Assembly Member's Llan tipi experience

                                                      * Ken Skates AM (right) with a
                                                       member of staff from Event in
                                                       a Tent, based in Llan.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has dismantled a tipi to experience a day in the life of one of Wales’ ‘real-life’ entrepreneurs.

The AM visited Llangollen-based tipi business ‘Event in a Tent’ as part of a work placement to experience the daily operations of a business in his constituency.

The AM travelled to Marchwiel Hall in Wrexham where the business’s giant tipis were being dismantled following a wedding.

The company, which supplies unusual tipis for corporate events and festivals across Wales and the UK, invited Mr Skates to spend time with them as part of the Federation of Small Businesses’ ‘Real- Life Entrepreneurs’ campaign.

The campaign is calling on politicians to spend time with businesses in their constituencies in order to understand the challenges they are facing in the current climate.

Mr Skates said: “Getting the Welsh economy moving again will rely to a large extent on encouraging for small and medium sized enterprises like Event in a Tent to expand and grow their businesses over the next few years.

“It’s clear from the time I spent with the great people at Event in a Tent and the Federation of Small Businesses that making it easier to access credit, improving local infrastructure and providing good quality business advice are the sorts of vital things the Welsh Government should be doing to help innovative and ambitious young companies like these in North East Wales to grow, take-on new people and expand into new markets.

“We need to bring jobs, investment and hope back to our communities and this can happen if we encourage indigenous companies like Event in a Tent.  They have a really solid base, some great ideas and a sound business model, but like lots of small companies need the strategic support of a business-friendly government to develop and seek out new opportunities.”

Janet Jones, Welsh Policy Unit Chair for the FSB, said: “All credit to Ken, who embraced the great outdoors on a rainy Monday to gain experience with Event in a Tent.

“We hope he found the visit useful and uses the knowledge to inform decision-making on issues affecting the business community in Wales.”