New business forum launched

A Cardiff University-backed community project encouraging people to shop locally has successfully launched a new business forum.

Businesses in the Cardiff suburb of Grangetown will work together to benefit from training, advice and networking opportunities.

Grangetown Business Forum is part of a “shop local” community project in association with Cardiff University Business School, the University’s Community Gateway engagement project and Grangetown Community Action.

The launch of the forum at Tramshed Tech in Grangetown was hosted by business mentor Rob Firth and included training to boost a business’s online presence from an expert from Google.

Business students at the University have benefited by contributing to the forum as part of their studies.

Future meetings will also provide a platform for businesses to discuss issues and help shape local decision making through question and answer sessions with city councillors and city council leaders.

The forum, the brainchild of Grangetown Community Action’s Steve Duffy, was created following a survey of more than 150 shoppers and businesses which revealed significant support for a shop local campaign.

Ideas currently being considered include a street market, a customer loyalty scheme and a shop local week.

For more information about the shop local project or the forum, please email: grangetowncardiff@yahoo.co.uk or visit the Love Grangetown, Shop Grangetown web pages.

Community Gateway works hand-in-hand with residents in Grangetown to make the area an even better place to live.

It is one of the University’s flagship engagement projects, otherwise known as the Transforming Communities programme, which work with communities in Cardiff, Wales and beyond in areas including health, education and wellbeing.