With ASKAR SHEIBANI

Chair, DBF and CEO Comtek Network Systems UK Ltd

Entrepreneurs and small business owners in North Wales are by and large instinctively very optimistic people. We were all looking forward to getting back to normality post-peak pandemic.

All the soundbites from governments throughout the world seemed very positive in July. We all started reorganising ourselves for a new start. The public began planning for their holidays and leisure time. The hospitality and tourism sector saw a glimmer of light and therefore made considerable capital investment for the new normal. Sadly, all of this optimism was short-lived. This deadly Covid-19 has come back to wreak its vengeance all over the world.

It's crucial that businesses do not allow this second wave to dampen their resolve. The UK and Welsh governments have demonstrated that they will listen to the business community and act quickly. North Wales has battled through many tumultuous economic periods in the past and come out stronger.

The pandemic proved without any doubt that having our own Welsh Government served us remarkably well during this troubled period.

The business community's continuous dialogue with the Welsh Government produced some very unique targeted interventions such as grants and loans that were not available in the rest of the UK. Whilst the predominantly foreign-owned banks were busy in delaying the approval of the UK Government's guaranteed CBILS loans, our publicly-owned Development Bank of Wales was busy approving loans with astonishing efficiency and speed, hence saving thousands of viable Welsh business.

The Welsh Government's Economic Resilience Fund with its targeted grants not only saved a large number of businesses and the livelihoods of small businesses owners in Wales, they also saved well over 100,000 viable jobs.

Now, the new Economic Resilience Fund starting on October 26, is once again uniquely targeting viable Welsh businesses, especially the hospitality and tourism sectors.

We have a battled hardened business community in North Wales. As a community, we have been continuously working together and supporting each other. Deeside Business Forum (DBF) has been organising several virtual business seminars every month bringing all the businesses together without any charge. The DBF, CBI and the Federation of Small businesses (FSB) were also working tirelessly lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the businesses in Wales.

We know we have to be innovative and use this difficult period to diversify our businesses. The world is rapidly changing, so we as businesses must change too. We have to see the whole world as our natural market. Government support must aim at concentrating on supporting the viable businesses that are prepared to adapt, change, diversify, export and create sustainable, skilled employment.

As businesses we can't continue to trade in the same ways and rely on the same products and services as we did pre Covid. It's a new normal and a new period for businesses. If we don't change and evolve rapidly then we will be left behind. There is always a way of innovating; sometimes it's a small change and sometimes a colossal re-think.

We have thousands of fantastic businesses in North Wales that are rising stars but need immediate support from both governments. Unfortunately, those who cannot or will not innovate and diversify will be left behind. This is the harsh but certain reality of our post Covid world.

The business community has been wounded while battling with the pandemic. I am convinced that our tough, determined businesses, working together with our six local authorities, North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) and the Welsh Government will eventually, once again, come through stronger and more prosperous.