An innovative scheme to promote entrepreneurial spirit in Gwynedd’s rural communities has been launched.
A Rural Development Plan for the county, called Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd, was recently launched at the annual meeting of the Gwynedd Economic Partnership (PEG).
The Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd scheme is the accumulation of two years of work by Gwynedd Economic Partnership’s Steering Group and Rural Development Sub Committee. It follows the success of the Llwyddo’n Lleol (Get On in Gwynedd) scheme.
Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd works within rural areas to:
- Promote entrepreneurship
- Give rural companies a boost in growth sectors
- Make the most of economic benefits which come to rural areas
- Promote change by innovation
Since January 2009 specialist advice and financial assistance has been available to individuals, farming families and micro businesses in Gwynedd through four of the plan’s sub-projects – Venture, Enable, Innovative and Gwynedd’s Offer.
Local people have already shown an interest in the scheme and some have subsequently been assisted by the Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd team.
One young entrepreneur who has already ventured into the business world in rural Gwynedd is Geraint Hughes from Pwllheli. Geraint was the guest of honour at the PEG annual meeting where he gave a presentation about the programme and what rural Gwynedd has to offer.
Geraint has already set up a number of successful businesses in Gwynedd – Calon Lan oil, Broga, Madryn Ltd and Bwtri. He draws on his experiences, as well as his agricultural background, to offer help to other businesses through Farming Connect and two of the Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd projects Enable and Gwynedd’s Offer.
The Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd project will operate in Gwynedd until February 2011, and it is hoped the work will continue under the second phase of the Rural Development Plan between 2011 and 2013.
Over the coming months Gwynedd Economic Partnership will be gathering opinions and ideas about the most suitable areas in which this second phase should operate.
For more information about the Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd project contact the Rural Development Plan Team at Gwynedd Council on 01286 679628 / 679774 or [email protected]
