Welsh Language Strategy 2023 to 2028: theme 3 - business and economy

The vision

Recognizing the importance of a prosperous economy to the future of the Welsh language.

Desired outcome

The County Council and other economic development partners should recognize the importance of the future of the Welsh language to prosperous communities and should produce strategies to ensure that young people in particular have the opportunity to live and work in their local communities and contribute to their prosperity.

Indicators

The number of businesses taking part in training events which are delivered bilingually.
The number of visits to the Welsh in Business Webpage

Economic and Social Background

According to the 2021 Census there were 95,800 people living in Denbighshire. Denbighshire's economy is very diverse with over 3600 enterprises located in the county. In the north of the county, towns such as Rhyl and Prestatyn are key centres for retail, leisure and tourism sectors. The north is also home to St Asaph Business Park, where a number of important technological companies are located. In the south, the rural area is a network of small traditional villages which are important tourist destinations. The natural beauty of the landscape, which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, attracts visitors and residents alike. Most of the workforce is employed in Health and Social Work (25%), Wholesale and Retail (15%), Education (9%) and Construction (9%). The public sector, which includes health and social care, education and administration, is the largest employer in the county, with a higher proportion of the population working in this sector than in any other local authority area in the UK.

Jobs in the business sector tend to be in areas such as retail, leisure and tourism, and these are generally low-paid, seasonal jobs.