Aled Woosnam and Evie Williams, central resources manager, receive the Entrepreneurship Award from Rhodri Griffiths, chief regional officer for Mid and South West Wales for the Welsh Government, sponsor.
Young entrepreneur Aled Woosnam, whose businesses have continued to thrive despite the pandemic, collected the Entrepreneurship Award at the Powys Business Awards.
Aled, 26, who owns AL Technical, an electrical and specialist communications business and 23 Social, a flagship, multi-purpose bar and grill in Newtown, won the award, sponsored by the Welsh Government, at the drive-in awards ceremony held in Newtown last Friday.
Organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, the Powys Business Awards showcase business excellence across the county.
“It’s a big honour to win this award after a very busy year,” said Aled. “It’s a nice reward for all the hard work of everybody employed in the businesses. I wouldn’t be here without my team.”
AL Technical Services has grown stronger under Aled’s leadership during the pandemic, and he achieved a dream by opening 23 Social, having always had a passion for hospitality.
Established in 2017, AL Technical employs 17 people and achieved record turnover in 2020, with further growth expected this year. Spotting a gap in the market for rural internet solutions, he introduced 4G Broadband and provided modern and progressive business solutions to his clients, using his favourite saying: “Bringing tomorrow’s technology today”.
He has plans to open a new base and stores to enable more growth and diversification and has launched a new arm to the business that undertakes website design, marketing and branding consultancy.
Aled opened 23 Social, which has 30 employees, during the pandemic. The venue has a rooftop bar, disability access, TV and state of the art sound systems and utilises social media throughout the premises with talk points, live counters and a greenery wall.
He is now working collaboratively with other businesses to advertise what’s going on in Newtown and to host events to attract more people to Powys. He is also a partner in Severn Valley Events, a Powys-based mobile bar company and is supporting his family to diversify their farm with a holiday let.
Powys Business Awards judges said Aled was the epitome of the word entrepreneur. They praised him for developing his existing business by filling gaps in the market, for seizing opportunities arising from the pandemic and for working to benefit the community.
They also commended his bold decision to launch 23 Social, describing it as “a calculated risk which is thriving beyond expectations and therefore truly entrepreneurial”.
“The enthusiasm and passion shown during the judging left the judges hugely impressed and a little exhausted!” they added..
Organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, the Powys Business Awards showcase business excellence across the county.
“It’s a big honour to win this award after a very busy year,” said Aled. “It’s a nice reward for all the hard work of everybody employed in the businesses. I wouldn’t be here without my team.”
AL Technical Services has grown stronger under Aled’s leadership during the pandemic, and he achieved a dream by opening 23 Social, having always had a passion for hospitality.
Established in 2017, AL Technical employs 17 people and achieved record turnover in 2020, with further growth expected this year. Spotting a gap in the market for rural internet solutions, he introduced 4G Broadband and provided modern and progressive business solutions to his clients, using his favourite saying: “Bringing tomorrow’s technology today”.
He has plans to open a new base and stores to enable more growth and diversification and has launched a new arm to the business that undertakes website design, marketing and branding consultancy.
Aled opened 23 Social, which has 30 employees, during the pandemic. The venue has a rooftop bar, disability access, TV and state of the art sound systems and utilises social media throughout the premises with talk points, live counters and a greenery wall.
He is now working collaboratively with other businesses to advertise what’s going on in Newtown and to host events to attract more people to Powys. He is also a partner in Severn Valley Events, a Powys-based mobile bar company and is supporting his family to diversify their farm with a holiday let.
Powys Business Awards judges said Aled was the epitome of the word entrepreneur. They praised him for developing his existing business by filling gaps in the market, for seizing opportunities arising from the pandemic and for working to benefit the community.
They also commended his bold decision to launch 23 Social, describing it as “a calculated risk which is thriving beyond expectations and therefore truly entrepreneurial”.
“The enthusiasm and passion shown during the judging left the judges hugely impressed and a little exhausted!” they added..
