Denbighshire named runner-up in national competition

The Council has come second in a national award for its work cutting down on red tape.

The Council’s Planning and Public Protection department was named runner-up in the Regulatory Delivery Awards, a UK-wide competition showcasing outstanding work in delivering regulation.

Denbighshire was nominated for its work on its Better Business for All (BBfA) project which brings together businesses and the Council’s Planning and Public Protection department to improve how regulation is delivered to save businesses time and money.

As part of BBfA, the Council now offers better co-ordination between services so a more holistic service can be provided to businesses during visits.

Denbighshire, the only Welsh applicant named among the 13 finalists, was also given a special 'one to watch' recognition by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which runs the awards.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire, said: “Being named a runner-up in the Regulatory Delivery Awards is a real achievement. I am very proud of all the staff in the Planning and Public Protection department who have contributed to the success of Better Business for All.

“As part of BBfA, regulators inform businesses of any support available to them from the Council and other organisations, including business support grants.

“This project is about removing the regulatory barriers to growth - and raising the economic competitiveness of Denbighshire.

“Compliance with regulations can help your business provide a high and competitive standard of product that customers trust, to help guard your business against liability and to highlight any inefficient use of resources.

“We believe this is an effective way of supporting businesses, and along with a number of projects under our Economic and Community Ambition Strategy, is helping Denbighshire firms by developing the economy.

“We are extending the principles of BBfA to other service areas to further improve the way the Council interacts with businesses.”

Other work undertaken to improve regulatory delivery in the county includes Primary Authority Partnerships with local businesses, the production of business packs to provide improved guidance and support as well as workshops with businesses to help develop policies.

The awards ceremony was held in Birmingham on July 4 and other finalists included Tesco’s quality standards team, Salford City Council and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Pictured are Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire (centre); Graham Boase, the Council’s Head of Planning and Public Protection (centre right); Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager (centre left) and staff from the planning and public protection department.

Take to social media to shout about great Denbighshire businesses

Traders and shoppers have a new way to shout about the great products available in Denbighshire.

The Council has launched the #CaruBusnesauLleol/#LoveLiveLocal Facebook group for businesses and shoppers to post great local purchases, products and deals in Denbighshire.

The #LoveLiveLocal campaign highlights the great range of local traders and products available on the county’s high streets.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “There is a wealth of fantastic businesses on Denbighshire’s high streets selling a huge range of products.

“Independent traders offer value for money and a friendly service to their customers and I would encourage residents to see what is on offer on their doorstep.

“This Facebook group offers businesses the chance to promote themselves to customers and gives shoppers the chance to shout about great products and services.

“As a Council we want to see local businesses succeed as this ensures money spent locally stays in Denbighshire and helps create a thriving economy.”

Figures from the Federation of Small Businesses show that for every £1 spent with local small or medium enterprises an additional 63p of benefit was generated for the local economy, compared to 40p generated by large firms.

Businesses and residents are being invited to join the #CaruBusnesauLleol/#LoveLiveLocal Facebook group and promote great local businesses and products.

 

Denbighshire hosts free course to highlight dangers of cybercrime

Small firms not taking cybersecurity seriously could end up out of business if they don’t take steps to protect themselves.

That was the stark warning from experts at a free training session provided to small businesses by the Council.

Firms in the county were given a session on Cyber Essentials, a UK Government backed, industry-supported, scheme for basic cybersecurity.

Jason Davies, director of Ruthin-based Safonda, a Cyber Essentials accreditation company which trains businesses to protect themselves from attacks, led the session.

He said: “Cybersecurity is vital for small businesses. Larger businesses can absorb a cyberattack, for small businesses, if you lose access to your data, even for a day, it can have a massive impact on your company or even shut you down.

“If you are in-line with Cyber Essentials, ransomware can’t hit you to start with. As long as you are up-to-date and doing all the things you should be, it shouldn’t get you.

“If you are the victim of a cyberattack, the first thing you should do is speak to your internet provider. Then look at what the impact is and what has been affected.

“We can’t tell people whether to pay for their data or not after they have been hit by a ransomware attack. If you pay a ransom for your data then you are funding those criminals but at the end of the day you are a business and if the data is vital to you, we can’t say don’t pay it.”

In 2016 cybercrime cost UK businesses £29 billion and Mr Davies said the best defence is to back up your data.

He said: “There is very little someone can do to you or your network that can’t be repaired with a good back up system.

“If you want a good all-round solution, the answer is to go and look at the Cyber Essentials scheme. It gives you the guidance on the five most important actions.

“Denbighshire County Council has been vital in raising the awareness of cybersecurity within the North Wales region.

Cyber Essentials encourages businesses to set up firewalls and other software to prevent unauthorised access and to make sure malware and anti-virus software is installed and up-to-date.

Maureen Young, co-owner of Ruthin Decor, was a victim of a cyberattack last year and she described it as ‘devastating’.

She said: “Cybersecurity is a big issue for our business. We had a malware attack and whilst it didn’t affect our main accounting systems, it did affect some of the documents I held.

“It is now a real concern for us to make sure we are up-to-date on protecting the business against those risks.

“I would urge other businesses to take this threat very seriously. I thought of myself as someone who was very much aware when an e-mail comes in, to know if I should open it or not, but I still opened something I shouldn’t have.

“The session was very useful. I have a list of things to check on. It is nice to see the Council help small businesses in this way. This is exactly the type of help that we need. It is the sort of thing that if you have to pay for, people put it as a low priority but if you are the victim of a cyberattack it can be absolutely devastating.”

Stuart Baldwin, owner of Rhyl-based Quest Consultancy, which provides training and project management services to businesses, said: “This course makes perfect sense for us. Cybersecurity is something we are very concerned about.

“It is something that could be detrimental to a business. You hear of major attacks happening on multi-national companies and public services. We feel much more informed after this course. It has reduced the fear, they have let us know that there are some simple steps we can take and make sure we are compliant.”

The Council is looking to host another free course for businesses in October and to register your interest e-mail econ.dev@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Innovative approach to helping pupils to get ready for the world of work

Denbighshire pupils are to get an extra helping hand to prepare for the world of work.

The Council is gearing up for the start of Ready for Work, which is being delivered with the support of Careers Wales, to provide students with enhanced mentoring support, extra careers advice as well as working with employers to develop workplace skills.

It follows on from the Pathways+ project which saw more than 1,300 students attend careers events as well as mock interview sessions with employers.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire, said: “Getting pupils ready for the world of work is vitally important. Ready for Work will help students understand the expectations and requirements of employers.

“It will also enable pupils and their parents to gain awareness of the huge variety of jobs and career opportunities within Denbighshire.

“As part of our work developing the economy under our Economic and Community Ambition Strategy, we want to make sure the county has a skilled workforce equipped to benefit from jobs and opportunities that arise.”

Ready for Work will aim to embed careers advice activity within the core curriculum delivered by schools and will include partnering businesses with schools so they can provide practical advice.

It will also include the creation of an alumni community scheme to take advantage of the skills and knowledge of former pupils as well as the delivery of bilingual careers events.