{"id":17083,"date":"2024-06-18T13:16:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/?p=17083"},"modified":"2024-06-18T13:41:30","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:41:30","slug":"shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaping Wales’ Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As election season approaches, the power to shape the future of our local economy is in our hands. For citizens and business leaders in Wales, this is a critical time to engage with political candidates and ensure that they prioritise the needs of our vibrant business community. Whether you run a small enterprise, lead a larger corporation, or simply care about the economic health of our region, asking the right questions can help gauge candidates’ commitment to fostering a thriving business environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Questions to Consider<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As citizens and business leaders, we have the power to influence this process. When candidates knock on your door, consider asking the following questions to gauge their commitment to fostering a thriving business environment in Wales:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. What are your plans for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?<\/strong>
    SMEs are the backbone of the Welsh economy. Policies that support their growth, provide access to finance, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles can significantly impact our economic landscape.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How will you invest in infrastructure to support business growth?<\/strong>
    Reliable infrastructure, including transportation and digital connectivity, is critical for businesses to thrive. Candidates should outline their plans for improving these areas.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What measures will you take to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship?<\/strong>
    Innovation drives economic progress. Look for commitments to funding research and development, as well as initiatives that support startups and entrepreneurial ventures.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. How do you plan to address the skills gap in the workforce?<\/strong>
    A skilled workforce is essential for business success. Policies that enhance education, vocational training, and continuous professional development are vital.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. What are your strategies for ensuring sustainable economic growth?<\/strong>
    Sustainable practices are not just ethical but economically sensible in the long term. Candidates should be ready to discuss how they will promote environmentally friendly business practices without stifling growth.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    By posing these thoughtful questions to candidates, we can play an active role in shaping a prosperous future for businesses in Wales. SMEs are the backbone of our economy, and robust infrastructure, innovative thinking, a skilled workforce, and sustainable practices are the pillars that will support their growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As we engage with our potential leaders, let\u2019s ensure they are prepared to offer concrete, actionable plans that will drive our economic success. Together, we can create an environment where businesses thrive, innovations flourish, and our economy grows sustainably, benefiting all who call Wales home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read next:<\/strong> Wales at a Crossroads: The Election’s Impact on Our Business Future<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

    <\/div>

    by<\/p>

    Lesley Williams<\/p><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    As election season approaches, the power to shape the future of our local economy is in our hands. For citizens and business leaders in Wales, this is a critical time to engage with political candidates and ensure that they prioritise the needs of our vibrant business community. Whether you run a small enterprise, lead a … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":17085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nShaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"cy_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Welsh ICE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-18T13:16:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-18T13:41:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lesley Williams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lesley Williams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/\",\"name\":\"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-18T13:16:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-18T13:41:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/546aaae9d59130b89216f56cbf1df90d\"},\"description\":\"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"cy-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"cy-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/home\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Shaping Wales’ Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/\",\"name\":\"Welsh ICE\",\"description\":\"Learn, Collaborate, Grow\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"cy-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/546aaae9d59130b89216f56cbf1df90d\",\"name\":\"Lesley Williams\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"cy-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lesley Williams\"},\"description\":\"Lesley Williams is the CEO of Welsh ICE. Named amongst the top businesswomen by Wales Online in their esteemed '35 Under 35' list, Lesley encompasses impactful leadership in partner and outreach initiatives. Notably, she spearheaded the renowned 5-9 Club, a pioneering after-hours business course empowering countless local entrepreneurs. Prior to her tenure at Welsh ICE, Lesley steered a thriving international exporting venture, gaining invaluable insights into the needs of small business owners. Her accolades extend to her advocacy for equality, recognised as a finalist in the Gender Equality Champion category at the prestigious Chwarae Teg, Womenspire Awards. Lesley's also has experience as a Big Ideas Wales Young Ambassador, Role Model, and board member for the Women\u2019s Enterprise Hub, solidifying her as a beacon of leadership and innovation.\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE","description":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/","og_locale":"cy_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE","og_description":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.","og_url":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/","og_site_name":"Welsh ICE","article_published_time":"2024-06-18T13:16:43+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-06-18T13:41:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lesley Williams","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lesley Williams","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/","url":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/","name":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2024-06-18T13:16:43+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-18T13:41:30+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/546aaae9d59130b89216f56cbf1df90d"},"description":"Shaping Wales' Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates - Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams shares thoughts on UK Election.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"cy-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"cy-GB","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-element5-1550337-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/shaping-wales-economic-future-key-questions-for-election-candidates\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Shaping Wales’ Economic Future: Key Questions for Election Candidates"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/","name":"Welsh ICE","description":"Learn, Collaborate, Grow","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"cy-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/546aaae9d59130b89216f56cbf1df90d","name":"Lesley Williams","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"cy-GB","@id":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lesley Williams"},"description":"Lesley Williams is the CEO of Welsh ICE. Named amongst the top businesswomen by Wales Online in their esteemed '35 Under 35' list, Lesley encompasses impactful leadership in partner and outreach initiatives. Notably, she spearheaded the renowned 5-9 Club, a pioneering after-hours business course empowering countless local entrepreneurs. Prior to her tenure at Welsh ICE, Lesley steered a thriving international exporting venture, gaining invaluable insights into the needs of small business owners. Her accolades extend to her advocacy for equality, recognised as a finalist in the Gender Equality Champion category at the prestigious Chwarae Teg, Womenspire Awards. Lesley's also has experience as a Big Ideas Wales Young Ambassador, Role Model, and board member for the Women\u2019s Enterprise Hub, solidifying her as a beacon of leadership and innovation."}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17083"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17108,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17083\/revisions\/17108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}