Four Welsh firms unite to launch free business and networking events in Colwyn Bay

LEADING finance, accountancy and law firms have joined forces to give talks and advice at a series of free business events.
Edward Hughes Solicitors, Bowden Financial Planning, Knox Commercial & Insolvency Solicitors and Williams Denton Accountants are among the most recognised and respected companies in North Wales.
They have united to organise Business Four North Wales, an event to be held by the four companies four times a year, with four separate topical themes.
The first will take place at Porth Eirias restaurant in Colwyn Bay on Friday January 24, and includes networking, refreshments and the opportunity to sit down with all four companies afterwards as part of a support and guidance clinic.
David Jones from Edward Hughes Solicitors, which has offices in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay, said the move was a natural one given their history of working together.
“All four businesses have been around for a long time, and over the years we have found ourselves referring clients to each other more and more,” he said.
“It made sense to unite as one group, albeit informally, and give existing and prospective clients the opportunity to network and receive help and advice, while also benefiting from a presentation on a key business theme.”
The topic for the inaugural forum will revolve around the word ‘Exit’ in a personal and commercial environment, from business and financial exit planning to wills and power of attorney cases.
Andrea Knox, Director of Knox Commercial & Insolvency Solicitors, based in Anglesey and Colwyn Bay, plans to discuss ‘divorce’ in the commercial arena.
“Business owners fall out of love too, so I’ll talk about how to exit a business with minimal disruption and the importance and enormous costs savings of having done the commercial equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement,” said Andrea.
“I aim to put a practical and no-nonsense spin on what is a surprisingly common issue in many local businesses.
“This is going to be a positive platform to bring together all of our services; to properly protect a business or individual commercially there are different skill sets involved and together our four companies provide those skills.
“We are four pieces of a jigsaw and have worked closely together for more than a decade, so it made sense to collaborate and try to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ to those people who’ve supported our businesses individually over the years.”
John Bowden, Director of Bowden Financial Planning in Colwyn Bay, echoed those words.
“These events will be informative but also light and accessible,” he said.
“One thing we have found is that many businesses are in a position of ‘unprotected success’, where they are so busy with the day-to-day they are not safeguarding the commercial side and the valuable assets they have created by their hard work as they move forward.
“There is often a lot of crossover in what we do, so it will be good to talk about hot topics and concerns or legislation changes in our sectors, and rather than people coming to see us individually it’s an opportunity for us all to be under one roof.”
Phil Davies, a Client Manager at Williams Denton in Llandudno, is looking forward to holding regular sessions across North Wales and hopes to see plenty of people at the first event.
“This is going to be quite unique because it’s not a networking group or conference but a showcase for what we all do individually and as a collective,” he said.
“It’s about added value, because time is at a premium for many people and things move so fast, in life and business. Hopefully people will benefit from what we have to say, and Business Four North Wales will grow as we move forward together.”
To attend the first Business Four North Wales event, register for free via Eventbrite: www.tinyurl.com/businessfournorthwales