Entrepreneurs across Wales who have been given a helping hand by the Business Wales one-stop-shop service are backing a marketing campaign to promote the service.
They are featured in advertisements endorsing the service and helping to raise awareness of Business Wales which offers one-to-one advice tailored to the needs of individual businesses.
A number of businesses are also featured on the Business Wales website explaining how they have benefited from the expert help on offer which can range from advice on exporting and marketing to HR issues or business planning and funding. (http://business.wales.gov.uk/business-wales)
Sioned Morys MD of Chwarel, the award winning independent TV production company in North Wales and Maria Penfold, who set up the TopToys4U online retail business in South Wales, are amongst those participating.
The campaign includes pitch side adverts at the Millennium Stadium during home matches as well as adverts in match programmes. Poster ads will be featured in rail stations across Wales with the campaign also being promoted in newspapers, on local radio and across social media.
Business Wales was launched in January 2013 and in its first year helped create and safeguard more than 2,200 jobs and provided direct advice to 5,360 SMEs, and information and signposting to over 15,000 other businesses.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:” These latest figures show how Business Wales is making a real difference and helping companies across Wales deal with a range of often quite complex issues. I am delighted that so many companies that have already benefited from the service are supporting our campaign and talking about their specific experiences.
“These personal endorsements are quite compelling and help get the message across that the Business Wales service is there to help businesses across Wales access expert advice.”
Some businesses that feature in the campaign :
Sioned Morys from Chwarel the award winning independent TV production company based in Criccieth says Business Wales helped them secure funding from the Wales Economic Growth Fund to buy and transform a former warehouse into a new media hub.
Dominic Rapley was inundated with enquiries when he launched Training Check – a bespoke system he designed to enable users to maximise the efficiency of their training programmes. Business Wales teamed him up with a business mentor who provided him with invaluable help to scale up the business.
Maria Penfold, the owner of Swansea based toy retailer TopToys4U, had help and advice from Business Wales to move her business into a completely online operation – her profits doubled in two years and she is planning to expand further and employs five people.
Caroline Mougenot is working with Business Wales to help develop Serious Climbing and take it to the next level. The business distributes climbing equipment and clothing and provides a full Climbing Wall design and manufacturing service.