Swansea Bay Business Life August/September 2016

SWANSEA BAY

August/September 2016

Issue 43

BUSINESS LIFE www.swanseabaybusiness.com

COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE REGION’S DYNAMIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY

ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILiTY WIND FARMS, BROWNFIELD SITES AND THE TIDAL LAGOON...plus our fast track 25 revealed

PEMBROKESHIRE

Shane Cover.indd 1

CARMARTHENSHIRE

SWANSEA

NEATH PORT TALBOT

7/26/2016 3:11:59 PM

More than just your average recruitment company We understand that placing people in the right jobs leads to career satisfaction for employees, and excellent workforce performance for employers.

People are at the heart of our business.

Our personnel are highly experienced and understand how best to help individuals looking to progress.

We take the time to understand companies, their business objectives and how the right people in the right role can unlock growth and success.

More than just your average recruitment agency Pharmaceutical & Medical device | Automotive & Engineering | Production & Warehousing | Legal Administration & Finance | Contact Centre | Construction & Technical | Catering & Hospitality

CENTRIC RECRUITMENT Suite 3 J-Shed, Kings Road, Swansea, SA1 8PL Tel: 01792 344005 www.centricrecruitment.co.uk

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Editor’s Letter SWANSEA BAY

August/September 2016

Issue 43

BUSINESS LIFE www.swanseabaybusiness.com

COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE REGION’S DYNAMIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY

ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILiTY WIND FARMS, BROWNFIELD SITES AND THE TIDAL LAGOON...plus our fast track 25 revealed

PEMBROKESHIRE

CARMARTHENSHIRE

SWANSEA

NEATH PORT TALBOT

Swansea Bay Business Life 220 High Street, Urban Village, Swansea, SA1 1NW @SwanBayBusiness www.swanseabaybusiness.com

Publisher South West Wales Media

Editor Chris Campbell @Citizen_Chris • 01792 545 564 chris.campbell@swwmedia.co.uk

Powering through uncertainty…

Contributors Tommy Davies, Chris Olchawski, Ted Sangster, Emlyn Dole, Lawrence Bailey, Dave Kieft, Ian Price, Rosie Sweetman, Adam Curtis

Design & Production - Alistair Corbett - SWWMedia Creative Studio

Photography SWWMedia Photographic Team

Publisher Lisa Cameron lisa.cameron@swwmedia.co.uk

Advertising Manager Debbie Roberts 01792 545 626 debbie.roberts@swwmedia.co.uk

Head of Business Zena Laws 01792 545 585 zena.laws@swwmedia.co.uk

Subscription homedelivery@localworld.co.uk 03337778004

The construction of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon could leave a lasting legacy in our region.

Many have expressed concern that little has been voiced on the £1.3 billion project in recent months.

It’s a vision so big that it would be a world first and could lead to major benefits for jobs, the environment and visitor numbers here in South West Wales.

But will it happen? With Charles Hendry’s review findings on tidal lagoon energy due this autumn, we speak to the project’s new star backer, Wales rugby legend Shane Williams about why it must go ahead.

Our Big Interview – Debra Williams of Careers Wales - also touches on the tidal lagoon as she discusses potential opportunities at a time of uncertainty. There are 12,000 jobs in energy and environment in Swansea and she talks up the sector’s importance as the UK moves forward with Brexit negotiations.

It has been approved by Welsh Government and is big news for the region.

Cardiff Airport is also celebrating being named the UK’s fastest growing airport. We include an interview with chairman Roger Lewis on how it can continue to thrive and attract heroes like the Wales national football team - after 13 months of consecutive growth.

Also inside, we highlight the work of a family housebuilder specialising in re-purposing brownfield sites, as well as news of the first farmed truffle in Wales, which has drawn the praise of a certain Michelin-starred chef in Pembrokeshire.

Last, but certainly not least, we are proud to reveal the 2016 class of Fast Track 25. The invitation-only club is now in its third year and highlights the most promising companies in the region. Find out more about them in this edition.

Meanwhile, plans for Swansea’s first ever large scale onshore wind farm have been given the go ahead, much to the delight of renewable energy developer RWE Innogy UK. The project could attract £52 million of investment and would include 16 turbines.

Chris Campbell

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Editor

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25

14 Contents In Focus 07 Debra Williams Hitting new notes 14 Turning the tide Shane Williams backs tidal lagoon

Start ups 28 Yachtsman on firm land Entrepreneur sets up fabric company 32 Looking after your locks 28-year-old pushes shampoo for festivals

Our region 38 First farmed truffle Chef celebrates food discovery

07

52 Heart of global industry Neath Port Talbot’s future prosperity

Finance

64 Flying high How fastest-growing airport can thrive

Our columnists...

Tommy Davies

Juliet Luporini

Lawrence Bailey

Phil Jones

Entrepreneur with businesses in telecoms, marketing and heavy industry

Chairwoman of Swansea BID

Owner of Whiterock Consulting

Director of the Prince’s Trust Cymru

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126

52

Workforce 82

Award wins for duo Hard-working pair celebrate gongs

84

Slaying dragons TV spotlight shines on van firm

Property & Construction 100 Experts in brownfield Siblings make use of land knowledge 106 Major sites exceed ÂŁ2m Bill to regenerate city development grows

Technlogy & Communication 126 Tapping into talent Clean tech specialists gain from student expertise

100

131 Robot aids pharmacy Staff receive help with prescription checks

Networking 146 Women’s networking lunch RWE Innogy UK hosts special guests 164 Dates for your diary Events being held across the region

Emlyn Dole

Ted Sangster

Dave Kieft

Adam Curtis

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council

Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Business Panel

President of the ECA and ECA Wales spokesperson

CEO of Hoowla and MD of Clockwork Bear

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DEBRA WILLIAMS

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Hitting new notes Celebrated businesswoman Debra Williams, who was born in Neath, met with BUSINESS LIFE to outline how the region can make the most of its energy sector and a Brexit vote...

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THE TIDAL LAGOON IS A REALLY EXCITING, WONDERFUL PROJECT AND WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS IT’S THE FIRST.

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The Big Interview

In Focus

Uncertainty may make life tougher for business in the Swansea Bay region but the tidal lagoon and energy sector will put it on the map despite Brexit.

So says Careers Wales chairwoman and former Confused.com director Debra Williams, over coffee in one of her favourite chains, Starbucks at the Village Hotel Club, Swansea.

Neath-born Williams, who has a passion for music and strove to be a professional, has experience with the markets and doesn’t believe we should be on a different hymn sheet to the European Union.

“I’m concerned for the whole of the UK because it’s the unknown factor,” the former CEO of Tesco Compare said.

“Being in the EU is not perfect, there were changes we needed to make and negotiations that we needed to have. I think we could have been stronger maybe in some areas. However, being outside is just an unknown quantity and to see the turmoil that we’ve experienced in the political scene and economic scene in the last few weeks has been quite disturbing.

“Business likes to be predictable as much as it possibly can. Having worked in the markets with plcs and having gone to the markets twice a year to give results you learn very quickly that they don’t appreciate overestimation, they don’t appreciate too much underestimation either, they really do like the economy to know where it’s about.

“The UK will now have the cheapest corporation tax in the whole of Europe.

That makes us potentially more attractive

for inward investment, which is a positive thing for the UK, but we’ve now set ourselves up in direct competition with the rest of Europe all of a sudden. How favourably are they going to look on that. Have we now put ourselves in the unenviable position of actually alienating ourselves in some way and is this a prediction of how things are going to go in the next couple of years.

“My fears are the South Wales region relies so heavily on European funding.

Will it all be replaced by UK government?

We would like to hope so, but I doubt it very much.”

There are 12,000 jobs in the energy and environment industry in Swansea - according to a Careers Wales report making it the second highest employer in the industry in Wales, behind Cardiff.

The spotlight on energy and environment reveals one in ten of the total Welsh workforce is employed by the industry, which is a key growth sector generating £1 billion a year for the Welsh economy.

Williams highlighted Innovate UK’s estimation that the global market in future energy systems will be worth around £1.5 trillion by 2050 and that the Swansea Bay region should have its fair share of that.

“Wales consumes twice as much energy as it produces, so when you think about that statistic, then yes, why are we surprised when we have this amount of

people working in this particular sector,” she said.

“But it’s not a sector that has really had a lot of focus and attention and it certainly needs an awful lot more.

“The tidal lagoon is a really exciting, wonderful project and what we have to remember is it’s the first, so it would really put Swansea on the map, but it would put Wales on the map because it would be the prototype effectively to other lagoons then around the UK. “So I don’t think we can underestimate not just the job creation and the supply chain locally that it would create, but also the kudos that this part of the world would get from being the first and leading the world in this type of technology and innovation.

“It’s come so close to having it rubberstamped that it would be really annoying and frustrating if it didn’t go ahead. I’m sure it’s sitting on someone’s desk in Westminster but there’s so much else going on at the moment that it’s probably gone to the bottom of the pile unfortunately. But we need it, in this region, we absolutely need it.”

As well as further job creation in the energy and environment sector, the type of employment in the region is increasingly evolving.

Williams added: “Tata Steel is getting all the headlines at the moment because it

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In Focus

The Big Interview

has such an impact on Port Talbot and the surrounding area.

“But we have to remember that we’re losing jobs in the Metalbox in Neath, Crown (Packaging) has lost significant jobs.

“So it’s worrying times and if we look at our Swansea Bay region in particular, years ago when I was growing up it was very heavily manufacturing and industrial and that’s changed dramatically now, so yes we have these very large - we have Ford and Tata - and large foreign companies, which is great, but the GVA in the Swansea Bay region is not good. It’s well below the average in Wales, it’s well below the average in the UK and that’s worrying.

WHAT WE NEED IS HIGHER SKILLED, HIGHER PAID JOBS IN THIS REGION AND THE ECONOMY AT THE MOMENT DOESN’T LEND ITSELF TO THAT, IT TENDS TO BE THE LOWER PAID, LESS SKILLED WORK THAT’S AVAILABLE.

“What we need is higher skilled, higher paid jobs in this region and the economy at the moment doesn’t lend itself to that, it tends to be the lower paid, less skilled work that’s available.”

She added employment figures showed the population of the Swansea Bay region was 688,000 and there were 302,000 jobs and 22,000 businesses.

“The issue is although we have 22,000 businesses, many of those are smaller businesses and we have some medium companies also, which is positive, but what we don’t have are those big, head office type infrastructure companies here and that’s really what we need to have sustainability,” she said.

The singer, pianist and oboist lived in Neath until her early 20s when she went to work in London.

Her ambition growing up was to be a music teacher and she went through her grades on more than one instrument.

Williams said a passion for classical music and rugby - she later became a director at the Ospreys - put her in good stead when meeting other business people around the world and helped the conversation flow. She read music at Cardiff University and before that was a member of the West Glamorgan youth orchestra and choir, performing at venues including the Brangwyn Hall.

Her mother - also musical - was a dinner lady in a school and her father worked for 30 years at BP in Llandarcy.

Williams was celebrated as one of the top 200 businesswomen in the UK by Her Majesty the Queen in 2007. She was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Bay Business Life magazine’s Women in Business Awards in 2014. Other achievements include being honoured with a doctorate from Swansea University in 2015.

Her first job was with the NatWest group, joining its leasing hub Lombard. She saw this as the equivalent of completing an apprenticeship.

She said: “What I learned from them was how to understand risk, how to assess risk and also, I was very fortunate in having a great manager and he taught me very much to be able to make a decision and to stand by that decision. I had to make decisions on whether we would lend people money based on their business, looking at their business plans, how to assess the business plan and then also some of them go wrong.

“Even the best decisions we made went wrong. So to be able to stand by the courage of your conviction and to justify the decision you made at the time, those were really valuable lessons that I took on to business.”

Williams was also global vice president at American consumer transaction technologies firm NCR Ltd. She was living in London, while heading up the data warehousing division. She managed 30 sales teams in 30 countries, while her IT team was in California and her

DEBRA WILLIAMS at a glance Chairwoman of Careers Wales Trustee at Alacrity Foundation NDE on ABMU Health Board Former MD of Confused.com, CEO of Tesco Compare and global vice president of NCR Ltd Named as one of the top 200 businesswomen in the UK by Her Majesty the Queen in 2007 Presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Bay Business Life magazine’s Women in Business Awards in 2014 Honoured with a doctorate from Swansea University in 2015

marketing staff were in Sydney. Williams said she spent six years of her life in airports. “That was an amazing challenge and opportunity,” she said. “It was the days before conference calls were really as sophisticated as they are now. So it did mean an awful lot of face to face travel.

There were some countries unfortunately I was unable to work in because I am female. There were some countries that found it difficult to accept a western woman in a very senior position working for an American company. But most countries were very welcoming and it was a wonderful experience.

“Today maybe it’s less obvious or there are less of those jobs around today, because communication has come so far with technology.”

Williams holds many people she has worked for in high regard. One of her role models, who she hasn’t worked for but is proud to have met, is business magnate Sir Richard Branson, particularly for his versatility.

Despite having no medical training, she is a non-executive director at the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. It has involved her spending time with Wales Air Ambulance and in Morriston Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

Williams is also a trustee at the post graduate business course provider Alacrity Foundation. She works closely with its chairman and founder Simon Gibson, who is chief executive of the Wesley Clover Corporation, as well as Sir Terry Matthews, chairman of the Swansea Bay City Region Board.

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In Focus

Industry Insight With Peter Lynn

Senior Partner at Peter Lynn and Partners

Legal specialists in renewable energy...

In recent years, the quest for sustainability has developed a wide range of business in the renewable energy sector.

Large-scale developments such as solar farms, waste-to-energy plants as well as on-shore and offshore wind farms have revolutionised the creation of energy.

At the same time, these developments have also seen an increase in the demand for specialist legal advice.

Peter Lynn, Senior Partner at Peter Lynn and Partners commented, “We have been successfully working in this sector for a number of years. With experience of advising on mutli-million pound deals, identifying investors and representing local communities, we seek to get the best result, no matter who the client is”.

With the experience and ability to represent all parties involved to a successful conclusion, the services offered by the leading South Wales law firm fall in to two categories:

Structuring Developments

For those looking to develop or grow a business, we can help with: • Registering intellectual property • Identifying sources of finance • Structuring SPV’s and JV’s • Obtain licenses and leases • Identify and negotiate on property acquisitions • Develop and issue change of use applications

Local Residents and Communities

We have successfully acted for a variety of parties in dispute situations involving: • Wind farms • Solar Farms • Landfill sites • Waste-energy production • Access for construction vehicles • Right of Way changes Mr Lynn commented “Our team are on hand to help and are available for an initial discussion to outline ideas and proposals no matter what the size of the development”.

To arrange an initial consultation, contact Peter Lynn and Partners on 01792 450010.

Peter Lynn & Partners 2nd Floor, Langdon House Langdon Road Swansea SA1 8QY Tel: 01792 450010 Fax: 01792 462881 DX number: 56768 Peter Lynn

info@peterlynnandpartners.co.uk

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advertising feature

Green light for major 52m renewable project in Swansea Swansea could soon host its first large scale wind farm. Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm, located on Common Land around 15 kilometres north of the city centre, recently received the final consent required to start construction.

This project would not only bring environmental benefits but also economic benefits too. Once operational, the 16 turbine wind farm could generate enough renewable energy to meet the equivalent needs of approximately 24,700 average UK homes*. Renewable energy projects like Mynydd y Gwair are key to helping tackle the huge risk posed by climate change and aligns with Welsh Government’s plans for generating low cost, low carbon energy.

The project also means a potential £52 million investment and the company behind the project, RWE Innogy UK, are keen to work with local suppliers where possible to maximise the local opportunities.

This has already been demonstrated at a recent Business Breakfast event hosted

by RWE Innogy UK on 22nd July. Working with Construction Futures Wales, RWE Innogy UK hosted a supply chain event at

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Swansea’s National Waterfront Museum to explain the tendering and procurement process. Over 120 local delegates attended to find out how they could win business and get involved in the wind farm’s construction.

RWE Innogy UK development manager Gwenllian Elias said: “The Welsh Government has given us the green light to construct Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm and we have a local supply chain showing huge enthusiasm to work with us on the project. We are keen to do just that and engage local business where possible.”

An independent study by Regeneris, reported that Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm could create up to 104 full time equivalent jobs on average during each year of its construction, and deliver £8.5million to the local economies of South and South West Wales.

“As a company, we try to go that extra mile to ensure that not only are our projects beneficial in the global context of helping tackle climate change, but that they also resonate strongly locally, too. The team is based locally here in South Wales. We know the area, some of us are from the area and really care about it. We are proud members of Low Carbon Swansea and we have a proposed community investment fund of up to £240,000 per year.”

RWE Innogy UK development manager Gwenllian Elias

7/29/2016 9:10:38 AM

“The Welsh Government has given us the green light to construct Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm and we have a local supply chain showing huge enthusiasm to work with us on the project. We are keen to do just that and engage local business where possible.”

RWE Innogy UK development manager Gwenllian Elias

Ongoing operations and maintenance could account for a further 19 full time equivalent jobs and an additional £1.2million annually into the Welsh economy, of which 8 full time equivalent jobs and £0.6million could be in South and South West Wales.

Gwenllian said: “As a company, we try to go that extra mile to ensure that not only are our projects beneficial in the global context of helping tackle climate change, but that they also resonate strongly locally, too.

The team is based locally here in South

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Wales. We know the area, some of us are from the area and really care about it.

We are proud members of Low Carbon Swansea and we have a proposed community investment fund of up to £240,000 per year.”

Mynydd y Gwair’s Community Investment Fund of up to £240,000 annually, is a voluntary contribution by RWE, and will become available once the wind farm is operational. This independently administered fund aims to prioritise and support sustained community growth, and addresses the communities most important needs. This investment also has the potential to secure match-funds from other sources and so could be worth far more in the long run.

The construction of Mynydd y Gwair wind farm comes at an exciting time for the region and complements Swansea’s vision for the future. With the development of Swansea Bay City Region and the progress of the City Deal: renewable energy could be at the heart of what this

region can offer. With an abundance of natural resources, a local supply chain which already has experience in the renewables industry, and local colleges and universities developing talent and conducting world class research, Swansea could benefit greatly from positioning itself as a renewables hub.

www.rweinnogy.com/uk

7/29/2016 9:10:45 AM

Will the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon happen and, if so, when? BUSINESS LIFE met the firm behind the project and a new star supporter...

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Turning the tide

In Focus

Wales winger Shane Williams has a history of winning challenges and is now throwing his weight behind one of the biggest renewable projects the region has ever seen.

If it goes ahead, the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - a world first - could transform the Swansea Bay region forever contributing to years of employment, investment, visitor numbers and sports facilities.

Williams, who loves to tackle scepticism and is a director at Pontardawe-based Star Multifuels, said it would put South West Wales on the map.

“For the Swansea Bay area, I think it’s a fantastic opportunity,” he said. “It makes perfect sense for existing businesses in the area and also with the construction set up of it all, it’s going to bring jobs to the area and also involve other businesses in the key chain supply of what’s going to happen here.

“With what’s been happening in Wales of late, the uncertainty of Port Talbot and the steelworks there, it’s just a great opportunity to get the Swansea Bay area back on the map again. It’s a no-brainer for me.

“If they have a facility like this where we’re going to have 120 years of clean renewable energy it’s obviously a massive bonus for the country. Of course, keeping the environment green is a massive part of what we want.

“There are so many positives that are going to come from this in the environmental sense and business sense that it’s something I’d love to be involved with from start to finish.”

As well as ensuring a cleaner economy the rugby star says it will draw more visitors - independent reports put it at over a hundred thousand per year - to the area due to its proposed sporting provision, which include national triathlon and water sports facilities.

Williams, who grew up in Glanamman, focuses on keeping fit and has the Swansea Half Marathon, Ironman Wales, London Marathon, Swansea Triathalon, among other events, under his belt.

He also hopes his company, which has been going for five years and delivers home heating oil and diesel throughout the region and further afield can contribute to the work.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to in the area that’s going to be affected business or job wise is massively positive about the project and it’s not only the businesses and the jobs that are here at the moment but it’s the jobs and the companies that are going to be involved in the construction of the whole project,” he said. “There’s going swanseabaybusiness.com 15

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to be some investment here, a lot of job vacancies coming up within the construction of the whole development and of course afterwards.

“That’s why my business hopefully can be a huge part of the supply chain and it’s a massive boost for the economy in Wales and businesses locally within the area.

“I am optimistic, I know the people who have been behind the set up and the planning of the lagoon and a lot of hard work has been put behind the scenes, a lot of time and effort and from the people I’ve spoken to it’s only positive things that I’m hearing about the project and what it’s going to bring to the Swansea Bay area.

“Hopefully I can get involved in some capacity and make that happen.”

Star Multifuels has a domestic client base of more than 3,500 people. The company distributes to businesses and councils too, including Neath Port Talbot Council and Swansea Council contracts that combined are worth more than £4.5 million. Williams wants to commit to a greener more sustainable Swansea Bay region.

He said: “Anyone you speak to in the area in a business sense or the general public, one of the main things on the agenda is sustainability and Wales looking after itself as far as the power supply and energy supply is concerned, it’s huge.

“I don’t put my name to things I don’t think, first of all, are going to work or aren’t a good idea and that’s one of the reasons I think the tidal lagoon will be fantastic for the Swansea Bay area and Wales and I’m here to back it and hopefully get things moving on as soon as possible.”

Ioan Jenkins, development director for Swansea Bay and Colwyn Bay at Tidal Lagoon Power, said he was confident site set up would begin in October 2017 and marine works would start February 2018, powering up to the grid in 2023.

Charles Hendry’s review into the lagoon is due to be complete this autumn when a recommendation will be made.

The former Minister of State for Energy is looking into whether the £1.3 billion Swansea project can lead to greater economic benefit. Tidal Lagoon Power wants the Swansea Bay project to kick-start the construction of larger lagoons off

Cardiff, Newport and at Colwyn Bay, plus two in England.

Jenkins, also from Glanamman and who lived close to Williams’ grandparents, said: “As a company we’re just about ready to go. We’ve got the majority now of the preferred bidders in place.”

He said the aim was to spend half of the £1.3 billion the project costs in Wales, and 65 per cent of the total within the UK. He said the company had been working “extensively” over the last couple of years with the Wales Tidal Lagoon Industry Group, chaired

by Roger Evans, managing director of Schaeffler (UK), and more recently Welsh Government to understand the labour requirements in terms of construction, manufacturing and assembly. The firm wants to make and assemble the turbines within the Swansea Bay region - 16 for Swansea, 108 for Cardiff and 120 for Colwyn Bay. Jenkins, who was in the mining industry for 17 years, added Swansea was “very much the start” and Cardiff - which could cost around £8 billion would start in around four years.

“One of the challenges we’re facing as a region is just across the water at Tata,” he said. “Lots of

THERE ARE SO MANY POSITIVES THAT ARE GOING TO COME FROM THIS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SENSE AND BUSINESS SENSE THAT IT’S SOMETHING I’D LOVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH FROM START TO FINISH. - Shane Williams

Artist impression of the Tidal Lagoon

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Turning the tide

Leader of Swansea council Rob Stewart, Shane Williams, and Ioan Jenkins Wales Development Director at Tidal Lagoon Power

uncertainty around those in Tata. We know that some of those companies who would have been a part of our supply chain have unfortunately gone into administration and what’s really frustrating about that is that those people that are losing their work could have come into this supply chain if we would have hit our original target of starting to build this last year and the reason we didn’t achieve that was because effectively we hadn’t had the marine license and we hadn’t had that CFD from UK Government.

“Last year we were ready to build, so the frustration in that context for the region is that those people who have been affected negatively by Tata, for example, could’ve come into this supply chain that we’re looking to develop in the UK but based here in the Swansea Bay City Region.”

He said by this November everything should be in place including findings from the Hendry Review, negotiations with UK Government about the CFD and the marine license from Natural Resources Wales, allowing finances to be sorted by next summer and work on site to start that October.

Tidal Lagoon Power and the Chinese firm wanting to build the lagoon seawall went their separate ways earlier this year.

China Harbour Engineering Company was the preferred bidder for the marine works contract, but Tidal Lagoon Power is now looking for another partner citing it did not believe CHEC offered best value for money. Jenkins said there had been global interest for the £320 million package.

He added the firm had more than a thousand companies on its database wanting to be

part of the project.

He said: “One of my personal drivers is to bring that pride and confidence back to our locality, bring back the economic benefits and employ thousands and thousands and thousands of local people as we did in the coal industry and the steel industry.

“What this new industry will give us is a platform for next generations. To give them a future and a career and, for those who want to travel away to find work that’s fabulous, but it will give young people choices and if they want to stay locally, then they can.

“Like coal, like steel, there are opportunities for generations to come.

“None of this happens without Swansea.”

Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said the project was “on the cusp” of proceeding and would help with energy targets over the next decade.

“What we need is for Charles Hendry and the Government to come back with a decision as quickly as possible, before November if possible, so that we can crack on,” he said.

“We’re talking to Tidal Lagoon about potentially becoming a customer of theirs post construction because what Tidal Lagoon are doing is bringing forward renewable, reliable energy, clean energy for 100 years or more and as a region we want to become entirely energy self sufficient by 2025.

“Now if we can get all of that energy from renewable sources that would be fantastic and if we can do the right deal, which gives good value for taxpayers in Swansea but also gives them all of the ecological benefits then that’s a fantastic way forward.”

Key statistics • A new independent study, commissioned by the Welsh Government, has estimated that 2,232 workers would be needed to manufacture and build the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. This figure is higher than the 1,900 put forward by Tidal Lagoon Power.

• At 320MW installed capacity, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon will be the largest marine energy development in the world • A £1.3 billion infrastructure project developed by Tidal Lagoon Power Limited, it will have an entirely predictable 495GWh output each year of clean, green electricity • The lagoon will power more than 155,000 homes for 120 years – that’s about 11 per cent of Wales’ domestic electricity • A development consent order was awarded in June 2015 (planning permission). In February 2016, the Government launched an independent review in to tidal lagoons. CFD negotiations are ongoing.

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In Focus

Industry Insight with Professor Medwin Hughes, DL Vice-Chancellor University of Wales Trinity Saint David & University of Wales

Celebrating our professional networks This summer the University of Wales Trinity Saint David celebrated the success of its students across the region at 14 graduation ceremonies held in Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea.

The ceremonies were an opportunity for the university community, families, friends and supporters to come together to celebrate the achievement of a new cohort of graduates, many of whom have already secured employment within the region.

It was also an opportunity for us to acknowledge the role of our professional partners in delivering our mission of transforming education; transforming lives. Together we are crafting a new narrative for the delivery of higher education in Wales. Through our collaboration with the public and private sectors, we are developing a new way of working. Our provision is co-authored with the professions to ensure that our graduates are fully equipped to meet employers’ current and future needs.

Such major investment as the Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter and Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen are part of the transformation agenda that aims to assist the university in fulfilling its core mission of improving access to higher education and skills development that is relevant to local communities and employers, enhances graduate employability, and enables UWTSD to reach its potential of contributing to the economic regeneration of the Swansea Bay City Region and Wales.

During the ceremonies, I was delighted to confer the role of Professors of Practice upon key individuals who enable the university to work with partners with specific expertise related to our strategic aims.

The role of Professor of Practice were conferred upon: Dr Rhydian Harries, head of domain safety, weapons division, QinetiQ - a company of scientists and engineers essential to sovereign capability - who

worked with us to design the first test range engineering portfolio of programmes in Europe and only the second such set of programmes outside of North America.

Williams of the university’s Swansea College of Art has led to award-winning work in which science meets art to discuss taboo medical subject matters in an open and transparent way.

Dr Richard Granville, technical manager at Oceaneering, a global oilfield provider of engineered services and products.

Finally, Dennis O’Neill was made a Professor of Practice at the university’s Lampeter ceremony. A world renowned tenor, Mr O’Neill is director of the university’s Wales International Academy of Voice which provides a highly specialised and unique environment for a small number of exceptional singers at the early-professional stage, selected and recruited globally, to develop and polish their talent to the highest professional standards.

Ian Cooper, technology fellow in Advanced NDT at the TWI Technology Centre (Wales). Both Richard and Ian’s extensive applied research experience in non-destructive testing assists the university’s research work into this niche area.

Wendy Deering, head of workforce and organisational development at NHS Wales Informatics Service and chair of BCS ASSIST. NWIS, one of the university’s first co-location partners in the Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter, delivers the national information and technology needed for modern patient care. The partnership has led to the development of the Wales Institute of Informatics which aims to develop a number of initiatives which will have a national impact on health data management.

Each of these individuals can enhance our access to a range of defined skills to support academic delivery and build upon our rapidly improving reputation for delivering graduate skills in the context of employability, sustainability and workrelated education and training. We look forward to our future collaboration.

Professor Andrew Harrison, a specialist and independent consultant in Learning Environment. He is the Founder of Spaces that Work and is working with the University in developing new real estate models for the Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter.

Jen Wilson, director of Jazz Heritage Wales, who has over 50 years’ experience and an international reputation as a performer, band leader and deliverer of community arts projects who has promoted the university and whose work is linked to its research portfolio.

Dr Nicholas Ossei-Gerning, who is a consultant interventional cardiologist, who has established several programmes in complex coronary interventions.

An innovative collaboration between Dr Ossei-Gerning and Professor Sue

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DATBLYGU BUSNES AC ARLOESI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION Mae Grŵp Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant yn sefydliad sector deuol sy’n cynnwys Coleg Sir Gâr a Choleg Ceredigion. Gan adeiladu ar ein enw da am gefnogi busnes, mae Timoedd Datblygu Busnes ac Arloesedd y Grŵp yn darparu mynediad i rychwant o wasanaethau i’r sector busnes yn cynnwys: • Dewis o brosiectau ar y cyd â diwydiant • Mynediad i Ganolfannau Arbenigedd • Ymgynghoriaeth a chefnogaeth er mwyn da trys problemau penodol • Partneriaethau Trosglwyddo Gwybodaeth (KTPs) • Cefnogaeth ymarferol gan raddedigion a my fyrwyr • Cefnogaeth i ddenu arian grant • Hyfforddiant a Datblygiad • Cyfleoedd i ymwneud a’n datblygiad newydd i adeiladu Ardal Arloesi’r Glannau yn SA1 Aber tawe a Chanolfan S4C Yr Egin yng Nghaerfyrddin.

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Group is a dual sector organisation comprising the University, Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion. Building on our long established reputation for supporting businesses, the UWTSD Group’s Business Development and Innovation Teams aim to provide access to a wide range of services to the business sector including: • A range of collaborative projects with industry • Access to our Centres of Expertise • Consultancy and support to help solve specific problems • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) • Practical support from graduates and students • Support in attracting grant funding • Training and Development • Opportunities to engage with our new Water front Innovation Quarter in SA1 Swansea and Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

Manylion pellach / Further Information: www.uwtsd.ac.uk/for-business 0300 323 0013 Untitled-1 1

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In Focus

Swansea Bay Fast Track 25

SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE

SWANSEA BAY FASTTRACK 25 In association with

Unveiling our Fast Track 25: the class of 2016 Now in its third year, the Fast Track 25 aims to identity, nurture and champion the most ambitious and fast growing companies in the area. Its latest meeting, at which the Class of 2016 was revealed, was held at the Swansea Marriott Hotel.

Seventy five of Swansea’s most ambitious and fast growing companies gathered in the region for the first meeting of the South Wales Evening Post and Swansea Bay Business Life’s Swansea Bay Fast Track 25 business club.

The invitation-only club, sponsored

by Santander and Bevan and Buckland, celebrates and nurtures the area’s most promising businesses. Each year, 25 new members are added.

They are chosen by a panel of whose aim is to single out the most ambitious and fast growing companies in the region.

Membership of the club is free of charge and the benefits of membership include round table discussions, business lunches, networking opportunities, awards and talks.

Opening the session, at the Swansea Marriott Hotel in June, editor Jonathan Roberts thanked the club’s sponsors, Santander and Bevan and Buckland.

“The Fast Track 25 is Swansea’s most elite business club,” he said.

Harri Lloyd-Davies, a partner with sponsors Bevan and Buckland, said that his

firm was delighted to be sponsoring the Fast Track 25. He also shared some valuable tips on tax and accountancy with the audience.

The guest speaker at the event was Robert Jones MBE, the former Wales and British Lions scrumhalf, who is now a regional director of Swansea-based Thomas Carroll Group.

Jones gave some of his personal story and also explored how success on the rugby pitch had helped him achieve much on the very different playing field of business.

He said that he had the ambition to succeed in sport from a young age but an early mentor helped him embrace what he called the three Ds in attitude: desire, determination and discipline. He also described how having a positive mental attitude can help at times of adversity – in sport this might be when injured or being dropped; in business, other challenges emerge.

He recalled the first time he was dropped

by Wales. “I could have sulked and been a disruptive influence,” he said. “Instead, I just trained harder and worked at my game.

That attitude has served me very well throughout life, but especially in business.”

He talked at length about the concept of leadership and how good leaders were able to set out a vision, create the right environment for it to be achieved and win the hearts and minds of individuals to help them achieve that.

He also stressed the importance of teamwork in any environment, noting the motto of the Wales football squad flying high in the Euros at the time: Together Stronger. “The spirit of the team is more important than the talents of one or two players,” he said. “Great leaders build an environment where people want to work for each other.”

He stressed the importance of never stagnating and always evolving, be it in business or sport.“What works now will not work forever so you need to be constantly looking for new ideas,” he added. “Great leaders always change things, often in subtle ways, but in ways that can make a big and positive difference.”

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FASTTRACK PROFILES...

1. Oceaneering Asset Integrity Oceaneering Asset Integrity is part of USheadquartered Oceaneering International.

The specialist facility provides advanced non-destructive testing services for the oil, gas, energy and construction industries.

In June 2015, the company unveiled a new validation and competency centre – supported through the Welsh Government Economic Growth Fund, which is a centre of excellence in its field. The new base doubled the size of the Swansea facility and was part of an investment that also includes a new facility currently under construction in Pembrokeshire.

2. GD Harries A family-run haulage business, GD Harries was established by Gerald Harries in 1977 and is now managed by his son Ian. With Ian’s vision and determination, the business has developed and grown to become one of the largest producers of quarried aggregates in West Wales. GD Harries acquired its first quarry in 2000, and its first tarmac plant in 2008. Following a merger with former FH Gilman & Co West, the firm now delivers high value contracts across a wide range of sectors.

it is now based in Cross Hands Business Park. It has carved a successful niche for itself manufacturing and installing steelframed buildings for both the industrial and agricultural sectors in the UK and its turnover reached £16 million last year.

5. Crynant Plant & Construction Established in 1981, Crynant Plant specialises in haulage, plant hire and construction – working across a wide range of sectors. Services include building work, civil engineering, groundworks, barn conversions, demolition and heavy haulage.

Recent projects have included the building of a new 8000-sq metre Afon Engineering Swansea factory and the demolition and clearance of the previous redundant unit on site.

6. Safety Letterbox Company The Safety Letterbox Company is the UK’s leading manufacturer of high tech, bespoke and secure mailing systems. All products are manufactured in its factory in South Wales and supplied direct worldwide.

With over 130 models in the range, it has mailbox and mailroom solutions for any application. The Safety Letterbox Company has been acquired by the German mailbox expert RENZ in an alliance that brings together more than a century of experience and technical expertise within the mailbox industry. The Swansea-based firm has secured contracts for a range of high profile projects, including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, has chalked up another high-end residential project.

3. Red Kite Law Red Kite Law was formed as a result of a merger between two long established law firms from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire – Lowless & Lowless and Morris Roberts. The Legal 500 2011 described Red Kite Law as “helpful, concise and professional”, offering “first-class service, and industry knowledge that is second to none.”

4. Shufflebottom Based in Cross Hands, Shufflebottom is a family-owned specialist steel manufacturing business that has been in the South Wales Evening Post Top 100 Companies list for several years. Established in Carmarthen in 1977 by Lorna and Martin Shufflebottom,

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Shufflebottom of Crosshands

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In Focus

Swansea Bay Fast Track 25

THE INVITATION-ONLY CLUB CELEBRATES AND NURTURES THE AREA’S MOST PROMISING BUSINESSES. EACH YEAR, 25 NEW MEMBERS ARE ADDED. 7. Cornelius Electronics Based in Port Talbot, Cornelius Electronics specialises in the design and manufacture of cable assemblies and wiring harnesses for use in a variety of applications such as the automotive and medical industries.

The company works across the UK and European markets, and in North America.

A family-run business, it has 180 staff, and offers solutions for companies ranging from SMEs to larger businesses. Its capabilities range from short low voltage assemblies for electrical enclosures to 100-metre high voltage cables.

8. Goose Island Swansea-based fashion wholesaler and retailer, Goose Island was established in 1993. Initially focussed on Balinese jewellery and accessories, it sold direct to customers at fashion fairs and events before opening a shop in Swansea, and branching into Italian-made ladies clothing and accessories. A further three shops in Mumbles, Neath and Cowbridge were opened in the following three years, and the wholesale arm of the business was launched in 2009. The company was voted ‘Best Welsh Fashion Business’ in 2013.

9. Parker Plant Hire A well-established family-owned business, Parker Plant Hire has been providing plant and construction equipment across a range of industry sectors for more than 30 years. From its base in Llanelli, and depots in Cardiff and Pembroke Dock, the firm operates across Wales and the UK. George and Stuart Parker lead a team of around 50 staff, who have expertise in plant hire, portable accommodation, transportation and heavy plant. The firm’s in-house training facility is a preferred West Wales National Training Centre, where the CITB and the Hire Association Europe deliver Hire Controller Apprenticeships. It became the first construction company in Wales to achieve the Investors In People Gold Status three years ago.

10. Griffiths Recycling The Griffiths Group is a family-owned waste management business based in Swansea and working across the UK and Europe. It

Mark Davies, managing director of LBS Builders.

provides waste management services for the reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal of waste, via a combination of specialist services, contract management and its own facilities. Services include specialist site clearance, extraction, recycling and production of aggregates and minerals for the construction, landscaping and leisure markets, and industrial cleaning services.

11. Consort Equipment Products Milford Haven-based manufacturer Consort Equipment Products designs and makes electrical heaters which it sells through electrical wholesalers. In 2015, it won two major UK contracts valued at £1m and a new £200,000 order from China. The new contracts boosted its turnover by 35 per cent. Also in 2015, Consort invested in new production equipment, backed by funding from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund and the Economic Growth Fund specifically for businesses in Pembrokeshire.

12. Glasstech Recycling Glass Tech Recycling was established at the end of 2010 and started trading in 2011 as a specialist glass recycling company serving South Wales and the West. It recycles plate glass and container glass into end products used in insulation and construction industries. Glass Tech has invested heavily in machinery, transport and other equipment needed to ensure it has the capacity and capability to keep pace with the increasing volumes of waste being generated. Welsh Government funding of more than £300,000 facilitated its move

from Llandarcy to a quayside location at King’s Dock, Swansea – a move which created 30 jobs. The dockside location was chosen so recycled products could be easily exported to Europe.

13. Gower View Foods Based in Cross Hands Food Park, Gower View Foods is a highly sophisticated dairy production site, best known as one of the UK’s leading butter production centres, packing butter for some of Europe’s leading brands. The company is able to package a large range of fast moving consumer goods for the UK chilled dairy and yellow fats sector. The business specialises in butter and yellow fats, and also operates an extensive range of liquid potting and filling lines, with cream, yogurt, brandy butter and breakfast muesli pots all filled on site. It also provides promotional packing such as netting, shrink wrapping and blister packs.

14. LBS Builders Merchants LBS was founded in 1931 and remains a family-managed business supplying a wide range of products to the construction industry. The head office is in Llandeilo, and it has a string of 10 merchant outlets dotted across South West Wales as well as a Home Centre and a specialist civils and roofing branch. The firm has more than 200 staff and 40 vehicles, and is well known for its robust CSR programme; it regularly sponsors local schools, charities and organisations, and plays an active role in the Construction Skills Wales programme of competitions and events. It was awarded the Swansea Bay Business of the Year Award in 2011 and won Best UK Builders Merchant of the Year in the same year.

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15. Miles Hire

18. Genquip

Established in 2003, Miles Hire is a family run, independent Welsh business specialising in tool and plant hire. Run by brothers Darren and Ryan Miles, it was one of four companies to make the short list for Hire Company of the Year, presented

by The Hire Association Europe (HAE).

With depots in Swansea, Bridgend and Miskin, the firm offers competitive rates for both short and long-term hires, and has experienced exceptional growth over the last 12 years.

Port Talbot-based company specialising in mobile welfare units – secure anti-vandal portable welfare cabins, mobile cabins for rental, hire and utility companies including site contractors. As well as mobile welfare units, the company also supplies static mobile welfare units, within its bespoke product range. Genquip has a strong focus on innovation and on ensuring core values operate throughout all its business operations.

16. Joe’s Icecream Established in 1898 by Luigi Cascarini to provide rich roast coffee for the workers of the Swansea valley, Joe’s ice cream is an iconic café chain with branches dotted around Swansea and across South West Wales. The firm’s ice cream, made from a secret Italian recipe, is its famous hero product that attracts people from afar. The ice cream retails in a range of shapes and sizes, catering for the retail, catering and wholesale industry.

17. DTR Medical DTR Medical has two distinct business operations. It manufacture a range of DTR Medical branded single-use surgical instruments, and it also provides cleanroom contract manufacturing services for a wide range of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. The company exports to over 25 countries. It was awarded the MediWales ‘Export Achievement Award’ in 2014 and the following year it was winner of the MediWales Judge’s Award.

19. Derwen Group Derwen Group provides a comprehensive range of waste management solutions in the South Wales area. Services include waste collection and treatment to the construction, commercial and industrial sectors as well as the supply of a range of high quality recycled aggregates.

Derwen has achieved continual growth by operating to best practice and by continual investment in new technology. Derwen’s state of the art waste treatment plants can recycle a high percentage of waste received with the remainder being converted into alternative fuels. This enables the group to achieve well above industry average recycling and landfill diversion rates.

20. DJ Davies Fuels Formed in 1971, DJ Davies Fuels is an independent family-owned fuel distribution company, specialising in solid and liquid Fuels. From depots across South Wales, the company supplies domestic heating oil and industrial, commercial and agricultural fuel oils, whilst we also offer a

full and extensive range of premium solid fuels, including smokeless coal, multi-fuel briquettes and firewood logs, both retail and wholesale. The firm also offers a nationwide solid fuel delivery service to retail customers via Fuels4u.com

21. Swansea Coachworks Swansea Coachworks is an industryleading design engineering firm based in Swansea, West Glamorgan, offering bus refurbishment and other great services to the local area. It specialise in the design and engineering of custom-built MercedesBenz Sprinters. The firm has more than 25 years of expertise and its 50,000 sq foot manufacturing premises is split into three sections: new vehicle build; vehicle restoration; refurbishment. All its vehicles are fully backed by one of the world’s strongest aftersales dealer network Mercedes Benz.

22. Pullma Flex UK Ammanford-based Pullma Flex UK is an automotive seat suspension supplier for the automotive industry. The American-owned company exports globally most notably to the Eurozone.

23. Magstim Based in Whitland, Magstim is a key player in cutting-edge medical technology, and has pioneered transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) a revolutionary treatment for nerve and brain disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD). With strong partnerships with other leading medical and research companies, the firm now manufacture and supply a wide range of products for research and clinical applications.

24. Trade Cars Direct Independent business Trade Cars Direct specialises in the sale of second hand vehicles within the motor trade.

The company is based at the Enterprise Park in Swansea.

25. Morgan and Morgan Morgan and Morgan is a growing, familyowned business that was established in 1989.

The company, which is based on Cross Hands Business Park in Llanelli, focuses on IT and office solutions. The firm’s purposebuilt headquarters in Crosshands is run by its co-founder and managing director Michael Morgan, alongside Sharon Morgan, the company’s accountant and finance director.

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Expert opinion with Tommy Davies

NEWS ROUND-UP...

Entrepreneurial spirit works best in a crisis...

So that is what happens when you ask the masses to vote on something as nuanced and complex and important as membership to the EU! The vote on whether the UK should leave the EU should never have gone to a referendum in the first place. We elect and pay MPs to make informed and educated decisions on our behalf. We ensure they have the best possible advice to make those decisions and a system of political parties to holds them to account.

The fact is that in the end every idiot in the country had the same number of votes as me – and every MP – on making the most important decision in the UK in 40 years. A decision riddled with complexity and interconnecting moving parts.

To make matters worse, the decision making process was also befuddled by lies and misinformation (from both sides) during the campaigning.

As you might have guessed by now, I was not a fan of the result.

However, you don’t get to be as successful and rich as me by dwelling on the past. Every cloud has a silver lining and I am in the process of working out what the positives of this decision will be for my companies.

I have already set up a working party in each to monitor developments and also any change in the needs or decisions being made by our clients.

That will allow us to respond – ideally by adjusting our offering and/or exploiting new markets but – let’s be realistic – if things really turn nasty we also now have a pre-agreed list of costs, including people, to cut. We will act swiftly and decisively to protect the profit margins and thus the viability of each company. Sometimes you cut jobs to protect jobs.

In fact, so far, it has been business as usual. The biggest problem has been the chasm of uncertainty, especially during the political wrangling that followed when there seemed a dearth of leadership in the country for at least a month and the stock markets went berserk.

Cameron fell on his sword and the key pro-leave campaigners, like little boys playing with fire, ran screaming for the hills – those they had not already set alight that is!

I am still very worried for the economy and the future position in the world of what is now an isolationist UK. But I have also discovered a source of optimism to cling to, be it one that only stacks up in a vaguely philosophical way.

My optimism stems from the fact that talented and entrepreneurial people are usually at their very best in a crisis.You tip the apple cart and such individuals come out hard: assessing, organising, kicking and screaming – and they usually not only solve problems but improve things in the process.

For me, the UK is exactly like that.

We have talent and entrepreneurial spirit in abundance – we have good ideas and work hard to follow them through.

The apple cart has certainly been tipped now. Plus, let’s be honest, the EU thing was far from perfect.

Now, maybe, just maybe, what has happened will awaken a reservoir of previously latent energy and talent. We will come out fighting and maybe, just maybe, we will create an economy even stronger than before.

Tommy Davies, born in mid-Cwmtwrch in the Swansea Valley, is one of the region’s most successful entrepreneurs with businesses in telecoms, marketing and heavy industry

Llanelli firm marches towards growth...

A multi-million pound contract for the Ministry of Defence is leading to rapid growth for one of Wales’ most innovative companies.

BCB International, which has a factory in Llanelli is now fulfilling the first stage of its contract for field equipment for the armed forces, and Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise has provided funding of £100,000 for initial costs.

The four-year contract will mean that BCB, based in Llanelli and Cardiff, is to expand its workforce of 61 creating new jobs, and is aiming to break the £10 million turnover ceiling.

BCB International Chief Financial Officer, Antony Jarvis, said: “This is a major step forward for BCB and will help the business expand and develop in the future.

“We are very grateful to UK Steel Enterprise for the funding they have provided which will assist with cash flow as the first stage of the contract is fulfilled.”

UK Steel Enterprise provides debt and equity funding to companies with growth potential.

Investment executive Glyn Thomas said: “We are able to make strategic investments to support expansion, and this funding for BCB is a good example.”

BCB International has grown steadily over the years, and makes and sells a huge variety of equipment for military, police, survival and protection use.

BCB’s Antony Jarvis (left) and Glyn Thomas of UK Steel Enterprise

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THE SOAPBOX Can the Swansea Bay region’s energy and environment sector thrive outside the EU. What are the biggest positives and negatives?

There is naturally a lot of speculation about the effects of Brexit as regards all areas of business and public policy, but I think this is being somewhat over-done.

Mark Alston Director of risk and business development at amber energy There is naturally a lot of speculation about the effects of Brexit as regards all areas of business and public policy, but I think this is being somewhat over-done.

The best businesses are those that thrive by finding ways to serve their customers in an ever-changing commercial/ regulatory environment, turning challenges into opportunities.

We don’t know how the change will affect the UK generally or Swansea Bay area in particular, but I would back British business to tackle any issues head-on - and find pragmatic solutions whatever Brexit may bring!”

We at EFT believe that Swansea’s energy and environment sector can thrive positively in any economic situation with the only risk being investment availability.

Chris Jenkins Director of EFT Energy Consultants We at EFT believe that Swansea’s energy and environment sector can thrive positively in any economic situation with the only risk being investment availability. In the past investment may have been attained from a European source, but we have confidence that others outside of Europe will identify this growth sector and invest accordingly.

There is one thing for sure; ever increasing energy prices will drive the economic need in this sector.

Although the initial impact of Brexit is likely to cause some uncertainty in the market, much of the local drivers for sustainability are a result of international targets

Everything depends on how far the UK government wants to wind back EU environmental protection - standards for clean beaches, protecting wildlife, preventing pollution.

Daryl Fisher Director at Greenbuild Consult

Steve Bolchover Centre Swansea

Although the initial impact of Brexit is likely to cause some uncertainty in the market, much of the local drivers for sustainability are a result of international targets set out in the Kyoto protocol and we are therefore unlikely to feel much of an impact in the Swansea Bay region. Perhaps more worrying for the sector is the current government’s lack of enthusiasm for the low carbon agenda, further proven with the recent disbandment of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Everything depends on how far the UK government wants to wind back EU environmental protection - standards for clean beaches, protecting wildlife, preventing pollution. If Government supports fracking rather than clean energy, removes constraints on business development of valued open spaces and fails to recognise the need and provide investment to reduce carbon emissions, they risk damaging all our lives and our grandchildren’s future. Wales’s Environment Act gives us hope, but we at the Environment Centre are alive to long term risks.

Chairperson of The Environment

To be involved in next issue’s The Soapbox contact the editor, Chris Campbell: chris.campbell@swwmedia.co.uk 01792 545564 SoapBox.indd 1

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CARDIFF 7/29/2016 9:11:41 AM

Start Ups Yachtsman finds perfect city job

Matthew Senior forms South West Wales firm after 14 years at sea...

Start ups is sponsored by

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Yachtsman finds perfect city job Yachtsman Matthew Senior, from South West Wales, set up Gower Sail Shades & Awnings, which is to work with multinational coffeehouse Costa. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

Inspiration for a great business idea can strike in the most unlikely places. For experienced yachtsman Matthew Senior, it came after clocking up 80,000 miles at sea, culminating in winning the Hobart yacht race off the Australian coast.

The answer to being a successful entrepreneur had literally been in front of his face.

Senior, 43, said: “I spent 14 years as a professional sailor and realised that I could use the same technology employed in the manufacture of ships’ sails and rigging to produce high-quality shades and awnings.

“It was obvious really. They’re already tried and tested in windy environments and the way they’re manufactured is to a really high standard. They’re also versatile enough to compliment the dimensions of almost any space, they’re durable and they control solar glare.”

Arriving back in his native Wales, Matthew turned to the Government’s New Enterprise Allowance, which provides

mentoring and financial help to budding entrepreneurs, for support to get the business idea off the ground.

The result is Swansea-based Gower Sail Shades and Awnings, which produces awnings and fabric structures for hotels, restaurants, sports venues, schools and colleges and for gardens and patios, playgrounds and recreational areas.

The company has also been able to give employment to two part-time assistants and works with a local sail-maker to produce shades using the finest marinegrade fabrics and rigging hardware.

Under the NEA, which is delivered across Wales by public services provider, PeoplePlus, for the Department and Work and Pensions, participants receive access to a business mentor who will provide them with guidance and support as they develop their business plan and through the first six months of trading. Once they have demonstrated they have a viable business proposition with the potential for growth in the future, they are able to

I SPENT 14 YEARS AS A PROFESSIONAL SAILOR AND REALISED THAT I COULD USE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIPS’ SAILS AND RIGGING...

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Yachtsman finds perfect city job

Start Ups

Matthew Senior, of Gower Sail Shades and Awnings, pictured right

WHAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE WAS THE BUSINESS ADVICE AND EXTRA INCOME I WAS ABLE TO GET FROM THE NEA.

access financial support. It is available to claimants of Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (or their partners) and lone parents or sick on Income Support.

Entrepreneurial jobseekers in Wales have launched more than 4,800 new businesses through NEA since the government scheme started in 2011.

Senior, from Swansea, said: “I knew the idea for using sails as awnings would work because I’d seen them while I was working in Australia – and the seed was sown.

“I started out on my own but was struggling, so in September 2015, I went back on the NEA, where I was introduced to my business mentor Sheran Grey and it all kicked off from there. What made

all the difference was the business advice and extra income I was able to get from the NEA. It made me much more focused and it’s great having someone like Sheran to call when I need advice.”

Such is the success of Gower Sail Shades & Awnings that it has recently been commissioned to maintain and install contracts for Costa in the Wales and the West area, overseen by Shades of Comfort. Examples of the company’s tensile sail structures can also be seen along the sea-front at Aberavon Beach

and at La Parrilla Restaurant in Swansea.

Senior’s new business still allows him to indulge his first love, sailing.

He said: “My early involvement with the sea was through dinghy sailing with Mumbles Yacht Club.

“Later, while I was working in the music industry in London, I had an opportunity to take boat across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and, basically, I decided to stay away. “ Now I’m back - and things are going really well.”

La Parilla Swansea with Gower Sail Shades and Awnings’s tensile sail structures...

Senior on site

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Start Ups

#stopcoldtea

Cold tea venture gathers interest online A LLanelli student has caught the attention of the internet by coming up with a unique campaign to stop cold tea...

Saffire Paris, of Havard Road, in Dafen, was in the third year of her studies of graphic design at the Hereford College of Arts.

Her course was told that they had to create something for a summer show — and the 21-year-old came up with an interesting idea for her project.

It’s a tea-cup designed printer that is printing live Tweets from users that include the hashtag #stopcoldtea.

She said: “For my final project I had to come up with an idea — it was down to us and could have been anything.

“I was sitting there one day thinking of ideas, and I looked down and saw a cold cup of tea — I thought, that’s it, I’m doing that.

“I wanted it to become a small campaign and I have got people to use a Twitter hashtag whenever they have cold tea experiences — their tweets are then printed out from a tea cup design printer at the exhibition.”

Along with the printer, which printed out tweets as they were sent online, the exhibition had several striking designs created by Saffire, with slogans such as ‘Don’t forget your tea’ and #stopcoldtea.

“Quite a few people have tweeted already and it’s gaining quite a bit of momentum,” Paris said.

“My class mates and teachers all think it’s really cool — most of the people in my class have done posters or advertisement.

“The main things are just getting people to interact for my design. I thought we are moving into the digital era and this would be a good idea. I had help off Kane Barrett who is a tech wizard and helped me with the computer/ printer technology, and my boyfriend, Rhys Yeo, also helped with the printer.

“When I came into the course I was interested in advertising, and still am, but social media is such a big thing I’d like to continue doing things like that as well.”

Saffire Paris pictured at her #stopcoldtea exhibition.

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Congratulations

Swansea company brings free digital marketing to local small businesses Copper Bay Creative run free monthly workshops at the Mercure Hotel in Swansea for owner-managers and marketing employees of local companies.

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Run by Swanseas’ premier Google Certified Partners, these 3 hour workshops are interactive and use real-world examples tailored to the companies in the room.

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Very informative course, full of valuable information. Taken some great ideas back. Good delivery, very friendly and easy to ask questions of. Really great afternoon. Thanks!

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FREE WORKSHOP

Digital Marketing Friday 16th September (10am - 1pm) Friday 14th October (1.30pm - 4.30pm) Tuesday 22nd November (1.30pm - 4.30pm) To book your free workshop please call Anna today on 01792 687 442 or email anna@copperbaycreative.co.uk Untitled-6 1

In May, Wales’ top business directors were recognised at the sixth IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards held at Cardiff’s SSE SWALEC. Ben Wheeler, founder of Swanseabased website design company Copper Bay Creative was named Director in a Small Business.

“I’m honoured to have been recognised by the Institute of Directors in Wales for my work creating a sustainable business here in Swansea. I’m a strong believer in hard work, determination and ambition which is shown by the success of Copper Bay Creative, my team, and the success of our clients”.

“It’s not just about the importance of making Copper Bay Creative a successful sustainable business for Swansea and Welsh economy. Due to the nature of our work, we help other local businesses grow through successful marketing, which is the bigger picture and the larger impact on the economy.”

Copper Bay Creative operate from their own premises in Swansea and now employ 11 in-house professionals in the fields of Website Design & Development, Mobile Apps, Graphic Design, Print and Digital Marketing.

7/29/2016 12:05:38 PM

Start Ups Looking after your locks

Looking after your locks Glastonbury goers and South West Wales campers are among those that have been buying a new shampoo created by a Swansea-based manufacturer, as BUSINESS LIFE found out...

Knowing the difficulties of wanting to feel fresh in a hurry and to help those that find washing difficult led to the development of a shampoo product that its creators hopes will clean up a new market.

Jessica Efford, 28, from Swansea, and her dad Peter, have recently seen their Zerreau Towel Off Shampoo take to the shelves in Sainsbury’s stores across the UK as well as online with Superdrug and Boots.

Zerreau, pronounced Zero, brings an element of French bounce, the ‘eau’ French for water.

That’s the thing about this new hybrid shampoo, like a dry shampoo you don’t need water, but unlike it, the foam gets your hair wet and you dry it with a towel.

And it is proving a hit with festival and camping lovers. The foam cleans hair by combining with dirt and grease.

The product, which comes in apple and strawberry, is especially popular with Glastonbury goers.

Sales manager Efford, whose dad founded the firm in Gloucestershire in 2009, said they initially developed the products to aid those who found traditional bathing difficult, including the elderly and infirm. But they found a spike in demand during summer for the unique product, particularly around Glastonbury.

They are now looking to spread the word around the South West Wales region and promote the shampoo as an all-yearround product that can be used after work

before a night out, during extensive travel, or other times when job demands limit personal time.

“As a family business we are extremely proud that our efforts to educate and bring a completely new concept, that can change the future of bathing, is starting to be recognised as a household name,” she said.

“It’s ideal for those festival moments, camping, summer holidays or when you just don’t have time for a shower.

“It has all the cleaning power of a traditional wet shampoo, coupled with all the convenience of a dry shampoo.

“Your hair will get wet, but no rinsing is required and you can style as normal afterwards.”

While it acts similarly to a dry shampoo, the foam can wash out grease and styling products and is alcohol and paraben free, and not tested on animals. It also comes in recyclable bottles, in two sizes and prices start from £3.99.

Efford, who lives in the city centre, helped launch the shampoo after a pilot of 40,000 bottles was sent to homes last year using sample gift hamper Glossybox, with very positive feedback.

A medical brand of the shampoo, called Nilaqua, is already being used in 25 hospitals across the UK and is particularly helpful for overcoming the many difficulties of washing bed-bound patients.

Efford added the aim was to let people know they now had a choice when traditional bathing was difficult or water was not easily available. The company is now trying to make the shampoo easily available through reputable outlets.

The business’ other products – none of which require water - include a body wash, toothbrushes, glittery eye shadow and pet shampoos.

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Sales manager Jessica Efford with the Zerreau Towell Off Shampoo range in Singleton Park, Swansea.

IT’S IDEAL FOR THOSE FESTIVAL MOMENTS, CAMPING, SUMMER HOLIDAYS OR WHEN YOU JUST DON’T HAVE TIME FOR A SHOWER.

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Start Ups

NEWS ROUND-UP...

Entrepreneur sweeps up at awards The managing director of a cleaning company in South West Wales has been recognised for showcasing extraordinary leadership.

Caryl Thomas, of Sparkles Solutions in Briton Ferry, won the Young Leader award, sponsored by NatWest Business Banking at this year’s Leading Wales Awards.

Ms Thomas, who owns the company, was praised by judges for being an “incredible example of talent and leadership” that had made a real contribution to the Welsh economy.

She said she was ‘thrilled” to pick up the award and looked forward to any opportunities it might bring.

Barbara Chidgey, chairwoman of the Leading Wales Awards Consortium, said: “It is 100 per cent clear that really good leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and that it is essential in all walks of life in order to drive positive and sustainable change.

“The challenge is identifying and recognising authentic, transformational and effective leadership since the way in which individuals lead is in itself diverse. However, our inspirational finalists and winners have some very important factors in common: they are passionate about their cause, business or organisation; their energy and effort

is directed at making that vision of their cause a reality and they really care about the people with whom and for whom they work; they have integrity and they are authentic.

“We offer every winner and finalist this year our sincere congratulations.”

Aileen Richards, non-executive director of the Welsh Rugby Union, was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony, which took place at the Cardiff Hilton. She recently retired from Mars, Incorporated and worked in leadership positions

across the UK, Belgium and the USA. She is now keen to utilise her leadership experience within her home country of Wales.

Wales’ leadership awards is now in its 12th year and seeks to recognise and celebrate the role of leadership as a key driver of economic success in Wales.

Sparkles Solutions, which celebrated its third anniversary in July, offers domestic and commercial cleaning as well as services including gardening, laundry and ironing.

In running for awards Firms from the region are on the shortlist for the inaugural Wales Start-Up Awards.

Veeqo, Airshot, Perpetual V2G Systems Ltd and Wickedly Welsh Chocolate Co feature in the Swansea Bay City Region Business Start-up Of The Year category.

More than 250 entries across 14 categories were received from start-up businesses across Wales.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, creator of the Wales Fast Growth 50 and cofounder of the Wales Start Up Awards, said: “Having received 250 entries for the first ever Wales Start-Up awards, I am delighted not only at the interest in this new event but also at the high quality of submissions from all parts of Wales.

“It shows that entrepreneurship is flourishing across the economy in a range of different sectors and locations.”

Other categories include construction start-up of the year, creative and digital start-up of the year, financial and professional services start-up of the year, food and drink start-up of the year, global start-up of the year, green start-up of the year and life sciences.

The winners will be announced at an awards evening, which will be held on September 16 at Depot in Cardiff.

The Natwest-sponsored awards are set to celebrate ambitious start-up businesses that are making a real impact to the Welsh economy and they are exclusive to companies who have started within the last three years.

Liz Brookes of Grapevine Events, who is organising the awards, said: “The aim is to create a new type of awards that recognise the best of new businesses in Wales.

“By utilising the informal and relaxed atmosphere of Depot in Cardiff, we will create a unique event that will be like no other in Wales and present the best platform in which the success of the fantastic finalists can be showcased”.

The full list of categories include construction start-up of the year, creative and digital start-up of the year, financial and professional services startup of the year, food and drink start-up of the year, global start-up of the year, green start-up of the year, life sciences,

manufacturing and engineering, retail start-up of the year, services start-up of the year, social enterprise start-up of the year, technology start-up of the year, tourism and leisure start-up of the year, young entrepreneur start-up of the year, Cardiff capital region start-up of the year, North Wales region start-up of the year, Swansea Bay City Region business start-up of the year and Rural start-up of the year.

IT SHOWS THAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS FLOURISHING ACROSS THE ECONOMY IN A RANGE OF DIFFERENT SECTORS AND LOCATIONS.

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Expert opinion with Juliet Luporini, chairwoman of Swansea BID

Survival of our towns and cities...

Sarah Goodfield, left and her NEA mentor

Ex-supermarket worker starts jewellery firm...

Former supermarket employee Sarah Goodfield, from Swansea, has started her own jewellery business.

Goodfield is now the proud owner of Sarah Louise Hand Made Bead Jewellery, one of a growing number of exciting startups in South West Wales.

After months of unemployment she met with her Jobcentre Plus advisor and took steps to set up the business within a week.

“During an appointment at the jobcentre, my advisor asked me if I’d ever thought of going self-employed,” she said. “It turned everything that I’d been thinking on its head.”

Goodfield, from Cockett, found an outlet for her designs at a shop in Mumbles.

She gained support from the Government’s New Enterprise Allowance scheme, delivered in Wales by public services provider PeoplePlus.

Entrepreneurial jobseekers in Wales have launched more than 4,800 new businesses through NEA, which aims to boost selfemployment and drive innovation.

Much of the conversation in recent years seems to be about sustainable towns and cities. For me as a trader in Swansea city centre it’s a vital topic.

Hearing the ‘sustainable city’ jargon, my first thoughts were what exactly does it mean?

A sustainable city, or eco-city is a city designed with consideration of environmental impact, inhabited by people dedicated to minimisation of required inputs of energy, water and food, and waste output of heat, air pollution - CO2, methane, and water pollution.

While completely concurring with the obvious needs of cities in finding and securing renewable energy sources, which interestingly our Swansea Bay City Region has been particularly innovative in and has a significant capacity to do.

There is another side and debate: the harsh reality that many of the cities and towns across Wales and the UK are having to recreate and redesign themselves in order to survive and give people a good reason for frequenting them. Therefore, sustainable cities for me mean much more. It’s about planning the whole region carefully so that we do not allow soulless out of town developments to destroy our city centres. We need to ensure the right mix of businesses are at the heart of our city/town, as well as leisure, retail and events to encourage families and a wide variety of people visit, use and enjoy our city.

There is currently a gap in the twilight hours and we need to foster a culture and environment where, particularly during the lighter evenings, people begin to use Swansea city centre.Visits to Dublin, Edinburgh,

or indeed many other cities we could all name, provide excellent examples of how the day time economy has been linked to night time and the twilight gap has been filled making them all sustainable cities (Swansea Business Improvement District is currently working on plans with the LA to do this).

Of course, there isn’t one answer to the question of sustainable cities as for me there are essentially many interwoven factors and considerations when designing such a city. But practically, what we plan to do must be realistically possible. This always brings me back to the old city centre parking debate. Theoretically, we would love more people to walk, use bikes, car share or use public transport, yet in reality the success of out of town developments have almost completely been built upon people wanting and having incredibly close free parking when shopping!

I’m passionate about our city centre and encouraged by plans to make our city and region a sustainable one but would urge us not to lose sight of the theory while keeping a very close eye on the reality of people’s shopping, visiting, living, working, trading and leisure habits.

Swansea BID has introduced the empty unit virtual window vinyling scheme, which helps to recruit new and growing businesses into empty units. It also co-founded the Creative Bubble project with University Trinity St David, developing student employability and entrepreneurship as well as retaining graduates in the city centre, which has resulted in the creation of four new businesses.

Juliet Luporini is chair of the Swansea Business Improvement District, a board member of the Swansea Bay City Region and the owner of the Kardomah café in the city centre.

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7/29/2016 9:12:30 AM

Our Region Chef’s delight over first farmed truffle

Michelin chef excited as South Wales joins France and Italy by harvesting first ever farmed truffle...

PEMBROKESHIRE CARMARTHENSHIRE

SWANSEA NEATH PORT TALBOT

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Our Region

pembrokeshire Chef’s delight over first farmed truffle Michelin chef excited as South Wales joins France and Italy by harvesting first ever farmed truffle. As BUSINESS LIFE finds out...

Top chefs in the region have been waiting years to be able to use Welsh truffles.

Now a Michelin-starred chef in Pembrokeshire is looking to add the country’s first ever farmed truffles to its menu.

Will Holland of Coast Saundersfoot said the Burgundy truffle, cultivated in South Wales, was an “exciting” discovery for the region.

He said: “The first truffle to be cultivated in Wales makes me excited for two reasons - truffles are one of the most incredible ingredients I have had the pleasure of working with and I love to use locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

“It means potentially I could be serving local truffles to our guests at Coast Restaurant”.

The Burgundy truffle is native to the UK and worth around £400 per kg. The find – possible thanks to a newly trained truffle hound and new technology – ends an eight year wait and means Wales is set to join France and Italy as a farmed truffle producing nation.

The orchard – near Usk in Monmouthshire - was started, and is run, with the help of British scientist, Dr Paul

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THIS IS A VERY EXCITING DAY. WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING AND IN FACT THE SITE MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY, IT’S JUST THAT NOW WE HAVE A TRAINED DOG ON SITE.

Thomas of Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd. The company, established 10 years ago, researches black truffles and has a global network of truffle plantations, operating in 23 countries. This includes orchard establishment to harvesting and distributing truffles.

Dr Thomas, who appeared on the first series of TV show Dragons’ Den and initially accepted an offer from Simon Woodroffe, produced the first farmed English truffle last year. The company’s oldest plantations are now eight years old and there are more than 20 plantations in the UK. Speaking of the South Wales find, he said: “This is a very exciting day.

We knew this was coming and in fact the site may have been producing for a couple of years already, it’s just that now we have a trained dog on site.”

He added South West Wales was an “excellent” area for truffle cultivation due to its climate and the cultivated truffle was very ripe and “incredibly well perfumed”.

“There’s a very high demand for British truffles as they are some of the best flavoured in the world,” he said.

The field near Usk had limestone added to create conditions favourable to the truffle. Then oak and hazel trees were planted inoculated, by Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd, with truffle fungus. It is a hazel tree that has just produced the truffles. The first weighed 38g.

The cultivator, who wishes to remain anonymous, so that the location of the high-value orchard can be kept secret, said they were “over the moon” with the find.

The UK once had an industry based around harvesting Burgundy – also known as Summer - truffle in the wild. But this almost disappeared as production plummeted when the nation lost most of its truffle-producing woodland. The last full-time truffle hunter, Alfred Collins, hung up his boots in the 1930s.

Dr Paul Thomas

How truffles grow...

• Truffles are a type of fungi that grow on the roots of living trees.

• They help the tree to grow and the tree helps the fungus.

The species is usually harvested from May to November.

Meanwhile, Mr Holland opened Coast in 2014 as head chef with his wife Kamila, who is restaurant manager.

He said his ingredients were sourced in the county where possible. Meat is reared and supplied directly from local farms in Pembrokeshire and the restaurant works closely with family butchers Eynon’s of St Clears who source, butcher and hang the Welsh beef. Free range eggs are produced at Pennsylvania Farm and New House Farm near Haverfordwest.

Mr Holland earned a Michelin star before the age of 30 and later moved to Pembrokeshire.

• To grow truffles, a sterile environment is created and the fungus is introduced to the root system.

• Once the fungus is attached and growing on the root system, they are nurtured for a year before the trees are planted into carefully prepared field sites.

• After planting, the plantations (or orchards) have to be carefully monitored and managed to ensure success.

• The most common host trees for truffle cultivation are English oak and hazel although a few other species can be used.

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Pembrokeshire

Expert opinion with Ted Sangster, chairman of the Pembrokeshire Business Panel

Time to be a world leader...

Holiday resort expands with luxury lodges...

Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire has made a significant expansion by launching 64 new luxury lodges.

It takes the holiday village’s total number of five star lodges, cottages and studio apartments to more than 300.

The completion of the new lodges marks the third and final phase of an ambitious expansion programme, which took 18 months and cost £8.5 million.

The development comes against the backdrop of sustained growth for the resort, which is set over 500 acres of national park near Narberth. It is also set to create new jobs.

Visitors can now choose from four different lodge types - the threebedroom Tenby, six-bedroom Tenby Connect, the open-plan six-bedroom Pembroke, or the four-bedroom St David’s lodge, which comes complete with a playroom. Each lodge has its own garden and outdoor dining patio area.

Pamela McNamara, commercial and operations director at Bluestone, said: “The completion of phase three is a significant milestone for Bluestone.

THE DEVELOPMENT COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF SUSTAINED GROWTH FOR THE RESORT, WHICH IS SET OVER 500 ACRES OF NATIONAL PARK NEAR NARBERTH. The development of the new lodges has been several years in the making and underpins an ambitious vision to further cement our offering as the go-to independent luxurious accommodation resort.

“Crucially, the expansion will also provide further employment opportunities for Pembrokeshire, helping to grow the local economy and bringing new visitors to this unique part of Wales.”

Successful businesses identify, or in some cases create, a need and seek to satisfy it. Government can help in preparing a supportive environment. Building on existing strengths is often an easier means to successful development than starting from scratch.

I have just read a consultants’ report on the strengths of the Pembrokeshire economy in which they identify the engineering skills and understanding of the energy sector deployed at present to the oil and gas transport, reception, storage and processing which could be equally well applied to the Welsh Government’s “recent drive to expand renewable and marine energy”. It seems to me that this is, or rather could possibly be, an example of all these coming together and becoming a driver in the economy of South West Wales.

The long heralded deployment last December of the Tidal Energy DeltaStream 400kw underwater turbine demonstration device in Ramsay Sound is one hard local example of embryo success.

However, timing and competition have a major influence and quick and direct action by both business and government at all levels working together is necessary if this opportunity is to be grasped.

Scotland and Orkney are far ahead of the rest of the UK in creating an attractive trialling ground for wave and underwater technology. Pembrokeshire could be similarly attractive. The intentions of Welsh Government and the access to EU funding are supportive, but given the need for catch up and more importantly the potential Brexit threat to such EU funding require acceleration to ensure this opportunity is realised and Pembrokeshire features positively in Wales’ ambition to be a world leader in the marine energy market.

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Untitled-1 1

7/29/2016 9:15:17 AM

Our Region

CARMARTHENSHIRE Exciting plans for mansion house Plans for investment in Llanelli’s Parc Howard are moving at pace following approval by Carmarthenshire’s executive board.

Carmarthenshire Council has a series of exciting plans for the mansion house and surrounding grounds — including new play areas for children, which work has already started on.

Other plans include sensitive development of the historic mansion house, with potential uses including a wedding and banqueting venue, conferencing suites and an outdoor marquee.

The former cafe, which adjoins the mansion, could also be brought back to life selling refreshments and afternoon tea.

There are also plans to utilise the building as a regional centre for genealogy – tying in to Llanelli Town Centre’s Heritage Six scheme, which involves the library and Llanelly House.

Council Leader Emlyn Dole, who was the driving force behind the plans, said: “This masterplan is for a range of investments and improvements which will enable people to continue enjoying this wonderful park for years to come.

“We need sensitive commercial development to achieve an income in order for Parc Howard to be sustainable.”

Deputy Leader councillor Pam Palmer said it was good to see such swift progress being made on the project.

“Parc Howard is a jewel in our crown,” Councillor Palmer added. “Sometimes the jewels are missing but this work will bring back the shine.”

The masterplan was approved unanimously.

WE NEED SENSITIVE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO ACHIEVE AN INCOME IN ORDER FOR PARC HOWARD TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

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Carmarthenshire

LADIES COME TOGETHER TO SHARE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE, AND INSPIRE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS DOING BUSINESS.

One year celebrations for women’s networking breakfast...

Llanelli’s first women’s networking group is celebrating its first year since its launch.

Llanelli’s Women in Networking Breakfast celebrated the milestone this month at Machynys Peninsula Golf Club and Premier Spa, Llanelli.

Women who are self-employed, directors of companies or work in businesses where networking could be beneficial joined together for a relaxed and informal networking breakfast, with cake, to celebrate.

This supportive women’s networking group, set up by two Llanelli businesswomen, Rebecca Rosenthal of

Rivki Rose Training and Michelle Beer of Ferry Cake Marketing and PR, has seen an increased number of members and new visitors each month.

The group usually meets up for breakfast on the first Monday of each month and once a quarter for an evening networking dinner.

Rosenthal said: “We’re a firm that is very conscious about our social responsibilities and are pleased to be co-hosting the meetings each month.

“The network is a group full of fantastically dynamic and ambitious women keen to make a success of the

network opportunities, and for many of them, to grow and develop themselves and their businesses.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to see the first anniversary of the network.

Both Beer and Rosenthal voluntarily put time aside each month to promote, organise and arrange relevant speakers for the meetings.

Beer added: “Ladies from Swansea and Carmarthenshire come together to share experience and knowledge, and inspire and support each other, as well as doing business.”

Dance store owner targets growth The owner of a dance clothes store in Llanelli has invested in state-of-the-art equipment after creating a new embroidery company.

Angela Windsor, owner of AVA Dancewear, launched growing specialist embroidery and garment print company, called Print Inc, and now has a new embroidery machine.

She said: “It was a natural progression for me to launch Print Inc given the organic growth of this element of the business.

Through investment in the best quality embroidery machine available and high quality, competitive priced products, I am now able to deliver branded workwear and clothing to businesses of all sizes as well as being in a position to tender for larger contracts.

“My aim is to work directly with business owners to establish their needs and enhance their current branded goods with a

professional and efficient service combined with quality garments.”

Windsor has a passion for design and works directly on the new venture, based in the heart of Llanelli. She is looking to expand her workforce over the coming 12 months, including offering an apprenticeship opportunity.

Windsor has been delivering a professional printing service to her AVA Dancewear customers for the past five years.

No longer wishing to be reliant on outside suppliers, she brought the printing service in house last year.

Windsor launched Print Inc in early 2016.

The new machine means she can now offer embroidery and printing services for oneoff items, whether for SMEs or work wear solutions for corporate companies. swanseabaybusiness.com 43

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Expert opinion with Emlyn Dole, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council

No turning back...

Whatever your views on membership of the European Union the result of the referendum came as a surprise to most people, and the aftermath has been turbulent to say the least. I won’t hide away from the fact that I was a remain supporter because I believed firmly that only as a full member of a reformed EU could we be certain that Welsh businesses could have access to European markets. As Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council I want to build a stronger local economy so that we can create jobs and opportunities for our young people and I felt that the best way of achieving this was through membership of the EU. But the people have spoken here in Carmarthenshire and it is important that the result is accepted across the board. There is no turning back so we have to make the best of the situation. Our political leaders need to work together to ensure that a strong government in Cardiff can negotiate the best deal for Welsh businesses, especially those trading with Europe.

We have just embarked upon a 15 year

regeneration plan for Carmarthenshire with a view to creating over 5,000 jobs and investing over £220 million over the next five years alone. The ambitious plan aims to target every part of the county.

Carmarthenshire County Council, along with our universities, farmers and organisations currently reliant on European funding need assurances that we will not lose out when we eventually leave the EU.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN HERE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE RESULT IS ACCEPTED ACROSS THE BOARD.

Carmarthenshire

Logistics firm seals £20m deal...

A provider of time critical logistics services has acquired the entire shareholding of Cross Hands-based NR Evans (Holdings) Limited in a transaction exceeding £20 million.

With a group turnover of more than £200 million and a combined workforce of over 3,000, NFT has made the move in an attempt to strengthen its market position.

In addition to equity capital provided

by EmergeVest, NFT’s Hong Kong-based financial sponsor, and NFT’s senior management team, the transaction includes integrated debt funding provided

by Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance.

Neil Evans, founder of NR Evans, said: “Having developed the NR Evans brand over a number of years, I am extremely proud of what we have created and I believe strongly in the potential of the combined NFT Group and in our people who deliver service excellence day in day out to our customers. In NFT we have found a like-minded business that places the customer at the heart of what we do.”

The acquisition strengthens the NFT Group’s service offering in a number of rapidly developing areas including chill, ambient, milk and other fast moving consumer goods supply chains and takes its total number of UK distribution centres to 17 following the addition of the nine facilities operated by the NR Evans business.

David Frankish, CEO of NFT, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome NR Evans into the NFT Group and believe that the combination will not only create a considerable increase in scale, reach, and infrastructure, but also – combined with the capability of our people, recently augmented by the recruitment of new Board Members with specialist skills – results in the emergence of NFT as a business with an increased international focus on grocery supply chains.”

EmergeVest has completed three acquisitions in the UK Logistics sector in the last six months.

Heath Zarin, managing director of EmergeVest and chairman of NFT, said: “We have been very impressed with Neil Evans and his eponymous business. This acquisition is a key step in NFT’s strategic development, following the recent opening of our purpose-built logistics facility on the Port of Tilbury and the opening of NFT’s Shanghai office. NFT is a well-financed, internationally orientated logistics services provider, focussed on providing an ever-expanding suite of leading edge services. This acquisition will not be our last and demonstrates our continued confidence in the UK market.”

Following the acquisition of NR Evans, the NFT group employs over 3,000 staff and generates over £200 million of annual revenues. The business has 1.1m sq ft of chilled warehouse storage capacity and operates over 600 vehicles and 800 trailers covering a distance of over 125m kilometres each year.

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swansea bay city region

advertising feature

I DDOD YN HYDREF 2016 DIWRNOD DATBLYGWYR A BUDDSODDWYR

COMING AUTUMN 2016 DEVELOPERS AND INVESTMENT DAY

Mae gan Cross Hands lu o gyfleoedd datblygu cyffrous y rhoddir sylw iddynt mewn digwyddiad i ddenu buddsoddiad i’r ardal. Bydd Diwrnod Datblygwyr a Buddsoddwyr yn cael ei gynnal ddechrau’r hydref yng Nghanolfan Menter y Goleudy yn Llanelli, gan dargedu datblygwyr eiddo a buddsoddwyr lleol, rhanbarthol, cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol.

Cross Hands has a host of exciting development opportunities which will be on show at an event aimed at attracting investment to the area. A Developers and Investment Day will be held in early Autumn at The Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Llanelli targeting local, regional, national and international investors and property developers.

Mae Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin yn trefnu’r digwyddiad fel rhan o’i ymrwymiad i wella ffyniant i drigolion a busnesau drwy hybu cynlluniau adfywio ar draws y sir a Dinas-ranbarth Bae Abertawe.

Carmarthenshire County Council is organising the event as part of its commitment to improving prosperity for residents and businesses by driving forward regeneration schemes across the county and Swansea Bay City Region.

Bydd manylion am gyfleoedd datblygu ar gael, gan gynnwys cyfleoedd buddsoddi i drawsnewid safleoedd yn Cross Hands ac yn Nafen, Llanelli. Yn ogystal ag amlygu’r ystod o gyfleoedd datblygu sy’n bodoli yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, bydd y digwyddiad yn gyfle i ofyn barn buddsoddwyr a datblygwyr eiddo am yr hyn sydd ei angen i greu’r amodau fyddai’n anogaeth iddynt fuddsoddi.

Details of development opportunities will be presented including investment opportunities to transform sites in Cross Hands and in Dafen, Llanelli. The event is not just about showing off the array of development opportunities that exist within Carmarthenshire but also about asking investors and property developers for their views on what is needed to create the conditions that would encourage them to invest.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am gyfleoedd adfywio yn Sir Gaerfyrddin a Dinas-ranbarth Bae Abertawe, ewch i www.sirgar.gov.cymru/buddsoddiad, ffoniwch 01269 590214 neu e-bostiwch marketing@sirgar.gov.uk

For more information about regeneration opportunities in Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Bay City Region visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/investment, call 01269 590214 or email marketing@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Mae modd gweld golwg o’r awyr o’r safle yma: www.swanseabaycityregion.com. Mae’n cynnwys lluniau o’r dirwedd a’r ardaloedd cyfagos, gan roi golwg glir o safle Cross Hands a’i gyd-destun o gymharu ag ardaloedd cyfagos

An aerial view of the site can be seen at www.swanseabaycityregion.com. It includes footage of the landscape and surrounding areas giving a clear view of the Cross Hands site and where it sits in context with surrounding areas

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PARTH CYFLOGAETH: SAFLE CYFLOGAETH STRATEGOL DWYRAIN CROSS HANDS

EMPLOYMENT ZONE: CROSS HANDS EAST STRATEGIC EMPLOYMENT SITE

Rhagwelir mai Safle Strategol Dwyrain Cross Hands fydd Parth Cyflogaeth sylweddol nesaf y sir. Mae’r safle wedi ei ddatblygu yn sgil llwyddiant y buddsoddi yn y parthau busnes a bwydydd, ac mae’n lleoliad penodedig ar gyfer sectorau twf busnes allweddol.

The Cross Hands East Strategic Site is forecast to be the next major Employment Zone within the county.

Growing from the success of investment at both the food and business zones, the site is a dedicated location for key growth business sectors.

Cam 1 - Mae lleiniau â gwasanaeth llawn hyd at 2.5 erw ar gael ac mae lle ar y safle ar gyfer eiddo busnes o safon yn cynnwys swyddfeydd â band eang cyflym iawn a mynediad ffyrdd gwych.

Phase 1 - Fully serviced plots up to 2.5 acres are available and the site has capacity to house high quality business properties including offices with superfast broadband and excellent road access all in place.

Bydd Dwyrain Cross Hands yn safle cyflogaeth unigryw a bydd y Parth Twf ei hun yn cyflymu’r canlyniadau economaidd.

Mae’r parth cyfan wedi cael ei lunio mewn modd sy’n galluogi datblygiadau masnachol ac ecoleg i fyw ochr yn ochr. Mae’r nodwedd hon yn golygu bod y safle’n ddewis modern a chyfrifol i unrhyw fusnes neu ddatblygwr. Gall Gweithgynhyrchwyr Uwch a sectorau Ariannol, Proffesiynol ac Amgylcheddol gyd-fyw’n gytûn yn Nwyrain Cross Hands a manteisio ar gyfathrebiadau cyflym, cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth, cadwyni cyflenwi, a marchnadoedd llafur.

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Cross Hands East will be an unique employment site and accelerate the economic outcomes as a result of the Growth Zone itself. The whole zone has been sympathetically shaped to allow commercial developments and ecology to live side by side. This feature of the site clearly presents a modern and responsible option for any business or developer. Advanced Manufacturers; Financial and Professional and Environmental sectors can happily cohabit at Cross Hands East with access to fast communications, transport links, supply chains and labour markets.

8/1/2016 9:12:32 AM

Our Region

SWANSEA A ship sailed to China...with a cargo of Welsh Brew Tea A South Wales family firm is celebrating 30 years brewing up a storm in the tea and coffee market, as BUSINESS LIFE finds out…

Fancy a soothing lemon and ginger tea?

Or how about a refreshing Morrocan Mint, or maybe a Green Coconut blend with a dash of Bergamot (move over Lady Grey)?

One small Welsh business has been methodically building up an impressive customer base since it was established 30 years ago.

Welsh Brew Tea, run by Alan Wenden and his son and daughter James and Sarah, now produces a jaw-dropping 60 million teabags a year and supplies all the major supermarkets in Wales.

As well it’s leading product (from which it takes its name) – Welsh Brew Tea – the business has a new Green Tea Birds range of speciality teas; a range of custom filter coffees from South American beans and a new food contract Hot Chocolate line.

This year, the firm also launched a Gold Tea blend – an aromatic and full-flavoured tea – as well as an award-winning decaffeinated tea.

Business Life caught up with sales director, James, just as he was packing his van full of teas of all descriptions, ready to head off to the Royal Welsh.

The Royal Welsh – that great emporium of Welsh livestock and showcase for quality food and drink – has been one of the key calendar dates for the firm ever since it started.

“We’ll talk to thousands of people and give away tea,” James said. “It’s all part of building up our brand, which is crucial.

Our success isn’t down to luck, it’s strategic.

“We have re-branded this year. People try us the first time because we’re Welsh; they come back the second time because we’re a really good cup of tea.”

The Welsh Brew Tea story all started when Alan left a career in sales working on blue chip brands to start his own company in Newtown, Powys. Originally, he supplied a small network of local shops.

After re-locating to South Wales, the brand evolved, although it continues to use Big Tea in Newtown to blend its tea. It currently has a main depot in Llangennech, and a smaller depot in Gowerton.

Alan built the brand up gradually and Welsh Brew Tea was the first non-frozen line to get into leading regional food wholesaler Castell Howell.

Sarah chalked up several years as a sales rep for global brands including Tropicana and Pepsi, before returning to work for Welsh Brew Tea as finance director.

And after working as a teacher in Australia and Lisbon, James returned to Wales with his family, taking up the role of sales director.

“I starting on the vans, going to shows, making the deliveries (back in those days we delivered direct) and built it up over the past eight years,” James said.

“To be able to go into Sainsbury’s and talk to a national buyer is an amazing achievement for a small firm like ours.

“The black tea market declined 12 per cent last year – but as a company we grew over 40 per cent. We’ve had real growth in a tough time, and we’re up against Tata, Tetley, Tea Pigs, Typhoo.

“We’re a little family business that really does hold its own.”

According to James, Welsh water itself

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James Wendon and his father Alan Wendon, of Welsh Brew tea company

deserves some of the credit. “The aroma and flavour of tea and coffee comes through really well in the soft Welsh water,” he said.

Over the years, Welsh Brew Tea has partnered up with several other iconic Welsh food companies including the Village Bakery to make tea bread, or ‘bara brith’ as it’s called in Wales.

“We put in the time and energy and the passion,” James said.

“There are always issues. And like all business, it’s about solving problems.

“Our biggest challenge is presenting ourselves as a credible company alongside heavyweights like Yorkshire Tea, which has a marketing budget of £10 million – we really do punch way above our weight.

“We currently have 3.5 per cent of the Welsh tea market – what we need is another 3 per cent of the Welsh tea market – which equates to 30,000 new homes trying our tea – this will enable us to invest further in our company,” he said.

“We have three lovely videos we have done this year, with Distribution Media.

One has a surfing theme, one has a dogwalking and the third one has a rugby theme.”

James plans to release the third video in October – which features a local Mumbles rugby player in the bath with a cup of tea.

Other marketing campaigns include a glamping competition, with the apt hashtag #stirsyoursoul. Entrants are invited to share what stirs their soul. The competition closes December 17, and the lucky winner gets a luxury seven-day glamping break next August.

So, what’s next for Welsh Brew Tea? Conquering the world one new Green Tea Bird at a time?

“I would really love to have a visitor centre where you can roll your own tea – this is an idea at the back of my mind,” James said.

Tea and twitter aficionados take note: anyone posting a tweet that takes the fancy of Welsh Brew Tea gets a free mug.

Time for a cuppa…

TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO SAINSBURY’S AND TALK TO A NATIONAL BUYER IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT FOR A SMALL FIRM LIKE OURS.

Where can you find Welsh Brew Tea? • In-house tea for Celtic Manor • Patricks with Rooms, Mumbles • Joe’s ice cream parlour • All major supermarkets in Wales (apart from Lidl) • Through Rainforest Alliance the coffee comes via the company’s coffee grower in Tanzania, who helps import and roast carefully selected beans • Exports worldwide – notably to China and plans to do more in the Middle East swanseabaybusiness.com 49

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Our Region

Swansea

Expert opinion with Lawrence Bailey, owner of public affairs specialists Whiterock Consulting

Tackling change in a new political climate...

Andrew Davidson, managing director at DTR Medical

Manufacturer prepares for medical fair AN award-winning Swansea manufacturer of surgical equipment that secured more than 30 deals from 21 different countries at a trade fair is preparing for its next event.

DTR Medical, which makes sterile single-use surgical instruments and also provides cleanroom contract manufacturing services for a wide range of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, achieved the 37 deals after exhibiting on the Welsh Government stand at Medica last year.

DTR Medical, based on Enterprise Park, has exhibited at Medica each year since its formation in 2005.

The company secured sales of about £388,000 at Medica 2015 and held more than 90 meetings during the event with customers, distributors, suppliers and interested parties.

Andrew Davidson, managing director at DTR Medical, said: “As a result of the support we have received in the ten years we have been involved, we can see a considerable return in value which contributes to our future plans.”

Frio Ltd, in Pembrokeshire, is exhibiting for the fifth year running and will be promoting its range of patented insulin cooling pouches that keeps insulin, anaphylactic shock pens and other temperature sensitive medication cool for days.

Having diversified into the outdoor and leisure market last year, the Haverfordwest-based firm’s zipper cooling wallet for insulin users was recently awarded overall product of the year at the UK Outdoor Industry Awards 2016.

Chris Wolsey, managing director at Frio Ltd, said: “Our presence at Medica has been a major factor in our business development and has transformed Frio into an international company, exporting to many countries across the globe.

“The support of the Welsh Government and our business development manager has helped us to break into many new global markets, and has subsequently secured the future of the company and all its employees.”

Both firms will join 20 companies that have already signed up to exhibit at Medica 2016, which takes place in November. It enables Welsh life science companies to launch and showcase a range of innovative products and services.

DTR Medical has won a number of awards including the MediWales Outstanding Growth Award twice, the MediWales Innovation Award, the MediWales Export Achievement Award and the MediWales Judge’s Award.

Although you probably haven’t noticed, a good chunk of government has managed to trundle on within the Palace of Westminster despite all the recent upheavals.

This includes an on-going debate over the Wales Bill which, among other measures, will give the Welsh government responsibility for approving energy planning for all onshore wind farms and offshore projects up to 350MW. The legislation would also put the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon under its auspices.

Devolution may be a matter of historical fact but it still doesn’t come naturally to some MPs. Several of them fear a proliferation of turbines over rural Wales.

Others think that AMs will bow to parochial pressures and oppose developments.

The demise of the Department of Energy and Climate Change under new prime minister Theresa May has caused some to wonder if it’s still a good idea to be in the renewables sector.

Environmentalists are understandably concerned that the new Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has to juggle a brief of pursuing a progressive reduction in greenhouse gases with “protecting consumer interests over energy costs”.

Although the majority view in Cardiff Bay remains that planning powers should promote energy efficient building design and the like, it should be remembered this is now an Assembly which includes members who don’t necessarily sign up to current thinking on climate change.

What all that amounts to in the new reality of post-Brexit politics is anyone’s guess.

I’ve been reading how one firm believes that we could become virtually energysecure in less than a decade if the Welsh government opted to independently reinstate solar power subsidies.

A couple of weeks ago, I’d have described the possibility of that ever happening as very unlikely. Nowadays I’m a lot more cautious with my predictions.

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An Open Letter To The Business Community of Swansea, At Swansea BID we like to be a bit different in what we do especially when it comes to events in the City Centre.

One of the more creative events will take place on Thursday 25th August 2016 when we launch the first City Centre multi venue Rioja Day. Taking inspiration from the early Beaujolais Days, it’s primarily aimed at business people so whether you’re looking to network, entertain clients over lunch, take staff out or simply have an enjoyable day (and night) in the City Centre, Rioja Day is the perfect excuse to kick start the last bank holiday of the year.

Getting involved is easy, just register your details via the website and we will keep you updated on what is happening for Rioja Day 2016 including what venues are taking part for you to book a table, socialise and enjoy the day.

Muchas gracias,

www.riojaday.wales

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Our Region

Neath Port Talbot

Baglan Energy Park

NEATH PORT TALBOT At the heart of global industry Alun Thomas, leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, writes exclusively for BUSINESS LIFE about the county’s future prosperity in the face of new uncertainties...

We are living in uncertain times, with the continuing questions surrounding the steel industry and speculation about what the leave vote might mean for business, future investment and growth.

What is certain is that it is now more important than ever to press on with our ambitions for Neath Port Talbot and for the whole of the region to broaden the economic base, creating growth and economic prosperity for our local communities.

The establishment of the Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone is an early and very welcome development. It is one of the key actions to come out of the Tata

Steel Task Force to help support the steel industry and the local supply chain. It will help make this area more competitive and be a strong incentive for new investment.

Looking further ahead and recognising that we are competing in a global economy, innovation will be the key to future prosperity. Innovation in new technologies, in research and development and in manufacturing; in fact innovation across all industry sectors and here in Neath Port Talbot we are doing our bit to drive this forward.

At Port Talbot’s Harbourside, our new R&D Village provides research facilities and state of the art engineering

laboratories. There are plans to make the R&DVillage the home of the new Advanced Engineering Materials Research Institute - a unique facility in Wales supporting cutting-edge industrial research. It will not only create highly skilled jobs, but training opportunities for PhD students.

Also based here is the TWI Technology Centre (Wales), which employs 27 workers in highly skilled R&D roles. The centre specialises in the development of state of the art non-destructive testing methods.

TWI works with several major companies involved in the nuclear, offshore oil and gas, marine shipping, aerospace, renewables and defence industries.

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Neath Port Talbot Our Region

Port Talbot harbourside

At Baglan Energy Park, the Baglan Bay Innovation Centre is home to a host of companies in the energy and sustainable technology industries, developing new ideas for the marketplace.

Established to drive forward renewable energy technology, the recognition that innovation and supporting high tech, growing companies are key to economic growth and jobs is at the heart of the Centre.

One example I want to highlight is SPECIFIC. SPECIFIC is a national innovation centre, which is research led and industry inspired.

Led by Swansea University working with strategic partners including Tata Steel and other international collaborators and SMEs. SPECIFIC’s vision is to foster a new industry which transforms buildings into ‘power stations’ through the rapid commercialisation of functional coatings on steel and glass.

SPECIFIC already employs around 150 people over four sites in Neath Port Talbot,

and the project has just secured an additional round of funding in excess of £30 million for the next five years from EU funds, InnovateUK and EPSRC. Baglan Energy Park is also home to the University of South Wales’ Hydrogen Research Centre; the only one of its kind in the UK. At the centre, researchers link renewable energy with hydrogen for energy storage and as a vehicle fuel.

All of these examples of innovation are firmly rooted in our excellent steel and engineering skills, combined with strong links to academia and research facilities at our Universities.

And this brings me back to our steel industry and another proposed project, the

tidal lagoon. We now need the tidal lagoon; it will not only create demand for steel but it will boost our manufacturing and construction industry and, in developing and delivering the first tidal lagoon in the world, the supply chain in this region would hold a distinct advantage in the global market. An advantage which could put the Swansea Bay City Region at the heart of a global industry once again.

TWI Technology Centre (Wales) at Port Talbot Harbourside’s R&D Village

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Our Region

Neath Port Talbot

How do you like them apples?

Meet the Johnny Appleseed of South West Wales – real cider champ Len Nicholas has an exciting vision for the Afan Valley, as BUSINESS LIFE discovers...

A valley dripping in pink and white apple and pear blossom – that’s one Afan Valley man’s dream for the future. Home-brewed real cider champion, Len Nicholas, won the Welsh Cider & Perry Championships 2016 in May this year, and his far-reaching vision could transform pockets of the Afan valley, which is already popular with bikers and walkers.

Nicholas has planted and nurtured an orchard on the Graig, Cwmafan (which translates as the ‘rock’), and he also has a heritage orchard at Margam Park, planted on some reclaimed waste land. He calls his burgeoning cider business Afal y Graig.

Recently, Nicholas has been in negotiations with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who have granted him a 20-year lease on parcels of land across the Afan Valley – in which he plans to start planting around 500 apple and pear trees in November, which he has been grafting in his Graig orchard.

“I will be adding value to the tourism in the Afan Valley - people will be walking or cycling through the orchard areas. I will plant eating apples as well, so they can just pick them and eat them. I think it’s something that will enhance the area,” he explains.

The idea first took root 20 years ago when a work colleague gave Nicholas a

bag of apples – he took them home and made apple wine. He was hooked on the DIY alcohol lark, and thought he’d try his hand at making real cider.

“Initially I wanted to make enough for my family and friends but I started to get interested in the history of apple and pear growing,” he explains.

“There are lot of Welsh varieties of cider apples that were brought over from Normandy in the 11th century by the monks who set up St Dogmaels Abbey, near St David’s. They figured that if they grew in the Bay of Biscay, they would grow on our coastal hillsides too.

“They brought three varieties of apple with them – Pig y felin, Afal pen and Penglas – one sharp, one bittersweet, and one sweet. And the combination of these three in the right proportions makes a great cider,” Nicholas explains.

He also mentions the scrolls at St David’s Cathedral, which record how the archbishop chided them for excessive cider drinking.

“They used to pay the landworkers with cider, because you couldn’t get drinking water and they used to drink it themselves,” says Nicholas.

Family support has been crucial for the success of the venture – and by condensing his shifts as a Barclays mortgage advisor,

he is able to dedicate at least one full day a week to the business. He is working towards doing it full time from spring next year.

All three of Nicholas’ children get involved, as does his son-in-law, and even his 78-year-old father. And when it comes to apple pressing time, even the neighbours join in.

INITIALLY I WANTED TO MAKE ENOUGH FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS BUT I STARTED TO GET INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF APPLE AND PEAR GROWING.

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Our Region

Neath Port Talbot

NEWS ROUND-UP...

YOU PRESS ONE VARIETY, AND THEN YOU TEST THE JUICE. IF SUGAR CONTENT OR FLAVOUR ISN’T WHAT YOU WANT, THEN YOU MIX IT UP, AND THAT’S WHERE THE SKILL COMES IN.

As well as practical support, and plenty of apple munching and crunching, Nicholas says that his family helped him come up with the names of his special brews. “They used to call me ‘Treehugger’ at first, so I thought that would be a good name,” he says.

Inspiration for the ‘Beast of Bryn’, stems from when he first started out.

“They used to say it was a bit rough when I first started, (it’s not now, it’s lovely!), so that was the inspiration for that. And the Jack Russell on the logo, that comes from when I had a Jack Russell at the time.”

Another blend, Pigswill, takes its name from the apple variety used in its creation - Afal Pigaderyn, a rare bitter sharp apple.

Nicholas, who has no background in farming or agriculture, says his cider adventures have really brought him closer to the rhythm of nature and the seasons. “The land, the trees, you know it’s going to change, it brings all the seasons into focus,” he says.

He loves the pleasure and enjoyment his grandchildren gain from the cider business too, and says he enjoys watching them walking round munching Morgansweets around the orchard.

With no medium-scale equipment available, Nicholas’ background as a coppersmith in Swansea’s dry dock stood him in good stead as he experimented to find a system that worked. After much trial and error, he ended up with an effective press and distillation set-up, which includes repurposed 200-litre olive drums.

“I tried lots of different things – some things didn’t work because I couldn’t get clear access to clean them. Everything has to be surgically clean, otherwise could be an infection in there that turns

Unions call for Tata buyers to ‘develop potential’ Staff and unions have gathered in Margam amid continuing uncertainty about the future of the Port Talbot steelworks.

The board of Tata Steel unexpectedly announced in July that it was suspending the potential sale of its UK operations and was looking instead at the possibly of a joint venture with the German company Thyssen Krupp — with the firm saying it was looking for “alternative and more sustainable” solutions for the European part of its business. it to vinegar,” explains Nicholas.

Apples are shredded in an electric mill, and the gloop then pressed in hessian sacks in a frame, with up to six boards stacked on top of each other.

“You press one variety, and then you test the juice. If sugar content or flavour isn’t what you want, then you mix it up, and that’s where the skill comes in,” says Nicholas.

Fermentation takes around five or six months, and involves pumping the juice off the yeast (which settles at the bottom of the tank), into a clean prepared tank (which slows down the fermenting process). Called ‘racking off’, this process has to be repeated three to six times, otherwise you end up with a cider that’s too dry.

Talking of cider, Nicholas is clearly of the opinion that there is cider, and then there is ‘real’ cider.

Current rules stipulate that ‘cider’ is only required to have 30% apple contents – the rest is made up of sugar syrup, apple flavouring, caramel colouring.

“The beauty of the process is that you don’t add anything, the yeast on the apple skins starts the fermentation process,” says Nicholas.

Afal y Graig real cider and perry blends are becoming increasingly popular, and Nicholas’ recent win at the Welsh cider championships at Caldicot Castle underline its appeal. A 500-ml bottle retails for £3.00, and at the moment Nicholas et al manage the whole bottling and labelling process.

Time to raise a glass (of homebrewed cider) to a man whose simple vision could bring some much-needed joy and help the Afan Valley’s tourism industry to blossom.

Unions have now called for any new owners to “develop the potential” of the giant Port Talbot site and reverse the decline seen in recent years.

The unions also called on Tata not to “walk away” from its responsibilities to the British Steel Pension Scheme and its 130,000 members — and on the UK government to ensure the scheme does not enter the state-backed Pension Protection Fund, which would results big cuts in payments.

A joint statement by the GMB, Community and Unite unions released at the meeting in Tata Sports and Social Club said staff and the wider community had “taken more than their fair share of pain” .

They said: “We feel that our workforce, contractors, partners and surrounding communities have taken more than their fair share of pain over several years.

“We believe that Welsh and Westminster governments still have a major part to play in the survival of our industry – they must help us deliver a playing field to compete fairly with our competitors, and enable us to be treated as equals with our more advantaged partners in Europe.”

Tata announced in March it intended to sell its UK steel-making business, putting the jobs of some 4,000 Port Talbot employees risk as well as many thousands more in the supply chain and wider community.

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ARE YOU READY TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?                                                               

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0800 013 2544 info@trainingwales.com Untitled-5 1

7/29/2016 11:48:14 AM

Making your business our business.

Clear and trusted relationships are critical to all business activities. We know that in order to do our job properly we need to be your trusted advisor, and not just take a passing interest. To do this, we need to make it our business to know your business inside out.

Business services include: · Business Disputes · Commercial Contracts · Commercial Property · Corporate Deals · Debt Recovery · HR & Employment Law · Intellectual Property · Property Litigation

Get in touch with any of our local offices by phone or email, or visit us online. law@jcpsolicitors.co.uk www.jcpsolicitors.co.uk

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Swansea Cardiff Carmarthen Fishguard Haverfordwest

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7/29/2016 9:20:40 AM

Finance It’s all in the jeans

Couple David and Clare sew up work-love relationship...

Finance is sponsored by

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Finance

Hiut Denim

IT’S ALL IN THE JEANS What happens when you mix advertising nous with some savvy sewing skills in a familyrun business? You end up with Hiut Denim – a revolutionary new brand of top end jeans...

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What might be disaster for some couples has been a rip-roaring success for David and Clare Hieatt – they have spent 20 of their 23 years of married life running clothing businesses together.

“We started Howies Clothing and ran that for about 10 years, then sold it to Timberland and started Hiut Denim,” Clare explained.

Before their incarnation as retail fashion business owners, both David and Clare were advertising copywriters living in London; David worked for Saatchi and Saatchi and Clare for another leading advertising firm.

“Our advertising background and understanding of marketing and brands is probably why we have grown the way we have,” Claire said.

“We have a good story with Hiut – it’s getting the town making jeans again.”

Because there was a time when Cardigan, the biggest town in Ceredigion, was known as the ‘Welsh town that made jeans.’

The former Dewhirst factory employed 400 people – around 40 per cent of the town’s population – and produced around 35,000 wholesale garments a year for the likes of Marks and Spencer.

But in 2002, production was moved from Ceredigion to Morocco.

Ten years later, armed with the capital from the sale of Howies, the Hieatts set up Hiut Denim, bolstered by capital support from private shareholders.

The initial team of five included three ‘grand masters’ – former Dewhirst machinists who had been able to work on every element of a garment, (rather than just one element, as per more industrialised processes).

With an emphasis on quality and craftsmanship, and the couple’s ability to craft a compelling brand story and key messages, the Hiut brand was born.

The family business now employs 14 people, and the couple have a vision to grow the business to a point where it is able to employ many more.

From its humble beginnings, Hiut

very quickly became a global brand, with jeans retailing from £135 to £230, depending on the fabric.

“The emphasis is on longevity and quality,” Clare said.

“We consulted with designers to make sure we had a top end cut for both the men’s and the women’s jeans.

“The men’s and women’s jeans have their own sub-story.

“The men’s jeans are made from hardwearing fabrics made in Japan, and they have their own heritage and story.

“And the women’s jeans are reformed denim made in a mill in Turkey. They have a lot of stretch, so they are quite flattering.”

By April this year, turnover was £700,000, and the business had built up a dedicated customer base.

“Most of our sales are direct from our website – it wouldn’t be viable for us to sell wholesale. We ship all over the world,” Clare added.

“We were just featured in Selfridges as part of their New Brands display – so we were on Oxford Street.

“Social media has played a big role – customers come to us via word of mouth, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – or via our Year Book.”

The couple’s two teenage daughters also take an interest in the family business.

“They have strong opinions on our social media,” laughs Clare, “and one plans to pursue a career in fashion.”

Discussing her work/life relationship with David, she adds: “Although we have a similar skill-set in one way, having both had advertising experience, we have very different personality strengths and I think that has been important.

“David is inspirational and creative and I’m more methodical. Often he has the great ideas and I’m the one who makes them happen.”

Model wearing Hiut Denim’s selvedge denim

David and Clare’s story that sold Hiut Denim to the world...

• Cardigan is a small town of 4,000 good people. 400 of them used to make jeans.

• They made 35,000 pairs a week. For three decades.

• Then one day the factory closed. It left town.

• But all that skill and knowhow remained. Without any way of showing the world what they could do.

•

That’s why we have started Hiut Denim.To bring manufacturing back home.

To use all that skill on our doorstep. And to breathe new life into our town.

• So yes, our town is going to make jeans again. Here goes.

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Finance

Handelsbanken Swansea

Manager joins bank...

A bank in the region has appointed a new corporate manager in response to increasing demand for its services.

Martin Griffiths joins Handelsbanken Swansea with more than 30 years of banking experience.

Griffiths will be involved in developing existing customer relationships as well as welcoming new customers.

He said: “What attracted me to Handelsbanken was its pure focus on serving the customer. As experienced local bankers we have the power to make all the decisions that matter to our customers, swiftly and sensibly here in the branch. The bank provides customers with an extremely high level of service, and products

structured to meet their individual needs.”

The branch was established in 2008 and is located in Axis Court, Swansea Vale.

Branch manager Steve Smith said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin to our team. He has a first-class track record and a deep understanding of the banking requirements of companies across a wide range of sectors.

“His range of banking and accountancy skills, and experience as head of large corporate at one of the other UK banks, means we can continue to meet the growing needs of both existing and new customers in the area, while maintaining the high levels of service for which we are renowned.’’

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME MARTIN TO OUR TEAM. HE HAS A FIRST-CLASS TRACK RECORD AND A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE BANKING REQUIREMENTS OF COMPANIES ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SECTORS.

Martin Griffiths

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advertising feature

Crucial Advice On Fair Pension Allocation in Divorce Proceedings Sali Jackson-Thomas is a family law Solicitor with some 25 years experience providing family legal advice. She is an expert in cases involving family businesses, pensions and trusts.

Everybody approaches marriage with the best intentions, but none of us can forsee the future, and most recent statistics show that about 42 percent of marriages end in divorce.

More people than ever are divorcing later in life too, so often pensions can be the biggest asset in a marriage with available cash and property values decreasing for many.

Calculating how pensions should be allocated when a couple is divorcing can be complex, but there are a number of clear ways forward.

The usual way of dealing with pensions is via a pension sharing order. This creates two pensions from the existing one and the receiving spouse’s pension is then totally independent from that of the giver.

A second option is creating an attachment order. This enables the court to order the managers of the pension scheme to pay a proportion of the pension to the pension-holder’s spouse.

In this situation, the pensionholder remains in control of their pension and cannot be compelled to retire at a certain age.

Additionally if the pension-holder dies, the pension benefit is lost. If the nonmember remarries, then payments, which are akin to maintenance, will cease.

Clearly an attachment order is an unattractive option for the non-pension holding spouse apart from in exceptional circumstances.

Offsetting, which is the third option, sees the non-pension holding spouse take a greater share of the tangible non-pension assets to compensate for the loss of a share of their spouse’s pension.

A very important point to consider however with offsetting, is that we are not comparing like-for-like so how do we value the pension asset to formulate a fair outcome on an offset? This is an issue judges continue to consider and test.

Furthermore, the new ‘pension freedom’, whereby people with personal pensions and members of occupational defined contribution schemes can access the whole of their pension pot, although tax is payable on all but the tax free lump sum, may impact on the value of the pension too.

As you can see, this is a complex topic and, if you are considering or approaching divorce, particularly in later life, I would advise very strongly that you seek the advice of a pension expert.

Sali can be contacted on 01792 525413 or via email: sali.jackson-thomas@jcpsolicitors.co.uk

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Flying HIGH Cardiff Airport’s chairman believes it can continue to succeed after being named the fastest-growing airport in the UK. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

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Flying high

The chairman for Cardiff Airport has praised the airport’s growth, but said the over-achievement did not surprise him, and he expects it to be repeated in the next two years.

Roger Lewis’ comments come after it was named the UK’s fastest-growing airport that regularly handles more than one million passengers a year.

The rolling total of passengers flying from Cardiff now stands at 1,302,583 representing a 28 per cent passenger growth over the past 12 months, with the airport reporting 13 consecutive months of growth.

Lewis emphasised the importance of sport, the consequences of Brexit, and why he thought the airport had seen such success in the past year.

“It’s a great news day for Cardiff and for Wales, and behind it has been fabulous support from our passengers, so a big thank you to them from us,” he said.

“What’s also driven the growth is our increasing direct routes from Cardiff. We have over 50 now. We also have hundreds of routes available from Cardiff via our seven hubs, particularly that of Amsterdam.

“It’s an extraordinary story backed up by our fabulous team at the airport. Our staff are everything, and success is down to the passenger experience they have helped provide.

“We have invested millions into improving our restaurants, bars, coffee houses and duty free shops and a great business lounge.

“We’ve also purchased three brand new fire engines by investing in safety and security.

It’s been a great year of activity with more routes, better times, better frequency, and an enhanced passenger experience, which they have responded to.”

Lewis said the airport provided more than 2,600 direct and indirect jobs to the region, and had an impact of £102 million on the local economy. He also praised the Cardiff Airport and St Athan Enterprise Zone, which is home to partners such as British Airways and the Ministry of Defence.

“All of the metrics are pointing in the right direction. I forecasted growth when I joined the company, but I am really pleased we have overachieved. We have got a great team of people, and we have been very, very ambitious in our growth strategies.

“I’m projecting continued growth over the next 12 and 24 months, too.”

Lewis said it was “fabulous and fantastic” to see the Wales football team head off to Euro 2016 and to welcome them home after reaching the semi-finals.

“As well as the huge pride, they have flown the flag of Wales across the globe - a

football audience captures the imagination of the world.

“For us, all our scheduled flights were sold to the Euro destinations, chartered flights were fully booked, and we put on extra chartered flights to support the crowds going to the round of 16, quarter and semifinals.

“The airport was packed and we carried thousands more passengers, so it was a fabulous achievement.

“With the Champions League final, Autumn Test matches, and Six Nations matches, there’s plenty more to come too in terms of people flying in to Cardiff.

“And if you look back at past few years, Rugby World Cup matches in 2015, the Olympic soccer matches in 2012, and all other sporting events in between have played such an important part.

“Next year, for the Champions League final at the Principality Stadium, my dream is to have one of the great teams of Spain play one of the great teams of Germany.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the likes of Ronaldo and Gareth Bale playing together against the likes of a Bayern Munich - that would be a fabulous occasion for Wales.”

Finance

Lewis argued south west England was “spoilt” for airports and customers in the Swansea Bay region shouldn’t have to travel many hours to get to one.

“I see us as complimentary to both Birmingham and Bristol,” he said.

“We are the airport for Wales, and our catchment area is very clearly defined within a 90 minute drive, it is more than 4.5 million people, and an hour’s drive is 1.8 million.

“Our responsibility and priority is to super-serve the people in our catchment area.

“It’s unfair and undemocratic for the people of Carmarthen, Swansea, Llanelli and others to have to travel hours upon hours to get to an airport.

“It’s so important for business that you have that access. The south-west of England is super-served by airports. It’s spoilt Exeter, Newquay, Southampton. That’s unfair, and why we have to do everything in our power to serve Wales.”

Discussing June’s referendum, Lewis said there must be optimism after the Brexit vote.

“I passionately supported the Remain position in last month’s referendum, but the public has spoken and we must respect

Roger Lewis, Cardiff Airport Chairman

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Finance

Flying high

the will and seize the opportunities which I think will come, and we have got to be on the front foot,” he said.

“We have not stopped since the referendum on being on the front foot to develop new partnerships, friendships and opportunities.

“That is the attitude we must all embrace.

There are inevitable risks, but there are risks associated with ambition, and we’ve got to be ambitious.

“At the heart of this is change, which has to be constant. That’s our philosophy, we have not sat back.

“We will continue to step forward. We can develop new things out of this situation. I have been in talks and on the Monday after Brexit I was in countries outside Europe discussing our business along with the UK and Welsh Government to discuss how we take things forward.

“But the relationships that exist in Europe have to be maintained. Free air space is fundamental and I do not envisage that changing as it would become a very difficult and dangerous world if it did. I’m confident the relationships we have in the air will continue,” he said.

He added increasing routes and making the airport attractive for carriers was vital.

“We need to make sure our current airlines deliver to the maximum, and increasing the number of destinations, and we are looking

very carefully at what opportunities there are to have a hub in the Gulf and the east coast of America,” Lewis said.

“We also need to look at what else we can do to make the airport as attractive as possible for carriers - how can we make the cost of flying in and out of Cardiff Airport as attractive as possible by working with our fuel carriers.

“Another thing is to start looking at the chartered flights we already have into the east coast of America and the Caribbean and to the Gulf and considering scheduled flights heading west and east. It’s about increasing our direct connectivity around the world.

“We will work with our carriers, understand the dreams and aspirations of our carriers and the markets wanting to target Wales as their destinations as well.

“We are going to enhance our European offerings, as well as targeting flights West transatlantic, and East to the Gulf.”

Cardiff Airport’s development comes as part of the Cardiff Capital Region project, and Lewis added: “It is at the heart of the Cardiff capital city agenda - connectivity is fundamental.

“Cardiff Airport is fundamental to the financial wellbeing of Wales. We have to allow our businesses to flourish and to fly to destinations in Wales.

“Job creation at front of our mind, and

the people of Wales must be allowed the opportunity to fly and have the same destination opportunities the other parts of the UK are superserved by.”

“We have a great bus service into and out of the airport. We have a train link into the Cardiff Rhoose airport, and the Welsh Government is looking to improve significantly the road links to Cardiff airport, so that’s something that’s going to be developed into the coming year.”

“We are forecasting continued growth over the next 12 months and 24 months.

There are very few enterprises in the UK that can say that today. We are on a growth trajectory for years to come.”

IT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY BACKED UP BY OUR FABULOUS TEAM AT THE AIRPORT. OUR STAFF ARE EVERYTHING, AND SUCCESS IS DOWN TO THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE HELPED PROVIDE. The Welsh team return from Euro 2016

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Finance

Singleton Campus

£60 million loan to fund new university facilities...

Multi-million pound funding will support upgrades at Singleton Campus, as BUSINESS LIFE reports...

Swansea University’s Singleton Campus is in line for significant investment, thanks to a £60 million loan.

Developments are set to include new student facilities, refurbishment of the grade twolisted Fulton House and Wallace Buildings — including upgraded laboratories — and improvements to the library.

Some of the £60 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) will also be used to build the Computational Foundry at the university’s Bay Campus, off Fabian Way. University chiefs have always said the Singleton Campus would undergo improvements after the £450 million Bay Campus was opened last September.

The EIB loan — the second £60 million loan

from the bank to the university — has been welcomed as evidence that the university was a growing part of the region’s economy.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Davies said: “This is a massive vote of confidence in the university for what we have already achieved and our plans for taking the strong upward trajectory even further.

“We are also embarking on phase two of our Bay Campus, including a Computational Foundry, which will transform Swansea and Wales as a global destination for computational scientists.

“These exciting projects are part of our ambition to build on our current and growing success, improving student experience still further and increasing our

THESE EXCITING PROJECTS ARE PART OF OUR AMBITION TO BUILD ON OUR CURRENT AND GROWING SUCCESS, IMPROVING STUDENT EXPERIENCE STILL FURTHER...

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WE ARE ALSO EMBARKING ON PHASE TWO OF OUR BAY CAMPUS WHICH WILL TRANSFORM SWANSEA AND WALES AS A GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR COMPUTATIONAL SCIENTISTS.

collaborative research links with industry, and becoming a powerhouse for the regional economy.”

Work on the state-of-the-art computer centre is expected to start in November while overall the new campus has, according to the university, led to a 20 per cent rise in student and stuff numbers.

The university, which has just over 16,000 undergraduates and postgraduates, has previously sold Hendrefoilan Student Village in Killay to developer St Modwen, which is set to build 300 houses there.

Jonathan Taylor, vice-president of the EIB, said: “Recent investment at Swansea University has strengthened student satisfaction, enabled new collaboration with leading industrial partners, generated world class research and made an impressive contribution to the local economy.

“The EIB is pleased to have helped finance the new Bay Campus and we look forward to supporting transformation of the Singleton site and backing new research facilities on the Bay Campus under his new initiative through a new £60 million loan.”

Taylor said the EIB has loaned more than £1.6 billion to 28 UK universities over the last decade.

He added that Swansea University “stands out as a genuine flagship that provides a model for leading institutions across Europe to follow”. swanseabaybusiness.com 69

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Positivity in the Motor Sector Our MHA Motor Dealer Report 2016 shows that the sector is very positive and optimistic about the next 12 months. However, the recent Brexit vote has thrown an element of uncertainty into the mix.

Matt Thomas, Director, Broomfield & Alexander

The report looks at Financial Performance Drivers, Future Industry Outlook, Operational Performance Drivers and other elements such as Social Media and Marketing Service Plans.

MHA Report Key Findings: • Motor dealers are positive about their year end profitability.

• Over half of motor dealers believe that new car sales targets are achievable.

• 46% of motor dealers have noticed a decline in used car margins.

• Staff retention and staff recruitment are the top two cost areas that motor dealers are expecting to significantly increase in the next 12 months.

• 87% of motor dealers are intending to recruit in the next 12 months.

• Over 80% of motor dealers are looking to grow their business over the next 12 months.

• The majority of motor dealers have planned spend, over the next 12 months, of over £150k.

• 73% of motor dealers think that AFVs will gain significant market share, with 66% expecting this to happen within the next 10 years.

It is good to report that prior to the recent Brexit vote there was a considerable amount of positive news and optimism in the sector, reflecting the level of sales volumes and growth in the last few years and also the considerable strategic activity which has been taking place. A good proportion of dealer groups are continuing to invest in the sector through developing existing sites and/ or the acquisition of more franchises, sites or other dealers.

Confidence levels have certainly remained strong throughout the first half of the year and the survey demonstrates this.

The underlying UK car market is clearly strong, but the Brexit uncertainty is very likely to have

an adverse impact on the level of buyers changing their cars, as well as other operational uncertainties such as the stability of a dealer’s workforce, funding costs and the resultant level of profitability in the short to medium term. The sector is, however, extremely resilient and so it will be interesting to see how this pans out in the coming months and through the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.

To request a PDF copy of the Motor Dealer Report 2016 or speak to a member of our team about the issues raised in the report, please contact motor@broomfield.co.uk or call us on 01792 790444.

Matt Thomas | matt.thomas@broomfield.co.uk

Tel: 01792 790444 mail: info@broomfield.co.uk | www.broomfield.co.uk @Matt_ThomasBA |

@BroomfieldWales

©LW

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News round-up

Finance

Attraction hopes to build £10m holiday village...

A popular tourist attraction has submitted plans to develop a high quality holiday village, consisting of more than 56 themed lodges, touring caravans and glamping facilities including teepees and yurts.

If planning permission is granted, Folly Farm’s holiday village will involve a £10 million development of land adjoining the north of the attraction.

As well as developing a range of accommodation types split into three themed areas - Safari, Fairground and Farm - and all the necessary infrastructure including shower and toilet blocks, the attractions management team plans to regenerate existing farm buildings into a cafe, games rooms and reception area.

Chris Ebsworth, director at Folly Farm said: “This is a natural step forward for us and, by bringing another dimension to our offer, we aim to extend our trading seasons beyond the traditional May to September window.”

“Our accommodation will attract new tourists to the area and provide an option to stay with us outside of the summer season, for long weekends and during half-term holidays. This development will also allow us to extend our Christmas season opening and beyond.”

If approved, it’s hoped the first phase of construction will begin in September, with the caravan sites ready for summer 2017

Next store opens...

Swansea’s newest Next store has opened its doors.

THIS IS A NATURAL STEP FORWARD FOR US AND, BY BRINGING ANOTHER DIMENSION TO OUR OFFER, WE AIM TO EXTEND OUR TRADING SEASONS BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL MAY TO SEPTEMBER WINDOW.

The new two floor store at Morfa Retail Park includes a lingerie room, a shoe room showcasing all the latest styles from its newest collections, along with fashion for the whole family in its women’s, children’s and men’s departments.

There is also a home department, plus a Costa Coffee.

Tracey Mason, assistant store manager, said: “Everyone in the team is super excited to show off our new store! We’ve got loads more space which means we can share even more fab product with all of our customers.”

Meanwhile, TK Maxx is due to open its doors on the retail park in October, according to our sister title the South Wales Evening Post.

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Your LOCAL Financial Team As one of the largest accountancy practices with 6 offices across Swansea, Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Carmarthen and St Davids and a track record spanning more than 100 years, you can be sure that Bevan & Buckland are your local financial team who have your best interests at heart.

Every client is unique and deserves a unique service.

Our philosophy is to put our clients first - to understand their situation and provide a first class service tailored to their specific needs.

Because we establish a one-to-one relationship with each client we are able to offer timely, individual advice on how to improve your business or personal finances.

Bevan & Buckland have also developed a new range of services to meet the needs of modern businesses, including a comprehensive business advisory service.

“They specialize in my area and understand my sector.”

Our Services: • Accounts • Tax compliance • Audit • Tax planning • Debt management • Insolvency • Financial planning • Corporate finance • Payroll • VAT advice and returns • Tax Investigations • Business start-up • Business Growth

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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL ACCOUNTANCY www.bevanbuckland.co.uk • mail@bevanbuckland.co.uk Swansea Office 01792 410100

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Pembroke Office 01646 682380

Carmarthen Office 01267 233115

Haverfordwest Office 01437 760666

St David’s Office 01437 720352

Cardiff Office 02920 459960

7/29/2016 9:21:29 AM

Lloyds Banking Group

Finance

Lloyds to close branches and cut 3,000 jobs...

Lloyds Banking Group may have doubled its pre-tax profits, but that hasn’t stopped job losses and Brexit is being blamed.

The bank has said it plans to cut 3,000 roles and put up closed signs at 200 branches.

Lloyds has branches across South West Wales but - as this magazine went to press - it has not yet said which branches will go.

It made £2.5 billion profit for the half year to the end of June, compared with £1.2 billion previously.

But a ‘deceleration of growth’ is being forecast by chief executive Antonio HortaOsorio, following the country’s decision to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum.

The taxpayer owns almost 10 per cent of Lloyds.

A spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group confirmed: “We had a strategy in place to deal with the number of customers who are making the transition to digital

banking.

“This has happened quicker than expected, so we are now accelerating our strategy which was already taking place between 2015 and 2017.

“There has been no decision as of yet on which branches will close.”

Meanwhile, customers have hit out at plans to axe two Swansea bank branches due to the knock-on effect of internet and telephone banking.

They say older customers prefer dealing with their accounts at the HSBC Morriston or Swansea Riverside as they don’t have their own transport or access to the internet.

The closures are planned for Friday, September 2.

An HSBC spokesperson said: “We continually review our branch network to make sure our branches are in the right locations for our customers and we have

a sustainable network for the future. Over the past five years, we have seen an overall reduction in footfall at our branches of more than 40 per cent, and sometimes we have to make the difficult decision to close branches. These are not decisions we take lightly and we understand it can be unsettling for the local community.

“Unfortunately, with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years, use of the Morriston and Swansea Riverside branches has fallen significantly, and we’ve taken the difficult decision to close them. We notified customers of the closure and will be working with those who use the branches to help them understand their options, which include being able to use local post offices for their day-to-day banking.”

Lloyds bank, Oxford Street, Swansea.

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see beyond the numbers To find out how our accounting, tax and business advice can strengthen your business or startup, visit www.morganhemp.co.uk, call 01792 466428

104 Walter Road | Swansea | United Kingdom SA1 5QF Telephone 01792 466428 | Email info@morganhemp.co.uk Morgan Hemp are registered auditors and members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

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Expert opinion with Ian Price, assistant director of CBI Wales

Firms team up with Ospreys...

The Ospreys have teamed up with local and national businesses to offer incentives for 2016/17 season members.

Go Outdoors, Frankie & Benny’s and Folly Farm are just some of the many commercial partners to renew their discount offer.

New businesses have also come on board for the season including Swansea nightspot, No.6.

Matthew Benjamin, co-owner of No.6, said: “Ospreys is such a prominent brand in the area and the players are regulars here at No.6 so we are delighted to be able to offer their loyal season members a 10 per cent discount on our cocktail and drinks menu.”

Meanwhile, a new commercial partnership with the Village Hotel Club, Swansea sees the SA1 business become the region’s official hotel partner for 2016/17.

As well as allowing the strength and conditioning team at the Ospreys to utilise the on-site pool and gym facilities in the health and fitness club as part of their on-going work with the players, season members will benefit from an exclusive rate on rooms.

Wayne Hall, head of sales at Ospreys Rugby, said: “We are delighted that so many of our commercial partners have continued to renew their discounts and offers for our season members as well as a number of new businesses joining us.

“When businesses come on board as a commercial partner with the Ospreys it’s a two-way relationship, connecting our commercial family not only with Wales’ leading rugby team, but with likeminded businesses and our supporter base.”

A long-term strategy...

Just one month ago, the British people spoke in a seismic referendum which will shape the UK for generations to come. Since then, domestic politics has moved at breakneck speed, delivering the resignation of one Prime Minister, the swift appointment of another, a new Cabinet and new government departments.

Some have expressed concern that the loss of the Department of Energy and Climate Change will mean more uncertainty for investors, and could mark a de-prioritisation of climate policy in the UK. This is a risk, but as a ‘glass half full’ person, I would also point to the potential opportunities of this shift. Yes, climate change will no longer be on the departmental plaque, but – if managed sensibly – there is now a chance to really embed the low-carbon transition into the UK’s broader industrial strategy.

What we need from this new department is progress on investment. We still need to attract huge sums of private investment to keep the lights on and diversify our power mix, and we must maintain momentum on progress made so far. This is not about government hands outs, rather timely policy decisions.

Ensuring the cost of energy is manageable for both households and businesses must also be a priority, and improvements in the UK’s energy efficiency must be a key part of the solution, along with the necessary support for energy-intensive industries.

Finally, we want to see all of this brought together as part of a long-term (industrial) strategy to meet our carbon targets while growing our economy.

Ospreys players Rory Thornton (left) and Sam Underhill

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Workforce Duo push on after winning national awards...

Elizabeth Forkuoh and Melanie Durney both picked up gongs at the Vocational Qualification Awards - Page 82

Workforce is sponsored by

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Swansea Employability SwanseaUniversity University Employability Swansea University Employability Academy’s ‘Employment Zone’ Academy’s ‘Employment Zone’ Academy’s ‘Employment Zone’

‘Parth Cyflogaeth’ Academi ‘Parth Cyflogaeth’ Academi ‘Parth Cyflogaeth’ Academi Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe

There are several benefits in becoming a member of SEA’s There are several benefits in becoming a member of SEA’s Employment Zone - all at no cost to your organisation: There are several in cost becoming member of SEA’s Employment Zone benefits - all at no to youra organisation: Zoneto- our all atEmployment no cost to your • Employment Unlimited access Zoneorganisation: Jobsboard •Post Unlimited access to ouremployment Employment Zone Jobsboard any placement and vacancies (professional • Unlimited access to our Employment Zone Jobsboard Postorany placement and employment vacancies (professional work part-time work) that you would like Swansea University Post placement and that employment vacancies (professional workany or part-time work) you would liketoSwansea University students to apply for.

They can apply directly you via the work or part-time work) that you would like Swansea University students to apply for. They can apply directly to you via the Jobsboard. students to apply for.

They can apply directly to you via the Jobsboard.

Jobsboard.

• Matching and Account Management service •Work Matching Management with a and SEAAccount Placement Officer whoservice will create shortlists of • Matching and Account Management service with a SEA Placement Officer who will create shortlists of theWork most appropriate students for your professional placement Work with a SEA Placement Officer who will create shortlists of the most appropriate students for your professional placement and employment vacancies. the most appropriate students for your professional placement and employment vacancies. and employment • Generous employer vacancies. bursaries •Should Generous employer you offer a paidbursaries placement to a Swansea University • Generous employer bursaries Shouldwe you offer a paid placement to a Swansea University student, can provide bursaries, ranging from £469 to Should you a paid placement to a Swansea University student, we offer can provide bursaries, ranging from £469 to £1,500 (depending on eligibility). student, can provide bursaries, ranging from £469 to £1,500 we (depending on eligibility). £1,500 to (depending eligibility).

• Invitations networkingonevents.

• Invitations to networking events. to networking events.

• •TheInvitations opportunity to be nominated for a SEA Employer Award, •which The is opportunity forDinner. a SEA Employer Award, presented to at be ournominated annual SEA • The opportunity to be nominated SEA Employer Award, which is presented at our annual for SEAa Dinner.

• Receive of our at annual Employment Zone Magazine. whichaiscopy presented our annual SEA Dinner.

• Receive a copy of our annual Employment Zone Magazine.

• •Access to wider SEA opportunities such as ourZone Careers Fairs Receive a copy of our annual Employment Magazine.

•and Access to widerTalks SEA &opportunities such as our Careers Fairs employer-led Skills Programme.

• Access to wider SEA opportunities such as our Careers Fairs and employer-led Talks & Skills Programme.

For further information Talks or to become an Employment Zone and employer-led & Skills Programme. member, please email: employability@swansea.ac.uk For further information or to become an Employment Zone For further information or to become an Employment Zone member, please email: employability@swansea.ac.uk member, please email: employability@swansea.ac.uk

Mae nifer o fuddion yn gysylltiedig â dod yn aelod o Barth Mae nifer o fuddion gysylltiedig â dod yn aelod o Barth Cyflogaeth SEA - yn rhadyn am ddim i’ch sefydliad: Mae nifer oSEA fuddion ynacgysylltiedig â dod aelod o Barth Cyflogaeth - yn rhad ac am ddim i’ch yn sefydliad: Cyflogaethdigyfyngiad SEA - yn rhad ac amSwyddi ddim i’ch • Mynediad at Fwrdd ein sefydliad: Parth Cyflogaeth • Mynediad digyfyngiad Fwrdd Parth Cyflogaeth Cyhoeddi unrhyw leoliadauat swyddiSwyddi sydd arein gael (gwaith • Mynediad digyfyngiad ata Fwrdd Swyddi ein Parth Cyflogaeth Cyhoeddi unrhyw leoliadau a swyddi sydd ar gael (gwaith proffesiynol neu waith leoliadau rhan amser) yr hoffech chiarweld myfyrwyr Cyhoeddi unrhyw a swyddi sydd gael (gwaith proffesiynol neuyn waith rhan amser) yr hoffech chi weld myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe ymgeisio amdanynt.

Gallant anfon cais yn proffesiynol neu waith rhan amser) yr hoffech chi weld myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe yn ymgeisio amdanynt.

Gallant anfon cais yn uniongyrchol atoch chi trwy gyfrwng y Bwrdd Swyddi.

Prifysgol Abertawe amdanynt.

Gallant anfon cais yn uniongyrchol atoch yn chiymgeisio trwy gyfrwng y Bwrdd Swyddi. uniongyrchol chi trwy gyfrwng y Bwrdd Swyddi.

• Gwasanaeth Paruatoch a Rheoli Cyfrifon • Gwasanaeth Paru a Rheoli Cyfrifon Gweithio gyda Swyddog Lleoliadau SEA a fydd yn creu • Gwasanaeth Paru a Rheoli Cyfrifon Gweithio gyda Swyddog Lleoliadau SEA a fydd creu rhestrau byr o’r myfyrwyr mwyaf priodol ar gyfer eichyn Gweithiobyr gyda Swyddog Lleoliadau SEA a fydd yn creu rhestrau o’r myfyrwyr mwyaf priodol ar gyfer eich lleoliadau proffesiynol a’ch swyddi gweigion. rhestrau byr o’r myfyrwyr mwyaf priodol ar gyfer eich lleoliadau proffesiynol a’ch swyddi gweigion. lleoliadau proffesiynol a’ch swyddi gweigion.

• Bwrsariaethau hael i gyflogwyr • Bwrsariaethau i gyflogwyr Os byddwch chi’n hael cynnig lleoliad â thâl i un o fyfyrwyr • Os Bwrsariaethau haelcynnig i gyflogwyr â thâl i un o fyfyrwyr byddwch chi’n Prifysgol Abertawe, gallwn ni lleoliad ddarparu bwrsariaethau, yn Os byddwch chi’n cynnig lleoliad â thâl bwrsariaethau, i un o fyfyrwyr yn Prifysgol Abertawe, gallwn ni ddarparu amrywio o £469 i £1,500 (yn dibynnu ar gymhwystra).

Prifysgol gallwn ni bwrsariaethau, amrywio Abertawe, o £469 i £1,500 (ynddarparu dibynnu ar gymhwystra).yn amrywio o £469 i £1,500 (ynrhwydweithio. dibynnu ar gymhwystra).

• Gwahoddiadau i ddigwyddiadau • Gwahoddiadau i ddigwyddiadau rhwydweithio.

• Gwahoddiadau i ddigwyddiadau rhwydweithio.

• Cyfle i gael eich enwebu am Wobr Cyflogwyr SEA, Cyfle i gael enwebu am Wobr a• gyflwynir yngeich Nghinio blynyddol SEA.Cyflogwyr SEA, • Cyfle i gael yng eich Nghinio enwebu blynyddol am Wobr Cyflogwyr SEA, a gyflwynir SEA. • Derbyn copi o Gylchgrawn Parth Cyflogaeth. a gyflwynir yng Nghinioblynyddol blynyddoly SEA. • Derbyn copi o Gylchgrawn blynyddol y Parth Cyflogaeth.

• Mynediad gyfleoedd ehangach SEA megis ein Ffeiriau • Derbyn at copi o Gylchgrawn blynyddol y Parth Cyflogaeth.

• Mynediad gyfleoedd ehangach SEA megis ein Ffeiriau Gyrfaoedd a’natRhaglen o Sgyrsiau a Sgiliau dan arweiniad • Mynediad gyfleoedd megisdan ein Ffeiriau Gyrfaoeddata’n Rhaglen ehangach o SgyrsiauSEA a Sgiliau arweiniad cyflogwyr.

Gyrfaoedd a’n Rhaglen o Sgyrsiau a Sgiliau dan arweiniad cyflogwyr.

I gael cyflogwyr. rhagor o wybodaeth neu i ddod yn aelod o’r Parth Cyflogaeth, I gael rhagor oe-bostiwch: wybodaethemployability@swansea.ac.uk neu i ddod yn aelod o’r IParth gael Cyflogaeth, rhagor o wybodaeth neuemployability@swansea.ac.uk i ddod yn aelod o’r e-bostiwch: Parth Cyflogaeth, e-bostiwch: employability@swansea.ac.uk

Swansea University’s Employability Academy (SEA) is launching Swansea University’s Employability Academy (SEA) is launching University’s Employability Academy (SEA) is launching anSwansea exciting new initiative called Employment Zone.

Thanks to to an exciting new initiative called Employment Zone.

Thanks an exciting new initiative called Employment Zone.

Thanks to continued support from Swansea and South Wales employers, continued support from Swansea and South Wales employers, continued support from Swansea and South Wales employers, SEA has seen a 60% growth on the previous academic year in SEA has seen a 60% growth on the previous academic year in SEA seen a University 60% growth on thegaining previous academic year in terms ofhas Swansea students professional work terms of Swansea University students gaining professional work terms of Swansea University students gaining professional work experience that greatly contributes to their graduate prospects. experience that greatly contributes to their graduate prospects.

Employment Zone is Swansea University’s nextnext evolution in in experience that greatly contributes to their graduate prospects.

Employment Zone is Swansea University’s evolution placement and employment opportunities for our students asinas Employment Zone is Swansea University’s next evolution placement and employment opportunities for our students well as furtherand enhancing our partnering experience with placement employment opportunities for our students well as further enhancing our partnering experience with as local employers. well further enhancing our partnering experience with localas employers. local employers.

Mae Academi Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe (SEA) yn lansio Mae Academi Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe (SEA) yn lansio Mae Academi Cyflogadwyedd Prifysgol Abertawe (SEA) menter newydd a chyffrous o’r enw Parth Cyflogaeth.

Diolch iyn lansio menter newydd a chyffrous o’r enw Parth Cyflogaeth.

Diolch i menter newydd agan chyffrous o’r enw Parth Cyflogaeth.

Diolch i gefnogaeth barhaus gyflogwyr Abertawe a Dea Cymru, maemae gefnogaeth barhaus gan gyflogwyr Abertawe De Cymru, barhaus gan gyflogwyr Abertawe a De Cymru, mae SEAgefnogaeth wedi profi twf o 60% o’i gymharu â’r flwyddyn academaidd SEA wedi profi twf o 60% o’i gymharu â’r flwyddyn academaidd SEA wedi twf oy60% o’io gymharu â’r flwyddyn academaidd flaenorol o ran nifernifer y myfyrwyr Brifysgol Abertawe sy’n caelcael flaenorol oprofi ran myfyrwyr o Brifysgol Abertawe sy’n flaenorol o ran nifer y myfyrwyr o Brifysgol Abertawe sy’n profiad gwaith sy’n cyfrannu’n sylweddol at eu rhagolygon fel cael profiad gwaith sy’n cyfrannu’n sylweddol at eu rhagolygon fel graddedigion.

Y Parth Cyflogaeth yw datblygiad nesaf Prifysgol profiad gwaith sy’n cyfrannu’n sylweddol at eu rhagolygon fel graddedigion. Y Parth Cyflogaeth yw datblygiad nesaf Prifysgol Abertawe o ran cyfleoedd am leoliadau a chyflogaeth i’n graddedigion.

Y Parth Cyflogaeth yw datblygiad nesaf Prifysgol Abertawe o ran cyfleoedd am leoliadau a chyflogaeth i’n myfyrwyr, ac mae hefyd yn cyfrannu at wellaaein profiad o i’n waith Abertawe o cyfleoedd leoliadau chyflogaeth myfyrwyr, acran mae hefyd ynam cyfrannu at wella ein profiad o waith partneriaeth âac chyflogwyr. myfyrwyr, mae hefyd yn cyfrannu at wella ein profiad o waith partneriaeth â chyflogwyr. partneriaeth â chyflogwyr.

www.swansea.ac.uk/employability-academy www.swansea.ac.uk/employability-academy www.swansea.ac.uk/employability-academy

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Professional Skills Development for for Professional Skills Development Professional Skills Development for your workforce your workforce your workforce

Swansea University offersoffers a range of accredited and nonSwansea University a range of accredited and nonSwansea University offers a range of accredited and accredited continuing professional development (CPD) andnonaccredited continuing professional development (CPD) and accredited continuing professional development (CPD) training courses designed to help organisations develop the and training courses designed to help organisations develop the courses designed toachieve help organisations develop skillstraining of their workforce and achieve their business goals. skills of their workforce and their business goals.the skills of their workforce and achieve their business goals.

Specialising in key such such as Advanced Materials and and Specialising in sectors key sectors as Advanced Materials Specialising in key sectors such as Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Environment and Energy, ICT, Health & Life Manufacturing, Environment and Energy, ICT, Health & Life Sciences, Law, Finance and Management, the University Manufacturing, Environment and Energy, ICT, Health & Life Sciences, Law, Finance and Management, the University currently works with Finance a range of organisations from Small Sciences, Law, and Management, thefrom University currently works with a range of organisations Small Medium Enterprises to Multi Nationals including Small currently works (SMEs) with (SMEs) a range organisations Medium Enterprises toofMulti Nationals from including Airbus, Microsoft and Tata as well providing training for Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to as Multi Airbus, Microsoft and Tata as well asNationals providingincluding training for organisations such as the NHS, DVLA and NPTCBC. training for Airbus, Microsoft and Tata as well as providing organisations such as the NHS, DVLA and NPTCBC. organisations such as the NHS, DVLA and NPTCBC.

METaL Programme METaL Programme METaL Programme Materials Education, Training and Learning programme

Materials Education, Trainingfor and (METaL) provides funded training theLearning materialsprogramme and Materials Education, Training and Learning programme (METaL) provides funded training for the materials and manufacturing workforce in Wales.

(METaL) provides funded training for the materials and manufacturing workforce in Wales. manufacturing workforce in Wales.

LASE Ltd, a small enterprise who apply LASE Ltd, a small enterprise who apply metallic coatings to industrial components, LASE Ltd,coatings a small enterprise who apply metallic to industrial components, recently benefitted from a METaL course in metallic coatings to industrial components, recently benefitted from a METaL course in key areas of Metallurgy. recently benefitted from a METaL course in key areas of Metallurgy. key areas of Metallurgy.

Ben Lester, LASE Ltd, said, Ben Lester, LASE Ltd, said, Ltd, said, “TheBen METaLLester, coursesLASE have helped me gain

“The METaL courses have helped an understanding and appreciation of me the gain “The METaL courses have helped meofgain an understanding and appreciation the technical and metallurgical side of what an understanding and appreciation of the technical side of what we do at LASE.and Themetallurgical corrosion and coatings technical metallurgical side of coatings what we do module at and LASE. Thegreatly corrosion and technology has improved we do at LASE. The corrosion and coatings technology module greatly improved my understanding of the has different types of technology module has improved my understanding thegreatly different types against of corrosion and how our of coatings can protect them.” my understanding thecoatings differentcan types of against them.” corrosion and howofour protect corrosion and how our coatings can protect against them.”

Courses are reviewed and updated regularly with the University Courses are tailor reviewed and updated with the happy to discuss made training thatregularly is built around theUniversity Courses reviewed and updated witharound the University happyneeds toare discuss made trainingregularly that is built the individual of antailor organisation. happy to discuss tailor made training that is built around the individual needs of an organisation.

For more information how Swansea University can help individual needs about of an organisation. your For business visit www.swansea.ac.uk/business-andmore please information about how Swansea University can help For about how Swansea University can help industry orbusiness callinformation 01792 606060. yourmore please visit www.swansea.ac.uk/business-andyour business please visit www.swansea.ac.uk/business-andindustry or call 01792 606060. industry or call 01792 606060.

Datblygu Sgiliau Proffesiynol ar gyfer Datblygu Sgiliau Proffesiynol ar gyfer Datblygu Sgiliau Proffesiynol ar gyfer eicheich gweithlu gweithlu eich gweithlu

Mae Prifysgol Abertawe yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gyrsiau Mae Prifysgol Abertawe yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gyrsiau Mae Prifysgol Abertawe yn cynnig amrywiaeth o gyrsiau datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus (DPP) a hyfforddiant wedi’u datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus (DPP) a hyfforddiant wedi’u datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus (DPP) a hyfforddiant hachredu a heb eu hachredu, sydd wedi’u cynllunio i helpuiwedi’u hachredu a heb eu hachredu, sydd wedi’u cynllunio helpu hachredu a heb eusgiliau hachredu, sydd wedi’u cynllunio sefydliadau i ddatblygu eu gweithlu a chyflawni eu i helpu sefydliadau i ddatblygu sgiliau eu gweithlu a chyflawni eu i ddatblygu sgiliau eu gweithlu a chyflawni eu nodausefydliadau busnes. nodau busnes. nodau busnes.

Mae’rMae’r Brifysgol yn arbenigo mewnmewn sectorau allweddol megis megis Brifysgol yn arbenigo sectorau allweddol Deunyddiau a Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch, yr Amgylchedd ac megis Mae’r Brifysgol yn arbenigo mewn sectorau allweddol Deunyddiau a Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch, yr Amgylchedd ac Ynni, Deunyddiau TGCh, Gwyddorau Iechyd a Bywyd, y Gyfraith, Cyllid aac a a Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch, yr Amgylchedd Ynni, TGCh, Gwyddorau Iechyd a Bywyd, y Gyfraith, Cyllid Rheoli, ac ar hyn oGwyddorau bryd, mae’n gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o Ynni, a Bywyd, y Gyfraith, Cyllid ao Rheoli,TGCh, ac ar hyn o bryd, Iechyd mae’n gweithio gydag amrywiaeth sefydliadau yn amrywio obryd, Fusnesau Bach a Chanolig (BBaCh) Rheoli, ac ar hyn o mae’n gweithio gydag amrywiaeth sefydliadau yn amrywio o Fusnesau Bach a Chanolig (BBaCh)o i gwmnïau cydwladol yn cynnwys Airbus, Microsoft a Tata, ac sefydliadau yn amrywio Fusnesau Bach a Chanolig i gwmnïau cydwladol yn ocynnwys Airbus, Microsoft a (BBaCh) Tata, ac mae hefyd yn darparu hyfforddiant i sefydliadau megis y GIG, imae gwmnïau cydwladol yn cynnwys Airbus, Microsoft a Tata, ac hefyd yn darparu hyfforddiant i sefydliadau megis y GIG, y DVLA a CBSCPT. mae hefyd yn darparu hyfforddiant i sefydliadau megis y GIG, y DVLA a CBSCPT. y DVLA a CBSCPT.

Rhaglen METaL Rhaglen METaL Rhaglen Mae’r rhaglen Addysg, METaL Hyfforddiant a Dysgu

Mae’r rhaglen Addysg, Dysgu ynghylch Deunyddiau (METaL)Hyfforddiant yn darparu a Mae’r rhaglen Addysg, Hyfforddiant a Dysgu ynghylch Deunyddiau (METaL) yn darparu hyfforddiant wedi’i ariannu i’r gweithlu ynghylch Deunyddiau (METaL) yn darparu hyfforddiant wedi’i ariannu i’r Nghymru. gweithlu deunyddiau a gweithgynhyrchu yng hyfforddiant wedi’i ariannu i’r gweithlu deunyddiau a gweithgynhyrchu yng Nghymru. deunyddiau a gweithgynhyrchu yngcaenau Nghymru.

Mae LASE Ltd yn fusnes bychan sy’n rhoi Mae ar LASE Ltd yn fusnes bychan sy’n rhoi caenau metelaidd gydrannau diwydiannol, ac fe Mae LASE ar Ltdgydrannau yn fusnes bychan sy’n rhoi metelaidd diwydiannol, ac caenau fe wnaeth elwa yn ddiweddar o gwrs METaL mewn metelaidd ar gydrannau diwydiannol, ac femewn wnaeth elwa yn ddiweddar o gwrs METaL rhai o feysydd allweddol Meteleg. wnaeth elwa ynallweddol ddiweddar o gwrs METaL mewn rhai o feysydd Meteleg. rhai o feysydd allweddol Meteleg.

Dywedodd Ben Lester, LASE Ltd, Dywedodd Ben Lester, LASE Ltd, ““MaeDywedodd cyrsiau METaLBen wediLester, fy helpu LASE i feithrinLtd,

““Mae cyrsiau METaL wedi ofyelfen helpudechnegol i feithrin dealltwriaeth a gwerthfawrogiad ““Mae cyrsiaua METaL wedi fy helpuelfen i feithrin dealltwriaeth gwerthfawrogiad a metelegol ein gwaith yn LASE. Mae’r o modiwl dechnegol dealltwriaeth a gwerthfawrogiad o elfen dechnegol a metelegol gwaith wedi yn LASE. Mae’r technoleg cyrydu aein chaenau gwella fy modiwl a metelegol ein gwaith yn LASE. Mae’r modiwl technoleg a chaenau wedi gwella nealltwriaeth yn cyrydu sylweddol o’r gwahanol fathau fy o technoleg cyrydu a chaenauo’rwedi gwellafathau fy nealltwriaeth yncaenau sylweddol gwahanol o gyrydu a sut gall ein warchod rhagddynt.” nealltwriaeth yn sylweddol o’rwarchod gwahanol fathau o gyrydu a sut gall ein caenau rhagddynt.” gyrydu a sut gall ein caenau warchod rhagddynt.”

Caiff cyrsiau eu hadolygu a’u diweddaru’n rheolaidd, ac cyrsiau eu hadolygu diweddaru’n rheolaidd, mae’rCaiff Brifysgol yn fodlon trafod a’u hyfforddiant wedi’i deilwra’nac Caiff euyn hadolygu a’u diweddaru’n rheolaidd, ac mae’r Brifysgol trafod hyfforddiant wedi’i deilwra’n arbennig a cyrsiau ddatblygir ynfodlon unol ag anghenion y sefydliad. mae’r Brifysgol yn fodlon trafod hyfforddiant wedi’i deilwra’n arbennig a ddatblygir yn unol ag anghenion y sefydliad.

I gaelarbennig rhagor o awybodaeth sut anghenion gall Prifysgol ddatblygirynghylch yn unol ag y sefydliad.

Abertawe eich trowch at www.swansea.ac.uk/ I gaelhelpu rhagor o busnes, wybodaeth ynghylch sut gall Prifysgol IAbertawe gael rhagor o wybodaeth ynghylch sut gall Prifysgol business-and-industry neu ffoniwch 01792 at 606060. helpu eich busnes, trowch www.swansea.ac.uk/ Abertawe helpu eich busnes, trowch at www.swansea.ac.uk/ business-and-industry neu ffoniwch 01792 606060. business-and-industry neu ffoniwch 01792 606060.

www.swansea.ac.uk www.swansea.ac.uk www.swansea.ac.uk

Untitled-1 2

7/29/2016 9:31:32 AM

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7/29/2016 9:34:14 AM

Ministry of Furniture

Workforce

Ministry of Furniture managing director Graham Hirst with staff at the firm’s Baglan office.

Growing furniture firm to launch showroom A commercial and educational furniture business in Neath Port Talbot that expects to turn over several million pounds by the end of this year will look to expand its team.

Ministry of Furniture supplies chairs, tables, office furniture and soft seating to schools, colleges, universities and commercial environments.

Customers include Swansea City FC and the company, which recently moved to a new 3,500 sq ft showroom in Port Talbot, is looking to target other major sporting and leisure venues.

The firm will officially launch its new showroom on Baglan Energy Park in September.

Managing director Graham Hirst, said it had been a good year for the business and it was looking to recruit three or four new staff members in 2017.

Ministry of Furniture, which emerged from the closure of Remploy Furniture in

2013, has doubled its workforce from seven to 14 people in the past two-and-a-half years. The company also predicts to turn over several million pounds towards the end of this year.

The firm’s employees previously worked at the Remploy Neath Port Talbot site, a few hundred yards from its new base.

Hirst, who has worked in the UK furniture and contract interiors market for more than 30 years, said: “Our aim was to immediately re-engage with as many of the Remploy customers as we could. We have a loyal Remploy base and expertise in the company.

“We are going to be recruiting and our financial year and plans will be put in place during August.

“Our aim is to further develop the success of our commercial interiors business” The majority of the company’s products are made or assembled in the UK, including

woodwork from Swansea.

The firm was recently awarded a contract with the Wales National Procurement Service, authorising it to supply all Welsh Public Sector including Neath Port Talbot Council. The company has also been grant supported by Welsh Government and the Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone.

It gains funding via an education services grant, especially for ex-Remploy staff with disabilities.

Ministry of Furniture is owned and run entirely by those working in the business.

More than half of its staff are people with disabilities.

The firm will formally open its new showroom on September 29.

Staff will be joined by businessman Andrew John, chairman of Aberavon Wizards RFC, as well as comedian and entertainer Max Boyce. swanseabaybusiness.com 81

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Duo push on after winning national awards...

Elizabeth Forkuoh and Melanie Durney both picked up gongs at the Vocational Qualification Awards, presented by Skills Minister Julie James.

A young woman from the Swansea Bay region who is blazing a trail in the hospitality industry and another who has been promoted from administrator to docks and marina supervisor at the Port of Milford Haven were the main winners at a national awards.

Elizabeth Forkuoh, of the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, is celebrating her recent Vocational Qualification Award win. She previously won gold awards at the Skills Competitions Wales and WorldSkills UK and has now secured a place on the WorldSkills Squad UK and hopes to compete in WorldSkills Abu Dhabi in 2017.

Melanie Durney, from Milford Haven Port Authority, also came up trumps at the awards. She has been promoted from administrator to managing a team that will be instrumental in the success of a multi-million pound regeneration project set to bring jobs, boost tourism and create a brighter economic future for her home town.

The duo made up 10 finalists who gathered with their learning providers in Cardiff for the Vocational Qualification Awards, which were presented by Minister for Skills and Science Julie James.

James congratulated the finalists and praised everyone who had been nominated for the VQ Awards this year.

“Vocational skills have a huge impact on the Welsh economy and we value the gold standard of vocational learning being

delivered to people right across Wales,” she said.

“Both Vocational Qualifications Day and the Vocational Qualifications Awards provide the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate not only the high standard of technical, practical and vocational learning being delivered in Wales, but also the many personal successes and achievements of our learners.

“High quality VQs are essential to provide individuals and businesses with the skills, experience, motivation and inspiration they need to get ahead. Ultimately it is only with appropriately skilled and trained people that we can drive forward the Welsh economy.

“Many of our VQ Award finalists this year have demonstrated that they are marked out as future leaders or ambitious entrepreneurs and have an eye on making sound business decisions and increasing productivity.”

The annual awards, organised by the Welsh Government, the National Training Federation for Wales and ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, celebrate the achievements of both learners and employers across Wales.

Forkuoh, 20, who speaks Italian, English, Twi, French and some Welsh, won the VQ Intermediate Learner of the Year Award.

She was nominated by Coleg Sir Gâr.

Having moved to Llanelli when she was 15, she is now studying a level three NVQ

VQ Intermediate Learner of the Year winner Elizabeth Forkuoh.

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Workforce

VQ Higher Learner of the Year winner Melanie Durney.

Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership at Coleg Sir Gâr in Carmarthen, while working part-time at the Stradey Park Hotel. Forkuoh has decided to defer her degree in hotel management until 2018 to focus on competition opportunities.

The VQ Higher Learner of the Year Award was won by Durney from Milford Haven Port Authority, who was nominated

by Pembrokeshire College. Durney has been promoted from administrator to managing a team that will be instrumental in the success of a multi-million pound regeneration project set to bring jobs, boost tourism and create a brighter economic future for her home town.

Originally joining the Port of Milford Haven as docks administrator, she completed a Level 4 NVQ in business and administration before her promotion to docks co-ordinator and went on to achieve a Level 5 NVQ in management to become docks and marina supervisor.

Durney said: “I am thrilled to win the award. It’s not only a personal achievement but an achievement for the Port of Milford Haven as a whole. I would like to thank the Port of Milford Haven, my colleagues, Pembrokeshire College and everyone involved in the VQ Awards.

“This award shows that vocational qualifications are effective, help you to progress in the workplace and I hope it encourages others to do the same.”

Durney drew on her background in business finance to fulfil a lifelong ambition and joined the Port of Milford Haven as docks administrator. She has gone from supervising a team of four to having line management duties for 15 staff, including personnel from the port’s commercial dock and marina staff. She also managed customer relationships during the installation of a new set of Lock Gates - a once in a decade project - and in 2015 became Manager of the Year after nomination from colleagues.

“The Port of Milford Haven has played such a huge part in the town’s history and growing up I knew lots of people working here and always wanted to be involved,” she said. “I’m really passionate about the changes taking place here and take them very seriously on behalf of my local community.

“Continuing my learning while working has ensured that I’m up-to-date on best practice and processes within the sector and, more importantly, able to bring much more into the role and the wider business.

THIS AWARD SHOWS THAT VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE, HELP YOU TO PROGRESS IN THE WORKPLACE AND I HOPE IT ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. “I want to progress in my career and learning will be a big part of that, whether on the job or through studies. It’s important to keep learning and adapting and vocational qualifications are one way of achieving that.”

Her next goal is to progress to a Higher Apprenticeship at NVQ Level 7 postgraduate level - in management.

Crediting the support of her team, manager and Pembrokeshire College assessor Glenys Francis with her success to date, Melanie is now focused on providing vocational opportunities to other staff members. She is also committed to helping ensure plans set to create further economic and social advantages for the wider region become reality as soon as possible.

Now in their ninth year, the awards are held on the eve of VQ Day, a celebration of the benefits and value of technical, practical and vocational learning to individuals and to the economy.

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Rod Lloyd CEO and Lorraine Kitchen HR manager of Low Cost Vans.

Photo by Ryan Mcnamara

SLAYINGDRAGONS A SPOTLIGHT ON THE INTERVIEW PROCESS Forget nerves and nail-biting – the trick to making the shortlist is a decent CV says South West Wales businessman Rod Lloyd, who stars in a new reality TV show...

A growing Neath van company, which has featured in a recent Channel 4 TV series has now hired one of the eight candidates interviewed as part of the show.

The five episode series, which is called The Job Interview and started in July, documented Low Cost Van’s recruitment process by following the stories and progress of a number of candidates seeking employment at the company.

At the end of the programme, which featured candidates being interviewed for a role by Rod Lloyd, chief executive officer of the Skewen company, and HR manager Lorraine Kitchen, it was revealed that Jody Richards, 34, had been successful. She was offered a role in the business and now works as a customer service representative.

Richards, a former dancer and acrobat, said: “I am over the moon to have been

offered a job at Low Cost Vans. I applied for the show because I wanted to return to work after bringing up my family.”

Lloyd says if you really want to impress, simply check your CV is up-to-date and have a decent personal statement.

“Jody was very nervous during her interview, not because the interview was being filmed, but because she hadn’t had a formal interview for 12 years. We are a very down to earth company and I think that helped her settle in and answer the questions we asked.

“I have to say that overall, the show has been great for us as we have sourced a great employee in Jody. She is quickly settling into things here.”

Low Cost Vans is one of 10 employers featured in the series, filmed by independent producer, Label One Production Gang.

And, surprising though it may seem, when you mix reality TV and a job interview, you end up with some pretty powerful television.

Lloyd turned the opportunity down twice before he finally agreed to take part in the show.

“I guess I was worried that the editing process may have been unsympathetic,” he said. “But really, the show isn’t about us, it’s about the interviewees – that’s where the story is, things that make you laugh and cringe-worthy moments that make your toes curl.”

Lloyd finally agreed to take part when one of the directors rang him personally and explained “we don’t do car crash television”.

“They caught us at the right time – we were recruiting customer service people,

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Slaying dragons

and it was a chance for us to boost our profile. We are probably seen as a virtual business – we go to market on the internet, talk to people on the phone, this has given us an opportunity to say we are a real, living, breathing business.”

The production company organised a purpose-built office studio in London, and Chilli Fish recruitment agency explained to all eight shortlisted candidates that they were going to be secretly filmed by 20 rigged cameras during the real life interview.

Lloyd together with Kitchen did back-toback 45-minute interviews all day Friday.

Candidates included a 51-year-old former miner, recently made redundant after working in a wire brush factory for 26 years.

On Monday, the camera crew filmed Lloyd and Kitchen ringing each candidate to thank them and explain the outcome of the interview.

With 48 full-time staff, Low Cost Vans has grown from a small business to a key local business.

Although it is centred on the motor industry, essentially the business operates more as a financial services company – providing lease and contract hire agreements for business.

“When I first started it was easy – I employed people I knew. When I started taking on other people, I did make some mistakes and took on people who didn’t fit,” Lloyd said.

“It’s all about finding people who are honest and prepared to work within the framework that we give them.

“In our team, we have people who worked in IT, former call centre staff, people who were in the army – we even have a chap who used to run a cattery.

“That’s why I like interviewing people, I like talking to them and finding out about their backgrounds.”

As a veteran interviewer, Lloyd has seen a fair few CVs – the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous.

“CVs are full of spelling errors, grammatical errors, false information – if there are gaps in a CV I want to know why.

“We get CVs coming in – we’ve had two or three this year that say ‘template’ on the top!

“Or we’ll be in an interview and when we say that we will be in touch and ask if their CV has the correct details – a huge number of people say, oh no, that’s my old email address, haven’t got that number anymore…

“I think schools should be prepping people better. And why aren’t the recruitment agencies advising these people? They seem to carpet bomb us with CVs and don’t tend to give advice that can actually help candidates improve.

“We called someone for interview once, whose birthdate was down as 07/09/1957 but when she came in she was 22! It turned out she had just sent us her mother’s CV! She didn’t get the job.

“I’ve had another CV where the personal statement said: ‘I really want to work with animals’ – because recently they have applied for a job at the vets.”

And those with a less than text-book career history can take heart - rather than formal qualifications, he is looking for a work ethic, character and attitude.

“We can show someone how to use a computer or a spreadsheet but we can’t instil a work ethic,” he said.

“We have had a trainee salesman who started with us in his mid-50s. When he

Workforce

I GUESS I WAS WORRIED THAT THE EDITING PROCESS MAY HAVE BEEN UNSYMPATHETIC BUT REALLY, THE SHOW ISN’T ABOUT US, IT’S ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEES. THAT’S WHERE THE STORY IS started out, his computer skills were terrible but his life experience and ability to speak to business leaders on the phone about business decisions – they were fantastic, and he is one of our top performing advisors.”

Meanwhile, the reality TV show experience has caused quite a flutter of excitement among LCV staff.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the process and gained a good member of staff,” said Lloyd.

There’s no business like show business it seems, not even when you’re a brokering business.

“I would do it again,” he added.

swanseabaybusiness.com 85

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ION leadership

Following the result of the EU referendum, businesses in Wales are now experiencing a time of uncertainty. If you are running a business in Wales you will be facing the emotional, right alongside the logical and rational.

Research has shown that business leaders who engage positively with their emotions are more likely to retain staff, increase productivity and develop new and lasting business relationships that lead to new opportunities.

Whether they are your staff, your suppliers, your neighbours or your customers, many people are harbouring fears about how this momentous change will affect them. If you are a business leader in Wales, they are looking to you for guidance.

What if… this was a skill that you could learn?

Easier said than done. Most of us are not able to push all emotion aside and come up with a perfect solution.

What if… instead of taking on the role of the emotionless robot-leader, you could harness those emotions in yourself and others to help your business succeed in this major period of uncertainty?

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The ION leadership programme does just that. It helps to put you back in the driving seat.

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Arweinyddiaeth: Mae’n beth...emosiynol Yn dilyn canlyniad refferendwm yr UE, mae cyfnod o ansicrwydd ar droed i fusnesau yng Nghymru. Os ydych chi’n rhedeg busnes yng Nghymru, byddwch yn wynebu’r emosiynol, ochr yn ochr â’r rhesymegol a’r rhesymol.

arweinyddion busnes sy’n delio â’u hemosiynau mewn modd positif yn fwy tebygol o gadw staff, cynyddu eu cynhyrchiant a datblygu perthnasau busnes newydd sy’n para ac yn arwain at gyfleoedd newydd.

Mae llawer o bobl yn coleddu ofnau ynghylch sut y bydd y newid tyngedfennol yma yn effeithio arnyn nhw - eich staff, eich cyflenwyr, eich cymdogion neu eich cwsmeriaid. Os ydych chi’n arweinydd busnes yng Nghymru, maen nhw’n troi atoch chi am arweiniad.

Beth pe bai hyn yn sgil y gallech chi ei dysgu?

Felly beth ydych chi’n ei wneud?

Bydd pobl yn disgwyl i chi roi’r emosiynau hynny o’r neilltu a braenaru eich llwybr i lwyddiant - creu strategaeth resymegol ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Haws dweud na gwneud. Ni all y rhan fwyaf ohonom wthio ein holl emosiwn o’r neilltu a meddwl am yr ateb perffaith.

Yn lle troi’n arweinydd robotaidd di-emosiwn, beth pe gallech chi fanteisio ar yr emosiynau hynny rydych chi a phobl eraill yn eu teimlo er mwyn helpu eich busnes i lwyddo yn y cyfnod pwysig yma o ansicrwydd?

Yn ôl gwaith ymchwil, mae

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Rydyn ni wedi treulio pum mlynedd yn darganfod beth sy’n gweithio i arweinyddion busnes yng Nghymru ac mae gennym yr adnoddau i roi hynny ar waith.

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Leadership: It’s getting …emotional

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01792 606738 | www.ionleadership.co.uk | info@ionleadership.co.uk @IONleadership

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News round-up

Workforce

Agency commits to staff...

Creative agency Waters has made a commitment to invest 20 per cent of its annual profits in staff training.

An annual profit investment of about 20 per cent is being made to ensure staff receive first-class training to further their knowledge and skill base.

A portion of this investment was recently used to enable staff to attend a two-day IT conference in Boston’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rhian East, director at Waters, said: “We pride ourselves on investing significant time and money into our team, which allows them to feel valued and shows our appreciation for their work. The trip to Boston enabled the Waters team to expand their expertise as well as gain knowledge from a globally recognised institute leading the tech and creative industry.

“Here in the UK there is a heavy amount of competition in the creative industry we’re in, but it’s healthy and motivates us all to keep striving to improve. The Boston MIT conference has opened our eyes to a whole new aspect of the creative industry and has allowed us to relay fresh, innovative and

unrivalled ideas to the rest of the team.”

Waters was selected to attend the twoday MIT conference through the Welsh Government’s Trade Mission programme.

The MIT conference coincided with Waters’ rebrand, which took place in May and its expansion into new sectors such as the life sciences.

HERE IN THE UK THERE IS A HEAVY AMOUNT OF COMPETITION IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY WE’RE IN, BUT IT’S HEALTHY AND MOTIVATES US ALL TO KEEP STRIVING TO IMPROVE.

Rhian East and Rachael Wheatley

M a e a r i a n g we r t h £ 1 0 0 0 o e d a r g a e l i f u s n e s a u

• Bilingual learning developed to meet real business needs

• Dysgu dwyieithog a geir ei ddatblygu i gwrdd â gwir anghenion eich busnes

• Higher Education qualifications through Work-based Learning

• Cymwysterau addysg uwch dysgu seiliedig ar waith • Cyflwyno newidiadau bositif i’r gweithle ac i’ch busnes

• Delivering positive change in the workplace and to the business

• Modiwlau yn Arweinyddiaeth, Marchnata Digidol, Rheoli Prosiectau, Cynaliadwyedd, Adnoddau Dynol, Cyllid, Ymwybyddiaeth Ofalgar ac eraill

• Modules in Leadership, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Sustainability, HR, Finance, Mindfulness and many more

Buddsoddi yn Eich Hun A’ch Gweithle Investing in You and Your Workforce

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F u n d i n g wo r t h £ 1 , 0 0 0 s a va i l a b l e t o bu s i n e s s e s

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Women In Business Awards 2016

Women attract nominations for upcoming awards SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE

WOMEN IN

Nominations reflect talent ahead of the Business Life and South Wales Evening Post’s Women in Business Awards 2016...

BUSINESS A W A R D S 2 016

Talented businesswomen in the region are being celebrated as nominations come flooding in for a major event to mark their success.

Nomination entries for the Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post’s Women in Business Awards 2016 are coming in thick and fast.

There are some fantastic categories again in what is the award’s seventh year, including rising star of the year, growth & expansion award, new business start-up of the year, professional woman of the year, green award, innovation award, business mentor award, lifestyle business award and the lifetime achievement award.

A glistening ceremony with around 200 guests will take place at the Swansea 88 swanseabaybusiness.com

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Women In Business Awards 2016

Right top: New Business/ Start-up of the Year Award won by Ceri Butcher of Carreg Adventure presented by Dr Margaret Inman of University of Wales Trinity St David • Right bottom: Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise, Business Development and Mentoring Support Awarded to Jill Burgess presented by Hilary Lapin-Scott

2015 guest speaker, television presenter and advernturer Lowri Morgan

Ambassador Award won by Juliet Luporini of Swansea BID presented

by Heather Cooper

Marriott Hotel, at Maritime Quarter, on October 7.

Lisa Cameron, commercial director at South West Wales Media, said Business Life readers should get their nominations in now while there is still time to nominate.

“It’s hard to believe we are now in our seventh year and it’s great to see how these awards have grown in this time,” she said.

“We started off at the Mermaid Restaurant in Mumbles with a jam packed audience of 80. Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength and we are now at the Marriott with an audience of 200.”

Ten inspirational women were revealed as winners of last year’s Women in Business Awards, sponsored by PwC, at the Marriott Hotel.

The overall winner was Alex Shufflebottom, director of Shufflebottom, a company that manufactures steel framed buildings. Alex also served as

chair of the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association.

A special award was given to Jill Burgess, a long standing influential figure in the local business community, a judge of the awards and board member of Swansea University. It recognised her outstanding contribution to enterprise, business development and mentoring support.

Mavis Lucus, aged 85, won the lifetime achievement award. Lucus was the first and youngest female ever to achieve professional accountancy status when she qualified aged 22 back in 1953.

The event also featured two inspirational speakers in the form of Dame Rosemary Butler AM and TV presenter turned adventurer Lowri Morgan.

Describing last year’s event, Carly Allchurch, manager at sponsor PwC and one of the judges, said: “The Women in Business awards highlight the crucial and impressive contribution that women are making to business across South Wales.”

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE WE ARE NOW IN OUR SEVENTH YEAR AND IT’S GREAT TO SEE HOW THESE AWARDS HAVE GROWN IN THIS TIME. swanseabaybusiness.com 89

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Women In Business Awards 2016

Woman of the Year Our main award. This award will go to a woman who has made a significant personal contribution to the success of the company she runs or in which she is employed. The company must be within the Swansea Bay area.

Rising Star of the Year This award is open to women aged 30 and under who have made their mark in business. The winner is a ‘woman to watch’. She may be a future leader, already head of a team, or quickly rising through the ranks.

Growth & Expansion Award This award will go to a woman who has achieved successes in expanding the scope of her business into new markets either overseas or closer to home. The availability of turnover figures covering recent years are critical in this category.

New Business Start-up of the Year (sponsored by UWTSD) This award is open to all businesses that have started trading in the past 12

months and whose principal trading base is in Swansea Bay with either woman/women owners or a female head of the company.

Professional Woman of the Year This award goes to a woman who holds an occupation in the tertiary sector of the economy requiring specialist training or those who hold a professional licence.

SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE

WOMEN IN

BUSINESS A W A R D S 2 016

They will have made a positive mark in their organisation and be well respected by clients.

Innovation in Business Award This award will go to a woman who has achieved successes in expanding the scope of her business or businesses through the innovative use of online operations and platforms including websites, e-commerce ventures and/ or specific internet-based products or services.

Mentor of the Year Award This award will go to an individual who has mentored individuals in business or entire businesses to achieve greater things over the last 12 months in any sort of educational, training or mentoring role.

Family Business of the Year This category is dedicated to any business that is family-based where the female owner / manager has built a loyal and local customer based within this community.

Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Gower College) This category is for women who are seen as pillars of the local business community and who are widely respected for their longevity in business as well as their success. They must have a track record of at least 10 years.

Ambassador Award This award’s recipient will be someone who has helped to put the Swansea Bay region on the map, increasing awareness outside the area.

Green Award (sponsored by RWE)

Professional Services Award won by Hannah McCartan of McCartan Lettings presented by Fay Griffiths of Hutchinson Thomas.

This award is open to women who show outstanding concern for the environment.

This may involve reducing emissions, waste or noise, adopting more efficient transport policies or using raw materials more effectively. It may also involve cleaning up land or reducing the impact of the business on neighbours. The project or initiative must have been completed or reached a meaningful stage within the past year.

The closing date for this year’s nominations is August 26.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Zena Laws, business manager at South West Wales Media, on 01792 545585 or email zena.laws@swwmedia.co.uk Visit www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/business 90

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Build a better future ACCA members are underpinning economic and business growth the world over.

Think ahead at accaglobal.com

wales@accaglobal.com

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@ACCAWales

ACCA Cymru Wales

8/1/2016 9:27:09 AM

Workforce

From left, Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Wales; Tim John, ACCA mentor, Llewelyn Davies; Huw Jones, ACCA trainee, Llewelyn Davies; Colin John, partner, Llewelyn Davies

Trainee tops 7,000 students...

Trainee Huw Jones from Carmarthenshire has been presented with a global award in front of Wales Rugby stars for achieving the highest pass mark in an exam sat by more than 7,000 students.

Jones, an ACCA accountancy trainee at Llewelyn Davies Chartered Accountants in Whitland, sat the exam along with 7,800 others from around the world.

Colin John, partner at Llewelyn Davies, said: “We are extremely proud of Huw’s achievement in being a global prize winner, and it proves that all his hard work has been extremely worthwhile and has been duly recognised.”

Jones, 23, from Llanarthney near Carmarthen, has been studying for his ACCA exams at firm Kaplan while working for Llewelyn Davies for the last five years.

He said: “I am delighted and honoured to have received this prestigious global award and am grateful for all the support received from Llewelyn Davies Chartered Accountants and for the opportunities I have been afforded.”

Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru Wales, presented the award to Jones in recognition of his achievement, at the recent ACCA Cymru Wales Dinner held in Swansea.

Wales Rugby internationals Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb and world-record breaking referee Nigel Owens were among the 300-strong crowd.

On the night, Powell said: “We are delighted to be able to congratulate Huw in person at our flagship event in Swansea.

“It is an amazing achievement to score the highest mark in the world in an ACCA

THE COMMITMENT

BY OUR STUDENTS TO STUDY WHILE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME CONTINUES TO IMPRESS US YEAR ON YEAR. examination. The commitment by our students to study while working at the same time continues to impress us year on year.

“For Huw to achieve the highest mark worldwide takes considerable natural ability and talent but also a huge amount of hard work and commitment and we’re very proud as an organisation of his success.”

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Director receives honorary fellowship...

BT Cymru Wales director Alwen Williams has received an honorary fellowship from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Williams grew up on a family farm and now oversees a business that employs nearly 3,000 in Wales, working with every part of the organisation and leading the BT Cymru Wales board.

Williams was appointed as BT Director Wales last year and has since been appointed a co-opted member of the Business Wales Board and the Deeside Enterprise Zone Advisory Board.

She said: “My journey to becoming the director of BT Wales has been slow but very rewarding. I wasn’t in the race to getting to the top because I’ve appreciated all of the challenges and learning opportunities I’ve had along the way.

“The most important lesson I have learnt in developing my career is not to be scared of failure.”

Gwilym Dyfri Jones, pro vice-chancellor at UWTSD, presented Williams with her honorary fellowship.

He said: “Through her passion, determination, self-belief and hard work, Alwen Williams has risen through the ranks to spearhead BT Cymru Wales at a critical time for the company as the second digital revolution takes hold.

“We are accustomed to inspirational leadership at this university. We have witnessed leadership of the highest order within Welsh football during the last few weeks. Today we acknowledge the exemplary leadership, the compelling and

focussed vision and the steely determination that have made Alwen Williams one of the most respected and successful business people in Wales today.”

A fluent Welsh speaker, Williams joined BT in 1996 as a member of the Welsh Language Bureau in Colwyn Bay. She then spent over ten years in Cardiff, initially joining the BT Cymru Wales corporate communications team and later developing her career in communications and change management.

While working for BT she graduated with a first class honours degree in leadership and management from the Open University in 2014 and is currently working towards a masters in executive coaching with Ashridge Business School.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I HAVE LEARNT IN DEVELOPING MY CAREER IS NOT TO BE SCARED OF FAILURE. BT Cymru Wales director Alwen Williams

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advertising feature

Advice for employers during Rio Olympics The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has published guidance to help employers to prepare for possible issues which might arise during the Olympic Games in August 2016.

The Games take place in Rio de Janeiro between 5th August and 21st August 2016 and this new guidance helps employers put in place a set of simple workplace agreements to ensure their businesses remain productive whilst keeping staff happy.

The guidance covers requests for time off, sickness absence, website use during working hours and watching TV. It advises that employers should start planning as soon as possible to reduce the impact that the Games could have on their business. It suggests that employers may wish to consult with employees to gauge the level of interest in the Games, have open communications about suggested changes to working practices which balances staff requests with the needs of the business, and minimise any potential impact on productivity.

Employers may wish to allow staff to listen to or watch some events. It may be possible to allow staff to take a break during popular events.

Managers, however, should bear in mind the need to be fair and consistent for all staff when allowing for flexibility during the Games.

Time off Employees who wish to take time off during the Games should book annual leave in the usual way in accordance with the company’s handbook/policy.

Employers are well advised to keep their leave policy simple, possibly adopting a ‘first come, first served’ policy of booking leave.

Of particular concern to employers could be an unusually high amount of requests for annual leave during the summer holiday period. Secondly there could be an increase in the use of the internet and social media during working hours.

The ACAS’ suggestions include the following:

Flexibility Even where employers do not currently have flexible working practices, employers are encouraged to consider this, even as a short term measure during the period of the Games. One option could be to have a more flexible working day when employees may come in to work a little later or finish earlier and then agree when this time can be made up.

Use of social networking and websites It is almost inevitable that some staff will watch coverage of higher profile events during the Games and therefore employers may wish to plan for this, perhaps giving staff access to a TV during agreed times.

Employers may also wish to remind staff in advance of any policies regarding the use of social networking and websites during working hours.

Drinking policies Although the Olympics is not obviously associated with an increase in the consumption of alcohol, employees should be reminded of any alcohol policy and that if an employee is found to be under the influence of alcohol they could be subject to disciplinary procedures.

Sir Brendan Barber, Chairman of ACAS summed up the guidance as follows: “Our guidance published today can help managers get the best from their team athletes by preparing for potential hurdles, arranging team relay handovers if necessary and avoiding unnecessary false starts.”

Simon Thomas is a partner with Hutchinson Thomas Solicitors and advises on employment and regulatory law.

Managing attendance Of course, an employer’s sickness policy will still apply during this time. Levels of attendance should be monitored during this period in accordance with that policy and any unauthorised absence or patterns in absence can still result in formal proceedings. Employers would be well advised to communicate this to staff in advance.

Hutchinson Thomas Pendrill Court, 119 London Road, Neath, SA11 1LF Tel: 01639 645061 Fax: 01639 646792 www.hutchinsonthomas.com

©LW

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Morganite

Workforce

100 jobs boost thanks to £1.4m funding...

The long-term future of a South West Wales firm has been secured thanks to huge investment to transform its manufacturing facility.

Swansea-based Morgan Advanced Materials (Morgan) and the Welsh Government will fund the transformation of the Morganite plant in Morriston into a world class site capable of supplying the group globally as well as directly to customers.

The investment includes a £1.4 million funding package from the Welsh Government, which it says is a strong endorsement of the facility’s 100 highly skilled staff.

The package includes a £450,000 property development grant to support the consolidation and reconfiguration of manufacturing on site and the remediation of some buildings.

Swansea will now retain production of two main product ranges that are used to link electrified wires to trains and overhead cranes as well as support functions including sales and technical and financial resources.

Economy Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates said Welsh Government support was vital in securing the investment and described it

as an extremely important project for the advanced materials and manufacturing sector in Wales.

He said: “I am particularly pleased that our funding provided the catalyst that ensured this investment went ahead in Wales and that we were able to support the local management team.

“It not only secures highly skilled local jobs and retains expertise within Wales but introduces new technology to the site.

Morgan Advanced Materials spends around £600,000 annually in the local supply chain and this investment will also support jobs and businesses that create tangible benefits for local communities.”

Pete Raby, CEO of Morgan Advanced Materials, said: “Our decision to invest further in Swansea is underpinned by our strong local team who are helping deliver

OUR DECISION TO INVEST FURTHER IN SWANSEA IS UNDERPINNED

BY OUR STRONG LOCAL TEAM. cutting edge manufacturing technology for our company and the sector.

“Supporting our local communities has and continues to be a priority and we are delighted that the investment will not only create new opportunities for the local community in Swansea but the Welsh economy as a whole”.

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commercial operator

advertising feature

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Our training is aimed at employers and those responsible for the safe operation of lift trucks, as well as those in control of worksites, the self-employed, managers and supervisors.

Employees and their safety representatives may also find it useful.

As an employer you are required to provide basic training and testing for all lift-truck operators you employ (both new and existing).

Properly trained operators can reduce the risk of lift-truck accidents in your workplace.

The law The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) place certain requirements on employers. You must make sure that all people who use, supervise or manage the use of work equipment have received adequate training Commercial Operator Training Solutions Ltd offer RTITB accredited and in-house certificated training for the many types of Telehander and forklift operated in today’s market. We offer onsite training throughout the UK and also operate from our own fully equipped premises with Toyota counterbalance and reach trucks onsite. All equipment is serviced in line with recommended service intervals and is under 4 years old.

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7/29/2016 9:34:40 AM

Expert opinion

Workforce

with Phil Jones, director of the Prince’s Trust Cymru

NEWS ROUND-UP...

Former apprentice now one of the world’s best divers...

Give young people the reins...

Since the turn of the century, there’s been a stark rise in the use of the term ‘sustainability’, particularly among the business community here in Wales.

Relationships between people, profits and the planet are more entwined now than ever before and, with targets like those outlined by the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, businesses have an added responsibility to develop innovative ways to be more sustainable. The Prince’s Trust Cymru wants to work alongside businesses to support this green agenda.

As with any subject that involves change and the future, it is crucial that our young people are engaged and motivated to play their part and ensure its success. The next generation has inherent creativity when it comes to problem-solving and, combined with an understanding of new technologies, the platform to discover and build the solutions we require.

At the Prince’s Trust Cymru, we understand the significance of empowering young people to make a difference not only in their own lives, but in the communities in which they live. As well as equipping them with the skills they need to be successful, our programmes teach young people

about responsibility, community and why it’s important to give back. For example, this year we’ve partnered up with local businesses in Swansea to run employability courses on themes such as recycling and urban space regeneration.

These programmes help participants develop confidence and new skills while gaining a better understanding about sustainability issues.

I am inspired by young entrepreneurs who have been supported by the trust to establish businesses with a commitment to sustainability, and we recently launched Tomorrow’s Business Awards to celebrate the positive impact entrepreneurship can have on an individual, their community and the environment. The awards, supported by NatWest, will help young entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level through investment and one-to-one mentoring with industry experts.

Young people are more engaged in global issues than ever before, they have strong social values, are ambitious and they want to bring about positive change. Through education, employment and entrepreneurship, we need to give them the reins to take charge of the sustainability mission.

Around six years ago Dean Chaouche packed his tools and started a globe trekking adventure to top all others.

Chaouche had taken up an apprenticeship as an electrician straight after leaving Gwyr Comprehensive in Swansea. He had qualified and had the exams he needed.

He is now the best British depth freediver and third overall in the world.

“I knew it would give me a trade that would enable me to do one of the things I love the most – travel,” he said.

And he was right. His path to paradise took him to the Bahamas where he now works as a diving course instructor and competitive free-diver plunging deep under the oceans without the aid of any breathing equipment.

It is a life very different to his formative years in Waunarlwydd and Mumbles in Swansea.

Chaouche left school to see the world with his trade tucked under his toolbelt.

Travelling with numerous working visas, he island-hopped, flew and trekked across Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Indonesia, Egypt, France, Columbia and Australia before settling in Long Island in the Bahamas.

By day, he spends his days as a competitive diving instructor for the many tourists drawn in by the Bahamas’ crystal clear waters and its famous forest-like coral reefs teeming with vibrant marine life.

The Bahamas is also famous for its underwater caves, Spanish galleons and inland blue holes. It’s the blue holes that drew Chaouche here, and where you’ll find him training most days for his record breaking attempts this summer. “The locals are great” he said, “although they think we (competitive divers) are crazy, they tend to stay away from the blue holes as they believe it’s dangerous.” swanseabaybusiness.com 97

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www.lsh.co.uk ©LW

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7/29/2016 9:34:59 AM

Property and construction Brownfield sites and sprinklers

Brother and sister team utilise land expertise...

Property & Construction is sponsored by

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Property & Construction

Brownfield sites and sprinklers Family-run housebuilder and developer Hygrove Homes is an expert in brownfield sites and embodies a community-focused ethos. BUSINESS LIFE speaks with one of the life-bloods of the firm...

Hygrove brother and sister team Ben Francis and Becky Sleap 100 swanseabaybusiness.com

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You could say that building is in Ben Francis’ genes.

His family have been involved in construction for a long time, and together with his father he launched Hygrove 10 years ago after an exceptionally successful regeneration project in Pontarddulais.

Pioneered by Hygrove, the £40 million regeneration scheme incorporated three housing developments in the area.

The initial 49-house Parc y bont project with Coastal Housing Association was built on predominantly brownfield land, below the A48, and established Francis and his team as specialists in the reclamation and remediation of brownfield sites.

“Part of the project involved creating a new Tesco store, with access road, road-bridge and roundabout,” Francis, the business’ commercial director, explained. “The Tesco store was the former Western Power Depot, so there was extensive demolition and remediation involved.”

The project won a social housing award in 2012. Other phases of the regeneration project included the Brunel Wood development at Morfa stadium and a 35new home development in Pontarddulais called Llys Daniel.

Thanks largely to these sites requiring re-purposing of brownfield sites – a move increasingly hailed as a key factor for a more sustainable strategy for home building in the UK – Hygrove has emerged as an expert in this field.

“Getting brownfield sites ready for development – involves extensive testing of the soil in areas where there are going to be gardens,” Francis said.

“You have to develop a remediation strategy to ensure the land you’re building on is suitable for the end user.”

Challenges have included the industrial buildings and waste that have involved specialist demolition and treatment.

Born and raised in Llanelli, Francis explains that the firm places a huge emphasis on giving something back to the local and regional community, and runs a strong community engagement programme.

“We’re also involved in a scheme called Business Class, which is a Business in the Community scheme, licensed by Careers Wales,” he said.

“It’s a scheme that links local schools with local businesses, and we have been partnered with Pentrehafod.”

Under this partnership, school children are given the opportunity to gain on-site experience of the different phases of work on a construction site and a chance to

LIKE MOST DEVELOPERS, WE’RE KEEN TO SEE BIGGER INCENTIVES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF BROWNFIELD SITES.

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Property & Construction

Brownfield sites and sprinklers

engage with contractors.

Francis believes that it’s real life experience like this that will help encourage more youngsters into the construction trade, helping to stem the skills gap in the industry.

Hygrove is also involved in the Young Dragons Business Contest, now in its sixth year.

The industry academia collaboration involves Swansea University and gives school children an opportunity to engage with some real life businesses.

“We also sponsor the Valley Crusaders rugby team and through our relationship with them, they have learnt about what we do,” Francis said.

The firm’s family ethos comes through strongly in the core values they demonstrate within their construction projects.

Francis’ sister Becky Sleap also works within the family firm, on the planning side of the business.

“Getting it right is even more important for a small firm” Francis explained,“because we live and work in our area.

“If the quality of what we do isn’t good then we won’t be around long. We want our brand to be associated with good quality value-for-money products.

It’s important that each and every house we build contains those values. And the sub-contractors we work with have a similar mind-set; we have a great team of

suppliers and contractors.”

Francis is a Small Business Saturday champion for the region – under the initiative 100 firms get selected and gain a one-day publicity boost via local, national and trade press and social media.

Small Business Saturday is a cross-party business initiative with its very own Battle Bus. It was spawned in America and is sponsored by American Express.

“As part of the Small Business Saturday involvement I got to meet former Chancellor George Osborne,” explains Francis.

Hygrove is also very active within the FSB. “I first got involved with the FSB in Swansea and went on to be part of regional activities and got involved with the Westminster policy committee,” Francis said.

“Since the recession in 2008, the number of SME building firms has been declining and it’s important to remind people of the importance of SMEs in the construction industry.”

As well as putting a lot of energy into its community engagement programme with a long-term aim of helping to bridge the skills gap, Hygrove also has other sustainabilityfocused approaches.

Francis said: “We try to ensure that wherever possible our suppliers and workforce are local – and this helps to sustain the local economy, and also lowers our carbon footprint.

IF THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE DO ISN’T GOOD THEN WE WON’T BE AROUND LONG. WE WANT OUR BRAND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD QUALITY VALUE-FOR-MONEY PRODUCTS. “Our homes are of timber construction, using sustainable materials where possible, and are energy efficient.”

Going forwards, what would he like to see?

“Like most developers, we’re keen to see bigger incentives for the redevelopment of brownfield sites.

“Along with a simplification and speeding up of the planning process.”

Francis points out that one of the worst things Welsh Government has done for the home building industry is to introduce statutory sprinkler systems, which hike up the cost per house, tipping some developments into non-viable territory.

“The cost means developments become unviable, and although it could potentially save a life there are other factors to consider. The problem of increased insurance premiums, for example,” he said.

As well as holdings in Wales, Hygrove also has holdings in England and has already undertaken developments in Berkshire.

Francis added: “We want to remain in this area, but things like statutory sprinkler systems don’t help!”

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Property & Construction

Industry Insight With Lee Mogridge, head of national commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton Wales

Thriving urban environments are essential...

Awards are to be celebrated but one recent city centre accolade is significant as it points to the conditions that should be in place if our local economy is to flourish.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors awarded Coastal Housing Group ‘highly commended’ for its Castle Quarter project. Coastal’s ambition was clear; it set out to create an exceptional environment for residents and visitors and we have found that this holds the key to successful city centre regeneration across the UK.

As a national commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton has witnessed the positive economic impact that facilitating a thriving urban environment creates. Simply put, when people live and work in the city centre, they support the local economy and it provides a platform for inward investment and growth.

As well as new builds, turning out-ofdate office stock into private apartments will help boost Swansea’s ‘alive after five’ viability. For example, both the space opposite the Dragon Hotel and another above the Potter’s Wheel pub, are planning to construct residential units with retail on the ground floor to provide the living and leisure facilities a city needs to thrive.

If we are truly ambitious, we could look to transform old office accommodation in locations such as Walter Road back into residential use. These were once impressive homes and could be again. It would transform a rather tired part of the city and could lead to further commercial opportunity along Kingsway, introducing a boulevard type environment.

We do recognise that schemes must be sympathetic to the developments that are already in place. For example, if the St David’s Square development gets the go ahead, it should have an

AS WELL AS NEW BUILDS, TURNING OUT-OF-DATE OFFICE STOCK INTO PRIVATE APARTMENTS WILL HELP BOOST SWANSEA’S ‘ALIVE AFTER FIVE’ VIABILITY. anchor tenant and mix of retailers that will complement and not threaten the Quadrant Centre’s well-established offer.

We believe that developers can be encouraged to invest in Swansea. A process that can start by canvassing their views, examining what restrictions can be lifted and looking at opportunities for regearing antiquated leases for example.

Perhaps it is worth reminding ourselves that Swansea Castle looks out on the square, witness to change over almost a millennia. With the right planning and vision, we should all be confident that we can build on recent success and create sustainable growth for the next chapter of our city’s vibrant history.

Axis 17, Axis Court, Mallard Way Swansea, SA7 0AJ Tel: 01792 702 800 3 Callaghan Square, Cardiff CF10 5BT Tel: 029 20523030 www.lsh.co.uk

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advertising feature

Award winning construction company welcomes rugby legend Jonathan Davies OBE as Director Construction firm Andrew Scott Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Director of Stadia and Leisure. Retired rugby player Jonathan Davies OBE will be joining the Port Talbot based team with his experience on the field certain to come in handy as the company looks to develop further within the leisure sector.

A dual code rugby player in his day, Jonathan was a goal kicking backline player, and as well as representing Wales and Great Britain in both the rugby union and rugby league, he played club rugby in Wales, England and Australia.

Since his retirement Jonathan has worked as a rugby commentator, television host and media personality, roles that have been delivered in both the Welsh and English languages. The cross-code technical knowledge of rugby tactics gathered throughout his sporting career saw him gain various media work, both on the commentating and reviewing sides. BBC pundit, broadcaster, chat show host in his own rugby themed programme Jonathan, Super League President and high profile charity supporter, many have asked what’s next for this ex-rugby pro and sporting legend…

Now Jonathan is keen to put his sporting experience, plus make use of his relationships in the sporting world, to good use in a completely different

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context. Jonathan is looking forward to working for Andrew Scott and promoting their expertise throughout the stadia and leisure sector.

From the pitch to the boardroom, Jonathan commented that “Building good relationships in business is important, as is building good social skills so that when securing the next project for Andrew Scott I can transfer those skills. I’ve learnt that there is always parallels between sport and business.”

Andrew Scott Ltd has a long history in building sports stadia across the UK, and has been doing so for over 100 years.

Previous projects include the Partick Thistle stadiums in the 1910s, Cardiff Arms Park in the 1960s and 1970s, and more recently rugby stadiums at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli and Newport Gwent Dragons (Rodney Parade). Others include Hampshire Cricket’s Rose Bowl (Ageas Bowl), and the Ryder Cup 2010 clubhouse and infrastructure at the Celtic Manor Resort. The firm is widely recognised for delivering very high quality

and iconic sports stadia, training facilities and leisure projects on time, within budget and safely.

“It is a great pleasure to have Jonathan on board with us. He will be capitalising on our pedigree in sports projects whilst also targeting national developers in other niche sectors and securing particularly high value projects up to £30M across the UK as part of his role. We look forward to working closely with Jonathan, reaping the rewards, and hopefully increasing turnover, profit and profile,” concluded Mark Bowen, Managing Director at Andrew Scott Ltd.

The Grange, Margam, Neath Port Talbot SA13 2SP • Tel: 01639 889800 www.andrewscott.co.uk

7/29/2016 11:50:21 AM

From Stadia to Playing Fields We Help Create Exciting Sporting Venues

17 Victoria Place Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA61 2JX Tel: 01437 767932

Andrew Scott Ltd The Grange Margam Neath Port Talbot SA13 2SP Tel: 01639 889800

Harbourside House The Grove Bristol BS1 4QZ Tel: 01179 258967

marketing@andrewscott.co.uk @AndrewScottLtd

QUALITY

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Andrew Scott Ltd

INNOVATION

7/29/2016 11:50:29 AM

Property & Construction

St David’s and Civic Centre

£2 million and counting...

Swansea Council’s bill to regenerate the city’s St David’s and Civic Centre sites has already exceeded £2 million. BUSINESS LIFE reports…

The cost of promoting and preparing the St David’s and Civic Centre sites for redevelopment has already exceeded £2 million, it has emerged.

Swansea Council has released the figures in response to a Freedom of Information request by Business Life’s sister title the South Wales Evening Post.

The cabinet has also authorised £500,000 for further preparation work.

Two companies have been brought in to work with the council on the two sites, the development of which will be funded privately.

The St David’s proposals for the area north of Oystermouth Road will provide 200,000 sq ft of commercial space including retail, restaurants and a cinema.

The scheme will be mixed use, featuring private and affordable housing as well as student accommodation and a new car park. Some of the new businesses will form part of a new retail circuit stretching from Whitewalls to Oystermouth Road.

On the south of Oystermouth Road, a

3,500-seat indoor arena set within a new landscaped public space is proposed. The area will also feature car parking and a hotel, with the potential for a residential tower.

Proposals for the Civic Centre site include 480 residential units, a 70,000 sq ft space for a hotel or offices, and a 20,000 to 30,000 sq ft space for food and drink businesses.

It’s also proposed work is carried out with Swansea University to explore the potential for a so-called hydro hub, which could include a public aquarium and a state-ofthe-art aquatic sciences research centre.

In its Freedom of Information response to the Evening Post, a council spokeswoman said: “The St David’s and Civic Centre development sites are of strategic importance, not just for Swansea city centre, but for the Swansea Bay City Region as a whole.

“Their regeneration will help transform Swansea city centre into a leading destination for retail, leisure and recreation, helping meet the aspirations of residents

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An artists’ impression of the proposed St David’s redevelopment in Swansea.

and visitors, create jobs, boost existing businesses and attract further investment in future.”

The spokeswoman added: “We left no stone unturned in our drive to find the best possible development managers to work with. This was why £104,210 was spent on marketing and promoting the sites.

These costs included the organisation of events in London and Wales to market the development sites, the development of flythrough videos and the commissioning of expert advice.”

Council leader Rob Stewart said the city would “reap the benefits” of the developments, which are very much in their early stages - with no planning applications submitted as yet - and that new revenue streams would be created for businesses.

Discussions have started with retailers, restaurateurs and cinema operators. The aim is for work to start on both sites next year, with completion in 2021, possibly before.

THE REGENERATION WILL HELP TRANSFORM SWANSEA CITY CENTRE INTO A LEADING DESTINATION FOR RETAIL, LEISURE AND RECREATION.

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Dawsons Professional & Commercial departments have been established since the company formed in 1991 Over the years we have acted for a wide range of clients, from large mutli nationals to individuals, providing a wide range of services.

We currently have two Chartered Surveyors in James Dawson and Matthew Mason who can help advise on the following services: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Disposal and Acquisition of all types of Commercial Premises Asset and Property management Landlord and Tenant Formal Valuations for all purposes Rating Assessments and Appeals Rent Review/ Lease Renewal Contact: Matthew.Mason@dawsonsproperty.co.uk T:01792 478908

Dawsons estate agents

©LW

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8/1/2016 10:59:16 AM

Mansel House, Mansel Street Swansea, SA1 5UE

Property Features • Investment Opportunity to Purchase • Income of £40,500 exclusive per annum • Gross Initial Yield of 8.18% • Freehold Interest Available for £495,000 Contact: Matthew.Mason@dawsonsproperty.co.uk | T:01792 478908

Dawsons Commercial

©LW

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8/1/2016 10:59:27 AM

Property & Construction

St David’s and Civic Centre

Artists’ impression • Trebor Developments

ANY MONEY THAT THE COUNCIL CAN AFFORD TO SPEND BUYING UP LEASES IN THE CITY IS AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE. The pre-May election Welsh Government pledged an “in principle” offer of up to £6.2 million to help prepare the St David’s site for development. Discussions are ongoing about this offer - and it is anticipated that further public funding could follow in due course if the proposals materialise as planned.

Opposition leader in Swansea, councillor Chris Holley, said the Welsh Government’s role should be kept under scrutiny.

“Any money that the council can afford to spend buying up leases in the city is an investment for the future,” he said.

“The fact is that we need Welsh Government investment to enable any project in the city centre to work.

“Developers who have wanted to work in Swansea city centre have always looked to the council and the Welsh Government to help financially.

“To attract the large stores - John Lewis, Waitrose etc - there needs to be incentives, like cheap rent for a few years.

“The new model is that developers now only act as agents and take no financial risk - as such it is even more critical that the Welsh Government take positive steps to help regenerate Swansea in the same way it did with Cardiff Bay.”

Spending to date...

• £1.53 million buying the St David's development site

(the Welsh Government also made a big contribution)

• £230,000 on consultants' fees • £104,210 on marketing and promoting the two sites • £100,000 on the demolition of the former Oldway House building • £75,000 on site surveys

An artists’ impression of the proposed St David’s redevelopment in Swansea.

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Langland bliss

Offering a unique opportunity to purchase an individual and architect designed converted coach house benefiting from clean lines, simple proportions with a preferred open plan layout and an abundance of natural light. Situated moments from the family friendly Langland Bay and benefitting from mesmerising, panoramic sea views.

The award winning Langland Bay just a short stroll away. Recently awarded the coveted blue flag beach award recognising the quality, cleanliness and services.

Benefiting from beachside café and kiosks which are fully stocked with everything required for a perfect day at the beach. There is car parking and seasonal lifeguard duty. The Langland Bay Brasserie is open throughout the year and offers coffees, pastries and an extensive menu of locally sourced goods, specialising in seafood. Langland Bay golf course is situated above the beach and there is a coastal path leading to Caswell Bay. The coastal village of Mumbles is within easy reach with full array of restaurants, wine bars and individual boutiques. The beachside promenade meanders alongside the water’s edge with ice cream parlours and cafes en-route.

The Coach House Langland, 1 Bedroom Luxury Apartment with contemporary interiors finished to a very high standard. There is a manicured communal garden with gate onto the coastal path and a car parking space.

The open plan lounge has the pleasure of patio doors that lead onto the balcony which offers spectacular views over Langland Bay and the golf course also benefiting from tiled floor with underfloor heating and steps down to the kitchen which is fitted with contemporary wall and base units and breakfast bar.

Integrated oven, hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and dishwasher. The utility room is plumbed for laundry appliances.

The double bedroom is also situated to take advantage of the beautiful sea and beach views.

Benefiting from fitted wardrobes and built in cupboard. The contemporary en-suite is fitted with a free standing bath and corner shower cubicle, wall mounted vanity unit with inset wash hand basin, heated towel rail and low level W.C. With tiled floor and underfloor heating. In addition to the en-suite there is a cloakroom with tiled floor, vanity unit with wash hand basin and low level W.C.

£420,000

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com Fine & Country Swansea

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@FineSwansea

7/29/2016 11:50:54 AM

Alongside the supply of concrete, the company operates a concrete pumping service enabling concrete to be efficiently and effortlessly placed and is particularly useful on sites which would otherwise require the concrete to be transported using dumpers or barrows.

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G.D.Harries & Sons Ltd

advertising feature

G. D. Harries & Sons Ltd, New Concrete Plant at Penygroes, Crosshands, Llanelli.

The locally based company has extended its area of materials supply, by commissioning a new ready mixed concrete plant at Penygroes, near Crosshands.

Penygroes plant is capable of producing high volumes of ready mixed concrete for large civil engineering, agricultural, building projects or the smaller load for use on typical DIY jobs.

The concrete is delivered on the company’s own fleet of ready mix trucks operated by experienced staff. Concrete can also be collected by customers who have the facilities to do so.

Back up, should it be necessary, is provided by the company’s existing BSI accredited plant at Cwmffrwd, near Carmarthen. The company also operates three other BSI accredited concrete plants at Narberth, Haverfordwest and Coygen near Laugharne.

Alongside the supply of concrete, the company operates a concrete pumping service enabling concrete to be efficiently and effortlessly placed and is particularly useful on sites which would otherwise require the concrete to be transported using dumpers or barrows.

Advice and support to assist in the selection of concrete appropriate to its intended use is available from knowledgeable and experienced staff who are always happy to help.

The additional concrete plant at Penygroes along with Cwmffrwd site, add to the company’s ability to provide a complete service to the construction Tel: 01834 860 464 Rowlands View, Templeton, Narberth SA67 8RG

industry particularly in Carmarthenshire, complementing the existing quarry operations at Coygen and Alltgoch near Llanybydder which also produce a full range of tarmacadam products. These products are available for purchase by contractors or supply to the company’s own Surfacing and Civil Engineering sections.

Tel: 01267 232 638 Norton Road, Penygroes, Llanelli SA14 7RU Gelli Gaeros, Idole, Carmarthen, SA32 8DJ

www.gdharries.biz Untitled-7 1

©LW

7/29/2016 1:57:14 PM

www.johnfrancis.co.uk

Gowerton

Commercial Properties Clydach

Offers in the region of £210,000 Offers in the region of £160,000 Opportunity to acquire established business (approx 30 years) (leasehold 68 yrs Flying Freehold For Sale. Former post office stores with residential accommodation to remaining). Owner may consider leasing, subject to negotiation. Country Stores is a well rear which has been let in part on an assured shorthold tenancy agreement producing an known supplier of pet food, fishing equipment & airguns with a turnover of £351,000. annual income of £6,600 pa with a large garden and garage to the rear. Offering a good Benefits by an income from lease to 1st floor (£6,600 pa) as well as income from Solar trading position within the prime retail area of the town. The property is ideally suited for Panels. Offers in the region of £100,000 for business plus separate negotiation for stock. both owner occupiers and investors given its size and location within the High St.

Clydach

Swansea

Offers in the region of £119,950

Offers over £100,000

For offer a two storey mixed use property. Comprising of g/f retail unit with independent entrance and a well presented 4 bed residence with a large enclosed and garage. The property could be converted to a single or multiple residential dwelling (subject to necessary consents). Situated on a prominent main road, a short driving distance to the prime retail area of Clydach and is ideal for local investors or owner occupiers.

Mixed use property situated in a prominent location close to the towns main shopping area. The unit benefits by a retail shop on ground floor, net internal area 18.26 sq m (196.5 sq ft) and two, 1 bedroom flats to the basement and 1st floor. All 3 properties have their own access. Currently vacant, potential income approx £13,000 - £14,000 per annum when fully let. Ideal investment purchase.

www.johnfrancis.co.uk

Commercial Dept 0844 848 4335

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Property & Construction

Top 100 Companies to be revealed...

The countdown to the Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Top 100 Companies 2016 is underway.

A selection of the greatest firms in the region will be celebrated in the next edition of this magazine.

Our team of researchers is compiling the Top 100 list – now in its fifth year and sponsored by Barclays - and all will be unveiled in our special October/ November publication.

Business Editor Chris Campbell said: “It’s that time of year again and we can’t wait to showcase the top 100

businesses across our region. Now in its fifth year, the Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Top 100 Companies list is as competitive as ever and we look forward to celebrating those that feature.”

The performance of firms over the past year is assessed to determine the movers and shakers before ranking them in order of their size defined by turnover.

Top of last year’s list was Admiral Group, which has a large presence in Swansea, with a turnover last year of £1,971 million. Port Talbot-based

Sinclair Motor Holdings (£325.9 million) took second spot, followed

by Swansea-based CEM DAY with £223.08 million. All three firms were in the services sector.

Invited guests will take part in a launch event where the rankings will be revealed.

South Wales Evening Post editor Jonathan Roberts added Business Life’s special edition was another example of South West Wales Media’s commitment to providing support for the business community and to highlight its success stories.

For more on the Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Top 100 Companies 2016, visit www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/business

SUBSCRIBE! The must-read for the Swansea Bay City Region business community Introducing the new format Swansea Bay Business Life magazine, a bi-monthly business publication for the Swansea Bay City Region incorporating Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

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Student accommodation

Property & Construction

An artist's impression of the proposed Mariner Street development.

New development for students is latest in string of schemes...

Purpose-built student accommodation appears to be a soaring growth industry in Swansea as the city’s two universities make major moves. And overseas students are willing to pay a premium.

New university campuses and vacant brownfield land nearby are two massive ticks for student flat developers.

There has been a surge of applications for purpose-built student accommodation in Swansea city centre and the maritime quarter, with the latest scheme a £45 million block planned for Kings Road, SA1.

If given the go-ahead by Swansea Council the building for 507 students will feature some of the best accommodation in the UK, according to applicant NMJ Property Developments.

It has been proposed for the temporary car park between Technium 1 and the Ethos building, and is set to comprise communal lounges, a cafe, gym, faith room and reception area with 24-hour service.

Nick James, managing director of Swansea-based NMJ Property Developments, said: “It has the potential

to be one of the best student addresses in Wales. Swansea city centre’s amenities and both its universities are right on the doorstep and when this is combined with an exceptional new building and great communal facilities, there’s no doubt it would be a highly sought-after place to live.”

Mr James said the scheme had the backing of the Design Commission for Wales, and that the intention was to use as many local firms as possible in its construction.

Elsewhere in Swansea, developers have also sought to convert under-used offices or restaurants, including the 13-storey Oldway Centre on High Street. Also, Mariner Street car park site, opposite High Swansea rail station. An application for a building with 725 student rooms has been given consent by Swansea Council.

Swansea University’s Bay Campus, off Fabian Way, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s planned Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter at SA1 represent investments of around £750 million. Swansea University is

maintaining and updating its Singleton Campus.

Phil Baxter, associate director at Asbri Planning, which is advising the applicant behind a planned Swansea Marina student development, said: “The two (new) campuses means there is a real market to be tapping into.”

Swish, purpose-built accommodation is popular with overseas students and can cost double that of a shared house in Brynmill and Uplands.

UWTSD bosses said they would not build student accommodation at their new SA1 base, and were reviewing a range of options for their Townhill and Mount Pleasant campuses.

Swansea University has around 20,000 students — an increase of 20 per cent in just five years — and expects to welcome a further 5,000 students by 2020.

It has sold its Hendrefoilan Student Village site in Killay, although there is a phased rather than sudden withdrawal of students there. Accommodation for 2,000 students at the Bay Campus should be completed by 2017.

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Property & Construction

BHS

Difficult times as major player closes...

Sadness has been expressed over the closures of BHS stores in the Swansea Bay region.

In South West Wales locations include the Guildhall Square in Carmarthen and on Princess Way in Swansea.

Administrator Duff & Phelps will shut all the chain’s 114 remaining stores, ending on August 20.

More than 11,000 employees are set to lose their jobs after the department store chain collapsed into administration in April.

Duff & Phelps has failed to find a buyer for the business as a going concern and will now look to sell the stores off piecemeal.

A report has criticised BHS’s ownership under retail billionaire Sir Philip Green.

The tycoon was branded the“unacceptable face of capitalism” as a parliamentary inquiry found he systematically extracted huge sums from the collapsed store group while leaving its pension fund in deficit.

Sir Philip and his family pocketed £400 million in dividends during his 15-year ownership of the company, with BHS’s pension scheme nursing a £571 million deficit when it fell into administration.

In a hard-hitting joint report, two Commons select committees accused the entrepreneur of seeking to blame anyone but himself for the firm’s failure and said he has a “moral duty” to make a “large financial contribution” to the 20,000 pensioners

facing substantial cuts to their benefits.

While the committees were damning about former racing driver Dominic Chappell, who bought BHS for £1 from the billionaire last year, and the “directors, advisers and hangers-on” associated with the deal, they said ultimate responsibility lay with Sir Philip.

Reacting to the closure of the Carmarthen branch, town and county councillor Alun Lenny said: “It’s a sad day for the town as BHS, formerly the Littlewoods store, has been a retail landmark on Guildhall Square for many years. The UK Government should find a means of forcing Sir Philip Green to

BHS store in Swansea

repay the hundreds of millions he milked from BHS to fill the pensions shortfall. He should also be stripped of his knighthood for bringing the British business community into disrepute.”

Commenting on the news, Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said: “This is very disappointing news as I understand the Swansea store was trading very well.

“My thoughts are with the Swansea-based staff at this time, but we’ll be doing all we can to help them find new jobs.

“This is a prime site and we hope we can bring another business there to provide new jobs and boost the city centre.”

BHS store in Carmarthen

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MULTI-FUNCTIONAL LIVING WITH WESTACRES It’s not only families who can benefit from an open space arrangement, with more apartments choosing to implement a space aware interior design. With a flowing, open layout and a stream of natural light, an open plan design is perfect for more than one living occasion.

Where family is concerned, open plan designs are the ideal home lifestyle choice, as such families are opting for larger open spaces in favour of smaller rooms.

Open plan living is an easy, comfortable, and airy solution to space shortage. For smaller homes, open plan design is an ideal way to maximise your home. What you lose in storage space and hidden mess from separate rooms, you gain in interaction between family members and guests. It’s a perfect layout for entertaining, allowing you to chat with guests as you pour a glass of wine or dish out horderves.

The idea is to create a large “great room”, rather than the traditional living and/or dining room. Creating this space takes time and creativity, but if you furnish wisely, you can create the perfect atmosphere and identity with maximum space.

As house prices continue to recover, more families are choosing to live together in one large unit rather than smaller homes. The multigenerational family can live beyond the social traps of social media, internet and television, and connect in one large space.

Open plan used to be quite simple, incorporating an easy-to-mimic loft design. Now, the open plan design uses furniture to create

separate zones in the space. While loft designs can seem like a pick and mix of patterns and furnishings, open plan living has developed a cleaner, softer approach to large spaces.

Tonia Morgan, director of Westacres, advises to purchase furnishings carefully.

Tonia said, “Invest in bigger pieces such as corner sofas, which aren’t just for larger homes. They eliminate the need for extra armchairs and foot rests, and help guests identify the key relaxation areas. Large furnishings, including dining tables can pull the eye towards the “zones” of the room.”

In the bespoke home designs of housing developer Westacres, the designers and architects always think about the lifestyle of the buyer.

By incorporating a design that will fit around the day to day lives of the buyer, an open plan becomes an integral part of the blueprint. If you furnish wisely, you can create a great identity in a huge space.

As for bigger furnishings, Tonia suggests breaking up the space. “For the kitchen, I would say a breakfast bar is essential. It can really help divide the space from kitchen to living zone. It’s an ideal spot for coffee dates with friends, cocktail hours, or a quick sandwich before leaving the house.

“Homes are always evolving. As our families grow, change or scatter as children start to flee the nest, the purpose of a room is always changing. The open plan design is great for multipurpose living and can always be adapted to family lifestyle.”

0800 091 1809

Email: info@westacres.co.uk | Visit: www.westacres.co.uk Parc Y Mynydd, Saron, Carmarthenshire, SA183LN

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What is a Service Charge?

An amount payable by a Freeholder or Leaseholder in respect of services, repairs, maintenance, insurance, improvements or costs of management this is called ‘service charge’.

At CLC Chartered Surveyors we provide Residential and Commercial Block Management services to Developers, Landlords and RTM Companies across South Wales

What do CLC do?

In Brief CLC provide the following services;                

Preparation of annual estimates of expenditure Issue Service Charge Demands Management of communal areas Manage the Sinking Fund Provide Individual Client Accounts Complying with RICS Guidelines Managing and verifying invoices for payment Manage Major Works Proper control of sub-contractors from both a health & safety, and quality point of view Oversee external maintenance such as grass-cutting and gardening Lift maintenance and insurance Ensure Health & Safety and Fire Risk Assessment Compliance Buildings/property owners insurance Completion and filing of annual accounts Service charge collection and credit control Clear, accurate and timely financial reporting Customer focussed, 24 hour 7 day service

If you are a Developer, Freeholder or part of a Management Company and you would like to discuss further please contact

Malcolm Roberts MRICS - Malcolm@clcproperty.co.uk Robert Camm MRICS - Robert@clcproperty.co.uk Peter Loosmore MRICS - Peter@clcproperty.co.uk

www.clcproperty.co.uk

01792 524452 Untitled-1 1

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Strength & Elegance our aluminium windows and doors are built to last.

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7/29/2016 9:42:03 AM

SHUFFLEBOTTOM

Simply Better Built Buildings

Shufflebottom Ltd, a Welsh family run and owned business since 1977, manufactures high-quality steel-framed buildings. Today we are one of the UK’s largest independent manufacturers of steel-framed buildings for industry, agriculture, commerce and community use. We have a workforce upwards of 80 employees and we work closely with up to 25 teams of erectors.

Our purpose-built seven-acre site is located just off the M4 – an ideal location for country-wide transportation. Our philosophy has always been to manufacture as many components as possible in our own factory, to offer

our customers both quality and economy. We hold steel stocks of up to 800 tonnes, and we continuously invest in new machinery. Our saw and drill lines enable us to process over 500 tones of fabricated steelwork per month.

We are one of the few manufacturers who roll-form our own single-skin box-profile cladding, and we carry a wide range of steel-coil in an array of colours.

We offer a bespoke service, creating a building exactly to suit your requirements, and the particularities of your site.

◆ Built for durability and security

◆ Retail shopping centres

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SHUFFLEBOTTOM LIMITED, CROSS HANDS BUSINESS PARK, CROSS HANDS, LLANELLI, CARMARTHENSHIRE. SA14 6RE TELEPHONE: 01269 831831 FAX: 01269 831031 www. shufflebottom.co.uk

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7/29/2016 11:52:23 AM

Expert opinion with Dave Kieft, president of the ECA and ECA Wales spokesperson

NEWS ROUND-UP...

Landmark building close to full occupancy...

Appraisal, stability and investment...

The building services engineering sector is worth around 40 per cent of construction and engineering maintenance by value and is a significant contributor to the economy in Wales and the wider UK. As with any commercial sector, two key questions about Brexit are 1) how will it change things, and 2) will the changes be mainly challenges or opportunities?

These are simple questions with largely unknown answers, but one thing we do know is that we are still in the EU, and we will be for around the next two years. We should discuss carefully about what’s ahead, and not rush to hasty conclusions about what’s ahead, or what needs to be done.

Yet while we are still EU members, albeit on a new, two year lease, Brexit has brought considerable political and economic uncertainty. This means an immediate priority for government is to pull all the levers that will increase confidence and stability in the economy.

Business leaders should also press the government - along with its new secretaries of state and ministers - to implement a business strategy that can help lead the country through the

uncharted waters ahead. That strategy must include investment and stability.

Significantly, it must address underlying business issues, such as boosting engineering skills, prompt payment and business innovation.

These issues have not gone away because we voted to leave the EU and focusing on them will provide a major boost to the UK economy.

The strategy must also address the business environment in Wales.

There are concerns that Wales could lose out on substantial EU funding, currently targeted at investment and infrastructure across our country. For instance, recently Swansea University announced it had secured a £60 million loan from the European Investment Bank to upgrade its Singleton Campus and develop research facilities at the new Bay Campus.

Swansea University’s vice-chancellor Professor Richard Davies has insisted that it’s business as usual at the university despite the UK referendum result.

Nevertheless, politicians in Wales must work with their counterparts in Westminster to protect crucial inward investment for Wales.

A growing firm in Swansea has expanded within a landmark office building, which is now close to full occupancy.

VRM, which trades as Plates4Less, has taken a 2,350 sq ft suite at Langdon House on the SA1 development.

The business also occupies a 2,972 sq ft suite on the second floor.

Both suites are located within the Rotunda, the cylindrical end of the 40,345 sq ft Langdon House which, built in 2008, has offered SMEs accommodation to buy or rent.

LSH and joint agents JLL said they were confident that demand for the remaining units would remain strong due to its high quality design and office location.

Tom Rees, of LSH, said:“A strong strategic location coupled with SA1’s continued and growing popularity as an established commercial and leisure destination is also contributing to the appeal of Langdon House.

“There are cafés and bars on the door step within the SA1 waterfront development and Swansea city centre is only a five minute walk away.

“Transportation links are also good in all directions with the M4 just a 10 minute drive away.”

Only two units are now left in the recognised - BREEAM excellent – property, which located on Langdon Road is also the base for Peter Lynn & Partners solicitors, Jelf Group, Howells Solicitors, Bevan and Buckland accountants and Portfolio Financial Consultancy.

Food hall could revive site...

Developers are hoping their plans for a new Marks and Spencer food hall with underground parking and flats above will transform a temporary car park in Mumbles.

The application by Swansea-based RBL Partnership aims to breathe new life into the former Royal British Legion site, off Newton Road.

The proposed scheme is for a ground floor food hall and cafe, plus eight first and second floor flats and a duplex at both levels.

Customers would use a 61-space underground car park while residents would have 15 first floor spaces.

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Technology &

communication Tapping in to technical talent

Eco-technology project in South West Wales proves importance of students to technology sector...

Technology & Communication is sponsored by

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Tapping into technical talent Eco-technology project in South West Wales proves importance of students to technology sector...

More industry leaders need to tap into the technical and scientific know-how of students, according to a Swansea Bay region technology firm.

Swansea-based clean technology specialists Power & Water is urging more industry leaders to tap into the technical and scientific know-how of students after its own positive experience.

The message comes as business leaders in the region say work needs to be done to ensure the country makes the most of its future following Britain’s decision to leave the EU. Power & Water has worked on innovative eco-technology projects with Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe’s sixth formers as part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Cymru initiative.

And the business has set up the Power & Water Institute of Applied Research UWTSD earlier this year in order to work with students on innovations and product development. The company and University of Wales Trinity Saint David are running a series of Masters courses in Environmental Engineering and Science at the university.

Through these Masters courses they hope to create a local skills bank of engineering and science expertise.

UWTSD computing and electronics students showcased their work at a TechHub Swansea exhibition, which aimed to match their skills to prospective employers.

Around 50 students who studied a mixture of applied computing and electronics subjects, took part in the final year project board exhibition, on High Street.

Representatives from the DVLA, OSTC, NHS Wales Informatics Service, Waters

Creative, Power & Water and TechHub Swansea attended the evening.

James Williams, senior lecturer at UWTSD, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our final year and Higher National Diploma students to showcase their work – an accumulation of two and three years of hard work. They were able to combine all the skills they have learnt to create a practical implementation which relates to their programme of study.

“They also got the chance to meet with local industry, which could result in employment opportunities for them as it has done in the past.”

Student Reham Al-Shabani said: “My dissertation is about social media marketing and how it can be used to benefit businesses. It looks at how different methods of social media can be used to increase interaction and engagement.

I’m hoping to meet businesses who will understand how important social media marketing is for their business. I really want to pursue a career in this field.”

Power & Water develops new technology designed to treat and purify water supplies using sustainable methods and their products have come to the attention of charities and industries working in developing countries where water supplies

Philip Morgan, Power & Water CEO with Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg students at the Big Bang Fair

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Tapping into technical talent Technology & Communication

UWTSD Computing and Electronics students have showcased their work at a final year exhibition at Swansea’s TechHub, which was also aimed at matching their skills to prospective employers.

are highly tainted and unfit for human use.

Its most recent collaboration has led to the development of a wholly new product - a self-contained water treatment unit, which Power & Water scientists say could help 200 people per unit a day across the globe who don’t have access to clean water.

The unit was chosen as the Most Innovative Application of an Existing Technology at a recent STEM event, called the Big Bang Fair at Swansea University’s Bay Campus.

Philip Morgan, Power & Water’s CEO, said: “We have been so impressed by the technical nous, the creativity and the dedication to the task in hand which has been displayed by Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe students throughout these past two years and particularly on this most recent project.

“Not only did they do some quality work with Power & Water to help come up with the concept of a compact, self-contained treatment unit which could save lives and change lives, but they designed it themselves.”

Morgan was asked to present a separate award to pupils from his own former school, Gowerton School, at the STEM event, which first sowed the seeds for his life-long love of science some 50 years ago.

Morgan added: “Our product base and our modus operandi is all about using groundbreaking technology to solve some of the biggest global issues facing us as a society.

“It makes sense then, that we tap into the gifts and the traits that the youngest scientists and engineers display – openmindedness, curiosity and the facility to see possibilities rather than pitfalls and opportunities rather than stumbling blocks.

“It also make sense that businesses do their utmost to support young people to reach their full potential within engineering, manufacturing, design and the sciences – these are the industries that are going to help the Welsh economy and, ultimately, persuade the big-hitters of manufacturing and engineering to see Wales as an attractive option when it comes to setting up shop and recruiting the best personnel.”

The Big Bang Fair South Wales is an interactive engineering and science event, which took place at Swansea University’s School of Engineering. It included students, teachers, science clubs and STEM professionals.

Meanwhile, James Good, director of Swansea-based branding agency with UK and global clients, said confidence was key following Brexit.

“We need to focus on what makes Britain great and step into our new world with confidence,” he said.

“We should build on our reputation for world-class science, advanced engineering and mind-blowing creativity – basing our positioning on the wealth of expertise our nation has to offer the world. To make this happen, we need strong business leaders – leaders that can adapt to change, drive forward with clear strategy and inspire their people to be great. Like it or lump it, it’s our future and it’s now firmly in our own hands.” swanseabaybusiness.com 127

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Technology & Communication

Electric cars

Electric cars could soon be a regular sight in the region...

They’ve been around for years but aside from a limited number of cities electric cars in the UK are generally a rare sight.

That could all be set to change however with Swansea leading the way for their future use on the streets of the city as part of its plan to reduce its carbon footprint.

Swansea Council is looking into its options for creating infrastructure for electric car charging to make it a more viable option for car users and as a result improving air quality.

The move is part of the authority’s long term plan to slash its energy usage in line with ambitious Welsh Government targets and eventually become self sufficient Senior councillors have approved the Corporate Energy Strategy which aims to reduce energy consumption, invest in renewable energy technology and improve energy efficiency in Council-owned buildings, including its own housing stock.

The Welsh Government has set a target of an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for all Welsh Local Authorities.

Swansea Councillor Andrea Lewis, cabinet member for next generation services, said: “As a Council, we are obligated to meet this target and our strategy sets out a programme of measures to help us achieve this.

“It’s essential we have a plan that focuses

on the short, medium and long term actions we need to take in order to meet the future energy demands of our city, with a strong focus on green and renewable forms of energy.

“Our plans are ambitious and there’s no reason why in the future the Council cannot become its own energy supplier.”

The ambitious targets were first outlined in a Welsh Assembly Government report released in March this year to the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

The report, A Smarter Energy Future for Wales, also recommended linking the cost of stamp duty land tax to the energy performance of a house to start to increase the value of energy efficient homes.

Alun Ffred Jones AM, chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, said at the time: “Limiting future climate change by radically reducing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere is one of the greatest challenges faced globally, and yet addressing this challenge also presents opportunities to significantly enhance the well-being of current and future generations.”

Back in Swansea, meanwhile, water heating systems in local schools and public buildings in parts of the city could be rolled out into other locations including future new school builds.

New schools such as Morriston Comprehensive have already benefited from the latest in heating technology which makes the most of the energy produced.

The updated plan also includes proposals to roll out Smart Meters in all council homes by 2020 – the smart meters provide real-time information about energy consumption and costs and could help council house tenants to save money on their energy bills by providing them with the real-time information they need to cut their energy bills.

Further proposals include a feasibility study of land-based assets to see if they are suitable for wind, solar or hydro potential.

An ongoing project is also underway to replace all the city’s streetlights with energy saving LED lamps. More than 23,000 lighting columns have already been replaced across Swansea.

Lewis added: “Dealing with the immediate and unprecedented budget cuts to local authorities also means we need to take a hard look at the financial impact of our energy use within the Council.

“We have introduced a number of innovative schemes to become more energy efficient across many of our own buildings including local schools and the Guildhall.

“The strategy focusses on actions to help us meet the Welsh Government targets whilst at the same time benefiting from a reduction in our own energy costs.”

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7/29/2016 9:44:15 AM

Evans Pharmacy Technology & Communication

Dr Mo Nazemi and former Minister for Finance, Jane Hutt

Pharmacy installs state-of-the-art dispensing robot...

A Llanelli pharmacy is installing a state-ofthe-art dispensing robot this summer as it looks to improve customer service and staff job satisfaction.

Evans Pharmacy, based at Ty Elli surgery on Vauxhall Road, has begun the installation of the new dispensing robot, with work scheduled to be completed by the beginning of August.

Director of Evans Pharmacy, Dr Mo Nazemi, said:“This is a huge step forward for us. The motivation behind this investment is underpinned by three objectives.

“Firstly, we want to keep waiting times down to an absolute minimum; the speed of the dispensing will allow us to eliminate precious time that our customers can be using more effectively.

“Secondly, this adds another robust level of security to our operations.

“The robot will add another level to the system of checking prescriptions, not replace a step in the process. There will still be checks made by staff and pharmacists.

“Finally, this will enable our staff to adopt a more consultative approach to their work for the benefit of our customers.

“The investment in the technology is being made to safeguard and improve the quality of the jobs of our staff.

“We are confident that the new dispensing robot will further enhance our commitment to customer care, as well as taking necessary steps to ensuring our staff are performing the most important part of their jobs more often; and that is dealing with our valued customers.”

Nazemi was keen to stress that during the installation process, it was very much business as usual.

“It’s going to be a very exciting month.

Work is scheduled to be complete at the start of August, and there is a lot to do.

“There will be a visible difference to our operation, but it is business as normal and there will be no down-period.

“Of course, due to the magnitude of the installation, our normal flow may be disrupted ever so slightly.

“The short term work is essential if we want to take our pharmacy to the next level in terms of enhancing the experience for the customer. Also, there will be regular updates on screens showing the progress of the work.”

THE INVESTMENT IN THE TECHNOLOGY IS BEING MADE TO SAFEGUARD AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE JOBS OF OUR STAFF. As Evans Pharmacy welcomes a new member to its family, Nazemi has looked to local schoolchildren to name the robot.

He said: “Welcoming a new member to our family is a big thing for us, and we felt right that the robot have a name that was thought up by the school children of Llanelli.

“After all, it’s them and their families who will benefit from this investment.” swanseabaybusiness.com 131

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Technology & Communication

Assembly Member Rebecca Evans

Keeping on track...

Faster progress is needed on the electrification of the train line between London and Swansea so businesses are not left behind, say AMs. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

Swansea’s three Labour AMs have written to the UK’s new Secretary of State for Transport calling for a commitment to make speedy progress on the electrification of the train line between Paddington and Swansea. Upgrading the line to Swansea had originally been scheduled to be completed by 2019 - however last year delays were announced to the project, with electrification of the line as far as Cardiff by 2019 while Swansea could have to wait until 2024.

Now Assembly Members Rebecca Evans, Julie James, and Mike Hedges have written

to the new Transport Minister, Chris Grayling, urging him not to delay the project.

Gower AM Rebecca Evans said: “We have made it clear to the new Secretary of State that long delays to delivering the electrification of the line to Swansea would be unacceptable. Swansea’s commuters and businesses must not be left behind when it comes to investment in infrastructure.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Swansea West’s Julie James.

She said: “There are clear practical benefits to be had from completing the

WE HAVE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE THAT LONG DELAYS TO DELIVERING THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE LINE TO SWANSEA WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE.

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Expert opinion with Adam Curtis, CEO of Hoowla & MD of Clockwork Bear

Making the most of our energy and resources...

Assembly Members Julie James, and Mike Hedges

Transport Minister, Chris Grayling

scheme from London to Swansea in one go, not least using electric rolling stock from the outset to benefit passengers.”

Swansea East AM Mike Hedges joined his colleagues in urging the new Minister to press ahead with the original timetable.

He said: “The pressure is on for the newly appointed Secretary of State to demonstrate a commitment to the people and businesses of Swansea - to do so, he must throw out the plans to delay electrification to Swansea and return the programme to the original date for completion of electrification to Swansea.”

Network Rail, the public company in charge of railway infrastructure, announced in November that the full electrification of the line would take

longer than originally planned. It was also revealed that the estimated cost of electrifying the line between London and Cardiff had spiralled from £1.6 billion to £2.8 billion.

Great Western Railway, which runs the Paddington to Swansea service, said at the time it was disappointed by the delay in fully upgrading the line.

The chairman of the Swansea Bay City Region, Sir Terry Matthews, has previously said that delays to the project “create a damaging air of uncertainty”.

Electrification of the line could cut journey times from Swansea to London by 20 minutes.

When thinking of sustainability and renewable energy and the Swansea Bay region, you can’t not first think of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. Arguably an amazing project for the region that would be a template for more sites across the UK. Looking beyond the tidal lagoon we also have some other very interesting businesses and project in the region.

Marine Power Systems Ltd, based in Swansea, is developing WaveSub, a wave energy converter that is looking to improve the extraction of wave energy.

The company has gone through scaled sea trials and tank testing. Now it has entered into a collaboration with Swansea University to develop a mechanical engineering PhD scholarship that will provide successful students with an opportunity to help progress production of the firm’s wave energy converter.

Further afield in Lampeter, Perpetual V2G Systems is producing battery management systems that are helping customers such as Sainsbury’s reduce the carbon footprint of their refrigerated vans.

The system enables vans to turn their engine off and still power the chiller unit.

This saves money on fuel for a company and reduces their carbon emissions.

Along with the above innovations, Natural Resources Wales is opening the door to new businesses by releasing their flood data. The free API gives access to river levels, flood warnings and flood risk forecast data.

If you would like to be further inspired and learn more, the British Science Festival 2016, hosted by Swansea University, starts on September 6 with four days of free events, talks and performances from across the scientific spectrum.

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Technology & Communication

Innovation Quarter

Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter

Huge step forward for £300m innovation quarter...

A land deal secured at the site of the Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter –to include technology which will attract new companies - is paving the way for work to start on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David project.

The £300 million SA1 venture has taken a significant step forward with the deal made with the Welsh Government, which has seen the university acquire the final element of land for construction to get underway.

The project is set to create a new learning neighbourhood in Swansea by connecting education with business, innovation and enterprise, and includes proposals to develop facilities for learning, teaching and applied research as well as social, leisure and wider recreational spaces. It aims to create a critical mass of expertise and technology which will attract new companies, partnerships and investment.

The news comes after planning consent for the project’s first phase was given by Swansea Council in July.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates described the project as giving a significant boost to the city’s economy.

“The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has ambitious and very welcome plans to create a modern purpose built campus with a strong focus on supporting innovation and economic development, working with partners to exploit knowledge and expertise, developing skills for businesses and helping to attract new investment into the region,” he said.

“This, together with the expansion of Swansea University and its bay campus, will provide a significant boost for the area.”

Ray Selby, UWTSD’s Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter project director, said: “UWTSD will take forward the development of Swansea’s SA1 through it partnership with the Welsh Government and the City and County of Swansea, to further define Swansea as an innovation

THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE EXPANSION OF SWANSEA UNIVERSITY AND ITS BAY CAMPUS, WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT BOOST FOR THE AREA. city by establishing a range of impact hubs in identified priority areas.

“These will deliver clear economic and commercial benefits to attract new companies, partnerships and investment.

By enhancing the employability of its graduates, the university is also looking to fulfil its potential to contribute significantly to economic regeneration in the Swansea Bay City Region.”

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Infinity Document Solutions are delighted to extend their support of Swansea City Football Club by placing two new advertising boards within the stadium and continue with the supply and service of multifunctional print devices within the club.

Now in their fourth year of trading Infinity continue to go from strength to strength with increased sales in both its print/ copy/scan machines, document management and document integration software business.

In the last twelve months Infinity have increased their workforce and joined the fast track 25 alongside other quality companies from within the area seeing them become the go to

company for office document printing and scanning.

Infinity director Bleddyn Bowen said ‘We are delighted with the growth of the business and with the fact that we have been able to grow our company and offer employment opportunities to people from within our area. All of our staff know all of our customers and that makes for a service second to one. Thank you to everyone at Infinity for helping the company grow and prosper this year and long may it continue’.

©LW

County House, Beaufort Road, Plasmarl Industrial Estate, Swansea SA6 8JG. Tel: 01792 293605 email: info@infinityds.co.uk www.infinityds.co.uk

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advertising feature

WIFI BOOSTERS AND FREE TELEPHONE CALLS REVOLUTIONISES LEADING CAR DEALERSHIP Neath based European Telecom Solutions (ETS), the market leading telecoms provider, has recently upgraded the communications of Wales’ best-loved used car dealership – Pine Tree Car Superstore.

Working independently, ETS quickly identified the businesses requirement and set about finding a cost effective solution to the issue of forecourt WiFi and communications between sites.

With one of the largest forecourts in Wales, relying on a single signal source resulted in issues for staff working over 50m from the main office. Not only did the signal drop out regularly but asking customers to “follow me to the office” every time they needed to get online to answer a query was a serious issue.

By installing WiFi boosters throughout the forecourt, ETS enabled all staff to have fast, reliable internet access no matter where they were on site.

Andy Pegler, Operations Manager at Pine Tree Car Superstore commented “Our sales team work with iPads to show stock availability, calculate finance deals plus many other aspects of the sale. The

boosters not only help our team work more effectively, we have noticed an increase in sales since their installation”.

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7/29/2016 11:52:43 AM

Motoring Two, three, brake!

Mercedes-Benz’s CLS Conventional but no less desirable

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Motoring

Mercedes-Benz’s CLS

Two, three, brake!

Mercedes-Benz’s CLS four-door coupe was novel enough. The latest Shooting Brake estate versions seem more conventional but are no less desirable as JONATHAN CROUCH reports...

Ten Second Review The Mercedes CLS-Class Shooting Brake is more a sporting, coupe-like take on the station wagon theme than your conventional boxy estate car. It delivers discreetly rewarding driving dynamics, a beautifully finished cabin and, perhaps most importantly of all, a level of practicality that CLS-owners have never enjoyed before.

The latest model gets an extensive refresh, with a range of new engines, the development of a nine-speed automatic transmission, some very slick tech features and a better quality cabin. Cleaner engines are the focus, but there’s the continentcrushing 585PS CLS63 AMG S heading up the range.

Background Not all estate cars are created equal.

The archetypal estate is a vehicle that prioritises practicality above all else, and a certain Swedish marque probably springs to mind. At the other end of the spectrum are the sports estates, cars in the mould of the Lancia Beta HPE from the Seventies, the Honda Aerodeck of the Eighties or the Lexus IS SportCross from the Nineties, cars that featured a hatch but not much in the way of added practicality.

This genre waxed and waned in popularity but it wasn’t until the launch of the second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS that a

major manufacturer really applied it to a high-end car.

The CLS Shooting Brake is a cross between a coupe and an estate. The E-Class estate exists if you need real load lugging ability, but the five-door CLS was an altogether more raffish and elegant thing. It’s been updated since its 2012 launch and now includes many of the systems developed for the latest C, E and S-Class models.

treatment to pass Euro6 emissions regulations. It’s a lot cleaner, but power is knocked down 7PS to 258PS with torque unaffected at a whacking 620Nm. The flagship model is the delightfully unhinged CLS63 AMG S which is now offered in one state of tune equivalent to the old Performance Package upgrade which means your 5.5-litre V8 makes 585PS and gets to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds.

Driving Experience

The transmissions have also been updated, with a nine-speed automatic transmission standard on the CLS350 BlueTEC variants.

The 9G-Tronic unit promises smoother shifts, sharper acceleration and smarter logic software but the seven-speed box continues in the CLS220. The CLS63 AMG S gets AMG’s seven-speed SpeedShift transmission with an auto clutch actuator.

If you come to this Mercedes expecting it to feel like a big executive estate car, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised. As you should be. After all, the whole point of a ‘Shooting Brake’ is the delivery of sports coupe driving dynamics with extra carriage space. If the car in question doesn’t manage that, then all it really is, is a sleekly styled estate car - like, say, a Jaguar XF Sportbrake or a BMW 5 Series Touring. To live up to its name, this CLS really has to offer a little more than that out on the road. And fortunately, it does.

Mercedes has also revised the engine line up although it seems curiously reticent to advertise the fact. At the base of the range there’s now a CLS220 BlueTEC which has replaced the old CLS250 and features a 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine good for 170PS and 400Nm of torque. This is joined by a tweaked CLS350 BlueTEC, that’s also using a urea-injection exhaust

Design and Build Stuttgart has wisely left the aesthetics of the CLS Shooting Brake largely unchanged with this revision. After all, it was such a fantastic-looking car that not a lot really needed doing.

The changes are extremely subtle, with the introduction of a revised diamond radiator grille, a reprofiled front bumper with larger air intakes, LED headlamps as well as slightly darkened tail lights with multilevel function. At around 5m in length, this car is 16mm longer than a normal CLS four-door, but the really important

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MOTORING

difference is the way that this extension prolongs the height of the roofline to make this Shooting Brake a more comfortable proposition for rear seat passengers.

Unlike some sporting estates that feature smaller boots than the saloon cars they’re based on, the CLS Shooting brake’s luggage bay is some 70-litres bigger than the CLS saloon, offering 590-litres of capacity to the parcel shelf. Push forward the 60/40 split folding rear backrest and up to 1,550-litres of luggage room is revealed.

The cabin does drama very well. From the immaculately hand-stitched leather dash top to the centre analogue clock borrowed from the S-Class and the matt-silver inlays around the air vents, everything in the wrap-around cockpit is all beautifully crafted - a very high end place to be. And fantastically comfortable too, even if you don’t opt for the sumptuous Dynamic Multicontour seats with their inbuilt massage function. The big change is the addition of a free-standing 8-inch colour display. Other changes include a redesigned three-spoke sports steering wheel and a central control panel that’s more intuitive to operate.

Market and Model Shooting Brake prices open at £48,090 for the CLS220 diesel, with the CLS350 with its state of the art nine-speed automatic gearbox looking a tempting £51,040.

Should you hanker after yet more power, it’s then a fairly big step up to the rangetopping CLS63 AMG S, which is yours for £87,000.

Mercedes is very proud of the lighting technology on this CLS and it’s easy to see why. The light pods are full LED, which offer great visibility but the MULTIBEAM

LED option is something that really brings this car to life after dark. Here you get a bank of 24 high-performance LEDs that are dimmable through 255 stages. The software is clever enough to spot oncoming cars and keep them in a moving cone of dimmed light while shining brightly at all other areas. This camera-based system can also be used to swivel low beam lighting around a bend even before the steering wheel is turned. Roundabout lighting, verge lighting, follow you home lighting you name it, the MULTIBEAM LED pack does it.

Also introduced on this model is an integrated Media Interface but you need to be signed up to the temple of Jobs. Your iPhone can now talk to the COMAND Online system to access apps such as weather, Google Local Search with StreetView and Panoramio, destination/ route download and Facebook can even be used while on the move. Audio and video playback is possible from Bluetooth, from an iPod and iPhone, and also from SD card, USB stick or CD/DVD.

Cost of Ownership The CLS Shooting Brake might look a million dollars but will it cost the earth to run? Not a bit of it. Let’s take the entrylevel CLS220 CDI as an example. The asking price might be enough to deter many, but if you can afford to buy it, incremental ownership costs are modest indeed. Put three years and 30,000 miles on one and the pence per mile figure works out at 109ppm, which compares favourably with the 115ppm of the Jaguar XF 3.0d Sportbrake.

Much of that is down to the Mercedes’ 56.5mpg fuel economy compared to the

Jaguar’s 46.5mpg figure.

Stepping up to the more powerful CLS350 BlueTEC diesel doesn’t deliver to much of a handicap in terms of economy, delivering 52.3mpg and 142g/km of CO2. Spend too long on the loud pedal of the CLS63 AMG and you’re not going to get anywhere near its posted 28mpg consumption figure but you’re going to have a heck of a good time.

The desirability of the CLS Shooting Brake helps it perform strongly on the used market and the diesel-engined cars are the most sought after. Industry figures show it comfortably outperforming its key rival, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, on retained values and model for model, insurance premiums are more affordable for the Mercedes.

Summary The Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake shouldn’t really work but somehow it does. As a result, it’s one of those cars that can’t help but put a smile on your face. There’s something gratuitous and unnecessary about it yet it engenders the sort of goodwill that something like a BMW X6, which could have the same accusations levelled at it, never gets close to emulating.

The latest models benefit from update work on the engines, the lighting systems and the integration of connected services and are better vehicles for it and the concept of a large estate that doesn’t drive like one, never really gets old. More practical than those artful lines might suggest, the CLS Shooting Brake now has even more strings to its bow. It’s going to take quite some car to depose it from its small but fiercely loyal fiefdom.

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Motoring

Honda NSX

CUTTING EDGE The new NSX seems to be at the cutting edge of automotive technology, but is it a great supercar?

What’s new?

An awful lot. The NSX has been in the works for some time, but has only recently been pushed through. Underneath, it’s a high-tech car. Mated to a twin-turbo V6 engine are not one but three electric motors. They provide almost instantaneous acceleration on a par with the Porsche 911 and Audi R8.

Not only that, but there’s all manner of scoops and vents that make the NSX as stable at high speeds as possible. Add in four separate driving modes (we’ll come to those later) and you’ve got a package that seems, on the face of it at least, to be at the very cutting edge of sports car technology.

Looks and image The NSX is an out-and-out sports car, and has the looks to match. Ducts and air intakes certainly make it stand out from

the crowd, while heavy creases on both the bonnet and boot break up the car’s panels.

There are also LED lights at the front and rear, and a full clamshell boot that opens to reveal a decent-sized boot and that allimportant engine.

Inside, there are two deeply padded bucket seats that sit down low in the car. Thanks to the low-slung seating position, it’s a comfortable place to be. The steering wheel has plenty of adjustment which makes finding the correct driving position even easier. There’s a large central screen that displays all of the car’s infotainment, while a TFT screen behind the wheel allows the driver to view fuel levels, battery charge and speed.

Dominating the centre of the car is a large rotary dial for selecting driving modes, located just above the push-button gear selector. Although good looking, it is in the position that most will reach to adjust

the stereo’s volume. Given that driving intent is at the core of the NSX, placing this selector elsewhere might have made a little more sense.

Space and practicality Of course, a two-seater sports car is never going to be a strong choice when it comes to practicality. That said, the boot is large enough for a set of golf clubs or two medium-sized weekend bags, but that’s about it. In the main cabin, a glovebox compartment can store around four small water bottles - but there aren’t any cupholders to put them in once opened.

On the plus side, both doors are wide and allow easy entry to the cabin. The seats are also supremely comfortable. However, in terms of load-lugging, the NSX isn’t great - but then it’s not designed to do that. All the areas important for driving - seating

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MOTORING

Facts at a glance...

Model: Honda NSX Engine: Twin-turbocharged V6 with three electric motors, together producing 500bhp and 406lb/ft of torque Transmission: 9-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox Performance: 0-62mph 2.9secs, 500bhp, 191mph top speed Economy: 21mpg (claimed) Emissions: 290g/km (claimed)

position, steering wheel adjustment and gear shift paddle weights - are spot-on, which is everything you want in a highperformance car.

Behind the wheel Here’s where the NSX really shines. Firstly, there are four driving modes to choose from: Quiet, Sports, Sports+ and Track.

The first of those four modes is just that - quiet. It means that when pulling away, the car stays in all-electric mode with the petrol engine chirping into play soon after.

It remains quiet even then, thanks to some clever shielding of the exhaust note and a system that can cut down to just two of the four exhaust pipes available.

Jump to Sport, and the car begins to tighten up. Throttle response is improved and the entire car firms up. Sport+ is an extension of that, while Track puts the NSX into full attack mode and allows the traction

control a certain degree of slip, meaning it will happily go into an oversteer situation, should it arise.

In every mode, the NSX rides impressively.

On track, it manages to be firm and controllable, while out on the road it deals well with bumps and potholes without ever losing its agility through the corners.

The NSX is also impressively fast, with the turbochargers and electric motors providing plenty of usable torque. This makes the NSX a relaxing car to drive quickly. Thanks to the car’s powertrain, it produces 500bhp - enough to reach a top speed of 191mph.

The steering, meanwhile, has a good weight to it and allows precise adjustments.

Thanks to a steering rack that changes with speed, it is confidence-inspiring when travelling quickly, avoiding the sometimes frantic steering that comes with some sports cars.

Pedal weights are spot-on too, with the brake - which was linked to optional carbon ceramic discs in our test car neither too sharp nor too spongy. The nine-speed dual-clutch automatic also shifts seamlessly in full auto mode, but is impressively responsive in its manual setting. The car will hang on to gears right through to the top of the rev range should you want it to, and the paddle shifters have a good weight to them when you do eventually want to shift.

A launch control system is also fitted to the NSX, and it’s one of the simplest versions we’ve seen. While in Track mode, simply hold the brake with one foot while flooring the accelerator with the other. Lift the brake, and it’ll rocket forward without the merest hint of tyre squeal. Honda engineers haven’t yet given out official figures, but they hint that the sprint from

0-62mph can be reached in under three seconds. It certainly feels that quick.

Value for money At £130,000 without options, the NSX certainly isn’t cheap. That said, it’s no more or less expensive than rivals such as the Audi R8 V10 and Porsche 911 Turbo.

However, for that money, you do get quite an array of technology, from the trio of electric motors to the torque vectoring drive system.

It’s also an accomplished car for both road and track, able to conquer the weekly trip to the shops just as easily as a lap of the Nurburgring. The NSX is a true daily driver, albeit one with supreme performance.

There’s no doubting that the NSX carries a considerable price tag. But given how well it drives, as well as how it looks, it certainly seems worth the money.

Who would buy one?

Someone who wants to get the most from their car every day. This is a car that will be adept at the day-to-day tasks ordinary cars undertake, so long as you don’t need to carry more than one passenger.

Some elements may put off buyers of traditionally premium products - some materials in the cabin aren’t quite as good as those offered by others - but for the most part, the NSX is an exciting and interesting package.

The NSX has a theoretical range of around 400 miles, which also makes it an excellent long-distance cruiser. If you’re looking to be able to travel a long way, then go for a spirited drive at the end of the journey, the NSX is the car for you. swanseabaybusiness.com 143

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IT and Telcoms Business Supplies

Copiers and Document Solutions Office Interiors

Carmarthenshire - 01269 842242 | Swansea - 01792 345678 sales@morganoffice.co.uk | www.morganoffice.co.uk Untitled-7 1

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Networking Recent and upcoming events

Business Life rounds up some of the hottest business events of the season...

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Networking Networking lunch

RWE Innogy UK women’s networking lunch Where? Grape & Olive, Meridian Tower, Swansea Tell me more: Businesswomen and leaders, including Swansea West AM Julie James, discussed the city’s future

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Networking Annual Awards Dinner

Swansea University Employability Academy (‘SEA’) Annual Awards Dinner Where? Fulton House, Swansea University, Singleton Park Campus Tell me more: Over 200 invited guests – representing students, staff and employers who were recognised for the support and achievements in promoting student career development.

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Networking Breakfast meeting

Wales Exporters Association’s post EU Referendum breakfast meeting Where? The Towers Hotel & Spa, Jersey Marine

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Networking Maggie’s May Ball

Maggie’s May Ball Where? Liberty Stadium, Swansea Tell me more: Maggie’s Swansea May Ball was hosted by presenter Kevin Johns.

All funds went towards Maggie’s Swansea

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Networking Picnic n’ Pimms

Cosgrove Brown’s ‘Picnic n’ Pimms’ Where: Swansea Marriott Hotel Tell me more: Cosgrove Brown Financial Planning invited guests to celebrate the launch of its new commercial finance arm and to welcome financial planner Rebecca Rees-Squires and Mike Hassett, commercial lending specialist, to the team. A fundraising raffle for Wales Air Ambulance raised over £700.

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Networking Charity event

The Croquet challenge event of Estate Capital Where: 10 Uplands Crescent Tell me more: The match raised ÂŁ710 for the Tenovus Cancer Care Charity with Julian Hallett of Barclays Bank generously fund matching the amount.

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Advertisement Feature

Ospreys Re-Launch Hospitality Suites for 2016/17 Season Join local and national businesses at Liberty stadium for 2016/17 season as Ospreys Rugby reveal their newly refurbished selection of hospitality suites.

interchangeable design possibilities, so you’ll have the freedom to tailor your day to any occasion.

A perfect way to entertain clients and staff, or to network with other like-minded businesses, both the recently renovated Private Executive Suites and the brand new Super Suite provide the best way to watch the game in style, offering the ultimate combination of luxury and comfort with uninterrupted, panoramic views of the on-field action.

A first for Ospreys hospitality packages, The Super Suite will be showcasing all-inclusive premium dining with locally sourced food along with all-inclusive drinks.

Membership for both options is offered on a season-long basis and will give members the ability to enjoy visits from first team Ospreys players and an impressive interior with

For more information and a no-obligation tour of the suites, please contact the Commercial Team on 01792 616488 or email commercial@ospreysrugby.com

ThE OSTC SUiTE PACkAgE inCLUdES: • Exclusive lounge access • Premium padded balcony seating • Redesigned and newly refurbished glass front suite • All-inclusive beer, wine and soft drinks

• Pre-Match appearance with first team Ospreys players

• All-inclusive premium food through the day

• Souvenir Ospreys lanyard

• Post-match interview with Ospreys Man of the Match

• in-Lounge TV’s for match previews • Membership • inclusive On-site Parking

• dedicated and professional hostess staff

• Limited guest passes are available

• Complimentary match day programme

• Exclusive priority access to WRU international tickets for home fixtures

Sign up for 2016/17 Player Sponsorship We now have some exciting opportunities for businesses to become part of the team for the coming season via player sponsorship.

Your company can benefit from association with the Ospreys, Wales’ leading rugby region, and with some of the biggest names and most recognisable faces in world rugby.

Whether you are sponsoring a British & Irish Lion, a Welsh international, a core squad player

or a rising star we have the player, and the package, to suit any business, large or small.

Players still available for 2016/17 include new signings like Bradley Davies, Rhodri Jones and Kieron Fonotia along with young guns Rory Thornton and Olly Cracknell.

A player sponsorship gives you brand awareness in the rugby community and is a way that you can show your support for Ospreys Rugby, whatever your budget.

Businesses already signed up for player sponsorship in 2016/17 include CKs, Pump Supplies, Princes Gate, Lyte Ladders and No.6 Bar. For more details or to discuss player sponsorship, please contact the Commercial Team: Email: wayne.hall@ospreysrugby.com Tel: 01792 616514

YOuR Package incLudeS: • Official player appearance • Your players’ signed shirt (End of Season) • Your company logo hyperlinked on Ospreys website player profile • Your company logo in every matchday programme • Exclusive event invitation with squad and fellow sponsors (Mid Season) • Sponsor Announcements and Logo on Liberty Stadium big screen Jason Evans and Wyn Thomas from Castle Scaffolding, sponsors of Tyler Ardron

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Advertisement Feature

Aspire2Be Team Up with Ospreys Commercial and Community Teams for New Season PrivATe exeCUTive SUiTeS iNClUde: • Private Suite access • Premium balcony seating • Inclusive one-course meal option • Pre-Match visit from first team Ospreys players • In-Suite company branding • External pitch-facing company branding • Private self-service mini bar • Complimentary FIOL Prosecco to use throughout the season • Post-match access to Ospreys Executive Lounge hosted by Kevin Johns MBE • Post-match interview with Ospreys Man of the Match

Aspire2Be have worked closely with Ospreys in the Community to roll out the Ospreys Schools Programme over the past year and is delighted to announce that the scheme has reached more than 1,300 Year 5 and 6 pupils from 43 schools across the spring and summer terms.

With word spreading throughout the education community in Ospreylia about the benefits of participating in the programme, the 2016 autumn term is guaranteed to be the busiest yet.

Despite capacity doubling for the next academic year, all spaces for the autumn term have been snapped up, with the total reach for SeptemberDecember exceeding the combined tally for the last two terms. Bookings are now being taken for spring 2017.

Simon Pridham, Aspire2Be Co Owner and Director, said: “Aspire2Be are proud to be an associated partner

of the Ospreys and take great pride in delivering this sector leading education programme. Our team have worked extremely hard to make sure that every session delivered develops skills and resources linked to numeracy, literacy and digital competences.”

Seeing a stark increase in their brand awareness since their involvement with Ospreys Rugby, Aspire2Be have also committed to sponsoring Dan Biggar, the Ospreys’ iconic Number 10, for the upcoming season.

For more information about Ospreys in the Community and their work, please contact Paul.Whapham@ospreysrugby.com

• Souvenir Ospreys Gift Box including season long lanyard, Ospreys pin badge and corporate partnership pen • On-site Parking • Exclusive priority access to WrU international tickets for home fixtures • Company profile on the Official Ospreys Rugby website • Designated full time concierge for bookings, information, special service • Signed Ospreys shirt • 20% Discount in Ospreys Club Shop • Complimentary hire of your Private Executive Suite on non match days: 25 occasions per season

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COMING THIS DECEMBER TO

DISCO

DINNER

DANCING

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TAITH TREFTADAETH | HERITAGE TOUR

TAITH TOUR

CINIO 2 GWRS 2 COURSE LUNCH

£20

NEU

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£15

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For more information on our Tours & Events

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Networking Business lunch

Swansea Bay Business Club June lunch Where: Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen Tell me more: Professor Medwin Hughes discussed his role as vice-chancellor of the University of Wales Trinity St David

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Networking Awards evening

Gower College Annual Awards 2016 Where: Liberty Stadium, Landore Tell me more: Outstanding students from Gower College and representing all faculties - including art, sport and engineering - were celebrated. BBC Wales Today weather presenter Behnaz Akhgar hosted the evening.

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Networking Summer dinner

The ACCA Annual Summer Dinner Where: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Tell me more: An evening get-together with Nigel Owens, Rhys Webb and Dan Bigger

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Networking Campus visit

Welsh politicians visit campus Where: Swansea University’s Bay Campus, Neath Port Talbot Tell me more: Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales and Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, take a tour of the campus

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The Perfect Setting for your next meeting...

Machynys... Conference & Events Day Delegate Package from £25.00 per person • • • • • • • • •

Nicklaus Suite Room Hire Private Conference Café 2-Course Lunch or Finger Buffet Mineral Water and Sweets Fruit Basket Projector, Screen, Flipchart & Pens Conference Stationery Free Wi-Fi Access Free Car Parking

• Free Basket of Golf Balls at Driving Range* • Discounted Spa Usage* • Discounted Round of Golf*

Machynys Peninsula Golf Club & Premier Spa, Nicklaus Avenue, Machynys, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. SA15 2DG

www.machynys.com | info@machynys.com | 01554 744 888

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Networking

Dates for your diary August/September 2016...

Aug 04

Aug 05

Aug 08

Aug 10

Aug 16

SWCC - export documentation clinic

Masterclass: Managing your business online

SWCC - export documentation clinic

Superfast Business Wales action workshop

Orion Suite, Enterprise Way, Newport

Beacon Centre for Enterprise, Llanelli

Family fun raceday Ffos Las Racecourse, Carmarthenshire

Barclays Windsor Court, Windsor Place, Cardiff

Towers Hotel, Swansea

9am - 4pm

9am - 1.30pm

Gates open 3.30pm

9am - 4pm

10am - 12.30pm

Aug 25

Aug 26

Enterprise Club

Ladies Day

Sandfields Business Centre, Port Talbot 9.30am - 12pm

Ffos Las Racecourse, Carmarthenshire

Sept 06

Sept 06

Sept 06

Sept 06

Sept 08

SWCC – Maxmise your membership

SWCC - Incoterms

SWCC - Inward processing

British Science Festival

Orion Suite, Enterprise Way, Newport

Swansea University, Singleton Park

Superfast Business Wales -technology for business growth

12.10pm - 10pm

Cad Centre, Quay Parade, Swansea

Orion Suite, Enterprise Way, Newport

8.30am - 10am

9.15am - 12.30pm

Sept 08

Sept 13

Third Sector Forum

SWCC – understanding exporting

CAVS, The Mount Centre, Queen Street, Carmarthen 10am - 1pm

Cardiff Airport 9.15am - 4.30pm

Runs until Sept 9

Towers Hotel, Swansea

Sept 13

Sept 16

Sept 20

Carmarthenshire Tourism Association - activities business sector meeting

Wales Start-Up Awards

Flat season finale

1.30pm - 5pm

TBC

Depot, Cardiff 6pm

6pm - 8pm

Sept 23

Sept 28

Sept 28

Sept 29

SWCC - Business lunch

Venturefest Wales

Social Business Wales Awards

Social Business Walest Conference

Liberty Stadium

Liberty Stadium

6.30pm - 10.30pm

9am - 4pm

Lamphey Court, Pembroke 12pm - 3pm

SSE SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff From 7.45am

10am - 12.30pm

Ffos Las Racecourse, Carmarthenshire Gates open 1.40pm

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Aug 18

Aug 23

SWCC - Philippines Clinic

Masterclass: Making the most of your website

Via Skype 9am - 12pm

Towers Hotel, Swansea 9am - 1.30pm

Calendar highlights...

Ladies Day at Ffos Las Racecourse Date: August 26 Venue: Ffos Las Racecourse, Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, SA17 4DE Time: Gates open 12.10pm Last race 5.40pm

Sept 01

What: Entertainment from Fat Barry’s Soul Band and seven races to enjoy.

Prizes for the best dressed gent, best hat and a top prize of £250 for the best dressed lady

Inaugral Swansea RBN with Jonathan Davies Penderyn Suite, Liberty Stadium

Swansea Bay Business Club’s upcoming events...

Breakfast Location: St Brides Spa Hotel, Pembrokeshire With: Michael Davies, CEO of Saundersfoot Harbour When: Thursday, September 8 Time: 8am - 10am

12pm-2pm

South Wales Chamber of Commerce business lunch Date: September 23

Tickets: TBC Bookings open: Sunday, August 7

Venue: Lamphey Court, Lamphey, Pembroke, SA71 5NT Time: 12pm What: Two course lunch with a guest speaker and opportunity to meet other businesses

Enterprise Club Date: August 25

Sept 22 Enterprise Club Sandfields Business Centre, Port Talbot 9.30am - 12pm

Venue: Sandfields Business Centre, Port Talbot, SA12 7PQ Time: 9.30am – 12pm What: The club supports potential entrepreneurs with a start-up information pack, business mentor advice and workshops and seminars

Social Business Wales Conference and Awards 2016 Date: September 28 and 29

Sept 29

Venue: Liberty Stadium, Landore, Swansea, SA1 2FA

Carmarthenshire Tourism Association - 20th birthday party

Time: Awards: 6.30pm - 10.30pm / Conference: 9am – 4pm

Corran Resort and Spa, Laugharne TBC

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What: Aims to provide inspiration, ideas and practical skills to social businesses in Wales which will help them enter new markets, develop new products or services.

September 2016 Lunch Location: Swansea Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea With: Gareth Davies, Welsh Rugby Union When: Friday, September 23 Time: 12.15pm arrival for 1pm lunch Member tickets: £25 Non-member tickets: £30.50 Bookings close: Friday, September 16

For more information, visit: www.swanseabay businessclub.com

8/1/2016 1:59:02 PM

Thepursuit pursuitof of The The pursuit of hoppiness... hoppiness... hoppiness...

To those of you new to Tomos Watkin, let us introduce ‘The Great Ales of Wales’.

To those of you new to Tomos Watkin, let us introduce ‘The Great Ales of Wales’.

Within our range of beers there is something for everyone. From the user friendly Within range of beers thereWatkin, is something for everyone.

From theofuser friendly To our those of you new to Tomos let us introduce ‘The Great session bitter ‘Cwrw Braf’, to the sophisticated premium ‘OSB’,Ales to theWales’. refreshingly session bitter ‘Cwrw Braf’, to the sophisticated premium ‘OSB’, to the refreshingly Within range‘Cwrw of beers there something for everyone.

From the user friendly light andour popular Haf’.

Allistraditionally brewed beers crafted using the lightsession and popular ‘CwrwBraf’, Haf’.toAllthe traditionally brewed beers crafted using the bitter ‘Cwrw sophisticated premium ‘OSB’, to the refreshingly finest raw materials. finestlight rawand materials. popular ‘Cwrw Haf’. All traditionally brewed beers crafted using the Whatever your choice, we hope you derive as much pleasure and satisfaction from finest raw Whatever your materials. choice, we hope you derive as much pleasure and satisfaction from drinking your beer as we do brewing it – we currently have over fifty awards to our name Whatever your as choice, webrewing hope youitderive as much pleasure andfifty satisfaction from drinking your beer we do – we currently have over awards to our name (including the prestigeous World Beer Champiionship in Chicago) for thetoquality of our drinking beer as weWorld do brewing it – we currently have over fiftyfor awards our name (including theyour prestigeous Beer Champiionship in Chicago) the quality of our beers and the of our people. theoutstanding prestigeous performance World Beer Champiionship beers(including and the outstanding performance of our people. in Chicago) for the quality of our beers and the outstanding performance of our people.

Tomos Watkin is the brand name of our range of multi-award winning beers, distributed by Tomos Watkin is theCompany. brand name supply of our range of multi-award winning beers, distributed by the Hurns Beer restaurants, cafésbeers, and cash and carry’s Tomos Watkin is the brandWe name of ourpubs, rangeclubs, of multi-award winning distributed by the with Hurns Beer Company.

We supply pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafés and cash and carry’s national international wines, and soft drinks.

Ourand sales team theall Hurns Beer and Company.

We supply pubs,beers, clubs,spirits restaurants, cafés and cash carry’s withhave all national and international wines, beers, spirits and Our salesThey team with all national and international wines, beers, spirits andofsoft soft drinks.

Our sales team in-depth knowledge and experience of all aspects thedrinks. licensed trade. can havehelp in-depth andand experience ofofallallaspects ofofthe trade.

Theycan can have in-depth knowledge experience aspects thebylicensed licensed trade.

They you toknowledge grow your business and maximise your profits installing innovative craft helpand you toyou grow yourOur business and maximise your installing innovative craft help to grow your business and maximise yourprofits profits by installing innovative craft world beers. bespoke service is available to youby 7 days a week, every week so andplease world beers.

Ourwe bespoke service is available totoyou 77days a week, week, everyweek week and world beers.

Our bespoke is available you days every soso call us and would beservice delighted to discuss your needs.

In addition to supplying please call us and we be delighted to discuss yourservices needs. –Inincluding addition please call and we would delighted toand discuss your needs. additiontocustom tosupplying supplying our ownus products, wewould alsobeoffer bottling canning label our own products, we also offer bottling and canning services – including custom label our personalisation own products, we also offer bottling andtocanning services – including label – for individuals looking mark a special occasion or tocustom micro-breweries personalisation –individuals for individuals looking marka aspecial special occasion or to micro-breweries personalisation – for looking totomark looking to add a professional edge to their business. occasion or to micro-breweries looking to add a professional edge to their business. looking to add a professional edge to their business.

The Tomos Watkin Breweryevent eventspace space The Tomos WatkinBrewery Brewery The Tomos Watkin event space Our distinctivefunction functionvenue venue Ourunique unique and distinctive Our unique and distinctive function venue The Tomos perfectvenue venuefor forboth bothcorporate corporate and private parties.

The TomosWatkin WatkinBrewery Brewery is is the the perfect and private parties.

OurOur space isisaafully-functioning livebrewery brewery day,making making itprivate the unique alternative celebration space fully-functioning live bybyday, it the unique alternative Thecelebration Tomos Watkin Brewery is the perfect venue for both corporate and parties.

Ourfor afor a party-with-a-difference by party-with-a-difference bynight. night. live brewery by day, making it the unique alternative for a celebration space is a fully-functioning party-with-a-difference by night.

Comfortablycatering catering for any number guests guests n n Comfortably for numberbetween between5050and and500 500 n We Weare areliterally literally wall-to-wall with Tomos Watkins usus perfectly placed for pre or or n n Comfortably catering for any number between 50ales, and 500 guests wall-to-wall with Tomos Watkins ales,making making perfectly placed for pre postmatch matchcelebrations celebrations post n We are literally wall-to-wall with Tomos Watkins ales, making us perfectly placed for pre or n Bymatch Bypersonalising personalising ourproducts products to anniversaries, Christmas post celebrations n our to your yourevent, event,we wemake makespecial special anniversaries, Christmas partiesororformal formalfunctions functions aa truly special experience. parties truly special experience. n By personalising our products to your event, we make special anniversaries, Christmas parties or formal functions a truly special experience.

VOTED VOTED BEST BREWERY BEST BREWERY 2016 VOTED

2016 BEST BREWERY 2016

IN THE JACK SWAN AWARDS 2016 SPONSORED BY FLY TO WALES

IN THE JACK SWAN AWARDS 2016 SPONSORED BY FLY TO WALES IN THE JACK SWAN AWARDS 2016 SPONSORED BY FLY TO WALES

www.tomoswatkin.com www.tomoswatkin.com

www.tomoswatkin.com @tomos_watkin

@tomos_watkin

tomos watkin brewery

tomos watkin brewery

tomoswatkinbrewery

©LW

tomoswatkinbrewery ©LW

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@tomos_watkin

tomos watkin brewery

tomoswatkinbrewery

7/29/2016 11:57:21 AM

COMPETITIVE RATES PROFESSIONAL SERVICE GREAT FACILITIES STRESS FREE

MANOR PARK COUNTRY HOUSE LIMITED

THE PREMIER EVENTS VENUE An ideal venue for all types of business functions, from meetings and seminars to conferences and exhibitions WEDDINGS • ENGAGEMENTS • CHRISTENINGS ANNIVERSARY • CORPORATE EVENTS • FUNERALS

OUTSTANDING SUNDAY CARVERY COME SEE WHAT MAKES OUR CARVERY THE ORIGINAL AND BEST IN THE AREA FAMILY FRIENDLY WITH AMPLE FREE PARKING • CHOICE OF LOCALLY SOURCED MEATS AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS.

CLYDACH, SWANSEA, SA6 5NR • TEL: 01792 846999 WWW.MANORPARKCOUNTRYHOUSE.CO.UK Untitled-10 1

8/1/2016 9:28:30 AM

EMA

lighting

Official suppliers of David Hunt Lighting

Showrooms at: Villiers House, Neath Abbey Rd, Neath, SA10 7BR

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01639 634734

029 2033 6633

WASTE DISPOSAL LTD

©LW

Commercial & Domestic Skip Hire TEL 01792 584585 89 Ystrad Rd, Fforestfach, Swansea SA5 4BU www.briscowaste.co.uk

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7/29/2016 11:59:01 AM

Advertising Feature

Mulberry House

by Oldwalls

WHAT IS MULBERRY HOUSE? Opening its doors for the first time this summer, Mulberry House by Oldwalls is the perfect retreat if you’re looking for the ultimate mini break destination.

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the award winning wedding venue at the heart of Gower, Mulberry House sleeps from six to ten people with three luxurious en-suite double bedrooms and two double sofa beds located in the stylish living area of the cottage.

In keeping with Oldwalls’ signature luxury standards, there’s a fully equipped farmhouse kitchen, a private terrace set within 5 acres of grounds, BBQ area and hot tub.

Plus all the amenities you’d

expect from a five-star hotel including complimentary Wi-Fi, Sonus music system and Netflix.

CAN I STAY AT MULBERRY HOUSE? If you have your big day booked at this iconic wedding venue you can now add Mulberry House to your package for the night before your big day, on the night of the wedding or the day after if you want to extend the fun.

Unlike the accommodation at Oldwalls which is exclusive to wedding and special event guests, Mulberry House is also available to the general market too – so whether you’re looking for a romantic couples’ retreat, celebrating a special occasion or simply want to getaway to the countryside, Mulberry House by Oldwalls is the perfect solution.

Call Oldwalls direct on 01792 391468 to book or visit www.oldwallsgower.com for details Untitled-5 1

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WHY YOU FELL IN LOVE

Discover the magic of Oldwalls Gower.

oldwallsgower.com | T: 01792 391468 | E: enquiries@oldwallsgower.com

VOTED BEST WEDDING VENUE IN WALES - WELSH NATIONAL WEDDING AWARDS

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Solid roof createS a conServatory to ‘livin’ whatever the weather

Conservatories, Orangeries & Sun rooms as well as Windows & Doors in PVCu, Aluminium & Timber X 4.9% APR or BUY NOW PAY 2017 X 2 Years Interest Free Credit X Mortgage finance busting by Barclays X FREE Planning Service X FREE A-Rated glass upgrade X No telesales or comission only salesmen X FREE quotation and 3D imaging service X 10 year insurance warranty

Conservatories are a great way of adding a light and airy room to any home. However, depending on where the conservatory is positioned and the amount of shade outside, it can let in too much light.

Too much sunlight can mean the conservatory gets very warm in summer and, even on a bright winter day, make it difficult to watch TV, browse an iPad or work on a computer.

At Securahome we are now able to offer an alternative to polycarbonate or glass – a solid roof.

Called a Livin Roof, this system can be fitted to an existing conservatory, so there is no need to change the existing walls and glazing. Thanks to Kingspan insulation, the Livin Roof is 15 times more thermally efficient than a polycarbonate or old glass roof without solar control, meaning the conservatory will be warmer in winter.

For those who don’t enjoy the, all-too-common, pitter-patter of raindrops, the Livin Roof also improves sound insulation compared to polycarbonate and glass.

The inside of the roof is a plaster-boarded to keep an airy and modern ‘vaulted ceiling’ feel, meaning it can be finished with down-lighters or pendant lights. With the option to add glazed panels to the Livin Roof, it’s even possible to keep a view of the heavens!

FREEPHONE 0500 21 22 24 Visit our new website: www.securahome.co.uk SHOWCENTRE AT: Securahome PVCu Ltd, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 9WN

©LW

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