CARDIFFWORKS News, views, and inspiring

CARDIFFWORKS It’s the city’s business

Capital ideas

Techniquest is about to open its doors to reveal the centre’s biggest refurbishment since it first opened in 1995. The project, which has been four years in planning, will see the science centre transformed with a new extension, a new gift shop and space for a new café facility, alongside the existing favourites of the full dome Planetarium and the Science Theatre.

With an increased floor space of 6 per cent, Techniquest aims to engage more people with STEM-related content and diversify its audience with the help of 52 new exhibits. Each exhibit has been created by German company, H†ttinger · and are in their final stages of construction, before being brought to Cardiff Bay for installation.

Head of projects at Techniquest, James Summers, says, “It has been an aim of ours to change the perception of our centre and appeal to a wider demographic, and especially to an older audience. We’re confident these changes Wales’ largest science discovery will reopen in May to reveal its new look, along with 52 new exhibits

Visitors to Techniquest will find an increased floorspace of 60 per cent

will do just that – re-establishing us as a major player amongst science and discovery attractions in the UK.

¹Our refreshed centre will include five key themes · Biomedical Science, Chemistry, World Issues, Environmental Science, and Space. ¹The earthYuake simulator and virtual operating table are just a flavour of the fantastic new content people will find at TechniYuest from this May. ” For more: www.techniquest.org

RIGHT: Founder Maia Banks BOTTOM RIGHT: The Honeycomb Toys & Books lends, as well as, sells toys Vale Spa staff celebrate their third World Travel Awards win

SPAS IN THEIR EYES

For the third year in a row, the four-star Vale Resort in Hensol, South Wales, has been named Wales’ best resort spa by an international awards body that recognises excellence in tourism. The Vale Spa, located in the Vale of Glamorgan, was named Wales’ Best Resort Spa 2019 at the 5th annual World Spa Awards.

Stephanie Metson, marketing manager at the Vale Resort, says, “To have won this award not once, not twice, but three times, is testament to the hard work our entire team put in day in, day out. The World Travel Awards is recognised on a global scale and is an industry-wide benchmark of quality, so to meet its high standards more than once demonstrates our commitment to offering the best quality service.” For more: www.valeresort.com

TOY STORY The Honeycomb Toys & Books, which opened its store in Grangetown last December, is also offering a toy library and a space for community events.

Owner Maia Banks explains, “At The Honeycomb, I work to stock environmentally friendly toys, as well as locally made items and books that are inclusive of all genders, races, religions, and family types.

“I also run regular free sessions for the community, such as story times and baby groups, as well as the toy library. People can register and borrow toys for a month for a very small fee.”

Regular events at The Honeycomb include a weekly drop-in baby group and a twice weekly story/play session. There is also a monthly board game club. Maia has also collaborated with many local artists and community members to offer different workshops in craft activities such as ceramics, pumpkin carving, lantern making, and also Welsh language homework help for English speaking parents. She says, “I am striving to be an inclusive and affordable community space, not just your ordinary toy shop.” For more: www.thehoneycombtoys.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC WELL RED The team at Cardiff Airport recently celebrated Wear Red for Wales and >elindre Day and raised more than Š5 for the Airport’s Charity of the Year, >elindre Cancer Centre. Kylie McKee, deputy head of fundraising at >elindre, says, ¹We kicked off our Wear Red For Wales and >elindre campaign at Cardiff Airport and it was fantastic to see so many staff supporting the campaign and getting into the spirit of the day.º ___Kardiff airXWr\KWU  www.velindrecc.wales.nhs.uk FILM STAR Cardiff ’s Iris Prize 4GBT Film Festival director Berwyn Rowlands, who organised his fi rst public fi lm festival in Aberystwyth in !8!, has been selected in the Top  at the British 4GBT Awards in the category »Outstanding Contribution to 4GBT 4ife.’ Festival chair Andrew Pierce says, ¹I’ve seen Iris grow from the inaugural fi lm festival in 2 with a modest audience of ,5 to an annual celebration of over , who gather in Cardiff to witness the presentation of the world’s largest 4GBT short fi lm prize.º www.irisprize.org SUPPORT TEAM Human Resources and employment law support experts, HR Dept Cardiff Newport Monmouth, has made a key team appointment. Pan Tzaferi, has joined as an HR advisor, and says, ¹During my time in the HR sector, I’ve supported clients from an in-house perspective at varying stages of growth, so it’ll be very interesting to support clients across a mix of sectors.º www.hrdept.co.uk

Loosemores has been advising new business Project Blu who specialise in sustainable pet products

PET PROJECT

Cardiff law fi rm 4oosemores has been advising Project Blu on its early stage investment from a group of =S venture capital funds. Project Blu is a socially responsible brand revolutionising the pet accessories market by converting polluting materials such as ocean-bound plastic waste into top Yuality dog beds, cat beds, leashes and toys. Project Blu’s CEO Geryn Evans, explains, ¹The idea for Project Blu was only conceived in December 28. Since then the business has accelerated at a rapid pace. We are now selling products across the globe and are very excited to be part of the 4eap >entures 22 cohort in 4os Angeles. Project Blu is proud to represent the Welsh start-up scene and prove that we can compete with the best on a global scale.º

Siôn Tudur, partner in 4oosemores corporate and commercial team, adds, ¹This is a fantastic opportunity for Project Blu, as it aims to become a global leader for sustainable pet products. It is a business with great potential, and we hope this opportunity will be a springboard for tackling the environmental impact of the pet care industry.º For more: www.loosemores.co.uk / www.projectblu.co

Whilst on maternity leave, Sara Hampson-Jones came up with the idea for Shnwcs

BABY LOVE

Shnwcs, which designs contemporary Welsh baby gifts including bunting, nursery prints, cards and party products, has recently been collaborating with John 4ewis Cardiff . Founder Sara Hampson-Jones, who lives in Cardiff and sells via Etsy, explains, ¹We have been invited to decorate their in-store changing and feeding area with our prints, and also had a pop-up stall last month. This is dream come true to a small independent company like myself.º

Sara set up the business in 25 whilst on

Shnwcs Welsh language birthday cards score 5 out of 5 from this baby

maternity leave after noticing the lack of baby products on the Welsh market ¹Shnwcs’s fi rst product was the baby milestone cards, which were, and still are, a great success,º says Sara, who also blogs about being a full-time mum to her two children. ¹I have created a strong community of Welsh language mums online. They have also been so supportive of Shnwcs from the fi rst day, and there’s a great feeling of we’re in this together.º For more: www.etsy.com

Roger Mynett

Director of the Cardiff Natuzzi stores, which specialises in Italian furnishing, talks trends, family, and visiting his dad’s Rhondda factory as a child

Where are you from originally? I was born in Cardiff . My family on my mother’s side were from Grangetown. I spent the early part of my childhood moving around as my dad advanced his career in sales and retail management but we came back to our roots when I was six.

Who was your inspiration growing up? My brother Robert and I had the same induction to the furniture industry, by sewing cushions, and visiting my dad’s factory up the Rhondda. Dad CBrian MynettE has since been named in the furniture industry Hall of Fame, and he taught us everything.

Tell us a little about Natuzzi and the company’s background? Mr Natuzzi founded the company in !5! and the company headYuarters is in Santeramo in Colle, near Puglia, Southern Italy, and is the only truly global brand in home furnishing, with oٻ ces and distribution across every continent.

Natuzzi was the fi rst company to make leather sofas aff ordable, but its very rapid growth started in the !8s, when Mr Natuzzi made a trip to New York, met with Macy’s, which in turn lit the fuse under the leather furniture boom. In !!3, Natuzzi became the fi rst Italian furnishing company to become listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Natuzzi has now evolved into a recognised brand worldwide.

How would you describe Natuzzi’s signature look? Mr Natuzzi invented the style that became known as »Natuzzi Style’. It was a casual style that was uniYuely Italian, and is what others try to emulate. Nowadays the inspiration still comes from our roots in Puglia. We are also infl uenced by nature to create form that follows our Puglia heritage, a palette found in our countryside. Most importantly we respect our environment, and everything we create is done so responsibly (turn to page 24 to learn more about this).

Despite Natuzzi being a global brand, and the =K being a most important market, with strong brand presence, we remain a family business. My brother Robert and I oversee the business, and both our wives are part of the team. We have a Cardiff oٻ ce that takes care of all the =K and Ireland, where we have a strong team in customer care.

How does being in Cardiff benefi t business? Cardiff is a rapidly growing city, and it is constantly changing. Of course, new homes provide us with an organically growing market, but the evolution of our great city into a modern cosmopolitan capital broadens our horizons and, despite Brexit, our tastes have become more European.

Any support from any other local Cardiff businesses you’d like to name check? I had great admiration for Robert Maskrey, sadly departed. He was the owner of Maskreys, and was a visionary, a true professional “WE RESPECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND EVERYTHING WE CREATE IS DONE SO RESPONSIBLY”

and a gentleman. I think we shared the same ethos that, just ordinary wasn’t good enough, let’s off er something better. He was one of our fi rst customers, and he certainly helped us on our way to national sales.

Do you get to visit Italy much? Yes, we make many trips to Italy, with our customers and franchise partners, to see new introductions, and »plug in’ to all things Natuzzi.

What trends have you seen in furniture and furnishings? As homes become smaller, or more homes are apartments, I can see the need for further solutions to fi t, not just the room, but access too. We are already selling more modular sets. We are selling some smaller sofas, but in luxurious fi nishes and coverings. A smaller living room still deserves beautiful furniture.

How do you see the industry evolving in the near future? It is hard to predict who will survive. So many retailers spend millions advertising how cheap they can sell you a sofa, believing cheapest wins. As long as we continue to sell more premium, we always have customers coming back, and I see Natuzzi’s business going from strength to strength as awareness of our brand increases.

Is there a particular piece of Natuzzi you covet yourself? In 28 we launched the Torsion table by Mario Bellini. The supply is very limited as it reYuires six months for each table. It is a work of art, and such a piece of natural aesthetic beauty.

.Wr UWre" 6a\]bbi 1\aTia Cardiff *aa  6a\]bbi -di\iWV[ Cardiff /a\e# www.natuzzi.co.uk

Meet the wills and probate lawyer

Cardiff ‘s legal experts talk about their business and the importance of their services

KAYLEY WILLIAMS SOLICITOR HARDING EVANS SOLICITORS 01633 244233 / 029 2267 6818 www.hardingevans.com

Talk to us about your firm Harding Evans Solicitors is a well-established regional law firm which delivers a specialist range of legal services to commercial and private clients. Originally based in Newport, we also have an office in Cardiff. We have won a number of awards including the Award for Outstanding Achievement and Business of the Year at the high profile South Wales Chamber Business Awards and Law Firm of the Year at the prestigious Welsh Law Awards.

What are your own specialist areas? Wills, powers of attorney, and probate.

Have you always wanted to work in this field? As soon as I started practising law I realised I was suited to the role of a private client solicitor. I thoroughly enjoy that my work allows me to meet people from all walks of life. I feel that I am able to offer support and empathy at a time when it is most needed. It certainly is challenging, but rewarding at the same time.

Tell us a little bit about the team you work with Our trusted team of solicitors offer an extensive and invaluable service to clients dealing with all issues relating to wills, trusts, tax, probate, lasting powers of attorney, and court of protection. Sensitivity and understanding is paramount in the work we undertake for our clients.

Can you give us a recent case study that helps illustrate the kind of work you do? Recently I met with a client who had been diagnosed with the early onset of dementia. The diagnosis had made him determined to plan ahead by granting a lasting power of attorney on his terms whilst he still had capacity to do so. Understandably my client knew he was in control, and it made sense from both a practical and financial point of view to appoint someone he trusted as an attorney before potential problems arose. We see countless situations where clients have not planned like this for the future and see families facing increased financial burden, delay, and heartache attempting to resolve such situations.

DUNCAN KENNEDY PARTNER, QUALITYSOLICITORS J A HUGHES 029 2061 9700; www.qualitysolicitors.com/jahughes

Please tell us a little about J A Hughes. When was it established and what is the company’s background? J A Hughes is both the largest and also oldest solicitors’ practice in the Vale of Glamorgan. The firm was founded by John Arthur Hughes in Barry in 1888 and since that time has grown hugely and now has offices in Barry, Penarth and Cardiff.

Which areas do you specialise in? Wills and probate matters, together with court of protection matters and tax planning issues, advice on care of the elderly and powers of attorney, and continuing health care claims.

When someone dies, can I decline to act as an executor if I am named as such in their will? An executor can choose whether to settle the estate themselves or can appoint a solicitor to act on their behalf. The role can be declined completely if so wished. This is done by signing a formal renunciation. This will not affect their entitlement under the will if they are also named as a beneficiary. A different option is for an executor to have their ‘power reserved’. This means that they would not be involved in the administration but still have the right to step in at a later stage should it become necessary. If the executor declines to act, another beneficiary may need to take on those duties. Similarly, if the administrator under the intestacy rules does not want to administer the estate personally, they can appoint a solicitor to act on their behalf. Duncan Kennedy

Megan Jones

MEGAN JONES ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR AND SOON TO BE PARTNER, QUALITYSOLICITORS J A HUGHES 01446 411000; www.qualitysolicitors.com/jahughes

Why should I make a will? Simply put, everyone should make a will. Without a will it is the state who directs who will inherit your estate following a specific criteria which may result in an undesirable outcome. A will however puts you in control; you control who deals with your estate upon your death by appointing executors, and you control who is to benefit from your estate by naming the beneficiaries.

If you have a partner but are not married, it is essential that you make a will. This is because the law does not automatically recognise partners as having the same rights as spouses or civil partners. In your will you can also appoint guardians for your children and specify how your funeral should be dealt with.

What is a beneficiary to a will? A beneficiary is an individual or organisation who is named in your will and who will receive a benefit from your estate upon your death.

How often should I review my will? We would recommend that you review your will every 4-5 years, or as your circumstances change. A change of circumstances could be marriage, separation, divorce, or the birth of a child. It is important to be mindful of the provisions of your will and update it accordingly.

AFONWY HOWELL-PRYCE HEAD OF PROBATE, WILLS AND TRUSTS ROBERTSONS SOLICITORS 029 2023 7777; www.robsols.co.uk

Tell us a little about your firm Robertsons has been in existence in Cardiff for over 100 years. The firm has gone through various changes during this time, but we’ve always been based in central Cardiff, providing family law services.

When did you join Robertsons? I joined Robertsons in 2018 as the Head of Probate, Wills and Trusts, having previously worked in another central Cardiff law firm following my graduation from Portsmouth University.

What are your specialist fields? My core field is that of estate administration, trusts, wills, and lasting powers of attorney. I’m accredited by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and I also hold an accreditation by Solicitors for the Elderly. In real terms this means that I’m a specialist in family inheritance and succession planning for our clients. Whilst I’m accredited to work with elderly clients, I do actually work with clients of any age!

Who are your main clientele? An inevitability of life is death and so the process of administering an estate or a trust is something that will affect us all. Our clients vary enormously, and include those who have small estates, through to those with a high net worth and others who require trust administration. Our clients are generally from in and around Cardiff and the Vale.

What advice would you give to people who are thinking about using your services? What are the key questions should they ask themselves? There is one key aspect really – what do they want to happen to their assets when they die? Without a will their wishes will not be taken into account. The law of intestacy will take over and those that inherit may not be the ones that the deceased wanted to inherit. It is therefore essential to make a will so that your wishes are taken care of.

Coronavirus: advice for the workforce

Sarah Alford of BERRY SMITH LAWYERS explains...

As public concern around Coronavirus grows, we have seen an increase in queries from individuals asking for advice on how their employers should deal with various employment issues that may arise as a result of the Coronavirus. We therefore set out a list of frequently asked questions in respect of pay. The Coronavirus may result in workplace absences for a number of reasons. 1. Sickness absence for suspected or diagnosed Coronavirus infection Employees will be entitled to the usual sick leave and pay entitlements including statutory sick pay or contractual sick pay, in the event this is provided in the employment contract or within any policies. The Prime Minister has stated that employees will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to help contain coronavirus. 2. Absence for self-isolation There is no right to statutory sick pay if not unfit for work. Despite the above strict legal position, guidance from the independent government body Acas suggests that it is good practice for an employer to treat absence as sick leave and follow the usual sick pay policy or agree for the time to be taken as annual leave. Employers may therefore want to take a flexible approach to the unexpected absences that the virus may cause. If an employee is able to work remotely, they should receive their usual pay. If they are unable to work remotely then, unless there is a contractual right to pay in these circumstances, there is no legal entitlement to pay. The government has made it clear that if NHS 111 or a doctor advises an employee to self-isolate, they’re entitled to statutory sick pay. Entitlement to contractual sick pay would depend on the contractual terms. 3. Absence from work at employer’s request The entitlement to usual pay would continue unless there is a contractual right not to pay. 4. Absence from work due to being scared of risk of infection

Sarah Alford

If the ability to work remotely exists, an employee would be entitled to usual pay. There is no entitlement to pay if an employer requires an employee to come into work and they refuse. 5. Absence for childcare Emergency leave exists to provide employees with a right to reasonable amount of time off work to assist or arrange care for ill dependants (e.g. if a child has the virus), and with unexpected breakdown in care arrangements (e.g. child is quarantined or school is closed). This is unpaid – unless pay is provided in the employer’s contract or policies. ■

For more information please do not hesitate to contact us at 029 2034 5511 or employment@berrysmith.com

Freedom, time, and money: the truth about your retirement

Cardiff’s leading wealth management experts PENGUIN explain why earlier financial planning can help you to lead your best life possible, both right now, and in the future

It is human nature to long for freedom, but in our society freedom has a price tag. In order to live the life you want on your terms, you must become financially free. Pensions are a measure of time and freedom and without financial planning, you can sacrifice far more of both, than you actually need to.

Most of us spend much of our lives at work, trading time for a reasonable standard of living. What if there was a way to have more time and to reach your freedom goals earlier? Are you working out of necessity rather than out of choice?

To many, this seems like a luxury that only the wealthy can afford, but early financial freedom is not simply the preserve of the rich. They are the product of financial planning, some imagination and basic maths. Here at Penguin we help you to explore what your retirement vision looks like and then work out the cost.

For many people, their dreams are more affordable than they had imagined. They have focused on overpaying mortgages, contributing to pensions and have assumed that the state pension retirement age is their own personal cut-off date. In doing so they fall into the ultimate pension trap, they focus on the money and forget time and freedom.

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS To understand your retirement vision, you need to ask the following questions: l What will you do? l Who do you want to be? l Where will you go? l When will you go there? l What else will you do? l Who will you help? l Who will you spend your time with?

In short, do you know how much you need to live the lifestyle you want? Are you financially planning or financially hoping?

If you have the dreams and would like Penguin to do the maths, we can give you back the most precious commodities of all – time and freedom. n

Client story

We met Gwen and Stephen* when they were both 57. They planned to retire at 65 and had eight years of working life ahead of them. Do they sound like you?

l They owned their own home. l They had two grown up children and their first grandchild on the way. l They had accumulated a variety of pensions and investments. l They wanted to travel abroad for 4-6 weeks a year. l They had some bucket list items they want to do – watch a Rugby World Cup abroad as well as walk the Great Wall of China, and visit Fiji. l They want to be around for their grandchild and help with nursery and school runs.

When asked how much money they had accrued, they didn’t really know. When asked how much they needed to enjoy the life they wanted, they didn’t know. They had focused on saving and forgotten time and freedom. After a conversation with Penguin, they were able to put a price on the life they wanted. They retired two years later, just before their 59th birthdays.