Bringing the talent home

The campaign was launched by M-SParc and Llwyddo'n Lleol, in partnership with the North Wales Ambition Board, Gwynedd Council, Bangor University, Global Welsh, and Darogan Talent, and will promote employment and business opportunities in north Wales, targeting people who have left to further their education or careers. The aim is to showcase the area as an ideal location to live and work – and in the long run, to encourage people to return and to contribute to the region’s economy.

Pryderi ap Rhisiart, Managing Director of M-SParc, explains: “It’s an age-old story for rural areas like Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy – as young people leave to go to University or to find work, and th significant effect this has on communities both socially and in terms of the Welsh language. So, we want to kick start a conversation locallyand with those who have left, but long to come back home.”

“It’s a general belief that there are no high-quality jobs here or that we haven’t got the resources or facilities for business. As a result, young people stay away which also means that the area is deprived of crucial skills and talent. At a time when we need to be looking at rebuilding the economy, our aim with this campaign is to try and change these perceptions – showing that there are opportunities here and that we wantto help people return.”

The second aspect of the campaign is to reach out to those who have been successful in business or in their careers beyond the borders of north Wales and encourage them to give back in order to support new businesses in the area. Having developed contacts with Welsh people around the globe, campaign partners are appealing to people to register an interest to contribute, either of their time as mentors, or to invest financially to support new ventures in the area.

Someone who has already made the move back is Billy Williams – founder of Cufflink, a technology company which helps people manage their personal information safely online. Originally from Amlwch, Billy attended Ysgol Sir Thomas Jones in the town, before leaving to go to Huddersfield University. He has worked all over the world – from London to Switzerland, Dubai and Australia, but, like many, he wanted to move back home to raise a family.

He said: “Having travelled extensively for several years, when wehad children I wanted to bring them up close to family and in a safe and bilingual environment. It no longer matters where you live when it comes to where you work. Remote working has always been part of our company ethos and given recent events there’s never been a better opportunity to relocate back to such a beautiful, safe and vibrant parto f the world.”

Over the coming months the hope is that the campaign will gain momentum and highlight what the area has to offer by developing contacts through traditional and social media. The aim is also to reach out to universities and to Welsh societies and networks across the UK and beyond to create a buzz amongst those who want to return to their roots.