- The outdoor activity giant has been allocated over £6m worth of matched funding, as part of the North Wales Growth Deal, to help lead the way in responsible adventure in the UK.
- Zip World will use the funding to create jobs for locals during off-peak seasons and provide sustainable transports links between its sites and local rural communities.
Wales-based adventure company, Zip World, has announced exciting growth plans following an announcement from North Wales Ambition Board that it is to receive Growth Deal Funding.
Zip World has been allocated £6.2million worth of matched funding, subject to approval of a business case, as part of the North Wales Growth Deal to help them lead the way as a leading responsible tourism destination.
The North Wales Growth Deal is a £1billion investment to the region, £240million of which has been funded by both Welsh and UK Governments.
The outdoor activity giant, which provides visitors with unique and exhilarating experiences across its 29 attractions at seven UK sites, plans to use the funding as part of its ambitious ‘Responsible Adventure’ growth project over the next two years.
In addition to a new cable car experience that will improve the experiences of those visiting North Wales, the funding will provide sustainable transport links between its sites and rural communities through a new electric bus network.
Andrew Hudson, Zip World’s Chief Commercial Officer who led the strategy behind the bid, said:
“This funding will play a crucial role in transforming and widening our offering to tourists visiting North Wales all year round to help strengthen the region’s sustainable and thriving economy.
“Among the exciting new projects on the horizon is the creation of a cable car experience that will enable people of all abilities to enjoy the stunning North Wales landscape from an easily accessible view point.
“The project will also benefit local communities by creating more year-round job opportunities that reduces the dependency on peak holiday periods, and the new eBus network will help ease seasonality congestion in the area.”
Zip World estimates the funding will allow them to boost the North Wales economy by an additional £6.8 million per year.
An Economic Impact Assessment carried out by North Wales Tourism found that Zip World had already helped contribute an estimated £251million economic boost to the local region between 2013 to 2018.
A new economic study, due to be carried out this summer, is expected to show significant growth in its economic impact on the local area, having almost doubled its visitor numbers since the last report.
This has been helped by recent launches including the world’s first underground adventure golf course and its newest gravity-powered adventure, Aero Explorer, in Llechwedd and Penrhyn Quarry respectively.
Rhodri Owen, Zip World’s Head of Projects for the North Wales Growth Bid, added:
“We are extremely honoured and excited that our new ‘Responsible Adventure project’ is one of five to join the North Wales Growth Deal.
“The funding from the bid is an extremely positive next step towards us becoming a B Corp company, as well as helping us to build a more vibrant, sustainable, and resilient local economy.”
