Guests at the launch of Flintshire Business Week
Flintshire County Council’s flagship business event, Flintshire Business Week was launched last Friday (27 June) at County Hall, Mold.
Flintshire Business Week (FBW) 2014, now in its eighth year, will take place between 7 -10 October.
FBW is one of the most important events of its kind in the region, attracting around 2,000 businesses every year. It supports the business community in the county and, increasingly, the wider region, to promote their companies, to develop trading opportunities and to raise the profile of the area as a place to invest.
FBW has continually evolved to meeting changing needs, and new developments for 2014 include Lord Barry Jones, agreeing to lead the event into the future. Lord Jones has massive experience of working to help industry in Wales and Deeside, he was one of the longest serving MPs in the House of Commons and was a former Secretary of State for Wales.
The theme for this year’s event will be ‘The Growth Agenda’ and will focus on helping businesses in North Wales deal with new challenges as we emerge from recession. There will be a particular focus on manufacturing, reflecting the fact that it is such an important part of the regional economy.
North Wales has an estimated 150 companies in the advanced manufacturing sector alone, employing around 25,000 people. The majority of these jobs are located in North East Wales with 34 per cent of all jobs in Flintshire being in manufacturing industry.
Highlights for the programme this year are; the role of higher education in industry, skills for the future, the proposed North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Hub, the A55/M56 Technology Corridor and emerging technologies in the automotive, aerospace and energy industries.
Councillor Aaron Shotton, Leader of Flintshire County Council, said, “Flintshire Business Week helps our local businesses and puts our area on the map. It is a unique and very successful partnership between the public and private sectors. I am delighted that this year Lord Barry Jones has agreed to take on the roll of president of FBW we are very fortunate to have such a fantastic ambassador for industry and our county.”
Lord Jones said: “It is a great honour to be part of Flintshire Business Week 2014.
“The team works with businesses across the county and this year there is a focus on manufacturing. Flintshire are becoming champions of manufacturing in Britain with 34 per cent of jobs in the county based in the manufacturing industry.
“We are looking to take Business Week forward over the next few years to make it even more successful.”
Councillor Derek Butler, Cabinet Member for Economic Development added: “We are delighted that Lord Jones will be joining us this year to build on our success.
“As a council we work together with local businesses to achieve successful outcomes to realise potential opportunities focussing on projects like the Mersey Dee alliance and skills, training and employability.
“I’d like to thank all the businesses that support Flintshire Business Week.”
For sponsorship opportunities, to book a stand, and for further details about all the events taking place during Business Week visit www.flintshirebusinessweek.co.uk or contact the Business Week team on 01352 703219.
