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CARDIFFWORKS News, views and inspiring interviews with the region’s professionals
It’s the city’s business
CARDIFFWORKS
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The founder of Cardiff Indie Collective is Rhian Pitt, a small business owner in Cardiff who, a couple of years ago, started Cardiff Gift Exchange on Instagram, which was launched a few days before Black Friday as an alternative for small businesses who couldn’t compete with the chain stores. “We had our own ‘Green Friday’ where we swapped our services and products between us
Indies, unite
Ever feel like you want to support independent shops but don’t know where to go so you nip to the chain stores for ease? Well that needn’t worry you anymore because Cardiff Indie Collective has the answer. The collective of independent businesses around the city has completed a crowdfunder to build a website that will showcase small independents in Cardiff to make shopping locally for gifts, art, homeware, wellbeing and food and drink a doddle.
and discovered some new businesses and made some new friends along the way,” says Rhian. “And Cardiff Indie Collective sort of came from that really. It felt like there were all these self-employed/sole traders – many working from home, with no colleagues, often full of self-doubt about their work or their business – so it felt really important to create a community in which they could feel a part of something and feel supported by others.
Rhian explains, “The crowdfunder had around 40 businesses, including Pettigrew Bakes, Eartha Store, Carta & Wood and Ameow Designs, off ering rewards. We reached above our target so we have enough to build the website, get some loyalty cards printed and do the marketing.
“The website, which will be fi nished in November, will be fi rst and foremost a directory to help people shop locally – it’s Cardiff ’s answer to Amazon! (Got to aim high, right?!). So many people want to shop locally but don’t know where to start so it is a go-to place where they can search through the local indies for what they need, before resorting to chain stores.
“The loyalty card will be able to be used in participating businesses who will each set their own off ers and discounts,” she adds. “Local indies will be holding events and workshops – such as meet the makers and arts trails – for the general public, and there will be events for businesses, such as networking, and workshops to help with marketing, web analytics, tax and all the things we don’t always know when we start a business.”
For more: www.cardiffi ndiecollective.co.uk
ADULT PLAYGROUND
Barry business BRAWD Health has expanded to include outdoor and private container fitness facilities within Goodsheds development. Owner Mark Lloyd, AKA Coach Lloydy who brought beach bootcamps to The Vale, unveiled the new outdoor gym facility on Barry’s waterfront.
“We all know that we should exercise and move more, so bringing fitness into the heart of Goodsheds will make it a more well-rounded experience with the wealth of shops, stop-offs and eateries on offer”, says Mark. “Our beach sessions continue to grow in popularity as people increasingly choose to train outdoors in the fresh air due to Covid restrictions. You’d be amazed by the number of people who join us every week on Barry, in all weathers, and to date we have never had to cancel a session.”
BRAWD Health, which this year celebrates six years in business, has developed the custom all-weather rig alongside Loft Co. Known as The Trên Station, its eight bays are available to hire with or without equipment and will deliver a wide range of diverse classes which will include strength, yoga, kettlebell and suspension training. This cutting-edge facility will also be available for hire for local personal trainers.The classes will be open to members and non-members on a pay-as-you-go basis.
“We are fortunate to have been able to transform a dedicated outdoor space into a training facility with all the equipment needed to get people boot-camp ready,” adds Mark. “In many ways it’s like a playground for adults.”
The second stage of the phased Goodsheds project will involve the launch of The Locker: BRAWD Health’s private container gym facility, opening in September, which houses premium fitness equipment for those wishing to exercise alone or with up to three friends.
For more: www.brawdhealth.com
this image: Go on, lads! Could you ask for a better view while training? inset: The Trên Station’s exercise bays are available to hire
GOOD SPORT
The Bluebirds Charity has launched a new fundraising challenge... Cardiff City FC Foundation launched this season’s Bluebirds Home and Away challenge in mid September. There are two options to choose from: home or away; for the ‘home’ option the charity needs your help to fi ll Cardiff City Stadium. There are 33,334 seats in the bowl, so they want you to complete 33,334 steps, one for each seat, that’s almost 15 miles. You can take steps or climb stairs, it’s up to you, and you can take on the challenge yourself or assemble your team to tackle it together. For the ‘away’ option, while the Bluebirds can’t travel to the away games, you can still support the boys by completing the distance virtually. There are 23 away games to choose from and you can walk, run or cycle – select your squad or challenge yourself to the full distance.
With the championship season set to fi nish on 8 May 2021, aim to complete your challenge during this time. Your involvement will help them continue to support children, young people and families to achieve their full potential, even during the pandemic when the need for some of their services is rising.
It’s free to register, and they ask that you pledge to raise £75 (or £150 if you’re part of a team), then send proof of your completed challenge and they’ll send you an exclusive Cardiff City FC Foundation pin badge and certifi cate. For more: www.cardiff cityfcfoundation.org.uk
Will you support the boys? Presenting all of Cardiff’s fi nest
CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS RETURN
The Cardiff Life Awards are back following the innovative success of this year’s virtual celebrations, with the organisers planning a highly-memorable, unmissable event for 2021 after the recent times following the pandemic. 2019 saw the best Cardiff Life Awards yet: quality nominations, diverse set of fi nalists, excited sponsors and many magic moments. Plus a sold-out attendance of over 450 with plenty on the waiting list. And 2020’s was a massive virtual celebration (see page 55).
The 2021 Awards are already highly supported, with the initial roster of sponsors including Platinum Sponsors Marsh Commercial, and Category Sponsors which include: Cardiff Blues, Cardiff Life, FOR Cardiff , Genero, Hawkins Thomas Wealth Management, Park Plaza, Regus and WSET.
Sponsorships are now available for the new awards season. The awards are backed by a six-month high-profi le, all-channels, integrated media marketing campaign, peaking in March. In 2020, the awards were trending on Twitter in the UK once again, such was the massive interest in congratulating the winners.
The Cardiff Life Awards will be held on 11 March at City Hall, with the all-important nominations opening this November.
MediaClash event organiser Annie Miekus says, “We were thrilled that so many businesses enjoyed the Awards last time round with so much positivity and support from the full array of Cardiff ’s organisations. We understand that 2020 has been tricky for many but there’s been plenty of good done throughout the city and we can’t wait to come together and celebrate all your kindness, collaboration and business achievements next February!”
Information for businesses on How to Win a Cardiff Life Award will be available via the website. “We’re keen for all companies to put the best possible case forward for a Cardiff Life Award. Our comprehensive online top-tips will guide businesses through what the judges are looking for and explaining how the Awards work,” Annie adds.
For sponsorship enquiries, contact Mark George, mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk For more:www.cardiffl ifeawards.co.uk
HEAVY DUTY
Econ Engineering – the UK’s leading manufacturer of gritters, snow clearance and highway maintenance vehicles – has invested more than £2m into a new service hub and parts distribution centre in Cardiff .
From its new base in an industrial park on Brindley Road, the engineering hub will act as a parts distribution centre and will undertake one-off services, as well as scheduled maintenance tasks. For more: www.econ.uk.com
True grit
Employment Law Q&A – Flexible Working Requests
Sarah Alford of BERRY SMITH LAWYERS explains...
Over the past six months many employees have been working from home as a result of the pandemic, which has led to many expressing an interest in working from home on a permanent basis. As employers attempt to bring employees back to the workplace over the coming months it is expected that many will see a rise in the number of flexible working requests.
We set out below some frequently asked questions regarding statutory flexible working requests. Please note that the information set out below may differ where contractual provisions concerning flexible working requests exist.
1. Can all employees ask for flexible working? In order to make a statutory flexible working request, an employee must have at least 26 weeks' continuous service from the date the request is made, and not have made another statutory request in the previous 12 months. 2. Do I need to include any specific information in my flexible working request? Yes, you will need to make the request in writing and set out: ● The date of the request ● Whether you have previously made a fl exible working application and, if so, when ● That it is an application made under the statutory procedure ● Specify the change(s) applied for and the date on which it is proposed it should become effective ● Explain what effect, if any, you think making the change applied for would have on your employer and how, in your opinion, the effect might be dealt with ● If you’re making a request in relation to the Equality Act 2010, for example as a reasonable adjustment for a disability, then this must be stated within the request. 3. Does an employer have to follow a procedure when considering flexible working requests? Yes, the Acas Code sets out a number of recommendations that employers should follow:
Sarah Alford
● A meeting should be arranged to discuss the request as soon as possible; however, if an employer wishes to accept an employee’s request a meeting is not necessary ● Employees should be allowed to be accompanied by a work colleague at any meeting to discuss their request ● The meeting should take place in a suitable private location. ● The employer should consider the benefi ts of an employee’s request against any adverse business impact of implementing the requested changes. ● The employer should inform the employee of its decision in writing within three months from the date on which the employee made their request (or such longer period as the parties may agree). ■
For more information please contact us at 029 2034 5511 or employment@berrysmith.com
Reach the best in the west
A uent, active and infl uential and just a call away We e all in this Together
ISSUE 288 / SEPTEMBER 2020 / HANG ON IN THERE, BRISTOL!
#BristolTogether We’re B AC K , baby!
ISSUE 288 / SEPTEMBER 2020 / £3
CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE
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@CardiffLifeMag
We got locked down. We got up again.
ISSUE 226 / AUTUMN 2020 / EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
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We’ll win if we unite
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC
COME FLY WITH ME Cardiff Airport has confi rmed its CEO Deb Bowen Rees will be stepping down and chief commercial offi cer Spencer Birns has stepped up as Interim CEO. Cardiff Airport chairman, Wayne Harvey says, “I would like to thank Deb on behalf of the whole airport team for her leadership over the past six years. Spencer will be taking over the reins at a very challenging time.” www.cardiff -airport.com HIGH NOTE The UK’s leading contemporary opera company Music Theatre Wales has announced Elayce Ismail as artistic associate to take the lead on their new programme of work called New Directions. The programme sets out to achieve real change for the company, in terms of the diversity of those they work with and commission and for the future of opera. www.musictheatre.wales SCHOOL OF LIFE Cardiff Council has appointed a new director for education and lifelong learning. Melanie Godfrey will join the organisation in November following a handover over from Nick Batchelar who is retiring after more than seven years in post. www.cardiff .gov.uk DRAMATIC NEWS The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) has announced Jonathan Munby as its new director of performance. “The world is changing and so is the industry,” says Jonathan. “I feel it’s time for a radical and progressive look at how a classical training responds to the 21st century.
And Chinonyerem Odimba, the award-winning Bristol-based playwright, screenwriter and poet, has become the college’s fi rst writer-inresidence for the coming academic year. www.rwcmd.ac.uk
Jane Hutt MS, patron of the Credit Unions of Wales joined the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of Cardiff Dan D’Ath to unveil the new fl agship branch in Cardiff
UNION IS STRENGTH
The city’s new Credit Union branch has been unveiled; the member-owned Cardiff & Vale Credit Union has opened a fl agship branch in the heart of the Welsh capital, bringing aff ordable loans and ethical savings to the city centre.
The launch of the new branch in Working Street, just off the Hayes, comes months after Cardiff was named one of the top 10 ‘payday lending hotspots’ in the UK. The study showed a staggering 74,000 payday loans were issued to people in Cardiff , with a collective value of over £17.5 million in just one year.
Chief executive of Cardiff & Vale Credit Union Leanne Herberg urged local people not to fall victim to high-interest lenders and instead access aff ordable loans ethical and ethical savings by using the credit union.
“We know that Cardiff people will be appalled to see our city cited as a high-interest lending hotspot, but most won’t realise that there is something we can all do individually to tackle this,” she says. “Our credit union off ers loans of up to £15,000, including lower value loans which aren’t typically available aff ordably elsewhere. By saving and borrowing with us, everyone can contribute to keeping money in the local economy for the benefi t of Cardiff people.” For more: www.cardiff cu.com
BACK IN BUSINESS
Throughout the Great Pause, we’ve been running free Cardiff Life Business Clubs – panel sessions with stories about how companies and charities are navigating these rough waters where we’re all in the same storm but in diff erent boats #Cardiff Together. And our new Cardiff Life Business Surgeries will provide deep dives into key business areas such as legal, fi nance, tech and digital.
All are available on our new Cardiff Life YouTube channel. Thanks to all who have contributed, for your wisdom and candour: both much appreciated in these unusual times. To be on the invitation list, contact events@mediaclash.co.uk
CARDIFF LIFE BUSINESS CLUB SPEAKERS Adrian Field, FOR Cardiff; Alistair Darby, SA Brains; Andy Eagle, Chapter; Anthony Gruppo, Marsh Commercial; Beth Morris, Beth Morris Workshops; Daniel Rees, Savills; Dave Brown, W2 Construction; Jane Cook, Talk to Jane PR; Juliet Gamlin, Invest in Cardiff; Kasim Ali, Waterloo Tea; Lee Skeet, Bones Entertainment; Linda James, BulliesOut; Rachel Fleri, Specialist Security; and Shumana Palit, Ultracomida Group.
Douglas Knight
The founder of Canton-based beardy business The Gallus Beard Co on making his own beard blends, his favourite indies and his man crushes
Where did the idea for your business come from? I had been making my own beard products for personal use for years as I found it diffi cult to fi nd what I wanted on the high street. I wanted to go natural and organic, so I did my research on carrier oils and their health benefi ts, eventually settling on a blend of sweet almond oil, golden jojoba oil and argan oil. From there it was just a case of experimenting with organic essential oils to fi nd scent profi les I enjoyed.
When did you launch? I had always toyed with the idea of going to market, but, being busy in a full-time job, had never done anything about it. During lockdown, after being furloughed from my job in digital marketing, I suddenly found the time.
Were you put off by how uncertain things were for businesses? Not really. Identifying trends is a big part of my job and I saw how ecommerce, especially during lockdown, would quickly become the most convenient way for people to engage with brands and products – lifestyle, health and beauty even more so because of the lack of access.
So would you say lockdown threw you a silver lining? Well I would never have had the time to start a brand from scratch if it wasn’t for lockdown! It also, defi nitely, provided me with a focus away from what was happening due to Covid.
Where’s the name from? Gallus is a Scottish word for reckless, daring or bold. I’m a proud Scotsman but I’ve been in Cardiff for 20 years so it feels like home.
How are your products made? They are all organic and handmade here in Cardiff . I make them at home, in small batches. The beard oils are vegan and, over the coming months, I have plans to expand our range to beard wash, butters, accessories and merchandise.
In the public eye, whose beards do you admire most? One of the great things about beards is that they’re so versatile. You’ve got the opportunity to freely experiment and, if it’s a disaster, shave it off and start again. So it’s no surprise that, over the last few years, most male celebrities
have rocked a beard at one time or another. Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Momoa and Ryan Reynolds’ beards are always on point. Closer to home, you’ve got sportsmen like Joe Ledley and Jake Ball who are really fl ying the fl ag for big beards! A special mention needs to go to Tom Hardy just for being Tom Hardy.
Current beard trends? The big lockdown beard! Those of us who went without access to our barbers for months will, I’m sure, back me up.
What things do you love most about Cardiff? Its sense of itself. Cardiff is a completely diff erent place now than it was 20 years ago when I moved here. Back then it was still trying to fi nd its identity after the closure of heavy industry. Now it’s got a thriving arts culture, is a media hotspot and has some of the best independent stores and restaurants in the whole of the UK. The street food scene in particular is doing some really exciting things.
What are your favourite independent businesses? I’m a big fan of Capello – that’s where I go when I need a beard trim. Keep the Faith Social Club and SWYD are brilliant, too. I’m also loving the organic T shirts from Rhinwedd at the moment, and, as I’m a huge coff ee nut I’ve got to give a mention to Hard Lines Coff ee in Canton.
Why should we all be supporting the independents? Because we need to. Independent stores are able to off er amazing creativity, quality of produce and a real sense of contribution to a community. You just don’t get that with big high street stores.
www.gallusbeard.com
