VOX Magazine - issue 2

VOX

YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

Monthly Advisory Board

VOX

YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

Welcome to VOX, your voice to target the business community across Chester and Wrexham. Whether you are based in Chester or Wrexham, or are keen to reach the businesses that are, our magazine has been specifically designed to reach the people that matter.

Meet the team:

Clara lives in Chester and runs a successful marketing company, Zebra Marketing and Communications (www.zebra-comms.co.uk), that has been operating locally, nationally and internationally for over 11 years. Clara specialises in strategic marketing, copywriting, media relations and services relating to events, exhibitions and conferences.

01978 437070 | 07702 736763 clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Recycle

Vicky lives just outside Wrexham and owns and produces EssentialsMAG (www.essentialsmag.co.uk) – a local monthly community magazine which is hand-delivered through 14,000 letterboxes in and around Wrexham. She is also a successful graphic designer and artist and has been working in the creative industries since 1992 and established her first business in 2003.

01978 855459 | 07740 945795 vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk

Full details are on page 21.

Cover illustration: Eastgate Clock, Chester by artist Emma Gore @emmagoredesigns

Clara Hughes Editorial Director

Vicky Heathfield Creative Director & Advertising

Welcome

Welcome to our Spring issue of VOX

Wow, issue two seems to have come around quickly. Thank goodness we didn’t decide to create a monthly business magazine, although there are certainly enough good stories and interesting businesses within Chester and Wrexham to warrant a monthly edition! We are delighted by the feedback our first issue has received, and we aim to grow and develop the magazine, issue on issue, to further spread the word.

So, what is VOX? – a quick reminder VOX is the Latin word for ‘voice’, and this is what we want to provide for local businesses around Chester and Wrexham – a voice and a platform to showcase your work, share your successes and offer help and advice to one another.

What’s in store?

With thoughts turning to warmer days and lighter nights, in this issue we’re taking a look at the business of tourism. We are also delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Carl Critchlow from Chester BID, about the work the team does to encourage visitors to Chester and help businesses within the city centre. In addition, we spoke to Vaughn Rawson on his diversification into electric vehicle (EV) chargers. And sticking with the green theme, we take a look at the recently introduced Green Claims Code and also the benefits businesses can realise, by making a genuine commitment to sustainability. Elsewhere in the magazine you’ll find an update on Wrexham’s City of Culture bid, as well as a selection of interviews and features on subjects like public speaking, hybrid working and online learning, plus local business and charity news too.

Help us raise your voice

Once again, we are thrilled with how this issue of VOX has shaped up, and would like to thank our advertisers and contributors, who have helped us create this issue. Our resident artist Emma Gore has developed another stunning piece of original cover artwork.

Don’t forget, we want to make VOX the voice for local businesses – a platform where we can share your stories and experiences of the region, celebrate your successes and be proud to be part of a community uniting two important economic hubs. To make this happen, we would love to hear your views and find out what you would be interested in reading about.

We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of VOX!

Clara and Vicky

Croeso

Croeso i'n Rhifyn gwanwyn o VOX Waw, mae rhifyn dau wedi cyrraedd yn sydyn. Diolch byth wnaethom ni ddim penderfynu creu cylchgrawn busnes misol, er bod digon o straeon da a busnesau diddorol o fewn Caer a Wrecsam i greu rhifyn misol! Rydyn ni wrth ein bodd gyda'r adborth y mae ein rhifyn cyntaf wedi'i gael, ac rydyn ni’n anelu at ddatblygu'r cylchgrawn, fesul rhifyn, i ledaenu'r gair ymhellach.

Felly, beth yw VOX? – nodyn cyflym i’ch atgoffa VOX yw'r gair Lladin am 'lais', a dyma beth rydyn ni am ei ddarparu ar gyfer busnesau lleol o amgylch Caer a Wrecsam - llais a llwyfan i arddangos eich gwaith, rhannu eich llwyddiannau a chynnig help a chyngor i'n gilydd.

Beth sydd ar y gweill?

Gan feddwl ymlaen at ddyddiau cynhesach a nosweithiau goleuach, yn y rhifyn yma rydyn ni’n edrych ar fusnes twristiaeth. Rydyn ni hefyd yn falch iawn o fod wedi cael y cyfle i gyfweld Carl Critchlow o Ardal Gwella Busnesau Caer, am y gwaith y mae'r tîm yn ei wneud i annog ymwelwyr i Gaer a helpu busnesau yng nghanol y ddinas. Hefyd, buom yn siarad

â Vaughn Rawson ynglŷn ag arallgyfeirio i wefrwyr cerbydau trydan (EV). A gan aros ar y thema werdd, rydyn ni’n cymryd golwg ar y Cod Honiadau Gwyrdd a gyflwynwyd yn ddiweddar a hefyd y manteision posibl i fusnesau, drwy wneud ymrwymiad gwirioneddol i gynaliadwyedd. Mewn rhannau eraill o’r cylchgrawn cewch y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gais Dinas Diwylliant Wrecsam, yn ogystal â detholiad o gyfweliadau a straeon am bynciau fel siarad cyhoeddus, gweithio hybrid a dysgu ar-lein, ynghyd â newyddion am fusnesau ac elusennau lleol hefyd.

Helpwch ni i godi eich llais

Unwaith eto, rydyn ni’n falch iawn o’r ffordd y mae'r rhifyn yma o VOX wedi dod at ei gilydd, a hoffem ddiolch i'n hysbysebwyr a'n cyfranwyr, sydd wedi ein helpu i greu'r rhifyn yma. Mae ein harlunydd preswyl Emma Gore wedi datblygu darn trawiadol arall o waith celf gwreiddiol ar gyfer y clawr.

Cofiwch, rydyn ni am wneud VOX yn llais i fusnesau lleol – llwyfan lle gallwn rannu eich straeon a'ch profiadau o'r rhanbarth, dathlu eich llwyddiannau a bod yn falch o fod yn rhan o gymuned sy'n uno dau hwb economaidd pwysig. Er mwyn i hyn ddigwydd, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed eich barn a chael gwybod beth fyddai gennych ddiddordeb mewn darllen amdano.

Gobeithio y byddwch chi’n mwynhau darllen ein rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX!

Clara and Vicky

Chester Race Company welcomes Louise Stewart as new Chief Executive

THE BOARD OF THE CHESTER RACE COMPANY is delighted to announce that Louise Stewart, formerly CEO of the world-famous Alexandra Park and Palace in London, has joined as Chief Executive Officer.

Wrexham businesses urged to support litter free zone campaign

WREXHAM COUNTY BOROUGH

COUNCIL is encouraging businesses, large and small, across Wrexham to support the Caru Cymru Litter Free Zone campaign. The campaign is designed to encourage businesses to keep their communities litter-free and to raise public awareness of how unsightly litter will no longer be tolerated.

As part of the sign-up pledge, all businesses taking part will be asked to regularly report the amount and type of litter collected using the Epicollect system. The ultimate goal is a cleaner, more beautiful community, with a strong sense of community pride.

Still time to see ‘Spring Bloom’

LAUNCHED IN MID-FEBRUARY, ‘SPRING BLOOM’ IN CHESTER CITY CENTRE saw seven artists bring their interpretations of Cheshire nature into the city centre for a curated art trail.

Louise is a highly experienced, high-achieving and commercially focused leisure, tourism, and events professional. As CEO of ‘Ally Pally’, a role she’s held for over six years, Louise created a new 25-year vision for the iconic sports and entertainment venue, a key part of which was strengthening the commercial operation and investing in the visitor experience to significantly improve its financial performance. Before this, Louise was Deputy CEO of Visit England and held senior roles at both One North East and Yorkshire Forward Regional Development Agencies.

Commenting on Louise’s appointment, Ian O’Doherty, Chair of Chester Race Company, said:

“The Board and I are thrilled that Louise is joining us as our new CEO. Her vast professional experience, proven commercial ability and passion for people-focused leadership will bring so much to our organisation. We have a brilliant team and a strong platform in place in our business, and with Louise at the helm, we will develop and grow in the years ahead.”

Louise added:

“This is a really exciting new role for me, and I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Chester Race Company, our three wonderful racecourses in Chester, Bangor-on-Dee and Musselburgh, and of course our many hospitality, conferencing, and events businesses, as we move forward.”

Spring Blooms is part of Chester

Designed by Nature, a six-month community arts project launched by Destination Chester, with support from the European Regional Development Fund. The project aims to embrace and explore the natural world that surrounds us through a programme of art, activities, performance, storytelling and large-scale sculptural installations. Each installation in the Spring Bloom campaign has been inspired by various aspects of nature, from honeycomb, blossom, tree roots or bird song, in an effort to rewild the city.

Running until the end of March, there is still time to visit.

Coleg Cambria serves up career opportunities for two talented former students

OWAIN JONES AND BRADLEY WILFORD have joined the team at Cambria’s popular Ial Restaurant in Wrexham.

Owain, 21, is now working as a sous chef having completed the Level 3 Hospitality and Catering course at Yale.

Chef de Partie Bradley, 20, is a graduate of the same diploma.

With the hospitality sector facing recruitment challenges, Maria Stevens, Cambria’s Director of Commercial Operations, says they are in the fortuitous position of being able to educate and train the next generation of chefs, frontof-house, and kitchen staff from within.

“We are fortunate to have a pool of talented young students who are learning on the job in a working kitchen, which is getting busier by the week. Bradley and Owain have been terrific and are a great addition to the team – we wish them every success and would like to thank all of our customers for their support this year.”

For more information and make a reservation at Ial Restaurant, visit ialrestaurant.co.uk or call 01978 548818

Delegates on an esteemed leadership programme met for the first time in person at a

glittering graduation ceremony.

THE SUCCESSFUL 20TWENTY BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMME COHORTS were joined at the event – held at Rossett Hall, Wrexham – by Head of Bangor Business School, Professor Bruce Vanstone, and joint sponsor Hannah Munro, Managing Director of ITAS software specialists. 45 representatives from organisations in Flintshire, Wrexham and north Powys received their Level 4 and Level 7 certificates, with all of them thanking tutors and trainers for having a positive effect on their professional outlook and strategic operations.

The 20Twenty Business Growth Programme is the only leadership and management course in Wales to offer an optional progression route from CMI Level 4 to CMI Level 7, including a Postgraduate Certificate, an Executive MBA and Chartered Manager Award. The programme is delivered by Cardiff Metropolitan University in partnership with Bangor University and subsidised by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government.

For more information and to sign up for the next 20Twenty Business Growth Programme, email j.whittaker@bangor.ac.uk or visit the website: 20TwentyBusinessGrowth.com

Barriers to Start-up Grant

THERE’S STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR A BARRIERS TO START-UP GRANT, which is open to applications until the end of March 2022. The purpose of the Barriers to Start-up Grant is to enable economically inactive, unemployed individuals and young people not in education, employment or training to start their own business in Wales. The scheme provides a grant of up to £2,000, which can be used towards revenue expenditure, to successful applicants and will be part of a package of support that will also include one-to-one advice and webinars.

To apply you should be:

• Economically inactive or unemployed

• Looking to start up a self-employed business in Wales

Applications are being encouraged from individuals who identify as:

• Disabled work limiting health condition

• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity

• Women

• Young people not in education or training (NEETS) aged 18-24

• Or a College and University leaver since 2019 who are contracted for less than 20 hours per week

Details can be found at: https://businesswales.gov.wales/barriers-start-grant

Free trees as part of Welsh Government’s commitment to tackle climate change

EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN WALES WILL BE GIVEN A FREE TREE TO PLANT as part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to addressing the environmental issue of climate change.

This new policy will give people the chance to choose a tree of their own to plant or opt to have a tree planted on their behalf.

Speaking at a visit to a major Coed Cadw woodland creation project in Neath during National Tree Week late last year, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change confirmed the Welsh Government had partnered with the Woodland Trust, to deliver the campaign.

The first trees will be available to collect from this month (March 2022), from one of five regional community hubs that will be established. The Welsh Government aims to set up a further 20 hubs across Wales by October 2022.

Local surveyors see growth following pandemic

CHESHIRE SURVEYS LTD, based at the Barrowmore Enterprise Estate in Great Barrow near Chester, has appointed two new members to the team during a significant period of growth following the pandemic.

Ronnie Clewlow joins Cheshire Surveys as a much-needed additional Surveyor with a wealth of experience and knowledge behind him. Originally from Nantwich and now living in Chester, Ronnie was delighted to be chosen from a number of strong candidates.

Commented Jonathan Hilder, founder and technical director, “Ronnie joins the team at an exciting time as we expand the business following the pandemic. We found we were receiving 33% more enquiries for our services in the last five years with a growth of 15% in the last year alone and we literally could not cope. We were delighted to be able to create two new positions as we look to the future and even more expansion in the coming months.”

Coinciding with the technical team needing additional personnel, the operations side of the business was also on the lookout for a development specialist and chose Michele Hardwick to become the new Business Development Manager.

Together with the recent expansion, Louise Hilder, co-owner and operations director has taken on a 12 week ‘Help to Grow’ scheme run by Manchester Metropolitan University – a government-funded initiative to support managers to lead their business to reach its full potential.

‘Help to Grow’ includes help with the creation of a 10-year business plan and mentoring throughout the process.

Government funding targeted at more affordable zero-emission vehicles

CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PLUG-IN GRANT SCHEME, which will enable government funding to go further and help more people make the switch to an electric vehicle. As a brief overview, the government will now provide a grant of £2,500 for small vans, and £5,000 for large vans, with a per financial year limit of 1,000 grants per business, to ensure that funding is spread fairly.

There will be no changes for small or large trucks, which receive £16,000 and £25,000 respectively. Grants of up to £1,500 will be provided for electric cars priced under £32,000.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles are being prioritised, with a higher grant of £2,500 for vehicles priced under £35,000.

Motorcycles priced up to £10,000 (L3e category) will receive £500 and mopeds (L1e) will get £150.

Enterprise Renewal Fund

GRANT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-START, MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES in rural Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, to help their recovery from the Covid pandemic. Social and community enterprises are also able to apply for grant funding.

Qualifying businesses can apply for a 50% grant, up to a maximum application value of £10,000 (which would be £5,000 of grant funding and £5,000 applicant match funding) towards costs relating to the introduction of new products or processes. The minimum application value is £2,000.

For further information contact the Enterprise Renewal Co-ordinator Adrian Barsby of Barsby Associates Ltd on 07921 787668 or email: adrian@barsbyassociates.com

Law firm’s insolvency partner named vice chair of prestigious Chester Business Club

JAN CHILLERY, INSOLVENCY PARTNER AT LAW FIRM AARON & PARTNERS has been appointed vice chair of Chester Business Club and is expected to become chair of the club in due course.

Jan, who started at the firm as a trainee solicitor over 20 years ago, said she was “honoured” to be given the role – and is “looking forward to doing it justice.”

Generous tax incentives, including zero road tax and favourable company car tax rates, which are a strong driver of uptake and can save drivers over £2000 a year, remain in place.

Further details can be found at: gov.uk/government/speeches/ government-funding-targetedat-more-affordable-zeroemission-vehicles

Founded in 1987, the club looks to give a voice to Chester business and has raised over £1m for charities such as the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, BRAINWAVE and the Countess of Chester Hospital. The club arranges many varied social and networking opportunities for its members, with speakers such as Gyles Brandreth, Jeremy Vine, Pete Waterman, Melvyn Bragg, Ann Widdecombe, Paddy Ashdown and Ranulph Fiennes.

Jan said: “It’s a really exciting opportunity to get more involved in Club management. My focus as vice chair is to get to know members as well as I can. I want to find out what more we can do as a club and how members can help each other.”

Handbook to support food and drink manufacturers

THE FOOD AND DRINK FEDERATION (FDF) has recently made a handbook available to help food and drink manufacturers on their journeys to Net Zero. The handbook outlines how businesses within the sector can address challenges. It also provides practical guidance to food and drink manufacturers, in the early stages of developing their climate strategy.

The handbook can be found at: fdf.org.uk/fdf/what-we-do/environmentalsustainability/climate-change-net-zero/

NatWest Accelerator Programme

IF YOU'RE A HIGH GROWTH BUSINESS WITH AMBITIONS TO EXPAND, the NatWest Accelerator programme could help. You may be looking to build your team, venture into new markets or seeking further investment. The programme could help you gain the knowledge and skills to excel in a range of business areas including:

• Accessing new markets

• Attracting talent and building an effective team

• Access to growth funding

• Leadership development

• Developing a scalable infrastructure

The current Accelerator programmes are open to all business owners. You do not have to be a NatWest customer.

For further information visit: natwest.com/business/ business-services/entrepreneuraccelerator.html

The Green Growth Pledge

Are your satnavs fit for purpose?

THE NUMBER OF BRIDGE STRIKE INCIDENTS IN THE UK REMAINS ALARMINGLY HIGH. There are also numerous incidences each year involving commercial vehicles using inappropriate routes, which includes not complying with weight limits.

Not only does this result in damage to roads, causing serious financial implications, but it can also cause congestion and risks the safety of other road users.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain have provided advice for drivers and operators to help lower the number of incidents: gov.uk/government/news/is-your-satnav-fit-for-purpose

THE GREEN GROWTH PLEDGE helps Welsh businesses take proactive steps towards improving their sustainability, demonstrating their positive impact on the people and places around them, as well as joining a growing community of forward-thinking organisations, which are helping Wales transition to a low-carbon future.

Full details of the Green Growth Pledge and why your business should get involved can be found via:

https://businesswales.gov.wales/ green-growth-pledge-0

Plan It With Purpose: achieve your sustainability goals

ENTERPRISE NATION IS PARTNERING WITH AVIVA AND SMART ENERGY GB to help businesses implement sustainable best practices that deliver a positive impact on the planet, society, and the economy.

The programme has been designed to support small and medium businesses and business owners, by increasing their understanding of environmental and social issues in the UK, showcasing relatable role models, building sustainable ventures, plus encouraging change through tailored resources, action plans and recommendations.

For further information, visit: enterprisenation.com/plan-itwith-purpose/

Workplace Charging Scheme

THE WORKPLACE CHARGING SCHEME IS A VOUCHER-BASED SCHEME that provides eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charge points. The scheme is open to businesses, charities and public sector organisations that meet the applicant and site eligibility criteria.

The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:

• £350 per socket

• 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have one socket available per site

For full details of the Workplace Charging Scheme can be found at: gov.uk/guidance/workplace-charging-scheme-guidance-for-applicants

Plans to modernise UK tax system

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED PLANS TO CREATE A MORE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE TAX SYSTEM. The plans include reforming registration for income tax self-assessment, reviewing the role of umbrella companies and reviewing business rates. HMRC has also confirmed that Making Tax Digital for Corporation Tax will not be introduced until 2026.

Further information can be found at: gov.uk/government/collections/taxadministration-and-maintenance-autumn-2021

Vox launch event coming up!

WITH ISSUE TWO SAFELY PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED, we are excited to be officially marking the start of our new magazine with a launch party at the Raceourse, Wrexham this month (24 March 2022). If you would like to join us, please contact clara@ezpublishing.co.uk to reserve your ticket. Places are limited so contact us quickly.

Wrexham: Business and Investment

Some of the articles have been sourced from the regular email newsletters produced by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Business and Investment team, which provides updates on the availability of new funding and support initiatives, changes in regulations and resources which may be of interest to businesses within the County Borough.

Creating a canvas for success

A CHESTER CITY CENTRE BUSINESS HAS DOUBLE CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

after being named Best Contemporary Art Gallery at the end of its record-breaking 25th year.

The Watergate Street Gallery took the top prize in the SME News Northern Enterprise Awards 2021, which ‘represent innovative, driven and pioneering businesses and individuals based in the North of England’. Owner of The Watergate Street Gallery, Alex Sharp, says the award was the “icing on the cake” after his gallery announced its best annual sales to date in 2021, in what was also its 25th year of trading.

Two Wrexham businesses team up to recognise local heroes

THE F JONES INITIATIVE has been set up by two Wrexham-based family run businesses, Wrexham Lager and F Jones Food Service.

It has been named in honour of the owner of F Jones Food Service's grandfather Fred Jones, who ran Jones's Fish and Chip Shop on St Georges Crescent in the heart of Wrexham.

This monthly initiative has been designed to recognise local talent and acts of kindness. Wrexham residents are encouraged to enter themselves or nominate someone who they feel deserves some recognition. Each winner of these awards receives £100 plus £75 in vouchers, donated by Lot11, The Bank Wine Bar & Bistro and The Fat Boar. At the end of the year, an overall winner will be chosen. They will receive a further £1,000, plus a two-night dinner, bed and breakfast package, with bubbles and chocolate on arrival, from Rossett Hall Hotel.

If you would like to be one of the 2022 winners, or would like to nominate someone, just send a short email to:

Alex explains: “We’ve always striven to do something unique here, but like most businesses, Covid came with its struggles. However, we innovated, rethought our customer offering and diversified the gallery’s art collection, and I’m delighted that all the hard work paid off; not just with an increase in sales, but also by ending a quarter of a century’s trading as the Best Contemporary Art Gallery in the North.”

From virtual galleries on its website to free delivery and returns, the Watergate Street business has adapted throughout the pandemic to allow customers to continue buying affordable, modern art, alongside celebrating new and upcoming artists and giving them a space to showcase their work.

Alex added: “I think this year will be one for the ‘Indies’. I believe Covid was a catalyst for consumers, who realised the power in the purchases they make and looked to support independents, over the big chains, and to protect their local businesses.

“Watergate Street is a thriving example of that independent spirit and I look forward to seeing how our historic street continues to showcase the best of the city of Chester, and indeed the North.”

sharon@fjonesco@aol.com with a brief description and your contact details.

agenda A clean, green and safe

Chester city centre has a total footfall in the region of 20 million people every year. Of those, approximately 8 million are tourists and 18,000 are students from over 130 countries, studying at University of Chester. Chester Business Improvement District (BID) covers a defined area of the city centre, representing 464 businesses, and creating an enticing overall visitor experience to ensure continued investment into the city centre. Chester BID’s aim is to make Chester a retail, business and leisure destination of choice, where people are proud to live, work and visit.

With CARL CRITCHLOW, Chester BID

IN EARLY FEBRUARY, SHORTLY AFTER restrictions had finally lifted across the city, we had the opportunity to interview Chester BID manager Carl Critchlow, to find out more about the organisation and its impact on the city. Carl has been with Chester BID since 2016 and has helped develop and shape what it is today.

Carl was the driving force behind the introduction of the Birkenhead BID and joined Chester BID fresh from successfully securing BID-status for the town. To say he had been living and breathing ‘BID’ wouldn’t be an exaggeration, and the opportunity to join Chester BID, which by this time was already 18 months old, was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Carl explains: “Being part of a BID means you are at the forefront of change and have the chance to have a real impact on the businesses and the area you are representing. Working on the Birkenhead BID gave me the chance to see how I could make a difference, so when the opportunity came up to join Chester BID, I had to go for it. Chester is such a vibrant city, where I felt that I could add some real value.”

Chester BID is one of 320 BIDs across the UK. It was originally formed in 2014 after a successful election, where businesses within the proposed BID

area were able to vote on whether a BID should be introduced to the city. BIDs aren’t new and in fact are found in many cities and towns across the country.

Carl continues: “As BIDs are funded via the businesses they represent, they run in five-year terms. This gives the business owners the opportunity to assess whether the BID is providing benefit, and if it isn’t, then they can vote against its continuation.

Chester BID is now halfway through its second five-year term. Our second term started in the summer of 2019, with over an 80% majority yes vote. It was very satisfying to receive such overwhelming support and recognition for what we had achieved during our first term.

“Unfortunately, with the start of the pandemic in 2020, much of what we had planned for our second term had to be put on hold. Our role had to

“Chester is such a vibrant city, where I felt that I could add some real value”

change practically overnight, to support and help sustain the businesses we represent throughout the ensuing two years.”

Although an extremely challenging time for many businesses, Chester BID was on hand to help them. “Our role shifted very quickly, and we tried to provide practical support throughout. We helped signpost businesses to the government support that was available, including helping many hospitality businesses to secure funding for outdoor furniture to encourage the alfresco dining experience that became so popular over the summer months.”

With the easing of restrictions, Chester BID is once more turning its’ attention to what it can do to enhance the overall Chester experience. Carl added: “Throughout the pandemic we continued to promote Chester as a destination for work and leisure –reminding people we were still here. We actually managed to secure over 134 pieces of positive PR coverage, including TV and radio appearances, immediately after the Covid outbreak (March 2020 – March 2021) and an additional 170 pieces from April 2021 to January this year.

“Now that things are picking up again, we can refocus on our core aims of ‘Clean, Green and Safe’, the key elements that need to be right for any city to survive and thrive. Our agenda covers clean-ups of target areas and the popular introduction of plants and flowers across the city, as well as ensuring that people are safe – and feel safe – which is essential to encourage our night time economy too.

“We have introduced many successful initiatives into Chester, but two of the initiatives that I think have had – and will continue to have – the biggest impacts are our Chester Gift Card, which has already locked over £80,000 into the immediate economy, and also our City Hosts. Luka and Monica are the very public faces of Chester BID. They are out and about around city every day, talking and helping businesses, residents and visitors alike. They visit our businesses on a regular basis, so find out what is going on. They discover what is working well and what areas need improvement. The feedback they provide is absolutely invaluable in

maintaining our relationship with our businesses throughout the city.”

Chester BID has developed a strong communications plan and the BID utilises many tools, from websites and social media, through to WhatsApp groups and face-to-face meetings, to make sure that it is spreading the word – and keeping its businesses fully up to date.

Looking ahead, Chester is about to experience another significant change, with the opening of the Northgate development planned for later in 2022.

Carl explains: “We have an exciting time ahead. The Northgate development represents a £70 million investment into the city. We are working closely with the local council and other bodies to help develop the strategic vision for

Chester, as we need to plan carefully for how the Northgate development will integrate into the wider city.

“Chester is a very special city and the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts. From its history, heritage and culture, through to its business community, leisure and tourism, the city is unique. I am proud that we have been able to establish the BID as the ‘go to’ place for businesses in the city.

“The team is small and agile, and it works extremely hard. We are supported by a strong and representative board that shares our values of making the city great. I also feel very honoured that I am able to represent that business community, and in turn, it trusts me to provide its voice, particularly for the retail and hospitality sector.”

“Looking ahead, Chester is about to experience another significant change, with the opening of the Northgate development planned for later in 2022”

“Throughout the pandemic we continued to promote Chester as a destination for work and leisure – reminding people we were still here”

Chester BID initiatives

Since the BID formed in 2014 it has implemented many highly successful initiatives that add value to the city and improve the visitor experience. Just some of these initiatives are outlined here, but if you would like more information, visit the Chester BID website: www.chesterbid.co.uk

Experience Chester

A dedicated website to help visitors ‘experience Chester’ has been developed, keeping visitors to the website up-to-date with the latest news and events, as well as sharing local stories and providing information on where to shop, dine or visit in Chester city centre. www.experiencechester.co.uk

Chester Gift Card

Launched in October 2020, the Chester Gift Card has over 100 businesses signed up. It’s a pre-loaded gift card that can be used in any of the signed businesses – its aim is to lock spending into the high street. The success of the card continues to grow, with more spend happening in December 2021 than in the previous 12 months.

Purple Flag status

Working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire Police, Chester Pubwatch, the University of Chester, and several third sector groups, Chester BID has helped the city achieve Purple Flag status. Judges evaluated the city centre against a series of core themes, including wellbeing, broad appeal, movement and destination.

Chester in Bloom

Every year, from late spring to early autumn, the streets of Chester city centre are lush with colour, as over 180 flower towers, barrier baskets and lamp post displays are installed at key locations including Chester’s iconic Rows.

City Hosts

With a mission to ‘make someone’s day’, Chester BID’s City Hosts, Luka and Monica, are trained to spot and approach the lost tourist on the lookout for the local sights, point hurried people towards the right office for their business meeting, or simply welcome visitors to the area and offer help and advice.

City Clean

Chester BID takes pride in providing an outstanding environment for visitors and residents alike. Throughout the year, the BID rolls out a city-wide cleaning programme, targeting city streets, steps, ‘grot-spots’ and shop fronts. It works with specialist cleaning contractors and is supported by Cheshire West & Chester Council as well as volunteers from high street businesses.

Chester Together

The #ChesterTogether campaign was developed as a reaction to the COVID19 crisis. The campaign initially focused on the immediate needs of businesses from recovery, consumer engagement connecting supply/demand, safety and welcome initiatives, and a communication and PR plan to drive spend and footfall.

About BIDS

How BIDs originated Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) originated in North America, with the first BID being established in Toronto in 1970. The initiative began after local businesses saw the potential of pooling their resources to make the local area more attractive as a leisure, shopping and tourist destination.

The first BID in the UK was established in 2005, but, in the last decade, the number of BIDs around the country has shot up, from around 50 to well over 300.

How BIDs are funded

A BID area is made up of businesses within a defined area of a town or city. Each business with a rateable value of over £18,000 per annum within that area is required to pay an additional 1% levy. This goes to the BID to invest back into the area through initiatives that create improvements, often in terms of ‘Clean, Green and Safe’.

As local government funding has been scaled back for many projects in our towns and cities, the desirability of BIDs has increased.

While BID money can’t be used to backfill services that previously would have been funded by local government, the monies can be used to add value to the area.

How an area can become a BID

Theoretically anyone can request a new BID, but it is generally the local authority, a town centre partnership or business organisation, such as the Chambers of Commerce, that puts forward the concept of having a BID.

InDEEpendent Chester

This is a guide to opening an Independent Business in Chester, providing practical advice and information about ongoing developments. This guide was written in response to the dramatic change in the city’s retail and hospitality sector, as part of Chester BID’s continued battle to support high street recovery.

A five-year business plan is developed, and the businesses in the proposed BID area have the opportunity to vote on whether one should be set up.

If the BID is successful, it needs to go through this process every five years to determine that there is still an appetite for one in that area.

Chester BID’s City Hosts, Luka and Monica

tourism The business of

Chester and Wrexham, and their respective counties and boroughs, both enjoy a great deal of popularity with tourists.

THE AREA OF NORTHWEST ENGLAND

and Northeast Wales offers a wide range of attractions, for every taste and interest. There’s a strong contrast between the natural landscape and manmade history. Sometimes they are side-by-side, complimenting each other, while in other instances they are a standalone, and unmissable, attraction – Chester’s Roman Walls or Wrexham’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, for example.

Both Chester and Wrexham attract a broad range of visitors, from the UK and abroad. International tourists are attracted to the areas’ history, while UK visitors enjoy both outdoor and indoor pursuits in the regions.

World-class attractions, outstanding visitor facilities

Having businesses in place, such as shops, accommodation and cafes, is a key part of the tourism and leisure jigsaw puzzle too. If you’re staying overnight somewhere, you need things to do in the evening – outstanding restaurants, world-class accommodation. Both Chester and Wrexham have both an array of hotels and other accommodation, and also eateries for all tastes. Independent boutique shops and cafes are more interesting and unique than endless replicated chains, and visitors especially notice the quirkier, more individual and original offerings.

Chester has many urban attractions –from the Cathedral and the Eastgate Clock, to the Roman Walls and Chester Castle – and also offers the natural attractions of the River Dee and Grosvenor Park within an easy stroll from the city centre.

It also has a wealth of leisure activities, from boat trips to a day at the races, and the world-renowned Chester Zoo.

In Cheshire, a new initiative will see a rail pass and vouchers for popular tourist attractions, as part of a plan to return domestic tourism to prepandemic levels by 2022 and international tourism by 2023.

North Wales has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the top places in the world to visit and Wrexham is the ideal jumping off point to explore the wonders the region has to offer. It has its own racecourse – a National Hunt track at Bangor-on-Dee that is over fences – which is operated by the same team as Chester.

And of course, there’s that other Racecourse, the now-world famous football stadium of Wrexham AFC, which is undergoing considerable improvements to increase its capacity and amenities, as its attendances swell with the return of spectators.

Did you know…?

Chester city centre attracts 8 million tourists each year

Tourism employs more than 42,000 people across North Wales – one in seven jobs in the area

In 2020, despite the pandemic, Chester Cathedral still welcomed over 100,000 visitors

St Giles Church in Wrexham dates back to the 13th century and its impressive tower is renowned as one of the seven wonders of Wales

North Wales outperformed all other parts of Wales, with a total number of visitors approaching 30 million

In 2019 Chester Zoo had almost two million visitors

“There’s a strong contrast between the natural landscape and manmade history”

Creating

positive energy in the town centre

A science discovery centre in Wrexham has been hailed as a ‘perfect match’ for its town centre. Since a sell-out opening weekend at its new premises in October 2020, Xplore! has attracted more than 13,000 people of all ages, to discover or reignite their interest in science.

XPLORE! – WHICH REBRANDED FROM Techniquest Glyndŵr in early 2020 –relocated from its base at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, to Henblas Street in the town centre. Between July 2019 and July 2021, almost 4,000 primary school pupils and 1,300 teachers from more than 150 schools visited the centre. In addition, 2,900 secondary school pupils from 32 secondary schools have been engaged, as part of a strong focus on inspiring the next generation of STEM superstars – with 180 science packs also delivered, as part of the centre’s work supporting communities during Covid. In addition, more than 600 people, representing a diverse range of the community, attended DARGANFOD/DISCOVER 2021, which returned after a three-year hiatus, to enjoy a weekend of sciencefilled fun and entertainment.

Steve Slack, project monitor for the Inspiring Science Fund (ISF), which has granted £30million across a dozen projects throughout the UK (including Xplore!) is thrilled with the development in the heart of the town centre:

“When there are funding applications,

you see the phrase ‘at the heart of the community’ used regularly, but I firmly believe Xplore! really is. At every stage they’ve consulted with the public and listened to what they really wanted, to create a science centre relevant to those wishes. One of my lasting memories of the project will be when I came for a visit three or four weeks into the new centre being open and the staff were on first-name terms with the visitors. Science can be seen as a clinical subject, and all about learning and passing tests, but Xplore! has proved that science can be as warm, welcoming and friendly as the arts.” Speaking at the official opening – which

was supported by Wellcome, Wrexham Glyndŵr University and ISF – Xplore! centre manager Scot Owen said:

“A rebrand and relocation is challenging for any organisation, and how my colleagues reacted throughout the pandemic has been nothing short of incredible. As well as attracting visitors to the centre, our community outreach team – which extends beyond Wrexham into Flintshire and the surrounding counties – visited seven care homes and engaged 160 individuals in Senior STEM initiatives, with 600 science packs distributed to isolated people aged 60 and over. In addition, we also distributed 2,600 science packs to families to support science during the pandemic. Our overwhelming feedback has been a sense of pride and I cannot say enough how proud I am of the Xplore! team.”

For more information about Xplore! visit: xplorescience.co.uk Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE Tel: 01978 293400

Paul Crudge

Pro-Networks was set up by Paul Crudge and Rob Meakin in 2002 offering network and digital solutions. Over the years, through organic growth, they developed a successful company based in Network House in Deeside. In 2018 Paul and Rob split the business with Rob taking ownership of Loyalty Pro and Paul focusing his energies in Pro-Networks. Today, Pro-Networks has over 30 staff working with 350 customers worldwide and is a financially strong and stable business.

The importance of values

After working for more than 50 years, in 2021 Paul started exploring his options for his exit strategy. Over the years Paul had been approached many times about selling his business and on occasion came close. However, it was important to him that the values of any company looking to buy Pro-Networks aligned closely with his own.

Paul explains: “The traditional exit strategies didn’t feel right for me. I have always dreamed of building a business successful enough that it could remain independent and buy itself, so I wanted to look into making this a reality. My team and my customers are very important to me, and I knew that if I got it wrong, then the relationship between staff and customers would change too much. There needed to be another way.”

Finding the right approach

Paul continued: “I came across Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) and did some research into them. This looked like it might offer the right longterm solution for the business, its customers, the employees and for me. My advisors were less convinced, as EOTs are considered to be a fairly risky exit strategy. However, one of my customers had recently gone through the same process and I was able to gain some confidence from their experience.”

Basically, the EOT acts as a vehicle where the company owner can gift the company shares to a Trust for the ultimate benefit of the company’s employees. Said Paul: “We have had to jump through numerous hoops to achieve approval for the scheme, but we have got there in the end. When you gift shares to the Trust you have to gift a controlling interest. I have gifted 100% of the shares to the Trust – and ultimately my employees. This seemed like the right approach, as the team represents Pro-Network’s values, with some of our experienced engineers originally joining us as apprentices.”

Looking to the future

The EOT went through in early March. Thinking of the customers and the employees, the deal has been structured so that the business does not take on new debt, which has also made it a relatively quick, easy and safe process. Paul is now taking a wellearned break, although he has plenty of plans for post-retirement, including his favourite sport rowing and hopefully qualifying as a rowing umpire.

“I’m excited to see how the business grows and develops. I have seen Pro Networks become a successful business and have put in place a realistic growth plan. I’m confident I am leaving the business in safe hands, as the new chief executive officer, Geoff Coote, has worked with me since before I set up Pro-Networks. Geoff will also be supported by a strong and experienced leadership team.”

Challenges and achievements

When asked what the biggest challenge of arranging this type of deal was, Paul explained it was structuring and preparing the business and the team for the new challenge ahead. The new company structure was revealed at a staff conference prior to Christmas and staff have had to keep the news confidential until all the paperwork was completed. They have also had to form an Employee Advisory Council, with representation by one in six employees. The council will help shape the future direction of the business, balancing all the interests of both Customers and Employees.

Looking back over the last 20 years, Paul was asked about the highlight of his career at Pro-Networks: “Getting to this point I suppose, knowing that Pro-Networks, its employees and customers are in safe hands and have a great future. I have worked with so many great businesses over the years. Some customers and employees have been with us since day one, I have had the privilege to go on their journey with them, able to watch and help them grow, which thanks to the EOT will continue for many more years”

“I have gifted 100% of the shares to the Trust – and ultimately my employees. This seemed like the right approach”

Paul Crudge Pro-Networks Ltd pro-networks.co.uk

What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are relatively new in the business world. They are a specialist form of employee benefit trust, introduced by the government in 2014.

AN EOT MODEL IS MOST COMMONLY used in the manufacturing and professional services sectors. In fact, the EOT Survey in 2019 identified only 241 verified EOT-owned companies and a further 34 EOT-owned companies that have been established for longer, otherwise known as ‘deemed EOTs’. Between them, these 275 companies employ 23,000 people in the UK.

With an employee ownership trust, shareholders are encouraged to sell their shares into a trust, which is held on behalf of the employees of a company. It’s more common in business succession strategies, but can also be used if a business wants to scale-up or change its structure.

The trust issues the shareholder with a loan note and payback terms are agreed.

According to EOT Survey, the key features of an EOT are:

• New incentive for company owners to exit by selling to an employee trust

• Currently the most tax-efficient exit route available

• Introduced in 2014 to stimulate a ‘John Lewis’ economy

• Finance for such transitions available from banks and specialist lenders

• Complete exemption from Capital Gains Tax in year when trust owns more than 50% of the relevant company

• Inheritance tax relief on share transfers also available

• Vendors can sell, crystallise gain, claim relief and be paid on deferred terms

• Trust must operate for the benefit of all employees on similar terms but does not need to distribute shares

• Cash bonuses for employees of EOT controlled companies up to £3,600 per employee per annum are free of income tax but not national insurance.

Did you know…?

John Lewis is one of the first and probably one of the most wellknown employee ownership businesses in the UK. It now has over £11.7bn and a workforce of over 80,000 ‘partners’. Other wellknown companies which have taken on an employee ownership trust include Aardman, Richer Sounds and Riverfords. ProNetworks is one of the first IT support companies to become an EOT, which is something really different in this tech-hungry world.

Thinking

inside the box

The founder of a pregnancy subscription box service has raised a six-figure sum, to create a revolutionary new project for better workplace maternity support.

EMMA JARVIS, THE FOUNDER AND CEO of Liverpool-based pregnancy subscription box service Dearbump, has raised more than £170,000 through crowdfunding, to finance a revolutionary new scheme aimed at supporting pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace. The awardwinning subscription box service has created a unique programme targeted at pregnant employees.

The aim of the project is to help expectant mothers, by supporting them through pregnancy and their return to work. This involves answering questions, giving advice and information, emotional support, gift deliveries, wellbeing checks and more.

CEO Emma Jarvis founded Dearbump in 2017 as a consumer gift box subscription service. Business is booming for the small enterprise –it now has a strong six-figure annual turnover and currently delivers up to 500 boxes every month. Now Emma, who once worked in product research and development for some of the UK’s biggest health and household brands, is determined to make a move into the corporate world.

As Emma explains: “The aim of Dearbump has always been to help pregnant women feel more informed and supported, and I believe we can do so much more to make mums-to-be and new mothers feel that this is the case in the workplace. There’s a huge problem retaining pregnant women in the workplace – more than 54,000 pregnant women leave employment annually in the UK – and corporations

are realising that they can do so much more to help stem this loss of talent. My aim is that Dearbump becomes an integral part of the solution.”

It’s a revolutionary idea. Dearbump not only provides monthly boxes to pregnant employees, but will support them through their pregnancy and return to work, with regular wellbeing checks alongside fitness and nutrition advice. In essence, corporations invest in Dearbump so that it becomes a supportive middleman between the employee and their employer.

Statistics show that a corporate programme like this is long overdue. Women make up 46% of the workforce in the UK and an estimated 80-85% of those will become pregnant during their employment. Despite this, 90% of mothers returning to work after pregnancy reported that they had no formal support programme and one in three find it difficult, or very difficult, to come back after maternity leave.

At present, £1.65 billion is spent in the UK on replacement costs per year. Recruiting and retraining staff presents a significant loss for businesses, not only in terms of talent, but also in time and costs.

Emma continues: “Studies have shown that the lack of support and a poorlymanaged reintegration back into the workplace are responsible for women feeling unhappy at work, or leaving their job altogether. Despite these shocking numbers, there are currently no programmes in place to combat this and no official guidance for employers or employees, to ensure a smooth transition for working mothers. Dearbump’s goal is to tackle this gap in the market, to help employees feel happier at work, and saving employers billions of pounds in replacement costs in the process.”

Following the successful crowdfund, Emma will be expanding the Dearbump team, hiring a psychological wellbeing

“There’s a huge problem retaining pregnant women in the workplace – more than 54,000 pregnant women leave employment annually in the UK”

practitioner, who’ll offer expert support to pregnant women and new mums. “The service will work via messenger or WhatsApp,” says Emma. “We will send out an open-ended question, checking in on the wellbeing of the woman. Then if there’s a response and a conversation is required, our practitioner will make a phone call to offer them support. Alternatively, if it is a concern over maternity benefits, or if there’s a private room available where a returning mum would be able to express milk, we will pick up that conversation with the employer and come back with a solution.”

The idea of the corporate scheme was the result of Emma’s own maternity experience. Despite having always considered herself incredibly ambitious and dedicated to her career, she chose not to return to her R&D job following her first pregnancy: “It felt like talk of development and promotions were put on hold as soon as I announced my pregnancy,” explains Emma.

“The attitude seemed to be ‘Now you’re pregnant you won’t care about your career as much’ which couldn’t have been further from the truth. I felt so disillusioned with it all, I decided not to go back”.

Instead, Emma began forming the idea of Dearbump, studied for an MBA at the University of Liverpool (in which she gained a distinction) and even became a software developer – up until now, she has run every facet of Dearbump alone.

The crowdfunding success is her first opportunity to expand the team –“I’m so excited as to where we go from here”.

To find out more about Dearbump’s products and pregnancy programmes, head to dearbump.com

emma@dearbump.com

“A supportive middleman between the employee and their employer”

A nice slice of the action!

A pair of local entrepreneurs have adapted to the pandemic and launched a brand-new pizza business.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH 2020, PHILIPPE KALKWARF AND HIS WIFE Helen Done, who own and run Cleopatra’s Coffee shop & Bistro in Holt, near Wrexham, had a tough decision to make. With their business forced to close due to national lockdown, but still having monthly overheads, something drastic needed to happen, or their six-year-old business would be facing permanent closure. Not ones to sit idly

by, both Philippe and Helen put on their entrepreneurial hats, focused on the positives and what they could do –not on what they couldn’t.

Toiling away in their commercial kitchen trying out new ideas led them to develop a new product, a business plan and conceptualise the model for their new business venture – and Wedoughit4u was born.

Philippe and Helen developed a way to get ready-rolled out pizza bases, along with pizza sauce and cheese, to customers' houses using an overnight courier service. Philippe explained: “As many employees were working from home at this time, companies would contact us to organise corporate boxes to send out, so they could have zoom parties, staff meetings and general virtual get-togethers. It was so exciting for us to see where our pizzas were heading off to.”

The kits are delivered directly to the customers’ front doors and contain two 12” ready-to-use thin crust pizza bases, two sachets of pre-portioned pizza sauce and two sachets of pre-portioned Mozzarella/Cheddar cheese (vegan cheese is also available). A selection of toppings is available at checkout too. The pizza bases, sauce and cheese have a one-month shelf-life and can be stored at fridge temperature. Philippe said: “Being in the hospitality industry, we were surrounded by similar businesses who were feeling the pressure of the virus and being forced into closure. But for us, we were in ‘lockdown not shutdown’ mode. That gave us extra strength to ensure that not only did we have to get our new lockdown initiative off the ground, but we had to keep Cleopatra’s Coffee

Shop & Bistro alive too. We had nine staff relying on us with families and financial responsibilities, and their survival was very important to us."

The beginning of the journey was the toughest Philippe and Helen had endured for a long time. Due to the countrywide lockdown, it was almost impossible to source new suppliers and the long lead time on products could have sunk their business at launch, if they hadn’t worked out a ‘Plan B’ at every step.

Philippe explained: "Things were difficult in the beginning. Morale amongst Cleopatra’s staff was low, but we kept having regular touch-base meetings, to let our staff know where we were as a business and about the new venture we were embarking on.” An online presence was paramount and had to be developed in the form of a website, social media platforms and everything else that goes into setting up a new business – and of course keeping Cleopatra’s focussed and moving forward as well.

“We were in ‘lockdown not shutdown’ mode.

We had nine staff relying on us with families and financial responsibilities, and their survival was very important to us”

With a new strategy in place, Philippe and Helen aligned themselves with companies which had experience in start-up companies such as Cywain –a Business Wales mentoring organisation which specialises in the SME Welsh food and drink sector.

As Covid guidelines changed, so did their focus. When the country began to re-open again, online sales began to drop, Philippe and Helen targeted farm shops and caravan parks to keep the sales up. They also increased the product range to include supplements like homemade houmous, tzatziki and BBQ sauce.

Helen said: “We attended a number of outdoor markets to grow our brand awareness around the UK. As restrictions started to ease off and people were allowed to move around again, we noticed that our online sales were dwindling. So as the hospitality sector began to reopen, our sales efforts shifted to supplying restaurants, pubs, cafes, hotels and outdoor kiddies’ venues with our bulk catering solution.”

Philippe added: “The beauty of the bulk kits is you don’t require a qualified chef to make the pizzas. They’re easy to prepare and we guarantee restaurantquality pizza every time. There is also

a huge reduction in plastic and packaging materials, which we feel is a small contribution towards a cleaner environment.” Philippe and Helen have now also started offering twin-deck pizza ovens free on loan to the hospitality sector, which allows their customers to cook the perfect pizza in an authentic stone-based pizza oven. In supplying a diverse range of outlets, they also have their own refrigerated van on the road and have employed extra staff, to assist with the increasing demand for their pizzas.

Helen said: “Due to Covid we had to think outside the box, which put us right into another box – the pizza box, or more importantly the Wedoughit4u pizza box. As for 2022, we don’t know what it’ll bring to the table, but we know we can put a damn good pizza on yours.”

Philippe Kalkwarf & Helen Done Wedoughit4u wedoughit4u.co.uk

sales@wedoughit4u.co.uk

“Due to Covid we had to think outside the box, which put us right into another box – the pizza box, or more importantly the Wedoughit4u pizza box!”

Offices for the future

With more people setting up businesses, working from home or looking for office accommodation to meet a new hybrid working environment, some companies are looking for alternatives to the traditional office setting. Serviced offices and virtual offices have been around for a long time, but they are increasingly being recognised as solutions to new working practices. We caught up with Emmajane Albertini from Home of Offices to find out more about what serviced and virtual offices can offer businesses.

What’s the difference between a serviced and a virtual office?

A serviced office is an actual office space, set up to meet the requirements of your business. It will usually include all bills, internet, office furniture and a meeting room for you to use when required. Whereas a virtual office is an address which you can use as your trading/registered address, but you may not physically visit, your post will be forwarded on to you and there is usually a meeting room available for you to hire should you ever need to.

When should you consider using a serviced office?

A serviced office is a great solution for anyone who is looking to take the first step away from working from home, if you are looking for a second business address, or even if your business premises are now too big, due to changes with employees working from home part of the week.

How important is your ‘address’ when looking at virtual offices?

It is vital when considering whether your business is local or national, just as you would make this consideration when choosing a business number.

Today, many customers prefer to use businesses which they believe to be local and so finding the right address for your business could directly affect new sales.

What are the benefits of using a serviced office?

The benefits are significant, as all building and office management is taken care of for you, so all you need to organise is your computer and telephone to fully operate.

When should you consider using a virtual office?

A virtual office gives a small business owner working from home a more professional image. It also safeguards your home address and can be a great way to expand into other geographical areas.

What type of service can you expect from a virtual office?

Many virtual office providers will offer other services, including meeting room space, business telephone numbers, call answering services, administrative services and opportunities to network with other local businesses.

“A serviced office is a great solution for anyone who is looking to take the first step away from working from home”

About Home of Offices

Home of Offices is the first fully serviced office provider in Wrexham town centre.

It aims to revolutionising the way businesses consume office space. It offers a beautifully designed, artthemed space, which can meet the needs of businesses of all shapes and sizes. Home of Offices tailors its solution to meet each individual business. It offers flexible offices and meeting space on demand, with complimentary refreshments and competitively priced meeting rooms. It has a high specification boardroom, which seats up to 10 people.

Home of Offices’ virtual office solutions can also provide businesses with a town centre address at a minimal cost.

For more information

homeofoffices.co.uk

0800 1244640

“A virtual office gives a small business owner working from home a more professional image. It also safeguards your home address and can be a great way to expand”

Speaking out

A warning to those VOX readers of a nervous disposition: we’re about to discuss public speaking!

PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT'S AMAZING HOW those two words can reduce even the most confident of us to jibbering wrecks. Just the very thought of standing in front of a crowd and having to speak to them is enough! I’ve always been in awe of those who dare to speak to large audiences with confidence and style, and who actually enjoy it.

A few years ago, the prospect of speaking in public would have instilled mild terror and caused the instant onset of a range of physical symptoms associated with real panic:

breathlessness, sweating, nausea and, yes, a sense of looming incontinence. Let’s not beat about the bush – that’s what a proper fear can do to you. Those of you similarly positioned on the fear spectrum will know all this to be the unexaggerated truth. For me, as for many others, this was nothing short of a full-blown phobia.

Imagine feeling that way and yet still in a moment of unguarded madness agreeing to address a group of businesspeople. What was I thinking?

By HEMS DE WINTER

I know I wanted to do it, I knew my stuff and I badly needed to deal with the fear, but when I turned up to the venue car park – at least I got that far – the wanting to do it was totally overwhelmed by the fear. I actually threw up. Totally irrational, of course, but I was at the moment no longer in control of any thought process or any action. Needless to say, I didn’t deliver my talk.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself standing under bright stage lights with the famous TED logo behind me, with four cameras and an audience, to deliver a 20-minute talk without notes. Not the best TEDx talk ever, that’s for sure, but I turned up, I stayed and I did it. I was very proud, and not ashamed to admit it. There was still the urge to turn away and run, but by then I had learned to recognise my old foe and had acquired some techniques that helped me take back control and manage those fears.

That TEDx talk marked the end of a process that saw my demon well and

truly vanquished, and I’ve been delivering talks ever since – lots of them, with confidence, enthusiasm and some good feedback. So how did that happen and what changed?

I’ve learned a few things about public speaking from some great people who have helped me overcome my phobia. Firstly, we need a story – we’ve all got a story to tell. We just need to tease it out and discover our own way of telling it. Mine involved a chance meeting with a mentor, now my good friend Alan Mullet, who helped me transform my business, find my purpose in life and discover how to be true to myself.

Secondly, we need to really believe in our story and have a real passion for what we are talking about, before we can get out there on stage and share it.

I became almost overwhelmed by a need to make a difference to others, as Alan had done for me. My passion was to share everything he had shown and taught me with anyone who would listen, but especially with other business

“When I turned up to the venue car park – at least I got that far – the wanting to do it was totally overwhelmed by the fear”

owners who like me, had lost their enthusiasm and sense of direction, and wanted to live a different life. Really believing in something actually does break down the obstacles to success.

My drive was such that I decided after 30 years to leave the business I founded and set up a one-man consultancy dedicated to working with and changing the lives of other business owners. I had a story to tell and a profound passion for telling it, but passion isn’t always enough: to spread the word effectively, I needed to be able to talk about it in public, and that’s just what my phobia was preventing me from doing!

I needed to learn how to speak in public and acquire those techniques we need to get the message across effectively. It took not a little courage to admit my weakness and ask for help, but I did ask and although I initially dreaded going, a group coaching session with the amazing Caroline Hopkins was a gamechanger and gave me enough confidence to go and find that first speaking opportunity.

That came in the form of a two-hour session with a group of 25 post-grad students at Liverpool John Moores University and their tutors. It was still a real struggle to overcome the almost overwhelming urge to turn around and run, but that belief in what I was doing made all the difference. I told them the story behind meeting my mentor and how that had led to the transformation of every aspect of my business and my personal life. How did it go? It was the turning point, a major milestone in my life. The engagement was truly overwhelming: the feedback, the questions the subsequent emails wanting further contact was humbling.

Aside from working directly with business owners and leaders, and their teams, I’m still on the speaking circuit telling my story and promoting the advantages of a values-led approach to business and leadership. And now I’m enjoying every minute!

“Really believing in something actually does break down the obstacles to success”

Hems de Winter hemsdewinter.co.uk askhems@hemsdewinter.co.uk

A fair deal for all

At a time when it’s never been more important for businesses to regain trust and demonstrate that they care about more than just profit, Wrexham Chauffeurs is proud to be the first Private Hire Chauffeur Company in Wales to join the Good Business Charter (GBC).

THE GBC IS AN ACCREDITATION THAT seeks to raise the bar on business practices for employees and issues such as tax, the environment, customers and suppliers. The charter exists for all companies, charities and public sector organisations across all industries and sectors and works through a simple online self-certification process. The GBC offers straightforward accreditation, which recognises organisations that prioritise and care for their employees, the environment, customers and suppliers, whilst also paying their taxes according to the spirit of the law. The GBC and its members aim to inspire many other businesses to follow suit.

A charter for business

The charter has the support of both the CBI and the TUC, while other partners of the GBC include the Living Wage Foundation and the Prompt Payment Code. The GBC has been set up by the charity the Good Business Foundation and accreditation is free for all companies in the first year.

Simon Fox, chairman of the GBC board, said: “The Good Business Charter brings together 10 standards, most of which already exist, but in separate places. We have brought them together, to create a coherent overall position for businesses to aspire to. We believe that the GBC has enormous

potential to change business practice for good. We hope that because of its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, it will quickly gain support.”

Geth Thomas, director at Wrexham Chauffeurs Ltd, acknowledges the charter’s importance: “We are thrilled to have been recognised by the GBC. We have exciting plans in place for 2022, including a growth plan that targets a 15% year-on-year increase in turnover. To help us achieve this, we have invested heavily and purchased a new Estate E-Class Mercedes, with help from an ERF grant from the Welsh Government. We have also added insurance to our Private Hire insurance,

“The accreditation is a further endorsement that our business practices are right for our employees, the taxation and environment”

to cover high value items, including museum artefacts and antiquities. This means we can now offer a premium ‘White Gloves’ delivery service. In addition, we have taken on a female Chauffeur (a chauffeuse), as we know some of our clients would much prefer to be driven by a female driver.

“Providing a 24-hour luxury chauffeur services to and from anywhere in the UK is at the heart of what we offer. We are committed to providing a stressfree travel service and work with other chauffeur companies across the UK, to ensure we cater to our clients’ specific needs. Guide dogs, assistance dogs, and hearing dogs are all also welcome to travel with their human handlers. The accreditation is a further endorsement that our business practices are right for our employees, the taxation and environment aspect, and our customers and suppliers.”

For more information wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk

01978 253815

GBC Accreditation

The GBC consists of 10 components and more details for each of these can be found on its website: www.goodbusinesscharter.com As an organisation with under 51 employees:

1. We commit to pay our directly employed and regularly contracted staff the real living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

2. We commit to only use zero or minimal hours contracts when it is mutually beneficial and accepted by both us and the employee.

3. We will actively support and encourage employee wellbeing, treating those with legitimate sickness in a fair and respectful manner, and promote access to impartial support and advice for employees with physical and mental health needs.

4. We commit to having a way where every employee can make suggestions or raise issues with senior management.

5. We commit to have robust measures in place, to encourage diversity at key stages of recruitment, selection and retention of employees, and to prevent harassment or victimisation in the workplace.

6. We care about the environment and encourage the development of good environmental practice as an organisation, seeking to minimise our impact and commit to improve it.

7. We commit to pay our taxes where applicable, only use tax allowances for the purpose intended, and be transparent in our relationship with HMRC.

8. We have a clear commitment to our stakeholders and prioritise addressing and learning from stakeholder feedback, seeking to put negative issues right.

9. We commit to ethical sourcing of anything we purchase, such as by applying standards set out in the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code where relevant.

10. We commit to paying our suppliers promptly, and within at least 30 days.

T:

01978 253 815

E: admin@wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk

W: wrexhamchauffeurs.co.uk

Wrexham Chauffeurs operate a 24-hour luxury chauffeur services to and from anywhere in the UK.

We have a choice of saloon or estate E-Class cars, luxury S-Class saloons, and Mercedes Minibuses. We also collaborate with other chauffeur companies so can always offer you our famous stress-free travel. Executive and Luxury Chauffeur Driven Travel - anytime - any place - any distance!

Venue finding

Chester and Wrexham offer a huge selection of meeting rooms, venue hire and conference facilities. Over the coming issues we will feature a selection of venues and their key features throughout the two areas.

Home of Offices, Wrexham

www.homeofoffices.co.uk

Home of Offices offer a beautifully designed, art themed space. The meeting room and boardroom provides individually designed, high specification facilities in Wrexham town centre. The room can seat up to 10 people in boardroom format, and it charged on an hourly basis of £12 per hour. The fee includes a complimentary use of the coffee machine and still water, and the venue can also cater for both breakfast and lunch meetings. Special offers are available to virtual members and residential members.

Oddfellows, Chester

www.oddfellowscheter.com

Work or play? At Oddfellows, the team doesn’t really see the difference. Every moment at Oddfellows is designed for fun.

Whether its business, birthday party, board meeting or entertaining clients, Oddfellows promise that every experience will be full of merriment and delivered to you by a dedicated and cheerful team. Situated in a restored Georgian House, the first floor is available for exclusive use. The Grown-up Bar boasts its own stunning outdoor roof garden, overlooking Chester’s historic chimney tops.

Chester Zoo

www.chesterzoo.org

Chester Zoo’s upstairs meeting spaces are perfect for meetings, training and presentations. Fully equipped with all the AV equipment and connectivity you might need, the meeting and event suites feature large windows looking out over lawns (and some animals!). By holding your event at the zoo, all proceeds raised will be contributing to its conservation efforts, helping critically endangered animals and their habitats, in the UK and around the world.

Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, Wrexham

www.xplorescience.co.uk

Xplore! offers a unique for a variety of events. The spaces include meeting rooms with wifi, projectors and white boards with a capacity of 20. It has a fully equipped theatre with a capacity for 120 theatre-style or 30 cabaret style, and informal multi-functional spaces, which can accommodate up to 60 attendees; perfect for any more informal event. Located centrally in Wrexham town centre with ample car parking nearby, on-site refreshments or locally-sourced catering.

Do you have a venue you would like to see featured?

If you have used a hotel or other venue for a business meeting, conference, seminar, training or team building event and you think it should be featured in a future issue, please contact us with your suggestions.

What’s on

A round-up of some of the business event happening in and around Chester and Wrexham from March to June 2022

THURSDAY 10 MARCH

09:00 - 11:00

Round the Table Networking

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce is hosting a networking event in partnership with Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel

Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel, Whitchurch Road, Chester CH3 5QL wcnwchamber.org.uk

THURSDAY 10 MARCH

09:30 - 15:30

Wellbeing Warrior Women’s Conference

To celebrate International Women's Day there will be a collection of speakers giving short talks on how they have either made the break into wellness. Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT inspire-rewire.com

TUESDAY 15 MARCH

08:45 – 12:30

Aaron and Partners Employment Law Roadshow 2022

Find out about important recent changes to employment law and learn what will be coming into effect in the near future.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Warrington Road, Chester CH2 3PD aaronandpartners.com

THURSDAY 17 MARCH

09:30 – 11:30

West Cheshire’s Women’s Network

West Cheshire Women's Network are gearing up for its first event of 2022! West Cheshire Women’s Network provides an opportunity for businesswomen to come together.

Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT wcnwchamber.org.uk

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking lunch Brook Mollington Banastre Hotel, 1 Parkgate Rd, Mollington CH1 6NN wcnwchamber.org.uk

MONDAY 4 APRIL

08:30 – 15:30

Round the Table Networking

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce will be welcoming guests for April’s networking event Wrexham Glyndŵr University, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW wcnwchamber.org.uk

TUESDAY 26 APRIL

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking lunch. Ramada Plaza Wrexham, Ellice Way, Wrexham LL13 7YH wcnwchamber.org.uk

FRIDAY 6 MAY

09:00 – 11:00

Adventure Golf Networking

Two 18-hole indoor courses are set amidst the hidden tropics at Coliseum Leisure Park. This is set to be an enjoyable networking event hosted by West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf Cheshire Oaks CH65 9HD wcnwchamber.org.uk

THURSDAY 19 MAY

10:00 – 15:00

Chester Business Show

VOX will be exhibiting, along with around 60 other businesses at this show, which also has seminars, workshops and networking.

Crown Plaza Chester, Trinity Street, Chester CH1 2BD chesterbusinessshow.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 25 MAY

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch

Sponsored by WR Partners, this West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce networking lunch takes place at Boughton Hall Cricket Club. Boughton Hall Cricket Club, 38 Boughton Hall Avenue, Chester CH3 5EL wcnwchamber.org.uk

21-22 JUNE

ALL DAY

Royal Cheshire County Show

The Cheshire Agricultural Society plans to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a return to a two-day Royal Cheshire County Show in 2022. A celebration of all things countryside and agriculture, packed with attractions, competitions, plenty of shopping and endless family fun!

The Royal Cheshire County Show

Ground, Tabley, near Knutsford (on the A556) WA16 0JF royalcheshireshow.org

If you have an event taking place between July and September 2022, please let us know, so we can include it in our next issue.

email:

clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

While every effort has been made to ensure all the details are correct at the time of going to print, it is advisable to check details with the venue concerned

Networking

There is a whole host of networking opportunities across Chester and Wrexham – from groups that you have to join and attend a structured weekly meeting, through to one-off events that you can ‘pay as you go’. Most membership groups offer you the chance to attend as a guest – often for the first one or two sessions – to allow you the time to work out if it is a group that suits you. If you are new to networking, try a few and see if you can find a group that works for you and your business. If you have an event you would like listed in a future issue, please get in touch.

Networx 4 Business networx4business.co.uk

Networx offers membership networking with a membership cost of £600 for 12 months, per venue and includes breakfast. Sessions take place fortnightly at each venue. With just one business type per group, you will have the opportunity to talk about your business and what you are looking for. If you are interested, the first visit is free and then you can visit a couple more times – paying just £10 to cover your breakfast – before you need to make a decision about joining.

Chester sessions

• MONDAY 9.00-11.00am

Bollicini, 2 Abbey Green, Rufus Court, Chester, CH1 2JH

• TUESDAY 6.00-8.00pm

Mollington Banastre Hotel & Spa, 1 Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 6NN

• THURSDAY 9.00-11.00am

Mollington Banastre Hotel & Spa, 1 Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 6NN

Wrexham sessions

• TUESDAY 9.00-11.00am

Wrexham Golf Club, Holt Road, Wrexham, LL13 9SB

FSB

fsb.org.uk

FSB membership means inclusive support, market-leading benefits and a voice heard in governments at all levels. If you are self-employed or own a small business, membership is built from the ground up, to help you achieve your ambitions. Together, we are stronger.

Join virtual events, including networking and business surgeries at: fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html

BNI

bninorthwales.co.uk bnicheshire.co.uk

BNI members are business professionals who help each other grow their businesses through their commitment to the principal core value, Givers Gain®. Each week, in thousands of communities across the globe, members meet with other trusted business leaders to build and nurture lasting relationships and pass qualified business referrals.

Membership of BNI offers access to business training, peer learning and opportunities to network and do business with hundreds of thousands of BNI members around the world.

Membership fee is £615 plus £200 one-off joining fee.

North Wales chapters:

• Spectrum – WEDNESDAY 9.30am

The Mountain Park Hotel, Northop Road, Flint CH6 5QG

• Rossett – WEDNESDAY 6.45am Online only

• Wrexham – THURSDAY 7:30am

The Beeches, Chester Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PW

• Flint – FRIDAY 6.45am

The Mountain Park Hotel, Northop Road, Flint CH6 5QG

Chester chapters

• Grosvenor – TUESDAY, 6:45am

Mollington Banastre, 1 Parkgate Road, Mollington, Chester, CH16NG

• Roman – WEDNESDAY, 12:00pm

2nd Floor Leverhulme Stand, Chester Racecourse, Chester, CH1 2LY

• Chester – THURSDAY 6.45am

Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester, CH3 7PT

West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce wcnwchamber.org.uk

West Cheshire and North Wales

Chamber of Commerce is the leading organisation representing the business community across the whole of West Cheshire and North Wales. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, its objectives remain clear: to promote and encourage business for members and others regionally, nationally and internationally to improve commercial growth and prosperity.

Serving the business community in these diverse regions for over 100 years, the Chamber aims to support every type of business – from sole traders to large corporations. It tailors its' service to suit its' members, developing an enviable portfolio of member benefits, business advice, export knowledge, events and training opportunities to help make your business a success.

Institute of Directors (IOD) iod.com

The Institute of Directors was founded in 1903 and within three years was awarded a Royal Charter to support, represent and set standards for business leaders nationwide. It is the UK's largest membership organisation for business leaders, providing informative events, professional development courses for self-improvement, networking and expert advice. IOD is the only institute in the world to offer internationally recognised qualifications designed by directors for directors, specific to the core competencies required of directors and senior leaders.

JayKay Events

jaykayevents.co.uk

JayKay is an independent local Chester company dealing will all types of events including business breakfasts, workshops, seminars, teambuilding days, product launch events, charity black tie dinners, fundraising events, ladies-only events, celebratory events and many more.

Chester Business Club chesterbusinessclub.co.uk

One of the principal activities of Chester Business Club is the Speaker Dinner. The aim of these black tie events is to provide an impartial forum for leading commentators – from business, politics, media, the arts and public life –to speak on a topic of their own choosing, as a positive contribution to increasing public awareness of the important issues of the day.

The Business Network Chester is a diverse membership group of around 100 companies sharing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help grow each others’ businesses. The ethos behind the group is "know, like, trust" –a belief in building long-lasting relationships with other senior decision makers. Meeting at lunch times, in prestigious venues around Chester, it provides a highly structured event, which enables attendees to meet senior decision makers in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Attendees may also attend a free, highly educational seminar, which runs prior to the event.

Real5 Networking – Chester real5networking.com

Real5 Networking is a business venture focused on local business networking for mutual commercial gains. The idea is that all members agree to give a minimum 5% profit share back to the referee, so there is a real incentive to maximise the network.

Netwalk Delamere jaykayevents.co.uk

A healthy, open networking group, based around a low impact walk in Delamare Forest. During the walk everyone is given the opportunity to address the group to explain what their business does and how they can help others. There is also ample opportunity to talk one-to-one as you walk. The cost of attending is £15 and includes hot drink, artisan picnic lunch and guest speaker.

The Business Network Chester businessnetworkchester.co.uk

“If you don't have time to get outside at lunchtime, then take the stairs instead of the lift, take your calls standing up, or lunge while you are waiting for the coffee to boil”

healthy Five Top Tips for staying

at work

With hectic schedules and imminent deadlines hanging over us, health is often the last thing we think about at the office. But we spend over one third of our life at work – over 90,000 hours during your lifetime! So, it makes sense to start thinking about including healthy practices into your working day rituals.

By SASHA KENNEY

STICKING TO HEALTHY HABITS

during office hours doesn’t need to be hard. Introduce small, realistic changes to your everyday routine can make all the difference. Here are my five basic habits, which promote stronger mind, body and spirit in your workspace –whether you are working from home or in the office.

Start the day well

Your morning is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Simple practices, like starting the day with 10 minutes of gentle exercise and a wholesome breakfast, can provide you with the energy you need to get through the first half of the day. You can use the ‘3 x 10’ principle to combine 10 minutes each of exercise, learning and contemplation. Simply rise a bit earlier than usual and set aside the time that will guarantee you a good day ahead.

Actions you can take:

• 10-minute morning stretch

• 10-minute learning or reading something new

• 10-minute contemplation/meditation

Nourish your body throughout the day

Sugary snacks might give you an instant energy rush but is most often be followed by a slump and cravings for another biscuit. There are plenty of healthier options that are tasty and won't mess with your blood sugar levels. So, leave a bag of almonds or kale chips next to your laptop. It's also a good idea to pre-prepare your lunch the day before.

When you make your own, you have control over what kinds of food you eat. It takes time and effort, but it’s worth it for your health and your bank account.

• Keep healthy snacks nearby

• Pre-plan and prep your own lunch

• Keep temptation away

Move it

With sedentary office jobs, it’s easy to let exercise fall by the wayside. But we all know that regular, moderate activity is vital for our health, weight management and most importantly for keeping up your energy levels. So why not get out during your lunchbreak for a stroll, jog or cycle in the fresh air? The change of scenery will provide a chance for you to de-stress. If you don't have time to get outside at lunchtime, then take the stairs instead of the lift, take your calls standing up, or lunge while you are waiting for the coffee to boil.

• Take breaks regularly and move your body

• Go for a walk at lunchtime

• Take your calls standing up

Keep hydrating

It's easy to lose track of how much water you're drinking. Even mild levels of dehydration (losing 1% of your body weight in fluid) can lead to fatigue and headaches. Although individual needs vary, the NHS recommends that on average, we should consume six-toeight glasses of water a day. If you’re not keen on the taste of plain old tap water, try adding a splash of lemon or a slice of cucumber and fresh mint.

If you need caffeine, consider coffee in moderation, or green tea.

• Drink water (6-8 glasses per day)

• Stay away from sodas and sugary drinks

• Consider green or herbal teas

Manage stress

Relentless deadlines, long hours or a demanding job can increase your stress levels and take a toll on your mental and physical wellbeing. Sometimes the smallest things are most effective… like breathing! If you just take one minute or more of your day to stop, look away from your work and just breathe, you’ll feel a of a lot better straight away. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even practice mindfulness and mediation.

• Take breaks regularly and practice mindful breathing

• Try a five-minute mediation

• Get enough sleep

The key is to take small steps. Introduce one healthy habit, allow it to sink in and become a part of your new health routine, before you introduce the next one. This way you’ll be more likely to succeed, and the changes will not feel as daunting. Feeling well and looking after yourself during work shouldn’t be hard. Enjoy the positive change, one habit at a time. Which one will it be for you today?

Sasha Kenney Hoola Nation hoolanation.co.uk

contracts Fair

in unprecedented times

Many businesses, particularly those in the construction and groundworks industries, have lost out because they have been contractually bound to honour quotes based on volatile material prices. These prices have been escalating on an almost daily basis, due to supply and demand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

By RONALD CARTER

AS A RESULT OF THESE PRICE fluctuations, many more companies are now looking to include provisions –such as ‘Condition Subsequent’ price variation clauses – in their contracts, to help mitigate some of the risks imposed by market unpredictability.

A volatile market

Until now, a force majeure clause has been relied upon to excuse one or both parties from fulfilling a contract in some way or other, following the occurrence of a certain event. This might not cover the devastating effects of escalating prices caused by an unforeseen occurrence, such as Covid-19 that has left the contractor out of pocket and basically rendered the job infeasible.

What if the only reason you are prevented from observing your contractual obligations is because of rising costs – whether they be your own fuel costs, or the cost of raw materials?

It has long been established that a financial loss alone is unlikely to be a valid Force Majeure Event. In such circumstances you could be sued for breach of contract, because you did not fulfil your obligations under the contract.

Clause for thought

These days it’s common to fix damages for breach of contract at the contract price. So, if your customer contracts to pay you £200,000 for your services, it

is common for this to be the limit of your liability towards your customer, in the event of your breach of contract. However, going from a position of earning £200,000 to instead having to pay £200,000, could be very damaging to your company and even cause your company to fold as a result. Many Force Majeure clauses provide a get-out, where there is an occurrence of an unforeseen event.

Since Covid-19 or other pandemics are now widespread, such pandemics may not qualify as an ‘unforeseen event’, as it is arguable that such events could or should have been foreseen – although this will depend on the precise wording

of the contract and the particular circumstances of the dispute. So, if a business is to be relieved of its commitment to fulfil a contract as a result of an event, such as Covid-19 rendering it financially unviable, clear provision should be included in the contract other than by way of a force majeure clause. This can be achieved in a number of ways, such as a condition subsequent clause or a price variation clause.

Seeing the unforeseen

So, what is a ‘Condition Subsequent’ clause? Quite simply, it is an express contractual clause for the termination (or release from obligation of either or

both parties) of a previously binding contract, on the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a specified event. For example, the clause could provide that either or both parties are released from their obligations under the contract if a pandemic occurs. This would, however, need to be worded very carefully, if it is to stand any chance of being legally upheld.

Another option is a ‘Price Variation’ clause. A valid price variation clause will allow a party to pass-on reasonable price increases to its customer. Price variation clauses are commonplace in larger construction contracts, but it is important to ensure that the wording of such clauses will adequately cover the kind of issues caused by a pandemic.

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many shortfalls in contract terms and has highlighted areas of

contract drafting, which could benefit from revision. Never has there been a more critical time for businesses to review their contracts than now, not least to check whether they include a condition subsequent clause, and to add one if there is not. To ask a commercial lawyer to look over your contracts will be money well spent and could save you hardship in the long-term.

If you would like to speak to someone about this article, please contact Ronald Carter, FCILEx, Head of Corporate with responsibility for Company and Commercial matters across all GHP Legal offices, at ronald.carter@ghplegal.com ghplegal.com 01978 291456

“You could be sued for breach of contract, because you did not fulfil your obligations under the contract”

arrived? Has the age of e-learning finally

For many years people have been saying that e-learning is the future, that it may squeeze out live training altogether. Valuable though e-learning is, the richness of discussion that comes from face-to-face interaction is hard to beat.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING IS ‘blended learning', with online input from a subject expert and in-person discussion sessions, chaired by someone who does not have to be a subject expert, but who does have good facilitation skills. This can be cost-effective and also very effective in terms of learning gain. As a provider of e-learning courses, I’ve found it interesting to see how the pandemic, with its obstacles to face-to-face training, has increased demand not only such courses, but also my services in providing online training webinars. Will this increased interest in online learning continue beyond the pandemic period, or will it turn out to have been just a short-term expediency measure, long forgotten in a couple of years’ time?

Much will depend on how online learning is used and the approach to learning adopted. For example, there is an important distinction between instrumental and existential learning. The former is a straightforward matter of making sure that staff know what they need to know, to get the job done – including such things as knowing how to operate machinery, how to enter data into a spreadsheet, and so on. Of course, such learning is essential, but it has severe limitations. Existential learning, by contrast, is much more complex and difficult to achieve, but it has far greater potential.

Instrumental changes

Instrumental learning can change you in terms of what you know and what you can do, but existential learning can change who you are. It does this by getting you to question assumptions,

By DR NEIL THOMPSON

to explore any (often self-imposed) barriers to progress and help you grow as a person. It can be applied to all aspects of your life, in and beyond the workplace.

Being taught how to use a piece of software can be useful, but it will only take you so far. Existential learning, by contrast, can boost your confidence, help you be more assertive and improve your ability to handle emotional issues. It cannot only help you do your job, but also improve your employability, enhance your wellbeing and make you better equipped to deal with life’s challenges. E-learning, when done properly, provides an important stimulus in the right direction –especially when part of blended learning.

What is also important is the role of training within the wider framework of the organisation. In some settings, the training and development function is fully integrated with the business, while in others it is not. This may not matter much for instrumental learning, but it can make a huge difference to existential learning.

This raises a number of questions:

• Is learning seen as an essential part of the enterprise, or is the focus on simply meeting basic training requirements?

• Are employees expected to achieve maximum learning and optimal outcomes, or is it enough just to get the job done?

• Is learning supported – for example, through supervision, coaching and mentoring?

The answers to these questions will play a large part in either nurturing or restricting personal growth.

It all comes down to the question of whether employees are seen simply as a means to an end, or as valuable partners in an enterprise that can benefit from their growth and learning, the increase in their capabilities and boost their morale.

Higher morale contributes to increasing engagement and productivity, and therefore lower levels of sickness absence and turnover of staff – with the associated significant reduction in costs (financial and human) that comes from such improvements. An investment in developing existential learning can therefore be seen to bring significant benefits. It would be a big mistake to leave e-learning out of that picture.

Dr Neil Thompson is an independent writer, educator and adviser, and a visiting professor at the Open University.

He is also the Vice President of Vigoroom UK, a sophisticated employee wellness platform (www.vigoroom.co.uk)

His books include ‘The Managing Stress Practice Manual’ and ‘The Problem Solver's Practice Manual’

His website is at https://neilthompson.info

“E-learning, when done properly, provides an important stimulus in the right direction – especially when part of blended learning”

Culture City of update

As we mentioned in our last issue of VOX, Wrexham remains in the race to be the UK’s City of Culture 2025.

IT’S AMONG EIGHT TOWNS AND CITIES

that have made the shortlist. The town’s campaign gained momentum in January 2022, as two double-decker buses toured the region, promoting the bid and the region’s cultural offerings.

Due to the ongoing Covid restrictions in place, the campaign team had to have a rethink of their original plan to host 40 events across the county. This resulted in the bus tour, which kicked off on Friday 14 January and continued over the weekend, in support of the #Wrecsam2025 bid.

Aboard the buses were singers, musicians and artists, who brought their performances to the heart of the region’s communities at a variety of locations en route. Among those taking part were Delta Academy Ladies Choir, Delta Academy Youth Dancers, NEW Sinfonia Brass Quintet, Eleni Cymru Dance Group, Coleg Cambria Musical Theatre, Luke Gallagher, Megan Lee and Andy Hickie. Locations visited on the itinerary, which was shared in advance, included Moneypenny, the Racecourse ground, the Rafa club, Erddig, Gresford Colliery Club and Rossett Green.

Wrexham and its borough have a thriving music and arts scene, epitomised by its FOCUS Wales music festival and Tŷ Pawb Arts Hub.

The race continues!

The winner will host a year-long cultural festival, that will showcase the area’s cultural offerings, and attract and focus interest in the region from across the country and the world.

The final announcement on the bid will be made in Spring 2022, so not long to wait now!

“Due to the ongoing Covid restrictions in place, the campaign team had to have a rethink of their original plan”

Motoring

towards net zero

Rawson Digital provides a wide range of print and photocopying equipment to businesses throughout the UK, backed up by unrivalled after-sales support. With over 25 years’ experience in the printer and photocopier industry, the team know its products inside and out – some say, it’s verging on obsession – which means you get expert advice and support from people who care.

A conversation with VAUGHN RAWSON, of Rawson Digital and Rawson EV-Power Ltd

Delivering what we promise

Vaughn Rawson, founder and MD of the Rawson brands explains: “Almost 10 years ago I decided to start my own business, supplying and servicing printers and office copiers. Having been in the industry for many years, I felt that most companies in this sector had lost their way, in terms of delivering that great customer experience. I just felt that I knew how I would want to be looked after as a customer, so it didn’t seem such a daunting proposition to be ‘delivering what we promise’ –which has since become our strapline.”

Vaughn and his team are proud of how the business has grown and developed over the last decade, and the number of customers that the company has worked with on a long-term basis. However, as for so many people, when Covid hit two years ago it was a massive wake-up call for Vaughn, although it also gave him the opportunity to revaluate the business and its offering.

Investing in electric

Vaughn continues: “The impact of the pandemic actually provided us with some thinking time, away from the usual distractions of running a business. We decided that we wanted to embrace some of the green and environmental challenges facing us, and that we needed to act now to reduce our impact on the environment. We made the decision to start changing our business habits. This led us to changing our fleet, from petrol and diesel to either hybrid or full electric, depending on driver demand, and what was suitable and available in the auto market.

“Adopting this change meant investing in EV charging points. This included home chargers for the team, and a fast charger for the office, to meet the evergrowing demand. Sourcing the home chargers was a drama, as the companies around at that time were difficult to contact.

“Sourcing the home chargers was a drama, as the companies around at that time were difficult to contact. In most cases it was an online service only”

“In most cases it was an online service only. This meant that there was no one readily available to discuss, advise and help us through the process. When we selected a company to work with, even though we had paid for the chargers already, there was so much paperwork and forms to fill in, the process was delayed.”

He went on to explain: “Getting a commercial fast charger installed at the office was a whole different dynamic and the prices we were being quoted seemed totally unrealistic. This prompted me to get Googling and see what else was out there in the market. I wanted to try and understand the challenges and what was driving the price.”

Necessity, the mother of invention

After some initial research, Vaughn quickly concluded that it would be worth sourcing and installing their own unit. The introduction of Rawson EVPower Ltd swiftly followed the successful completion of their own installation.

Said Vaughn: “Being green and protecting the environment shouldn’t be expensive and unachievable. Adapting Rawson Digital’s philosophy of looking after the customer, being easy to talk to, easy to get hold of, and just simply ‘delivering what we promise’ has helped us introduce our EV charger installer business.

“In a very short space of time, we have grown this small fledgling business to now employ eight full-time staff. We also work with a team of brilliant subcontractors, RN Electrical, who focus on the install itself.

“We have literally sold hundreds of units in the last 12 months. We have sold to supermarkets, garden centres, retail outlets, DIY stores caravan parks, bed and breakfast establishments and hotels, including many local businesses, as well as dozens of domestic properties.”

Strengthening the EV charger infrastructure

“With the fast chargers, we can provide businesses with a secure billing platform that enables them to sell their chargers to the general public too. Not only does this help them realise a brilliant return on investment, but it is another much-needed resource, as the charger infrastructure in the UK is currently totally unsuitable to support the rapidly growing electric vehicle market.”

Rawson EV-Power Ltd is now looking to expand its green offering by launching a range of solar and battery storage products. The solar panels will offer an interesting payback, as the more you use, the more financially beneficial it is, as there is unharnessed energy hitting the roofs of buildings everywhere, every day. In addition, running EV chargers off solar offers the perfect partnership.

Vaughn sums it up: “We want to help make EV charging and solar normal, accessible and affordable to everyone.”

Facts about car sales in the UK: Did you know…?

The UK was the third-largest European market for new car registrations in 2021, the secondlargest by volume for plug-in vehicles and the second-largest for battery electric vehicles (BEVs)

However, it is in ninth position overall in Europe for BEVs by market share, underlining the progress still to be made, despite the UK having among the most ambitious targets of all major markets. The end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is scheduled for 2030

According to the data, BEV sales in 2021 totalled 190,727 units. This is up 76% year-on-year, to take an 11.6% overall market share, which was up from 6.6% in 2020

Plug-in hybrid vehicle sales also rose 71% on the year in 2021 to 114,554 units, with the market share at 7%, up from the previous 4.1%.

Sales of hybrid EV for the year also climbed 34% on the year to 147,246 units, an 8.9% share of total sales, up from 6.7% in 2020

Following billions of pounds of investment into new technology by manufacturers, more than 40% of models are now available as plug-ins

Gasoline cars continued to hold the largest market share at 46.3% – 762,103 units – although the share was down from 55.4% the previous year, and the volume also dropped 15.7% year-on-year

Diesel vehicles' market share almost halved from 16% in 2020, to 8.2% in 2021, with 135,773 units sold in 2021, down 48% on the year.

Source: UK 2021 auto sales remain below pre-pandemic levels, record EV sales achieved: SMMT | S&P Global Platts (spglobal.com)

“In a very short space of time, we have grown this small fledgling business to now employ eight full-time staff. We also work with a team of brilliant sub-contractors”

Vaughn Rawson Rawson EV-Power r-evpower.co.uk avr@rawsondigital.co.uk

Can sustainability and profit go

hand in hand?

Today’s business owners have a huge number of things to cope with. Whether it is the pace of technological advancements, competitive pressures, social changes, or environmental issues.

SUSTAINABILITY WAS ONCE JUST A buzz word in business, but today it is becoming a necessity. Many business owners still do not put sustainability at the core of their company’s business strategy, because they believe that the costs outweigh the benefits. However, focusing on sustainability can lead to an increase in both business performance and your bottom line.

How does sustainability benefit a business?

Sustainability can benefit a business in several ways, such as:

• Increased productivity

• Ability to comply with regulation

• Long term cost savings

• Improved brand image and competitive advantage

• Reduce waste

• Attract customers, employees, and investors

• Reduce risk.

By STEVE GREENSILL

What is the ‘triple bottom line’?

One way to understand your business’s sustainability efforts is using a concept known as the triple bottom line.

The triple bottom line allows a company to measure their social and environmental impact and not just their financial performance. It’s broken down into the ‘Three Ps’: profit, people, and the planet

Profit

In many companies, success is merely measured by profit. Most business decisions are made to maximise profits, reduce costs, or mitigate risk. Business leaders now focus on effecting positive change without hampering financial performance. Achieving sustainability does not mean that you must stop focusing on profit! This should still be a key measure of business success, but not the only one.

People

The second part of the triple bottom line focuses on your business’s social impact. Put simply, this is the focus and commitment to people. If your business is to truly embrace sustainability, then you need to focus on people including customers, employees, and community members, whether it’s encouraging volunteering, using the cycle to work scheme, forming strategic partnerships or creating a NFP organisation.

The planet

The final part of the triple bottom line focuses on making a positive impact on the planet. Businesses have the key to drive positive change to protect the environment. SMEs can make positive changes to reduce their carbon footprint, whether it’s cutting energy consumption, using ethically sourced materials, or changing transportation for distribution.

Improving financial performance through sustainability

Many business owners believe that one can have either profits or sustainability, but not both.

There can be significant long-term financial benefits of sustainability that accrue from increased competitive advantage and innovation. Many companies are benefiting from significant cost savings, through environmental related operational efficiencies, including using less resources, logistical savings, and minimising waste.

Tax benefits to going green

There are environmental taxes, reliefs and schemes that encourage businesses to operate in a more environmentally friendly way too.

For example:

Catering for every occasion

When it comes to treating your team, corporate events or client entertainment and gifting. We can provide stunning grazing tables, magnificent breakfast and brunch platters, through to individual lunch and treat boxes. Contact WildFlour@nhf for all your corporate catering needs!

CONTACT US DIRECTLY:

rhiannon@wildflournhf.co.uk

07917 115853

wildflournhf.co.uk

BASED IN CAERGWRLE

• Businesses can claim capital allowances when they buy energy efficient, low or zero-carbon technology. This reduces the amount of tax they pay.

• The UK Government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) continues to offer a tax incentive for small businesses to install their own EV charging points via the Workplace Charging Scheme.

• With a focus on sustainability often comes innovation. If your business is investing in research and development to advance in science or technology, it might be eligible for R&D tax relief.

R&D tax relief enables an extra deduction of 130% of the qualifying R&D costs from your taxable profit. This means that for every £1 you spend on R&D you could deduct £2.30 from taxable profits.

• Small businesses that opt for fully electric vehicles will continue to pay incredibly low rates of company car tax for 2022/23.

Summary Creating a sustainability vision and strategy and then embedding it in your company culture takes strong leadership, commitment, and a focus on areas beyond profit alone. Business owners (including your competitors) are increasingly realising the power of sustainable business strategies. With potential for significant savings across the business and tax breaks offered, sustainability and profitability can indeed work hand in hand.

Steve Greensill

Haines Watts Chester 01244 400315

sgreensill@hwca.com

“SMEs can make positive changes to reduce their carbon footprint, whether it’s cutting energy consumption, using ethically sourced materials, or changing transportation for distribution”

The Green Claims Code

explained

Not to be confused with the Green Cross Code, have you heard of the Green Claims Code? Don’t worry if you haven’t yet, as it only came into force late 2021, but you do need to be aware of it and what it means for business.

WITH CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY choosing to make purchases based on the environmental credentials of the business they are buying from, it’s perhaps understandable that companies are making more and more claims about their own ‘green’ credentials. While this is a good marketing move if the claims can be substantiated, all too often the claims can be proved to be ambiguous at best.

Introduced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) – the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority – the Green Claims Code is a consumer protection law. It hasn’t been introduced to prevent companies proclaiming their green initiatives and working practices, it’s there to prevent companies from misleading their customers. According to a gov.uk press release, a CMA coordinated global review of randomly selected websites which was carried out at the start of 2021, found that around 40% of green claims made online could be misleading consumers.

The Green Claims Code has been designed to:

• Provide a framework for businesses to make environmental claims that help consumers make informed choices

• Give consumers important protection in relation to environmental claims

• Protect businesses from unfair competition, by creating a level playing field for those businesses whose products genuinely represent a better choice for the environment and who can make truthful environmental claims

• Encourage businesses to invest in the environmental performance of their products

• Enable businesses to communicate these genuine efforts to consumers transparently and to reap the commercial benefits.

To comply with the Green Claims Code, you must keep the following principles in mind:

• Your claims must be truthful and accurate – your business must live up to all claims you make

• Your claims must be clear and unambiguous – your customer should be able to understand the claims you are making

• Your claims must not omit or hide important and relevant information – your customer should be given the full picture, to be able to make an informed choice

• Your comparisons must be fair and meaningful – products being compared should meet the same needs or be intended for the same purpose

• Your claims must consider the full life cycle of your product or service – think about the overall impact from creation to disposal

• Your claims must be substantiated –all claims should be backed up by robust and credible evidence.

If you don’t comply with consumer protection law, the CMA or other bodies, such as Trading Standards Services, can bring court proceedings. In some cases, businesses may be required to pay redress to any consumers harmed by the breach of consumer protection law.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) could also take action against misleading advertisements that contravenes or UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (BCAP) or the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) Codes with regards to broadcast and nonbroadcast advertising.

For more guidance and advice, visit the government website: gov.uk/government/publications/ green-claims-code-makingenvironmental-claims

“40% of green claims made online could be misleading”

Advertise your business in the next issue of VOX

We offer value for money advertising opportunities, and we are keen for you to see a return on your investment. We will work with you to identify the best package to meet your needs. As well as straight advertising, we offer sponsorship, competition and leaflet opportunities too.

Sharing best business advice

There is a plethora of business quotes and aspirational or motivational sayings out there, so we thought we would ask some local business leaders for the best piece of advice they had – or had ever been given – to share with other businesses.

“In your business and personal life, have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you. Be kind, authentic and find a mentor, someone you admire and trust who will challenge you and tell you the truth.”

Hems de Winter director of de Winter Consulting

“Create and develop your business through building great relationships, be authentic and deal with like-minded people. People don’t like to be ‘sold’ to. Your product or service will sell itself at the right time to the right client if they know and trust you.”

Sue Thomas director at Career Evolution

“Being a business owner requires you to be consistent. Be consistent with your customers; consistent with your delivery; consistent with your content and consistent with your visual brand. Consistency brings value through establishing trust, which in turn leads to better customer satisfaction.”

Vicky Heathfield creative director at EZ Publishing

“Always be empathetic, listen and understand carefully what your customer needs and deliver the best solution you can. Treating your staff brilliantly will make them deliver great customer service.”

Vaughn Rawson director of Rawson Digital

“Running your own business can be hugely challenging and hugely rewarding. I always say to anyone starting up to remember the highs will be high and the lows, low – and they can happen in the same month, week, day, hour or even within a phone call.”

Clara Hughes editorial director at EZ Publishing

“The advice I have followed in business is the same advice given to me in my previous life as a journalist. To be bold, transparent and always leave a bridge behind you. North Wales is a small pond in some ways and a big pond in others. Strong, long-lasting and clear relationships are crucial, especially at the present time. That guidance has always served me well.”

Martin Williams director of Radar PR

“Try to remain humble and modest. Showing humility requires great self-confidence, a trait which both inspires and motivates. A great leader depends on the elusive loyalty of followers and would be well advised to forget command and control – talk to people as you would wish to be spoken to yourself!”

Jeff Hardman director of Barnhill Consulting

What business question would you like answered?

Email your ideas to: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Nicola

Whether it be work-life balance, stress, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, Nicola will help you overcome these feelings and give you tools and approaches to fully understand and access well-being activities and ideas.

Working with Nicola will aid your transformation and empower you to be a self-confident, more measured, calm, happy individual. The best you can be

Mary Blythin is a Holistic Therapist Life Coach. Through her holistic therapy centre, ‘Nevaeh’ she supports adults through anxiety and depression, relaxation, mindfulness and meditation and PTSD.

“Have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you”

Charity round-up

Our charity pages are an opportunity to highlight the good work local charities are undertaking, promote fundraising success and future events.

Buy a Brick for just £1 in a house for people in Chester who are Homeless

In 2016 Chester’s ShareShop launched its first Buy a Brick Campaign, so that the charity could buy the cheapest three-bedroom house in the City and convert it into a home for three people who were without one.

ShareShop has now relaunched this successful appeal to try to buy a second house and turn that into a home for another three people, who are currently homeless in Chester. These funds will also allow SHARE to provide daytime facilities and activities, including to seek employment and tackle addictions, for these and other people who are homeless in the City.

The charity has 145,000 bricks to sell for just £1 each! You can buy your brick online or pop into Chester’s ShareShop on Northgate Street, where you can also sign your name on our Brick Wallpaper. The wallpaper will eventually be used to decorate the house itself and remind those who move in of your very kind contribution and see any message you’d like to write.

The house will remain the ownership of the registered charity (SHARE Registered Charity No. 1166530) and will be used as a first step to taking people off the streets, until they are ready to move into their own rented accommodation. When that happens, the house will then be used to accommodate another three people, and so on.

Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/buy-a-brick-appeal to buy a brick.

Chester Triathlon – Sunday 12 June

The Deva Triathlon is an Olympic distance triathlon held in the centre of the historic City of Chester.

It is currently in its 24th year and is run by Chester Triathlon Club members. The course is located right in the heart of the City. Transitions take place in the fabulous Grosvenor Park. The bike route will be a single lap into Wales via Eccleston, Rossett and Borras and back into Chester via Alford and Boughton.

The run route will incorporate running over the Old Dee Bridge as well as the suspension bridge, along the Groves and in the meadows, with the finish being at the Bandstand in the Groves – a truly City Centre race.

To find out more contact devatri@chestertri.org.uk

Did you know…?

The Countess Charity is raising money to provide more for patients at The Countess of Chester Hospital. The charity is raising money to build a balcony on to ICU, so that the patients can see blue skies and feel fresh air on their faces. The beds will even be able to be pushed outside.

Look out for its annual Duck Race on the River Dee, which will take place on Saturday 9 April.

Find out more at coch.nhs.uk/fundraising

AVOW appoints new Chief Officer

Following the retirement of John Gallanders, the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) has announced from 1 February 2022, the new Chief Officer will be Dawn Roberts-McCabe.

Dawn was born and raised in rural Northern California and spent most of her career as a Diplomat for the U.S Department of State working in places such as Moldova, Sierra Leone and The Netherlands.

Having also lived in Wrexham, Dawn founded and managed the Empowering Youth Foundation, a local charity that taught life skills through sport to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dawn is skilled in developing and leading diverse teams to achieve success and has expertise in diplomatic engagement, organisational leadership, professional development, and public speaking as well as extensive experience in charitable fundraising.

Exciting funding update

The trustees and organisers of the recently establish Refugee Kindness – North Wales charity are currently in delight and disbelief after receiving the news that not one, but two funders have approved their funding applications.

The award from the Ashley Family Foundation, together with funding received from the Postcode Lottery will provide a year’s salary for its dedicated charity manager and assistant manager.

Having only been registered with the charity commission less than a year ago, Refugee Kindness helps refugee and asylum seekers families through the donation of reusable items.

The charity now supports over 70 families.

Charity manager Jordan Hughes is working tirelessly to manage the programme, recruit and assist volunteers and offer her support to beneficiary families.

She has encouraged beneficiaries to become involved in the local community by showcasing their talents in textiles work, cooking, art and writing.

A number of the beneficiaries are also volunteering their time to help with organising donations and interpreting when needed.

Final shortlists revealed for Steve Morgan Foundation Awards

The final shortlists have been revealed for the Steve Morgan Foundation 20th Anniversary Awards. A record 337 entries were received with charities from across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales all vying for a share of £175,000 prize money. The public were initially allowed to vote for their favourites online and this accounted for 20% of the overall decisionmaking process. This was followed by two rounds of judging by trustees from the Steve Morgan Foundation before the final shortlists were agreed.

There are a total of 11 awards up for grabs. They are:

1. Best Entrepreneurial Charity with turnover above £250k

2. Best Entrepreneurial Charity with turnover below £250k

3. Greatest Local Impact with turnover above £250k

4. Greatest Local Impact with turnover below £250k

5. Changing Young Lives with turnover above £250k

6. Changing Young Lives with turnover below £250k

7. Best Volunteer Team with turnover above £250k

8. Best Volunteer Team with turnover below £250k

9. Disability Champion

10. Volunteer of the Year

11. Outstanding Individual Contribution

The winners and runners-up will be announced at the Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Conference and Awards at Carden Park Hotel on 28 March 2022.

Did you know…?

AmaSing is an inclusive organisation, which works collaboratively with educational establishments, including primary and high schools, colleges, universities, arts specialists, arts organisations, hospitals and residential homes to develop and enhance children’s wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem. It also supports professional development for teachers in developing skills and opportunities to deliver singing, music and arts in the daily school curriculum. Find out more at amasing.org.uk

We want to hear your charity news!

If you have charity news you would like to see included in the next issue, please send details to:

clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Keeping a bit of history

afloat

During the 2021 Covid lockdown, a naval restoration project went from a small-scale family venture to an internet sensation.

THE AMBITIOUS PROJECT WAS started by the Robins family when Simon and Gemma bought MV Sarinda, an ML1392 World War Two motor launch, in January 2021. Their aspiration was to restore the craft and make her seaworthy again, in time to cross the English Channel as part of the D-Day celebrations and join the flotilla led by its sister ship HMS Medusa, which has already been restored. Their updates online via their YouTube channel

‘Ship Happens’ have attracted interest and acclaim from all over the world.

A piece of history

The 59-tonne vessel was spotted and bought by the couple on auction site eBay. MV Sarinda was a harbour defence motor launch during World War II that was designed in early 1939. It was one of 464 such craft built by numerous Allied countries worldwide during the war and it saw service in

Europe, the Far East and Australasia. Since its launch in 1943, it was involved in the action on the D-Day landings in Normandy, during the assault on Gold Beach, in June 1944, and in March 1945 captured a Biber-type German midget submarine off Breskens in the Scheldt estuary. Over the years the vessel has undergone various name-changes –Valiant, Frol-Pejo – and by 1974 it had been renamed Sarinda and was carrying out day cruises from Liverpool until it

was damaged in a storm. Later it was fitted out as a luxury motor yacht, but is now being restored to its former glory, not as a military craft, but simply as a pleasure cruiser.

Ship Happens

Simon and Gemma run a RV conversion company Creation Campers near Wrexham in North Wales. They have undertaken previous boat restorations of inland waterways craft, but this is their largest and most ambitious project to date. They have the help of their two children, Mason and Emilia, who are very involved with the restoration.

During the lockdown, the YouTube channel 'Ship Happens' was set up, simply as a means of keeping family members informed as to the progress being made. Unexpectedly the group gained worldwide recognition and the channel currently has over 47,000 subscribers, from over 30 countries. As of January 2022, the channel’s video content has generated almost four

million views and also enables the couple to partly fund the project using Patreon crowdfunding donations.

Gemma Robins is amazed at the attention their project has attracted: “It really seems to have captured peoples’ imaginations. In addition to all the local press we’ve had, our restoration has featured in newspapers and articles in the United States and Europe, including a television appearance on Chicago News channel WGN TV. We embarked on the voyage to create something special and we’re very proud of our achievements so far. It’s great to be involved in reviving and relaunching a vessel that's seen such distinguished active service and make sure this lovely craft sails once more”.

You can view the project’s YouTube channel here: youtube.com/c/ShipHappensUK facebook.com/shiphappens1392/ twitter.com/shiphappens1392?lang=en

Hybrid working and your business

It seems like everyone is talking about ‘hybrid working’. But what actually is it?

By PAUL WILLIAMS

PUT SIMPLY, IT MEANS A FLEXIBLE working agreement where an employee works from a variety of different locations – including an agreed space such as ‘the office'. It has become inevitable following the past couple of years and it represents a positive cultural shift. However, for it to work for employers and employees alike, it needs to be thought through properly.

Here are five tips for business leaders who want to implement an effective ‘hybrid working’ model:

1. Research

Speak with your workforce and take time to plan. You must consider job roles that need to be performed in the office. You must also take into account the maximum space capacities of your available workspaces, to allow comfortable distancing where required. Listen to your staff – ask their opinions and how they envision successful hybrid working.

2. Establish a routine

Consider a weekly routine which sees different people physically in the office on certain days. Perhaps adopting core working hours would ensure collaboration takes place, regardless of location. Some people might prefer starting their day earlier or later than others. It’s important to give some flexibility, but by setting the hours you expect your staff to be online, you lay foundations for a successful ongoing hybrid working routine.

3. Define communication methods

Look to achieve one culture, regardless of where team members are located. Support this by determining communication channels. We advocate Microsoft 365, but many apps exist. Establish a standard and don’t allow your teams to mix and match different platforms, as this extends your system surface area for cyber-attack, making it much harder to secure.

The apps and solutions we find work well are Teams, Teams Rooms and Whiteboard, which are all part of the Microsoft 365 suite.

4. Get the right equipment

Don’t expect people to work efficiently while perched on their sofa. You’ll need to take the time to complete a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment of individual home working areas. In some cases, you might also have to provide staff with adequate equipment (desk, chair, monitor, etc.) where required.

Laptops provide more flexibility than desktop PCs. Equipping your office with hot-desks that allow single-cable laptop connection to a display, monitor, keyboard, network, and charging (via USB-C) allows staff to arrive and work quickly and easily.

5. Move everything to the cloud

Cloud computing is the delivery of your business systems to your team members via the internet. Many cloud services utilise a pay-as-you-go model,

minimising business costs, while allowing you to scale the business as it grows.

Traditionally businesses would buy, deploy and manage their own IT infrastructure, but cloud computing has brought many benefits:

• Reduced costs – gone are the days of purchasing hardware and running data centres within a business, and resource is no longer needed to manage this infrastructure

• Security – mainstream cloud providers are a big target for malicious activity, so they are leaders at protecting themselves, with cutting edge solutions and resources. Most small or medium businesses could only dream of protecting themselves in a similar way

• Productivity – collaboration is easy. Your workforce can be anywhere with an Internet connection to be connected.

• Scale – you pay for what you need, so it’s easy to scale up and increase the computing power, storage and bandwidth very quickly

• Reliability – moving your technology requirements to the cloud removes any single points of IT failure. Hardware issues within a cloud data centre aren’t felt by customers, as providers build in resilience, to achieve service guarantees, typically over 99%.

• Performance – infinite capacity is available at your fingertips. Businesses can leverage computing power as and when required. Seasonal businesses can achieve high performance at peak times without compromise, scaling back at quiet times to reduce costs.

Paul Williams

Highstream Solutions 01244 264293 highstream.co.uk paul.williams@highstream.co.uk

Microsoft Teams allows seamless chat and files sharing amongst colleagues and workgroups

Microsoft Teams Rooms integrates your existing meeting room spaces with advanced cameras, microphones, displays and control unit. You invite your ‘Teams Rooms’ equipped room to your meeting, then hit ‘Join’ using the control panel in the room. It’s never been easier to meet and bring remote staff into the room virtually

Microsoft Whiteboard allows you to interact, brainstorm and collaborate on a digital whiteboard within Microsoft Teams.

Consider training sessions on new apps, to get your team up-andrunning quickly.

Simple Solutions for Complex Problems

Highstream provides IT solutions to enable your business to run as securely and efficiently as possible

We deliver IT solutions to high-growth businesses across Chester, Wrexham, North Wales and the North West, in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, professional services and property.

OUR CUSTOM IT SERVICES INCLUDE: Support

Security

Strategy Cloud Computing

Audit Infrastructure Design & Installation

Please get in touch today with your IT enquiry

advantage Best

–

the secrets of home staging

The property market is currently dominated by a lack of stock. According to Rightmove, the average estate agency branch has just 12 properties for sale. This means that it is tough for estate agents seeking to gain instructions. Agents often stress the speed at which they can list a property, or the level of service they offer. One service that agents are now starting to offer is home staging.

By JUDITH TODD

Investing to sell

Home staging or home styling is essentially all about the presentation of a property for sale. It’s a concept that originated in the US and is a standard part of the house selling process there. It is all about preparing the property to make the most of its potential, with the aim of maximising the sale price and achieving a quick sale. After all, for most people their home is their biggest asset,

so it makes sense. Home staging is an investment. You know when you sell your car, you will wash it and tidy/hoover the inside. You might even pay to have the car professionally valeted. Why do you do this? You do it because you believe that a clean and tidy car will result in a higher price, whether that’s a private sale, or in a part-exchange.

Why is this so important?

The way we look for houses these days has changed and so much is done

online. This means that the images matter, whether on the property portals, the agent’s website or in the brochure. If the subject matter of those images isn’t appealing, then prospective buyers won’t bother to view it. When it comes to in-person viewings, you want to give buyers the best experience you can.

Although house hunters have a checklist of practical requirements, the final decision is often an emotional one. You want them to fall in love with the property.

The importance of standing out

With so much competition among agents, having something with which to distinguish your agency from the competition is a big advantage. Working with a professional home stager enables you to offer this additional service, something that other agents aren’t offering. It is a way of demonstrating to potential sellers that you care about getting the best result for them –whether that’s a speedy sale, or the best selling price. It helps them achieve their objective in their move, whatever that might be.

Working with a home stager has other benefits for agents too. Improved turnover, both financially and in terms of fresh stock, is one feature. Cash flow is important to any business. As an agent you do not want viewers to see the same properties time and time again when they are searching. Properties that linger also affect your stats. If your fees are based on a percentage of the selling price, then higher selling prices result in higher fees. Reviews and recommendations matter as well. When sellers are choosing an agent, they will ask friends and those in the local area for recommendations and they will look at reviews. Happy sellers will recommend you to their friends and local community, and will post good reviews.

Negotiating the sale

Having awkward conversations and talking to a homeowner about the condition or presentation of their property can be difficult. You don’t want to offend them and lose the instruction. Having a third party (the home stager) to have that awkward conversation takes the pressure off. Staging a property is also beneficial for small house builders and those undertaking conversions or refurbishing properties. Typically, such properties will be marketed empty and unfurnished. The problem is that empty properties can be difficult to sell. The images are uninteresting and many buyers struggle to visualise how rooms will look. They may find it difficult to understand how they would utilise a particular space and they may struggle to picture themselves and their family living in the property. You are selling a lifestyle, so you need to show it to your buyers.

Small housebuilders and those undertaking one-off projects won’t have an in-house interior designer creating the show home, like some major housebuilders. Employing a home stager can be done on a project-byproject basis. Furniture can be purchased or rented as necessary, and the property dressed to suit the individual property giving a bespoke look. It’s all about creating an attractive visual that will engage and appeal to potential buyers.

Judith Todd Homestyle 4U 07745 876182

judith@homestyle4u.com https://homestyle4u.com

Interior Design & Home Staging

Translating Feelings Into Reality

Whether you are looking to update the interior of your home, change the layout, or are looking to prepare a house for sale or rent, our professional Interior Design service will be right for you.

We work with you to achieve a result that is tailored to your requirements and budget.

“It is a way of demonstrating to potential sellers that you care about getting the best result for them – whether that’s a speedy sale, or the best selling price”

Across

1 Husky (6)

Take five

Grab a cuppa and clear your mind of work for a short while with our puzzles.

4 Support; help (6)

9 Item used by asthma sufferers (7)

10 Harms (7)

11 Mournful poem (5)

12 Weeps (5)

14 Break apart forcibly (5)

15 Deciduous coniferous tree (5)

17 Deep sky-blue colour (5)

18 Embryonic root (7)

20 Doubter (7)

21 Restore honour (6)

22 Woodcutter (6)

Down

1 Cow (6)

2 Successful person (8)

3 Sullen or moody (5)

5 Topic (7)

6 ___ Novello: Welsh composer and actor (4)

7 Makes fun of someone (6)

8 Fragility (11)

13 Diligence (8)

14 Type of fetter (7)

15 Small storeroom (6)

16 Swordsman (6)

17 Sporting stadium (5)

19 Document of ownership (4)

If you would like to showcase your business by offering a competition prize for future issues, contact us to discuss options

vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk

Check your answers:

Crossword Classic Sudoku

Contributors

Thank

What’s in the

next edition?

Coming up next issue...

Our next issue, which comes out in early June 2022 and covers the summer months of June, July and August, is issue three. Some of our forthcoming features include:

• Reading matters – we’ll take a look at some inspiring, interesting, educational and fun reads that you might like to buy or download ahead of your summer holidays this year.

• Outdoor spaces – if we are lucky enough to get some decent weather this summer, why not think about taking your meeting or business event outside? We explore a few venues with outdoor facilities for you to take advantage of.

• Building for future success – while some companies embraced online events during the pandemic, others parked this type of teambuilding activity. But is now the right time to revisit and book in some quality time with your team away from the day-to-day challenges?

We will also be interviewing more local business leaders, and including articles on business news, charity updates and many other topics.

Get in touch

Every

voices is a key part of our interaction with our readers. If you have any press releases or ideas for future issues we’d love to hear from you.