Conwy Tourist Information Centre steps in to offer the Post Office a home

A Pop-up Post Office opened at Conwy Tourist Information Centre Muriau Buildings, Rose Hill, Conwy on Monday 10th February 2020.

Conwy’s previous Post Office closed on 31^st January, leaving residents without direct access to postal services, as well as personal and business banking.

Since there is clearly a demand from both businesses and the public for a Post office in the town, Conwy County Borough Council saw an opportunity to re-instate this vital service.

Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Conwy County Borough Council explained, “We were told that the Post Office had a Postmaster keen to run a “pop up” Post Office, and we thought the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) could be an ideal location with its disabled access public toilets and parking opposite. Plus it provides local people with the opportunity to learn more about the area’s tourist information service and experience the retail offer available from local producers.”

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to step-in and offer the pop-up a home. It means Post Office services for residents and local businesses in Conwy are maintained.”

The Post Office has been featured on the BBC News

The pop-up Post Office will be open:
     Mon to Sat 9.30am – 5pm    

 AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS? 

9 February, 2020

If your business was affected by the recent flooding which took place within the County of Conwy, please contact Conwy County Borough Council’s Business Rate Section on nndr.enquiries@conwy.gov.uk / Tel: (01492) 576609 who will advise you of any possible rate relief which you may be entitled to. 

Snowdonia National Park Partnership Plan

We are excited to share with you the final draft of the Partnership Plan for the future of Snowdonia National Park: Cynllun Eryri.*

This Plan has been developed in the true spirit of partnership. We have listened closely to people who live, work and visit here. We have worked alongside organisations involved in looking after Snowdonia for future generations. We have kept the Special Qualities of Eryri at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by working together we can achieve great things.

That’s why we need you to tell us what you think. Have we reflected your thoughts and ideas well enough? Do you agree with our Action Plan?

The public consultation period is open from 3 February – 13 March 2020.

You can view the Plan and response form here: www.eryri.llyw.cymru/cynlluneryri

It is also available as a hard copy in all local libraries, our Tourist Information Centres and at our HQ in Penrhyndeudraeth.

Please share this as widely as possible through your own networks so that we can receive as many ideas as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you.

* The Statutory Management Plan for Snowdonia National Park.

The Team Leading the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal

This the team driving the North Wales Vision to boost the economy and create thousands of jobs that will transform the region for generations to come.

Led by director Alwen Williams, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board Programme Office will spearhead development of the seven programmes forming the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal.

Based at Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction, they will aim to leverage commercial investment and build business cases for priority projects in 2020, before laying foundations for delivery from the following year onwards.

Previously Senior Area Manager for Openreach in London and the South East, and Director of BT Wales, Alwen plans to collaborate with all industries and ensure the Growth Deal has a positive impact on the environment, transport, education and many other sectors.

READ MORE 

Launch of the Community Green Pledges initiative

The Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board (PSB) has launched a Community Green Pledges initiative to help community groups and organisations make changes which could have a positive impact on the environment. The pledges aim to recognise positive contributions by awarding a bronze, silver, gold or platinum pledge status to proudly display.

To help support this priority, and make a difference locally, the PSB has developed a Community Green Pledge initiative which identifies 5 Green Pledges that community groups and organisations can make to reduce their impact on the environment. Each pledge includes suggestions and guidance on things which can make a difference – from saving energy, reducing waste to saving money.

  This scheme is free and open to anyone to join - such as community groups, sports clubs, villages, towns, charities, businesses and social enterprises.    

Find out more by visiting - www.conwyanddenbighshirepsb.org.uk/community-green-pledges

First Time Buyer Grant

If you are a first time buyer and are looking to buy (or have very recently bought) an empty home in the Snowdonia National Park area of Conwy, you may be entitled to a grant (up to a maximum of £25,000) to help with the cost of necessary works to bring the property up to an acceptable standard.

The scheme, which is funded by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, offers grants to:

• First time buyers who are looking to buy an empty property, or have purchased one but not moved in because works are required.

• The property must be located within the National Park of Conwy.

• The property has to have been empty for at least 6 months.

• The property must sit within Council Tax valuation bands A, B or C.

• Applicants must have a local connection to the National Park area of Conwy.

As funding is limited, applications can be made between 30th January and 27th April 2020, and will be considered in date order – although priority will be given in the first instance to applications for properties in Dwygyfylchi, Betws Y Coed and Penmachno.

For more information or to register an interest, please contact the Housing Strategy Team on 01492 574235 or via e-mail at housingstrategy@conwy.gov.uk

READ MORE 

Fairtrade Fortnight 2020

Fairtrade Fortnight is back!
Monday 24 February – Sunday 8 March 2020.

Each year Fairtrade Fortnight gives people across the UK the opportunity to celebrate Fairtrade achievements and learn more about the difference that Fairtrade makes.

In 2020 we will continue our mission to ensure that all farmers are paid fairly for their work and are able to earn a living income, starting with cocoa farmers in West Africa.

As this is year two of our living incomes campaign, the resources you have from last year can still be used at 2020 community events, but we will also have some brand new materials available to order including our exciting ‘storybombs’!

More information about the 2020 campaign.

Social Business Wales New Start Project 

Since 1982, The Wales Cooperative Centre have helped to strengthen and empower Welsh communities by supporting the growth of co-operatives and social enterprises.

In November 2019 they launched the Social Business Wales New Start project to support start-up social businesses across Wales. Rob Hughes, the newly appointed North Wales Business Advisor, explains a little more about the project.

‘Our team of experts can offer you one-to-one advice to help you start up a social business and make it flourish. We can advise you right from the ideas stage, to starting to trade, incorporating the business, and training people up. Thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund we can offer this support for free. We have a team of ten people across Wales supporting start-ups and enterprising people. The project is part of the wider Wales Co-operative Centre which employs 100 staff across Wales’.

For more information please contact

Email: info@wales.coop

Tel: 0300 111 5050

READ MORE

Wales STEM Awards

The Wales STEM Awards will throw the spotlight on Wales’ STEM stars – those leading the sector in Wales, those businesses creating an impact on the Welsh economy, those addressing the STEM diversity gap and skills shortage, those inspiring and raising aspirations of the next generation.

The awards will bring the business community together for the first time to recognise those entrepreneurial and innovative ventures that are making a difference to the STEM sector.

To be eligible to enter, businesses must have started to trade on or before 1 May 2019 and be based in Wales.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on 28 February 2020 and the STEM Awards Ceremony takes place on 1 May 2020.

For further information and to enter please visit the STEM Awards Wales website.

Webinar

Doing More With Less
Supercharging Your Digital Marketing For 2020

Thursday 20 February 2020
10:30am - 11:30am

This webinar will discuss:

How to make the most of your contacts.

Maximising your use of email marketing and social media.

How to free up your time to focus on the value add of your business.

Best low cost/free apps and platforms.

Top tips and tricks to take actionable steps today!

Please join leading marketer Minal Patel, founder of Marketing By Minal, who will share her top tips for small business digital marketing, including making the most of your contacts, maximising simple things like email marketing and freeing up your time to focus on the value add of your business.

BT Skills for Tomorrow is partnering with peak b, the campaigning company for small business, to deliver digital skills to small businesses across the UK. This will include engaging workshops, exciting interactive digital training and really practical help, advice and bite sized hints and tips.

Click HERE for more information and to register 

What’s On

- At Conwy Business Centre
- Around Conwy
- Business Wales And Superfast Business Wales events in Conwy

Click HERE for full details of all forthcoming business events

Inspiration to start a Business

Thursday 27 February 2020

3:00pm – 6:00pm

Adventure Parc Snowdonia
Conway Road
Dolgarrog
LL32 8QE

This is a great opportunity to meet the Enterprise Hub team and Andy Ainscough, managing director of Adventure Parc Snowdonia

Andy has steered one of North Wales' most spectacular and successful visitor destinations from its unlikely beginnings to the remarkable success it is today.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia was built on the site of a derelict aluminum plant once owned by the global aluminum giant Alcoa.

The Ainscough Group purchased the site and cleared 100 years of industrial waste and pollution in the pre-construction phase. Surf Snowdonia opened on August 1, 2015.

With additional investment over the winter of 2018-19, the adventure park significantly expanded its offering, with a re-brand to Adventure Parc Snowdonia and the launch of the all-weather Adrenaline Indoors, and an exciting facility that includes climbing, caving, extreme slides and ninja assault experiences.

As part of the event you will have the opportunity to try out some of the activities at Adrenaline Indoors. 

BOOK NOW