Flintshire Business Week 10th Anniversary Is Underway

Flintshire County Council’s flagship event, Flintshire Business Week (FBW) – celebrating its 10th year – has launched at Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ahead of the official opening, the Mersey and Dee Alliance (MDA) breakfast event was attended by over 200 delegates from across the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lord Barry Jones, President of the MDA and also FBW, opened the breakfast and the exhibition by welcoming all the delegates. He spoke passionately about the event: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a great honour, as a local patriot, to be here as the Flintshire Business Week celebrates its success in its 10th year – this is the best event of its type in Wales and Flintshire is the best led and best administered county in Wales. I must mention Cllr Butler, Cabinet Member for Economic Development who has an indomitable spirit and persistence and the Chief Officer for Community and Enterprise, Clare Budden, who is decisive and shrewd.
“The relationships and alliances which have been formed over the last 10 years and the new business growth and the huge potential for exports that we have seen develop is testament to the hard-working entrepreneurial spirit of the region. This spirit will stand us in good stead as the MDA continues to work with our partners in both Wales and across the border in England. We salute Vauxhall, Toyota and Airbus but our “phoenix-style” recovery is down to you – the SMEs, entrepreneurs, consultants, hauliers to name but a few.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After enjoying breakfast, courtesy of the sponsor Praxis, the delegates moved to the exhibition hall where over 60 exhibitors had their stands. This event regularly welcomes over 800 visitors throughout the day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exhibition also runs a series of well-attended seminars, notably one entitled “Social Enterprise meet the supporter”, bringing together supporters of social enterprise to give social enterprises in Flintshire access to their expertise to help them grow and prosper for the benefit of the region as a whole. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Derek Butler, who is also Chairman of the MDA, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Once again, it’s a pleasure to see so many local businesses coming together for this event which is a successful partnership between public and private sector. The Mersey Dee Alliance is unique – it’s the only cross-border alliance and has a vibrant economy across all sectors. We are campaigning for better infrastructure with Rail Track 360 and two growth bids in North Wales and Cheshire and we are looking towards more connectivity in education and employment opportunities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Islip of the exhibition sponsors, Westbridge Furniture Designs, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Westbridge is delighted to be headline sponsors of the FBW exhibition 2016 and we are pleased to see this event grow from strength to strength each year. I would encourage all local businesses that haven’t exhibited or attended to come along to this hugely successful event in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of the exhibitors who is back for a third year is Natalie Wood, Managing Director of Letterbox Recruiting. Natalie said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Having offices throughout North Wales, we find events such as this really useful for networking with other companies and making new contacts. Business is definitely booming and we are really keen to do business with other local companies and to keep local talent in the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​