Two days in March saw significant players from one of North Wales’ key industries meet to discuss business management best practice.

The North Wales Business Academy (NWBA) is a flagship European Social Fund (ESF) supported scheme led by Gr?p Llandrillo Menai, and is designed to equip business decision makers with the latest thinking in business theory, and offer bespoke mentoring to ensure knowledge is applied to best effect. The event was hosted by the college group at its Rhos-on-Sea campus.

To date, NWBA has only hosted non-sector specific programmes, but the rationale for a programme specific to the care sector was prompted by the well-publicised challenges facing care providers.

A range of service providers and specialisms were represented at the NWBA event, including nursing, residential, domiciliary, mental health care, and adults with physical and learning disabilities. Delegates included directors, owners and managers from across the North West Wales sector.

The two-day seminar was just the start of a bespoke business support package. Each of the delegates will now receive on-going mentoring support to aid their business management function.

The health & social care sector is currently deteriorating, and the detrimental impacts are both social and economic. The industry is struggling to meet the demand for care provision, with some establishments having closed, or are currently at risk of closure. Care fees offer little incentive to encourage the development of new homes, resulting in families of service users being forced to look outside of the area.

An industry employing 17,000 professional care workers, which contributes £200m to the North Wales economy, is under huge strain. Restricted public sector care budgets, stringent regulations, difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff, set against a poor perception of the industry as a career choice, all compound to make life hugely challenging for the care service provider.

Laurence Cox, lecturer/facilitator and business mentor at North Wales Business Academy, stated: “I feel hugely privileged to have been involved in this programme in particular, which is ultimately about maintaining a quality of life. In amongst the discussion of shared knowledge and experiences was the communal sense of wanting to do the best by their service users, which resonated strongly with the attendees. In short, we need to safeguard this industry.”

Clive Nadin, owner and registered manager of Abbey Dale House in Colwyn Bay, said: “Balancing regulatory needs with our own standards of professional care, whilst maintaining a healthy bottom line, is no easy task these days. I wholeheartedly welcome this kind of business support and have found the programme of great value.”

The North Wales Business Academy is a collaboration between Gr?p Llandrillo Menai, Bangor University, Glynd?r University and Coleg Cambria. It runs until December 2019, with workshops being held each month at various sites across North Wales. It is up to 70% funded which means support is available for as little as £150. Most seminars are generic, although sector-specific seminars may run based on demand.

For further details about the programme and local providers call 08445 460 460 or visit www.nwba.ac.uk