Suzie Rees has always had a passion for history and storytelling.
So, when funding cuts brought her administration role to an end, she was inspired to turn her hobby into a business.
With 40 years’ experience as an actor, self-employment wasn’t something new to Suzie. But she needed a little guidance when it came to business planning and funding applications.
After meeting PRIME Cymru Development Officer, Jeff Jones, at an
ICE meeting, he matched her with mentor Gillian Elfyn Jones.
“Gill talked me through the whole process, helping me to make decisions and discover where I wanted to go with my business”, said Suzie.
Gillian said: “Suzie was great because she was so enthusiastic, and her idea is brilliant. She was creative, open to ideas and suggestions and importantly, she always met her targets by keeping to a schedule.”
Suzie wanted to provide guided tours in her local town of Caerphilly. However, with a foot injury this was not possible, and so she had to think of other ways to deliver her historic tales.
The results?
Caerphilly Audio Tours – a self-guided GPS tour of Caerphilly, which delves into the remarkable stories behind the Welsh National Anthem, the National Eisteddfod, Caerphilly Castle and much more.
Suzie hopes it will provide tourists to the area with something fun and interesting to do, whilst benefitting businesses across the whole town as they explore.