrial work that Ian was able to show and describe. After the formal part of our event, Ian stayed to meet students who really enjoyed the help and advice he gave them regarding kit and technique. Ian also very kindly left us with some of the publications he has produced and, as well as everything else, we thank him for his generosity in this regard!”

Ian thoroughly enjoyed the event adding “It’s been great to speak to the students and pass on some of my photography experience to them.

Christleton High School are very proactive at engaging with businesses and I was more than happy to give a few pointers and speak about opportunities in the industry. The quality of the art department was very impressive and I hope to be back soon!”

Ian Clowes helps student with different camera techniques

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YOUNG CHAMBER

Young Chamber students tour HMP Berwyn

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tudents from Cheshire College – South & West took part in a tour of local prison, HMP Berwyn, as part of a Young Chamber field trip.

The students from the college are currently studying Public Services and aim to enter into this sector after education.

Students were greeted into Berwyn by Business and Community Engagement Manager, Clair Evans, who guided them to their state-of-the-art training centre.

The training facility is a brand-new development by Berwyn and is where all guards within the prison will undergo intense training before moving into their role.

Students were then introduced to Jason Kelsall, HR Manager at Berwyn, who spoke about the prison’s rehabilitative work, as well as the recruitment process for new guards.

After touring the training facility in the morning, students then took a short break, where refreshments and sandwiches prepared by the men within the prison were served. Students also had the opportunity on the day to hear current officers speak on their day-to-day roles within the prison; hearing about the officers’ career and

educational journeys was enlightening for the students, who hope to take up full-time jobs within public services roles.

Students were also taken to the prison’s dojo, where they were shown the typical clothing worn by officers in different situations that may occur (such as riots). Officers then showed students a demonstration of the techniques used by officers when dealing with violence within Berwyn, as well as highlighting how the dog team operates- being shown control scenarios that would be carried out.

Jason Kelsall, HR Business Partner & Clair Evans, commented on the day: “We were really pleased to welcome the students to Berwyn to give them an insight into the possible careers and the rewards of working in a prison and helping with rehabilitation. We’d like to extend our thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and Cheshire College -South & West for arranging the visit to HMP Berwyn. We’re very proud of our staff and it was a privilege to be able to showcase their talents. Hopefully, it will inspire students to follow a career in the criminal justice system. Our staff play an important role in protecting the public and rehabilitating offenders; joining us

Cheshire College - South & West students visited HMP Berwyn could lead to a very rewarding career” Dan Bathgate, Tutor of Uniformed Pubic Services at Cheshire College – South & West said: “The college would like to thank the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and in particular their representative Dan Ward, as well as the staff at HMP Berwyn, for providing our Uniformed Public Service students with an insight into the roles, responsibilities and working life of prison staff. The guest speakers and demonstrations were exemplary, as was the hospitality show to us by the staff at the prison.”

DRB Group tour inspires the next generation of engineers

O

n Thursday 17th January, Bryn Tirion Hall School students were given a tour of one of the region’s leading manufacturing firms, DRB Group, as part of the Young Chamber programme.

Five lucky students were given an inside view of the integrated mechanical and electrical engineering group, who serve a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries as well as the rail, nuclear, utilities and general manufacturing sectors.

The tour started with an introduction to the business from Rebecca Morgan, Head of Sales & Marketing, who gave an overview of DRB Group’s history, the current projects they are involved in and the future plans for the company. Rebecca explained 8% of DRB Group’s workforce are apprentices and that they are focusing on increasing this number as part of their business plan.

Mike Halliday, Production Engineer Team Leader, then took the students on a tour of the site. Interestingly, Mike started his career at DRB Group as an

apprentice and now holds one of the highest positions on the warehouse floor, highlighting to the students how an apprenticeship can be a great way to start their careers. “I found the tour great to show off the company and explain my personal progression within the company, starting off coming to DRB as a school student on work experience” said Mike.

The tour then concluded with Mike talking through his journey as an apprentice and the opportunities available to young people at DRB Group, “Discussing these different stages in my career path from school, and explaining how I have got to where I am now was rewarding and I’ve shown the students how they can continue to learn and study after high school.”

The students thoroughly enjoyed the tour and will now be doing follow up work on the day’s activities.

“Before going to DRB I had no idea that railway equipment was maintained locally, it was a real eye opener” said Sacha, one of the pupils

Bryn Tirion Hall School students on the tour around the DRB site from the school. Fred Smith, Teacher at Bryn Tirion Hall School, followed this by commenting “As a school we’re really grateful for the opportunities provided

by Young Chamber, it’s great to see that DRB were willing to inform our pupils of the opportunities available in the local area, the pupils learned a lot about the manufacturing environment and it’s provided stimulus for future lessons.”

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

ALED HUMPHREYS

Cluster General Manager,Caer Rhun Hall - part of the WHISPER Hotels collection

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

I went into the hospitality industry straight from University in Bangor and I’ve never looked back. In my time within the industry I’ve worked for bigger names and some smaller ones and love the challenges that come with both. I’ve worked for brands such as Virgin Hotels and Handpicked Hotels, as well as small independents, and now WHISPER Hotels having joined the team in September.

I’m originally from the area and moving back after years all over the UK is great – it’s also lovely to be able to be speaking Welsh again on a daily basis! There is no where quite like home.

WCNW: What attracted you to the company?

In addition to the chance to move back to my homeland, my role gives me the opportunity to really grow our product and fully open Caer Rhun Hall. It’s transformation from accountancy school to hotel is quite stunning and there is still more to come! It’s an exciting time to be working with the hotel!

WCNW: What are your main responsibilities?

Every day is different, but on the whole, I am responsible for overseeing the running of all

hotels operationally, working with our central office on marketing, business development and growing revenue. I’m also responsible for developing the teams at our hotels and ensuring the WHISPER culture is at the core of our hotels.

WCNW: What does a typical day involve?

No two days are the same in the hotel industry and that’s just one thing I love about it. Working between all four hotels means I’m constantly on the go and moving between hotels, partners and our suppliers.

In the average day, I can be going from a finance or marketing meeting straight into meeting our local produce suppliers or speaking to event organisers about how we can get involved.

Sometimes I’ll get away in the evening but hospitality never stops and sometimes I’ll be working an event – we recently hosted a wedding showcase at Caer Rhun Hall so I was onsite working with venue dressers and welcoming couples considering Caer Rhun Hall for their special day.

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

We’ve got something for everyone, from the adventurers relaxing in a roll top bath after a climb up

Snowdon or a visit to Zip World, to the holiday makers enjoying a stroll in the grounds followed by Afternoon Tea. WHISPER Hotels ethos is all about creating memorable moments and experiences for guests and North Wales makes that job easy – there is just so much on offer in this area!

The beautiful Caer Rhun Hall in Conwy

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THE BIG INTERVIEW WCNW: What projects are you currently working on?

We’re continuing to develop Caer Rhun Hall and are looking to fully open Caer Rhun with a restaurant and more bedrooms soon! Across the portfolio of hotels there are so many projects – from exclusive use house party propositions to marquee weddings and refurbishments. The project list is ever growing but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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

The future for WHISPER Hotels is all about growth and development of our products – those in and out of North Wales. This makes is an exciting time to be part of the Caer Rhun Hall team. There is still tonnes of potential and it’s about making sure we maximise all the opportunities for our guests and visitors.

It’s also about getting our name out there, Caer Rhun Hall is no longer an accountancy school and also WHISPER Hotels is a new brand which launched late 2018 so 2019 will all be about awareness!

The hall is perfect for weddings, country retreats, team building days or exclusive use parties so we have lots to be getting on with!

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

As I mentioned we’re constantly developing what we offer. We’ve recently started doing Afternoon Tea at Caer Rhun Hall and we’re looking to launch a Sunday brunch there too.

At the Belmont we have a fab little restaurant, so we’ve started to do steak nights and fish and chips nights, and they’ve been going down well with local audiences.

We’re also hoping to do some open events at Caer Rhun Hall so local businesses and residents can come and explore the hotel and see its wonderful transformation from accountancy school to country retreat.

WCNW: Are there any particular people, business leaders or others you look up to? What have you learned from them?

You can learn for everyone around you – learning is an important part of growing a business. We’re all still learning!

27

ECONOMY

Survey shows businesses remain resilient despite Brexit uncertainty

T

he Quarterly Economic Survey, for the last quarter of 2018, showed that businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales were holding firm despite the lack of clarity around the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU. The survey took place between 6th and 27th November 2018 and saw 98 businesses from the region, representing over 8000 employees, take part.

The survey revealed that business investment plans had risen to the highest level on record with firms increasing their investment in both staff and machinery.

The survey also indicated that domestic sales and orders remained steady whilst the number of businesses

that tried to recruit staff over the previous three months also increased.

Business confidence in West Cheshire and North Wales remained higher than the North West average despite a small dip in profitability confidence.

However, there continued to be concern for the region’s exporters who saw overseas sales slow to the lowest level in over two years. This could reflect weaker world demand, especially the slowdown in the rest of the EU during 2018.

Concerns around exchange rates and business rates rose, whilst interest rate, inflation, competition and corporation tax concerns all eased.

Commenting on the results, Debbie

Bryce, Chief Executive Officer of West Cheshire & North Wakes Chamber of Commerce, said; “This survey showed that businesses in the region were remaining resilient despite ongoing political and Brexit uncertainty.

At the time of this survey, there was little clarity on the trading conditions that firms would face post Brexit.

Businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales seemed to be bucking the national trend of holding back on spending and making big decisions about their futures.

Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey has just finished and it will be interesting to see if these trends have continued into 2019.”

On recruitment plans; Acquiring Apple Transcription was a very big step for us and tested our resolve to carry on regardless of developments in Westminster.

Over the last six months, we have secured existing jobs, recruited a new pool of transcribers and translators and added to our admin staff. We have seen turnover rise beyond our expectations and are very much looking forward to the future.

On recruitment difficulties; We deal with millions of words, either through transcription or translation. Finding staff who can apply the rules of grammar and punctuation is not an easy task.

Imagine typing out exactly what you hear – all the false starts, hesitations and slang – so that it makes sense on paper. Not many people can do that and so finding competent skilled staff can sometimes pose a challenge.

We rise to that challenge by working with partners to find the very best people and by making sure that our staff training is spot on.

On challenges ahead; Whether it be Brexit and its fall-out or key members of staff changing careers, the most important thing of all is our attitude to what’s happening and how we can meet the challenge. Whatever happens locally or globally, we still have to earn our living, create jobs and wealth, pay our taxes and have some fun too whilst we’re at it. I think managing attitudes to change will pose a real challenge for many businesses, especially when many feel that change is beyond their control. Positive pragmatism and looking after the interests of our clients and our people is our way of doing business.

In Focus with Posib Ltd

P

osib Ltd is a bilingual company based in Mold, Flintshire, providing transcription and translation services to a wide variety of clients, many of which are in the legal sector. After its acquisition of Apple Transcription, it has seen a marked increase in demand for its services from both new and existing clients. Dorothy Roberts, one of Posib’s Directors, had this to say in response to the survey: On domestic sales & orders increasing; The uncertainty surrounding Brexit seems to have concentrated people’s minds. Businesses may face increased exposure to litigation as markets settle post-Brexit. Our work has to be of evidential quality, much of it being used in court and tribunal hearings. Our clients appreciate the value of recording conferences, interviews and investigations and getting them transcribed. Transcripts can help to hone in on what’s important. Searching text that shows exactly what someone has said can be a very powerful decisionmaking tool, rather than relying on the fallibility of human recall or hastily jotted notes.

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Dorothy Roberts, Managing Director at Posib Ltd

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Introduction to selling products and services overseas A s part of Denbighshire County Council’s March for Business, the West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Introduction to Exporting day on 21st March in the OpTIC Centre, St Asaph.

The Chamber is very passionate about promoting exporting to businesses in West Cheshire & North Wales as it can bring great benefits to firms including; increased profits, spread of risk and increased innovation.

This event is jam packed with advice, tips, success stories and much more!

Presenting at this event will be Becky Stark, of Stark Export Focus, who will be exploring key considerations about exporting including; the benefits, why export, why now, which markets and the different routes to market to take.

The Chamber export team will also be speaking about the support and services they provide. Our experts will guide you through the possible changes in documentation procedures as a result of Brexit and explain the process of completing documentation online.

The Chamber has a wide range of

training courses designed specifically to help businesses trade overseas, including the option to have bespoke courses delivered in-house, and Hayley Gray, Export Documentation Manager, will be highlighting these on the day.

Businesses that attend will be able to hear case studies from successful North Wales firms that have seen exporting help them grow.

Attending this event will help open your eyes to the possibilities of trading internationally and the benefits it can bring to your bottom line. It will also highlight potential challenges and risks involved when dealing with countries outside of the UK. For more information and to book your place, please visit: wcnwchamber. org.uk/event/introduction-to-exporting/

Trade Missions – how can you benefit?

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s a result of the article printed in the Winter edition, the Chamber was inundated with a number of specific questions in relation to International Trade. As you can imagine, issues around Brexit accounted for many of the queries, but it is probably more

Veronica Dawson, International Trade Advisor at DIT

pertinent to address these once we have passed March 29th.

The second most popular request was to understand more about the services available from DIT both locally and nationally, including understanding of TAP (Trade Access Program) support, Financing for Exports and Trade Missions.

In this issue, I would like to give an overview of the benefits of participating in Trade Missions and some pointers as to the numerous opportunities available to all sectors of business.

A Trade Mission, simply put, is a group of individuals or businesses who travel together overseas to promote products or services and meet with potential buyers. Missions are usually organised via DIT or Welsh Assembly Government, Trade Associations or sometimes via Chambers of Commerce. The overseas visit is combined with detailed market

information, advice and tips on local customs, and may also be planned around sector events or trade shows.

The benefits for companies participating include: l The majority of Missions will arrange a meeting with in market DIT staff who can provide support and offer advice on specific market issues. l Opportunity to participate in pre-arranged events, site visits and networking opportunities to engage with local businesses. l Media / PR coverage to promote your business. l Synergies are often created between trade mission participants allowing future opportunities to develop in domestic market. l Travel and visa advice. l Trade Missions often have a funding element for participants.

In the North West, there will be a series of Trade Missions operated via the Northern Power House during 2019/2020 covering most sectors. You can contact the Chamber or Veronica Dawson for details but information can be found via this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/northern-powerhouse-missions-14504816923 For business based in Wales, again you can contact the Chamber for information or use the following link: www.businesswales.gov.wales/zones/export/export-events/overseas-events

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FEATURE

An insight into Ruth Lee Ltd F

or a quarter of a century, Ruth Lee Ltd has been designing and manufacturing a range of rescue training manikins which are favoured by teams around the world. They tell us why supporting lifesavers across the world is key to their business culture – and success.

Helping save lives across the globe

In the UK, our emergency services take rescue training very seriously – only by training in different scenarios, in as realistic a way possible, can they be confident that their teams will be able to safely help people in a genuine emergency.

Thankfully, more and more countries around the world are adopting this philosophy and since its early days in business, Ruth Lee Ltd has always striven to help professional and volunteer rescue teams to train for all eventualities.

Paul McDonnell, Managing Director at Ruth Lee Ltd said, “We supply manikins to a very broad customer base. They have appeared in TV shows and movies, and helped test high-tech safety equipment; they are favoured by the Military, Care Homes and specialist training organisations who want to give their trainees a positive learning experience, which

will equip them with the best skills when it comes to moving and handling people.”

“Our biggest market is the Emergency Services, the Fire Service in particular, and we have developed a full range of manikins to support their training; whether that be water rescue, bariatric care or vehicle extrication.”

The company has enjoyed prolific success with export, to the point that it now exports more than 70% of production world-wide, with North America, Europe and Australasia being key markets. In 2018, the business was named Welsh Exporter of the Year at the Daily Post Business Awards.

It has achieved this success by linking up with like-minded organisations, who are equally committed to providing the best, most realistic manikins for training.

Paul McDonnell went on to say; “Without a doubt, our success in Export is driven by our determination to find the best representation for our products in other countries. It is important to us that all our Distributors buy into our company ethos of helping those who help others.”

“The Welsh Government has also provided us with extensive export support, which has included

Manikins make ideal ‘casualties’ for difficult technical rescue training scenarios, including working at height researching markets and helping us to find distributors. We have attended several Trade Missions in areas such as China, Africa, the Middle East and South America and they have provided expertise which has let us exhibit our products globally.”

As a growing business, Ruth Lee Ltd is keen to share its success and in 2017 the business launched its Social Commitment policy which has seen several projects flourish. This has included working with the local Leisure Centre to deliver paediatric first aid courses and purchasing defibrillator units for Corwen and Glyndyfrdwy (where the factory and head office are located respectively). On a larger scale, Ruth Lee’s Volunteer Heroes scheme sees the business offer donations (both monetary and equipment) to rescue teams across the world, providing vital support to those heroes who save lives on a voluntary basis.

Paul McDonnell said, “As long as we are in business, we are dedicated to helping professionals who save lives, both in the UK and internationally. We will continue to make the best possible products for training, including our latest manikin, aimed specifically at significantly improving pool lifeguard training. If even one life is saved through training with our products, we are happy.”

Fire Service crews training using a bariatric manikin weighing 180kg

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UP CLOSE

The Person behind the Business Graham Boyd, Absolutely Design An overview of yourself and your current role.

This time last year I decided to call myself a muralist.

Since then several companies have let me loose on their walls. And why would they want to do that? Because, they say, that it helps them differentiate and promote themselves and put a smile on the face of their colleagues.

It’s definitely put one on mine.

receiving the PO, mulling over a range of ideas, sketching up several alternatives, maybe trying some of them out, meeting up again to present the sketches and talk them through. Once any final modifications are made and agreed, that moment can take place.

I also really enjoy a good LinkedIn review.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It is hard to beat the feeling of putting the first line on a big blank wall.

However, reaching that point does depend on completing a preparation process aimed at ensuring the wall owners, the ones who will be living with it every day, are going to be happy with what they get. This usually involves meeting the people involved, viewing the site, finding out what they want added to their walls and why, what they want to achieve, what’s the style, the colour palette, any brand guidelines, what’s the deadline, the budget, the best time to work, day, night, weekends?

Then agreeing the brief,

Was a role like this always what you aspired to?

My Dad was an electro– mechanical engineer working for companies such as Morphy Richards and bought home defunct doorbells, toasters to be dismantled, understood and messed about with. That, combined with a general love of drawing and painting, meant that on leaving something with a bit of art and a bit of science, such as product design, seemed a pretty good choice. But, as I’ve always found it easier to explain things with a pencil, perhaps it’s not so surprising I’ve ended up involved in this paint-based role.

Previous jobs have been stretching and rewarding but it’s hard to top the current combination of autonomy and creativity.

Tell us about your previous roles/business journey.

After getting a degree in product design, I worked as a sole trader, a partner and later as a company director in a number of consultancies, prior to co-founding Evoke Creative in 2003. These early roles involved a steep learning curve in working for yourself and keeping the wolf from the door. They did later provide the chance to work on a wide range of projects for clients from Tomy and Boots to Ideal Standard,

Graham with murals created for Georgina Burton of LAB by Capacity

Unilever, Bayer and JCB. Although it was originally set up as a design consultancy, by 2010 Evoke had evolved into both a designer and manufacturer. Initially focusing on self-service library kiosks, the company has since widened its offer to include the design, supply and support of kiosk hardware and software to companies such as JD Sports, Tesco, McDonalds and Vue (as well as Chester’s Storyhouse). In 2015 I took the decision to retire from the company. The effort put into succession planning by everybody over the next couple of years seemingly having paid off as Evoke continues to go from strength to strength.

Tell us a bit about what you do outside of work to relax.

Get in the car with Simon and head off to Liverpool.

Park near the Academy, hand in our tickets, and go upstairs to meet Emma and Richard. Get a drink, make our way into the crowd and wait for the lights to go down. Cheer as Steve Van Zant walks out, followed by all fifteen Disciples of Soul, who struggle to all find room

Graham Boyd, Absolutely Design

on the stage. Cheer again and sing along as they belt out Otis Redding’s ‘Sweet Soul Music’, beefed up by the five piece brass section and three backing singers.

Laugh at Steve’s anecdotes about The E Street Band, The Asbury Dukes, The Sopranos and Lilyhammer. Sing along again two hours later as they encore with Bruce Springsteen’s ‘I Don’t Want To Go Home’. Then go home.

That sort of thing.

In an ideal world, what else would you like to be?

I’d love to be able to play an instrument. Not that I haven’t tried. I had a go at the piano some years ago but my daughter, then 8, was better than me without lessons than I was with them. Since then I’ve learnt to be happy with a sing along.

What advice would you give to anyone else in business?

Be honest with yourself as to why you are doing it, what you want and need to get out of it on a personal level.

Take the time to make sure you know who your target customers are and what they want. Get good advisors.

Cross your fingers!

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FINANCE

On your marks, get set, GO! Are you ready for Making Tax Digital?

By Paul Slappa Head of Direct Sales at Wesleyan Bank

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rom April, VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the current threshold of £85,000 must comply with the Government’s new mandatory ‘Making Tax Digital’ (MTD) initiative.

MTD seeks to make the UK one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world. Initially, businesses will be required to keep digital VAT records and send returns using MTDcompatible software for VAT periods starting on or after 1 April 2019. As part of a phased roll-out, MTD will include corporation and other business-related taxes from 2020.

ON YOUR MARKS - a lack of awareness or a resistance to change? *A survey conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in September 2018 revealed that over 40% of businesses who will be affected by MTD were not yet aware of it. The research also highlighted that a quarter of SMEs were still reliant on paper-based accounting records which will not be permissible for MTD for VAT. According to the same poll conducted by the ICAEW, just over half (54%) of VAT registered businesses used accounting software and it is hoped that that the advent of MTD will drive accountants towards smarter technology adoption.

GET SET - is your company MTD compliant?

Failure to comply with the regulatory requirements will result in a minimum fine of £50. The penalty rate is applied to the number of days a failure continues up to a maximum of 100 days. HMRC has the power to charge businesses £5 per day if there has been no previous failure to comply with the MTD requirement within two years prior to the present failure, £10 per day if there has been only one such occasion in that period, and £15 in any other scenario.

In addition, a fine of up to £400 can be imposed for failure to file electronically and up to £500 for not keeping the required digital VAT records. However, HMRC has indicated there will be some leeway if a business can demonstrate that a genuine attempt has been made to comply rather than making unsubstantiated excuses for non-payment.

Although your business may already be using an accounting software solution, it’s essential that you confirm its suitability

for MTD compliance by evaluating the following checklist: l Can your system generate a VAT return and send that return to HMRC digitally? l Can your system receive data from HMRC digitally? l Can your system securely log all of your financial information and securely store up to six years of financial records digitally? l If your current system is non-compliant, how much will it cost to hire IT developers to make the necessary developments against investing in a modern, cloudbased MTD-compliant solution?

GO! What are the business benefits of MTD? Despite the initial response to MTD from SMEs being somewhat cynical, businesses that do invest in upgrading their IT software stand to reap some notable benefits by having quicker access to real-time financial data. For accountants in particular, the switch to digital tax adoption will finally end a time-consuming and expensive paper-chase which can lead to lost revenues or fines arising from a mistake in a financial ledger.

In addition to eliminating tax and VAT errors, MTD will enable finance professionals to focus on more value-adding activities by reducing cumbersome administrative tasks. Leading accounting solutions can generate quotes, invoices, electronically record receipts, calculate and process expenses and run payroll with just a few clicks to transform productivity. With tighter cash flow management, businesses should also be in a stronger position to strengthen their competitive edge by having a more accurate picture of their financial forecasts and performance.

An unwelcome cost or a positive return on investment?

Upfront costs for upgrading IT systems and software can be a perceived barrier to adoption but any required investment in becoming MTD-compliant should yield a positive return on investment gained through increased efficiencies.

Specialist finance providers can offer flexible and bespoke solutions to allow SMEs to spread the cost of IT assets over a period of one to five years so they can keep up with the digital pace of change without dipping into vital cash reserves.

Customised finance plans also include other intangible hidden costs such as installation, training, maintenance and

support all in one predictable monthly payment, giving businesses access to the technology they need today.

Rather than viewing MTD as an unnecessary distraction, businesses that do embrace the Government’s latest initiative will be in pole position to focus on driving growth in what promises to herald a new era of accountancy.

Wesleyan Bank provide short, medium and long-term funding solutions for UK businesses. To find out more information about how to finance IT investment costs please contact as below.

Wesleyan Bank acts both as a broker and a lender depending on the circumstances.

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. 2839202) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No. 165116. Wesleyan Bank Ltd is wholly owned by Wesleyan Assurance Society which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Incorporated in England and Wales by Private Act of Parliament (No. ZC145). Registered office for all of the above Group companies is: Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AR. VAT number 487282114. Telephone: 0345 351 2352. Telephone calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

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Dylan Co Founder and Managing Director / Cyd-sylfaenydd a rheolwr gyfarwyddwr Cwmni Da

FINANCE

Employee Ownership Trust secures 50 jobs at Cwmni Da

T

he Development Bank of Wales offers Management Buy Out (MBO) finance that gives a management team or workforce the opportunity to purchase a business from its owners.

There are different types of buyouts for owners and management teams to consider and with years of experience structuring succession transactions, the development bank tailors its equity and loans to fit the specific needs of a business. Recently, it has supported Cwmni Da to create the first Employee Ownership Trust in the UK broadcast industry, securing local jobs in north Wales. ifty jobs have been safeguarded at one of Wales’ leading TV production companies after ownership has been transferred to its employees, following support from the Development Bank of Wales.

The move to give Cwmni Da’s staff ownership of the business through an Employee Ownership Trust has been made possible by a £750,000 investment by the development bank.

It’s expected that this development, the first of its kind to be supported by the Wales Business Fund, will also allow the company to create 10 new jobs.

Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da, founded in 1996, is an important producer with a long track record

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in making factual, entertainment, children’s and drama programmes, mostly in the Welsh language for S4C. Among its productions are some of the channel’s biggest hits, including Fferm Ffactor, Ffit Cymru, Noson Lawen, Dim Byd and Deian a Loli.

Cwmni Da also creates content for the BBC, Channel 4 as well as with international partners from its state-ofthe-art production centre at Victoria Dock.

Co-founder and managing director Dylan Huws has been the sole owner of the company since December 2017, when two of his fellow directors stood down. He will remain as managing director for three years while the transition to the new structure takes place.

The trust is believed to be the first of its kind in the British broadcasting industry.

It is being project managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre with legal advice from Cardiff law firm Geldards.

Mr Huws was keen to ensure that the company remained in Welsh hands and that the people who worked in it would benefit from any transfer of ownership.

Mr Huws said: “We are extremely grateful to the Development Bank of Wales for their invaluable support at an exciting time in Cwmni Da’s history.

“The finance we have received has enabled us to transform the company

into an Employee Ownership Trust.

“With the development bank’s help, we are rooting Cwmni Da even more firmly in Caernarfon so the company can continue to thrive and prosper, providing good, well-paid jobs and contributing to the local economy.”

Rhodri Evans, Regional Manager at the Development Bank of Wales said: “This has been an exciting opportunity for the development bank to help enable the first Employee Ownership Trust in the British broadcasting industry.

We understand the importance of securing and creating local jobs and providing succession funding for the next generation of owner managers, especially in the creative industries.

“I’m sure this exciting step in Cwmni Da’s history will bring with it a great sense of ownership among existing employees and will be an attractive benefit to potential new staff.”

This is the first business to receive funding of this type for a transfer of ownership from the Wales Business Fund which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government. It is designed to provide business loans and equity packages from £50,000 up to £2 million.

Below: Dylan Huws and the team at Cwmni Da

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FINANCE

Making Tax Digital Have you made the switch?

Don’t miss out on our free event in March

With JOHN MOORHOUSE, senior accountant at Ellis & Co

M

aking Tax Digital (MTD) is a programme that will mark a fundamental change in the way that businesses interact with HMRC. Every taxpayer will have an online ‘digital tax account’, which will present a complete financial picture of their tax affairs.

Here at Ellis & Co we are encouraging all our clients to switch to cloud accountancy software now in preparation for the introduction of MTD for VAT on 1 April 2019. Our team are experts in Xero, Quickbooks, Sage and FreeAgent accounting software.

Cloud accountancy software is revolutionising the way in which business owners deal with their day to day accounting; our team is working hard to train and guide our clients through the process.

Our accounting software specialist Anna Rowson-Smith offers impartial advice on accountancy software packages, she reviews the needs and resources of each client and suggests the best package for them.

She also offers three hours of free set-up and training to all of our clients.

Anna and I have held numerous Making Tax Digital seminars over

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the last two years, our next event ‘Making Tax Digital– have you made the switch?’ will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester.

Join me, plus NatWest’s Nathan Johnson and FreeAgent expert Danielle Walker as we explain the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of digital tax.

In her demonstration Danielle will show you how FreeAgent software can help your business to: l Create estimates that can be converted into invoices l Keep on top of expenses anywhere and at any time l Automatically import bank transactions to help build realtime accounts l Project how much tax is owed and when it’s due l File VAT and Self-Assessment directly to HMRC l Run monthly payroll and file RTI l Keep track of cash flow and project profitability l Know how your business is performing and plan accordingly l See who owes you money Registration for this event will begin at 8am for an 8.30am start with a 10.30am finish.

Complimentary tea/coffee and pastries will be available on arrival.

John Moorhouse, senior accountant at Ellis & Co

Tickets are free, but you will need to register, visit our news pages at www.elllis-uk.com to book.

We hope to see you there!

Effective finance and back office support solutions to businesses throughout the region Zodeq Finance Invoice financing Invoice discounting Bad debt protection Asset based lending Principal (for recruiters)

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Invoicing Credit control Timesheet processing Pension provision service

Run by a team of experts, our services provide a range of benefits to clients, from improved cash, reduced overhead costs, more time for business owners to focus on their core responsibilities and so much more.

We’d love to hear from you! Contact our friendly team today to discuss your business’ requirements 01244 617 087 info@zodeq.com www.zodeq.com

Seneca Bridge Resource Partners are a specialist provider of recruitment solutions tailored specifically for each individual client’s business. Implementing a unique partnership model, Seneca Bridge are able to ensure we minimise cost, maximise return on investment and provide tangible long-term benefit

Bespoke Service

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We will create an analysis of your existing recruitment strategy and understand your requirements and challenges. Your report will detail the optimum recruitment solutions to deliver the best possible talent to your business in the fastest and most cost-efficient manner.

Find out more by visiting our website, call us on 01244 885 063 or email hello@senecabridge.co.uk

Seneca Bridge Resource Partners Riverside Innovation Centre 1 Castle Drive, Chester CH1 1SL

NEW MEMBER PROFILE

The importance of defining and articulating your company culture when hiring and retaining the best talent

By JAMES CADWALADR, Seneca Bridge

O

ver the past 10 to 15 years the means and methods to successfully hiring the best talent for your business has changed dramatically. In equal measure so have the aspirations and interests of the candidate marketplace.

The new digital world has given potential employees far greater access to information and knowledge about your business at the tips of their fingers. Therefore, no longer can businesses rely on simply writing and posting adverts, and waiting for suitable candidates to apply.

Brexit is challenging your hiring plans, whether you believe it or not I have heard Directors of major businesses say that Brexit isn’t affecting them, “we have British customers and British supply chain, it’s not going to affect us”.

Simply put, you’re wrong, it is.

The vast majority of business that you compete with for talent both geographically and by sector are being affected by Brexit. In turn this is causing people, who may otherwise consider new opportunities, to sit tight and see what happens in the halls of Westminster and Brussels over the coming months. Therefore, a smaller candidate pool is seeing potential employees inevitably have a choice of opportunities and therefore it is important that, as a business, you are, or become the employer of choice.

The first step to this is defining the values and culture of your organisation. Let me explain why. l 69% of jobseekers will not accept a job with a company with a bad reputation – even if they are unemployed l Businesses with a poor employer brand and culture are required to pay on average a 21% premium to hire new employees l A strong employer brand and culture increases the commitment of new hires by 29% and l Employee advocacy rises from 24% to 47% Building your employer culture and brand l 76% of hiring decision makers say attracting quality candidates is their #1 challenge l 75% of hiring decision makers say it’s easier to attract top talent when they know about your business, confirming the power of the employer culture and brand l 80% of job seekers research

company reviews and ratings when deciding to apply for a job The starting point for building culture, values and brand is to determine the most important considerations that job seekers take into account when searching for a new role, these are: l Salary and compensation l Location / commute l Work / life balance l Career opportunities l Benefits As well as considering the aspirations of your potential employees it is important to leverage the knowledge and advocacy of your current workforce. Take counsel from them and identify why they love working for you and also what else the business can do to support both their well-being and career development with you.

About 12 months ago I was fortunate enough to meet the HR Director at one of the largest and most successful media businesses in the world that until the end of this year sponsor a quite well-known cycling team.

He explained to me what a great place to work it is. On site gym, excellent benefits, flexible working, sat next to certain sports presenters in a great restaurant at lunch, on site shopping centre including Halfords, Toni & Guy, great career development program etc. etc. I discussed with the HRD that it must be easy to attract talent and make the organisation an employer of choice. His answer was surprising.

“It’s a great place to work absolutely but the thing we struggle with the most is making people aware of that. At the moment, being a great place to work is irrelevant as it isn’t until someone starts working for us that it becomes reality”.

So, it is vital that organisations do everything that they can to get it out there and make your proposition as attractive as possible. Gone are “post and pray” days and increasingly we are seeing the need to be innovative and break from traditional mundane job descriptions and adverts.

Corporate marketing and Recruitment marketing are like for like nowadays and have the same ultimate objective. Attracting customers or candidates at the same time as adding value and the attractiveness of your proposition.

L to R: Oliver Crook, Kieran Atherton, Toni Hall, James Cadwaladr, Ceri Wilkins Whilst your employer brand and culture is the biggest trend in Recruitment right now, story telling is now the biggest trend in Marketing. It used to be content. That shift is the same as the shift from mundane job descriptions and adverts featuring responsibilities and skills sets, and new world engaging adverts bringing your business to life, explaining why your business is an awesome place to work with an awesome culture.

So please…. Make sure you get it out there, make it real and make it passionate.

It is virtually impossible to get away from the power of social media and social networking.

In the absence of big budget mass advertising deployment, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the others are the most effective way of leveraging your employment brand. In the absence of 6 figure recruitment marketing budgets not only is it important for your organisations visibility and awareness but it is your main and greatest platform for allowing potential candidates into to look into your business, allowing them to imagine themselves working and being part of your organisation. There are some statistics here which I want to pay attention to.

54% of employed workers are either actively seeking new employment or open to considering a new job. I found this figure quite staggering when you consider that in effect over half of your target audience are passive candidates and effective social media networking is the best and fastest way to grab their attention…. And keep it. Nearly 9 in every 10 of these people are under 55 years old, with the vast majority of these being under 40

and so by deploying social media effectively, you are engaging with the talent that is going to future proof your organisation.

The baby boomers are retiring and the millennials are coming!!!

In the main we see LinkedIn as being the main social network for recruiting both from an organisation and candidate point of view. It is true that its power is considerable and companies now have detailed careers networks on the site. However, perhaps surprisingly, across all industries and job levels, 67% of job seekers use Facebook when searching for a new role against 40% using LinkedIn. So, alongside LinkedIn which is a hugely important network in its own right, please ensure that you are engaging with everyone.

You need to be engaging, and you need to highly visible as soon as possible. Over half of potential job seekers using social networks are online for less than 10 minutes at a time. Make sure you are seen and make sure you are heard.

Don’t get lost in the masses.

By focusing on demonstrating the core values of your business and the real value that you will provide to your employees you will transform your ability to attract the top talent to your business, and what’s more you will greatly enhance the efficiency of your recruitment process and improve retention.

The commercial and operational benefits of this will then prove transformational.

Seneca Bridge Resource Partners 01244 885063 www.senecabridge.co.uk james.cadwaladr@senecabridge.co.uk

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FOCUS ON ENERGY

World Class Geoscience in the Cheshire Science Corridor

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he Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the British Geological Survey (BGS) are proposing to create a sophisticated observatory to research new lowcarbon technologies and foster world-class science and innovation.

The UK Geoenergy Observatory will comprise two research field sites.

The Cheshire Energy Research Field Site will study the geology around Ince Marshes in the Cheshire Science Corridor. The other, the Glasgow Geothermal Energy Research Field Site, in Glasgow, will study geothermal energy in mine-water heat.

Who are the BGS and NERC? The BGS is an independent public science institute that has been gathering scientific evidence on geology for more than 180 years.

NERC is the UK’s main funding body for environmental science.

What is a Geoenergy Observatory?

Just as during the space age astronomers wanted to create the Jodrell Bank Observatory to discover some of the secrets of the universe, 70 years later geoscientists want to create an observatory that can look into our own planet to discover new solutions for global problems.

In 2015, NERC commissioned a group of leading geoscientists to help understand these science challenges, and their science plan will guide research at the field sites. Both field sites will have a network of deep and shallow boreholes containing state-of-the-art listening devices, which will act as stethoscopes to measure precisely the state of the underground in its natural condition and any changes in great detail. The data will be open for all through an online portal.

These ‘eyes and ears of the underground’ will be able to measure the level of the water table, and the temperature and chemistry of groundwater, and how it is moving.

They will also be able to detect minute movements and other changes in the physical nature of the rocks. They will measure seismicity and a range of other characteristics.

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© Peter Corcoran

Why do we need to know more about geology?

Underground research is important for tackling climate change. Our research will help to understand ways to decarbonise the energy supply.

In the future, instead of taking things from the rocks, we’re likely to need to use the underground for energy, heat and cool storage, and possibly for storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

For example, the underground could provide a place to store large amounts of energy, resolving the intermittency of renewables’ power.

Renewable energy cannot yet produce all the power we need to fuel our economy. Wind, solar and tidal are vital for decarbonising UK energy production. But we need to be able to store excess energy when it is being generated to balance the peaks and troughs in supply and demand.

The batteries required for this storage would be enormous and would require a lot of mined metals.

It could be possible to use geology as an alternative energy store, compressing air underground in the sandstone, and then releasing it to make electricity at times of low production or high demand.

More research is required to test the technology.

Carbon storage is an important way to lower emissions. Deep sandstones in offshore Britain might help us to return carbon to the

ground from the emissions captured from the UK’s power stations, factories, refineries, transport network and residential communities. An onshore research site will ensure the UK has the scientific capability and engineering skills to make carbon storage an option in the plan for decarbonising energy supply.

Geothermal energy may be a sustainable and scalable heat source. But we need to understand more about heat transfer, subsurface chemistry, biology and water movement to find out whether we can scale up geothermal energy safely and sustainably.

Countries all around the world are moving to lower-carbon fossil fuels in their bid to fight climate change. Gas, rather than coal, will continue to be used in power stations until alternative energy sources can replace fossil fuels altogether.

Understanding what happens in the subsurface will continue to be important to inform regulation and permissions.

New energy solutions are needed and these require robust scientific research. The UK Geoenergy Observatories will provide important new evidence for geoengineers, geoscientists and geologists to understand the subsurface. This evidence base will inform future decision-making on use of the subsurface, tackling climate change and protecting the environment.

FOCUS ON ENERGY Why have you chosen Ince Marshes as one of the research field sites?

Driving along the M56 between Runcorn and Ellesmere Port you see Frodsham’s sandstone cliffs to the left, and the flat fields, refineries, factories and wind turbines clustered around Ince Marshes on the right. This view provides the clues to the rich geological environment that lies below.

Ince Marshes is one of the few places in the UK that geologists can model in great detail, because high-quality geological data are available. These data have enabled geologists to design an observatory for the study of important energy and decarbonisation questions.

Frodsham’s sandstone cliffs continue deep under Ince and Frodsham Marshes. The deep sandstone rocks could be used to test energy storage that will support the UK renewable energy industry.

Research on the sandstone rocks below Ince Marshes could also provide vital scientific understanding to assess the feasibility of offshore carbon storage.

The layer of deep shale in the area means commercial companies are exploring for gas. If an application to extract gas is successful, researchers could also explore important geoscience questions by observing the technique.

Observing these different technologies before, during and after operation would provide data that would give scientists a new level of understanding on how the subsurface environment behaves.

Finally, Ince Marshes is within the Cheshire Science Corridor, which is an initiative to create a cluster of

© Peter Corcoran

science, engineering and energy activity in the area. The science corridor is designed to strengthen Cheshire’s world-class research capability, complementing the existing Daresbury Laboratory, the Jodrell Bank Observatory, and

specialist engineering, energy and science companies and universities.

The Cheshire Science Corridor aims to foster collaborations, innovation and entrepreneurship in science, engineering and technology – leading to the creation of high-skilled jobs and a buoyant science-based economy.

How will this benefit me?

Cheshire is a hub of science and engineering. These skills will be in long-term demand locally, regionally and nationally. With a world-class observatory on the doorstep and access to the nation’s leading scientists, local schools, college and universities will have a unique opportunity to inspire and train young minds. Cheshire companies can use the observatory for their research and development. Local companies and services will see extra income from construction and visiting scientists.

Cheshire residents will have unrivalled data and information on the quality of their environment.

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FOCUS ON ENERGY

Deep data: the rocky road to innovation T

he British Geological Survey (BGS) has been collating, preserving and interpreting data on the UK’s environment since the industrial revolution. Then, mineral resources were the world’s most valuable commodities. Today, it’s data. In the digital revolution, data is transforming our economy, the job market and our way of life. With the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the BGS proposing an observatory for Cheshire that would collect the most complex open dataset on any volume of rock anywhere in the world, Business Matters asks BGS systems analyst Carl Watson why data from deep below our feet is so important.

Data about a cube of rock? What are you going to do with it?

That’s the exciting part. This data will be open for everyone to use whoever you are. The applications are endless. Knowledge is power and used to be kept under lock and key but times have changed.

We live in an era of open data and information, which is creating amazing collaborations, inventions and innovation all over the world.

Innovation comes from lots of things becoming available at once and happening all over the place.

The UK Geoenergy Observatories, NERC and BGS are part of this open data movement. Earth scientists aren’t the only people to benefit.

Data scientists are excited by how the mass of data from this investment can help them solve some of the big data challenges… the potential is mindboggling.

Where did the idea come from?

At the most fundamental level, society wants to use the underground environment in more and more ways. We need better information to make sure that we can manage those demands properly. It’s easier to

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BGS systems analyst Carl Watson manage competing land uses on the surface. Clear boundaries, regulation and legislation allows parcels and stretches of land to be allocated for housing, utilities, facilities, transport, agriculture and industry. It’s much more difficult underground because it’s an ecosystem in which everything is connected.

What do you mean?

Imagine you want to extract geothermal heat from a cube of rock. How do you know what impact that will have on flood risk or the water table? How do these three natural processes interact?

Are they interdependent? Do they interfere with each other? Unlike the atmosphere, the geological environment is hard to observe so these sorts of questions are really hard to answer without high quality data.

How do you collect the data?

Geologists are detectives.

They work with unknowns and uncertainties. They pull together all

the possible clues to explain what the evidence shows. The BGS has been collecting and preserving these clues on behalf of the nation for nearly 200 years, so we have lots of data already. More than two centuries of building roads, canals, tunnels, factories, housing, civil engineering, quarrying, coal mining and oil and gas extraction has provided a huge national archive of maps, rock samples and rock analysis. Satellite imaging, radar and drones provide topographical data about the Earth’s surface.

Seismic data, electrical scanning technology and mathematical processing explain the parts of the rocks that aren’t known.

The BGS looks after all of this data, making it available to anyone who wants to use it, and we have a team of people who work to provide ever more detailed maps, models and explanations of UK geology over time. There are some parts of the UK we know really well. Others we know very little about.

FOCUS ON ENERGY It sounds like you have more data than you can handle, so why do you need the UK Geoenergy Observatories?

You have to remember that geologists are working largely in the dark, so they are trying to explain things they can’t actually see. Reducing the uncertainties depends on a critical mass of highquality data about a concentrated area typical of the way we use the environment. We want to analyse a large block of rock in more detail than ever before. This will provide the missing information critical to improving our understanding of the ecosystem. The Cheshire Observatory will provide new data about one of the UK’s principal sources of water; about rock types that could be used to provide sustainable energy; about rocks that are found all over the UK; about how a fault zone works; about how tidal and seasonal patterns affect the underground system; about how fluids and gases move around the system; and so much more.

“

Deep data will lead to new algorithms, eureka moments, good decisions, and better environmental management.

”

This is all really specialised science.

Why should people care?

Because geology is really important to solving some of the world’s biggest problems. Not least the need to decarbonise so we can manage climate change. This is the biggest challenge of this generation.

Information, knowledge and understanding are fundamental to solving the problem. That journey begins with data.

Why is it so important that the data is open and accessible to all?

We are just 650 people at the BGS. We cannot find the solutions alone. By offering up the data to all analysts, technologists and

research communities, we can leverage the world’s capability to solve the problem. People will use the data in all sorts of different ways. It will help the environmental agencies to regulate; data analysts to write algorithms; industry to innovate; governments to make decisions based on evidence; and researchers to answer questions. It will also help environmental scientists to test theories; inventors with eureka moments and communities to understand what’s happening in their environment. Open data creates a multitude of possibilities.

It’s the way the world has moved with the advent of the internet: that has to be a good thing.

Find out more at www.ukgeos.ac.uk

Below: Data will reduce uncertainty about the rock we can’t see

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FOCUS ON ENERGY

Our electric nation O

ver 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) were being used on UK roads back in 2017. With the UK Government banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2032 in Scotland, and 2040 for the rest of the UK, this number is projected to increase to over 40 million by 2050.

The UK’s electricity distribution network is not designed to cope with these additional charging demands, and the increase in Plug In Vehicle (PIV) use has the potential to cause significant problems. This issue is heightened by expected peaks in demand, for example when large numbers of people return home from work and plug in their car at 6pm.

This capacity issue could be alleviated by a smart charging system (Demand Management System) which manages the charging between people’s vehicles and the electricity substation.

Rahul Roy is a Graduate Researcher at the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, Lancaster University. Funded through the EcoInnovation Cheshire & Warrington project, Rahul is working with EA Technology to forecast demand and investigate the attributes which affect energy demand when clusters of PIVs draw power from the distribution network simultaneously.

The project will develop a toolkit which allows network operators to identify which parts of their network are likely to be affected by the future adoption of electric vehicles and recommend the most economical solution to solve any issues this could cause.

EA Technology is a specialist in asset management solutions for owners and operators of electrical

assets. It is committed to providing customers with innovative products, services, consultancy and training which enable them to create safer, stronger and smarter networks for today and the future.

Nick Storer, Project Director, at EA Technology says ‘This research is essential if we are to meet the future energy demand created by the increased adoption of electric vehicles. The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy has shown this to be an important area of development which we’re proud to be contributing to.’

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) says that electric vehicles offer CO2 savings of 40-50% compared to average combustion engine vehicles. This includes full lifecycle emissions including manufacture, use and electricity generation.

Electric Nation predicts that intervention using smart technology, rather than installing a huge number of new cables, will give an economic saving of around £2.2 billion by 2050, causing less disruption and minimising the environmental impact.

To find out more, get in touch with our Business Development team Rhian at the University of Chester: ecoinnovation@chester.ac.uk / 01244 567370 Stephen at Lancaster University: 01524 510745 / 07779965574 / s.king7@lancaster.ac.uk This project is part-funded by

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FOCUS ON ENERGY

SME joins Eco-Innovation to expand new low carbon ideas

W

arrington-based company, Camcoat Performance Coatings Ltd, has high hopes that their link with the EcoInnovation project at Thornton Science Park will bring its product development rewards.

The company’s core business involves the application of cermets (ceramic/metal composite materials), polymer ceramics and fluoropolymer coatings.

These provide enhanced thermal insulation, heat dissipation, lubrication, wear resistance and anti-corrosion properties to all car engine components and full exhaust systems. Another aspect of its business involves the supply and application of coatings for various other sectors including marine, aero, food-safe and pharmaceutical industries.

As an SME located in Warrington, Camcoat Performance Coatings Ltd was eligible for support from the Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington project. Eco-Innovation is focused on bringing together the scientific resources and academic expertise from two universities; the University of Chester and Lancaster University, to deliver an intensive programme of collaborative R&D to support the development and expansion of local businesses.

Camcoat’s Workshop Manager, Nick Adams, will be working in collaboration with Master’s student Hannah Eccleston to investigate the anti-biofouling/bactericidal effects of coatings for application on marine renewable energy converters (MRECs), which for example, converts wave and tidal movements into energy.

Antifouling is the ability of certain coatings to remove or prevent the

accumulation of bacteria, plants and algae on wetted surfaces.

Nick said: “The main reason Camcoat wanted to get involved with Eco-Innovation is because some of the products we use and manufacture will cross over into unfamiliar sectors. We wanted to gain knowledge and understanding on how we can move this forward.

“The next stage is to develop selected product(s), and with Hannah working alongside us, it is something we will be able to do.”

Hannah added: “I was excited about joining the Eco-Innovation project, as it is an amazing opportunity to work alongside Camcoat Performance Coatings Ltd to help research in the development of new innovative solutions.

“Since graduating from university, I have worked in various scientific roles gaining transferrable laboratory skills, but wanted to pursue academic research further. The Eco-Innovation project is allowing me to complete research for a business-specific purpose that will be beneficial to both the organisation, and the environment.”

Nick added: “The project is a great way of opening doors for us and developing our coatings further.”

The Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington project is also offering a number of internships. If you have an idea for a short-term research project get involved now.

Call us on 01244 567 370 or visit www.chester.ac.uk/eco-innovation for more information.

L to R: Alice Gillett (Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering), Hannah Eccleston (Master’s student), Nick Adams (Workshop Manager) and Gary Cleary (Manager)

To find out more, get in touch with our Business Development team Rhian at the University of Chester: ecoinnovation@chester.ac.uk / 01244 567370 Stephen at Lancaster University: 01524 510745 / 07779965574 / s.king7@lancaster.ac.uk This project is part-funded by

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Bullying Harassment Absenteeism Grievances Redundancies Contracts Discrimination Stress Equality Performance

TRAINING COURSES AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ACAS.ORG.UK/WALES | 0300 123 1150

Scams

TOP TIPS

Don’t fall for them!

What are the latest scams?

Financial fraud and online crime is believed to cost the UK £2million every DAY and increasing. There are many scams happening daily. I have concentrated on the latest three together with tips on how not to be a victim.

EMAILS

Would you fall for a scam email?

People who use the Internet regularly would probably have confidence in their ability to spot a fake email. One of the latest scam emails is conning the public by a fake TV licensing email.

This scam looks realistic. The emails use headlines such as “correct your licensing information” and “your TV licence expires today” in an attempt to convince people to click on the link in the email. The fake TV Licensing website asks victims to provide their payment details, including their account number, sort code, and card verification value (CVV) code on the back of their card.

There were 5,247 complaints about such emails between 1st October and the end of December.

How would I know if it was a real or fake email?

There are several ways to check whether an email you have received might be from fraudsters: l The subject line - anything such as “action required” or “security alert” should be treated with suspicion l Spelling and grammar grammatical errors suggest it is likely to be a scam l The style - scammers often take real emails and amend them, so be wary of emails that seem too familiar or casual l The link - does it go through to the official TV Licensing website?

If you use a publicly available Wi-fi you have no idea who else is using that network. There are two ways that your data could be intercepted: l Sniffing: If you log onto your emails via an app without typing in your password your phone still sends your password over Wi-Fi so could be intercepted. If you use automated passwords and don’t enter your username and password manually your details can still be intercepted. l Evil Access Points: Cyber criminals can set up their own Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ in an attempt for you to connect to them. They may call it something like ‘free wifi’ or ‘coffee_lounge_wifi’. If you connect then your data can be captured.

How can I protect myself? l Never use public Wi-Fi for online banking, accessing emails or anything containing sensitive information. If you need to then use your 3G, 4G or 5G connection because data passed over these is always encrypted. l Make sure you connect to a trusted Wi-Fi hotspot. l Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when you connect to a public Wi-Fi.

All your data would be encrypted so even if it is intercepted it would be unreadable. VPNs can be downloaded as an app.

COURIER FRAUD

Criminals ring you claiming to be from the Police or fraud department of your bank. They claim they are conducting an investigation into corrupt bank employees or the police and ask for your help as your account is at risk.

They may ask you to attend your bank and withdraw a large amount of money which they will collect from you for evidence, they may claim the money is counterfeit or is being sent off for forensic or fingerprint analysis.

What will the bank or police never do? l Phone and ask you for your PIN or full banking password. l Ask you to withdraw money to hand over to them for safe-keeping. l Send someone to your home or arrange to meet you to collect cash, PIN, cards or cheque books if you’re a victim of fraud.

If something feels wrong, then it’s usually right to question it.

HOT SPOTS

What is a hot spot?

Publicly available Wi-Fi connections are known as hot spots. Not all Wi-Fi connections are secure and can be accessed by cyber criminals to intercept your data.

L to R: Bev Cowperthwaite and Jayne Muspratt from Cheshire Digital Skills Academy

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

Burn Cable Management Systems Ltd Dave Winship Wrexham Container Storage, Compound no 3, Llywyn Knottia Farm, Cefn Road, Wrexham LL13 9TT T: 079222 19881 E: dave@bcmsint.co.uk www.bcmsint.co.uk

In>Professional Development Ltd Marc Davies Suite 6A, Blackthorn House, Appley Bridge, Wigan WN6 9DB T: 0161 509 2999 E: m.davis@inpd.co.uk www.inpd.co.uk

Cheshire Community Foundation Limited Claire Houston-Holland Sension House, Denton Drive, Northwich CW9 7LU T: 01606 330607 E: claire@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk www.cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk

Lindop Toyota Richard Williams Bridgegate, Station Road, Deeside CH5 2TE T: 01244 821031 E: richard.williams@lindop.toyota.co.uk www.lindoptoyota.co.uk

Evans Lamsley Limited Nick Evans Suite 4c, Rossett Business Village, Llyndir Lane, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0AY T: 01244 980680 E: nickevans@evanslamsley.com www.evanslamsley.com FMCG BDC lTD Phil Raikes T: 07497 361820 E: philraikes@fmcgbdc.co.uk www.fmcgbdc.co.uk Gekko UK Limited Jackie Tsai Unit 4, Riverside Business Park, Cefn-Y-Bedd, Wrexham LL12 9YG T: 01928 761122 E: jackie@gekko-coding.com www.gekko-coding.com Great Oak Capital Limited Mike Samuels 20 The Avenue, Sale M33 4SH T: 0161 928 8285 E: mikes@greatoakcapital.co.uk www.mikesamuels.com Heulwyn Roberts Photography Heulwyn Roberts Unit 4, The Livery Stables, Summerhill Road, Gwersyllt, Wrexham LL11 4SW T: 07749 278383 E: hails@heulwynroberts.com www.heulwynroberts.com

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Lindop Toyota Wrexham Richard Williams Llay New Road, Bradley, Wrexham LL11 4BA T: 01978 720074 E: im@lindop.toyota.co.uk www.lindoptoyota.co.uk LV Shipping Ltd Kevin Walsh Unit 107, Woodside Business Park, Shore Road, Birkenhead CH41 1EP T: 0151 649 8880 E: kevin.walsh@lvshipping.com www.lvshipping.com Mad Sound and Lighting LTD Stephanie Jones Unit 1, Site 4, Amlwch Business Park, Anglesey, Amlwch LL68 9BX T: 01407 831001 E: info@mad-sl.com www.mad-sl.co.uk MHA David Foulds Mayfields, Naylor Crescent, Overpool, Ellesmere Port CH66 1TP T: 0151 357 3873 E: david.foulds@mha.org.uk www.mha.org.uk

Welcome to WCNW Chamber of Commerce

Mortgage Advice Bureau Debby Johnston 339 Chester Road, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port CH66 3RG T: 0151 339 9890 E: debby.johnston@mab.org.uk North West Cancer Research Inc Tim Charlton Clatterbridge Cancer Research.

200 London Road, Liverpool L3 9TA T: 0151 709 2919 E: tim@nwcr.org www.nwcr.org Nova Chrome UK Rachael Connolly Unit 14 Mona Industrial Estate, Gwalchmai, Holyhead LL65 4RJ T: 01407 720011 E: rachael@novachrome.co.uk www.novachrome.co.uk Popcats Music Time Ltd Catherine Williams T: 07986 948576 E: catherine@popcats.co.uk www.popcats.co.uk Premier Toyota Richard Williams Conwy road, Llandudno Junction LL31 9NX T: 01492 582441 E: richard.williams@premier.toyota.co.uk www.premier.toyota.co.uk Pursglove & Brown Neil Blake Military House, 24 Castle Street, Chester CH1 2DS T: 01244 400315 E: neil.blake@pursgloveandbrown.co.uk www.pursgloveandbrown.co.uk ReviewPoint Ltd David Ryan T: 01244 680806 E: david.ryan@reviewpoint.co.uk www.reviewpoint.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS

Russell Bio Solutions Ltd Richard Fyfe Unit 26a, Castle Park Industrial Estate, Flint CH6 5XA T: 01244 833951 E: richard@russellipm.com www.russellbio.com Seneca Bridge Resource Partners James Cadwaladr Riverside Innovation Centre 1 Castle Drive, Chester CH1 1SL T: 01829 738930 E: james.cadwaladr@senecabridge.co.uk www.senecabridge.co.uk Six Ticks Limited Dan Brown T: 01244 953116 E: dan.brown@sixticks.com www.sixticks.com Successfactory TM Kate Lightfoot Curland Barn, Harthill Road, Burwardsley CH3 9NU T: 01829 771770 E: info@thesuccessfactory.co.uk www.thesuccessfactory.co.uk The Idea Buro Jessica Kemp T: 07564 236528 E: jessica@theideaburo.co.uk www.theideaburo.co.uk Total Drainage Solutions Mike Box Unit 8, Little Mundells, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1EW T: 0800 772 3473 E: mike.box@totalsolutionsgroup.uk.com Wall Financial Planning Partnership David Wall 5 Greenhill Avenue, Hawarden, Deeside CH5 3JN T: 01244 539022 E: david.wall@sjpp.co.uk www.wallfinancialplanning.co.uk

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FEATURE

24 hours with...

Gareth Boyd Chester Running Tours

A brief overview of your role and company Chester Running Tours offer informative, tasty and social food walking and running experiences in and around the historic City of Chester.

Our Taste of Chester Food Walking Tours were launched in June 2018 to showcase Chester’s amazing ‘hidden’ landmark and of course the superb food & drink independents within the city.

During our Taste of Chester Food Tours, we want to provide you with the ultimate, off the beaten track, food and cultural experience.

Our guided walking tours offer a relaxed unique and memorable food tasting experience. We make it our mission to continually seek out and share the best food and culture Chester has to offer. We leave no stone unturned. It’s a hard job… but someone’s got to do it! The independent businesses

that we partner with offer attentive customer service and knowledgeable staff/owners who really have a passion for offering great food.

For those who enjoy running, we also provide different themed running tours from interactive ghost tours to gin, prosecco and real ale tours. www.chesterrunningtours.co.uk www.foodtourschester.co.uk Can you tell us an overview of an average day at work?

Our food tours commence at either 8.30am or 2pm Fridays and weekends. Each tour lasts at least 3.5 hours and I stay with the tour group throughout. Aside from visiting 7 food stops on route, we also provided commentary on Chester and its history throughout the tour. Running Tours (5K is the most popular) are organised for evening and weekends.

How do you plan the routes of your tours?

Ensuring that Chester’s best and unique independent food stops is key. Once a food business has been identified and sampled, then a tour route is tailored.

How has the company grown in recent years?

Our Food Tours commenced in June 2018. The business turnover has doubled as a result and is set for considerable growth during 2019 and beyond.

Have you faced any particular challenges recently?

Marketing the business cost effectively is always a challenge and building the corporate market is a focus for 2019 and beyond.

Ensuring that I continue to include new and the best independent Chester food eateries on the tour is also a nice challenge to have.

What are your plans for the future?

Firstly, to ensure that we continue our track record of receiving 5* TripAdvisor reviews and maintaining this first class customer feedback.

Word of mouth is essential for growth and I plan to build our corporate market as well as our international reach over the next twelve months.

Top: Guests enjoy the food on offer in Chester Market.

Left: Gareth Boyd with joggers on his Running Tour of Chester

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Solicitors for Life | Est.1887 Butcher & Barlow are a highly respected and approachable firm of Solicitors with over 130 years of experience

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Your business is our business From setting up, buying or selling a business, to the day to day problems and issues affecting all businesses, we provide cost effective and expert advice to individuals, partnerships and companies.

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We have 10 offices throughout North Manchester and Cheshire and we pride ourselves on being a law firm with local connections but the size to provide an approachable expert in every field.

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