Welcome

Welcome to our latest issue of VOX

We are delighted to bring you the Summer 2023 issue of VOX. So much has happened in the first half of the year and there is still so much to look forward to in the second half.

The end of a memorable 2022/23 football season has seen both Wrexham and Chester achieve great success. After a nail-biting season finale, Wrexham were crowned National League champions, and enjoyed the Hollywood glamour of an open-topped bus parade through the city. Chester made the play-offs in National League North, after having their most successful season in years.

Summer is also a busy time for events and as this issue lands, we are excited about the prospect of Chester’s Green Expo. We’re also looking forward to the Bolesworth International Horse Show, which we were fortunate enough to be invited to the preview of, back in April. If that was any indication, it’s going to be an incredible event.

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?

There is lots of interesting business news in our latest issue of VOX. Not only are we celebrating business milestones and charity achievements, but both Chester and Wrexham have exciting new initiatives that have been launched over the last few months. Chester Great and Small (GAS) held its launch at the Storyhouse on 24 March, and you can read more about it – and what it is trying to achieve – on page 44. Meanwhile, Wrexham Business and Community Awards, which we featured in the last issue, also had its official launch on 30 March, at the head offices of this year’s host, Net World Sport. You can read more about the awards and how enter on page 40.

As you know, in each issue of VOX, we also like to gain some knowhow from our local business leaders, and we are pleased to have interviews with Moneypenny’s Chief Technology Officer talking about tech trends on page 18 and Gareth Boyd gives us a tour around Food and Drink in Chester on page 48. We also hear from Guy Fennell about his business success with the multinationals, with a business that only started during lockdown. Plus, you will find lots of business insights and interviews, along with all our usual features, throughout the pages of issue seven of VOX.

Help us raise your voice

Once again, we would like to thank our advertisers and contributors, who have helped us to create our latest issue. And, as always, huge appreciation goes out to our resident artist Emma Gore, who has developed another stunning piece of original cover artwork of Chester's Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre.

We want to make VOX the voice for local businesses – a platform where we can share your stories and experiences of the region, celebrate your successes and be proud to be part of a community uniting two important economic hubs. To make this happen, we would love to hear your views and find out what you would be interested in reading about.

We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of VOX!

Clara and Vicky