Previous Events
Productivity:
Shape UP TO SCALE UP
Improving productivity has never been more crucial for a food and drink sector which is facing a perfect storm of spiralling input inflation and the spectre of falling demand in a cost of living crisis.​
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Productivity: Shape Up To Scale Up was hosted at AMRC Cymru on Thursday 2nd February 2023.
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Click HERE to find out more.
GIVING YOURSELF BETTER BUSINESS INSIGHT
Are you getting the best out of your accountant or accounting system?
Do you have the insight required, when you need it, to make informed business decisions?
Join our series of 3 online panel discussions in conjunction with Old Mill, for advice, guidance and tips on how to get the maximum benefit from your accounting package.
COMMON CHALLENGES
Are you getting the best out of your accountant or accounting system?
Do you have the insight required, when you need it, to make informed business decisions?
Join our series of 3 online panel discussions in conjunction with Old Mill, for advice, guidance and tips on how to get the maximum benefit from your accounting package.
Setting Up For Success
Are you getting the best out of your accountant or accounting system?
Do you have the insight required, when you need it, to make informed business decisions?
Join our series of 3 online panel discussions in conjunction with Old Mill, for advice, guidance and tips on how to get the maximum benefit from your accounting package.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR IMPACT
By Food & Drink Wales Insight Programme.
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The Food & Drink Wales Insight Programme presented on the following topics:
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Review and Forecast of GB economy and the implications for the food and drink industry
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Economic Indices: Including a set of economic indices specifically relevant for food and drink
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Shopper Behaviour: Impact on shopper behaviour and implications for food and drink businesses
Money To Grow
Conference
The Sustainable Scale Up Cluster's inaugural conference, Money To Grow, examined in more detail how the 3Cs of scaling up - capital, capacity and competencies - are key to the sustainable growth and success of Welsh food and drink businesses.
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​Money To Grow was hosted at The Royal Mint on Thursday 24th March.
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Click HERE to find out more.
THE COST OF E-COMMERCE SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM!
E-commerce sales are expected to account for 21.8% of global retail sales by 2024. However, a recent survey* has shown that “almost a third of businesses nationwide reported suffering security breaches through cyber-attacks over the last 12 months, compared with 35 per cent in Wales and the Southwest” with an average reported loss of £35,000**.
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What can you do to prevent your food or drink business from becoming a victim of an e-commerce scam? Help is at hand.
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The panel will be looking at:
• What do e-commerce scams look like?
• What preventative actions should you be taking?
• E-commerce related export scams – tips on how to spot and avoid them
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The panel for this webinar includes:
• Michael Evans, Senior Export Associate, Export Cluster/BIC Innovation
• Sarah Morris, Superfast Business Wales
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*Report by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP
** Reason Global – Insuring your reputation
PREPARING FOR INVESTMENT: How to prepare a finance proposal
If you are considering capital investment or borrowing for growth in 2022, join this Sustainable Scale Up Cluster webinar where a panel of experts will be looking at how to access the right finance for your needs, and how to prepare a business case for borrowing or attracting investment.
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The panel will be discussing:
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Sources and types of investment
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Assessing the cost of money
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Buy, sell or collaborate – what are the options for scaling up?
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Access to funding – the importance of good management information
The panel for this event includes:
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Alun Thomas, Regional Manager, Development Bank of Wales
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Kathryn Mansell , Corporate Finance Adviser, Old Mill
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Joan Edwards, SSU Cluster, Cluster Manager/Accountant
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John Taylerson, SSU Cluster, Programme Manager/Host
E-commercE: How profitable is your business?
With overheads from all aspects of your business mixed up together in central costs, how do you differentiate the profit of one channel from another?
This webinar will include a worked example on how to calculate if your e-commerce is profitable and also examine:
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How much does it cost to acquire a new e-commerce customer, and then keep them?
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How much money does each e-commerce customer generate? How to know if/when to sell on your own website or via a major online retailer e.g. Not on the High Street, Amazon etc.
The panel for this event includes:
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John Taylerson, Programme Manager, Sustainable Scale Up Cluster.
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Joan Edwards, Accountant and Regional Cluster Manager.
Energy Webinar: Do you have the power of choice?
Following significant rises in energy costs in 2021 the Sustainable Scale Up Cluster invites you to join an online webinar for energy users to address some of the key topics your business may already be asking:
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What is the latest outlook for energy costs?
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What can I do to manage or mitigate the inflation?
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What contractual choices are there: Suppliers, Lock-In Periods, Green Credentials, T&C?
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What other sources of advice are there?
The panel for this event includes:
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Gavin Williams, Senior Energy Manager, Innovative Energy
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Stephen O’Leary, Innovation & Growth Manager, Innovate Edge UK
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Paul Bezani SSU Regional Cluster Manager/Chair
Digital Marketing: getting a return on your investment
Guest speaker Thomas Jones, Digital Marketing Executive at P & A Group of Companies, and formerly Digital Marketing at Clogau Gold Ltd. will share some of his knowledge and experience, looking at the most effective ways to market your brand and products in the digital space, with focus on costs and ROI.
The Sustainable Scale Up Cluster and Investor Ready teams were on hand in the Investor Zone during Taste Wales to discuss growth plans and the finance options available to support Welsh food and drink businesses during their scale up journey. Taste Wales 2021 was held at the International Convention Centre Wales on Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th October 2021.
We hosted over 80 meetings in the Investor Zone between Welsh food and drink businesses and 12 potential investors and finance providers who we invited to the Investor Zone.
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Click HERE to find out more.