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A bid for a low tax investment zone in north east Wales would 鈥榮upercharge鈥� the economy in the area, says two local entrepreneurs. Liam Evans-Ford, chief executive of Theatr Clwyd in Mold, and Ben Smith, founder of production label Ty鈥檙 Ddraig, are backing a campaign for Wales鈥� first investment zone to be in Wrexham and Flintshire.

The campaign is being led by a consortium consisting of the North Wales Business Council, Wrexham and Flintshire councils, Wrexham University and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Broughton. It is chaired by Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Wrexham-based outsourced communications provider, Moneypenny.

The group will be putting the case forward to the 海角视频 and Welsh governments for having an investment zone in north east Wales. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced 12 investment zones for the 海角视频 in this year鈥檚 Spring Budget.

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Each zone will receive 拢80m over five years, including 'generous tax incentives', which can be used to improve skills, provide specialist business support, improve the planning system, or provide local infrastructure. Eight have already been identified for England - all out of London and south east - including for Greater Manchester, Teesside, and West Yorkshire.

However, as economic development is a devolved matter, Mr Hunt said he would 鈥榳ork closely鈥� with the devolved administrations to establish four investment zones in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Welsh Government also said it would look to engage constructively with the 海角视频 Government on creating an investment zone (or potentially more than one) in Wales.

So far, no decision on where an investment zone will be located in Wales has been announced, with discussions currently ongoing. A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 鈥淲e continue to engage with the 海角视频 Government on this issue. Our focus is on maximising opportunities for new investment and job creation in great Welsh industries that are essential to driving up growth. As the 海角视频 approach has changed, this has been our firm priority throughout.

鈥淓nsuring a fair deal for Wales that upholds our standards on fair work and climate change underpins our engagement on this policy. Any decisions would have to be based on evidence and taken jointly, by both governments.鈥�

However, since the announcement for an investment zone in Wales, the campaign for it to be located in north east Wales has been set up. Ashley Rogers, chief executive of the North Wales Business Council, said: 鈥淎n investment zone can help with particular sectors which have international strengths but also local challenges. So the 拢80 million in funding could go towards improving infrastructure, transport to key employment sites, skills and training 鈥� whatever is needed by those sectors.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen what鈥檚 happening in England and we feel it would be an excellent opportunity for north east Wales and it would balance nicely with a freeport on Anglesey."

He added: 鈥淪ubstantial, focused investment into key sectors such as creative and digital or advanced manufacturing over a period of five years would turbocharge the development of those sectors and safeguard the jobs within them.

鈥淲e鈥檇 like to convince the 海角视频 Government and Welsh Government that, if investment zones come to Wales, we have one in North East Wales and to work in partnership with them to co-develop it.

鈥淔or creative and digital in particular, if that was a sector that was included, funding could go towards helping to solve challenges around labour market size and access to low carbon sites and premises with good public transport and digital connectivity.鈥�

Mr Evans-Ford said a 拢45m redevelopment of the Theatr Clwyd showed the power of investment in boosting the local economy. When it鈥檚 fully re-opened in March 2025, Theatr Clwyd will be the first carbon positive theatre in the 海角视频, possibly the world 鈥� and will have created 60 new jobs in the process of reinvigorating the flagship arts complex.

He said: 鈥淚t will be a gas-free building with air source heat pumps, with solar panels and water harvesting as well as biodiversity. The footprint of the building is also being remodelled and we will be bringing all our making teams on site.

鈥淲e are one of only four theatres in the 海角视频 to have all our making departments in-house 鈥� scene construction with welders and carpenters, the costume and props makers as well as the lighting and sound teams. At the moment we have 140 core employees and over the next 18 months because of this investment there will be a minimum of another 60 jobs created.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚t tells you about the power of investment and a lot of those jobs have real career progression opportunities around them because they are quite specialist. So, having an investment zone in North Wales is a no-brainer as far as I鈥檓 concerned.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about attracting new investment into the area 鈥� important though that is 鈥� but it鈥檚 also about building on the qualities we have, whether it鈥檚 advanced manufacturing or creative and digital industries. These are all really exciting sectors.鈥�

Mr Smith has developed factual programmes and documentaries for the BBC, ITV, Sky, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Earlier this year, T欧鈥檙 Ddraig was backed financially with a significant investment from Workerbee Group, part of Banijay 海角视频.

He said: 鈥淲e see North East Wales in particular as presenting an amazing opportunity for production companies making factual entertainment programmes. It feels under represented both onscreen and offscreen so there鈥檚 a creative reason for being here as well as a business opportunity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for youngsters growing up in Wrexham now, and a big part of our plan is to train local people at entry level, working with Wrexham University who have a great broadcast course. The sort of shows that we see ourselves making create big teams because we plan to pitch for and make high volume factual series with 10, 20 or 30 episodes.

鈥淭hanks to what鈥檚 been happening with the football club, Wrexham is now one of the most famous cities in the world and that was really helpful. When we were pitching our business plan to the group they already knew what kind of place Wrexham is.

鈥淚t would be brilliant if the creative industries, along with advanced manufacturing, could be at the forefront in securing an investment zone so we can build on the bigger recognition we鈥檙e getting as a result of the Hollywood stardust that鈥檚 been sprinkled on our beloved football club and the wider area.鈥�