VOX Magazine - issue 4

VOX

YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

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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 12 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: Gresford Colliery Disaster Memorial by artist Emma Gore @emmagoredesigns

Clara Hughes Editorial Director

Vicky Heathfield Creative Director & Advertising

Welcome

Welcome to our latest issue of VOX

Here it is, issue four. We are excited to share with you more great articles, which you will find in the coming pages. Once again, our interviewees and contributors have been amazing and there are some fascinating insights in this quarter’s publication. We all have our own personal mountains to climb, but in this issue we find out more about how our interviewee Liam Hanlon took on Mount Everest and succeeded!

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 other.

What’s in store?

With the holiday season over, many of us are in ‘back to school’ mode – even those without children – to prepare for the ‘new term’! The late-summer and autumn months often seem to be a good time for strategy reviews and changes of direction. This is often because we have had the summer holidays to take stock and, in some cases, re-evaluate what we are looking to achieve. Hopefully you will find a wealth of advice and information in the coming pages, from one company’s experience of adopting a four-day week, through to legal advice for start-up businesses. As a regular topic we revisit, there is also a number of fascinating articles on different elements of sustainability – from looking at offsetting, through to why you should think seriously about ensuring your business is sustainable.

Elsewhere in the magazine you’ll find plenty of business and charity news, as well as a round-up from our first networking event, which took place in June. If you would like to join us at our next one in September, you will have the chance to hear more about Liam’s Everest Challenge and meet other wonderful local businesses. More details in the coming pages.

Help us raise your voice

Once again, we would like to thank our advertisers and contributors, who have helped us create our fourth issue. And huge appreciation goes out to our resident artist Emma Gore, who has, as ever, developed another stunning piece of original cover artwork.

Clara and Vicky

Our front cover features the head gear wheel from Gresford Colliery, which stands as a memorial to one of Britain's worst coal mining disasters. The Gresford Disaster occurred on Saturday 22 September 1934, when 266 men died following an underground explosion. It was dedicated on 26 November 1982, in the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the surviving relatives of those miners killed in the disaster. In 2000, as a final act of remembrance, the names of all those who lost their lives in the pit were added to the memorial.

Croeso

Croeso i'n rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX Dyma’r pedwerydd rhifyn. Rydyn ni’n gyffrous i rannu gyda chi fwy o'r erthyglau gwych y byddwch yn eu gweld ar y tudalennau nesaf. Unwaith eto, mae ein cyfweleion a'n cyfranwyr wedi bod yn wych ac mae yna hanesion diddorol yn rhifyn y chwarter hwn. Mae gan bob un ohonom ein mynydd personol ein hunain i'w ddringo, ond yn y rhifyn hwn rydyn ni’n darganfod mwy am sut y llwyddodd ein cyfwelai Liam Hanlon i gyflawni ei her i goncro Mynydd Everest!

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?

Gyda thymor y gwyliau drosodd, mae llawer ohonom yn teimlo fel ein bod yn 'dychwelyd i'r ysgol' - hyd yn oed y rhai heb blant - i baratoi ar gyfer y 'tymor newydd'! Mae misoedd olaf yr haf a'r hydref yn aml yn ymddangos fel amser da i adolygu strategaeth a newid cyfeiriad. Mae hyn yn aml oherwydd ein bod wedi cael gwyliau'r haf i bwyso a mesur ac, mewn rhai achosion, ail-werthuso'r hyn yr ydym am ei gyflawni. Gobeithio y cewch lawer o wybodaeth a chyngor yn y tudalennau nesaf, o brofiad un cwmni yn mabwysiadu wythnos pedwar diwrnod, i gyngor cyfreithiol ar gyfer busnesau newydd. Fel pwnc rheolaidd rydyn ni’n ei drafod, mae yna hefyd nifer o erthyglau hynod ddiddorol ar wahanol elfennau o gynaliadwyedd — o edrych ar sut i wrthbwyso, i pam y dylech feddwl o ddifrif am sicrhau bod eich busnes yn gynaliadwy.

Mewn rhannau eraill o’r cylchgrawn fe welwch ddigonedd o newyddion am fusnesau ac elusennau, yn ogystal â chrynodeb o'n digwyddiad rhwydweithio cyntaf, a gynhaliwyd ym mis Mehefin. Os hoffech ymuno â ni yn ein digwyddiad nesaf ym mis Medi, cewch gyfle i glywed mwy am Her Liam i goncro Mynydd Everest a chyfarfod busnesau lleol gwych eraill. Mwy o fanylion yn y tudalennau nesaf.

Helpwch ni i godi eich llais

Unwaith eto, hoffem ddiolch i'n hysbysebwyr a'n cyfranwyr, sydd wedi ein helpu i greu ein pedwerydd rhifyn. Hoffwn hefyd estyn ein gwerthfawrogiad enfawr i'n hartist preswyl Emma Gore, sydd wedi datblygu darn trawiadol arall o waith celf gwreiddiol ar y clawr.

Clara and Vicky

Chester Regatta makes triumphant return

The world’s oldest annual regatta returned to Chester on Saturday 11 June, after a two-year absence. Chester Regatta dates back to 1733, with this year’s event welcoming over 250 crews from 20 different clubs across the North West and beyond. The crews participated in a series of 56 races on the River Dee for a roster of prestigious trophies.

Competitors hailed from 20 clubs, including Chester’s own Royal Chester Rowing Club, Grosvenor Rowing Club, The King’s School, Queens Park High School, the University of Chester and REX, a rowing club with alumni from the King’s School.

Quart tankards and medals were awarded by Cllr John Leather, as Lord Mayor of Chester and Admiral of the Dee, a title first created in 1354. The Lady Mayoress, Heather Leather, and Chris Matheson MP were also in attendance, along with Regatta vice presidents Jeremy and Jenny Lloyd, and president Bonner Davies. Before attending the prize-giving, the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and regatta sponsors took a river trip to watch the racing.

The 2022 Regatta Programme commemorated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Sponsors of the event included Aaron and Partners, Meacher-Jones Accountants, Mason Owen Property Consultants, Coolpoint Refrigeration Ltd, TNW Sadler Brown, Royal Chester Rowing Club Young People’s Trust and several local CWAC councillors.

Regatta Secretary and Vice Chair of Chester Business Club, Jan Chillery, who is also a Partner at Aaron and Partners, said: “This is the first year that Chester Regatta has used the easyRegatta app. We encouraged spectators and competitors to download the app to get live results on all races during the day. It significantly contributed to the success of the 2022 Regatta. Anyone can see the results, by downloading the app and searching for Chester Regatta.”

The Welsh Dee Trust had a stand at Chester Regatta to promote their work in restoring the brooks, streams and rivers of the Dee catchment area in North Wales, for the benefit of wildlife and the community. Volunteers from the Trust conducted a litter pick on the Meadows and Regatta volunteers ensured the Sandy Lane park was clear following the Regatta.

All Regatta results can be seen on the easyRegatta app and for more information about Chester Regatta, take a look at: chesterregatta.org

Qualified success from leading Wrexham college

Students who joined a leading college as teenagers on an employment and training scheme are leaving five years later with bright futures ahead of them.

23-year-old James Griffiths started his FE journey with Coleg Cambria Yale in Wrexham on the UK Government’s Kickstart programme. After exploring different subjects, he found qualifications that suited his skillsets and interests, and has now completed Level 3 qualifications that will prepare him for a career in event management.

James, a former St Joseph’s High School pupil from Gwersyllt, said:

“When I first visited the college I was interested in catering and gained a Level 1, before achieving a qualification in Maths and eventually taking a course in Performing Arts. I really enjoyed that, but my passion is working behind the scenes, so I joined the Diploma in Backstage Theatre Production and have never looked back.”

Guidance for businesses offering work to people fleeing war in Ukraine

The following link provides guidance, which includes answers to frequently asked questions, for businesses considering making offers of employment to people coming to the UK from Ukraine: gov.uk/guidance/guidance-forbusinesses-offering-work-topeople-coming-from-ukraine

Riverside park benefits from post-Covid funding

A £500,000 vision to transform facilities at a much-loved park has received a boost from a scheme driving post-pandemic economic recovery in Denbighshire. The Enhance Llangollen Riverside Project is one of 14 initiatives to secure funding from Community Innovation Denbighshire, via the UK Community Renewal Fund, matched by Clocaenog Forest Windfarm Fund and led by Cadwyn Clwyd.

First chance to see Wrexham AFC’s exciting new development

Wrexham AFC is delighted to release the first images and a computer-generated fly-through of the designs for the proposed Kop development. The new 5,500 capacity stand will include a hospitality lounge, office and retail space for the Club, along with facilities for the Wrexham AFC Community Trust, to enhance their work. Of the capacity, 5,000 will be allocated for General Admission to meet the loyal demand of supporters and will be in the form of a seat with a rail immediately in front. This will allow the Club to meet the all-seater criteria of UEFA’s Category 4 status, while allowing supporters to stand for Wrexham fixtures.

The remaining 500 seats will be of a corporate style, with direct access from the hospitality lounge. Accessible seating will be available at elevated positions throughout the stand, improving accessibility and providing unparalleled views for fans with restricted mobility.

Community Group Jessica Evans says the money will be used to commission a feasibility study centred on proposals including a new ‘splash pad’, landscaping, mini golf, renovations to the bandstand, interpretation boards and e-bike charging points. She thanked Cadwyn Clwyd for its support and said the grant will go a long way to helping them realise their vision.

In memory of Joanne Edwards, 1973-2022

Joanne Edwards of Aballu Truffles sadly passed away earlier in the summer. Well known, liked and respected in the local business community and beyond, Jo was much loved and will always be remembered.

Donations in memory of Jo are welcome towards Dementia Friendly Wrexham's Painting Class and Teams4U:

joanneedwards.muchloved.com

The external elevations have been designed to recognise Wrexham’s link with the coal mining industry, a theme that will be continued in the public realm areas around the Kop. The matchday concourse area will become an exhibition space for events on nonmatchdays. This will address the current gap in local spaces available and generate further economic activity and profile that benefits Wrexham.

Public consultation ran throughout July. Once planning permission has been achieved, funding for the Kop will come from both the public and private sectors, with the Club making a significant contribution towards the overall cost. The public sector funding, which is being sought from the Levelling Up Fund Bid, will ensure the Racecourse Ground becomes The Stadium for the North, meeting the requirements of hosting international sporting events that are far beyond what the Club needs to compete in domestic competitions.

Working minds campaign

The Working Minds campaign brings together a range of tools and support, to help businesses and workers understand the best ways to prevent work-related stress and encourage good mental health. The campaign specifically aims to support small businesses, by providing employers and workers with advice that is easy to implement, including simple steps based on risk assessment to ‘Reach out, Recognise, Respond, Reflect, and Make it Routine’. Further information can be found via the link below:

workright.campaign.gov.uk/workingminds

Chair of Llangollen Parks

Image: Wrexham AFC

Sharing Words of Wisdom

The world’s first ice cream drive-in…right here

in Cheshire

Cheshire’s award-winning family day out, the Ice Cream Farm was delighted to relaunch the world’s first Ice Cream Drive-In this summer. Featuring a new ordering system and updates to its environment, the Ice Cream Drive-In was given a fresh new look in time for this summer’s hot weather. This has included a simple new ordering system, where customers can scan a QR code, and the landscaping of a manmade lake, surrounded by banks of wildflowers, to provide an attractive viewing spot. Separate to the family play park, it provides visitors with a place to park up and order an ice cream, hot drink or pudding, without having to leave their car. Their order is then delivered to them by golf buggy.

Preventing Sexual Harassment at Work

All employers have a duty of care to protect their workers. Not taking reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment means a business can be held legally responsible, should an instance occur. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and UK Hospitality have published a checklist and action plan for employers, to help them prevent sexual harassment at work, which can be found via the link below: ukhospitality.org.uk/page/PreventingSexualHarassmentChecklist

Although designed for the hospitality sector, the checklist and action plan can be adapted for all workplaces.

Recovery Loan Scheme extended

The Government has recently extended the Recovery Loan Scheme, which offers Government-backed loans to small businesses, for a further two years. The full press release regarding the extension of the scheme can be read via the following link: gov.uk/government/news/further-support-for-small-businesses-feeling-thesqueeze-as-45-billion-recovery-loan-scheme-extended

‘Wisdom Labs’ are helping prominent North Wales businesses emerge from the pandemic in a position of strategic and emotional strength.

The sessions are led by Bangor University Business School and exclusive to alumni of the 20Twenty leadership programme, targeting firms in Wrexham, north Powys and Flintshire. Pilot workshops have been held by Learning and Evaluation Manager Greg Parry with acclaimed companies, on themes including Goals and Purpose, New Mindset –Emotional Control, and Your Individual Wellbeing Plan.

Among those to take part was Allington Hughes Solicitors, based in Chester, Wrexham and Llanrwst. Managing Director Alison Stace said: “From the feedback we’ve received, staff found the course was very practicable in providing tools to help individuals address coping mechanisms, and isolation – it was made clear we are not alone and raised awareness of relevant issues.

“Learning what you can and can’t control was really helpful, and the ‘emotional wheel’ that formed part of the session is now used as a daily reference point – it was brilliant.”

More than 1,000 participants have joined 20Twenty programmes over the years; they now form a select group who can network with likeminded individuals, share their experiences, identify opportunities and look at further ways to work together.

For more information on the programme and to sign up, email:

j.whittaker@bangor.ac.uk

or explore the website: 20TwentyBusinessGrowth.com

En route to success

Signs of growth at a booming media business will lead to further investment across the country. Cardiff-based Route Media has expanded its network in North Wales and is rolling out digital advertising screens at key locations in the region. The company installed two ‘mega-6’ screens at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham –supporting the council and partner organisations’ City of Culture bid – and 18 more in Rhyl, Bangor, Llandudno, and Colwyn Bay, reaching an average 760,000 pairs of eyes a week.

Hitting the right notes

A renowned leadership programme with a talented music studio manager, Wrexham Sounds has gone from strength to strength since opening its doors in February, providing disadvantaged children and young people with music-based activities, courses and lessons.

Schools, agencies, charities and families use the Rhosrobin-based social enterprise, which draws on a talented team of freelance tutors, to deliver its services. At the helm is General Manager Olivia Gallagher. She is a member of the current cohort of CMI Level 7 learners on the popular 20Twenty leadership programme, delivered by Bangor University at Holt Lodge, Wrexham, to organisations in north Powys, Flintshire and Wrexham.

With nine more to go live Wales-wide in the coming weeks, Regional Sales Manager for North Wales Scott Lawson said there will be further recruitment and fresh sites targeted throughout 2022. “We are really pleased to add Eagles Meadow to our portfolio and see North Wales as a crucial area of growth for Route Media.”

The company’s North Wales network covers eight locations in three digital screen formats – from portrait digital screens inside venues, to the larger digital mega-6, which can be seen in Wrexham and reaches more than 240,000 people per week. For more information, email sales@routemedia.co.uk or visit the website: routemedia.co.uk

New app to counter malicious approaches online

Launched earlier this year, an innovative app – which is freely available to download on the Google Play or Apple store – allows users of social media and professional networking sites, to better identify the hallmarks of fake profiles used by foreign spies and other malicious actors, and take steps to report and remove them.

The new app is part of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure’s (CPNI) ‘Think Before You Link’ campaign. It has been developed with behavioural scientists, to include features such as a profile reviewer, which will help individuals identify potentially fake profiles and report anything they deem suspicious. The full news story can be found via the link below: gov.uk/government/news/new-app-to-counter-malicious-approaches-online

The 26-year-old says the interactive workshops, study sessions and networking with representatives from different industries has been invaluable. “As Wrexham Sounds grows, I am also growing professionally, learning new things all the time about this sector and gaining vital experience,” said Olivia, a former St Joseph’s High School pupil.

She continued: “I thought it would be an interesting programme that could help develop my leadership and management skills, and that has definitely been the case. As well as the online and in-person seminars and workshops I’ve enjoyed interacting and sharing ideas with other members of the group, who come from a variety of backgrounds.”

For more information on the 20Twenty Business Growth Programme and to sign up, email: j.whittaker@bangor.ac.uk

or explore the website: 20TwentyBusinessGrowth.com

Prepare for upcoming changes to VAT penalties and VAT interest charges

Do you want to find out about new VAT penalties and interest charges that will apply to everyone who submits a VAT Return from 1 January 2023?

The link below provides lots of information, and as a brief overview, the page provides information on:

• Who is affected?

• If you submit your VAT return late

• If you do not pay your VAT on time

• Period of familiarisation

• How late payment interest will be charged

• Introduction of repayment interest

gov.uk/guidance/prepare-forupcoming-changes-to-vatpenalties-and-vat-interestcharges

Supporting disabled workers

Acas have recently updated its advice on supporting disabled people at work. The following webpage provides guidance on:

• Talking about disability at work

• How an employer should support disabled people

• Managing a disability that gets worse over time

• Disability-related absence

• Capability and performance when someone is disabled

• More support for managing disability at work

acas.org.uk/supporting-disabledpeople

Local Human Rights Lawyer launches Global Group Community Interest company in Wales

Bushra Ali, of Bushra Ali Solicitors in Wrexham, launched The Bushra Ali Group Global Community Interest Company (CIC) in Wales earlier this month at Tŷ Pawb. The CIC is 100% limited by guarantee, which means that 100% of the funds raised by the Company are for community projects.

Having grown up in Wrexham, Bushra’s roots are firmly at the forefront of the new CIC, which took place in front of key stakeholders, councillors, voluntary organisations, the North Wales Police, Coleg Cambria, the Welsh Refugee Council and many more businesses and community activists. The High Sheriff of Clwyd and the Mayor of Wrexham were also in attendance.

Bushra’s childhood was challenging and she overcame issues on disability, bullying and racial discrimination before becoming a leading immigration and human rights solicitor and non-practising barrister in the Leicester area, where she launched her first practice in 2015. Her second office opened in Wrexham last August. Since then, Bushra has become the Chair of Equality and Diversity Sub-Group at Cheshire and North Wales Law Society, and was recently named the winner of the Institute of Directors of Wales Award in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category.

“All my life, people have tried to put me in boxes trying to tell me my ‘place’ and how to fit into their idea of ‘normal’. I want other ‘Bushras’ to know it is okay to be different. It is actually fun! I want everyone to be bold, be brave and embrace their differences,” commented Bushra.

“I am passionate about driving difficult conversations on social issues that matter, whilst celebrating diversity and promoting inclusively. I’m thrilled and excited to be at the starting point of making a big difference to Wales, with the launch of the Bushra Ali Group Global CIC,” she continued.

The Bushra Ali Group Global CIC was initiated to encourage others to shatter glass ceilings and break down barriers. The CIC will tackle serious and sensitive issues –from domestic abuse and disability and stigma, to mentoring programmes for youth in Wales. Workshops will include self-confidence, empowering women and life skills courses, to enable men and women to spot signs of abuse at an early stage and to seek assistance earlier.

For further information on how to get involved, or benefit from The Bushra Ali Group Global Community Interest Company, interested parties should contact bushra@bushraaligroup.com

£200 million boost to rollout of hundreds more zero-emission HGVs

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison has recently revealed that over £200 million of government funding will be injected into an extensive zero emission road freight demonstrator programme. The three-year comparative programme will begin later this year to help decarbonise the UK’s freight industry, with initial competitions for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology.

This could see hundreds more zero-emission HGVs rolled out across the nation and save the industry money, thanks to overall running costs of green vehicles being cheaper than petrol and diesel equivalents. The transition to zeroemission trucks will also help improve air quality, create greener jobs and deliver on COP26 pledges, while reducing reliance on imports of foreign oil.

More information can be found here: gov.uk/government/news/200-millionboost-to-rollout-of-hundreds-more-zero-emission-hgvs

Government makes it simpler for businesses to apply new product safety markings

The UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark is a mandatory mark on certain products to indicate that they conform to Great Britain legislation. Businesses have until 1 January 2023 to start using UKCA marking, which replaces the CE and reverse epsilon markings.

The government has recently brought forward the following measures, to make it simpler for businesses to apply new product conformity markings for most products placed on the market in England, Scotland and Wales:

• Reducing retesting costs

• Removing the need to retest existing imported stock

• Continuing to accept spare parts onto the GB market

• Extending labelling measures

• Recognising historic testing on some construction products

For further information on the above measures and to read the full government guidance:

gov.uk/government/news/government-to-make-it-simpler-for-businesses-toapply-new-product-safety-markings

Young Person’s Start-up Grant

The Young Person’s Start-up Grant has been developed as part of the Welsh Governments Young Person’s Guarantee.

Via the scheme, a grant of up to £2,000 is available to enable young people (under the age of 25) who meet one of the following criteria to start their own business, create a social enterprise, become selfemployed, a freelancer or social entrepreneur in Wales:

• Unemployed and/or not in education or training

• Currently working part-time (under 16 hours) with an intention to become full-time self-employed.

• Still in education, but the individual intends to become self-employed within three months of completing their course. These individuals can register with Big Ideas Wales, to access a tailored business support package and apply for the grant, on completion of their studies.

In order to be eligible, the business case will need to demonstrate that it has the potential to become the young person’s main source of income. To ensure the business has the best possible chance to succeed, the grant will be available alongside a package of support that will include one-to-one advice, webinars to build confidence in business practices and develop plans for starting a business.

The package of support has defined learning phases, so that young people can join at the stage best suited to their needs and allows them to progress at their own pace.

For further information visit:

businesswales.gov.wales/bigideas /young-persons-start-grant

Invest in your business with Super-deduction and Annual Investment Allowance

To spur business investment, the super-deduction (gov.uk/guidance/superdeduction) allows companies to cut their tax bill by 25 pence for every £1 they invest in any qualifying machinery and equipment. This can include the purchase of computers, most commercial vehicles and office furniture.

The temporary £1 million limit for the Annual Investment Allowance has also been extended to the end of March 2023 (gov.uk/capitalallowances/annual-investmentallowance). This had been due to revert to £200,000 at the start of 2022.

The Annual Investment Allowance allows businesses to spend up to £1 million on qualifying business equipment and deduct in-year its’ full cost, before they calculate their taxable profits.

Both of these tax breaks remain available for firms to take advantage of until the end of March 2023, by incurring qualifying expenditure before then.

Cash boost for millions of workers

Millions of UK hospitality workers will be able take home more of their hardearned cash under new legislation, banning employers from withholding tips from their staff. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, introduced by Dean Russell MP and backed by the government, will ensure that all tips go to staff, by making it unlawful for businesses to hold back well-earned service charges from their employees.

This overhaul of tipping practices is set to benefit more than two million UK workers across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors – who tend to rely on tips the most – and will help to ease pressures caused by global inflation and an increase to the cost of living. Through the Bill, a new statutory Code of Practice will be developed to provide businesses and staff with advice on how tips should be distributed. On top of this, workers will receive a new right to request more information relating to an employer’s tipping record, enabling them to bring forward a credible claim to an employment tribunal.

Disclosure and Barring Service ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has recently launched its new ‘Making Recruitment Safer’ campaign, which aims to promote the range of support available to employers. The campaign highlights the free advice and training that DBS can offer to organisations and groups of all sizes, at both a national and regional level. Training and support cover DBS checks and the legal duty or power to make a barring referral. If appropriate, it can also include the opportunity to access tailored, DBS training workshops and resources. More information about the free support and advice available to organisations from DBS, can be found via the following link, where a list of Regional Outreach Officers can also be found: gov.uk/guidance/the-dbs-regionaloutreach-service

Check what you need to consider before getting someone to deal with customs for you

HMRC have recently published a guide to help businesses to find what they may need before they hire someone to act directly or indirectly on their behalf.

The guidance will help you with:

• Deciding who to hire

• Deciding how they’ll act for you

• Identify information you need to give

gov.uk/guidance/check-what-youneed-to-consider-before-gettingsomeone-to-deal-with-customsfor-you

With thanks to Wrexham County Borough Councils Business and Investment team for some of the news items included

“Nothing prepares you for the emotional fears you have to face in this environment. You just have to trust in yourself, your training and your equipment”

upwards Onwards and

For over 20 years, members of Tri4Life have undertaken many different fundraising challenges, to raise money for multiple local, national and international charities. The group has raised thousands of pounds and successfully completed many feats of mental and physical endurance. As one of the founding members of this fundraising group, Liam Hanlon has spearheaded many of these expeditions – and was one of seven that began the journey that set out to conquer Mount Everest in May 2022.

LIAM HANLON, managing director of The Forshaw Group and founding member of Tri4Life

STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2018, the team – along with the wider Tri4Life cohort and supporting friends and family – embarked on a training programme that included many more fundraising challenges. As Liam explains, “It was important that we were able to bring everyone along with us on the journey. Almost every week, when Covid restrictions allowed, we were climbing a different peak in the UK – to increase our fitness levels – and then moving on to climbing in the Scottish Highlands in the winter, followed by more advanced mountaineering in Europe. The support we received from the wider group made the challenge we were preparing for more manageable.”

Following in famous footsteps

The first official attempt to summit

Mount Everest by George Mallory was in 1922. His team were pushed back by poor weather at 7800m. Although the summit was not reached that year it was a new mountaineering altitude record without the use of supplementary oxygen. Exactly one hundred years after George Mallory attempted Everest, a team of guys who lived on the same street would attempt to succeed where he fell short.

With Covid restrictions in place, the practice climb and acclimatisation trip took place in October/November 2021, with the actual summit taking place in May 2022, following weeks of preparation in Nepal beforehand.

As well as the personal achievement of climbing Everest, the team elected to raise money for three charities – the Countess of Chester, Wirral Teaching Hospital – both for health and wellbeing initiatives, rather than medical – and Community Action Nepal.

The latter is committed to providing sustainable health and wellbeing facilities for the Sherpas that risk their

lives on the mountain throughout the year. While in Nepal, Liam and the team had the opportunity to take a two-day detour, to visit the Sherpa Heritage Museum, which some of their fundraising will be going towards.

Due to open in September, it represents an important recognition of the Sherpa community, and the visit from the team was appreciated. Liam explains: “It was an honour to visit the Sherpa community. Without their skill and expertise, summitting Everest would not have been possible. It was also incredibly moving to receiving the blessings as we passed through different villages.”

Sustainable mountaineering

Liam explains the reasoning behind their choices: “There’s a lot of controversy around people climbing Everest, so we wanted to ensure that we were giving something back to the Sherpa community. We also elected to work with a trekking company, Adventure Peaks, with a reputation for being ethical and sustainable in their reasons for being and their approach. We also engaged with a Nepalese partner too. The Sherpa community is proud and protective, so it was important to us that they benefitted from our trip, and not just financially.”

Listening to Liam describe the Everest journey once the team was out there for the official attempt is incredible. The days of trekking, the glaciers and ice flows, the challenges that every step presented, the rotation climbs up and down the phases of the mountain, the extremes of temperature (from -30 to 30°C) that they had to contend with, and of course, the lack of oxygen as they climbed higher, all conjure up a harsh, extreme and unforgiving landscape. Liam continues: “Nothing prepares you for the emotional fears you have to face in this environment –the ice and the crampons, the vulnerability that you are faced with every day. You just have to trust in yourself, your training and your equipment.”

Queue at the top

We regularly hear about a queue to summit Snowdon. However, what you don’t expect is a queue to reach the top of Everest. Regardless, this is what Liam and the team found on the summit day. He explains: “There was probably in the region of 100 people ahead of us to reach the summit. The lights from a distance looked like a Christmas tree. While this might sound comical, the reality is that this is very dangerous as you only have a short window to reach the summit because of the altitude, the weather and your oxygen supply.”

The other thing the team had to face was their own mortality. One of their team had to be helicoptered off the mountain before the final push and when they reached the Hillary Step, they had, perhaps for the first time, the absolute sense of the people who had lost their lives on Everest.

Said Liam: “It is so hard to comprehend. The bodies are around you, and are actually used as way markers, but the truth is, you are potentially only moments away from that reality yourself.”

Liam Hanlon, Phil Walton and Steve Hayes, along with their guide Stu Peacock, and Ann-Chorlotte Persson from Sweden all reached the summit. “It felt unreal to be on top of the world. I was elated and disbelieving all at once.”

Real mountains to work mountains

Having had time to reflect on his achievements, Liam describes some of the similarities he sees between climbing a mountain and running a business: “It’s all about overcoming adversity. To be successful it takes planning, but it is important that you remember to enjoy the journey and bring the team along too.”

When asked about what he had to do, to enable him to leave his business for two months, he explained again that it was all about planning, delegating and making sure that the right people were in the right position to get stuff done.

He said: “You are never quite ready to leave, but you just have to trust in your team and believe you have put everything in place, to enable them to do their jobs while you aren’t there.”

Alone with your thoughts

When asked what the hardest element of the challenge was, Liam explained: “You have to be in the moment at all times. Watching your feet, being aware of what is going on around you. However, what I found hardest was actually when we were stuck at base camp, because the weather had turned. The boredom and the isolation were perhaps the hardest things to deal with.”

“It’s all about overcoming adversity. To be successful it takes planning, but it is important that you remember to enjoy the journey and bring the team along too”

What’s next?

While climbing Everest may have been a realisation of a dream, it is only one chapter in Tri4Life’s fundraising. Shortly after returning to the UK, Liam took part in a leg of a Cycle to the Somme challenge, organised by The Paul Lavelle Foundation and others in Tri4Life team. He has also signed up for the Race to the Arctic, which takes place in February next year. There is also the small matter of the Peak and Pond, which is an exclusive group of adventurers who have climbed Everest and swum the Channel, which Liam hopes to join in the near future.

In addition, Liam is currently on the public speaking circuit, visiting schools and community groups back in the UK, to share his experiences and raise awareness for the charities the challenge support. Said Liam: “I love visiting the schools and inspiring the young people. They ask the most forthright questions (“Where do you go to the toilet when climbing Everest?”) and make me think about our achievement differently.”

A final word of advice from Liam “Whatever your dream is, prepare properly and just do it – but always do it for the right reasons.”

What was in your rucksack?

“We had to carry everything we needed to survive. The Sherpas went on ahead and prepared our shelters and the mess tent, but we had to carry everything else.”

• Layers of clothing

• Sleeping bag

• Sleeping mat

• Food and water

• Ablution bottles

• Washing kit

• Solar charger

• Cooker

• Additional kit as ‘insurance’

– spare socks and gloves which were never worn

• Pictures and letters from home

To donate to the team’s fundraising efforts, please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/tri4life everest22

Liam Hanlon

Managing director of The Forshaw Group and founding member of Tri4Life theforshawgroup.com

Facts about Everest

DID YOU KNOW…?

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world – 29,031.69 feet or 8848.86 metres high

Each year Mount Everest gets higher – increasing by just over 6cm

It was first identified for the western world by a British survey team led by Sir George Everest in 1841 – and later named after him

It is known locally in Nepal as Sagarmatha (Godess in the sky) and in Tibet as Chomolungma (Goddess mother of the mountains)

Sherpa Kami Rita has summitted Everest the most times, completing 25 ascents in May 2021

Avalanches account for over 40% of the fatalities on Everest

6,014 people have reached the summit of Everest (as of December 2021)

35,000 people visit Nepal’s Base Camp every year

The wind can blow at over 200 mph

The temperature can be as low as -80F (-62C) and as hot as over 100F (38C) in the Western Cwm, an area climbers go through to reach the summit

There is a ‘summit window’ in mid-May and November each year

Climbers burn over 10,000 calories each day, double that on the summit climb and are likely to lose 10 to 20lbs during the expedition.

If you would like to hear more about Liam’s Everest challenge, join us for VOX networking on 15 September, where he is our special guest speaker.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ vox-networking-tickets390101342617

“Whatever your dream is, prepare properly and just do it – but always do it for the right reasons”

Networking

Thursday 23 June 2022 saw the launch of the first VOX Networking event. Held in the tepee at the Golden Lion in Rossett, the event brought local businesspeople together for good conversation, food and drink.

WE WERE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HEMS DE WINTER as our inaugural speaker and there is no denying, he kept us entertained and interested throughout. His insights also generated a lot of interesting discussion afterwards.

Our next event takes place on Thursday 15 September and tickets are available via EventBrite.

eventbrite.co.uk/e/vox-networkingtickets-390101342617

Future dates

Our quarterly networking runs from 17:00 – 19:00 and takes place in The Golden Lion, Rossett (in the tepee or inside the pub, depending on the weather)

Thursday 15 September 2022

Come along to hear our guest speaker Liam Hanlon, managing director of The Forshaw Group and founder of charity fundraising team Tri4Life, talking about his Everest Challenge –which saw him climb Earth’s highest

Dates for your diary:

Thursday 15 September 2022

Thursday 19 January 2023

Thursday 16 March 2023

Thursday 22 June 2023

experience Customer

Flintshire-based Customer Experience (CX) specialist Rhian Anstey explains what CX is and how she partners with businesses across North Wales and Chester to help them achieve the CXFactor. CX is like delivering a West End show – the audience needs to be wowed!

By RHIAN ANSTEY

MY BACKGROUND IS IN THEATRE and I often liken customer experience to putting on a production. Your product or service is the ‘performance’ But the experience of going to the theatre starts in the buildup that the audience is exposed to and carries on beyond, as they share their memories with family and friends – hopefully, positive ones!

Without the preshow activities, there would be no audience to attend. Without the postshow activities, you lose the opportunity to prolong the memory of the show – businesses must consider the same. The buildup, the greeting they receive from the frontof-house team, the preshow or interval drinks and the items they walk away with, all package together to create the experience.

There is also a similarity in a consistent performance. The actors rehearse, the crew plan out the props, and the director brings all the elements together to deliver a carefully-curated feeling to the audience. They must present the same performance with the same energy every time they take to the stage, and a business must do the same.

I’m a proactive partner to my clients –together, we create and maintain their CXFactor

The beauty of what I do is that I can always help any business on some level.

“Every business wants to be known for giving a great customer experience, but very few really understand what that means, or how to do it”

Every company has customers and every business wants to be known for giving a great customer experience, but very few really understand what that means, or how to do it.

I work with a wide range of businesses across North Wales and Chester, from a local college group to house builders, law firms, soft play centres – and everything in between – to help them navigate the process of managing CX from beginning to end.

My usual starting point is to ask a new client, “How are you currently measuring your CX?” Most of the time, the answer is “Erm...I’m not really” You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and there are so many easy ways to find out and understand what your customers really think that it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

Customers will feel the way they do about a business, whether asked or not, but it is much easier to transform the experience or keep doing what works, if you measure it and know how and why customers feel the way they do.

I also ask what their customer conversion rate is, from enquiry to instruction. Again, a lot of the time it isn’t measured, so businesses don’t even realise the number of opportunities they are missing out on.

I think the most rewarding part of my job is seeing clients’ lightbulb moments, when they realise what an impact a small change can have on their business.

My ultimate goal is to see them get excited about positive feedback from their customers or the improved consistency within their teams. I get so many clients saying that their lives are so much easier now that they are using data to understand their customers, instead of just guessing. Delivering a positive customer experience will not only make your customer(s) happy, but also increases the likelihood they will return, remain loyal or recommend you to others. Crucially for businesses, it has the power to positively impact the bottom line.

The pursuit of excellent CX insight6 has developed its own instant feedback platform, instantinsight, that can be used to measure and analyse many aspects of your business’s performance, customer interaction and team engagement. We also work with the most highly-trained researchers to conduct CX Reviews (or Mystery Shops), to detail every interaction your customers have with your business on their buying journey. But the real value comes from the hands-on partnership we develop with our clients locally. The data is worthless unless you properly analyse and regularly monitor the results and implement change strategies where appropriate, to create positive outcomes.

Six things every company can implement to improve their CX and increase their bottom line

Offer a human touch. Make sure that all employees offer their names to callers when they answer the phone. It sounds so basic, but our research revealed that 22% of reception staff did not answer initial calls with their name.

Regularly test your messaging services to ensure they are working correctly. Technology is great, until it fails! Our research found that 43% of messages left (including personal voicemails) did not get a response.

Develop your team’s emotional intelligence. When clients or potential clients are facing stressful situations, it is critical to establish a positive connection with understanding and compassion for their situation.

Check website contact forms and web-chat services work correctly and that they are treated in the same way as phone or email enquiries. Implementing new technology is a great way to improve CX – but only if it is done with care and consideration. Our research found that over a third of web enquiries were left completely unanswered.

Follow up! We were astounded to find that only 8% of companies bothered to follow up a potential new client lead, and where more information had been requested, 38% of the time it never arrived.

Make it personal! People want a personal service more than ever, but our researchers found that only 53% of email exchanges were personalised and more worryingly, 57% were poorly written with grammatical errors.

Rhian Anstey CX director at insight6

07570

164991

rhian.anstey@insight6.com insight6.com

For every 7% increase in a brand’s NPS, their revenue will grow by 1% as a direct result – that’s a whole lot of untapped revenue to gain from some basic day-to-day improvements.

“I get so many clients saying that their lives are so much easier now that they are using data to understand their customers, instead of just guessing”

Right side of the law

Between March 2020 and January 2022, the number of people researching ‘how to start a business’ on Google reached 45,000, and searches on ‘how to register a business’ rose by 41%.* Redundancies in the aftermath of the Covid lockdown and the end of the government furlough scheme were inevitable, and this has clearly driven many budding entrepreneurs to make the decision to work for themselves.

By ROBERT WILLIAMS

THERE IS HOWEVER A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE between being an expert in your own field and suddenly being faced with the prospect of also having to become an expert in accountancy, man-management, marketing and finance, as well as getting your head around the many legislative procedures required in every business.

The right side of the law

Understandably, a new business can rarely afford to buy in expertise for every single aspect of what is needed to get up and running, but there are some areas where it would be wise to put money aside to seek such help. Help to ensure you stay on the right side of the law is probably the most essential area.

Getting legal matters right at the outset can prevent some of the most stressful and shockingly expensive mistakes you could ever make in your business life. If your set-up is wrong it could mean cancelled contracts, financial disaster, even prosecution.

What type of business are you?

Seeking legal advice about incorporation is the first important step. How do you want to set up? As a sole trader? In a partnership? Or with some protection as a Limited Company?

Terms and conditions are so important as they set out your liabilities and responsibilities with suppliers and customers. Other matters you must be clear about are legislation and documentation requirements applicable to employees and independent workers, data protection and security, intellectual property, company management and trading standards.

Your solicitor can advise on the documentation that you have and what you will need. As your business grows you can call on the practical experience of your solicitor, who is likely to be running their own business and seen many of the issues and problems you will come across down the road.

“Getting legal matters right at the outset can prevent some of the most stressful and shockingly expensive mistakes you could ever make in your business life”

*Research carried out by Novuna Business Cash Flow in a study of UK self-employed trends based on Google search data.

Robert Williams Partner with GHP Legal 01978 291456 ghplegal.com

A conversation with Jonney Cox

General Manager of The Henry Potts

Who is Henry Potts? Actually, rather than asking ‘who is Henry Potts?’, the question you should be asking is ‘what is The Henry Potts?’ The answer is one of the newest quality eating and drinking establishments in Chester city centre, which opened this June. Situated just off the city walls near Chester Racecourse, The Henry Potts has opened in the former basement home of the once hugely popular Fat Cat in Watergate House, Watergate Street. Its aim is to become a ‘top class city centre local’.

WE CALLED IN RECENTLY AND MET

WITH JONNEY COX, landlord of The Henry Potts, to find out more about the new pub and what he is hoping to achieve. Jonney successfully launched the company’s Hare at Farndon in 2020 and is looking forward to the challenge of opening the company’s first city centre venue.

First off, we asked Jonney to explain what makes the pub different. He said: “We have an exciting product with The Potts. Everyone loves a village pub, and we see The Potts working in the same way – as a top-class ‘local pub’ in the city, whilst also being very welcoming to visitors.”

Jonney also explained the meaning behind the name: “Henry Potts was the original owner of Watergate House, the building where The Henry Potts – or ‘Potts’ – now resides. Watergate House is a Grade II listed Georgian property, built in 1820 for Henry Potts, who was the Clerk of the Peace for Cheshire at the time.”

The pub retains many of the original features with intimate alcoves, beams, posts, and original floorboards. The whitewashed walls display period pictures and prints, while discreet lighting adds to the ambiance.

Locally brewed

The team at The Potts is keen on keeping things local wherever possible. This was borne out in the development of its own session ale, JPA. The original recipe was developed by the company in partnership with Brewlab, the national brewing centre, and is now brewed exclusively for the business by Wrexham brewery Big Hand, which was also the previous tenant of the building.

Jonney explains: “There is some conjecture as to whether our JPA stands for Jerry’s Pale Ale or Jonney’s – and we will leave that for our customers to decide. We are proud of the recipe we developed, and it was important to us to find a local brewery that could ensure a consistent brew. We also have four cask ales on the pump, often featuring beers from breweries in Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire, although we will explore further afield too. We also have a range of craft beers including our house brew Mikkeller ‘The Henry Hops’ alongside rotating guests and a Hawkes cider.”

Tapping into quality

The extensive beer selection is complemented by an equally extensive forty-bin wine list and five house wines, which are exclusively blended by a French negotiant in Bordeaux, and directly imported for tap dispense. In addition, there is a wide selection of single malt and blended whiskies from Scottish, Irish and Japanese distillers, together with 70 gin varieties.

“Everyone loves a village pub, and we see The Potts working in the same way –as a top-class ‘local pub’ in the city, whilst also being very welcoming to visitors”

Jonney was keen to explain why the pub has chosen to have wine on tap: “Wine on tap has had a bad reputation for years, but the process has come on a long way since it was first introduced. So, carefully selected wines, combined with modern standards, mean that wine will taste as fresh on the last glass as it did on the first. We are also looking to introduce a frizzante on tap, but we will only do that when we get the quality right.”

The right induction

The building has undergone an extensive refurbishment, which includes a state-of-art kitchen. As the kitchen space is limited, careful consideration was required. The kitchen is fully electric, with induction cookers, which is energy-efficient and helps keep the temperature comfortable to work in. It is also much safer, as the hob is only hot when the specially designed pots and pans are in place.

Jonney added: “Safety and sustainability are important to us. Investing in state-of-the-art kitchen equipment has also meant that we can maximise the compact space we have to work with in the kitchen area.”

The modern British menu is the creation of award-winning Chester-based chef Rob McDiarmid. Rob has mixed the typical traditional classics with more contemporary cookery, all using locally sourced fresh produce and made inhouse – including the ice cream. With an emphasis on the informal, there is an extensive ‘small plates’ menu and speciality inhouse-made bar pies, for quick and easy dining.

Business is community

The Potts has been designed to cater for the needs of its locals, whether that is the business, residential or tourist community. It prides itself on its quality and attention to detail and welcoming its customers – whoever they are –making them feel at home.

Jonney added: “The Potts is a little hidden away off the city centre, but we believe we are well worth seeking out as a quality venue with an inviting and cosy feel. Our substantial investment ensures a warm ambiance, supported by modern British food with flair and a great beer selection for both cask and craft aficionados. And our exclusively blended house wines give us that extra unique feature.”

About Jerry Brunning

‘The Henry Potts’ has opened following a major investment by the Pubs Ltd estate, headed by veteran hospitality entrepreneur Jerry Brunning.

Jerry Brunning was co-founder of the highly successful Brunning & Price (B&P) chain – who turned an abandoned chandlery on Chester's neglected canal side into The Old Harkers Arms – known to its locals simply as ‘Harkers' – to become a thriving city destination. B&P went on to open a successful chain of informal dining pubs across Cheshire, North Wales and Shropshire in the nineties and early noughties and sold to The Restaurant Group (TRG) in 2007.

‘Potts’ is the fourth launch in recent years for the emerging Pubs Ltd company, which employs around 150 people across its four sites. These include the 18th century Swan at Marbury, The Black Bear in Whitchurch and The Hare at Farndon. The head office, test kitchen and warehouse are situated in a converted barn in Broxton.

“The modern British menu is the creation of award-winning Chester-based chef Rob McDiarmid. Rob has mixed the typical traditional classics with more contemporary cookery, all using locally sourced fresh produce”

Beyond the bottom line

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Recent heatwaves in the UK and across the world are just one example of how we’re feeling the impact of climate change alone. Business leaders are rethinking their plans, as they adapt to the changing needs of their employees, customers, partners and of course the planet.

By DONNA OKELL

FORWARD-THINKING LEADERS TODAY

recognise that their companies have a responsibility to consider their impact on all their stakeholders, not just their shareholders. We are witnessing an exciting and vital paradigm shift from a focus purely on profit to a commitment to purpose, people, planet and prosperity.

Why the seemingly sudden change?

The challenges of running a successful AND sustainable business are wide and varied. Top down, we are feeling the effects of new regulation, legislation and taxation. Then there are global issues, such as the Climate Emergency and The Great Resignation.

It’s tough. Add to that the bottom-up pressure from people (especially Millennials and Gen Z) who are simply voting with their CVs and their wallets.

People want to work for, buy from and invest in businesses they can trust.

The good news

There are about 5.6 million business in the UK; 99.8% of them are SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). According to a public opinion poll by B Lab UK, 72% of the UK public believe businesses should bear responsibility to people and planet, alongside maximising profit.

We live in a transparent and responsible world. It’s easy for people to choose who they want to work for, buy from and invest in. As a business leader, the question often is: “Where do I start?”

Margins are under pressure, so it’s hard to find and keep great people. How can you build a successful and sustainable business that meets the needs of the changing world in which we find ourselves?

“The B Corp movement is growing at a pace as the demand for better business increases”

The business case for change

A good place to start is to better understand where you are now.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you know why your business exists (beyond making money), i.e. what difference are you committed to making in the world…what is your purpose?

• Governance – how transparent, responsible and accountable is the governance of your organisation?

• Employees – how well do you look after the health, wellbeing, safety and professional development of your colleagues?

• Impact on Communities – how effectively do you engage with and impact on the communities in which you operate, hire from and source from. Think about diversity, equality and inclusion, economic impact, community engagement, charitable giving and supply chain management.

• Environmental impact – how do you manage your environmental impact, as well as your impact on the air, climate, water, land and biodiversity. What’s your carbon footprint? How are you going to improve it…and that of your supply chain?

• Customers/clients – how do you ensure the quality of your products and services delivered to your customers? Do you have a responsible and transparent approach to ethical marketing, data privacy and security? How do you receive and respond to customer feedback?

It may well be that you can fully answer all of these questions and have the evidence to prove that you are having a positive impact on all of these areas of your business. And if that’s the case, congratulations! You are a forwardthinking business leader and we need more like you.

The good news is that there is a free online assessment which can help you consider and improve your impact on all these areas of your business. It’s called a B Impact Assessment.

You can find it at bcorporation.net

It’s the assessment you must complete if you would like to become B Corp Certified, or B Corp for short.

What is B Corp, why does it matter and how do you become one?

B Corps are businesses which meet high verified standards of social and environmental performance. They are transparent and legally accountable for considering their impact on all their stakeholders, including their employees, customers, communities and the environment. In short, they are businesses that walk the talk.

The B Corp movement is growing at a pace as the demand for better business increases. There are about 800 B Corps across the UK and 5,000 world-wide.

Some names you may recognise are Tony’s Chocolonely, Patagonia, Cook Trading and Ella’s Kitchen. However, 90% of B Corps are SMEs, so you may not have heard of them, but they are doing great things.

People want to work for, buy from and invest in businesses they can trust Becoming a B Corp is intentionally difficult and there is support available.

The thing about B Corp is that it’s not just a nice thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. And doing the right thing brings commercial benefits. B Corps experience improved profitability, higher growth rates, reduced employee attrition and high levels of innovation.

Donna Okell B Leader and Founder, UK for Good ukforgood.com/programmes

Xplore! Come and have an

Hybrid-working is here to stay. Whilst many see it as the best of both worlds, rocking up at the office and finding you’re the only one there is incredibly frustrating. Meetings around the screen are now commonplace, but sometimes nothing can replace face-to-face conversations. Many of us have encountered people who started in a new position 12 months ago, who’ve only seen their team in person a handful of times. It can’t be easy.

SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO REFOCUS, to have some fun and be somewhere different –but together.

Katie Williams, Business Development Officer at Xplore! explains why their venue provides the perfect space: “Our science discovery centre is located in the centre of Wrexham and our multifunctional space offers a quirky setting for meetings and presentations, while our teambuilding sessions provide a fun way to reconnect.

“We offer a half-day or full-day’s-worth of activities, including our popular Cold Case Conundrum, where your staff will work together to solve a murder case against the clock using forensics, finger printing and chromatography.

Or why not try One Small Step, where teams battle to fix a damaged space station as they endure meteor storms, loss of radio communication and broken parts.

“Sessions are flexible and can be adjusted depending on the number of participants and your preferences, with the day built around any of your own meetings or presentations. So, when you’re next thinking about a team gettogether please do consider Xplore!”

As a local educational charity, all income the centre receives is used to inspire more young lives, through interactive science activities in the centre, in schools and in communities throughout North Wales and the North West.

Contact info@xplorescience.co.uk to book your teambuilding session or room hire today.

“Our science discovery centre is located in the centre of Wrexham”

Cybersecurity

is the key

By now we all are acutely aware of what the cost-of-living crisis means on an everyday basis. Most of us have tuned into the leading money saving experts, to implement everything we can do to help save money – whether that’s hypermiling when driving to work, or dropping brands for the basics when weekly shopping, as we try to make ends meet.

BUT WE STILL FIND THAT SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES WE SPEAK TO are overlyfocused on what they do for their customers. By working hard to keep the wheels turning in their business, they still haven’t begun to consider how they could cope or manage with all the headaches (and unexpected costs) if cyber disruption was to hit them. Most think it won’t happen and that their small family Chester or Wrexham-based business couldn’t possibly be of interest to any hacker groups. But unfortunately, the opposite is in fact true.

Held to ransom

Whilst ransomware isn’t in the headlines every day like it used to be, approximately once every 19 seconds a small business in the UK suffers from a cyber disruption – whether that’s someone being phished, or being subject to a full-blown cyberattack (Source: Hiscox Insurance).

Furthermore, 60% of small companies go out of business within six months of falling victim to a data breach or cyberattack. So we wanted to offer some advice for local businesses who haven’t been knowingly breached and also what they can do now – for either no cost or very little cost – to prevent the huge future costs from arising from such cyber events.

By KARL

HARGRAVE

“We say the number one thing you should do on your cybersecurity awareness journey is to sort out the backing-up of your data”

Cybersecurity awareness

Think what you would do if you suddenly received a text from the bank saying something unusual has happened on your account. Or if you were suddenly suspended from your business social media page, because suspicious activity had been reported. Where exactly would you start? Most business owners have no direct experience of this, so it can be very distressing and hugely time-consuming.

We say the number one thing you should do on your cybersecurity awareness journey is to sort out the backing-up of your data.

Just imagine how hard it would be to work if you suddenly couldn’t contact your suppliers, retrieve customer quotes or if your banking was suspended.

All businesses in Wrexham and Chester should make good backups of their most important data. Furthermore, if you have backups of your data that you can quickly recover from, you can’t be blackmailed by ransomware attacks. We know that your customers and keeping your business costs low are your top priorities. But in our view, getting the basics right first time will pay dividends in the future, should the worse happen. We offer free-of-charge consultancy and advice, so please get in touch with us.

Karl Hargrave director of Security Foundry

Ltd 01978 345247

karl@securityfoundry.co.uk securityfoundry.co.uk

Four Free Tips for your business

1. Prioritise your data

Focus on the information that your business couldn’t live without.

Whether backed up on a separate drive, or a separate machine in your office, any access to data backups should be restricted and only accessible by specified or nominated staff.

2. Keep your backup separate and physically apart

It should not be permanently connected (either by being plugged in or connected over a local network) to the device holding the original copy. Ransomware (and other malware) can often move to attached storage automatically, which means any such backup could also be infected, leaving you with no ‘backup’ to recover from.

3. Start using the Cloud if you aren’t already

For more resilience, you should consider storing your backups in a different location, so that a fire or theft won't result in you losing both copies. Cloud storage solutions such as Microsoft offer a costeffective and efficient way of achieving this. Using cloud storage means your data is also physically separate from your location and you’ll also benefit from a high level of availability

4. If in doubt, get a second opinion

Not all service providers are the same. We set up our services here in Wrexham nearly five years ago to help local and small businesses successfully navigate what is essentially an unregulated IT services market. There are some very reputable local providers.

By outsourcing parts of your IT services to a dedicated service provider, you'll benefit from their tried and tested expertise that some smaller organisations would not be able to build, maintain and support by themselves. We do this type of process every day, so why practice on trying to do it by yourself?

Monday Brighter

We’ve all been there – some marketing campaigns and promotions fail to meet expectations in terms of sales or engagement, despite all your best efforts and analysis.

By HANNAH DAVIES

PERHAPS IT PERFORMED WELL, BUT THE RESULTS FELL SHORT OF WHAT YOU EXPECTED, leaving you feeling confused and disappointed.

It’s a real head scratcher, because everything seemed so certain on paper. You know your customers and target demographic, the demand was evident, it received multi-channel delivery at an optimum time with brand consistency.

So, where did it fall short? You start second guessing the timing, then blame buyer confidence and you drive yourself mad drilling down into the digital analytics and metrics… but what if I told you that 95% of purchase decisions, be it a product or service, are made subconsciously?

Behavioural economics

Behavioural economics is a key component of marketing.

Understanding what motivates and influences consumer buying decisions –and applying this knowledge alongside current trends and

generational/demographical preferences in your marketing strategy – will help you to achieve a better success rate for your business activity.

It all begins with understanding the way we think. ‘Automatic thinking’ is fast, impulsive and emotionally driven, better known as our ‘gut reaction’. ‘Reflective thinking’ is the opposite; slower, measured, calculating and relies heavily on logic. Each of these cognitive systems help form common biases and heuristics (problem solving strategies) to help us try to rationalise the world around us, thus forming our preferences, values, opinions and decisions.

Timing is everything!

You need to align these consumer behaviours with the goals of your marketing activity through effective language, timing, delivery and presentation of your brand messaging. This will then resonate better and influence your customers’ and prospects’ decision-making.

Through a methodology of common heuristics and behavioural ‘nudges’ such as choice architecture, framing, anchoring, chunking etc, you can make your customer’s journey and buying experience as meaningful and seamless as possible.

The turbulent state of our economy has and continues to alter people’s circumstances and experiences. The result is, their opinions, values and subconscious biases are affected, leading to huge changes in receptiveness to marketing and sales. It's a more important time than ever to challenge everything you think you know about your customers and target consumers.

Hannah Davies Bright Mondays

hannah@brightmondaysltd.co.uk brightmondaysltd.co.uk

“95% of purchase decisions, be it a product or service, are made subconsciously”

Over 65% of British adults suffer from the 'Sunday night blues'

Tired & frustrated by the trial and error process of marketing?

Looking to encourage more business leads & better engagement?

Need help creating valuable content that has a greater impact? Want to really stand out from your competition?...

Introducing Bright Mondays Ltd, a marketing consultancy service that offers one-to-one support through strategic guidance and effective consumer and market research, that will enable your company or business to grow in confidence, resilience AND revenue.

So whatever it is that makes you dread Mondays, with my help it won't be marketing.

www.brightmondaysltd.co.uk

hannah@brightmondaysltd.co.uk

Driving forward

Congratulations to two local businesses that have been awarded prestigious national awards.

Wrexham Chauffeurs Ltd, which offers a high-quality chauffeur service for types of travel, events and functions has won ‘Best Luxury Private Transport Service 2022 in North Wales’ in the Best of British Getaways Awards 2022.

Geth Thomas, owner of Wrexham Chauffeurs Ltd, said: “It’s an absolute honour to receive this award and I strive to offer the highest level of service possible within the chauffeur industry.”

Time2Travel has been awarded ‘New Operator of the Year’ award by the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Wrexham-based Time2Travel strives to be seen as a company ‘small enough to care, but big enough to cope’, and this recent recognition helps reinforce the message.

The company offers a wide range of travel options, from 16 to 64 seater minibuses and coaches, with their smartly dressed staff offering a helping hand, wherever required.

Congratulations to both businesses!

Four-day working week

In 2022, I feel lucky and privileged to be in the tech industry and immensely proud of the business we’re building. I am also in awe of the talent in our team and when asked who we look after first, it’s always without doubt the people who work with us.

By LOU CRANE

I MIGHT BE STATING THE OBVIOUS, BUT WHY WOULDN’T YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR STAFF FIRST? They are integral to everything we do. They are not commodities or code monkeys, they are intelligent, creative and very decent people who create amazing solutions.

Yes, a salary remunerates work and that transaction is the backbone of capitalism, but when I witness the extraordinary lengths they will go to on behalf of our clients, I’m glad we’ve put measures in place to say thank you.

Fortunately, our industry lends itself well to a four-day week – remote work, hybrid work, non-site-specific work, and we have purposely invested in senior developers, as less experienced engineers need peer-to-peer support in a close environment.

So as a company, we decided that this was the approach we wanted to take, but we needed to consider how it would work. If you get to work with software developers, you quickly understand that they are solutionseekers and they will not let a problem go unsolved. Their ‘Eureka’ moments come from hours of persistence and are well deserved. But knowing how the hours add up, they are often in danger of burning 60+ hour weeks if they’re not told to rest because they care deeply, set themselves high standards and they love what they do.

“We’ve made internal decisions to pace projects, tell clients that Friday is a non-contact day, reduce meetings and promote independent working”

Our company no longer offers a fiveday week to any member of staff, regardless of their role. Let me be clear, this is not five days squeezed into four. Nor is it a reduced salary. We’ve made internal decisions to pace projects, tell clients that Friday is a non-contact day, reduce meetings (particularly lengthy ones) and promote independent working. I’m also hopeful that in the future this will help to balance gender roles, allowing both men and women flexible time to perform caring duties.

The four-day week forms part of our holistic wellbeing package. Collectively, we are all using Friday as the non-work day of the week. Developers have two days a month on site at our barn office when we share news, go through projects, plan operations and learning. This time together is valuable and not one we want to give up in favour of 100% remote working. People are the key for us and nothing replaces passing round the biscuits and sharing threedimensional space.

In addition, we have a really comprehensive medical insurance available to all staff and their families. And every year we give £200 to each team member to spend on a wellbeing activity. Holidays are 33 days (inclusive of bank holidays) for a four-day week and we’re adding more benefits as we go along, and always with an eye on making life better.

So far, the positives of this four-day week have surpassed any concerns we may have initially had. We’re agile enough to move around objections and will keep improving and tweaking what we offer. Putting people first has focused our goals and shapes how we want to operate in this new post-pandemic reset.

Lou Crane CEO, Urban Tech Group 0333 242 0832 hello@theurban-techgroup.com

planet Positive

Climate change is something that most of us are concerned about. In fact, it was reported last year that around 75% of adults in the UK worry about climate change. It is hard to avoid the images of the devastating effect climate change is having on our planet and its inhabitants. Increasing awareness and external pressures are resulting in more companies taking action to reduce their climate impact and become carbon neutral.

By STEPHEN HENRY

FOR MANY BUSINESSES, BECOMING

CARBON NEUTRAL IS THE FIRST STEP on their pathway to becoming net zero, but understanding the terminology and necessary action can become overwhelming. Positive Planet, a net zero carbon advisory, recently surveyed 568 businesses to better understand their attitudes and behaviours relating to climate change and net zero. Only 11% of respondents measure their carbon emissions and this falls to just 9% for small businesses. SMEs are keen to do more to address climate change, but share that lack of skills and knowledge (65%), funding (55%) and time (47%) as the main reasons for not doing more. The doubts and concerns that change will happen, alongside barriers to taking steps to make it happen, appear to be preventing business owners from shifting to a net zero mindset, with only 43% of business owners surveyed knew what was meant by the term ‘net zero’.

This shows that there is much more to be done to educate the general public and business owners on what it means to be carbon neutral. Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons why you and your business should take action and become carbon neutral in 2022.

Customers are showing a growing preference for carbon neutral brands

Environmental concerns are increasingly influencing customers’ buying decisions, leading to a fundamental change in consumer and business buying behaviour; today, customers demand more than just quality. They actively choose brands that align with their values and operate transparently. Most customers are more prepared to change their consumer relationships. Of those that report sustainability as an important factor, 70% would be willing to pay a premium of 35% more for sustainable and environmentally responsible brands.

“Customers demand more than just quality. They actively choose brands that align with their values and operate transparently”

In this context, companies that thrive are those willing to adapt their strategies.

Employees prefer employers that think and act responsibly

The current generation of employee talent is evaluating their potential job offers based on a company’s positive environmental and social sustainability impact. In addition, Positive Planet clients are increasingly reporting that job candidates ask whether the company is committed to sustainability and is carbon neutral. By 2025 millennials will account for 75% of the global workforce, which means that employers need to be more aware and aligned to their needs to attract and retain top talent.

Incorporating sustainability into your business helps to grow your revenue and reduce your costs

Companies often wonder whether

sustainability ‘undermines or improves financial results’. However, according to research by non-profit organisation CDP, companies who diligently plan and manage climate change can gain an 18% higher return on investment than businesses that do not. Additionally, companies with sustainable products are growing 5.6 times faster than their non-sustainable alternatives. Investors are looking for future-oriented businesses and those not afraid to move first.

It's only a matter of time until climatefocused regulations heavily impact how you conduct business

Climate-focused regulations are changing and will benefit those companies that successfully incorporate sustainability into their business practices. While some companies can still voluntarily disclose information regarding their sustainable initiatives, non-financial reporting is

already mandatory for most large companies.

Sustainability is a long-term programme

Successful companies realise that action on climate is critical to their success. These companies reap the rewards of increased revenue, reduced costs, engaging stakeholders and reduced risks. Changing the mindset and looking at this global issue as an opportunity to be the pioneer within your industry, take that bold step and gain that competitive advantage. Becoming more sustainable is a journey, and now is the best time to get started.

Stephen Henry Co-founder Positive Planet hq@positiveplanet.uk positiveplanet.uk

Art Box Inside the

A unique gallery space dedicated to local emerging artists, Art Box is owned by Rick Nieto, who also owns City Framers next door in Boughton, Chester. The Art Box Gallery was opened at a special event in December 2021 by celebrity Chef Ainsley Harriot. Stepping through the doors of the gallery your senses are enthused by the colours, styles and emotions of the array of art on display.

ART BOX CURRENTLY EXHIBITS WORK FROM OVER 40 LOCAL EMERGING ARTISTS – water colours, prints, oil paintings, glass art, photography… Rick explains that the idea came about because artists kept asking to display their work in the framing shop next door: “I didn’t want the framers to become overrun with pictures, I felt the focus needed to be on framing. Having said that, I did want to help showcase local talent. So, my team and I came up with the idea of opening a gallery for emerging local artists and where better to do that than in the empty shop next door. Liz, one of the team, came up with the name and Art Box was born.”

Rick’s background isn’t the art world, he had a successful career in catering and food retailing for over 40 years. However, following early retirement and Covid restrictions, Rick soon realised he wasn’t ready to stop work. When his friends who owned the picture framing shop, which has been in Hoole for 35 years, decided to retire, Rick didn’t want to see a piece of local history disappear or the framing skills lost. So, he bought the business and relocated it to one of the main approach roads into Chester.

Rick explains: “I agreed to buy the business from the owners, and they agreed to teach me and my team the framing business. We moved the shop to Boughton where we have been for more than two years.

“I brought in a team of young people to run the framing shop and ultimately Art Box gallery too. Getting the right people in place was more important than them having the right experience. I now have an amazing team that have learnt the job and the business by doing it. Becky, my shop manager runs City Framers supported by the team. And, our youngest team member is Rhys, who at 18, is probably the youngest Production Manager in the framing business anywhere in the UK. Liz, who originally worked in the framing business is now the curator and manager of Art Box.”

In conversation with… RICK NIETO

“I now have an amazing team that have learnt the job and the business by doing it”

Thinking outside the box

With Art Box coming to the end of its first year of trading, Rick is delighted with the range of artists that are exhibiting in the gallery. The artwork ranges from £30 to £600 for a piece of original work, so there really is something for everyone.

Rick continued: “We require a commitment from the artists that exhibit with us, as they are more likely to help promote their own work if they have got ‘skin in the game’. But we also do everything we can to raise the profile of their work too. We have created the Art Box website so our artists can promote other work that is not displayed in the gallery, and we hold regular promotional events, which will soon include wine tasting evenings.

“In terms of raising our own profile, City Framers sponsored a race on Ladies Day, 20 August at Chester Racecourse. We are very grateful to Chester Racecourse for the support by giving us a great display space outside the Executive Boxes where we recreated the Art Box Gallery for one day only. The winning owner of the City Framers Chester Handicap Stakes received a piece of original artwork from one of our artists, Daniel Clorley, which was a great way to promote his extraordinary talent and raise awareness of the work Art Box is doing in the community.”

A feast for the senses

Another way to encourage more people to view the art is the launch of an exciting new venture this autumn, when the Wine School of Cheshire will be making the Art Box Galley its new home. This venture will see a calendar of regular lunches and evening sessions, where people will come to the gallery for a set lunch or dinner with wine pairings.

Says Rick: “This is an exciting collaboration. Richard Smith from The Wine School of Cheshire is incredibly knowledgeable about wine, and we have chosen an excellent local external caterer to prepare the menus. So good food, good wine and an interesting venue should make for a winning combination. We also have plans to promote Art Box by using our secret garden next summer for art and wine events.”

There will be a six-month calendar of events, which are open to all, couples, individuals and small groups. The space is also available to hire for small business functions too.

To check availability, visit: cheshire.wine

City Framers is Chester’s leading bespoke framer, for more than 35 years we have been providing high quality frames for homes and businesses.

Prints Original Artwork

Photographs Canvas Framing

Canvas Stretching Medals

Cross Stitches

Sports Shirts Memorabilia

“We have created the Art Box website so our artists can promote other work that is not displayed in the gallery”

Meet the artists

Daniel Clorley

I live in Cheshire and I am a full-time airline pilot. During the pandemic the world and aviation got flipped on its head. I didn’t fly for the best part of a year. The silver lining for me was picking up a paint brush again. Every day that year I was painting, reading and obsessively studying art which has now really blossomed into a passion. I am mainly drawn towards landscapes and cityscapes, working only with oil paints. I like to paint representational pieces, but pushing into the abstract world. I’m a big fan of loose brushwork, as well as using palette knives and rubber shapers.

I live in Chester, but grew up in the seaside town of Pwllheli, North Wales. Being so close to Snowdonia, I've always been captivated by the beauty of land and sea. This, together with my passion for art and décor, inspires me to create modern abstract pieces, influenced by the colours, movement and outlines concomitant with such scenery. I aim to bring the 'outside-in', using mixed media to evoke a sense of conflict between the calm and chaos often associated with nature. Painting is a great passion of mine and I make time for it when I can, working around my family and my energetic four-year old!

Jacob Brown

I am a young amateur artist and photographer living in Chester. I studied fine art and photography for A Level at Christleton High School, where I developed an interest in experimenting with light and photography. The images I have produced for Art Box were part of a project where I designed and built what I call a ‘Light Wand’ made of LEDs. I visited iconic parts of Chester and Liverpool at dusk and dawn, as this was the best time of day to capture the artificial light as well as the scenery, to produce the most interesting results. I am currently exploring digital art, to see what unique and unusual pieces I can create.

Jo McFetridge

How we experience life, how we feel, how we behave, what we see happening around us and what we don’t always see, are where my pictures begin. I have always loved flowers and I am inspired by the world around me. The colours are the life of the picture for me, and I never know where they will take me. For me it’s a journey, and exploration.

I work in Chester and there are few things I love more than coming home, sitting at my desk, looking out into the garden and just drawing, drawing, drawing!

“My team and I came up with the idea of opening a gallery for emerging local artists and where better to do that than in the empty shop next door”

Tami Dufty

Financial Wellbeing

When employees are worried about money and struggling with stress, their performance at work is invariably affected. It’s in the employer’s interest to pay attention to financial wellbeing and offer support.

STRESS AND OUR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND BE EFFECTIVE AT WORK IS CERTAINLY CORRELATED.

This means employers can expect, at any given time, at least some of their employees to be affected by stress and/or mental-health issues that hinder their ability to do their job well. In a 2018 survey, three-quarters of respondents said they had felt so stressed in the past year that they had been overwhelmed or unable to cope1

After the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw an increase in the number of adults experiencing some form of depression double from 10% to 21%2

Money is a daily concern for 16% of adults in the UK, according to a Money and Pensions Service survey, with nearly half the adult population saying they had worried about money once a week or more in the previous month3

It’s clearly an issue to take seriously, primarily for the benefit of employees, but also for the organisation’s success and the economy as a whole. This means offering employees practical and emotional support for their financial wellbeing and their general mental health.

By KATY DAVIES

Here are five ways in which you can start to do this:

Raise awareness of financial wellbeing

This includes aspects of education, such as explaining financial terminology, and facilitating conversations that can help employees to understand the nature of financial stress and how it might be affecting them.

Someone entering a financial-wellbeing workshop might not realise that finance is the main cause of their stress, but conversations can help people begin to understand the roots of their financial worries.

Join the conversation

Each year, there are various opportunities for employers to take part in wider discussions about financial wellbeing and mental health, such as Mental Health Awareness Week (typically held in mid-May), Stress Awareness Month (each April) and Debt Awareness Week, which in 2021 took place in late March.

Encouraging employees to talk more openly about their finances could enable them to tackle concerns, thereby reducing stress levels.

“Encouraging employees to talk more openly about their finances could enable them to tackle concerns, thereby reducing stress levels”

Offer practical support

Commit to giving employees access to a range of resources during work hours – this is when they are most likely to access them.

Provide things like workshops and content to help employees get a better sense of how to deal with their financial worries, even if it’s just information that helps get them started.

Timing communications is also important. The periods in which employees can decide whether or not they want to renew certain workplace benefits, such as salary sacrifice, can be a good time to put in place a communications plan and/or run workshops to help people understand those benefits and what they cost.

Communicate clearly

Explaining the various financial rewards and schemes you offer in a clear, accessible way can make employees more likely to engage with them. Offering specific sessions can help employees understand the packages that are financially linked, such as health insurance, protection insurance and discounts with local firms, can make a real difference to your people. Information should be communicated on a timely basis. Research suggests that support is more impactful when it is related to circumstance or there are follow-up actions.

Bring in the professionals

Employers can engage wellbeing providers to conduct one-to-one guidance sessions with employees.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited on 01978 311611 or email HadlowEdwards@sjpp.co.uk

1 Mental Health Foundation, Mental health statistics: stress, 2018 (Online poll undertaken by YouGov, with a sample size of 4,619 respondents).

2 Office for National Statistics, Coronavirus and depression in adults, Great Britain: January to March 2021 (Opinions and Lifestyle Survey – sample size: 4,000 to 4,500 individuals per week achieved)

3 Money and Pensions Service; 'Shame, upbringing and burdening others: why 29m UK adults don't feel comfortable talking about money despite being worried about it'. November 2020. Sample size: 5,200 UK adults.

“Someone entering a financial

-wellbeing workshop might not realise that finance is the main cause of their stress”

Venue finding - after work drinks

There is nothing better than joining colleagues or meeting friends for a ‘quick drink after work’. Whether that is a coffee or a juice – or something a little bit stronger – there is plenty of choice across Chester and Wrexham. We have chosen just four, that if you haven’t tried already, it might be worth you doing so.

www.cornerhousechester.com

Situated in Chester's thriving Canal Quarter, The Cornerhouse is a characterful, independent bar, housed in a beautiful, listed building. Carefully selected, interesting wines, gins and cask ales are complimented by generous platters of cheese, charcuterie and mezze, alongside pizzas cooked to order, which are perfect for sharing. A relaxed bar, you can lose hours lounging on its old leather chesterfields, reading the papers, or challenging friends to a board game in front of the fire.

www.thehenrypotts.co.uk

Only opened this summer – following a major investment by the Pubs Ltd estate headed by veteran hospitality entrepreneur Jerry Brunning – The Henry Potts aims to become a ‘top class city centre local’. Situated in the basement of Chester’s historic Watergate House, it serves good honest food, a range of high-quality beers and ales, and a wide selection of excellent wines, some of which the business blends and imports itself. Despite being a basement, it provides a welcoming and cosy atmosphere.

The Bank Wine Bar and Bistro

www.thebankwrexham.com

The Bank is an independent, family-run bar and bistro in Wrexham, with a passion for excellent, home-cooked food and first-class customer service. Whether you’ve just popped in for a coffee or are celebrating a special occasion, this relaxed venue’s food and drink will suit the occasion. There is a large main bar on the ground floor, while the upstairs lounge can be hired for exclusive use as a meeting/social venue, with a fully stocked bar and seating areas.

The Fat Boar

www.thefatboarwrecsam.co.uk

The Fat Boar in Wrexham is a stunning, independent restaurant and bar in the heart of the city. Welcoming drinkers as well as diners, it offers a wide range of speciality coffees and real ales. It also has an extensive wine list, cocktails and a huge list of gins, as well as everything else you’d usually find behind a bar. The surroundings are stylish and comfortable with a choice of inside and outside seating.

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.

The Cornerhouse

The Henry Potts

Inside the pub, the eclectic mix of old and new bring together a comforting homely appeal that is matched by our adventurous menu. Our wine list boasts a generous selection of well known varieties with some little known treasures to tell your friends about.

FOOD SERVED DAILY: 12pm - 9pm Come

What’s on

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

THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

08:30 – 10:30

Round the Table Networking at Costco

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Costco Wholesale UK Ltd, Dunkirk Trading Estate, Chester CH1 6LT bit.ly/dlvji

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

17:00 – 18:45

360 Networking

FREE, relaxed, friendly and no pressure opportunity to meet and form relationships with local businessest Atrium Suite, Redwither Tower, Wrexham Industrial Estate LL13 9XT wrexham.gov.uk/360-networking

WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

13:00 – 15:00

Connecting with our Future Wales Network face-to-face events led by senior leaders from across Wales Wrexham Ty Maelor, 15 -17

Grosvenor, Wrexham LL11 1BW

THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

08:30 – 13:00

Making an Impact

A half-day in-person workshop aimed at professionals who wonder what sort of first impression they make The Rennet Works, Market Street, Ellesmere SY12 0AN thursdayschildcoaching.co.uk

THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

17:00 – 19:00

VOX Networking

Quarterly networking Golden Lion, Rossett ezpublishing.co.uk/events

THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

17:00 – 19:00

Thursday Is the New Friday Networking

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Moxy Hotel Chester, Moxy, Boughton, Chester CH3 5AF bit.ly/3PVodVX

FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

09:30 – 11:00

KCC Networking Chester Roundtable networking Boughton Cricket Club, Filkin’s Lane, Chester bit.ly/3cjhwyw

FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

11:00 – 13:00

Business Netwalkers Chester Chester City Centre Walk (4.6 km) Obscure Coffee, Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RU businessnetwalking.com

SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER FROM 11:00

Farndon Soapbox Derby

A day of fun and laughter! Farndon village farndonsoapboxderby.co.uk

TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

10:00 – 11:00

Round the Screen Networking West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Online bit.ly/3QgIRzt

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

09:30 – 11:30

West Cheshire Women’s Network West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT bit.ly/3PYDPYP

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

09:00 – 14:00

Cyber Risk: Building Resilience in Wales

Swansea University, along with FSB, Superfast Business Wales and guest speakers from award winning organisations PureCyber and Thomas Carroll Rossett Hall Hotel, Chester Road, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DE bit.ly/3pDUc1x

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

10:00 – 13:00

Jobs Fair

Wrexham Communities for Work Plus in partnership with DWP Ty Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BY

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

10:30 – 15:00

Wirral and Chester Business Fair 2022 Lively Business to Business event New Brighton Floral Pavilion, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral CH45 2JS wirralbizfair.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

THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

18:00 – 20:00

Building self-confidence and finding the ‘Leader’ in you

With host Bushra Ali and guest speaker , coach Lyann Farrelly

Ty Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BY bushraaligroup.com

WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch at Croes Howell Restaurant & Bar

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Croes Howell Restaurant & Bar, Straight Mile, Rossett, Llay, Wrexham LL12 0NY bit.ly/3Jm9vF6

WEDNESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

Taste Cheshire Food and Drinks Awards 2022

Pavilion, Chester Racecourse tastecheshire.com

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

08:45 – 16:30

‘Breaking the Mould’ Leadership Immersion Day Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE bit.ly/breakingmouldsept

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

16:30 – 18:00

Business Networking and Social in Chester City Centre

FREE business networking event in Chester City Centre Riverside Innovation Centre, 1 Castle Drive, Chester CH1 1SL bit.ly/3ceUYym

THURSDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

18:00 – 20:00

Integrating Communities and Celebrating Local Success!

With host Bushra Ali and guest speaker Alan Edward Jones, Founder of the Village Bakery, sharing his journey to success.

Ty Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BY bushraaligroup.com

TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER

09:00 – 11:00

Round the Table Networking at Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel Chamber of Commerce networking

Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester CH3 5QL bit.ly/3JLC9Qb

SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER

2022 Foamtastic Colour Blast

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd in partnership with Oliver & Co Solicitors Chester Racecourse CH1 2LY hospicegs.com

THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

09:00 – 14:00

Focus on Sustainability Conference

A selection of speakers will be talking about sustainable business practices for the hospitality and tourism sector, followed by a panel Q&A Sykes Head Office, One City Place, Chester CH1 3BQ cheshireandwarrington.com

TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch at Artezzan Restaurant & Bar

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Artezzan Restaurant & Bar, 33 Pepper St, Chester CH1 1DF bit.ly/3bJS4ln

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER

13:30 – 18:00

Making an Impact

A half-day in-person workshop aimed at professionals who wonder what sort of first impression they make The Rennet Works, Market Street, Ellesmere SY12 0AN thursdayschildcoaching.co.uk

SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER

19:00 – 22:00

Cheshire Fashion Week

Opening Night Chester Cathedral cheshirefashionweek.com

FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER

18:30 – 01:00

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Annual Ball and Recognition Award

Ceremony

Chester Racecourse CH1 2LY bit.ly/3QaNvQ2

WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch at Leonardo Hotel Chester

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Leonardo Hotel Chester, Pepper Street, Chester CH1 1DW bit.ly/3cg6IRT

THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER

08:45 – 16:30

‘Breaking the Mould’ Leadership Immersion Day Xplore! Science Discovery Centre, Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE bit.ly/breakingmouldnov

WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

10:00 – 15:00

Chester Business Show

Cheshire Business Show and networking event Crown Plaza, Trinity Street, Chester CH1 2BD chesterbusinessshow.co.uk

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER

09:00 – 11:00

Round the Table Networking at Brewhouse & Kitchen, Chester

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Brewhouse and Kitchen, Love Street, Chester CH1 1QY bit.ly/3QfRwmp

If you have an event taking place between December and February 2023, please let us know, so we can include it in our next issue. email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

a new era The Business Network Chester

In June it was announced that Tracy Griffiths was stepping down as host of The Business Network Chester, after founding the group 13 years ago. Tracy has handed over the baton to Simon and Win Edmondson, who are also the hosts of The Business Network South Manchester. Simon and Win hosted their first Chester meeting in July. It was attended by 57 business owners, with the two groups presenting a joint membership of over 150 members.

TRACY AND HER COLLEAGUE HAYLEY

BROWN BUILT THE GROUP UP TO BECOME one of the largest networking membership organisations in the Chester, North Wales and the Wirral. During the pandemic they worked tirelessly to ensure the group maintained high-level networking for the highly-respected businesses in and around the Chester area which make up the membership.

Similarly, Simon and Win have seen their South Manchester group increase to nearly 90 members over the last three years and are looking forward to bringing the Chester meeting back to pre-pandemic levels.

Meet the team

Simon has owned his own business for over 30 years and has relied on networking for much of his success. The former chartered surveyor has also held the position of Chair of The Federation of Small Businesses in the North West, and has built up a significant database of contacts across the UK, which he uses to help Business Network members.

Win has been a business owner and more recently, worked in the import industry, which she left in 2019 when the opportunity came up to purchase the South Manchester group. Win is the first person all attendees meet at the lunches, when she welcomes them, and is in charge of the back office for both groups.

Simon explains: “There have been a few minor changes to the meetings. ‘Spin The Wheel’ is an opportunity for three members to speak to the whole room and we now have a business card draw in aid of our charities. But on the whole, all Business Network meetings across the UK should be fundamentally the same. We hold high-quality networking for senior decisionmakers and now we are being approached by National and

International companies, which are interested in joining both groups. In addition, during the month we produce a great deal of media content for our members and the members support each other when it comes to social media.

“This has built up a fantastic community of businesses who not only want to work together, but also refer each other to their clients and contacts”.

For further details please contact Simon Edmondson businessnetworkchester.co.uk

“We hold high-quality networking for senior decisionmakers and now we are being approached by National and International companies, which are interested in joining”

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 5.30-7.00pm

Little Owl pub, near Gawer Park, Chester CH1 4DA

• THURSDAY 9.00-11.00am

Little Owl pub, near Gawer Park, Chester CH1 4DA

Wrexham sessions

• TUESDAY 9.00-11.00am

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

• THURSDAYS 7.00-9.00am

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

FSB fsb.org.uk

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®. Membership in 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.

Tarporley Business Club

tarporleybusinessclub.co.uk

The Tarporley Business Club was set up in the pandemic as an online network for local business owners to generate connections.

Now it’s a purely face-to-face meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at The Swan in Tarporley from 9:30-11:30 am.

It is a not-for-profit group aiming to develop the local business community, resulting in maximising growth and success. Memberships available, £10 fee for first time visitors.

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

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, it’s 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.

360

Group

360 Networking monthly meetings restart on 14 June 2022. The meetings are run by Wrexham County Borough Council’s Business and Investment team. All meetings, together with annual membership are now free of charge. Each meeting takes place within the Redwither Tower on Wrexham Industrial Estate from 5:00pm - 6:45pm.

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 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 businessnetworkchester.co.uk

The Business Network Chester is a diverse membership group of around 100 companies sharing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help grow each other’s businesses. The ethos behind the group is "know, like, trust" – a belief in building long-lasting relationships with other senior decision makers. Meeting at lunchtimes, 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.

VOX Networking

VOX Networking events take place quarterly following the publication of each issue.

The two-hour sessions provide the opportunity to meet and talk with other local business people, and each one will have a special guest speaker.

Numbers are limited and tickets cost £15, including refreshments.

Bitesize

Sustainable Hampers from EZ Hampers

As part of our new ‘Bitesize’ series, we caught up with Lisa Storey from award-winning EZ Hampers, to find out a little more about the thinking behind her business.

This is what she told us:

“Our company started with a simple idea, let's make hampers sustainable! We thought about what we really wanted our customers to get out of these hampers, and we realised it wasn't just about convenience – it was about sustainability. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to create hampers that are eco-friendly and also meet dietary requirements. Having been a vegetarian for almost 25 years with many allergies, I understand how important it is to not feel excluded or overlooked when receiving a gift.

I did not have to look far for inspiration for the company’s name. My daughter, Erin was nicknamed Ez by her brother and friends. Erin graduated from the University of Chester with a Master’s degree in History and is now very much part of the company. While I am networking and raising awareness across Cheshire and Wales, Erin runs the day-to-day operations, including keeping the website up-to-date.

We try our best to support lots of local companies – for example, our beloved vegan soaps are created by a lady whose daughter has autism and she is aiming to be self-sufficient. Their scents are not only divine, but they are beautiful and eco-friendly.

We make our own candles from old coffee tins, alcohol bottles and many other products that would normally have been thrown away. We make our own bath salts with Himalayan bath salts and dried flowers. We encourage people to buy succulents as they do not die as easily and the aloe vera ones are amazing. We also offer a range of delicious snacks from Cheeky P’s, Air Snaxs, vegan sweets and Angelic Cookies, along with beautiful plant-based drinks like our Niche Cocktails or Humble Warrior plant powered energy drinks.

We ship across the United Kingdom and we have a large stock, so this can be done quickly and without any fuss. Our clients come from all walks of life and I feel there is too much emphasis on B2B or B2C customers, at EZ Hampers we sell ‘Human to Human’.”

Liz Storey Founder of EZ Hampers lisa@ezhampers.co.uk ezhampers.co.uk

07910 877 622

EZ Hampers is undertaking its’ B Corp Certification Assessment and it is currently waiting for its’ report.

UK Enterprise Award winners

Best Sustainable Luxury Gifts Supplier 2022

- Northern England

The Vegan Choice Award for Plant Based Hampers 2022

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CHESTER CATHEDRAL WAS CHOSEN AS PART OF THE TOM STODDART SERIES OF MEMORIAL EXHIBITIONS, which are taking place across the country throughout 2022. The launch of the exhibition took place on 9 June, and the VOX team was privileged to attend this stunning venue for an advanced viewing of Tom’s insightful and powerful talent.

Caroline Cortizo, representative of the Tom Stoddart Estate and close friend of the family, attended the launch evening for a live Q&A with Peter Dench, who is also a close friend and industry colleague of Tom’s.

An exhibition by TOM STODDART, displayed at Chester Cathedral

“When a crisis engulfs a community it’s the women who face the challenges head on”

The exhibition featured a selection of images from his final book –Extraordinary Women: Images of Courage, Endurance and Defiance –and celebrated the strong will of women throughout the world during times of war, poverty and hardship. It ran from 9 June to 11 July 2022.

Stimulating conversation and engaging debate

Sharon Price, co-founder of Photo North, said “Part of Photo North’s ethos is our commitment to supporting those marginalised, powerless and discriminated against. We raise awareness by presenting thoughtprovoking, evocative documentary images and screenings. We curate exhibitions that are memorable, stimulate conversation, engage debate and reinforce a vital message. Tom was a guiding light towards the truth and the good for many. It was an honour to be personally asked by Tom to curate this exceptional body of work for Chester Cathedral and to be able to bring it to the people of Chester”.

Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester, remarked: “The work of Tom Stoddart is challenging, thought-provoking and moving: all qualities present in our own Cathedral. We are thrilled to be able to provide a space for people to encounter this poignant body of work focussed on women, particularly in this year of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”

In addition, Chester Women's Aid were honoured to partner with Chester Cathedral for the Extraordinary Women exhibition, commenting: “This thoughtprovoking and inspiring exhibition demonstrates Chester Cathedral's position as a cultural and social cornerstone of our community, and we are proud to support them in this event."

About the artist

Tom Stoddart had an incredible awardwinning career spanning 50 years and captured momentous fragments of history – spanning the decades from the war in Lebanon (during which he accompanied celebrated Sunday Times foreign correspondent Marie Colvin), to the fall of the Berlin Wall to covering the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. He specialised in reportage photography, in which he was undoubtedly skilled in his ability to discover the extraordinary in what may at first glance seem mundane.

“You make pictures with what’s in your head and your heart and your feet. A terrific still photograph remains one of the most powerful weapons that is around – it is storytelling with a camera – a box with a hole in that allows you to tell stories which is as old as time, if you’re good at it and you’re curious and you tell them in a unique way or the best way you can, people will always want to see them or know about things. Photojournalism will be around forever.”

In Tom's own words:

What’s the best decision you made and

outsourcing

why?

“It took me a long time, but I now outsource certain aspects of my admin. This is predominately getting someone to run my What’s On calendar for EssentialsMAG. I use Time 4 Marketing, who are amazing! It was too time-consuming doing this myself, and my time was better spent on other aspects of my business.”

Vicky Heathfield Creative director, VOX

“I outsourced my bookkeeping and accounts for Zebra, my marketing business, from the very start. It made absolute sense to me to make sure they were done properly from the off. I could have done them myself, but I knew it would be more beneficial on so many levels – from time to accuracy – to outsource these elements.”

Clara Hughes Editorial director, VOX

“Throughout the year we publish news and information updates on our website. We write the posts ourselves, to make sure that they are relevant to our clients and contacts. It is important that the posts come from us, as it builds on the personal approach we take in supporting our clients. The review, rewording and tidying of these articles is outsourced. We do this to make sure that the posts are easy to read and attractive to our target audience. Numbers we are great with, but we just need that little bit of outsourced support to get those words right!.”

Michael Robinson Portfolio manager at Shaw Austin

“As we become ever more digitalised and open to digital/cybercrime, having a company that has the expertise to deal with something as technical and specialist as IT means decisions get made faster. We get specialist knowledge quicker, because I don’t have to go out and research whatever it is we need to do.

“The perfect outsourced provider contributes to our growth strategy and makes suggestions to futureproof our company in their specialist area. Overall, a great outsourced company behaves as if they are part of your company. The flow of communication is easy, and your company’s best interests are always at the forefront of their mind.”

Lucy Powers Director at Powers

“We’ve outsourced plenty of tasks in our five years in business, but where we’ve seen most value is in taking professional services from Legat Owen, chartered surveyors and commercial estate agents, relating to our office location. For reasons such as growth and location, we’ve moved twice as a business and we’re now in a location where we feel most comfortable – Bell Meadow Business Park, just outside Chester. We’re here largely through the expertise and guidance of Legat Owen.

“Not only did they identify perfect office space for our business, but they also made the exit from our previous location as easy and pain free as possible. Without their knowledge, I’m now very aware of the pitfalls we may well have hurtled into.”

Paul Williams Managing director at Highstream

“I think the best thing I have chosen to outsource is my social media. Time is one of the most precious commodities we have, and it is pointless spending time struggling to get to grips with and perform (probably badly!) something that someone else can do quicker and better. It is always better to stick to what we do best, and use a specialist who can help free up our time to do more of it.”

What business question would you like answered?

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

Phil Strachan director at Strangebrew

Charity round-up

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

Local insurer helps fund lifesaving defibrillators for communities across the region

NFU Mutual Agents and its staff at the Wrexham agency recently nominated local charity The Henry Angell-James Memorial Trust (HAJMT) to receive a donation of more than £6,300 from NFU Mutual’s national £1.92million ‘Agency Giving Fund’.

The leading rural insurer has launched this fund, now in its’ third year, to help local frontline charities across the country. The Agency Giving Fund forms part of NFU Mutual’s £3.25m funding pledge for both local and national charities in 2022, to help tackle the ongoing effects of the pandemic and assist with recovery.

Mark Roberts, Senior Partner at NFU Mutual Wrexham, said: “NFU Mutual has been a champion of rural communities the length and breadth of the UK for over 110 years. The Agency Giving Fund champions local causes that are working day and night to change people’s lives and give hope for a better future. We’re extremely proud to have nominated The Henry Angell-James Memorial Trust for this donation and are delighted to be able to support the genuinely lifesaving contribution they make to our communities.”

Sally Angell-James, Founder of The Henry Angell James Memorial Trust, said: "We are thrilled that NFU Mutual Wrexham is supporting HAJMT with its donation. This will enable us to purchase more AEDs and respond to applications we get from communities who are unable to fund the cost of this life saving equipment themselves."

For more information about your local NFU Mutual Agent in Wrexham, visit nfumutual.co.uk/agentoffices/wrexham

For more information about The Henry Angell-James Memorial Trust visit hajmt.co.uk or email info@hajmt.co.uk

AVOW Community Knockout: A big thank you to the whole community!

The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) was proud to host its Community Knockout on Sunday 3 July at Plas Madoc fields. The event was funded through the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board ‘Winter Pressures’ grant, to improve the wellbeing of staff and volunteers within voluntary organisations.

Teams of up to 10 members from local, voluntary, non-profit and private organisations registered to compete in various games, whilst raising money for charities or community groups, and cheered on by friends, colleagues and the public.

AVOW’s own team, ‘AVOW Warriors,’ competed alongside teams from the following organisations: Dynamic, Advance Brighter Futures, We Are Plas Madoc, ‘The Land’ Parents, Wrexham & Flintshire Children’s University, and Wrexham County Borough Council (alongside a second team from WCBC’s Housing Department).

All money raised by AVOW from this event will go directly into their ‘Making A Difference Fund,’ to distribute in grants for local voluntary and community groups.

AVOW’s Chief Officer, Dawn Roberts McCabe, said, “The AVOW Community Knockout was such a playful representation of the Wrexham community spirit. We are delighted that we were able to utilise funding from the BCUHB Winter Pressures grant to improve the wellbeing of our team and other community organisations. We hope to find a corporate sponsor, so that we can recreate the event on a larger scale, and with even more fundraising opportunities, in summer 2023!”

Pictured: Sally Angell-James, Founder of The Henry Angell James Memorial Trust, with Mark Roberts, Senior Partner at NFU Mutual Wrexham

Join your local Hospice for some incredi-bubble fun!

Chester’s brightest and messiest event is back – are you ready to get involved to help raise money for your local Hospice?

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd has joined in partnership with Oliver & Co Solicitors to bring the 2022 Foamtastic Colour Blast to Chester Racecourse on Sunday 9 October.

The event is an untimed fun run around Chester Racecourse, where hundreds of people will run, walk, hop, skip or jump to the finish line. Participants get to join in with a huge paint throw to kick start the event, pass through paint stations and a fun foam bubble pit, before crossing the finish line and collecting a finisher’s medal.

Kay Cook from Oliver & Co Solicitors said “It’s been our pleasure to sponsor the Foamblast since it began five years ago. A fun-filled family event raising essential funds for such a worthy cause – who wouldn’t want to get colourful for our local Hospice? The events themselves are a joy to be involved with, the atmosphere is like nothing else! If you haven’t run the Foamblast before, then sign up – it’s a great event for all ages. Oliver & Co Solicitors is delighted to be this year’s sponsor again”.

The online registration is now officially open, so register your place now at hospicegs.com and all tickets include a Foamtastic Colour Blast t-shirt and medal on completion.

Caring staff and students from Coleg Cambria raised vital funds for a children’s hospital

Led by Cambria’s Learner Experience and Enterprise Manager Rona Griffiths, and PL Operations Officer Steven Mills, a series of challenges and events were held for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Learners and employees from Wrexham, Deeside and Northop collected more than £1,500 via activities including a hamper raffle and festive stalls at last year’s Christmas Market. Their campaign was inspired by the death of Kirsten Hill – daughter of the college’s creative content officer Kevin Hill – who tragically passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in November, aged just 14.

The total raised will be shared between the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and Snowdrop Bereavement Centre.

To make a donation and support the appeal, please visit kirstenhill.muchloved.com

Super fundraiser Bethan Scott tops £100,000 for Hospice

Bethan Scott has continued her mission after raising a remarkable £100,000 for the hospice that cared for her late husband. Following the death in 2017 of her husband Dave, known to his friends and family as DRS, Bethan, who works at Nightingale House Hospice, vowed to raise as much money as she could for several charities close to Dave’s heart.

Having smashed a £100,000 target, which was shared in 2020 between Cancer Research, Alzheimer’s UK and the Hospice, Bethan then decided to increase the £80,000 she had given the Hospice to £100,000. Bethan has opened a Nightingale House Tribute Fund, so that any money raised by her and other members of Dave’s family and friends would be collected in one fund.

Dave’s Tribute Fund has already exceeded £100,000. Bethan said: “I have always thought by doing the things that Dave loved because I can – and by being active and getting together with friends – this was the way I wanted to raise funds for the hospice in Dave’s memory. Dave was super-fit – he was a runner and a cyclist, so to go from being so fit to then losing his mobility was simply tragic.

“Coming to Nightingale House and using the hydrotherapy pool helped Dave to become confident enough to start using the daycare facilities. It became a lifeline for us. I want to thank everyone for all the incredible fundraising support I have received over the last five years.”

Jobs created as Hope House Children’s Hospices opens new shop

The new shop in Wrexham will generate new jobs and help raise vital funds for Hope House Children’s Hospices. The charity will be relocating its longstanding Wrexham shop from Charles Street to Island Green. The shop is expected to open in the autumn and recruitment has begun to find a manager for each site, as well as weekend sales assistants.

If you are interested in learning more about the jobs or would like to apply then please visit hopehouse.org.uk/jobs, or if you’re thinking about volunteering then visit hopehouse.org.uk/volunteer or pop into our Wrexham shop on Charles Street for a chat about how you can get involved when the new shop opens.

round-up

‘Changing Places for Wales’ campaign launched by Wrexhambased community group

The vital need for more Changing Places facilities has been highlighted by Wrexham-based organisation Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities (TCC) in its current campaign, Changing Places for Wales.

Changing Places are specially adapted accessible toilets that have hoists, an adult-sized changing bed, and grabrails.

Since meeting with TCC in December 2021, Broughton Retail Park in Chester are pressing ahead with plans to reconfigure the current customer toilet facilities on site to accommodate a Changing Places Toilet Facility.

Centre Manager Alan Pruden-Barker says it is a priority: “To welcome more visitors to the centre, providing reassurances that we can cater for all needs”

Over 250,000 people in the UK need Changing Places Toilets, yet there are only around 50 Changing Places in the whole of Wales. Across the UK, fewer than 2% of train stations, 17 cinemas and only 19 pubs and restaurants have such facilities. In North-East Wales, there are just nine on the Changing Places Toilets map, most of which are in Wrexham.

The Changing Places for Wales campaign highlights that there should be no barriers to disabled people being able to live life fully.

Ongoing action and what we want: The lack of Changing Places facilities leads to exclusion and potential isolation –it is time for #ChangingPlacesForWales

We are asking local councils to update their toilets strategies to include Changing Places Toilets. We are also raising the issue nationally, with Members of the Senedd.

Call to action:

1) We are asking that people like and share our campaign video, available in English and Welsh to highlight this issue and raise support for more Changing Places for Wales. Supporting #tags on Social Media spaces are:

#ChangingPlacesForWales

#ChangingPlacesAwarenessDay #CPAD22 #incLOOsion

2) Contact your local councillor or your Member of the Senedd and tell them why Changing Places are important. Also, observe planning applications in your area – you can object to any major developments that do not include Changing Places Toilets. To do this, go to your council website and search planning applications.

Annual charity ball in Chester raises £20k

Two charities are set to receive a £20,000 fundraising boost following the ‘roaring success’ of a 1920s-themed annual charity ball in Chester.

The long-awaited Fizz ‘n’ Flappers Charity Champagne Ball took place at the 5-star Chester Grosvenor and raised vital funds for Claire House Children’s Hospice and the Women v Cancer charity, which focuses on breast, ovarian and cervical cancer research.

More than 170 guests attended the ball, which was organised by prolific fundraiser Helen Watson, Partner and Head of Employment Law at Chester-based solicitors Aaron & Partners LLP.

The event was also supported by Judith Kenyon, Events Director at JayKay Events, and Abi Smith, Director at Eventure Ltd, and featured an auction and raffle prizes. These included a holiday to Marrakech, a Silverstone rally experience, a helicopter ride to and from Carden Park, Clogau Gold jewellery, Michael Bublé tickets, photography prizes and much more.

Many guests dressed in authentic 1920’s style and danced the night away to jazz band The Sicariios, after enjoying dinner accompanied by Taittinger champagne.

Funds raised for On Course Foundation

STAR Development UK held its first ever annual Charity Golf Day at Carden Park for the charity On Course Foundation. On Course Foundation is the only golf specific military charity based in the UK, and its’ aim is to champion the recovery of injured and sick service personnel and veterans, through nationwide golf events and employment in the golf industry.

Commented Stuart Waddington, STAR Development UK’s founder: “Being a veteran myself, this charity holds a special place in my heart. We raised around £2000 for the charity and we hope to do even better next year. We will be hosting the next Charity Golf Day on the 22 June 2023, and the event will have Olympic medallist speakers, as well as conversations on high-performance and leadership.”

If you’re interested in joining this event get in touch at jasmin@stardevelopmentuk.com

Supporting Cancer patients attending A&E during Covid

The Shooting Star Cancer Support team has donated a Bladder Scanner to the Accident and Emergency department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Patients don’t generally turn up at A&E unless they are unwell, and this piece of kit can quickly tell doctors how much urine is in a patient’s bladder. Cancer patients particularly can either have full bladders or not be producing enough urine – and both are signs that they are very unwell or deteriorating rapidly. Having an idea of the volume of urine in a patient’s bladder leads to quicker intervention and better management.

Commented Mr Robin Roop, a Consultant in the Emergency department at the hospital: “A simple piece of kit, involving a significant amount of technology, the bladder scanner quickly tells us the amount of urine in a patient’s bladder. The training-up of staff to use and care for the machines is relatively quick and straightforward. They all enjoy learning this skill and do value it, using it with care and respect.”

clarity From chaos to

Do you often find it difficult to nail your business messaging and find yourself so overwhelmed that you can’t see the wood for the trees? Maybe life has got a little chaotic and you’re at a stage where you’re losing sight of who you are and where you want to be in your business right now.

TRYING TO WHITTLE DOWN EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS through clear communications often results in you struggling to find the words to describe what you actually do. And you created the business!

If you are feeling the chaos, when it’s clarity that matters, then spare a thought for your customers. It’s easy to let your relationship with your intended target audience slide, simply because the reality is you and your business have become a little disconnected, and your natural ability to communicate with your ideal customer has disappeared.

What happens when your communication loses clarity?

You know what you want to say, but you’ve lost your way. It’s normal and so easy for communications to lose their clarity and for messages to become convoluted. And before you know it, you find yourself with chaotic messaging. You have chaos, not clarity, and PR activity drops further down your to-do-list – if it even appears there at all these days.

by CLAIRE MARIE QUANT

Facing this chaos can be a common occurrence when messaging becomes confused on all levels. It’s obviously not something you set out to do, it just happened that way. Perhaps because you added a new arm to the business, launched something new or opted for a total pivot in the business, especially during the pandemic.

Shine a light…

When your communications shine a light with total clarity on who you truly are and what you stand for as a business, you can become attractive to your ideal clients. However, right now it may feel like there’s no escape from information overload and that is causing problems for many business owners. It’s actually pushing many of us into overwhelm.

These chaotic thoughts are crowding our clarity of thinking, relegating our key messages to the National League (when our desire is to operate in the Premier League) and we end up no longer knowing and being able to communicate clearly what our business stands for.

“Before you know it, you find yourself with chaotic messaging. You have chaos, not clarity, and PR activity drops further down your to-do-list”

The reality is you are almost certainly too close to your business, and you’ve become oblivious to how you acquired so many mixed and confusing messages along the way.

Whilst we see the advantages of working in a 24/7 world business community, it’s not without a downside. We are bombarded with communications; social media, news outlets, advertising, mailings, billboards, as well as the mountain of emails that drop into our inboxes on an hourly basis.

…and increase your visibility

For you as a business owner, there’s never been a better time to get laser focused on your messaging. It will give you clarity around what lights you up and the real you will shine through and sparkle – and your business will become a natural extension of what you stand for.

There’s no shame in acknowledging you’ve lost your way and you feel confused about what you should be communicating. Shine a light on what you do best and watch as your key communications radiate the real you and help your business to sparkle.

Once you are clear on what you want to say and let all the confused messages fall away, you naturally supercharge your confidence. You are then ready for increased visibility and to shout about your successes with ease. You’ve moved from chaos to clarity.

Claire Marie Quant Clarity Matters – The Communications Specialists

07540 793819 claire@claritymattersthecommunicationsspecialists.com

“You’ve become oblivious to how you acquired so many mixed and confusing messages along the way”

funding Rural

Hope Mountain Retreat, situated just outside Wrexham has successfully applied for funding from the Welsh Government to help it take its Cooking Workshops to the next level.

THE 4-STAR BED AND BREAKFAST SITUATED WITHIN AN AREA OF 'OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY' has been run by the Smith family since 2008 and welcomes guests from around the world. The 18-acre small holding also provides conferencing facilities for groups up to 30 people and holds select cookery workshops, catering for people from the local area and beyond.

The business applied for funding to invest in cameras for the demonstration area, to open up the classes to more people and help show the cooking stages in more detail, more easily.

Lights, camera, action

Proprietor Jo Smith explains: “When you have a cookery group of more than a few people it can be hard for everyone to get a good view of the food preparation as it is happening. The cameras enable us to provide more detailed and instructive demonstrations.

“It was an investment we had been discussing for a while, but the successful grant application meant that it was much more financially viable. We now have a little bit of time to get used to using them to their full advantage, before our next cookery class in September.”

Enterprise Renewal Grant

The funding is available to micro and small businesses in rural Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Social and community enterprises are also able to apply for grant funding.

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

A key priority for the project is supporting enterprises introduce new products and/or new processes, with a focus on supporting the introduction of innovative technologies and new ways of doing businesses.

Jo continued: “The grant was really straightforward to apply for and it could be used to support up to 50% of a project’s costs.

“We are thrilled to have the cameras ready, as we have some exciting classes coming up, including an Aga Cooking and also an independent Living class.”

LEADER funding

The Enterprise Renewal Grant is just one of the grants currently available via the LEADER funding. LEADER 20142020 has been extended until 30 June 2023. It is a scheme to explore innovative new approaches and experimental technologies to tackle poverty, create jobs, recover from Covid-19, and drive sustainable economic development. The scheme falls within the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020, which is financed by the Welsh Government and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

For further advice, please call 01490 340 500 or complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form and email it to admin@cadwynclwyd.co.uk

Photo © Hope Mountain Retreat

The grant was really straightforward to apply for”

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Across

Take five

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

1 Hollow cylinder (4)

3 Giant ocean waves (8)

9 Having sharp corners (7)

10 Underground worker (5)

11 Unwell (3)

12 Trench (5)

13 Send someone to a medical specialist; allude to (5)

15 Spring flower (5)

17 Take pleasure in (5)

18 Listening device (3)

19 ___ Nash: writer of light verse (5)

20 Render utterly perplexed (7)

21 ___ hour: the latest possible moment (8)

22 Eager (4)

Down

1 Sausage baked in batter (4-2-3-4)

2 Ring-shaped roll (5)

4 The back of the neck (6)

5 Practice of mentioning famous people one knows (4-8)

6 Visual display unit (7)

7 The Duchess of York (5,8)

8 Ability to see the future (12)

14 Declare to be true (7)

16 Small finch (6)

18 Attractive young lady (5)

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 you to the following for their contribution:

Articles:

Liam Hanlon, The Forshaw Group/Tri4Life

Rhian Anstey, insight6

Robert Williams, GHP Legal

Jonney Cox, The Henry Potts

Donna Okell, UK for Good

Katie Williams, Xplore! Science Centre

Karl Hargrave, Security Foundry

Hannah Davies, Bright Mondays

Lou Crane, Urban Tech Group

Stephen Henry, Positive Planet

Rick Nieto, The Art Box

Katy Davies, Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management

Simon Edmondson, Business Network Chester

Lisa Storey, EZ Hampers

Caroline Cortizo, Shifting Pixels

Lucy Powers, Powers

Michael Robinson, Shaw Austin

Paul Williams, Highstream Solutions

Phil Strachan, Strangebrew

Claire Marie Quant, Clarity Matters – The Communications Specialists

Jo Smith, Hope Mountain Retreat

Advertisers:

ABL Planning & Development Action Coach

Active Childcare

Bright Mondays

Business Network Chester

City Framers

Delmar World

EZ Hampers

GHP Legal

Hadlow Edwards

Haines Watts

Highstream Solutions

HR Dept

Knew Productions

Networkx4Business

Powers

Rawson Group

Rossett Business Services

Sarah Atherton MP

Security Foundry

Simon O'Rourke

Strangebrew

The Coffee Machine Company

The Golden Lion

The Franchise Experts

Thursday's Child

Time 2 Travel

Time For Marketing

We Dough it For U

Wrexham Business Finance

Xplore! Science

Zebra Marketing & Communications

Coming up next issue...

Lookout for our next issue, which will be coming out at the start of December and covering the weeks through to end of February 2023. Forthcoming features in issue five include:

• Pottering about – we will be interviewing potter Andrew Richards on his business and what’s involved in the creation of his beautiful ceramics.

• Something chilly as we enter winter – we will also be interviewing chief executive of Cheshire Ice Cream Farm, Jonathan Fell, on how the business has grown into a multi award-winning tourist attraction and home to the Guinness World Record’s ‘Largest Ice Cream Shop’.

• What’s on this winter? – diary dates for networking, conferences and events over the winter months, including our third networking event, which is coming up coming up in January.

We will also be including interviews, articles and advice from local businesspeople, along with more business news and charity updates.

What’s in the Get in touch

deadline 18 November 2022