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Dragons’ Den
Published: 21/05/2014
Local politicians and community leaders gathered to support Communities First’s
Dragons’ Den event at Coleg Cambria.
Entrepreneurs were invited along to pitch their business ideas to five business
Dragons’ who took part in Dragons’ Den Cymru.
The Dragons, all local business owners, offer people with potential business
ideas six months voluntary one to one mentoring to grow their business or get
it up and running.
This year’s Dragons were Askar Sheibani, CEO of Deeside-based Comtek, Christine
Sheibani, Director of Comtek, Leyla Edwards from KK Fine Foods, Paul Maddocks
previously of Parkway Telecom and Adam Butler from Easy Online Recruitment and
seven people will receive the mentoring programme as a result.
The event was part of an Entrepreneur Information Day where people could access
advice and support for business start-ups. Other organisations supporting the
event included local education providers, Jobcentre Plus, Careers Wales,
Business Wales and Flintshire County Council.
Councillor Derek Butler, Cabinet Member for Economic Development said:
“By joining together to support this event it emphasises the importance of
offering local people support and advice for their own business ideas. The
Dragons have done a marvellous job, giving up their time to mentor others. Not
only are we encouraging people who work for themselves, we are also building
the local economy as once businesses grow they provide jobs and opportunities.”
Askar Sheibani said: “I am immensely proud of the successes we have seen so far
from Flintshire’s Dragons’ Den events and Enterprise Clubs. These
community-led initiatives provide a stage for local talented people to showcase
their business ideas, find support and guidance, as well as inspire others to
do the same. As a Dragon on this year’s panel, I have been impressed with the
creativity and vision of our community’s budding entrepreneurs and I am
delighted to help them nurture this talent, build better businesses and, in
turn, create a more prosperous society.”
The Communities First team also organise the Flintshire Enterprise Club that
meets every other Friday at John Summers High School community campus from
10am. The club is for local business people and people who are thinking of
setting up a business and offers advice and support as well as guest speakers
and inspirational workshops. For more information contact Communities First on
01244 846090.
Photo caption L-R: Patricia Carlin Flintshire County Council, Adam Butler, Cllr
Andy Dunbobbin, Paul Maddocks, Lord Barry Jones, Askar Sheibani, David Hanson
MP, Mark Tami MP, Leyla Edwards, Christine Sheibani, Cllr Derek Butler, Cllr
Ian Dunbar and Cllr Paul Shotton.