Caerphilly’s Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) has appointed a new Community Outreach Manager as it looks to connect with potential business founders across south east Wales.
Thirty-year-old Lesley Williams joins the team at Welsh ICE as it looks to connect with potential business founders outside of Caerphilly, in order to ensure more people across the region have a route to support.
Formerly an events and business development manager, Lesley will be responsible for bringing the guidance and benefits of ICE to communities across the South Wales Valleys.
Having previously run her own business internationally exporting hand-made teddy bears, Lesley was a Big Idea’s Wales Young Ambassador and Role Model as well as being a board member for the Women’s Enterprise Hub.
Lesley is also no stranger to the area she will be working in, having lived in the Rhondda all her life. As well as her Role Model work, she was on the Board of Made in the Valleys, an organisation that aimed to promote sustainable professional development amongst artists and craft makers.
Jamie McGowan, Campus Director at Welsh ICE said Lesley’s appointment was a key part of the plan to offer support across the region.
He said: “In Lesley, we have someone with the experience and perspective of a business founder, someone who has been there and done it and is now looking to help others start up. She’s also a genuinely warm and welcoming person and I have no doubt that she is only going to continue to grow into the outreach role.”
One of the key schemes that will be offered to potential business founders is the 5to9 club™, an after-work club which provides help and support to those who have a business idea but are still working full-time and cannot take the risk of leaving their job. Through mentorship and expert guidance the club helps develop participant’s business plans, taking them from concept through to potential investment and launch.
Welsh ICE is one of five regional enterprise hubs across Wales, all funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
The hubs will see over £4m invested to provide supportive spaces and mentoring for new and growing businesses, with the ICE Campus supporting the South East Wales Valleys region.