Eight North Wales firms to watch in 2022 as pandemic recovery gets underway

North Wales is packed full of innovative and fast growing firms who despite the pandemic are continuing to thrive.

Every part of the region has talented entrepreneurs in various sectors - from tourism to fashion and technology.

Here we list eight companies to watch in 2022 - from start-ups to established giants stepping up to the next challenge.

Sisters and Seekers:

Two sisters who turned a fashion brand started in a North Wales garden shed into a multi-million pound business are definitely worth keeping an eye on in 2022.

Alice and Maisie Jones started Sisters & Seekers in Hope, Flintshire, in 2017.

They now employ 15 staff and posted a turnover of £3m last year.

Their success has come online but they opened their first physical pop-up store in Chester earlier this year.

Backed by powerful social media campaigns and influencers the firm is tipped for more success next year as they drive sales online and potentially look at more physical store options.

Harlech Foodservice

The Gwynedd based firm has shown remarkable resilience over the pandemic which has badly impacted many of the key sectors they supply.

Despite Covid the company has been taking on staff and transforming the way it operates under managing director David Cattrall, who joined the company in the summer of 2020.

They are now targeting further growth in the North West of England backed by a depot in Chester.

All being well this could be a year of expansion for the business as they expand into new areas.

Tir Prince

Despite operating in sectors battered by the pandemic over the past two years the company has shown its fighting spirit and 2022 could be an interesting year for the firm.

The company - run by Adam Williams - owns Llandudno Pier and recently secured a deal to buy the old Pier Pavilion site next door.

This put an end to plans for an apartments development that Mr Williams warned would damage the future of the pier and now they have their own multi-million pound plans for an entertainment centre on the site.

The firm also has ambitious plans for Rhos Point that were put on hold when the pandemic hit.

These could also be revived if Wales finally sees a return to normality next year.

Net World Sports

Net World Sports was named the fastest growing firm in the region on the Wales Fast Growth 50 list.

The sports equipment business had a turnover of £44 million in 2020, having grown by 121% since 2018.

It plans further expansion with work to start on a new headquarters in Wrexham.

The £25m warehouse and office which will be located just a mile or so away from the current base on Wrexham Industrial Estate would help accelerate its growth further.

Plantsea

The venture is very much in its formative stages but could be set for bigger things as it taps into the sustainable agenda.

PlantSea, based at M-SParc on Anglesey, aims to replace environmentally damaging petroleum-based plastics with sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. They work with seaweed and transform it into a material suitable for replacing single use plastics. Its vision is turning the ride on plastic pollution.

The firm won an inventor prize at Aberystwyth University, and are part of the BioAccelerate programme.

Jones Bros

It may have a long history but the Ruthin based company is very much focused on the future - with strong credentials in the wind power market.

The company is currently involved in Dogger Bank, the world’s biggest offshore wind farm off the coast of north east England and has a track record with onshore projects in Wales.

With this sector tipped to grow further due to the green agenda then they are ideally placed to prosper - with renewables going alongside its traditional projects like road building.

They are also involved with the planned restoration and redevelopment of the North Wales Hospital site in Denbigh.

Moneypenny

The outsourced communications firm in Wrexham has grown year on year since it was founded by brother and sister Ed Reeves and Rachel Clacher back in 2000.

The company now employs over 1,000 staff in the UK and US and is eyeing further growth over the Atlantic.

In the UK the company was recruiting again in 2021 as services like Live Chat exploded and look on course for more success in 2022.

Haia

M-SParc based Haia is a web-based platform allowing people to create online or hybrid events.

Like Plantsea they are at early stage but have major organisations asking them to quote for high profiles events.

Even as more events return to face to face once the pandemic eases they are well placed to offer the perfect hybrid experience to help expand attendee numbers.