The next Mersey Dee Alliance Business Breakfast takes place on Tuesday 27 June 8.30am – 10.00am (register from 8am) at Net World Sports, who are kindly sponsoring the event, Bryn Lane, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham, LL13 9UT.
To reserve your place please email Business@wrexham.gov.uk by the 20th June 2023 to reserve your free place.
If any business who would like a pitch or have a free exhibition space to show case themselves please contact Business@wrexham.gov.uk
Cllr Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy and Regeneration, said, “The Business Breakfasts are a great way to network with others from across the region followed by a series of pitches from other businesses.
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“They’re particularly helpful to small and medium business enterprises and encourages growth and innovation to ensure success.”
What is the Mersey Dee Alliance?
The Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA)is a strategic economic growth partnership supporting the cross border economy across Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Wrexham. As well as the four Local Authorities, the partnership members also include Coleg Cambria, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Transport for Wales, Welsh Government, Wrexham Glyndwr University and the University of Chester.
The MDA Innovation Network
Following the recession in 2010 businesses on both sides of the border faced economic and commercial challenges, therefore in order to help address these challenges the MDA launched the Innovation Network – a series of bi-monthly business breakfasts taking place six times per year and alternating between England and Wales. The aim of the network is to bring together knowledge-based companies and those who support the growth of such businesses, such as advisors, investors, legal advisors, industry and university experts, government agencies, etc. to encourage sustainable economic growth. The network helps improve the performance of businesses, by encouraging businesses to talk to each other, develop new links and contacts, and make SME’s aware of relevant regional and national initiatives and opportunities.
The hour long Business Breakfasts take place from 8.30am until 9.30am at various cross border locations. The format of the event is very informal with approximately 40 minutes taken up by networking followed by a quick-fire elevator pitch section with up to 10 speakers lasting for 20 minutes. Businesses from within the region are handpicked to speak at the event allowing companies to showcase their business, highlight new products/services and providing a platform to promote regional and national initiatives. Over 150 delegates regularly attend each event.
Places are offered to businesses free of charge with sponsors sourced for each event to cover the costs of refreshments and venue hire. Free exhibition space is available for a limited number of delegates to showcase their business and early booking is essential as events have been known to fill in hours.
What are the network’s aims and objectives
The MDA Innovation Network seeks to support knowledge based businesses, in particular SME’s, to:
- improve their performance in both innovation and business growth
- to help such businesses face economic and commercial challenges and prepare for continued growth.
- access other relevant regional and national innovation networks such as the national Knowledge Transfer Networks run by the Technology Strategy Board and those of partners and members.
The Innovation Network has not only helped raise the profile of the Mersey Dee Alliance, it is now acknowledged by businesses as a professionally run network supporting businesses operating cross border within NW England and NE Wales.
Feedback from attending delegates
“The best networking event in the region. I have made many contacts and both received and given business due to these events.”
“Great to meet prospective clients and keep active contacts with current business collaborative partners.”
“I feel that it keeps us up to date with what is going on in the area and gives us a different perspective with the diversity of members who attend.”
“Networking and Catching up with colleagues.”
“Great to network and learn about SMEs within the area.”
“Raises awareness of our business, make good quality contacts, attracts potential clients.”
“Great for meeting suppliers, network building and developing new business leads”
