31/07/2008 by admin.

A management buy-out at Wrexham-based Silvergate Plastics has been supported by Finance Wales with a £1.2m investment. It has been aquired by its management from The Vita Group, led by business manager Tony Bestall, who becomes managing director. Finance Wales takes an equity stake in the business.

The company is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of masterbatch for the plastics industry. Masterbatch is the manufactured ingredient that determines the colour in plastics - from mouldings to sheets and film. In the form of pellets plastic manufacturers use it for anything from plastic containers to car accessory parts.

Posted in News | No Comments »

30/07/2008 by admin.

I’ve been talking to a few businesses recently about online advertising and it’s amazing how many businesses still haven’t recognised the power of the internet. Their attitude seems to be ‘Well I’m not on the internet and I’m OK so everyone else must be too” - or - “I’ve already got a website I don’t need to promote my business…”. But…in the words of Alan Sugar “It’s no good having an all singing all dancing website if nobody knows about it…”. If you’ve got a website for your business great - but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Getting a website is just the start, you then need to promote it and regularly add fresh content. If you don’t, how are new customers going to know about you?

There is no better way is there to share news and ideas than through the written word and what better way is there than on the internet?

A simple and cheap way to get an online presence is with a blog. A blog is like a shared on-line journal, set up as a website, where you post your news and visitors can read what’s new, then comment on it or email you. Blogging has enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with like-minded individuals. It can be a powerful form of communication. Surveys show that over 25% of Internet users say they read blogs so it is an ideal medium to reach a wider audience.

Setting up a blog is free and easy to do. Visit a site such as www.blogger.com or www.blog.co.uk. You will be taken step by step through the process and can have your blog set up in minutes. You don’t need to be very technically minded. Obviously avoid breaching confidentiality when discussing real life situations or people. Bear in mind that even if you write your blog anonymously there are often ways that people will find out who you are.

Blogging encourages reader participation and offers a potential environment for support. It is a form of communication which allows feedback, and comments from its audience and it can be a very interactive and dynamic medium.

Teenagers today have grown up using the internet as their primary means of communication. A poll in the Guardian* back in 2005 reported that a third of 14-21 year olds have their own blog or website. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this. What better way to connect with young people than through the medium they are obviously most comfortable with? New technologies allow businesses to communicate more effectively and visibly, whether through blogging, online conferences, discussion lists or email; debating and sharing useful ideas and knowledge and creating new networks of information exchange, potentially worldwide. So join in and get blogging – you might even enjoy it!

Some useful links:

Recommended Books:

Blood, R. (2002) The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog New York. Perseus Books.

Doctorow, C. et al (2002), Essential blogging. Sebastopol.

Hill, B. (2006) Blogging for Dummies. New York. Hungry Minds Inc.

*Source: Guardian/ICM poll of 14-21 year olds.

Posted in Articles | No Comments »

23/07/2008 by admin.

Wrexham businessman Ian Rowley is launching a new website to promote the full menus of businesses in the region offering takeaway and delivered food.

Ian, who also owns www.frenchflavour.co.uk, says” I’m offering the service totally free to any business who wants to try it out until February 1st 2009, when the cost will only be £30.00 for 12 months – with absolutely no catches. So any business who offers takeaway or delivered food of any sort (Chinese, sandwiches, chocolate, Indian, Sausages, etc) can get a complete webpage with all of their details, web links, menus and even photos if they so wish, free for 6 six months to see if it really is any benefit to them before they decide to pay the £30 fee. There’s nothing to lose, and there is no obligation to continue once the six month free trail ends if they don’t want to.”

“The service includes enabling the business to be found by the search engines directly without having to go through our main pages.

“You can see the sort of page an advertiser gets by clicking here or, for example, searching for ‘China Kitchen Johnstown’ on any search engine - this is one of our takeaways which is individually searchable.”

If you would like more information the website is at www.takeaways4U.com and Ian can be contacted on 01978 844378 or by email at info@takeaways4u.com.

Posted in News | 2 Comments »

20/07/2008 by admin.

Usborne Books at Home offers a fantastic earning opportunity. With Usborne Books at Home you can build a home-based business selling over 1000 Usborne books to families, schools, pre-school organisations, libraries and community groups.

Usborne books sell themselves!

Usborne books earn glowing reviews and prestigious prizes and are respected by parents, teachers and librarians. Most importantly, children of all ages love to read Usborne books.

As an Usborne Organiser you can earn at least 24% commission on everything you sell from day one. As your business grows your commission can increase to 39% plus cash bonuses.

Join my Team before 21st July for the fantastic price of just £10! It usually costs £38 for the Starter Kit but this month you can take advantage of this great offer. For £10 you will get over £100 worth of books and stationery, so you’ll be ready to start making extra cash from day one.

See www.usbornewrexham.co.uk for more information.

Posted in News | No Comments »

15/07/2008 by admin.

There will be unavoidable disruption to services in Wrexham County Borough due to nationwide strike action by local government workers over two days on July 16 & 17, 2008. The action is being taken in response to the proposed pay offer of 2.45%.

The strike, supported by a number of unions following a ballot of its members, will inevitably affect services. All council offices and buildings will be closed to the public on both Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17 and there will only be a limited ability to respond to telephone calls.

The main switchboard will be closed and the following access points will be closed or affected:

• All main Council reception areas i.e. Guildhall,
  Lambpit Street, Ty Henblas and Crown Buildings.
• All other smaller reception areas and offices
• Cash and Benefits Officers
• Country Parks
• Depots
• Housing Estate Offices and the Housing Department at Ruthin Road
• Leisure Centres
• Libraries
• Museums
• People’s Market Multi-storey car park
• Tourist Information Centre
• General Refuse Collection and the Recycle with Michael scheme – No household collections will take place on Wednesday or Thursday during the strike. However, all civic amenity sites will be open. Residents are being advised to keep recyclables for next week’s collection or use local recycling sites.

The Council will still be providing services in emergencies on the day of the strike to vulnerable people.

Members of the public seeking urgent help in relation to specific services are asked to telephone 01978 298977.

It is expected that all schools will be open on the day unless informed differently by the Headteacher. It is planned that school transport will be operating as normal as will the school escort service.

If you require further information about how any particular service will be affected on the day visit the Council’s website on www.wrexham.gov.uk or alternatively use the contact telephone numbers listed in the local BT Phone book.

Deputy Chief Executive, Malcolm Russell said “We would ask the public to be patient during this time and if their call is not urgent to please wait until Friday, July 18th to contact us”.

Posted in News | No Comments »

14/07/2008 by admin.

Wrexham’s Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has responded to the announcement by J.C. Bamford that further job losses will be made at its Wrexham factories as a result of the global credit crisis.

Commenting, Lesley Griffiths said: “This is a worrying development on the back of other recent job losses. The company is clearly suffering from the international economic downturn.

“I have already asked the Assembly Government to continue meeting with representatives of J.C. Bamford and trade unions, to discuss what it can do to help the company through this difficult phase.”

Posted in News | No Comments »

12/07/2008 by admin.

Laura Ashley is to open its doors in Priory Street, Wrexham on Saturday 12 July 2008. The fashion and furnishings company is well-known on the high street and its presence in the town centre will be a welcome one that is sure to attract many new customers to Wrexham.

Councillor Rodney Skelland, Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Governance said, “I am delighted that Laura Ashley has shown such confidence in Wrexham and that this prestigious name is coming to the town centre. This new name, in addition to Jane Norman and Bank who are also new names locating in Wrexham, shows that, at a time when the economy is suffering, the town centre is doing well.”

Councillor Skelland said, “This shows that the decision to extend the existing town centre by creating a new street for re-development rather than a shopping mall, enclosed space or retail space has worked and that Wrexham will regenerate as a result.”

David Donkin from Town Centre Securities, developers of the Priory Street location states, “We are very pleased that Laura Ashley is coming to Wrexham town centre and hope to see many other new names following and taking up premises on the high street. Our agents, Kenney Moore and Legat Owen, are working hard to ensure that Wrexham remains vibrant and has a high class retail offer and our thanks go to them in securing this national store.”

Laura Ashley started in London in 1953 when it was called Ashley Mountrey Ltd – a combination of Laura Ashleys married name and her maiden name. It was later changed to Laura Ashley as it was felt that this better reflected the products they were making.

The Ashleys moved to Kent in 1955 in order to expand their operation, but in 1958 the River Derwent overflowed and ruined stock and equipment. The family fought back from this and by 1960 turnover had grown to £8,000.

Bernard Ashley was knighted in the late 1980s – a time when the product range continued to grow. In 2005 the company moved its production operation to Newtown, Powys. The company has franchise operations all over the worked and an increasing number of licensing projects for products. The company has returned to profitability under the current chief executive, Lillian Tan and continues to grow.

Posted in News | No Comments »

12/07/2008 by admin.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones has launched a new page on his website that will list each piece of legislation that is passed by Parliament in each parliamentary year with a brief summary of what the Act means for the people of Clwyd South. Visit www.martynjonesmp.co.uk for more information.

Posted in News | No Comments »

12/07/2008 by admin.

Employees at Cadbury’s in Chirk have been recognised for their efforts in helping the community. The company in Chirk has been honoured at the 2008 Business in the Community Awards by being presented with a prestigious Big Tick for the third year in a row.

The Cadbury’s team picked up the Northern Foods Rural Action Award for Excellence 2008 in recognition of their contribution to their local community. Staff at the Chirk site given the opportunity to make a real difference to their community using their own skills and resources as part of Cadbury’s nationwide CommUnity scheme.

The scheme focuses on three main areas of homelessness, education and the environment and growth of the society around them.

Posted in News | No Comments »

12/07/2008 by admin.

In a bid to save small businesses from being driven out of the UK’s high streets, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the government to support its Keep Trade Local campaign.

Inspired by FSB members, the Keep Trade Local manifesto unites campaigning from small businesses with a concrete plan for the government to alleviate the plight of independent retailers. In our economic climate, the problems that face small businesses are obvious to all - we are sleepwalking into a disaster.

The Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, made some welcome comments on planning this week, but the country’s biggest business organisation is challenging her to deliver by launching a Keep Trade Local manifesto that covers changes to five other key areas which would benefit small businesses as well:

• Parking charges;
• Business rates relief;
• Crime prevention;
• Post Office closures; and
• Public procurement.

The FSB’s Keep Trade Local Manifesto sets out how our high streets can be kept alive through grassroots change. The manifesto also raises awareness of the value that small businesses provide to consumers, including local produce and personal service.

Clive Davenport, FSB trade and industry chairman, said: “Small businesses and independent retailers are at the heart of our economy and local communities, creating growth and jobs. They must be sufficiently supported

“Encouraging statements from politicians are of course welcome but they must be backed up with concrete actions.

“Politicians, both locally and nationally, can make a difference by putting in place transparent and fair planning and procurement policies. But they need to wake up quickly to prevent disaster and Keep Trade Local.”

Posted in News | No Comments »