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天涯社区 leads the way supporting entrepreneurs
Published: 25/03/2015
The 天涯社区 Business Entrepreneurship Network (BEN) is to host a celebration
event to mark the success of its two Enterprise Clubs in 天涯社区 and Wrexham.
The Network was founded in November 2012 by Communities First and 天涯社区
businessman, Askar Sheibani, CEO of Comtek Network Systems UK Ltd, and is
managed by the Communities First 天涯社区 East team. The Network incorporates
stakeholders from 天涯社区, Welsh Government, representatives
from local businesses and the community, who are joining together to promote
entrepreneurship.
Since it was established, the Network has hosted a series of Dragons鈥� Den
events and over 100 people have benefited from the programme.
The next Dragons鈥� Den will take place on Friday 27 March, between 1pm and 3pm
at the Hightown Community Resources Centre in Wrexham, and budding
entrepreneurs are invited to attend, to pitch their ideas to business leaders,
and receive honest feedback and an opportunity to receive support and mentoring.
Askar Sheibani, chairman of the Deeside Industrial Park Forum, and CEO and
founder of telecoms repair and support company, Comtek, said:
鈥溙煅纳缜�檚 Dragons鈥� Den programme has been a resounding success since its
launch in 2013. We have been getting enquiries from all across the UK to find
out how our programme works and how it is co-ordinated by 天涯社区s
Communities First team. We have also seen a number of established entrepreneurs
eager to get involved in the Enterprise Clubs to provide our budding
entrepreneurs with ongoing advice and support. Indeed, the Enterprise Clubs
would be impossible to run without the support of local businesses, which help
out on a voluntary basis and are one of the main ingredients to the programmes鈥�
success. Without their support and mentoring, we would not be recognised as a
blueprint for success by other regions in the UK, and we encourage others to
grasp their local talent to drive business success and help keep their local
economies afloat.鈥�
Dave Fildes from DFS4 Ltd is one of the mentors, he said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me to put something back into the community of North Wales.
I am mentoring three or four people through the Enterprise Club as well as
providing talks. I have built up several businesses and turned a couple around;
the main skill I have is sales, sales organisation and sales training. I know
what it鈥檚 like to have sleepless nights and often what someone needs is
somebody to talk to, to come to their own decisions.鈥�
Neil Davies has benefited from the Network and the Enterprise Club. He has set
up a company called Active Adventure North Wales, which provides business
management courses through outdoor activities. He said:
鈥淭he BEN and the Enterprise Club has been of massive benefit to me. The free
lectures on a Friday have been great, especially on sales, marketing and social
media. It鈥檚 been a fantastic journey and it鈥檚 great to have someone to turn to
to ask for advice.鈥�
New Zealander Thomas Kirkpatrick is the owner of luxury self catering cottages
鈥� Cae Gwyn Cottages 鈥� in the Vale of Clwyd:
鈥淚 arrived in 天涯社区 two years ago with my wife, who is local to this area.
We started looking for a rural property and found an abandoned Georgian
property that had been abandoned for years 鈥� complete with lovely outbuildings
and a Bothy. I have been an enterprise club member for a year and it has been
an inspirational experience seeing the number of young entrepreneurs 鈥� people
are out there really making a go of it. It鈥檚 been so inspiring!鈥�
Councillor Derek Butler, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at 天涯社区
County Council, said:
鈥淥nce again 天涯社区 is at the forefront of innovation with this Network
which is unique 鈥� there is nowhere else in Wales, UK or Europe delivering this.
My thanks go to Communities First and to Askar Sheibani for leading this
fantastic initiative.鈥�
To take part in the next Dragons鈥� Den event on Friday 27 March, from 1pm to 3pm
at the Hightown Community Resources Centre in Wrexham, please contact Lynn
Williams via email at lynn.williams@cambria.ac.uk
If you are unable to attend the Wrexham event, there is a 天涯社区 Dragons
Den planned for Friday 15 May at Coleg Cambria, Deeside Campus from 10am to
2pm. For more information on the 天涯社区 event please contact Beverly
Moseley 01244 846090.
A celebration event to mark the success of the 天涯社区 and Wrexham
Enterprise Clubs, and to thank all those who have taken part and championed its
cause 鈥� its members, Dragons, organisations and supporters - will take place on
Friday 19 June at Coleg Cambria鈥檚 Deeside Campus.
Images
4259: pictured are members of the 天涯社区 Business Entrepreneurship Network.
4272a: pictured left to right are Beverly Moseley (Communities First), Neil
Davies, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Askar Sheibani and Cllr Derek Butler.