Category Archives: Start Ups

Bridgend, Business News, News, Start Ups, Start-Up News, Wales News

Bridgend MS welcomes support to help young people start their own business

Sarah Murphy, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Bridgend and Porthcawl, has welcomed the Welsh Labour Government’s commitment to support 1,200 young people to start their own business as part of plans to foster a new culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Wales.

 £5 million of funding will be invested over the next three years to deliver on the self-employment aspect of the ambitious Young Person’s Guarantee – one of Welsh Labour’s key pledges at the Senedd election in 2021.

 Specialist support will be provided via:

  •  A new Young Person’s Start Up Grant of up to £2,000 per business. This will support 1,200 young people that are unemployed, left education or training in the early stage of business to become self-employed.
  •  Pre and post start up support for one year, designed to help individuals overcome any barriers to starting a business, including one-to-one business advisory support, entrepreneur mentoring, business planning and financial management.

 

Sarah Murphy, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Bridgend and Porthcawl, said:

 “I’m determined that there will be no lost generation as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, so I’m really pleased that the Welsh Labour Government is investing £5m to deliver the self-employment aspect of our ambitious Young Person’s Guarantee – a key Welsh Labour pledge at last year’s Senedd election.

 “Encouraging young adults to stay in Wales by building their careers and launching their own businesses here will be instrumental to making young people feel confident in planning their future.

 “Our young people hold the key to Wales’ future success. Their talents, skills and creativity are essential to ensuring our economic success. I welcome the Welsh Labour Government’s determination to do all they can to help deliver the long-term economic benefits our young people deserve for them all to fulfil their potential.”

 

The Welsh Labour Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee will provide everyone under 25 in Bridgend, and across Wales, with the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment.

 The £5 million fund will build on the success of Big Ideas Wales, run by the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service, which provides learning through workshops led by entrepreneurs and a network of Champions to aide transition from Further and Higher Education into the world of work.

 The investment is included in the £20.9m a year commitment to extend the hugely successful Business Wales service beyond the end of EU funding in 2023.

Business Advice, Start Ups

4 Useful Tips For Starting Up A Business

Are you starting up your own business and looking for tips and advice on your new journey? Whatever business you’re starting up, there are a few key things to consider for any successful startup. We have listed a few ideas below for you to have a look at, and help you get prepared for launching your new business. Keep reading to learn more!

Learn From Your Competitors

Research companies already doing what you hope to do and see how they work. Are there strategies they have used that didn’t work for them? Or are their ideas genius and make them incredibly successful? Either way, use their mistakes and achievements to your benefit. By learning from competitors and the paths they have already trod, you can make your own journey to a successful business easier.

Make Sure You’ve Got The Right Equipment

Whether your new business will require tech and IT or building materials and machines, make sure you do your research for what you’ll need. You don’t want to launch your business just to realise you’ve forgotten something important for the day-to-day functioning of your workplace. Make sure you purchase everything you need ahead of starting up so that you’re prepared. Consider using self-storage units to keep things ready for when you have premises to use.

Build A Strong Team

Having the right team around you when starting up a business can be the deciding factor as to whether you succeed or not. Be picky about who you choose. They should not only have the knowledge and skills you need from them for their role, but they also need to work well with you in terms of personality. Think about the different areas of your business and what you need to make it a success. What talents and abilities are you seeking from employees? Do the roles you’re recruiting for require university or professional qualifications? Or are they more about having practical skills and experience?

Give a clear job description and exactly what you’re looking for in candidates. This way you’re less likely to have to waste time interviewing candidates that ultimately don’t fit the role. Once you’ve recruited the perfect team, make sure you make them feel valued and that their work is appreciated. There’s no point taking the time to build the right team up if you’re not going to ensure they are happy at work and could potentially quit.

Creating The Best Workspace

Take time to consider what the right premises would be for your new business, as well as the ideal location for customers and your employees. If you need to target passersby, you should consider things such as footfall and transport routes. If you’re going to need plenty of space for storage, look for warehouse units with an office space in them for admin work. Try and think about your employees and what is best for them too. If they’re not happy and not functioning at their best, it will affect the whole business and productivity.

Investment, News, Start Ups

Top Music Producer and Swedish Deeptech Unicorn Invest in Dutch audio-tech start-up

Investment by Forward.One, Exeger, Music Producer and DJ Martin Garrix, and Industry Advisors Takes Funding in Mayht to Nearly $10 million

Swedish solar cell company Exeger, venture capital firm Forward.One and world-renowned music producer and DJ Martin Garrix, have led the latest funding round in disruptive Dutch audio-tech start-up, Mayht. The Series A follow-on round takes investment in the firm to nearly USD$10 million so far.

Mayht’s Heartmotion technology has totally reinvented how the insides of speakers work, for the first time in 100-years, allowing consumer electronic companies and speaker manufacturers to shrink the size of their products, while still offering immersive, high-quality, loudspeaker level sound.

Founded in 2016, by brothers Mattias and Timothy Scheek, Mayht (pronounced “Might”), is targeting an addressable $375 billion consumer electronics and automotive speaker market through technology licensing.

By redesigning the core workings of the speaker, Mayht’s Heartmotion technology allows consumer electronics and speaker manufacturers to create new products that are up to ten times more compact, flatter and lightweight without any compromise to sound quality, range or output.

This means consumers will soon be able to experience home cinema theater bass from a single soundbar without the need for a separate subwoofer, portable bluetooth speakers as powerful as large party speakers, and receive floor standing speaker sound quality from their WiFi speakers and home voice assistants.

The Mayht management team is engaged in conversations with global tech giants, consumer electronics brands, speaker and car manufacturers, to showcase how its technology will revolutionise the home entertainment, portable device, voice assistant, soundbar and automotive markets.

Mayht Chief Executive, Mattias Scheek says: “While consumer electronics have grown more powerful and compact in recent years, the core speaker technology within has hardly evolved. I truly believe our Heartmotion speaker technology is the revolution the industry has been dreaming of, but never thought possible. They will finally be able to create the sound experiences people want from everyday consumer electronics and automotive audio systems.”

“Until now, only those with big enough homes and the money to afford it could enjoy high-quality, immersive in-home sound experiences,” says Scheek. “Our vision is to make Heartmotion the new industry standard for speaker driver technology, making the best sound quality accessible to the masses.”

“This new injection of funding will help us turn the market on its head, allowing us to commercialise and license out our Heartmotion technology on a global stage. We’re looking forward to bringing until now unimaginable, high quality, full-range sound experiences including full bass spectrum to the most compact speaker devices.”

As Mayht’s Heartmotion speaker driver technology is highly compact and self-balancing, consumer electronics, and car manufacturers, no longer need to design audio products constrained by conventional speakers. This means they can create much smaller products and achieve both environmental and cost savings, through significant reductions in materials, manufacturing, packaging, shipping and retailing. Speakers that use the Heartmotion technology platform can also offer consumers important reductions in energy consumption, as they will require less power than comparable same size audio devices currently on the market.

Exeger’s patented solar cell material, Powerfoyle, converts all forms of indoor and outdoor light into clean, endless energy. It can be seamlessly integrated into all consumer products that benefit from being self-powered and its superior design properties make it uniquely well suited for the consumer electronics space. Earlier this year, Exeger launched the world’s first self-powered headphones.

Self-powered speakers are a natural next step when it comes to bringing extraordinary sound to people in an easy to use and environmentally friendly way. Mayht’s technology (and its efficient use of energy) coupled with Powerfoyle, will open a completely new segment: self-powered speakers with infinite playtime.

Exeger founder and chief executive, Giovanni Fili, says: “Exeger launched Powerfoyle earlier this year in self-powered headphones by Urbanista with infinite listening. The market response was extraordinary, and many are predicting that Powerfoyle, just like Bluetooth, will become a new standard for wireless headphones.

“Now, together with Mayht, we are going to set another standard, this time in the speaker market with an endless listening experience from amazing sounding speakers. Mayht and Exeger are two of the most innovative tech companies in Europe and I’m incredible excited about the strong alliance that we’re forging.”

Speaking about why he’s invested in Mayht, Martijn Garritsen, professionally known as Music Producer and DJ Martin Garrix, says: “Hearing Mayht’s technology in action, I strongly believe this is a company that can change the audio industry. My love for music and great sound is at the forefront of this innovation, which is exactly why I’m excited to be investing in the future of such a young and innovative Dutch tech start-up.

Alongside Exeger, Forward.One and Martin Garrix, Mayht’s advisory and operational board has also invested as part of the funding round. The board brings together decades of senior management, audio engineering and product innovation expertise from working at diverse international audio product manufacturers.

Mayht and Exeger will be showcasing their technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from 3rd-9th January 2022.

  

Start Ups

Tips to Help Startup Companies Compete with the Best

For many startups, it can sometimes be challenging to figure out which aspect deserves their focus and attention. Would it be best to go for the marketing first? What about the products and services? It’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed by everything, which is why it’s best to build a roadmap to help future-proof your business.

Fortunately, there are many different examples to choose from. After all, no matter the industry you choose, there will be many successful companies you can mimic to help elevate your business. That being said, here are some tips to help startup companies compete with the best.

 

An understanding of marketing matters

One of the first things to consider would be marketing matters, as it’s challenging to get anyone to try your services without a successful marketing campaign. The most significant advantage startups have is getting started with search engine optimisation (SEO) right away. It’s a fantastic way to build a relationship with your audience, allowing you to make the most of your opportunities without being forced to overextend.

When it comes to marketing matters, focus on the digital marketing side of things rather than print. Traditional marketing has its moments, but it can be too risky for new businesses.

 

Understanding which types of business software you can count on

For those committed to future-proofing their businesses, it’s best to look into the various types of business software that can streamline many processes. For example, companies that focus on transport and delivery would benefit from services such as the Multi Stop Route Planner. Restaurants can focus on the point of sale software to ensure that their staff is not overwhelmed during rush hour. Construction companies can go the extra mile by utilising team and project management software.

As if that wasn’t enough, many of the digital tools available for various industries offer a free version for those willing to get started. Startup owners can also get the help of professional services to learn more about which digital tools can help streamline their business.

 

Taking advantage of social media

While SEO is a great way to start marketing, it is not the only thing startups have to consider. Social media is mandatory if you want to spread the message and ensure that it gets to the right people. Not only does social media offer a convenient hub for companies to get in touch with online users, but it also acts as a hotbed for constructive feedback, allowing many companies to make improvements based on what their supporters have to say.

Companies can also form partnerships with social media influencers, helping to spread awareness and establish rapport with the target demographic.

With the above tips, even the most inexperienced business can compete with the best in the industry. An understanding of business software, marketing, and social media can help elevate a new business, effectively future-proofing their endeavours. Aside from the above tips, ensure that you are taking the time to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Start Ups

A Guide to Setting Up a Start-up Business in 2021

Start-up businesses are new companies that are growing and evolving. Entrepreneurs launch start-up companies to use their talents to benefit potential customers and offer them products and services that they believe they will want.

When you’re starting a business, there’s a lot to consider, which is why we’ve come up with a guide to setting up start-up businesses in 2021.

 

Make Sure That Your Business Idea is Creative and Original

The idea behind your product or service must be creative, and when coming up with your initial business ideas, you must think outside the box. Analyse the market and look at the products that are currently out there and try and think how your product idea could offer customers something different. The key to the entrepreneurial side of start-up businesses is being original and coming up with unique and innovative ideas.

 

Make Sure Your Business Strategy Embraces the Internet

The marketing and branding for your new start-up should predominately be done digitally. You’ll need to build a digital presence and make the most of the online space and social media channels. Marketing your start-up across social media channels is free of charge, and it can be a highly successful way to connect with a wide audience and engage new customers.

 

Register Your Business in the UK

Any start-up organisation launching in the UK wanting to trade – whether a sole trader, a limited company or a partnership – must register itself as a business. This is so your business is able to pay taxes to the government.

 

Be Financially Savvy and Keep Your Overhead Costs Down

Any business wanting to survive and prosper must be able to generate profits. Expensive overheads and business operational costs can stunt a start-up’s growth and prevent it from making money. So come up with some creative ways you can save money, such as purchasing second-hand office furniture. If you’re interested in investing in second-hand office furniture, maybe consider checking out Recycled Business Furniture. You can also choose to have employees working in a ‘hybrid’ way initially, where staff only going into the office 1-2 days a week and you won’t have to pay to cover all the costs of running the office space 5 days a week

 

Employ Staff Members

Another big consideration for a start-up business after the first initial stages is employing staff members. After employing new staff members for your business, you have to put them on your employee payroll and inform the government. You have to think about what should you pay them? Do you need to employ staff full-time or part-time? What specialities and skills are you looking for in new staff members and how can they help to develop and grow your business?

So, there are many things to consider when setting up a start-up company in 2021, and business ventures in the post-pandemic world certainly come with their risks. For a start-up to grow these days, it must be a product or service able to present consumers with a new idea and stand out as being better to what is already available on the market from competitor companies and so on.

News, Start Ups

Confectionary Start-up Sweetens Up The Pandemic

Pleased To Sweet You has set up store in the Humberside area, providing people from across the United Kingdom with easy access to bespoke sweet treats and confectionary of all shapes and styles. For those looking for an easy way to give a sweet tooth a helping hand, local confectionary experts now exist that you can call upon when required.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most people in the UK into a form of lockdown, severe or otherwise. Not only has this impacted on living quality, but it has made simple things like watching television together less satisfying. Missing out on all the little things, such as sweet treats with children, soon add up and impact mental health. Pleased To Sweet You, though, is the answer to those stuck at home without something nice to chew upon.

The company was founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to offer an on-demand solution to those searching for the perfect confectionary. What started out as a small-scale service offering both delivery and pick-up services across the Humberside area soon turned into a UK-wide delivery service. Those seeking a sweet treat and something to make long nights more satisfying can find just what they are looking for.

Of the choice to begin company start-up during a pandemic, Pleased To Sweet You Founder Carl Derving said: “It’s been a tough year for all of us, and it really has forced us to dig deeper into our communities to thrive. With two young girls at home, we knew how hard family life has become for those during the pandemic. Even the little things, like having some sweeties at home, has become tough. So, we looked to offer a simple alternative – a delivery service across the country, making life during and after COVID little sweeter.”

There has been a huge push during the year to get more products onsite, so that those looking for everything from Halloween-themed confectionary to festive sweets and all-year options can find everything in the one place. The company aims to bring in more sweets and selections as 2021 begins and more opportunities open for thematic confectionary and other choices.
With one of the most challenging years on record nearly behind us all, Pleased To Sweet You aims to make 2021 a kinder, easier year to enjoy – especially for families who have missed out on so much during 2020.

Investment, Start Ups

Welsh Mountain bike start up Atherton Bikes raises £385,000 through Angel Investment Network

Additive Manufactured mountain bike company Atherton Bikes has raised £385,000 through Angel Investment Network. The Welsh business is the brainchild of world-famous mountain biker siblings Gee Atherton, Dan Atherton and Rachel Atherton who have partnered with a team of engineers from F1, aerospace and NASA to produce a world-beating mountain-bike.  The business is chaired by entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor Piers Linney.

The raise took two months with the funds being used to scale production. The bikes are made in UK by joining carbon tubes with Additive Manufactured lugs (3d printing in titanium). Every bike can be fitted to its rider, stock holding is low and learnings can be in production in days. Frames are optimised for light weight and high strength and unlike traditional mountain- bike manufacturing which relies on costly carbon moulds the business can offer thousands of variants in frame assembly for different riding experiences, all with an eye on personalisation and performance.

According to Gee Atherton: “We were delighted to work with AIN on this raise which means we can really scale production and bring our vision for what the perfect mountain bike should look like to thousands of riders. We’ve spent our lives racing and developing and we know that having the right bike for the stage you are at can transform your experience. The beauty of the additive manufacturing process is that it’s so responsive, enabling us to incorporate immediate improvements and create perfectly tailored bikes. We’ve been able to achieve this with brilliant people like our suspension designer Dave Weagle and expert business guidance from Piers. Our big goal is to see kids, all mountain explorers, bike park shredders, racers and e-bikers enjoying our bikes.”

According to Ed Stephens: “It is hard not to get excited by the bravery and the boldness of the Athertons’ mountain biking escapades. I don’t think a single investor didn’t marvel at the 60+ft jumps made by Gee in the Red Bull video that accompanied our promotion. Add something as evocative as this to the improvements afforded by 3D printing and the project simply put excited people. As world-class mountain bikers the Athertons were perfectly placed to spot a gap in the market for a brand new approach and work with some of the best people to bring this to market.”

News, Start Ups, Technology

Mayor of London’s International Business Programme enters new partnership with Ciklum to support London-based scaleups

Today, London & Partners have announced a new partnership for the Mayor’s International Business Programme (MIBP) with Ciklum, a leading technology partner, to help London startups and scaleups expand internationally.

Ciklum is on a mission to be London’s leading startup technology and product partner, from seed stage to IPO. With an array of international technical talent and nearly two decades of experience in building custom digital solutions, Ciklum is the enabler that stands behind unicorns like JustEat, Flixbus and eToro.

Members of the Mayor’s International Business Programme already benefit from a wide range of support services, including a mentoring scheme, workshops and events, access to trade missions and introductions to top corporates all over the world.

With Ciklum on board, programme participants will now have access to a whole new range of technical expertise including custom product builds, data strategy and operations, and scaling technology solutions and teams.

Ciklum’s involvement in the programme highlights its commitment to driving product and technical innovation for London startups, helping them compete on the world stage.

Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise, Rajesh Agrawal, said:

“Building up-to-date digital infrastructure is essential for any business to remain competitive as our economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Ciklum is a world leader in digital solutions and I’m sure they will be an enormous asset to the Mayor’s International Business Programme.”

Kulraj Smagh, CEO at Ciklum, also commented:

“I’m delighted Ciklum is joining the Mayor’s International Business Programme. We have a rich history of working with hyper-scaling and entrepreneurial tech companies, and are excited to work with the respected partners. We look forward to sharing our experience of helping scale up successful unicorns in the market with the amazing companies participating in the programme.”

Ciklum joins Globalization Partners, Microsoft, Taylor Wessing and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as corporate partners of the MIBP. Through these partnerships, the MIBP has helped more than 900 London-based companies internationalise to date, creating more than 1700 jobs for the global economy.

Sara French, Director of Trade & Growth at London & Partners, added:

“I am delighted that Ciklum joins our amazing line-up of partners here at Mayor’s International Business Programme. Ciklum’s digital and technological expertise is an incredibly valuable resource for our programme members – not least in the current virtual climate. As we ramp up our efforts to help London-based businesses in these difficult times, I have every confidence that, with Ciklum’s specialist support, our companies will continue to confront the challenges of scaling head-on and be able to bring new products to market even faster.”

The MIBP welcomes a new cohort of companies every quarter. Its 18th cohort launches this week, where around 60 of London’s fastest-growing companies will be formally joining and tuning into online induction sessions across the week.

To find out more and apply for a place on the next cohort (launching Spring 2021), visit: https://business.london/go-to-grow.

About London & Partners

London & Partners is London’s international trade, investment and promotion agency. Our purpose is to support the Mayor’s priorities by promoting London as the best city in the world in which to invest, work, study and visit. We do this by devising creative ways to promote London and to amplify the Mayor’s messages, priorities and campaigns. London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.

About the Mayor’s International Business Programme

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Mayor’s International Business Programme helps ambitious scaleups from London’s technology, life sciences, creative and urban sectors to expand their businesses internationally. The free 12-month programme provides world-class support and advice for international business success, including bespoke, on-the-ground support in key global markets.

The Mayor’s International Business Programme is supported by its corporate delivery partners: Ciklum, Globalization Partners, Microsoft, Taylor Wessing and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

About Ciklum

Ciklum is a leading global digital services and software engineering company, serving Fortune 500 and fast-growing organisations. Headquartered in the UK, Ciklum has 3,500+ software developers, designers, product managers and data scientists around the world building tailored, digital solutions that leverage emerging technologies.

Ciklum specialises in enabling digital transformation for some of the largest household names and platforms in the digital economy. The company partners with its clients to achieve their true potential in the digital age.

Business Advice, News, Start Ups

Secrets to success for UK start-ups in this turbulent time

Steve Cordiner, head of unquoted investment at Gresham House Ventures, considers what will help start-ups succeed while many established businesses are concerned.

As many UK businesses begin to reopen, investor eyes will be sharply focused on whether start-up companies can withstand the ongoing COVID-19 storm.

However, investors do not need to stand by nervously as these fortunes are gradually revealed. By being actively engaged in the development of portfolio companies, investors can not only identify earlier the budding businesses likely to emerge strongest, they can also move quickly to help the most challenged.
While second order impacts will undoubtedly materialise over the course of the coming year, the pandemic has also accelerated shifts and trends that were already underway, which is rewarding companies at the forefront of these trends. Although the coronavirus crisis has been catastrophic for many areas of the economy, we are seeing accelerated growth in businesses using technology to disrupt markets.

A duty to advise

In the face of uncertainty and amid a recession, the role of an investor is more important than ever. Clearly there is a need for capital, but providing support, advice and counsel is vital, particularly for many first-time entrepreneurs who may never have been through a crisis or recession.
Having worked with private equity and venture capital backed businesses throughout the 2008 financial crisis, we understand how important speed of decision making and experience are for UK growth companies navigating the pandemic and its aftermath.
As an investor, you are in a unique position. In turbulent times, you build a far deeper picture of the companies you work with and the markets they operate in. You learn which companies are resilient and which are not, which management teams make great decisions and which do not, who sees the risks and who does not. Over the years, you will have seen good times, bad times, mistakes and glimpses of genius. This enables engaged investors to share their knowledge and experience and help businesses find solutions to current challenges, as well as adapt to the changing environment.

During a crisis, we always look for companies to control the controllable. Accept it – you cannot stop a lockdown, financial crisis, or ash cloud, but you can make good decisions and plan for coming out of a crisis. In our experience, good decisions are made by businesses with good information and high-quality people. This includes staff, management and non-executive board members.

On the way into the crisis, many of these decisions were on obvious areas like cash management, but now businesses should be thinking not just about the tactical return to work, but how they can assume a competitive advantage and come out of lockdown taking market share. Now is the time for agile and ambitious businesses to shake up their markets – while still being cognisant of second order impacts to come. We are about to move into what is in many respects a far more challenging environment to make decisions, as the post-lockdown world is far more uncertain than the one which prevailed during lockdown. This also creates more opportunity for disruptive and agile businesses.

In fact, some of the young businesses which have been net winners during the pandemic probably need to be more cautious. They may have been lucky enough not to have had change forced upon them or not to have had to make some very tough decisions. These businesses are possibly more at risk of underestimating the second order impacts to come.

Communication is also key. In uncertain times, companies continuously engaging with customers and staff to share information and show they understand the challenges they are facing are building loyalty. This will bear fruit as we come through this pandemic, and for years to come, as it will form part of the DNA of those businesses in a way money cannot buy. Similarly, it is crucial for businesses to engage with stakeholders, including banks and investors. They will want to help, so even if the messages are not all positive, silence or, even worse, hiding things will only create more problems later.

Standout start-ups

Finally, as the pandemic has accentuated trends in areas such as digital transformation, we have seen businesses that were already growing strongly continue to flourish, validating our focus on businesses delivering disruptive innovation. One such company is global social commerce platform Moteefe, which allows merchants, from individuals to established businesses, to design and create print-on-demand products for sale online, such as clothes and phone cases.
The pandemic is forcing large traditional retailers to re-examine their global supply chains, and the agility of Moteefe’s localised production model continues to gain traction, offering resilience and flexibility. Meanwhile, fast fashion continues to garner negative attention – due to unethical labour standards – and faces structural challenges given its massive environmental footprint and wastage.

At the same time, consumer habits continue to accelerate the shift to online, alongside a desire of on-demand differentiated and customisable products. The need for retailers to modernise, digitise and localise their supply chains has never been greater. As a leading global platform, this positions Moteefe for further growth.
We recently made our fourth investment since 2017 into Moteefe. In that time, the business has expanded internationally and grown twentyfold, with no signs of slowing down. Extreme rates of growth such as this create its own challenges, and it is important for businesses to evolve and adapt. But the recipe for success is the same. It all starts with good people, good information, good communication and a clear focus on winning in the market to put yourself in a position to make great decisions.

Business Advice, Events, Start Ups

Annual conference ‘She’s her own boss’ goes virtual to help entrepreneurs across West Wales

Covid-19 has meant a change to so many things. Our daily lives, our jobs and how we interact with others, but that isn’t stopping Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub from hosting its annual conference aimed at celebrating women in business. The only difference is that this year it will be virtual.

Open to all, the conference will run on 17th November, 2020 from 10:00 – 14:00 and will feature award winning speakers including: Elinor Davies-Farn owner of Olew, Kelly Davies co-founder of Good Wash Company and Marian Evans founder of Elevate BC.

An entrepreneur from Aberystwyth, Elinor Davies-Farn started her own business from her kitchen in London with only £100. Elinor created a range of hair products for curly hair, named ‘Olew’. Kelly Davies, a former Wales and Professional Footballer, is an award winning Social Entrepreneur, an Ashoka Fellow, creator of Vi-Ability and Football CEO.

Awarded ‘Inspirational Woman of the Decade 2019’ in the Swansea Bay Women in Business Awards, Marian Evans is the owner of Elevate BC and a self-made entrepreneur. All three women will be sharing their expertise at various points throughout the event.

The conference is designed to support the local community and provide opportunities to explore entrepreneurship and innovation in Wales. This fantastic, fully funded event is hosted by the Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub, Wales Co-Operative Centre and co-sponsored by BUCANIER project.

“We are delighted to be able to launch our Female Entrepreneur Conference for 2020. Last year we welcomed nearly 100 guests in person who had the chance to hear from BBC Apprentice Winner Alana Spencer, who shared her experiences, offered top tips in business and really inspired our audience. We are really looking forward to trying this event online, as we hope to share this amazing expertise with a wider audience and achieve the same level of inspiration with our award winning speakers,” commented Angharad Harding, Hub Manager at Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub.

“Feedback from the event last year was so positive that we knew we needed to find a way to run the conference again this year. Changing our approach due to Covid-19 has not only given us the chance to reach a wider audience, but also to welcome speakers who may not be able to attend a physical event. We are still welcoming anyone who owns a business, has a side hustle, business idea or someone who simply wants to network with the local community,” said Gwenllian Thomas, Enterprise Engagement Co-ordinator at Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub.

Spaces are limited and tickets are required for this free event. Click here to book your tickets.

Focus Enterprise Hubs are an innovative space to incubate and accelerate new, and growing businesses. Focus Newtown and Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hubs are part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. EU funds are having a positive impact on people, businesses and communities across Wales by raising skills and helping people into work.