A business leader who overcame cancer has been promoted to the top job at a consultancy company that\u2019s trebled in size over the past two years.<\/p>\n
Since Zoe Pritchard, who lives in Blaenau Ffestiniog, joined Anglesey-based Lafan, the firm has gone from four to 12 staff and grown with a 300 per cent increase in turnover.<\/p>\n
Having been appointed initially as Lead Consultant, the mother of two has now taken over as Chief Executive Officer while her predecessor and company co-founder, Geraint Hughes has become Chairman.<\/p>\n
There was early evidence of her leadership qualities when she became Head Girl at Ysgol y Moelwyn in Blaenau\u00a0 before graduating in International Politics and Welsh at Aberystwyth University.<\/p>\n
After a brief stint at Cyngor Gwynedd, she worked at the Menter M\u00f4n enterprise agency for 13 years until joining Lafan in 2022.<\/p>\n
But eight years ago her world felt as if it was crashing down when she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, an aggressive cancer that affects the lymphatic system.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, a course of chemo therapy at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor did the trick and she is now fully recovered.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt was a difficult time because my eldest daughter was only eight months old at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am absolutely fine now but having cancer gave me a whole new perspective and made me realise how precious life is.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I think about things now has changed. It\u2019s important to be happy in your work and make a real and positive difference to people\u2019s lives so that we can leave some kind of legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Zoe joined Lafan, it has underlined its reputation as a rising star in the business community and as a go-to outfit for a wide range of expertise.<\/p>\n
The company has five separate but overlapping departments covering communities, education, agri-food, farming and environment, with the latest addition being a fast-growing marketing arm, Lafan Creu.<\/p>\n
The marketing operation is headed by Beth Woodhouse, who previously worked as a Lafan sub-contractor, and it has already recruited two more people to the team after winning a raft of new clients.<\/p>\n
Another recent arrival is John Owen, the Lead Consultant for agriculture and the environment, who is conducting pioneering research after winning a high profile contract from UK Innovation.<\/p>\n
Lafan also works regularly with eight associates ranging from serial entrepreneurs to finance and food production experts.<\/p>\n
According to Zoe, helping people to sort out very real problems and making a positive difference to their lives had been a theme running throughout her career.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThis is what\u2019s always driven me and given me job satisfaction and made me feel that I am doing something worthwhile \u2013 rather than just conducting a paper exercise.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I was so keen to join Lafan in the first place \u2013 our values and vision are perfectly aligned because we want to make where we live a better place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community projects I lead on are part of that jigsaw in generating employment and prosperity\u00a0 with greater opportunities for our young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe changes in technology and attitudes mean that people \u2013 me included \u2013 are increasingly able to continue to live and work from their own communities instead of having to commute huge distances or move away permanently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are time when clearly you are going to have to travel but most of the smaller meetings can be done online.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnabling people to stay in their own communities is incredibly important in terms of the Welsh language and will help stem the tide of rural depopulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe growth we have enjoyed means that we now have team members located right across Wales and can offer a huge range of expertise in different areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can run projects, we can evaluate them, we can provide advice and guidance on specific topics, analyse data, or conduct workshops to build up skills as well as organising events.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially, our aim is always to support our client to achieve as much as they possibly can and the expanded team means that we are now a one-stop shop.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim is to support business and organisations to take control\u00a0 of their own destiny and create a circular economy, finding synergies so that where possible we can keep the Welsh pound in Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe company is split into five overlapping departments and there is fantastic potential for each of them to grow. That\u2019s incredibly exciting.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur message to clients is they don\u2019t have to be experts at everything and it is okay to outsource certain things so they can concentrate on what they are good at. It can save them time and money.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim is to continue on our growth trajectory and to continue to employ people who are brilliant at what they do so we can collectively to the best possible job on behalf of our clients.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geraint Hughes said: \u201cWe have been incredibly lucky to be able to appoint somebody with Zoe\u2019s ability, skills and great leadership qualities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole team looks up to and respects Zoe and wants to work with her and it\u2019s going to enable us as a company to push forward and expand.<\/p>\n
\u201cZoe has made a massive contribution to our development and growth since she joined Lafan as well as forging our culture as a company.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer appointment as Chief Executive Officer is another building block in the next stage of the company\u2019s evolution so we can achieve our full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n