Events in Swansea and Llandudno to celebrate 10 years of developing extraordinary leaders

2019 sees ION leadership, a European Social Fund supported project, celebrate 10 years of developing extraordinary leaders. The anniversary will be celebrated with 2 events, in Swansea and Llandudno, on Wednesday 6^th November 2019. 

The conferences, which are open to all, will be a celebration of Welsh business and leadership, with guests hearing from industry experts, taking part in interactive workshops and having the opportunity to speak one-to-one with business experts from various fields. There will also be a ‘marketplace’ where local businesses, those who have been through the ION leadership and LEAD Wales programme and those who haven’t, will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses.

Delegates at the Swansea event, Big ION Business Bash, will hear from organisations such as Penderyn Distillery, Chwarae Teg and Swansea University with more names to be announced.

Delegates at the Llandudno event, North Wales means business will hear from Dr Paul Thomas and new Bangor University Vice-Chancellor, Iwan Davies. More names will be announced soon.

Led by Swansea University in partnership with Bangor University, the ION leadership project is backed with £3.7m from the European Social Fund to raise skills and drive forward productivity and turnover in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as in larger companies.

The initiative has supported over 1300 managers, aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs in nearly 1000 businesses to develop high quality skills through targeted leadership programmes that aim to raise productivity in the workplace whilst developing sustainable, profitable enterprises.

Gary Walpole, ION leadership Programme Director is looking forward to the celebration:

“I am very proud to be celebrating 10 years of developing extraordinary leaders. I would like to thank everybody who has played a part in our journey - whether they have been part of the team, attended one of our programmes or events, spoke on our behalf or supported us in anyway. Running events in both North and South Wales is a fantastic way to celebrate our anniversary and I am looking forward to welcoming LEAD Wales and ION leadership alumni, as well as new businesses and future delegates, to the celebration”.

Booking for the Swansea event, which takes place at the Liberty Stadium, is now open and you can book your space via our website. 

The Llandudno event, which takes place at Venue Cymru, is also open for booking. Keep an eye out on our social media channels, and if you have any questions, including exhibition opportunities, please contact leadingbusinessgrowth@bangor.ac.uk.