It began final yr after I attended a Merched Medrus (Ladies in Enterprise) assembly at which the CEO of an organisation known as Antur Cymru was current. “We now have some new enterprise advisors beginning subsequent week,” she stated “so, if any of you want some assist, then let me know.”
Quick ahead a few weeks and we heard a few grant that was accessible to assist small companies. “That’s us” we thought and downloaded the appliance type… oh my goodness. “These aren’t for folks like us” stated Mr Snail. “Let me contact the CEO of Antur Cymru,” stated I, “she stated they might assist.” And so, we did.
Then began a tsunami of assist… a enterprise advisor (the good Debra) who went by the grant software type with us, suggested us about our enterprise typically and stated she would put us in contact with a digital advertising and marketing advisor (the equally good Lynne). Since then, we’ve modified the best way we do social media, we’ve been profitable in two grant functions, we’ve commissioned a brand new web site (watch this area) and we utilized for an award from Small Enterprise Britain… which is how we ended up at an awards ceremony in London final week as considered one of eight companies from throughout the UK shortlisted for the Excessive Road Hero award.
It is perhaps finest to not dwell on the dreadful prepare journey all the way down to London and to concentrate on our beautiful pal Joelle, with whom we left our automotive and who chauffeured us to and from the station. As soon as in London we had been capable of stroll from Paddington Station to our lodge and from our lodge to the venue – St Mary’s Church.
Sadly we didn’t win, however we did have a superb time. We flew the flag for Wales with Mr Snail’s waistcoat (thanks Emma) and matching handkerchief; we appeared in all our borrowed (thanks mum and Wendy) and secondhand (thanks Vinted) finery, and Mr Snail bought to be a complete fan boy with Sue Perkins, who was the compere. I spent many of the night with a balloon snail on my head, courtesy of Miss Ballooniverse, and we had been entertained by the superb London Homosexual Males’s Refrain. We met some fabulous enterprise house owners and had the privilege of sitting subsequent to the final word total winners Joseph and Levi of Inexperienced Doorways (who rescue doorways and home windows).
The photographs most likely sum up the journey higher than phrases. From crochet and knitting on the prepare, to standing within the bike sore from Swindon to London; from recovering with a beautiful dinner and trying out the venue, to being vacationers for the day, after which the massive occasion itself, earlier than returning residence the next day:
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on Might 22, 2024