VOX Magazine - Issue 14 by Essentials MAG

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YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

Stay Ahead of the New Employment Laws

With many recent changes and host of proposals from the new government, navigating the complexities of UK employment law has never been more crucial. our specialist team of lawyers can help all employers, business owners and HRd’s ensure they are fully compliant and protected.

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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.

Clara Hughes Editorial Director

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 since 2010. 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 Heathﬁeld Creative Director & Advertising

Vicky lives just outside Wrexham and owns and produces EssentialsMAG (www.essentialsmag.co.uk) – a local monthly community magazine which is hand-delivered through 15,500 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

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Full details are on page 29.

Welcome

Welcome to our latest issue of VOX!

So, how is 2025 treating you so far? The months of March, April and May are exciting months, as many businesses kick into their new ﬁnancial years. With the winter months ﬁnally behind us (we hope), it is also an exciting time of possibilities and growth. This Spring, look out for new events, new funding opportunities and new business.

What’s in store?

We are now on our 14th issue of VOX and there is still no shortage of things to write about and highlight. In this issue, we hope you will enjoy our lead story celebrating 25 years of Chester Food and Drink Festival (page 16). The festival takes place over the Easter weekend and is put on each year by female-led business, Taste Cheshire. We also go behind the scenes with Simon McCleave, successful author and local Wrexham resident (page 26), to find out how he creates his bestselling crime fiction. We held our first EZ Training workshop in February, so look out for some highlights from the session and further details on the forthcoming training – and how to book on (page 24). All our contributors are important to us, but we were delighted to catch up with broadcaster and presenter Sian Lloyd (page 44) and also get an insight into the fashion industry in the Northwest of England from local resident and student Olivia Molyneux, who is studying at the University of Salford (page 48).

Other stories we are pleased to bring you in this issue include hints and tips for successful tender applications (page 40), along with accountancy advice (page 70), a look inside Marchwiel Hall (page 38), an update on Living Above the Rows (page 34) and so much more.

Help us raise your voice

Each issue we take the time to thank our advertisers, interviewees and other contributors. These wonderful people play an essential part in helping VOX come together and we really appreciate their involvement. So, thank you to all of you who inputted time and effort into this latest edition. Of course, no issue of VOX would be complete without the front cover artwork from our resident artist Emma Gore. In this issue, her artwork brings to life the streets that converge at Chester Cross.

We are working hard to make VOX the voice for local businesses – a platform where we can share your stories and experiences of the region, and enjoy your successes, while being proud to be part of a community uniting these two important economic hubs. Please do get in touch if you have a story to share, or an idea for an article you’d like to see in a future issue.

We hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of VOX.

Clara and Vicky

Croeso

Croeso i'n rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX!

Felly, sut mae 2025 i chi hyd yn hyn? Mae Mawrth, Ebrill a Mai yn ﬁsoedd cyffrous, wrth i lawer o fusnesau ddechrau ar eu blynyddoedd ariannol newydd. Gyda misoedd y gaeaf y tu ôl i ni o'r diwedd (gobeithio), mae hefyd yn gyfnod cyffrous llawn posibiliadau a thwf. Y gwanwyn hwn, cadwch olwg am ddigwyddiadau, cyﬂeoedd ariannu a busnes newydd.

Beth sydd yn y rhifyn hwn?

Rydyn ni nawr ar rifyn rhif 14 o VOX a does dim prinder o hyd o bethau i ysgrifennu amdanyn nhw a’u hamlygu. Yn y rhifyn hwn, gobeithio y gwnewch chi fwynhau ein prif stori yn dathlu 25 mlynedd o Ŵyl Fwyd a Diod Caer (tudalen 16). Mae’r ŵyl yn cael ei chynnal dros benwythnos y Pasg, a hynny gan y busnes sy’n cael ei arwain yn gyfan gwbl gan fenywod, Taste Chester. Rydyn ni hefyd yn cael cip y tu ôl i'r llenni gyda Simon McCleave, awdur llwyddiannus a brodor o Wrecsam (tudalen 26), i weld sut mae'n creu ei ffuglen drosedd boblogaidd. Cynhaliwyd ein gweithdy EZ Training cyntaf ym mis Chwefror, felly cadwch olwg am rai o uchafbwyntiau’r sesiwn a rhagor o fanylion am yr hyfforddiant sydd i ddod – a sut i archebu lle (tudalen 24). Mae pob un o’n cyfranwyr yn bwysig i ni, ond bu’n bleser dal i fyny â’r ddarlledwraig a’r cyﬂwynydd Sian Lloyd (tudalen 44) , a chael cipolwg ar y diwydiant ffasiwn yng ngogledd-orllewin Lloegr gan y fyfyrwraig leol, Olivia Molyneux, sy’n astudio ym Mhrifysgol Salford (tudalen 48).

Ymhlith y straeon eraill sydd gennym ar eich cyfer yn y rhifyn hwn mae awgrymiadau ar gyfer ceisiadau tendr llwyddiannus (tudalen 40), ynghyd â chyngor yn ymwneud â chyfrifeg (tudalen 70), cipolwg y tu mewn i Neuadd Marchwiel (tudalen 38), diweddariad ar Living Above the Rows (tudalen 34), a llawer mwy.

Helpwch ni i godi’ch llais

Bob rhifyn, rydyn ni’n manteisio ar y cyﬂe i ddiolch i'n hysbysebwyr, cyfweleion a chyfranwyr eraill. Mae'r bobl wych hyn yn chwarae rhan hollbwysig wrth helpu i ddod â VOX at ei gilydd ac rydyn ni’n gwerthfawrogi cyfraniad pob un yn fawr. Felly, diolch i bob un ohonoch chi sydd wedi cyfrannu amser ac ymdrech i’r rhifyn diweddaraf hwn. Wrth gwrs, fyddai dim un rhifyn o VOX yn gyﬂawn heb waith celf y clawr blaen gan ein hartist preswyl, Emma Gore. Yn y rhifyn hwn, mae ei gwaith celf yn dod â’r strydoedd sy’n cydgyfarfod yng nghanol dinas Caer yn fyw.

Rydyn ni’n gweithio’n galed i wneud VOX yn llais i fusnesau lleol – llwyfan lle gallwn rannu eich straeon a’ch proﬁadau o’r rhanbarth, a mwynhau eich llwyddiannau wrth ymfalchïo mewn bod yn rhan o gymuned sy’n uno’r ddau ganolfan economaidd pwysig hyn. Coﬁwch gysylltu os oes gennych stori i’w rhannu, neu syniad am erthygl yr hoffech ei gweld mewn rhifyn yn y dyfodol.

Gobeithio y gwnewch chi fwynhau darllen ein rhifyn diweddaraf o VOX.

Clara and Vicky

Thank you to Helo Blod, which provides a free, fast and friendly Welsh translation service via the Welsh Government www.businesswales.gov.wales/heloblod

The best of both worlds

Visitor economy business chiefs and leaders from Chester and Wrexham have pledged to work closer together, to attract more visitors, encourage them to stay longer and spend more in the area. Tourism leaders, hoteliers and transport providers came together at the end of 2024 in ongoing work to capitalise on Wrexham’s Hollywood football fairytale and combine it with the worldclass tourism offer of Chester, Cheshire and North Wales.

Organised by Marketing Cheshire and Destination Wrexham – and led by Visit England and Visit Wales – the event at the Grosvenor Pulford Hotel was about strengthening links between the close city neighbours, just 15 minutes away from each other by train. The productive gathering comes after recently-released data again highlighted Cheshire’s reputation as worldclass visitor destination – with its history, architecture, burgeoning food scene and breathtaking scenery attracting more than 56 million visitor days in a year. While over the border Wrexham, which was awarded city status in 2022, remains in the global spotlight thanks to the Disney+ documentary series following Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Wrexham Football Club.

The workshop looked at new opportunities that could bring hoteliers, transport operators, tour guides and travel agents together to create more cross-border travel packages and experiences for visitors, including US and international visitors. Ideas tabled included heritage and sport-themed packages straddling Chester and Wrexham. Travel itineraries could include football at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, the oldest international football stadium in the world, as well as horseracing at Chester Races, the world’s oldest racecourse.

Colin Potts, Chair of Destination Chester, a group of the city’s tourism and hospitality leaders, said: “Wrexham’s growing proﬁle provides a wonderful opportunity for joint marketing projects, not least because of Chester’s proximity and excellent accommodation offering. When you then combine that with the history and industrial heritage both sides of the border – the UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Jodrell Bank and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – when we join forces, we have an outstanding visitor offer. It was great to see so much enthusiasm in the room and a commitment for closer collaboration in the future to attract more visitors and spend to the region that will beneﬁt our tourism and hospitality businesses, and the people they employ.”

Joe Bickerton – Destination Manager, Destination Wrexham – said: “Working more collaboratively with our tourism partners in Cheshire is opening up greater opportunities to support the growing visitor economy of both areas. With a quick rail link, and a 15-minute drivetime , feedback suggests that many of our visitors take in both cities in a single trip. Therefore, the further we can develop joint marketing campaigns, itineraries and initiatives to support local hospitality operators in 2025, the more resilient and competitive we’ll become as a regional destination in the UK with something for everyone.”

The beauty of being local

Two sisters have relocated their business from Manchester to the Cheshire village of Farndon, to help them to grow it into a multimillion-pound beauty brand.

Sarah and Emma Cross launched CODE Beautiful in 2014, their own range of ‘natural, quick and easy’ cosmetics aimed at women aged 30 to 75+. The award-winning range, which is cruelty-free and vegan, was created by asking and listening to feedback from women about the products they really wanted.

The brand has a carefully curated collection of hero products which includes mascara, lash primer, brow deﬁner, a lid lift enhancer and an intense lip plumper and a lip liner made with German technology and the only one in the world to selfsharpen. The sisters work with manufacturers in Italy and Germany to create the highest quality products. Customers include makeup artists and celebrities.

They are one of 25 businesses selected for GM Business Growth Hub’s ASCEND Scale Up Programme and are building a ﬁnancial model for expansion.

Delivered in partnership with KPMG, the programme has been tailored to help the founders of high-growth businesses to scale rapidly and achieve their full potential.

Hydrogen sector calls for Government support

Leaders of the hydrogen industry in the North West have told the Government to back the development of hydrogen transport and storage systems, so the sector can help the UK reach net zero targets. A new report from the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) says that while Government policy frameworks have been created to support hydrogen production, the development of transport and storage policies has been slower.

It says: “A well-developed hydrogen network enables largescale production at central facilities for distribution across various regions and users. It also provides ﬂexibility in choosing storage locations, allowing hydrogen to be produced where it’s most cost-effective and consumed where demand is highest.”

Hollywood co-owners take Wrexham Lager US state-wide

Wrexham Lager is now being sold in states across the USA. Late last year, Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced they had become co-owners of the historic Wrexham Lager brewery company, alongside the Roberts family.

The duo, who are also owners of Wrexham AFC, revealed their new venture through a YouTube video and announced plans to expand Wrexham Lager's reach into international markets. We toast them on to even greater success!

Welsh language centre of excellence and education to undergo major revamp

Coleg Cambria is to signiﬁcantly invest in the facilities, technology and equipment at its Camu building in Wrexham. The redevelopment begins in the coming weeks with a focus on maximising the hub’s potential in delivering Welsh language qualiﬁcations to students and the wider community via its Welsh for Adults provision.

A renovation and extension of the interior and classrooms at the Yale site will be complemented by additional learning spaces, a café, state-of-the-art technology, a staff ‘agile hub’ and new access points.

Cambria’s Head of Corporate Communications and Welsh Language, Llinos Roberts, says the transformation will bring Camu (the Welsh word for ‘Step’ – a reference to enhancing language skills) in line with the neighbouring £20m Hafod campus and £14m Health and Wellbeing Centre, which opened last month: “The project supports the college’s vision and strategy to grow Welsh-medium education and training in all sectors across the region. That runs parallel to the growing demand for more Welsh language workers – in line with the Welsh Government’s aim of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 – and offers the 200+ learners on site who attended Welsh medium schools a facility where they can practice and further their own language development.”

All ‘Knew’ growth perspective for 2025

Knew Productions, which has its studio based midway between Chester and Wrexham in Rossett, celebrated a record year in 2024. This culminated in recognition of its achievements at West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce Recognition Awards 2024, where it secured the Business Growth award. The Growth Award recognises businesses that have experienced exceptional growth in sales, proﬁt, market share, jobs or international trade, demonstrating the highest levels of growth along with a strong plan for sustainable ﬁnancial performance.

Now at the start of 2025, the company has appointed a new commercial manager to help focus its business development, especially in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and construction sectors. Brian Rothera has an extensive pharmaceutical background and joins the business eager to share that knowledge. In addition, Knew is also actively seeking to recruit another video editor to join its existing production team, to help meet the increasing demand.

Apple-certified video editor and post-production manager, Aaron O’Carroll, who joined Knew Productions six years ago as an apprentice, has rapidly adopted the latest video technology, including various AI tools for enhancing workflow and a new FPV (First Person View) drone service: “We are always looking to bring something fresh to our videos, and we are excited by the introduction of our new FPV drone. The FPV is incredibly small and agile, and provides a unique perspective, enabling us to film in even more dynamic and creative ways – both indoors and out!”

Community Foundation Wales

Community Foundation Wales has reopened its grant scheme, which offers funding ranging from £500 to £2,000. The scheme is aimed at individuals aged 18-30 who:

• Are resident in and have a business operating in Wales

• Have been operating their business for no more than two years OR are in the development/pilot stage, have carried out market research and expect to start trading imminently

• Are registered as a Sole Trader or a Limited Company. If registered as a Partnership, the lead partner needs to be aged 18-30

• Own 100% of the business or are a majority shareholder

• Work or plan to work full-time on the business

• Must have a business bank account or be in the process of setting up a business bank account

• Applications for ‘business ideas’ will not be considered. Applicants must be able to give evidence of signiﬁcant steps taken to get your business off the ground.

For further information visit the following link: communityfoundationwales.org. uk/swef-enterprise-andbusiness-grants/

Coleg Cambria cements its place among the top institutions

Coleg Cambria has recently received QSCS (Quality Standard in Carer Support) reaccreditation from The Carers Federation, having been one of the ﬁrst 10 colleges in the UK to receive the inaugural award in 2020.

This is an important accolade, as according to the Welsh Government, there are more than 22,500 young carers and young adult carers in Wales – almost two carers in every classroom – and national data reveals they are three times more likely to be NEET (not in education, employment or training) as other young people, and ﬁve times more likely to drop out of college.

DTM Legal Announces Chester Office Move

DTM Legal’s Chester office is moving to a new, modern workspace as part of its continued growth and commitment to delivering outstanding legal services. From 25 February 2025, its Chester team will be based at Knights Court on Weaver Street in Chester.

This move is a reﬂection of the company’s dedication to providing an enhanced client experience, a more collaborative work environment, and a space that aligns with its ESG commitments.

The new office has been carefully selected to support both its clients and its growing team, with larger meeting rooms, central location, wheelchair accessibility and a more sustainable and modern workplace.

Xplore! – making an impact

A leading science visitor attraction in the centre of Wrexham is celebrating the ‘huge impact’ it has made in the region, thanks to its community engagement work. Xplore! Science Discovery Centre has maintained its educational roots and ethos by showcasing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), whilst building upon its reputation as a top visitor attraction, with accolades including a 5-star rating by Visit Wales.

A key part of its activity has centred around the introduction of three new science exhibits, taking the total on offer to more than 85. The trio includes a human-sized hamster wheel, a stop-motion animation table, and an Archimedes spiral. Across the past academic year (September 2023 to August 2024), more than 21,000 school learners from 245 schools have been engaged, with some 6,700 pupils visiting the centre on Henblas Street. Refusing to rest on its laurels, the Xplore! team took another crucial step in its game-changing first floor expansion, with the building’s carbon footprint reduced by more than 20 tonnes per annum. The charity installed more than 200 solar panels to the roof, which has benefited from new insulation, as part of ambitious plans to open the space to the public.

Devolution priority programme

Leaders of Cheshire and Warrington’s three councils have written to Government asking for the region to be included in its priority programme for devolution. This would formally open conversations with Government about potential new powers and funding Cheshire and Warrington could receive if it goes ahead with devolution. In the letter, Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman, state: “The three local authorities, Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester and Warrington are committed to working in partnership to progress a devolution agreement with His Majesty’s Government and establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority by May 2026. We look forward to working with you and your colleagues in 2025 and are grateful that you have recognised all the previous preplanning work we have done together that has resulted in us being recognised for inclusion in the Devolution Priority Programme.”

Before any agreement, views will be sought from the region’s residents, communities and businesses on how devolution could benefit Cheshire and Warrington. Any formal devolution agreement would need to be agreed by each council as well as the Cheshire & Warrington Joint Committee, which provides leadership on strategic economic issues for the region. Leaders added: “It’s clear that devolution would bring significant power and funding to the Cheshire and Warrington region. We’re ambitious for our region and we want to seize this opportunity to benefit our residents, communities and businesses. Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost one million residents being made in London. Being part of the Government’s priority programme would put us at the front of the queue for the potential benefits of devolution – and reaffirms that we are working together to get the best outcomes for our region. Devolution is about national government transferring powers and resources away from London and into regions. It’s not about merging councils. Individual councils would retain their current responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people.”

Moneypenny hosts exclusive Marketing Meetup event

Moneypenny recently hosted an exclusive The Marketing Meetup (TMM) event, bringing together marketing professionals from across Wrexham and the northwest for an evening of networking, insights and thought leadership.

The highlight of the event was a ﬁreside chat featuring renowned marketing expert Canberk Beker from ROAsted, who shared his invaluable perspectives on the state of the B2B go-to-market strategies. Addressing an engaged audience of marketing professionals, Beker spoke candidly about the common challenges facing B2B GTM teams. He remarked, “No matter where I go or who I meet, there’s a pattern across B2B GTM teams. Regardless of team size or budget, the challenges are the same. I hope that makes every marketer out there feel a little less hopeless. The problem is fundamental.”

The event, held as part of The Marketing Meetup’s ongoing series, focuses on fostering meaningful discussions around strategy, execution and innovation in marketing. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with peers, exchange ideas and gain actionable insights from one of the industry's leading voices. Hannah Stringer, Marketing Director at Moneypenny, expressed excitement about hosting such an impactful gathering: “At Moneypenny, we are committed to supporting the marketing community and facilitating conversations that drive growth and success.“

Make your reservation at the zoo

The new luxury lodge experiences at Chester Zoo have now been launched. The Reserve is nestled around a picturesque lake, next to the zoo’s brand-new Heart of Africa area. It will feature 51 lodges, some of which overlook a private savannah which is home to giraffes and other incredible species, as well as a stunning restaurant, lounge bar and outside relaxation spaces.

Chester Racecourse reveals £20m revamp

Chester Race Company has submitted an application for two new buildings at its Chester Racecourse to Cheshire West and Chester Council. The construction of the buildings has an estimated build cost of £20 million.

The two new buildings are a hospitality building and a facilities hub, which make up the ﬁrst phase of a wider, 15-year development plan geared towards modernising the sporting venue ahead of its 500th anniversary in 2039. The 25,000 square feet hospitality building has been designed by Kay Elliott Architects and will include a full roof terrace. It’s been designed to replace the current tented village on the course, providing guests with upgraded facilities on race day. Chester-based Lovelock Mitchell Architects has crafted the facilities’ hub design. This building would be 30,000 square feet and include 7,500 square feet of offices and a 10,000 square foot stables lodge. There would also be 7,500 square feet available for Chester Race Company’s catering company Horseradish and 5,000 square feet for maintenance.

Chester: the fourth happiest place to live in the North West

Chester has recently been scored as the fourth happiest place to live in the North West – and 34th nationally. The three spots above Chester were Kendall, Chorley and Altrincham. Organised by Rightmove, each year the company ask thousands of people across Great Britain how they feel about where they live, and this year’s Happy at Home study was completed by over 35,000 residents.

Local Chamber of Commerce provides a voice for business

The West Cheshire & North Wales (WCNW) Chamber of Commerce, an independent not-for-proﬁt organisation, has been supporting businesses across the region for over 100 years, providing a voice for its members and the local business community.

There is no denying that it has been a challenging period for ﬁrms and 2025 will bring with it a number of signiﬁcant changes following announcements in the Autumn Budget and the Employment Rights Bill.

“It can often feel for SMEs that they have nowhere to turn when they encounter challenges and they can often wonder who to raise concerns with”, says Sarah Bailey, CEO of the WCNW Chamber of Commerce.

“This is where the Chamber of Commerce comes in. With strong connections in local, regional and national government, we are able to provide a channel for businesses to raise issues that are hampering their plans and growth aspirations.”

WCNW Chamber of Commerce is accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) which relies on input from Chamber members from across the UK to understand the economic landscape and to raise the voice of businesses with ministers on a day-to-day basis.

North Wales students praise higher apprenticeship scheme

A leading civil engineering ﬁrm’s full degree apprenticeship scheme has been lauded by a trio of North Wales learners who are approaching the halfway mark of their studies. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK’s commitment to nurturing the future of the industry took another giant step forward, when it launched the improved programme in 2024.

That saw the 2022 intake of 10 move to the new-look arrangement, which leads to a BEng (Hons) in civil engineering or a BSc (Hons) in quantity surveying. Half a dozen are from north Wales, with Huw Wilyman, Toby Laurie, Llion Pritchard, Harley Durak, Jacob Evans and Twm Tudor based in the region.

21-year-old Toby Laurie, who hails from Wrexham, said: “I’ve learned loads, especially working at Holyhead Border Control, where I’ve been helping with drainage, foundations and earthworks. I said I wanted a job where I learned a lot and this certainly has fulﬁlled that. My experience at Holyhead has made me look forward to the next two years. I’d 100 percent recommend this apprenticeship to others.”

Harrods Beauty coming to Chester

H Beauty – from London Knightsbridge’s famous Harrods department store – is set to open in part of the former Debenhams building in Chester. The luxury retailer has had is planning application approved for an almost 24,000 square feet store area. H Beauty, which already has stores in Gateshead, Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Essex, offers a variety of wares from premium beauty retailers, as well as spa treatments, masterclass workshops and a champagne bar. H Beauty estimates that it will create 70 full-time jobs when operational in the city, as well as 47 part-time ones.

Green skills training and jobs boost

Cheshire has been selected by the government as a ‘key growth region’ for clean energy, such as offshore wind, nuclear and solar industries, which will unlock green skills training and boost a collective ambition for it to be the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK.

Workers will be supported with government-backed training programmes so they can benefit from thousands of new job opportunities in the clean energy sector, as part of the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission. Cheshire West and Chester Council will receive £1 million in the first round of funding, after it was recently confirmed it was one of four regions selected by the government to launch the scheme. This will include an Energy Skills Passport portal – a tool which will enable workers to easily identify which qualifications, such as technical and safety standards, are needed for specific roles – to help workers in the oil and gas industry transition into the renewable energy sector in the region.

Wrexham Ecology Co-operative launched at Industrial Estate

The Wrexham Ecology Co-operative, formed by FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), United Environmental Services (UES), Enfys Ecology, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Butterﬂy Conservation, aims to boost biodiversity in the area.

The partners will work together to create an ecology plan for Wrexham Industrial Estate. This will involve surveying land, assessing net biodiversity, and implementing a long-term management plan across 75 acres of land. The focus will be on six pieces of land around Wrexham Industrial Estate, which is home to 340 businesses and 16,500 employees. The work will include a base survey, to identify biodiversity net gain potential and the production of a management plan for bee conservation and wildﬂower planting. The programme will also engage with the community, collaborating with businesses, schools, colleges and universities.

The co-operative’s initial focus will be on a 30-acre ecology zone located next to Wrexham 1M, FIREM's forthcoming one million square feet industrial and logistics development. The area aims to provide enhanced habitats for local wildlife, with around £350,000 being invested into the creation of the ecology zone. The project will allocate substantial resources to relocating the estate’s population of great crested newts, more than two decades after Wrexham Borough Council initially developed an action plan to protect and enhance the species within the county.

Mark Adams, head of development and construction at FIREM, said: "We’re delighted to come together with our partners to create a long-term plan for sustainable biodiversity and to manage the legacy of ecological spaces at Wrexham Industrial Estate. The Wrexham Ecology Co-operative has held its inaugural meeting, and plans are now underway for the next 12 months, including the ﬁrst phase of work focused on relocating the newts.

Hollyoaks star to host this year’s Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards

Cheshire-born and raised actor and singer Ashley Taylor Dawson will be hosting the prestigious Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards 2024/2025 this March.

The awards celebrate the people and businesses behind Cheshire and Warrington’s tourism sector.

The awards champion everything from family attractions, wedding venues and holiday parks to accommodation providers, pubs and restaurants – with a new Best Event or Festival Award, one of 17 categories included for 2024/25. Qualifying winners will be automatically entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, to compete against the best in the country.

A 300-strong audience is expected at the glittering ceremony, which takes place at Chester Cathedral on Thursday 6 March 2025. Judges have sifted through a record number of entries for the awards with ﬁnalists hailing from across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington subregions were conﬁrmed.

From VP to awardwinning franchisee: Virtual PA service wins big at ‘franchise Oscars’

A virtual PA service operating in Ellesmere Port has won a major award at the ‘Oscars of the franchise world’. Ally Phillips, 53, from Frodsham, was crowned ‘Lifestyle Franchisee of the Year’ at the BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards 2024. The category celebrates the passion, drive and commitment of franchisees who have had exceptional results, while achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Ally, who is franchisee owner of Pink Spaghetti PA Services in Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Runcorn, explains: “The BFAs are the top of the mountain in our industry, so it’s hard to believe I got there in less than a decade. There were plenty of tears at the awards ceremony from me, my husband Greg and Pink Spaghetti founder Caroline Gowing, who have both been fantastic sounding boards and advocates on this journey.”

A former Vice President of Marketing within banking, Ally took an eight-year career break before becoming a Pink Spaghetti franchisee in 2016. The biggest selling point, she said, was being able to build a business as well as a family-focused lifestyle.

Chester entrepreneur named one of 2025’s most impressive female founders

Tracy Lynn from Chester has been crowned one of the UK’s most impressive female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain’s ‘f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100’ campaign. Tracy Lynn, who founded Spark Creatives in 2014, is being proﬁled among 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs from across the country, as part of the campaign to celebrate the multi-achievements of women running businesses in the UK today. Spark Creatives is a LIVE event brand agency that works internationally and helps brands to bring their DNA to life in various ways through events, hospitality, experiential and sponsorship activation. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and has built a reputation for creativity and getting things done.

The f:Entrepreneur ‘#IAlso100’ line-up particularly showcases trailblazing female founders who lead purpose-driven businesses alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support. Indeed, Tracy was also called out for her charity work for Breast Cancer Awareness Charity – CoppaFeel having trekked over 100k and raised £6,000 whilst doing so for the charity. Tracy is also Chester Hockey Club Ladies Club Captain and has managed many of the junior sides at the club and is passionate about young girls having access to sport.

On being featured in the #ialso100 lineup, Tracy said: “It’s an absolute privilege and honour to be added to this list of like-minded women. 2025 is going to be a great year in business if this is anything to go by. I celebrated Sparks’ 10th anniversary last year and we go from strength to strength.

Tell us your business news. Deadline for our June/July/August ‘25 issue is: 1 May 2025 please email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain, said: “It’s wonderful to have Tracy from Spark Creatives feature in this year’s #IAlso100. All the female entrepreneurs in this year’s line-up are simply phenomenal. It is vital that we recognise the impressive contribution of the UK’s female business owners and do all we can to support and encourage them throughout their entrepreneurial journey, from start-up to scale-up. As well as making a huge economic contribution to the UK, female entrepreneurs also create a wider positive impact that ripples across society and local communities too.”

“Cheshire

has such an exciting and diverse food and drink industry, from local producers, brewers and vineyards, through to the holiday let properties and farmers”

sensation A taste

This year’s Chester Food and Drink Festival celebrates 25 years of bringing quality food and drink, chef demonstrations, workshops and family fun to Chester over the Easter weekend. Now run by Taste Cheshire and hosted for all except the ﬁrst two years at Chester Racecourse, the event started off with a handful of Chester independent restaurants banding together. Their aim was to bring local residents and visitors a week of special menus across the city, celebrating the diversity of offerings across Chester. To get a ﬂavour of what Taste Cheshire does, we met with Briony Wilson and Tori Hayes, the owners of the organisation and custodians of the festival.

Springtime and Easter mark the start of the tourist season in Chester, and the annual Chester Food and Drink Festival provides another reason to visit Chester over the Easter weekend. The festival has been held on the Easter weekend for every year apart from in 2021, when Covid restrictions meant that after being cancelled in 2020, it was delayed until August Bank holiday weekend. Briony explains, “It was a huge logistical challenge to put on the festival during Covid, but we were determined to make it happen. We were one of the ﬁrst big events to happen as we came out of the most stringent Covid restrictions and there was a lot of things we had to put in place to ensure we could hold the event safely.” This year the festival is expecting the welcome around 25,000 visitors across three days from Saturday 19 April to Monday 21 April 2025. There will be more than 100 traders, a demonstration stage featuring local and celebrity chefs, a VIP area and a location for the kids’ and adults’ workshops.

Homegrown talent

Taste Cheshire celebrates independent food and drink retailers – and associated companies – across the county. Tori explains, “Cheshire has such an exciting and diverse food and drink industry, from local producers, brewers and vineyards, through to the holiday let properties and farmers’ markets. I think a lot of its success comes from the soil and growing infrastructure we have in Cheshire.

It is such an honour to be able to showcase the breadth of choice we have. We took over the running of Chester Food and Drink Festival about six years ago. It sits comfortably within our business model.”

Briony has worked on Chester Food and Drink Festival for the last decade, running it with Tori since Taste Cheshire took it on. She explains how she came to get involved: “I was studying Event Management at university. It was a four-year course, with one year out on placement. My lecturers encouraged us to volunteer within the industry to gain experience. I was lucky enough to volunteer with the Chester Food and Drink Festival. It wasn’t glamourous, but I remember thinking even then that this was something I really wanted to do. Helped partly by my volunteering, I was also able to secure my one-year placement working on Chester Food and Drink Festival. I was then fortunately offered the job full-time when I ﬁnished my course.”

“It was a huge logistical challenge to put on the festival during Covid, but we were determined to make it happen”

Championing authenticity

In the early days of the festival, one of the key drivers was to champion authenticity. Italian food cooked by Italian chefs, French cuisine prepared by French chefs. While the restaurant scene has changed considerably since then, the commitment to authenticity remains true. Briony added, “Our stallholders are a mixture of local traders and people from all over the country or even overseas. It’s great to be able to celebrate our local talent, but the variety of traders ensures we remain true to our original aim.”

The festival too has evolved and changed over the years, although the sausage competition remains a highlight for many people. She continued, “In previous years we have run a Young Chefs competition. In fact, one of our earlier winners is now the head chef of Bar Lounge. However, rather than running a cook-off this year, we are going to get our young chefs working together and showcasing what they can produce in 40 minutes.”

Whatever the weather

Any event operating on the scale that Chester Food and Drink Festival does must bring with it some challenges. Tori was happy to share some of the unlikely hurdles that the team has faced over the years: “Each festival brings its own set of challenges and no two years throw up the same ones, which keeps it interesting. I remember in 2021, Briony ended up ringing 86 different companies to try and source toilets for the campers. It’s not a number you forget very quickly! We can often face issues with our various suppliers and of course the rising costs present us with a constant battle. We can generally ﬁnd a solution to address each of these challenges. However, the one thing that is totally outside our control is the weather. The unpredictable UK weather, particularly at Easter, can mean that over the years we have dealt with everything from scorching sunshine, howling wind, driving rain and even snow.”

It’s like family

The festival may be organised by Briony and Tori, but they have an army of volunteers that come together to make sure the festival is a success each year. Briony says, “We have a great

“The one thing that is totally outside our control is the weather. The unpredictable UK weather, particularly at Easter, can mean that over the years we have dealt with everything from scorching sunshine, howling wind, driving rain and even snow”

relationship with the wider Chester community, and I believe that is why the festival works so well. I am not sure that you could run this event anywhere else. We have an amazing group that comes together and makes sure that everything runs smoothly. We have a team that runs CamperFest, setting out all the pitches and managing the site.

“The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is our charity partner, and it manages the activities which take place in the children’s area. Then we have Phil, Ian and Emma, who make sure that the chefs’ demonstration area runs

smoothly, and we also have the wonderful Izzy Grey from ‘We Love Good Times’, who expertly hosts the stage area. Many of our volunteers have been with us for years. They are like family. In fact, we have multigenerational families that include people that have grown up with the festival – and then got their children involved too.” Tori added, “Our friends and family, including my son and partner, get behind the festival each year too. I don’t know what we would do without their support. Easter wouldn’t be Easter without the Food and Drink Festival.”

Accessible to all

It’s important that the festival is accessible for everyone, as Tori explained: “We work hard to make the festival inclusive and accessible. The accessibility element is further enhanced by the fact we are one of the few food festivals that is set up largely on hard standing, meaning that even if the weather is bad, wheelchair users can still get about. Many food festivals take place on ﬁelds, which can make them inaccessible when they become waterlogged or muddy. The hard standing is one of the great things about the racecourse hosting the festival. It has that infrastructure already in place and the team there is incredibly helpful and supportive.”

An all-consuming event

Chester Food and Drink Festival is a

huge undertaking each year. The planning for the next event starts a month after the last one takes place, and for the period from January until Easter each year, the festival is allconsuming. But as well as managing all the logistics of the food festival, Taste Cheshire manages the monthly Farmers’ Market outside Chester town hall and the team is also involved in Active Travel, Chester Green Weekend, The Summer Festival at Cheshire Polo Club and Deva Fest.

In addition to producing a show guide, the team work with the One Chester app and other local media to highlight the festival. And as the 25th food and drink festival rapidly approaches, the team is ready to raise a glass and celebrate a quarter of a century of success in style.

About Taste Cheshire

Taste Cheshire started life 15 years ago supporting small or independent food and drink businesses with their marketing and bringing them together, to offer a strong food and drink proposition for Cheshire. Today, Taste Cheshire is an affordable membership organisation and all the members are highlighted on the website – each with their own microsite.

“The website is key to our marketing strategy for our members and we are excited to launch our new website soon. We’ve developed an engaged community, with statistics showing that 40% of our viewership is local people, while 60% comes from visitors to the area.”

“Many of our volunteers have been with us for years. They are like family. In fact, we have multigenerational families that include people that have grown up with the festival – and then got their children involved too”

Networking VOX

Our ﬁrst networking for 2025 took place on Thursday 23 January 2025. Hotel Wrexham hosted us for a lively start to our latest programme of networking events. Former Wrexham Mayor, Andy Williams, was our speaker, and he came along to tell attendees about Buddi’s Legacy. To help tell the story, he also bought along one of the Welsh Blood Bikes, which took pride of place at the front of the room.

Andy was also joined by Jo Smith. Jo is working with Andy to help raise funds to get a pet resuscitator installed in every fire engine in North Wales. The funds raised will be used to provide the kit and also train the firefighters to use it. Jo bought with her one of her dogs, the beautiful Bill, who has been approved as a ‘Pets as Therapy’ dog.

Andy and Jo’s talk was insightful, but Bill certainly stole the show.

To donate or ﬁnd out more about Buddi’s Legacy visit the Go Fund Me page: gofundme.com/f/BuddisLegacy

Future dates

Thursday 20 March

Our next networking event takes place in March in Chester at the Townhouse Hotel on Lower Bridge Street. We are excited to announce that our speaker is best-selling author, Simon McCleave and you can read more about him on page 26.

• Thursday 3 July

• Thursday 9 October

Book your place online at: www.ezpublishing.co.uk/events

NETWORKING VOX

DATE:

TIME:

LOCATION:

Supporting the next

generation

I began my career in 2015. As an apprentice with WR Partners, I’ve worked my way through the ranks and now hold the position of Client Manager at our Wrexham office. Since those early days however, I’ve always been passionate about more than just numbers and spreadsheets—I’m driven by a desire to help people and businesses thrive. I’ve found great satisfaction in connecting with individuals, collaborating and fostering growth, not just professionally, but personally too.

When I first entered the professional world as a young apprentice, I quickly realised it could be an intimidating place. Walking into networking events, I often felt like a small fish in a big pond. Surrounded by seasoned, wellestablished professionals, I experienced what so many young people do: imposter syndrome. I often felt like I didn’t belong in the room and questioned whether I could contribute anything of value. Over time, it became clear that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. There were others like me – driven young professionals who just needed the right platform to build their confidence, grow their skills and find their voices.

This is where I met Bryony Davenport (Handelsbanken) and just by talking, we both quickly realised that we shared the same thoughts, ideas and feeling: if we put our skills and enthusiasm together, there must be something we could do for the young professionals of Wrexham who were in the same position as us.

That realisation was the spark that ignited Wrexham Young Professionals.

By JOSH WILLIAMS, MAAT ACCA

“Walking into networking events, I often felt like a small ﬁsh in a big pond”

We wanted to create an environment where young people wouldn’t feel out of place – a community where they could not only learn and develop, but also thrive. This group is more than just a networking opportunity; it’s a platform for personal and professional growth, designed speciﬁcally to meet the needs of the next generation of professionals.

My Vision for Wrexham Young Professionals

Wrexham Young Professionals is aimed at individuals like me – young, ambitious and eager to grow, but sometimes uncertain about how to navigate the professional world. This group offers a welcoming, informal space for young professionals to connect, learn and share their experiences. Unlike traditional networking events that can often feel rigid and daunting, our events are designed to be approachable, relaxed and free to attend for all.

The goal is simple: to equip young people with the skills, conﬁdence and network they need to excel.

Whether it’s building presentation skills, reﬁning professional etiquette, or simply gaining the courage to walk into a room full of strangers and strike up a conversation, Wrexham Young Professionals is here to help. Attendees can expect events that foster genuine connections with likeminded individuals, promote collaborative learning and encourage personal development.

What makes this group stand out is the emphasis on growth. It’s not just about networking; it’s about creating a foundation. The idea is to provide a space where young professionals can build the skills and conﬁdence they need to step into other, more traditional, networking environments with ease. It’s a stepping stone for greater success, where participants can learn, develop and grow in a supportive environment.

Why join Wrexham Young Professionals?

If you’ve ever walked into a professional event and felt out of place, Wrexham Young Professionals is for you. If you’re eager to connect with other driven

“This group offers a welcoming, informal space for young professionals to connect, learn and share their experiences”

this is the community you’ve been looking for. And if you’re passionate about learning and developing as a professional, while meeting new people who share your ambitions, you’ll feel right at home here.

Joining Wrexham Young Professionals means becoming part of a network that values collaboration, growth and authenticity. It’s a space where you can build meaningful relationships, learn from others’ experiences and share your own. Most importantly, it’s a place where you belong – where you’ll never feel like a small ﬁsh in a big pond.

This is more than just a networking group; it’s a movement to empower young professionals in Wrexham and beyond. So, whether you’re just starting your career or looking to expand your horizons, come join us at Wrexham Young Professionals. Together, we’ll build a community where growth, conﬁdence and opportunity thrive.

To hear more please reach out at: wrexhamyoungprofessionals@gmail.com or ﬁnd us on LinkedIn.

Training

Our ﬁrst EZ training workshop took place on Tuesday 25 February 2025

Attended by a group of Chester and Wrexham businesses, it was held in Hwb yr Orsedd (Rossett Hub) and focused on Sustainability.

Did you know…

One year’s emails is equivalent to 0.60 tonnes of CO2e? Businesses have a crucial role to play in driving sustainable change. The workshop was designed to provide delegates with an overview of business and personal carbon footprint basics, along with information on what is needed to reach Net Zero. The session was led by Helen Tandy from Eco Communities. As well as taking part in the ‘How bad are

bananas game?’, which threw up a few surprises, delegates left the session armed with some tools and information to help them on their journey to NetZero.

Helen is partner of ethical financial services business, Castlefield. She runs the group’s Carbon Literacy Training and heads its Net Zero project. She also set up Eco Communities in 2019. Eco Communities is a not for profit working on Plastic Free campaigning, as well as running projects on sustainable food and sustainable business sessions. She is a qualified Small 99 Carbon Reduction Trainer and an approved facilitator of the How Bad are Bananas game.

EZ Training Workshops coming up next...

Tuesday 25 February: Sustainability

Tuesday 08 April: Volunteering

Tuesday 24 June: Video – hints and tips

Tuesday 9 September: Wellbeing at work

Tuesday 28 October: Cybersecurity

Tuesday 25 November: Public speaking

To book on or ﬁnd out more about the training, the trainers and what you’ll learn, visit our website for more information: ezpublishing.co.uk/training

A

conversation with Simon McCleave

The multimillion-bestselling Author

Writing is murder!

Simon McCleave is a multimillion-selling crime novelist based on the borders of Wrexham and Cheshire. He has enjoyed an extensive career in TV and ﬁlm as a scriptwriter – working in London on such shows as The Bill and Midsomer Murders –before becoming head of development at Channel 4. His career took him to Los Angeles, where he worked for production houses such as 20th Century Fox. He returned from the US to North Wales in 2008 and spent a number of years teaching English and A level Media. With this literary background, it is perhaps no surprise that Simon has now found his calling writing crime novels.

Setting the pace

Since his ﬁrst published work in January 2020, Simon has written another 30 books to date. 21 of these are the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller series, which is set in locations around North Wales. When asked about how he has written so many books in such a short period of time, Simon puts it down to his time as a scriptwriter. “When working on set during ﬁlming, you might be asked to rework a scene. You don’t get days or weeks to do this, it generally has to be done within hours. They might tell you in the morning and expect to be shooting the scene by the afternoon. TV writing is all about writing quickly and rewriting accurately and at speed. I did that for so many years, working quickly is the only way I now know how to write. A complete novel might take me a month.”

Being independent

Simon explains: “I grew up reading a lot of crime novels. You could say I cut my

teeth on mysteries, and I was always drawn to crime stories. I’ve read them all, from the American authors and LA noir novelists like James Ellroy, Raymond Chandler and Michael Connelly, who created the Harry Bosch series, through to the incredible Sir Ian James Rankin, creator of the Inspector Rebus series.

“Before I started writing my ﬁrst book, The Snowdonia Murders, I had been reading a lot and I decided, ‘Come on, let’s have a go’. At that point I didn’t have a publisher or an agent, so I decided to go down the indie books route and self-publish. However, I made the decision to invest in a good editor and a marketing consultant, who helped me ﬁnd the right route to market. I also made sure that the front cover was striking, as a book cover is so important to the initial success of a book. These are all decisions that helped to secure my success as an author.”

“Before I started writing my ﬁrst book, The Snowdonia Murders, I had been reading a lot and I decided, ‘Come on, let’s have a go’. At that point I didn’t have a publisher or an agent, so I decided to go down the indie books route and self-publish”

A twist in the tail

The writing process is something that fascinates many people. Every author approaches their books differently. “When I start a new novel, I generally know the beginning and the end, and I have planned my twist, but the stuff in the middle isn’t always clear when I start. I enjoy working it out as I go along.”

Simon’s work also includes a lot of police procedural, something he had already experienced when he worked on The Bill. “I was lucky enough to take part in a number of ride-alongs with Peckham Police in 2001, when I was working on The Bill. It was important that the scripts were as authentic as possible. With my first book, I wanted to make sure that the portrayal was accurate too and I was fortunate to be able to sense-check what I had written with a Detective Sargeant friend I have in Wrexham Police. I find it fascinating to understand the realities of a situation and then trying to figure out how I can make that work within the confines of my narrative.”

Many of Simon’s books feature a female protagonist. “I often prefer to write from a female perspective. I ﬁnd that women generally have more emotional intelligence and are more likely to talk through their decision-making process, which is useful from a plot device point-of-view. However, in my latest series for Harper-Collins, the lead is a retired, male detective and I am enjoying the different pace this gives the story too.”

Personal experiences

Alcoholism and recovery play an important role in many of Simon’s books. Simon writes from ﬁrsthand experience and his honest accounts have resonated with many readers that recognise reﬂections of their own emotional battles. “I am eight years sober, and I have found the process of writing about my experiences and exploring recovery in my books to have been therapeutic. It is a topic that is still fairly taboo, but the more people talk about it and understand it, the greater the support out there will be. Alcoholism isn’t a lifestyle choice; it’s a deadly illness. I still attend regular AA meetings and have even gone into Berwyn Prison in Wrexham and shared my experiences at the AA meetings there.”

Coming full circle

When we interviewed Simon, he had just received the ﬁnal version of the

script for a new TV series, due to be filmed on location in North Wales in summer 2025. The first two Ruth Hunter Snowdonia books have been merged and developed by scriptwriter Helen Rainer. While he couldn’t say who was likely to play the lead role, he was able to tell us how the project had begun: “I was contacted by a wellknown actress who had read my book while she was on holiday. The actress in question optioned The Snowdonia Killings books for her own production company. It has been an amazing experience so far and so interesting to see it from a different side. As the author, I might have struggled to adapt my own work into a script, as I am so close to what I wrote originally. However, Helen has done an amazing job with it. I am excited to be involved in the next stage and look forward to seeing it filmed.”

A sense of place

Location is a key ingredient in Simon’s novels, with many set in places we all know and can easily visit.

When asked why he chose North Wales, he explained: “I have travelled to many places around the world and Wales is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The myths and legends that surround the country only add to its allure and atmosphere. I enjoy driving out to the locations I am writing about, take video and photos, and make note of speciﬁc details that might ultimately become part of the story. With so much on my doorstep, why wouldn’t I set my books here?”

Earn your marketing

stripes

By MAGGIE AUSTEN

A guide to keeping your website fresh

Your website provides you with the opportunity to showcase the best of your business to potential customers, 24/7. Think of it as your digital shop window. However, unless your website is well-maintained, kept up-to-date and constantly refreshed, it will no longer be a powerful asset; it may even be causing damage to your brand. Luckily, there are some easy ways to make sure that your website makes a purely positive contribution to your business.

You may have very little to do with the day-to-day business of looking after your website. It may be a colleague’s responsibility, or you have outsourced site maintenance to a web specialist.

Do make sure that if it is looked after by someone outside your business that you have details of the logins, so you can always access it if you need to. However, if the worst comes to the worst and the access details are lost, there are ways to recover them, so there is no need to fear you will need to rebuild from scratch.

Regular reviews

Regardless of who looks after your site, it is really important that you regularly review it thoroughly. Put yourself in the position of a prospective customer, visiting your website for the ﬁrst time.

One of the typical ways in which a website can put users off is by having too many menus and an overload of navigation options. A website visitor needs to see straightaway how they can get to the information they require. If it is too complicated, they will simply leave and you may have lost a valuable new business lead in the process.

Another common problem that besets many websites is that they are slow to load. This problem can be exacerbated if you have a lot of high-resolution images or you are trying to support a number of videos on the site. A typical visitor will only allow a few seconds for your site to respond and if it is too slow, they will give up.

Maintaining social links

Broken links are another bugbear. A 404 error, also known as a ‘not found’ error, will come up when a page has been removed, relocated or the URL has changed. Having any of these on your website looks really unprofessional. Make sure all the links to locations outside the site are working too, especially those to your social media channels. You may never follow these links, but you need to ensure your customers can. Check that all your social proﬁles are included as icons on your website and are easy to ﬁnd.

Despite increasing awareness of the need to promote digital inclusion, accessibility issues are still frequently found and are often overlooked when it comes to website design. For example, poor contrast between the

“A website visitor needs to see straightaway how they can get to the information they require. If it is too complicated, they will simply leave”

“Building

responsive websites that work

across different devices is essential”

text and background colours makes navigating a site extremely challenging for anyone with a visual impairment. Make sure that your website meets required standards.

Even if your website is functioning well, it is important to make sure it looks up to date. Old-fashioned images can make your website look old-fashioned too, so swapping in some more modern imagery is a quick way to update its overall look. Also, how recently were your team photos taken? Have all the retirees been removed and all the new starters included?

Spelling tests

Of course, it is vital not to neglect the basics either. If the content of your website is poorly written, it will be hard

for a visitor to understand what you mean. Spelling mistakes or typos look so sloppy, but are easy to miss, so again, take time to check through your site regularly to make sure any of these are picked up. Even if they are well-written, many websites are far too wordy, so see where words can be reduced, as this improves the user experience immeasurably.

There are still plenty of websites that are less than ideal to navigate via a mobile phone. Building responsive websites that work across different devices is essential to ensure a good user experience. If your website isn’t responsive, it is likely to be costing your business money. Users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they have had difficulties accessing.

Testing, testing

Whether you have built a new website, or thoroughly refreshed your existing one, the importance of user testing before it goes live cannot be overestimated. Review the performance of the whole site out on a mobile, both android and iOS, as well as on every other type of device.

Once you are happy with how your website is functioning and you have scheduled regular reviews, you can then concentrate on promoting it to potential customers.

Maggie Austen Account Director

Zebra Marketing and Communications maggie@zebra-comms.co.uk

Strengthen your business ﬁnances

Is your business missing out on key ﬁnancial advice?

If you run your own business, you’re probably on first-name terms with your accountant. But have you ever wondered if there’s more you could be doing to improve your finances? That’s where an independent financial adviser (IFA) can come in. Here, Craig Roberts, director of Belgrave Wincham, shares five ways that working with an IFA can benefit your business.

1. Create a financial strategy Every business faces its own set of challenges and opportunities. Collaborating with an independent financial adviser allows you to develop a strategy tailored to your specific needs and goals. This might include:

• Cash ﬂow optimisation – ensuring your business maintains a healthy cash ﬂow to meet short-term and long-term needs

• Growth and investment planning – identifying the best opportunities to grow your business and make sure it’s sustainable

• Exit planning – creating a structured plan to maximise the value of your business if you’re aiming to sell or hand over leadership soon.

As well as laying a solid foundation for future growth and success, a welldesigned ﬁnancial strategy can support your current operations.

By CRAIG ROBERTS

2. Putting the spotlight on your retirement plan

It's easy to put off retirement planning, especially if you hope your business will fund this. However, diversifying your retirement savings can be a much safer approach.

A ﬁnancial adviser can help by:

• Establishing a director’s pension scheme

• Exploring additional retirement savings options, such as Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs)

• Balancing reinvestment in your business with personal wealthbuilding.

A proactive strategy that spreads your savings can give you the stability you need, while reducing the reliance on your business.

3. Protecting your business Uncertainty is an unavoidable part of running a business. An IFA can help mitigate risks by safeguarding your business through tailored insurance solutions, such as:

• Key person insurance – to protect businesses ﬁnancially if a key team member is unable to work because of unforeseen events

• Shareholder protection – to help ensure it’s ‘business as normal’ by funding the purchase of shares if a shareholder leaves unexpectedly

• Income protection – to secure your personal income, allowing you to focus on your recovery should illness or injury strike.

Hopefully, you’ll never need to call on them, but if you do, having the right insurance can provide a safety net when you need it most.

“Have you ever wondered if there’s more you could be doing to improve your ﬁnances?”

“It's easy to put off retirement planning, especially if you hope your business will fund this”

4. Maximising tax efficiency

An IFA can also work hand-in-hand with your accountant to uncover opportunities for greater tax efficiency. These might include:

• Advising on tax-efficient investments for your business and personal portfolios

• Optimising how proﬁts are drawn, and balancing salary and dividends for directors

• Leveraging allowances and credits, such as Research and Development tax credits, to reduce overall liability.

By minimising tax obligations, you can also redirect these resources to grow your business.

5. Linking business ﬁnances to personal ﬁnances

Lastly, an IFA can work with you to align your business decisions with your personal ﬁnancial goals, ensuring both areas support each other.

They can do this by:

• Balancing personal income needs with reinvestment in your business to strengthen both areas

• Making sure your business tax strategy complements your personal tax planning to boost your savings potential

• Protecting your business through insurance so you can safeguard your personal assets, regardless of unexpected events.

How do you choose a ﬁnancial adviser?

With so many ﬁnancial advisers out there, how do you choose the right one for you? Here’s a quick guide to help you make an informed choice:

Know what you need

Think about what you’re looking for help with. Are you a business owner? Do you need personal financial advice? Or maybe both? Not all financial advisers have the same expertise, so it’s important to find the right one for you.

Credentials matter

A trustworthy financial adviser should be fully qualified and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It’s also worth finding out if they're a restricted adviser or an independent financial adviser.

Understand the fees

Financial advisers can charge in different ways, such as ﬂat fees, percentage fees, or hourly rates. Make sure you understand how your adviser charges and get an estimate of the costs upfront.

Look for experience and reputation

Ask friends and family you trust for any recommendations and check online reviews too. A quick search on Google can reveal a lot about how their clients feel about them.

Have a personal connection

Finally, trust your instincts. A good ﬁnancial adviser should make you feel comfortable, heard and conﬁdent in their advice. They’ll also allow you to take your time, ask the right questions and choose when you’re ready.

To discover if you, and your business, could beneﬁt from independent ﬁnancial advice, call Belgrave Wincham on 01978 806505 to arrange a free 60-minute consultation, or visit: belgravewincham.co.uk

Belgrave Wincham Limited is an appointed representative of ValidPath Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FRN 197107. Belgrave Wincham Ltd registered in England and Wales number 12167416.

CONTENT IS SPONSORED

the Rows Living over

The partnership of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), the One City Plan (OCP) Making Group and think-and-do tank, Chester Great and Small (GAS), has officially launched a residential development handbook: ‘Living over the Rows’ which can be viewed – including contact details – on the recently launched OCP website www.chesteronecityplan.co.uk/resources.

Produced by a trio of GAS experts –including architects, developers and planners – it’s intended to help small and medium-sized developers turn the upper ﬂoors of these unique heritage buildings into homes. The launch event was held at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace on Watergate Street as part of Chester Heritage Festival’s ‘Rowvember’ – a month-long celebration showcasing the city’s world-famous and historic 750 years old Rows.

Named in 2022 as the world’s most beautiful city – according to the mathematical golden ratio – Chester frequently appears in ‘Best Places to Live’ lists and in the UK’s top 10 highstreet destinations, and yet, its historic medieval core is still relatively undeveloped in residential terms. Written from a private sector perspective, ‘Living over the Rows’ offers 20 pages of comprehensive and expert step-by-step guidance, highlighting the major opportunities and potential that exists – some 1,227,000 ft² across 197 buildings – as well as the practical challenges and key considerations of residential development. Four myth-busting casestudies, across Bridge Street and Lower Bridge Street, Eastgate Street and

BY VANESSA BOND

Watergate Street, demonstrate what can actually be achieved through ambitious vision and innovative development.

Reimagining Chester’s iconic Rows

The reimagining of Chester’s iconic Rows for residential use emerged as a priority for the OCP initially following a 2021 study of the Rows upper ﬂoors –courtesy of Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone funding – and the subsequent 2022 review of the OCP.

In 2023, GAS was commissioned by the OCP Making Group to produce a ‘how to’ guide. The three contributors to the report are GAS ambassadors and architects: Tony Barton, heritage consultant and former chair of Donald Insall Associates (DIA); Guy Evans, director Cassidy + Ashton (C+A) and Tony Swindells, founder director of developer, Ōpenhōme. The trio have combined their respective expertise across architecture, heritage, planning, development and investment strategy.

“Chester frequently appears in ‘Best Places to Live’ lists and in the UK’s top 10 high-street destinations, and yet, its historic medieval core is still relatively undeveloped”

Hidden in plain sight

Commenting on the ‘Living over the Rows’ project being identiﬁed, commissioned and delivered as a partnership priority under the Making Group of the OCP, its chair Andy Farrall said: “The spaces above the Rows are hidden in plain sight, yet are just waiting to be returned to residential accommodation. These beautiful and quirky buildings are central to breathing new life into our city though increased footfall and enhanced vibrancy. The purpose of ‘Living over the Rows’ is to outline the potential challenges and solutions, so that imaginative developers feel empowered to explore these unique opportunities further.”

Tony Barton, former chair of Donald Insall Associates, heritage architect and historic building consultant said: “Initially investors may think converting a Rows building would be difficult and costly. However, our message is to consider the guide’s case studies provided as proof that these conversions can be easy, and whether developers are considering microapartments for ﬁrst time buyers, or homes for growing families, that GAS,

the OCP and the Council are here to support you. Come and talk to us.”

Good space lying empty Richard Beacham, deputy chair of CWaC and leader’s champion for the OCP commented on the holistic approach being adopted to help address heritage, the high street and housing: “Post-pandemic, it’s evident that our city centres need a mix of uses. Converting empty space above the Rows could help reverse the current housing shortage and boost economic growth in Chester city centre. Above the Rows, there is perfectly good space lying empty, when it could be boosting the economy by housing individuals and families. This project will hopefully inspire owners of these buildings to invest in these spaces and help create unique new places for people to live in our city centre.”

Over the past four years the Rows have also beneﬁted from a central government funded programme of £1.08m for Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) improvements which concluded in May 2024.

“Converting empty space above the Rows could help reverse the current housing shortage and boost economic growth in Chester city centre”

Tŷ Pawb! Welcome to

Tŷ Pawb is Wrexham’s multi-award-winning markets, arts and community facility. We’ve been on quite a journey since we ﬁrst opened in 2018. The original building was constructed in the early 1990s as a market hall with a multi-storey car park above it. In 2015, ambitious plans were announced to redevelop the building into a new cultural facility for Wrexham, preserving the carpark and refurbishing the market hall, while adding new gallery spaces, a theatre, performance areas and office/studio spaces.

The redevelopment was designed by architects Featherstone Young, and funded by Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales, and Wrexham County Borough Council. On Easter Monday, 4 April 2018, Tŷ Pawb opened its doors for the ﬁrst time with a spectacular day-long carnival and parade in the city centre.

Over the last seven years, Tŷ Pawb has grown to become a nationallyrecognised cultural venue and has been regularly cited as a pioneering example of how to repurpose an existing building. Barely a year after we ﬁrst opened, Tŷ Pawb won the prestigious Gold Medal for Architecture at the 2019 National Eisteddfod of Wales. We’ve also been the recipient of other architectural awards, including Architects Journal Retroﬁt of the Year

By the team at TŶ PAWB

and Best Cultural Building Under £5m (both in 2019).

In 2022 Tŷ Pawb was shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year – the world’s biggest museum prize. To be officially recognised as one of the top five museum venues in the UK was a massive achievement for us and a game-changer in terms of our national and international profile. It really helped to firmly establish us as a top UK culture destination and we’re continuing to see the benefits of that now. We’ve also just recently had our Visit Wales Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme renewed.

A day out under one roof

What has really helped Tŷ Pawb to stand out as a visitor attraction is the sheer variety of what we can offer under one

roof. Our gallery hosts a changing programme of welcoming and inclusive exhibitions that feature works from both established and emerging artists. Our market is home to nearly 30 local businesses, including various food vendors, a bar, handmade crafts, artworks, art supplies, a record shop, clothes and a dog grooming parlour.

Our events programme features a monthly comedy night (which regularly sells out), open mic nights, live sports on our big screen, concerts, record fairs, craft fairs and much more. We regularly work with major external organisers to co-host events such as the multi-award-winning FOCUS Wales international showcase festival.

Tŷ Pawb has become especially popular with schools and families.

“To be officially recognised as one of the top ﬁve museum venues in the UK was a massive achievement for us and a game-changer in terms of our national and international proﬁle”

We run regular family art clubs, school visits and holiday craft activities. We once even turned the entire gallery into a giant play area (complete with 16 tons of sand) for our PLAY-WORK exhibition. The feedback we often receive is that families really appreciate having a safe indoor space where they can shop, eat, explore and take part in creative activities together.

A versatile venue for events Tŷ Pawb’s convenient, city centre location and versatile public and private spaces has made it a popular venue hire choice for organisations, businesses and community groups from all over the country. Our meeting rooms, theatre and other hireable spaces can accommodate all kinds of events, from small meetings and workshops to large conferences, concerts, jobs fairs, live TV & radio broadcasts, festivals and more – all set against the vibrant backdrop of the bustling market hall, food court and gallery spaces.

“Tŷ Pawb has become especially popular with schools and families”

Our spaces come equipped with comprehensive facilities, including a full PA system, sound and lighting, projectors, hybrid conferencing facilities, plus a variety of great local food and drink offers from our food court traders.

A springboard for new businesses

Our market stalls and rentable office spaces have been designed to be affordable, versatile, practical spaces, where businesses can establish and grow among a creative, supportive community.

We’ve seen numerous examples of new businesses who’ve used Tŷ Pawb as a ‘springboard’, starting with tabletop sales, progressing to one of our markets stalls units, and then to full sized shops in the city centre. We welcome all enquiries.

For more information visit www.typawb.wales

welcome A country

Marchwiel Hall, located in Wrexham, North Wales, opened its doors as a unique venue for weddings and corporate events at the end of 2024. Lovingly renovated, with extensive and meticulous attention to detail, the Hall has been a family home for ﬁve generations. Now being run as a family business that offers ‘exclusive hire for distinctive events’, the team is looking forward to welcoming new local clients, including the business community, to enjoy its unique blend of warmth, hospitality and ﬂexibility.

Emma Leslie became involved with the family two years ago and is helping Kirsty and Laurence build the events side of the business. Emma explains: “Having worked in the industry for some time, I already had extensive business connections and know a lot of people within hospitality. There is a wealth of high-quality local suppliers, and we were keen to get them involved.”

Bespoke opportunities

A number of successful events have already been held at the Hall and several weddings are booked in for the coming season. However, the team at the Hall is really looking forward to establishing itself – and the venue – in 2025. The team is looking to foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones within the local community. As Emma continues: “With six stunning reception rooms, we are open to discussing all kinds of opportunities for events at Marchwiel Hall. We have such a versatile space, including our walnut-panelled dining room, which can comfortably seat 20 people, making it ideal for board meetings and presentations. There is also the opportunity to have an events marquee, overlooking the cricket pitch, so the options are endless.”

Over Christmas, the team ran an array of successful workshops for local

companies, including wreath making and candle painting, so they are also looking at building on this to offer something different for team building days.

Working to be greener

Sustainability is also something that is important to the team at Marchwiel Hall. “Where possible, our suppliers are local, our deliveries are timed, and we recycle all our waste. Kirsty has also created her own essential oil blends, which she uses to clean the hall. In addition, we are looking at measures internally that will further reduce our carbon footprint.”

Estate of mind

Marchwiel Hall is a Grade II listed Georgian-style country house, which is renowned for its architectural elegance and historical signiﬁcance. The Hall features a rendered white exterior adorned with classical elements, including columns supporting a pediment above the central entrance, large windows with decorative mouldings, and chimneys with rooftop balustrades, all of which contribute to its stately appearance.

The estate encompasses approximately 150 acres of picturesque grounds, including a cricket pitch, which was established in 1883 by then-owner and civil engineer, Benjamin Piercy. This cricket ground was later developed by Sir Alfred McAlpine and is celebrated as one of the most scenic settings for the sport in the country.

Internally, Marchwiel Hall boasts several stunning reception rooms, including a magniﬁcent ballroom featuring inset moulded mirrors and distinctive architectural details, reﬂecting the grandeur of its period design. The combination of its classical Georgian architecture, expansive and wellmaintained grounds, and rich historical associations makes Marchwiel Hall a unique and distinguished landmark in the region.

The Hall has resonance for many people living locally, as Emma explains: “Many of our suppliers and guests have their own recollections of the Hall from years gone by, with one of our suppliers even explaining that their father used to be a gamekeeper at the Hall.”

For more information, marchwielhall.co.uk

“With six stunning rooms, we are open to discussing all kinds of opportunities for events at Marchwiel Hall”

A

blast from the past

Did you know…?

• … over the years there has been numerous notable ﬁgures associated with the estate. These have included Benjamin Piercy, who was a renowned civil engineer and worked with Henry Robertson on railway development in Wales, and also Sir Alfred McAlpine, the construction and engineering giant.

• … the estate used to specialise in breeding horses, particularly for racing and other eventing. It even had a special groomsman room, so that when people arrived, there could be someone on hand to tend to their horses.

• … during WWII, the hall was used as a hospital, where injured soldiers went through rehabilitation. The hall was also used as a safe haven for refugee children escaping the bombing in the cities.

• …the walled gardens were designated to breeding new varieties of chrysanthemums. If you look closely, there are also still small signs of the Japanese water gardens that used to be in the lost forest.

• …the gamekeeper on the estate used to specialise in breeding ducks, grouse, pheasants (including golden pheasants), guineafowl and peacocks. The birds were often seen wandering the grounds. In fact, an important cricket match was interrupted when a ﬂock of about 100 guineafowls invaded the pitch!

Unlock the public sector treasure chest: tips for successful

Tendering

Have you ever thought about tendering for government or council contracts, but decided in the end that it wasn’t worth the hassle? I don’t blame you if you have. The whole process can seem daunting, with all the time-consuming paperwork and bureaucracy. But guess what? It’s not as scary as it seems and the rewards can be huge.

Why should you even bother?

Here are just a few advantages of selling to the public sector:

• Access to a £300 billion market: Tapping into the public sector market opens your business to a vast, secure market ensuring a stable customer base.

• Steady work and revenues: Public sector contracts can offer reliable and regular income streams, sometimes for up to four years

• Prompt and guaranteed payments: Public sector contracts carry the big advantage of timely and guaranteed payments and no worries about customers going into liquidation owing you money

• Good for your reputation: Winning these contracts can make your business more credible with other clients if you do work for a major public body.

By RICHARD CARR

So, what’s holding you back? I’m sure that many of you have encountered the following frustrations when tendering, or just thinking about it.

• Too much red tape? It can seem like a mountain of paperwork and complex requirements

• It all goes to the ‘big boys’? It might feel like the big companies get all the good deals

• Haven’t got the time? Preparing bids might seem like too much work for you and your team, especially when you’re not even sure you’ll win.

“Public sector contracts can offer reliable and regular income streams”

Steps to get you started However, if you take the following steps, you can set yourselves on the road towards tendering success.

• Find out what’s out there: Check out what contracts are out there that might need what you have to offer. Websites like the UK Government’s Contracts Finder or Sell2Wales are great places to start.

• Have the right tools in place: Make sure you meet all the basic rules— things like having policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and the Environment in place. Also, think about getting some certiﬁcations like ISO standards.

• Start small: Try for smaller jobs in the ﬁrst instance (which often don’t involve going through a full tendering process) to get the hang of things and your foot in the door. You could team up with bigger players as a subcontractor, to gain some experience and credibility.

• Have a story to tell: Put together a sharp summary of what your business does best. Write about some success stories or happy customer reviews that will impress would-be new clients.

• Think of the ‘social value’ that you offer: This is increasingly important in public sector tenders these days and it can seem like an additional complication. But it needn’t be. Think about how you already help the community, like offering apprenticeships, buying from other local businesses or supporting local causes. Think about what extra you could do, maybe putting up some solar panels on your premises, or looking to see how you can share information about the good you do with local schools and promote your industry as a positive career option for young people.

• Prepare well and professionally: Give yourself plenty of time for each tender. Don’t leave it all until the last minute! Read the tender documents carefully and answer all the questions fully and relevantly—no cutting corners!

“Don’t be downhearted if you don’t win at your ﬁrst (or second) attempt. See it as a learning experience. If you are unsuccessful with a tender, the client must give you feedback”

• Learn and grow: Don’t be downhearted if you don’t win at your ﬁrst (or second) attempt. See it as a learning experience. If you are unsuccessful with a tender, the client must give you feedback. And don’t be afraid to ask for more detail, just make sure that you frame it as asking on how to do better next time, not challenging their decision.

• Worried about the hassle?: Don’t be. The ﬁrst one is the toughest—it does get easier. And the potential boost for your business is well worth the effort. Plus, you don’t have to go at it alone.

Tenders and Grants can help you ﬁnd the right opportunities, craft winning bids, and get your business noticed in the public sector. And your ﬁrst consultation is free and with no obligation to take things further.

Richard Carr

Consulting Services richard@tendersandgrants.co.uk tendersandgrants.co.uk

Seven Steps to Build a Multimillion Business with Smart Marketing and AI

By VITALIJ KOLOTIKOV

Independently published

Subtitled ‘The Modern Entrepreneur’s Blueprint for Success’, Vitalij Kolotokov’s 2024 book aims to unlock the future of entrepreneurship and marketing using ‘7 Steps to Build a Multimillion Business with AI-Driven Marketing’. This is a powerful guide that will ‘equip you with the tools and strategies to thrive in the digital age’. The book features a Step-by-Step Guide which explores the seven critical steps every entrepreneur needs to build a multimilliondollar business. It looks at AIPowered Marketing Strategies, where you will learn how to harness the power of AI, to personalise your marketing, improve decision-making and optimise customer engagement. It also includes some real-world examples via Proven Casse Studies, which includes how businesses have transformed their customer service and scaled through innovative marketing strategies.

Words of Wisdom

Welcome once again to our regular book and podcast recommendations. Here you’ll ﬁnd a curated selection of the most informative, interesting and insightful literature and audio storytelling on business practice, management and UK and global issues.

Posts to Proﬁts

By SIMON MITCHELL

Published by Maverick Goose

Billed as ‘The social media marketing blueprint for building a proﬁtable sixﬁgure online business, Simon Mitchell’s book has become an Amazon number one bestseller. The book outlines how to make one post a day and generate leads every week, without spending on ads, sending out cold DMs, following trends or spending hours and hours on social media. This will work even if you have less than 1,000 followers. The book is a stepby-step marketing blueprint for online coaches, course creators and solopreneurs who want to create content that puts cash in the bank.

Simon Mitchell is a social media marketer and founder of Maverick Goose Ltd. As a digital marketer, Simon shows you his counterintuitive method that ﬂies in the face of modern marketing. Discover how to use decades-old direct marketing principles to get consistent leads and sales by using social media.

Women’s Business

By NICKY ELLIOTT

Nicky Elliott talks to a host of women about their career paths, from early memories of work, through to career advice (or lack of it) and ﬁrst jobs, up to the present day. With all their insight and learnings along the way, these conversations are designed to both inspire and empower women in their own career journeys. Nicky is a serial entrepreneur and founder of The Wilder Collective. As an entrepreneurial woman, Nicky says: “Everything I do is about lifting the voices of female founders, and I’m here to empower my community of women to break down conventional norms and become free to explore the lives and careers they want. Come and hang out with me on Instagram or LinkedIn where you will ﬁnd 100% real talk about work and careers, work/life balance, and raising the next generation of working people. Through my podcast and my public speaking I love to explore the topic of work for women, where we are now, and how we can mould our future.”

Financial journalist Martin Lewis CBE is famous for his ‘Money Saving Expert’ brand. He founded this website, which is the UK’s biggest consumer help site, in 2003. He remains its Executive Chair and oversees site content, especially the MSE weekly email. He is also an awardwinning campaigning journalist, has his own primetime ITV show, is a charity founder, author and according to Google the UK’s most searched-for British man. He’s also a local boy, having grown up in Norley in Delamere Forest and attended the King’s School in Chester. In 2012, his primetime ITV series, The Martin Lewis Money Show (now Live) started. 12 series later it’s the most watched current affairs programme on UK television. He’s saved his audience hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years. After years of being an expert on ITV's Good Morning Britain, in 2023 Martin was announced as its new regular presenter, and he’s also the resident expert on ITV’s This Morning.

The Martin Lewis Podcast By MARTIN LEWIS

New stories to be told

Following a 25-year career in TV and journalism, Sian Lloyd has become a familiar face. Her work has included presenting national programmes – such as BBC Breakfast, Crimewatch Roadshow and Panorama – as well as her role as a senior news correspondent. For the past three years she has embarked on her own business venture in the freelance world, using skills she honed in the newsroom. Brought up in Wrexham, Sian has always maintained close links with the area and she recently attended a VOX networking event, where we chatted about her career and her work with the business community.

Sian explains: “We moved to Wrexham from the Midlands when I was seven. My father was appointed to a role at NEWI (now Wrexham University) and I attended Ysgol Bodhyfryd, which was then a very small Welsh medium primary school on Park Avenue.

“Although I was born in Bangor, I didn’t speak Welsh at that point, but being immersed in this new environment, I learnt quickly. One of my earliest memories from that time is taking part in the school’s choir at the National Eisteddfod held in Wrexham in 1977. The annual festival, which is a unique celebration of Welsh language and culture, was completely new to me

then. But during my broadcasting career, I went on to present and report on events from the ‘Maes’ for many years. This included when the National Eisteddfod revisited the area in 2011 and I’ll be looking forward to its return to Wrexham again this August!”

Getting into broadcasting Sian’s path into broadcasting began in Wrexham, but as she explains, it followed a career change ﬁrst. Career curiosity and ‘switches’ are becoming more commonplace, and Sian explains what led to her change of direction.

“I was always an avid watcher of news programmes and as a reporter for the

school newspaper ‘The Offagraph’ I had covered events, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales’s ﬁrst visit together to Wrexham, and the opening of the new Lego centre on Ruthin Road. But following my A Levels at Yale Sixth Form College, I read law at University and was sponsored by a London ﬁrm for training.

“While maintaining an interest in the law, it was at this stage that I realised that I wanted to follow my dream of becoming a reporter, which was a big decision at the time. My journey began in the newsroom at the Marcher Sound studios in Gwersyllt, which was the stepping stone to my future career”.

Take every opportunity and step out of your comfort zone

Sian says, “These two pieces of advice have helped me in my career, but sometimes we all need reminding of the value of development and seeking new challenges. Following a time in local radio, I joined the BBC Wales newsroom in Bangor and then moved to Cardiff, where I took on a number of different roles. This led me to present the nightly news programme Wales Today. Every step involved new learning opportunities and gaining new skills. 15 years later I took another step, joining the national news team as a senior UK correspondent, which brought new challenges and different experiences.”

Everyone has a story to tell “Working to deadlines, in sometimes unpredictable environments, can be challenging, but I feel very fortunate to have pursued a career which I have loved. It has involved reporting on key moments in recent history, working with talented and inspiring teams, but above all storytelling. I’ve learnt that everyone has a story to tell and how important it is to be a good listener. One of the most rewarding parts of my job has been to help communicate those stories to a wider audience.”

Using skills in different ways

“My most recent venture sees me drawing on my skills and experience to help individuals and organisations get their message across. From our daily life and in the workplace, communication is an essential tool, helping us to build relationships, share information and solve problems. By offering coaching and training, I enjoy working with businesses to help them achieve their goals.

“And, as an experienced awards host and conference facilitator, I work with organisations, large and small, to help ensure the smooth running of their event. I have had the privilege of working on many business events and to hear the inspiring stories behind the companies who enter is always a ‘good news’ day!”

Creating contacts and building networks

Networking and creating new contacts are vital for many businesses. Sian recognises the value in investing time

“I’ve learnt that everyone has a story to tell and how important it is to be a good listener. One of the most rewarding parts of my job has been to help communicate those stories to a wider audience”

to do this. “Having a wide range of contacts is a key part of working in a news environment, as it is very helpful to be able to draw on experts, to give context or further explanation, depending on a story. Now that I’m freelance, I’m looking to engage with a wide range of organisations who may value my skills. With a base in Wrexham and more time ﬂexibility, I’m particularly enjoying being back on home turf.”

Sian’s current broadcasting work, the ‘True Crime’ series Troseddau Cymru gyda Sian Lloyd (‘Welsh Crimes with Sian Lloyd’), is currently available on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.

Sian Lloyd Broadcaster and Presenter @sian-lloyd-llb-b5ba0536

Celebrating success

Every year successfully completed in business is a huge achievement and should be marked in some way – whether that is by quiet reflection, a staff party or a huge client celebration! 2025 also represents some milestone points for some of our local businesses, including five years since EZ Publishing was registered with Companies House and plans were underway for the first issue of VOX (even if it did get a little postponed due to the pandemic!).

Join us to celebrate the success of all businesses across Wrexham and Chester this year, including:

One year

• Hotel Wrexham

• Maidscando

Five years

• EZ Publishing (VOX magazine)

• Isla Grace Mortgages

10 years

• Cat Williams

• North Wales Music Cooperative

15 years

• Zebra Marketing &Communications

• Career Evolution

• Woodlands Marketing

20 years

• Essentials MAG

25 years

• Taste Cheshire and the Food and Drink Festival

• Moneypenny

30 years

• Kenneymoore

• Marketing PRojects

Fashion conscious

Fashion in the Northwest of England is currently at a peak, with a variety of styles, trends and authenticity. But where are all these innovative ideas coming from? Manchester, the heart of the Northwest, is introducing new ways to take your outﬁts even further through sustainability.

The rise of sustainable fashion in the Northwest

By OLIVIA MOLYNEUX

I live in Chester and study fashion business and promotion at the University of Salford. I recently completed a project discussing the ethical effect clothes swapping, upcycling and buying vintage has on the world. It made me realise that Manchester is a big factor in making fashion environmentally friendly.

Sustainability and the clothes we wear Over the past few years, sustainability has had a greater effect on the clothes we wear and where we source them from. The percentage of purchases made from unethical fast fashion stores is declining, while purchases made from vintage stores or charity shops are increasing. There are countless vintage stores in Central Manchester, but the three that stick out to me are ‘Cow Vintage’, ‘Bare Necessities’, and ‘Bionic Seven’ – they are some of the most popular stores to visit when looking for trendy yet ethical clothing. All are run by clothing fanatics with knowledge on what’s new and popular, and are the perfect place to go if you’re looking to feed into your shopping addiction, whilst reducing your carbon footprint.

Clothes swapping isn’t a very familiar way of getting rid of unwanted clothes, but it is one of the most ethical ways. Clothing swap pop-up stores run very

much like the regular clothing store, with just a few differences. You bring in however many clothes you have (there may be a limit with some stores) and exchange them for tokens to spend in that store on clothes, accessories and shoes that others have brought in. They usually have changing facilities too.

The reason clothes swapping is so effective in Manchester is because there are many communities there which are concerned about the environment, and also because Manchester is known for the role it plays in the ‘fast fashion’ industry. According to WRAP, a sustainability organisation, wearing your clothes for nine extra months can reduce water waste and carbon threats by 20-30%. So even if you don’t want to keep your clothing, giving it a new home will also reduce these factors. A great example of a pop-up in Manchester is ‘Stitched up’, a reliable, reoccurring swap pop-up store that’s been around for around a decade.

Reinventing old clothes

The simplest way of recycling is by upcycling. Upcycling is the process of reinventing old, used garments into new products worth more. It’s a successful way of creating one-of-a-kind garments, while doing your part for the planet. It reduces landﬁll and pollutants from water and air. The UK’s biggest upcycling organisation ‘The Renew Hub’ is located in Trafford, Greater Manchester. They have refurbished and resold over 50,000 garments in just one year alone, reducing several hundred tonnes of materials from going to landﬁll. This is a simple and effective option for disposing of unwanted garments without polluting the world. You don’t even have to send off your clothes for them to be upcycled, you can do it yourself in your home! Take a pair of jeans for example lying in the back of your wardrobe - you can easily turn them into a pair of shorts, or you could even add badges or jewels, or add embroidery to make them brand new.

“Purchases made from vintage stores or charity shops are increasing”

Alternatively, if you live in the Chester area, there are several vintage stores to visit, such as ‘Lily Vintage’ or ‘The Vintage Spot’. There is also a clothes swapping event on 22 March at the West Cheshire Museum on Grosvenor Street. The University of Chester also hold a ‘Swap Shop’ for students to swap their clothes.

Making a positive change

With all these different methods, there is always a suitable way to dispose of your unethical habits. What’s to say it’s durable though? To take that extra step, your favourite fashion stores are doing their bit to be transparent with

customers. Primark has introduced a ‘Worn Well’ section, which is a brand they have collaborated with, to sell branded and non-branded vintage products. This, on top of you doing your bit, will create a positive change in the environment. Manchester is already ahead and on its way to healing the pain – when will it be your turn?

Olivia Molyneux 2nd Year student

University Of Salford o.molyneux@edu.salford.ac.uk

Venue

ﬁnding

Whether you are looking for a meeting room for two people, or somewhere to gather whole teams and businesses together, the vicinity of Chester and Wrexham isn’t short of choice to cater to your needs. Here are our latest suggestions for meeting and events venues.

The Lab, Wrexham avant.cymru

The Lab, based in Eagles Meadow in Wrexham, is an initiative of creative collective Avant Cymru. It’s a space for the whole community, with a growing programme of activities, spaces for hire, a café and bar area, a Hip-Hop fashion and book shop, and social, performance and creative spaces. The space is available to hire for events, performances, workshops and classes. The Lab is not regularly funded, but exists through the kind support of Eagle’s Meadow Shopping Centre.

Chester Cathedral has a variety of beautiful areas, both indoors and outdoors, that can be hired for a diverse range of events. These include gala dinners, formal events, conferences and concerts. The Nave can cater for up to 504 for a seated dinner, 850 theatre-style and over 300 cabaretstyle. The South Transept, the Refectory, the Cloister Room and the Chapter House all have varying capacities, while the Dean’s Field is an outside performance or gathering space, which can hold 4000 guests standing.

Bollicini, Chester bollicini.co.uk

Regardless of the event, Bollicini can help you bring your vision to life. The well-known Italian restaurant in Chester can offer its private dining room, or you can hire out the entire venue, including the charming outdoor terrace. Bollicini can provide live music, stunning ﬂowers and exquisite menus tailored to your preferences, from formal dining to a buffet. There is a dedicated front-of-house team that is committed to ensuring your event goes smoothly.

A bit of a departure from our usual venue offerings, Llay Church of the Nazarene can provide an alternative venue for a range of community and business events, including training courses and adult education, children’s groups, Flying Start, and much more. As well as a place of regular worship for the community, the church welcomes groups of all kinds to its venue spaces – and it’s ideally placed for both Chester and Wrexham, as it’s only a short drive from the A483.

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.

Chester Cathedral chestercathedral.com

Llay Church of the Nazarene, Llay llaycommunitychurch.com

What’s on

A round-up of some of the business event happening in and around Chester and Wrexham from March to June 2025

TUESDAY 11 MARCH

Wrexham Business Show

Come to the business show and connect with exhibitors, delegates and networkers. So far Hashtag Events has welcomed over 38,700 delegates to its events.

Wrexham University Campus, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW https://shorturl.at/xz2Dv

TUESDAY 11 MARCH

17:00 – 18:30

Stori Brymbo Business Networking

Stori Brymbo is holding a networking evening for local businesses to share ideas of how it can help once it opens.

Brymbo Enterprise Centre, Blast Road, Brymbo LL11 5BT facebook.com/StoriBrymboUK

TUESDAY 11 MARCH

17:00 – 19:00

WBCA Networking

A fantastic opportunity to hear all about Wrexham Business and Community Awards’ plans for 2025. Celebrating not just businesses, but also charities and our amazing community in Wrexham. Croes Howell, Straight Mile, Llay, Wrexham LL12 0NY https://tinyurl.com/2eyp56y8

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH

10:00 – 15:00

Chester Business Exhibition 2025

Join us for the ultimate networking event of the year! The perfect opportunity to showcase your business, connect with industry leaders, and discover new opportunities.

Chester Racecourse, Pavillion Suite, Chester CH1 2LY https://tinyurl.com/mrn8wyxh

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH

10:00 – 14:00

Chester Careers Fair

Reserving your spot at The UK Careers Fair is a straightforward process. You can secure your stand via the website.

The Chester Grosvenor, Eastgate Street, Chester CH1 1LT store.ukcareersfair.com

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH

12:00 – 14:00

Business Network Lunch

After a drinks reception and pre-lunch networking session you will sit at a table of like minded business owners or directors for a two-course lunch.

The Queen at Chester, City Road, Chester CH1 3AH business-network-chester.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH

17:30 – 19:30

Free Public Lecture Events

The Wrexham Art Treasures Exhibition of 1876, with Peter Bolton, Senior Lecturer in History. Free food and drink before the event, alongside networking. Wrexham University, Mold Road Wrexham LL11 2AW https://shorturl.at/40Tlt

WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH

09:30 – 11:30

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses.

Vista Networking, St David’s Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3DT colonynetworking.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH

17:00 – 19:00

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses.

The Queen at Chester, City Road, Chester CH1 3AH colonynetworking.co.uk

THURSDAY 20 MARCH

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch

WCNW Chamber of Commerce’s March Networking Lunch, bringing together business professionals from across the region.

Mercure Chester Abbots Well, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester CH3 5QL https://shorturl.at/Ix9u9

THURSDAY 20 MARCH

17:00 – 19:00

VOX Networking

Join us and our special guest speaker Simon McCleave, local best-selling crime writer, for an evening of interesting conversations and networking.

Townhouse, Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS ezpublishing.co.uk/events

SATURDAY 22 MARCH

10:30 – 16:00

Grosvenor Museum Clothes Swap

Do your bit to reduce fashion waste at the Grosvenor Museum's Clothes Swap! drop off your old clothes and exchange them for something new.

Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2DD https://tinyurl.com/ejynpy6s

THURSDAY 27 MARCH

09:30 – 11:30

West Cheshire Women’s Network

West Cheshire Women’s Network provides an opportunity for businesswomen to come together.

The group meets four times a year with a different guest speaker at every event. The March speaker is Helen Tonks MBE, Hydraulics Online Ltd and InspiresMe Consulting Ltd.

Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT https://tinyurl.com/2czmr4bu

THURSDAY 27 MARCH

17:00 – 19:00

Wrexham Connect

Meet business contacts and colleagues in a relaxed and friendly environment, with a bite to eat and a drink or two. Expand your network, cement your relationships or simply lose that weight off from your shoulders, talking to like-minded individuals from Wrexham and the surrounding area.

Hotel Wrexham, Wrexham Road, Holt, Wrexham, LL13 9SW connectwrexham.co.uk

28 – 29 MARCH

ALL DAY

Xplore! STEM Skills Fair

Two-day skills fair with a twist! Join other STEM professionals in the Space and Advanced Manufacturing sectors at this unique two-day event.

Xplore!, 17 Henblas Street, Wrexham LL13 8AE xplorescience.co.uk

APRIL

TUESDAY 1 APRIL

12:00 – 14:00

Women in Business Network (WIBN)

Chester meeting

An opportunity to share with us what you do, how you help others, and how we can help you, along with a businessbuilding session to help you take a fresh look at one aspect of your business

The Forge, Grosvenor Park Road, Chester CH1 1QQ https://tinyurl.com/3xv68df2

WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL

12:00 – 14:00

Business Network Lunch

After a drinks reception and pre-lunch networking session you will sit at a table of like-minded business owners or directors for a two-course lunch.

Forest Hills Hotel, Overton Hill, Frodsham WA6 6HH business-network-chester.co.uk

THURSDAY 3 APRIL

17:00 – 19:00

Next-Gen Networking

Next-Gen Network is an informal networking event speciﬁcally designed for young professionals aged under 35 in West Cheshire & North Wales. This completely free networking event will provide a fantastic opportunity for young professionals, business owners and aspiring Entrepreneurs to grow their business connections and conﬁdence with like-minded individuals.

Abode Chester, Grosvenor Road, Chester CH1 2DJ https://tinyurl.com/mvbucwwp

TUESDAY 8 APRIL

14:00 – 17:00

Value of Volunteering

Join us and our expert trainer, Amy Jones from AVOW for a three-hour workshop on the business and employee beneﬁts of volunteering. There will be refreshments and opportunities for networking.

Hwb Yr Orsedd, The Green, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DE ezpublishing.co.uk/training

WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL

09:30 – 11:30

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering mixed networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses.

Vista Networking, St David’s Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3DT colonynetworking.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

WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL

17:00 – 19:00

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering mixed networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses.

The Queen at Chester, City Road, Chester CH1 3AH colonynetworking.co.uk

THURSDAY 24 APRIL

17:00 – 19:00

Wrexham Connect

Meet business contacts and colleagues in a relaxed and friendly environment, with a bite to eat and a drink or two. Expand your network, cement your relationships or simply lose that weight off from your shoulders, talking to likeminded individuals from Wrexham and the surrounding area.

Hotel Wrexham, Wrexham Road, Holt, Wrexham, LL13 9SW connectwrexham.co.uk

FRIDAY 25 – MONDAY 28 APRIL

ALL DAY

City Nature Challenge 2025 Chester Zoo and Record are gearing up for this year’s City Nature Challenge, a global wildlife recording event open to everyone! Using the iNaturalist app, you can document your observations in nature.

Online

https://tinyurl.com/293hazt3

TUESDAY 29 APRIL

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch at Chester Football Club

Join the Chamber of Commerce for a Networking Lunch at Chester Football Club at Deva Stadium for an opportunity to spread the word about your business to others in attendance whilst enjoying a delicious lunch.

Chester Football Club, Deva Stadium, Bumper's Ln, Chester CH1 4LT, https://tinyurl.com/4u63rh2k

If you have an event taking place between June and September 2025, please let us know, so we can include it in our next issue.

email: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

MAY

THURSDAY 1 MAY

09:30 – 17:30

Chambers Golf Day

An amazing opportunity to play at a world-class venue with breakfast, dinner, networking, live scoring, competitions and award ceremony.

Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf & Spa, Cobblers Cross Lane, Tarporley CW6 0DJ https://tinyurl.com/ybx7mkxy

THURSDAY 8 MAY

09:00 – 11:00

Round the Table Networking

Meet plenty of people in a short space of time. Once seated, people go ’round the table’ introducing themselves and their business.

Wrexham University, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW https://tinyurl.com/y9mehh4v

WEDNESDAY 14 MAY

12:00 – 14:00

Business Network Lunch

After a drinks reception and pre-lunch

networking session you will sit at a table of like-minded business owners or directors for a two-course lunch.

Mecure Chester Abbotts Well Hotel, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester CH3 5QL business-network-chester.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 14 MAY

12:30 – 14:30

Networking Lunch at Artezzan Restaurant and Bar

Join the Chamber of Commerce for an opportunity to spread the word about your business to others in attendance whilst enjoying a delicious lunch. Artezzan Restaurant & Bar, 33 Pepper Street, Chester CH1 1DF https://tinyurl.com/ycxmursm

TUESDAY 20 MAY

19:00 – 20:00

The Science of Procrastination: Understanding and Overcoming the Delay Loop

Book on if you are interested in selfimprovement, time management and the inner workings of human behaviour. Online https://tinyurl.com/3wjtmmb8

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY

09:30 – 11:30

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses. Vista Networking, St David’s Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3DT colonynetworking.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 21 MAY

17:00 – 19:00

Colony Networking

Colony Networking is a mixed networking group offering mixed networking, speaker and workshop events that support growing small businesses.

The Queen at Chester, City Road, Chester CH1 3AH colonynetworking.co.uk

THURSDAY 29 MAY

17:00 – 19:00

Wrexham Connect

Meet business contacts and colleagues in a relaxed and friendly environment, with a bite to eat and a drink or two.

Hotel Wrexham, Wrexham Road, Holt, Wrexham, LL13 9SW connectwrexham.co.uk

JUNE

TUESDAY 3 JUNE

09:00 – 11:00

Round the Table Networking

Meet plenty of people in a short space of time. Once seated, people go ’round the table’ introducing themselves and their business.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Gordon Lane, Chester CH2 4DG https://tinyurl.com/yeytc7c9

SATURDAY 7 & SUNDAY 8 JUNE

ALL DAY

Chester Green Weekend

Chester Green Weekend is a vibrant, eco-conscious Sustainable Festival set in Chester city centre, blending history, nature, and innovation to showcase how we can live more sustainably. The festival, held over a weekend, is designed to engage the entire community and attract visitors.

Chester City Centre chestergreenweekend.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE

12:00 – 14:00

Business Network Lunch

After a drinks reception and pre-lunch networking session you will sit at a table of like-minded business owners or directors for a two-course lunch.

The Queen at Chester, City Road, Chester CH1 3AH business-network-chester.co.uk

THURSDAY 12 JUNE

09:30 – 11:30

West Cheshire Women’s Network

An opportunity for businesswomen to come together. The group meets four times a year with a different guest speaker at every event.

Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT https://tinyurl.com/3zhtrzxw

TUESDAY 24 June

14:00 – 17:00

Lights, Camera, Action – hints and tips for ﬁlming with mobile and tablet

Join us and our expert trainers, Richard Knew and Aaron O’Carroll from Knew Productions for a three-hour workshop with practical breakout. There will also be refreshments and opportunities for networking.

Hwb Yr Orsedd, The Green, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DE ezpublishing.co.uk/training

THURSDAY 26 JUNE

17:00 – 19:00

Wrexham Connect

Meet business contacts and colleagues in a relaxed and friendly environment, with a bite to eat and a drink or two.

Expand your network, cement your relationships or simply lose that weight off from your shoulders, talking to likeminded individuals from Wrexham and the surrounding area.

Hotel Wrexham, Wrexham Road, Holt, Wrexham, LL13 9SW connectwrexham.co.uk

THURSDAY 3 JULY

17:00 – 19:00

VOX Networking

Join us and our special guest speaker (TBC) for an evening of interesting conversations and networking.

Venue TBC ezpublishing.co.uk/events

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 at locations in Chester and Wrexham. Membership cost is £600 for 12 months, per venue and includes breakfast. With just one business type per group, you’ll have the opportunity to talk about your business and what you are looking for.

Business NetWalkers, Chester businessnetwalkers.com

Business NetWalkers helps you improve your wealth and wellbeing, whilst growing your network by enhancing mental performance and wellbeing, improving physical ﬁtness, talking and collaborating with like-minded people.

BNI bninorthwales.co.uk bnicheshire.co.uk

BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals.

Theatre Clwyd Business Network theatrclwyd.com

Free Business Breakfast Networking Events held at the theatre.

FSB fsb.org.uk

FSB members can join virtual events, including networking and surgeries.

Network She Netwalking – Chester networkshe.co.uk

Netwalking is free to attend and was set up to help Network SHE’s members with their mental and physical wellbeing, business and personal development, as well as about building great relationships.

Tarporley Business Club tarporleybusinessclub.co.uk

Tarporley Business Club offers face-toface meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

The sessions are held 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.

Elevate Netwalking elevatewithellie.co.uk https://bit.ly/3XLuI14

Elevate Netwalking hosts 5km circular routes around Delamere Forest and Bickerton Hill with like-minded business owners. It’s a walk that beneﬁts your physical and mental health, and is good for business too.

For purpose-led business owners who love to meet like-minded people, spend time in nature and move their bodies, but are short on time to ﬁt it all in. 10% of ticket sales go to ecolgi to help ﬁght climate change.

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

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

Institute of Directors (IOD) iod.com

The Institute of Directors 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.

Cheshire Networking with Leading Ladies in Business leadingladiesinbusiness.co.uk

As long as you have a strong network of professional connections, you can be conﬁdent that someone within your sphere will be able to answer even your toughest questions – and if there’s no deﬁnitive answer, you’ll have a solid sounding board to bounce ideas off and put into action step-by-step.

360 Networking Group bit.ly/details—networking

360 Networking monthly 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 between 17:00 - 18:45.

Chester Business Club chesterbusinessclub.co.uk

One of the principal activities of Chester Business Club is its Speaker Dinners. 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.

GCC Business Network thegrowthcoachingcollective.com

The Growth Coaching Collective, founded by entrepreneur and sales strategist Kerry Boland, operates networking brunches that are both supportive and inclusive, bringing a brand new vibe to the networking scene that is collaborative rather than competitive.

Wrexham Business Women Facebook: @2209198815949046

Wrexham Business Women hold free monthly meetings to provide a space for women in Wrexham to chat, share advice and help each other.

The Business Network Chester business-network-chester.co.uk

The Business Network Chester meets at lunchtime 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 ezpublishing.co.uk/events

Amplify Referral Network mike@mikescottandassociates.co.uk

Amplify Referral Network puts the level of involvement and responsibility back to the member. Very few rules, but very high expectations - perfect for business owners looking to build their business.

MDA Innovation Network Business Breakfasts merseydeealliance.org.uk

MDA Innovation Network offers a series of bimonthly business breakfasts with the ultimate aim of improving business performance, by providing business-tobusiness networking opportunities and information on regional and national initiatives.

North Wales Business Breakfast fsb.org.uk

Join FSB’s monthly North Wales Business Breakfast and meet with likeminded entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and small business owners, all whilst enjoying light refreshments. Network, collaborate, promote your services and support each other. Open to FSB members and non-members.

Connect Wrexham connectwrexham.co.uk

Connect Wrexham offers a relaxed monthly ‘after work’ social network for Wrexham and the surrounding areas.

Wrexham Young Professionals wrexhamyoungprofessionals@gmail.com

Whether you are just starting your career or looking to expand your horizons, WYP is building a community where growth, conﬁdence and opportunity can thrive.

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 businesspeople, and each one will have a special guest speaker.

Numbers are limited and tickets cost £18, including refreshments.

North Wales Social northwalessocial.co.uk

Connect with North Wales business owners and managers for networking at Harrison’s Hall (formerly the Plas Hafod hotel).

Sarah White Networking sarahwhite.uk

Visibly You Online Networking is an online event aimed at helping you expand your professional network, share ideas, or simply meet new people. The online platform makes it easy to engage in conversations, exchange contact information, and build lasting connections.

KCC Networking kccnetworking.co.uk

KCC Networking offers vibrant and friendly speed-networking events and online meet ups, held in locations across Cheshire. The events are always well-attended, with people leaving feeling inspired, full of new connections and possibilities.

Hotel Wrexham

Weekday Specials Launch at Wrexham’s Newest Gastropub Bitesize

The Savvy Fox at Hotel Wrexham (formerly Holt Lodge) is open for business after a £350k refurbishment and it has just launched a new range of weekday special offers, ideal for lunchtime business networking or spending quality time with family and friends.

A place to meet, eat and socialise, the venue is situated on Wrexham Road and has been completely transformed into a relaxed, rustic country pub, complete with stylish décor, cosy nooks and a stunning dining space with views out over the grounds.

The welcoming gastropub also has an all-new British-inﬂuenced menu made up of tasty pub classics, enticing signature dishes, Sunday roasts and fabulous desserts, coupled with an extensive selection of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails.

The Savvy Fox NEW daily special offers include a sweet start to the week with a free dessert with every main course each Monday. Choose between gooey Sticky Toffee Pudding served with Nicholls of Parkgate ice cream, tempting Churros coated in cinnamon sugar and served with clotted cream and Nutella, a warm double chocolate Savvy Brownie or refreshing Eton Mess. More than enough to satisfy even the sweetest of tooths.

On Tuesdays, a burger and a pint is just £12.95 all day. Will you choose the Gourmet Burger loaded

with crispy bacon, Welsh mature cheddar and homemade Savvy burger sauce, the Buttermilk Chicken Burger with sour cream and chives, bacon and fresh salad or the vegan Breaded Jackfruit Burger served in a lightly spiced breadcrumb coating?

Wednesday is the perfect time for a business lunch or to celebrate the midpoint in the working week – order any main course from the regular menu for just £10 between 12noon and 5pm.

And Thursday is now Steak Night at The Savvy Fox with a choice of succulent, Welsh sustainably farmed rump, sirloin and ribeye steaks served alongside roasted beef tomatoes, chunky chips and beer battered onion rings, plus a glass of house for wine just £20 per person.

Visit hotelwrexham.co.uk/the-savvy-fox-pub to book or call 01978 661002

Just one thing...

It’s always interesting to hear other people’s take on a question. Each issue we pose one question to some of our contributors, to see what their responses are. This issue, the questions is…

“Has your career planned out as you thought it would - is there anything you would have done differently?”

“Deﬁnitely not! I originally trained as a lawyer but ended up running my own PR company. What I have learnt is that there’s no need to have a masterplan.

Find something that you’re really motivated to do –you need that drive because the best opportunities often present themselves in the most challenging times. Pause to celebrate milestones and successes. And ﬁnally, carve out time for a personal life.”

Vanessa Bond

“Upon leaving school I had no planned career path and land my ﬁrst job – at a marketing agency –quite by (happy) accident. Fast forward 30 plus years and I am celebrating 15 years of running my own marketing company and issue 14 of VOX magazine is off to the printers. To be honest, I am pretty proud of what I have achieved. Having said that, if I had had better careers advice at school, my direction might have been totally different!”

Clara Hughes, editorial director at VOX and director of Zebra Marketing & Communications

“The question assumes a degree of planning was involved but I spent more time planning other people’s business than my own. After 30 years running Marketing PRojects - and knowing what life was like in the cut and thrust of the corporate world of a Times Top 100 company before that - I have always wanted to strike the balance between happy long term clients, ﬁnding great new ones and seeing my three kids (and husband!) grow up. I didn’t always get it right, I missed my Nana’s funeral and countless sports days. In hindsight (a wonderful thing) I would spend more time with the family. The saddest song for me is ‘Living Years’ by Mike and the Mechanics.”

Jane Harrad-Roberts, founder and managing director, Marketing PRojects

“I started my career working in banking before transitioning into ﬁnancial advice. It wasn’t the path I had originally planned, but I love what I do and wouldn’t change a thing. As for Tom, who founded Belgrave Wincham with me, he studied business at university before working in property and ultimately becoming a ﬁnancial adviser. Luckily, that’s when our paths crossed and the rest, as they say, is history!”

Craig Roberts, independent ﬁnancial advisor at Belgrave Wincham

“In all honesty, my career has probably panned out better than expected! I have always been driven to succeed in whatever I do in life, and WR Partners have provided me with all the opportunities and development to enable me to achieve both professional and personal goals. Going back 10 years, the outlook for Wrexham and the town felt like to achieve some of my goals I would need to consider working outside of the area, but in recent years this has changed massively and the opportunities right here on our doorstep are increasing each day!”

Josh Williams, client manager at WR Partners

“I suppose my career has mostly gone as planned. Art was the only subject I excelled at in school, so I always knew I wanted a creative profession. I started as a junior graphic designer at a small agency in South London before moving on to Canon UK, where I worked my way up to senior graphic designer. After being made redundant, I transitioned to freelancing - that was 20 years ago, and I’ve been self-employed ever since. Even while running the two magazines (VOX and EssentialsMAG), I still manage the layout and graphic design myself — a part of the job I continue to love.”

Vicky Heathﬁeld, creative director at VOX and owner of EssentialsMAG

“I

originally trained as a lawyer but ended up running my own PR company. What I have learnt is that there’s no need to have a masterplan”

What business question would you like answered? Email your ideas to: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Charity Spotlight

In our Charity Spotlight section we highlight the amazing charities that are making a difference in our community.

Church Army, Wrexham Centre of Mission

The Wrexham Centre of Mission is based in Caia Park, which is recognised by the European Community as an area of signiﬁcant poverty and deprivation. Statistics reveal high levels of unemployment, limited social mobility, low levels of disposable income, a high crime rate and growing concerns about racial integration and social isolation. One of the biggest challenges facing Caia Park is poverty. During the school holidays the Wrexham Centre of Mission has developed an initiative to cook and deliver hot meals to anyone in need of one. These meals go out to families, elderly people and those struggling with loneliness.

A big part of Wrexham Centre of Mission is the Tin Can Youth Centre. Out of this the team operate an after school drop in, a youth club for young people aged 16-18 and a youth church that meets once a month. This is a place for young people to make their own and safely meet together. Through this ministry there are a number of unchurched young people who have explored faith and are growing into a Christian youth community.

The Wrexham Centre of Mission is very active within the schools in and around Caia Park. Within these schools Josh Smith and Jack Wright run various activities for children with behaviour problems and difficult home lives, detached work through school pastors and are hoping to develop more initiatives.

Josh Smith explains: “Our area is known for having some of the highest rates of child poverty in Wales, affected even more by the current cost of living crisis. We meet many people who are struggling to keep up with the bills and feed their children. Sometimes, our work is supporting them to access the help they need, such as assisting parents with referrals to the local foodbank and picking up their parcels, if they don’t have transport.

The hot meals project has been running for several years and continues throughout the school holidays, providing meals to people in need across the estate. Our donors helped us also provide Christmas dinners, with all the trimmings, to families we knew were ﬁnding it hard, allowing them to celebrate this special day.”

Sponsorship

This page has been sponsored by Liz and Simon O’Rourke (www.treecarving.co.uk).

To sponsor our next Charity Spotlight - you can recommend the charity and make a donation (with a suggested minimum donation of £100), for details contact Clara Hughes: clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Church Army

Church Army supports and empowers those most in need in the UK and Ireland. Working through partnership and collaboration, it empowers lives and nurtures belonging. Its aim is for everyone, everywhere, to encounter God’s love and be empowered to transform their communities through faith shared in words and action. Its work is unconditional, tackling social deprivation through partnership and collaboration to help empower individuals and communities.

Everything it does is built on the foundations laid by Wilson Carlile. A visionary with an extraordinary idea that would inspire generations of evangelists and give hope to millions in their time of need.

Church Army’s centres of mission are hubs that build relationships, support those living in poverty, and grow creative, accessible church communities. Each centre of mission looks different. They are shaped entirely by the needs of their area. Activities, initiatives, and outreach programmes vary massively depending on the context.

Contact details Josh Smith churcharmy.org

Charity round-up

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

Charity shred

Wrexham-based Topwood hosted a Charity Shred event in Wrexham on Saturday 22 February to raise funds for Nightingale House Hospice. The company provided one of their shred trucks for this ‘shred event’, where people were invited to bring along conﬁdential documentation to be securely shredded and disposed of.

Charity named as ﬁnalists in National Care Awards

A deafness charity which supports people with sensory loss in Cheshire and North East Wales has been shortlisted for a top sector award. DSN (Deaf & Sensory Network) has been named as a ﬁnalist in the prestigious Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards in the Community Engagement Award category.

The Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards celebrate excellence in the voluntary care and support sector, showcasing the impactful work of charities, voluntary groups and not-for-proﬁts. The Community Engagement Award nomination recognises DSN’s dedication to creating inclusive, supportive spaces for the deaf and sensory community, and their wider efforts to foster connection and wellbeing.

Kerry Clarke, DSN Community Liaison Officer, who entered the charity for the award, said: “We are delighted to have been listed alongside such great organisations from across the UK.

I love my role, which is to engage with local and wider communities in Cheshire and North East Wales through a variety of innovative initiatives, projects and groups. We are really fortunate to have our fully-electric outreach vehicle too, which helps us to extend our support and awareness events to rural and underserved areas across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Wrexham and Flintshire. I’m so pleased that our work to enhance the lives of people living with sensory loss has been recognised by the judges – ﬁngers

Nightingale House Trek

Nightingale House Hospice is looking for volunteers to take on an exciting challenge this November. The next Nightingale House challenge is a trek to the foothills of the Himalayas to experience The Dalai Lama trail. Over 12 days, participants will walk through enchanting rhododendron forests, visit quaint Hindu settlements and serene Buddhist monasteries, all while raising money for Nightingale House Hospice, Wrexham. Fitness is required, as participants will be walking up to 52km on this breathtaking challenge.

Key information:

When: 6th – 17th November 2025

Duration: 12 days (5 days trekking)

Distance (approx.): 52km

Accommodation: Hotels, Tents and Sleeper Train

Cost: £299 deposit plus £2130 (self-funded) or £299 deposit plus £4190 (min sponsorship).

As an added incentive Global Adventures, the Hospice’s challenge partner, is offering a 10% discount on the registration of all new bookings made using code SAVE10

Wrexham AFC players pay visit to Nightingale House Hospice

Players from Wrexham AFC paid a visit to Nightingale House Hospice ahead of Christmas. The players – Tom O’Connor and Eoghan O’Connell from the men’s ﬁrst team and Erin Lovett, Phoebe Davies and Rosie Hughes from Wrexham AFC Women – visited patients at the hospice’s Wellbeing Centre, as well as those on the Inpatient Unit. They also signed autographs, chatted and posed for pictures in an afternoon that was hailed ‘delightful’ by hospice staff.

The players met youngster Bethan Williams and presented her with a gift of match tickets for her whole family. Bethan, a huge Wrexham fan, is currently accessing bereavement support from Nightingale House following the loss of her grandad, who was also a huge Wrexham AFC fan. Bethan met the players alongside her mum Katherine.

Katherine said: “I lost my dad, Bethan’s grandad, to an awful illness on 25 August. Bethan took his death really badly, so made contact with Nightingale House for some support. From her ﬁrst session, the support she received was amazing and has deﬁnitely helped her cope, and she has now decided she wants to become a social worker to support and help others.”

Timeless Local Prints

Bespoke Designs & Premium Quality

Charity round-up

Baton of Hope to visit Wrexham in suicide prevention campaign

A call has gone out in Wrexham, inviting people to carry the world’s only known physical symbol of mental health. ‘The Baton of Hope’ was devised by a suicide prevention charity as a parallel icon to the Olympic torch – but one that celebrated mental rather than physical wellbeing.

This year’s national event will see the Baton carried across the UK and on 4 October, Wrexham will represent Wales and will host a one-day leg of the tour. In addition to the Baton procession, a range of events will take place across the city. Suicide survivors and those bereaved by suicide are being offered the chance to help carry the baton in honour of their own survival, or in memory of a loved one lost. It will be the UK’s largest ever single suicide prevention initiative. A similar event took place in 2023 and included 12 locations. This year’s will feature 20.

Advance Brighter Futures charity's project lead for Wrexham, Susan Dray said: “Words cannot express how we feel about the importance of raising awareness around suicide prevention. Bringing the Baton of Hope to Wrexham will raise awareness signiﬁcantly and help work towards removing the stigma surrounding suicide – a stigma which prevents so many from asking for help.”

For more information, to ﬁnd out more about joining the Planning Team for the Wrexham leg of the tour and how you can get involved, please contact Susan or Zoe on zoe@abfwxm.co.uk or call 01978 364777

Alternatively join the Facebook group – ‘Baton of Hope Tour25 – Wrexham’ for updates. To apply to carry the baton, visit: https://batonofhopeuk.org/become-a-baton-bearer/

Annual Carols event hits Chester city centre

Aaron & Partners, together with a group of other Chester businesses, hosted their revamped annual ‘Carols in the City’ event in Town Hall Square.

Attended by hundreds of people, the evening saw all proceeds donated to the West Cheshire Foodbank, including hundreds of kilograms of food – believed to be the annual event’s biggest ever foodbank donation. Performances were put on by Chester Brass Band and the Rock Choir, and Izzy Grey from ‘We Love Good Times’ kindly donating her time to video the event. It came after Aaron & Partners joined together with Bennett Brooks, Savills, Manleys Solicitors and Leonard Curtis to help raise thousands of pounds to ensure the city’s Christmas lights could be switched on last year.

Aaron & Partners’ annual event, usually held outside the ﬁrm’s Grosvenor Court HQ and appropriately named ‘Carols in the Courtyard’, is now in its sixth year. However, the ﬁrm rebadged this year’s edition as ‘Carols in the City’ – moving it to Town Hall Square, with funds usually allocated to the event instead donated to the city’s Christmas lights costs.

Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration to host Cost-of-Living Summit 2025

The Wrexham Poverty Action Collaboration (WPAC) has announced the Cost-of-Living Summit 2025 to be held at Wrexham University on 21 March 2025. This signiﬁcant event is a collaborative effort between Together Creating Communities (TCC), Citizens Advice, Wrexham and Wrexham Foodbank, in partnership with the Financial Justice Working Group.

Dubai to Oman by motorbike

In January this year, Caroline Platt from Platts Agriculture, undertook a 10-day motorbike expedition from Dubai to Oman, to raise funds for WeMindTheGap’s ‘We Grow’ programme, which is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people in our community. From rocky Wādī roads to expansive desert tracks and the fast cosmopolitan highways of Dubai, the expedition was gruelling, challenging and exhilarating. The ride culminated in Sohar, marking the final destination in Oman. Caroline said: “Reflecting on this epic adventure, I’m filled with gratitude for the memories and stories that will last a lifetime. Here’s to more incredible adventures that test your resilience and enable personal growth. This journey has been nothing short of life-changing and will resonate with me for years to come.”

Ani Sutton, from Discover Dynamix, joined Caroline on the trip, using the opportunity to promote a charity she volunteers for, Mental Health Motorbike (MHMb). MHMb is a UK-wide charity that focusses on developing the wellbeing of members of the motorbike community. Its ultimate aim is to cut the number of suicides in the UK. The charity and volunteers offer free support to members of the biker community who are struggling with their mental health and need friendly support.

Cheshire Military Museum celebrates two new corporate sponsors

Cheshire Military Museum based at Chester Castle is celebrating two new corporate sponsors – City Framers and Style Joinery – for 2025. Both local businesses have been involved with Chester for a total of over 80 years.

Mike Huntriss, Vice Chair of Friends of Cheshire Military Museum said; “A massive thank you to City Framers and Style Joinery for this support and sponsorship of Cheshire Military Museum. Without support like this, one of the city’s hidden gems could not continue to tell the story of our servicemen and women to future generations.”

He added; “The county of Cheshire and the city of Chester have a long and distinguished military history dating back to Roman times. Chester Castle is the home of the Cheshire Military Museum, which not only tells its story to visitors, many from overseas, but also provides a community hub for veterans, some of whom volunteer their services, co-locate with the Army Cadet Force and also provides an educational and outreach provision in partnership with local schools.”

The Museum is open from 11am to 4pm Thursday to Sunday and is currently seeking volunteers who have a few hours a week spare to help there.

P&A Group Exceeds Charity Fundraising Goals with £18,800 Donation to Mind North East Wales

P&A Group is thrilled to announce that it has surpassed its 2024 chosen charity fundraising target, presenting a cheque for £18,800 to Mind North East Wales – far exceeding the initial goal of £10,000 to be raised by the three division – P&A Pallets, The Woodworks Garden Centre and Zest Outdoor Living Garden Products.

Andrew Baker, Managing Director of P&A Group, commented, “This was one of the most special moments of our company’s Christmas celebration. We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together as a team.” Adding to the festive generosity, P&A Group also donated £2,000 to Shelter Cymru. This sum was raised after employees collectively decided to forgo their usual Christmas gifts and instead contribute to the vital cause of supporting those in need through Shelter Cymru.

The impressive ﬁgure of £18,800 for Mind North East Wales was raised through a variety of challenges and community events organised by employees from every division of P&A Group. Highlights included: Employees participating in the Manchester Marathon and a thrilling 150-foot abseil down Liverpool Cathedral. Other fundraisers participated in major events such as Iron Man Wales and the Chester 10K, and fun-ﬁlled company activities such as quiz nights, cake bakes, raffles and a 24-hour relay walk.

Charity round-up

Cheque presentations from Wrexham Business and Community Awards

On Wednesday 19 February, Spencer Harris and Sophie Davies, representing the founding members of the Wrexham Business & Community Awards, gathered alongside some of their generous 2024 sponsors to celebrate the impact of their charitable contributions. Each sponsor selected a charity close to their heart, reinforcing the awards’ commitment to giving back to the local community. The evening highlighted the powerful partnerships between businesses and charities, showcasing the tangible difference these collaborations make.

Among the charities represented at the event were:

• Nightingale House

– Supported by Platinum Sponsor Kellanova, Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse and McCarthy Group

• Agri-cation

– Supported by Platinum Sponsor – Platts Agriculture

• Dynamic

– Supported by Barlows Electrical and Proserve

• Hope House

– Supported by GAP Recruitment and Castle Green Homes

• WeMindTheGap

– Supported by Moneypenny

• Eisteddfod 2025

– Supported by Wrexham University.

Other charities/sponsors included – R-Ev Power & Solar/Action for AT, Wrexham Council/The Mayor’s Charities and WR Partners/Shooting Star Cancer Support. This was the second year of running the awards, which have been very well received, and during this time, an incredible £35,000 has been donated to local charities.

Spencer Harris commented: “The Wrexham Business & Community Awards were founded to celebrate the incredible contributions of businesses, not just to the City but to the heart of our community. Seeing sponsors champion causes they are passionate about is truly inspiring.”

Sophie Davies added: “We are incredibly proud to see local businesses stepping up to support charities that change lives. These partnerships are what make Wrexham such a special place and we look to continue to support further community projects in 2025.”

A special thank you to Judith and the pupils at Ial Restaurant for being a fantastic host venue. Their exceptional food and service made the evening even more memorable, while their dedication to shaping the hospitality industry of tomorrow is inspiring.

The Wrexham Business & Community Awards continues to celebrate the individuals and organisations driving positive change in the region. Plans are already underway for the 2025 awards, promising even more opportunities for businesses to make a meaningful impact and to highlight the incredible contributions of businesses, community enterprises and charities – big and small – doing amazing things throughout Wrexham.

If you have charity news you would like to see included in the next issue, please send details to clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Photography @terrijarvisphotography

long-term Smart businesses: think

Running a profitable business today can feel like a monumental challenge. With rising energy costs, supply chain hiccups, inflation and tax hikes, the margins are always being squeezed. In tough times, it’s tempting to chase a quick fix – but short-term thinking can often do more harm than good. The real key to success? Play the long game.

What’s wrong with ‘short-term thinking’?

Goals need to vary between short, medium and long terms. While it’s important to have a variety of milestones, a short-term outlook in business may result in immediate, reactive decisions. While this might provide temporary relief, it often comes at a cost:

Cashﬂow: Prioritising quick revenue boosts can create ﬁnancial instability.

By ANDREW HAGUE

Without sustainable planning, businesses may ﬁnd themselves strapped for cash when real crises hit. Neglecting people: Employees aren’t just costs; they’re your biggest asset. Cost-cutting measures that undervalue staff lead to disengagement, turnover and a loss of institutional knowledge. Damaging customer trust: Focusing on short-term sales over customer relationships weakens brand loyalty. A reputation for reliability is built over time and can’t be regained overnight.

Looking at the long play

Short-term sacriﬁces often lead to long-term rewards. Here’s some of our top tips to help business owners shift their mindset to sustain success:

1. Reassess your goals

The market has changed – have you? Adjusting your strategy to reﬂect economic realities doesn’t mean lowering your ambition. Instead, being able to reﬁne your targets will allow you to remain realistic, while still pushing for sustainable growth. Small steps forward still count.

2. Get a grip on ﬁnances

Understanding your financial position is perhaps the most critical. Monitor your cash flow closely, cut unnecessary expenses and ensure you have access to working capital. A clear financial roadmap and forecast helps navigate both expected and unforeseen challenges.

3. Invest in your people

A business is only as strong as its workforce. Invest in training, professional development, and employee wellbeing. Doing so builds loyalty and boosts productivity. Even when budgets are tight, prioritising your team ensures long-term stability.

Comprehensive Financial, Taxation, and Business Advisory Services for Individuals and Companies

Mitchell Charlesworth, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, offer a locally based, complete ﬁnancial solution for businesses and individuals in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Widnes. Our large portfolio of services are based on partner-led, personal relationships which ultimately will give you and your company peace of mind and greater proﬁtability.

“A

well-deﬁned, adaptable business plan is your best defence against uncertainty”

4. Build resilience

What’s threatening your industry?

Supply chain disruptions? Rising costs? National Insurance increases?

Identify your vulnerabilities and take steps to mitigate risks. Diversify revenue streams, strengthen supplier relationships and streamline operations to stay ﬂexible.

5. Think strategically

A well-deﬁned, adaptable business plan is your best defence against uncertainty. Keep it concise, actionable and focused on long-term stability. Consider a ‘onepage plan’ that outlines key priorities, while remaining ﬂexible to shifts in the market. Being agile will always put you out on top.

Smart moves for a stronger future

Remember those short-term sacriﬁces? Holding off on non-critical expenses while investing in efficiency (like tech upgrades) can pay dividends down the line. The secret lies in ﬂexibility and foresight.

As an example – instead of making kneejerk budget cuts, consider reallocating funds to automation, or improve your processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs over time.

Likewise, nurturing customer relationships through loyalty programmes or personalised service can solidify long-term engagement and proﬁtability.

Futureproof your business

Success is born from sustainable and incremental growth. If you can avoid kneejerk reactions with a careful, wellplanned strategy, you’ll see results in the long-term.

In conclusion, it’s the businesses that plan ahead, invest in their people and build ﬁnancial resilience which will weather economic storms. Need help charting a smarter course? Get strategic, think ahead and set your business up to thrive – no shortcuts required.

Andrew Hague Mitchell Charlesworth 01244 323051

Across

Take ﬁve

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

1 Capital of Bulgaria (5)

4 Civilians trained as soldiers (7)

7 Polite (5)

8 Unwelcome (8)

9 Tennis stroke (5)

11 Streams of rain (8)

15 Climbed (8)

17 Nursemaid (5)

19 Disease (8)

20 Goodbye (Spanish) (5)

21 Go forward (7)

22 Give a solemn oath (5)

Down

1 Suctioned (anag) (9)

2 Eg daisies and roses (7)

3 Streets (7)

4 Free from ostentation (6)

5 Expressions (6)

6 Climbing shrubs (5)

10 Star performer (9)

12 Makes a choice (7)

13 Preventing success; unfavourable (7)

14 Long-haired variety of cat (6)

16 Level plain without trees (6)

18 Assisted (5)

Crossword

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

Classic Sudoku

Contributors

Thank you to the following for their contribution:

Articles:

Briony Wilson and Tori Hayes, Taste Cheshire

Josh Williams, WR Partners

Simon McCleave, Author

Maggie Austen, Zebra Marketing and Communications

Craig Roberts, Belgrave Wincham

Vanessa Bond

Tŷ Pawb

Emma Leslie, Marchwiel Hall

Richard Carr, Richard Carr Consulting Services

Sian Lloyd, Broadcaster and presenter

Olivia Molyneux, Student, University of Salford

Jane Harrad-Roberts, Marketing PRojects

Andrew Hague, Mitchell Charlesworth

Advertisers:

Active Childcare

Belgrave Wincham

Business Network Chester

Chester Green Weekend

Delmar World

DTM Legal

Employment Law Solutions

Everbright Hotels

Gavin J Priest Photography

Geoff Robertshaw

Haines Watts

Highstream Solutions

Hotel Wrexham

Kinch Accountants

Mitchell Charlesworth

My Wrexham

Richard Carr Consulting

Smarter Business Services

Tŷ Pawb

Xplore! Science

Zebra Marketing & Communications

What’s in the

next edition?

Coming up next issue...

All aboard for the Summer edition of VOX! Issue 15 – covering June, July and August 2025 – should be plain sailing. Our summer issue will be full of business and charity news, along with lots of new interviews and advice pieces. So, whatever your summertime reading includes, make sure you have space in your bag for the latest issue of VOX too.

• In conversation – we are looking forward to sharing our interview with Nina Barbour in the Summer issue of VOX. Find out more about the future plans for the stunning Bolesworth estate.

• Summer fun – check out the events, training, networking, conferences and business shows taking place over the summer months. Even though we are in holiday season, there are still plenty of work opportunities to make the most of.

• Take stock – the holidays are often a good opportunity for a reset. Check out our advice pieces, which might help you make some strategic business decisions once the holidays are over.

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

Get in touch

Features

Every issue, we publish many articles by expert guest writers. Publishing external voices is a key part of our interaction with our readers. If you have any press releases or ideas for future issues we’d love to hear from you.

Events

Tell us about your upcoming business events, meeting and exhibitions to feature in our extensive Business What’s On Guide

Charity Updates & Business News

Share your charity updates and business news - VOX is your platform to share news and achievements with the local business community.

Send all submissions for consideration to: to Clara Hughes at clara@ezpublishing.co.uk

Editorial copy deadline 30 April 2025

All advertising enquiries please contact Vicky Heathﬁeld: on 01978 855459 or email vicky@ezpublishing.co.uk

Advertising copy deadline 09 May 2025

Get VOX delivered direct to your door, details on page

The front cover of each issue of VOX features original artwork of local landmarks by a local artist. We are looking at providing an occasional opportunity for a local business to commission the front cover artwork to feature their company or building speciﬁcally. Special

ONLY ONE SPOTLIGHT PER ISSUE! We are now offering one Spotlight feature in each issue of VOX. We will showcase you and your business in a double page spread. The spread will feature a selection of interview questions, photography and an opportunity to provide a reader offer or other call to action.

VOX Magazine - Issue 14

YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

Stay Ahead of the New Employment Laws

YOUR QUARTERLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE CONNECTING CHESTER & WREXHAM

Meet the team:

Recycle

Subscribe

Welcome

Clara and Vicky

Croeso

The best of both worlds

The beauty of being local

Hydrogen sector calls for Government support

Hollywood co-owners take Wrexham Lager US state-wide

Welsh language centre of excellence and education to undergo major revamp

All ‘Knew’ growth perspective for 2025

Community Foundation Wales

Coleg Cambria cements its place among the top institutions

DTM Legal Announces Chester Office Move

Xplore! – making an impact

Devolution priority programme

Moneypenny hosts exclusive Marketing Meetup event

Make your reservation at the zoo

Chester Racecourse reveals £20m revamp

Chester: the fourth happiest place to live in the North West

Local Chamber of Commerce provides a voice for business

North Wales students praise higher apprenticeship scheme

Harrods Beauty coming to Chester

Green skills training and jobs boost

Wrexham Ecology Co-operative launched at Industrial Estate

Hollyoaks star to host this year’s Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards

From VP to awardwinning franchisee: Virtual PA service wins big at ‘franchise Oscars’

Chester entrepreneur named one of 2025’s most impressive female founders

sensation A taste

Homegrown talent

Networking VOX

NETWORKING VOX

Supporting the next

generation

Training

Our ﬁrst EZ training workshop took place on Tuesday 25 February 2025

EZ Training Workshops coming up next...

conversation with Simon McCleave

The multimillion-bestselling Author

Setting the pace

Being independent

Personal experiences

Coming full circle

Earn your marketing

stripes

A guide to keeping your website fresh

Regular reviews

responsive websites that work

Strengthen your business ﬁnances

the Rows Living over

Tŷ Pawb! Welcome to

welcome A country

Estate of mind

A

Unlock the public sector treasure chest: tips for successful

Tendering

Words of Wisdom

Posts to Proﬁts

New stories to be told

Celebrating success

Fashion conscious

The rise of sustainable fashion in the Northwest

Venue

ﬁnding

What’s on

APRIL

JUNE

Networking

Hotel Wrexham

Weekday Specials Launch at Wrexham’s Newest Gastropub Bitesize

Just one thing...

Charity Spotlight

Church Army, Wrexham Centre of Mission

Sponsorship

Church Army