When BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend came to North Wales, thousands of people from far and wide flocked to the Faenol Estate near Felinheli to enjoy a feast of music. But, two days before the gates opened, before stars like Cheryl Cole, Alicia Keys and Rihanna arrived, young people from Gwynedd and across North West Wales had the chance to hear about what it takes to organize such an event and get a sneak peak behind the scenes.
On the Thursday, as part of Gwynedd Business Week 2010, ‘Llwyddo’n Lleol’ project, which means ‘Succeeding Locally’ was launched. In the past the project has developed skills and offered practical opportunities in business to young people between 11 and 19 in Gwynedd providing bursaries of up to £1,000 to assist with developing projects, training costs, buying new equipment or even renting business premises. The project has now expanded to include Anglesey, Denbighshire and Conwy as well as Gwynedd to encourage enterprise and entrepreneurship in North West Wales. 10,000 young people from North Wales will benefit from the £3.8m scheme backed by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.
The project was launched on Thursday (May 20th) in a special event jointly organized by Dynamo, a Welsh Assembly Government project which uses business role models, business owners with a flair for entrepreneurship, to develop business confidence in young people. Students from Coleg Menai, Tryfan and Friars School from Gwynedd, Holyhead, David Hughes and Sir Thomas Jones School from Anglesey, Dyffryn Conwy and Creuddyn School from Conwy and Ysgol Glan Clwyd from Denbigh gathered at the Faenol Estate house in the midst of the buzz of the Big Weekend to get a taste of the music, broadcasting and events world.
Busy preparing for the Big Weekend, Radio 1 DJ Bethan Elfyn took time out to share her experiences of working in radio with the young people. Bethan started her career in broadcasting working as a researcher in BBC Bangor, she now has her own radio show called BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1 every Wednesday night between midnight and two in the morning. Sharing her experience with the young people, Bethan had one piece of advice.
“The best tip I ever had was to be yourself. When I started presenting, I was very shy. But, you have to be yourself – there’s no point in trying to be someone else – you have to be natural in broadcasting. You need to reflect your personality and be honest,” said Bethan.
Workshops were then held with Dynamo role models Rhys Mwyn from music agency Anrhefn and David Green from events company Xuberance, who shared their experience of setting up and running their own companies in north Wales.
Rhys started his career in 1980 as a bass player for rock band, Anrhefn. Today he owns his own music label and management company with a number of well known clients.
“I strongly believe that one of my company’s major strengths is that it’s based in Caernarfon but that I can work internationally,” says Rhys.
David Green from Llangollen started his company Xuberance in May 2004 – on his last at University. The business took time to develop, but with sheer determination and perseverance, the company is now very successful with events across north Wales.
David said, “I really enjoy working with students to hopefully inspire people to consider starting up their own businesses. North Wales is an amazing place to live and work and hopefully we can encourage more people to start and nurture businesses across the region, the opportunities are there, but you have to find them. My moto is ‘its better to have tried and failed rather than never tried’
Following the workshops, both Rhys and David left a lasting impression on some of the young people.
“I think Rhys Mwyn and David Green have shown what can happen when you start a new business – the good and the bad. They showed us that it’s important, even when things go wrong, that you have to give this a try and that sometimes things do go right!” said Ieuan, 14 from Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.
Siân Lloyd Roberts, Gwynedd Council Skill and Entrepreneurship Manager said, “Llwyddo’n Lleol’s aim is to enable young people to recognize and realize a future in Gwynedd and in the North Wales region – erasing the notion that they need to move from the area in order to succeed. The projects objections is to create a culture of enterprise among young people, encouraging a ‘can do’ attitude towards self-employment and enterprise as a viable and exciting option.”
Manon Llwyd, Dynamo Development Officer said, “Dynamo network offers a variety of inspirational rolemodels which can convey the reality of running your own business to young people still in education. By experiencing the role models’s enthusiasm, young people come to understand the positive attitude needed in order to reach their goals in life.”
On the Friday, students from Friars, Llangefni, Towyn, Syr Hugh Owen and Dyffryn Ogwen Schools had a chance to visit the Big Weekend site before thousands flocked through the gate on Saturday. From back stage to the dressing rooms – led by a member of the BBC production team – the students heard how such a big event was pulled together.
“What I enjoyed the most about the tour was seeing the dressing rooms, especially Alicia Keys’s room. I write my own songs so people like Alicia Keys inspire me,” said Siân, 16 from Ysgol Llangefni, Anglesey.
“I really enjoyed going back stage and seeing the changing rooms,” said Imogen, 15 from Ysgol Towyn. “It’s also amazing to see how big the site is.”
