A campaign has launched this week to target 'expats' orginally from North Wales and encourage them to “Come Back and Give back”.
The M-SParc (Menai Science Park) campaign in partnership with the North Wales Ambition Board, Menter Môn and Bangor University will promote employment and business opportunities in North Wales.
It will target people who have left to further their education or careers but may now be feeling a longing (Hiraeth) for home.
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.
Part of the initial focus will be on the North West of England - targeting cities like Liverpool and Manchester where many young people from North Wales migrate to.
Pryderi ap Rhisiart, managing director of M-SParc, said: “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 the significant effect this has on communities both socially and in terms of the Welsh language.
"So, we want to kick start a conversation locally and with those who have left, but long to come back home.”
The key is convincing people there are good opportunities in the area.
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He added: “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 want to 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 at M-SParc 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.
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He said: “Having travelled extensively for several years, when we had 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 part of the world.”
Over the coming months the team at M-Sparc hope 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 海角视频 and beyond to create a buzz amongst those who want to return to their roots.
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M-SParc commissioned artist, Mark Richardson, of Ffwligans in Gyffin, to design a poster to support the campaign with the words ‘Dewch yn ôl’ on it – which is Welsh for ‘Come back’.
It’s hoped that the unique image will draw attention to campaign messages and encourage people to think differently about the area in the context of work and business.
All the information about “Come Back // Give Back” and the related opportunities are available on the M-SParc website. To get involved contact post@m-sparc.com or register at .
Alwen Williams, portfolio director of the North Wales Ambition Board, a partner in the campaign, said: “Returning to work in North Wales has significantly improved my life, professionally and personally on many levels.
"Being able to call the area home gives me a huge sense of pride, accomplishment and belonging, a feeling which I consider specific to our area.
"If you have a sense of 'hiraeth', know that North Wales will always welcome you back home."
Bangor University Vice-Chancellor Iwan Davies said: “We are proud of the University’s strong network of alumni.
"Our graduates go out into the world to apply the skills they have learnt here at Bangor, and we want to ensure that they can come back to the area to be part of the region's future.
"Through M-SParc as well as through other exciting schemes, there are great careers and opportunities to be had here as well as the necessary skills to achieve success.”
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