Swansea Bay Business Life October/November 2016

SWANSEA BAY

October/November 2016

Issue 44

BUSINESS LIFE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE REGION’S DYNAMIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY

www.swanseabaybusiness.com

SPONSORED BY

CELEBRATING THE BIGGEST FIRMS IN THE REGION, LOOKING AT LIFE AFTER THE BREXIT VOTE AND HIGHLIGHTING GROWING INDUSTRIES PEMBROKESHIRE

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CARMARTHENSHIRE

SWANSEA

NEATH PORT TALBOT

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Editor’s Letter

SWANSEA BAY

October/November 2016

Issue 44

BUSINESS LIFE www.swanseabaybusiness.com

COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE REGION’S DYNAMIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY

SPONSORED BY

CELEBRATING THE BIGGEST FIRMS IN THE REGION, LOOKING AT LIFE AFTER THE BREXIT VOTE AND HIGHLIGHTING GROWING INDUSTRIES 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

Contributors Tommy Davies, Julie Williamson, Ted Sangster, Emlyn Dole, Juliet Luporini, Lawrence Bailey, Dave Kieft, Ian Price, 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

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Showcasing our region’s successes...

Our most popular edition of the year features those businesses that are driving the region forward.

Admiral Group, Sinclair Group and Castell Howell are all there on the Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Top 100 Companies in South West Wales list, as are many other popular firms attracting attention in the Swansea Bay region.

Turn to our Top 100 coverage to find out who comes out at number one and see our break down and analysis in the pages that follow.

The ranking, now in its fifth year, is calculated on annual turnover growth and we include pre-tax profit figures and numbers of employees to provide more of a snapshot on each business.

Now Parliament is well and truly back from the summer break, Brexit is very much on the agenda again and we take a look at what is next for the region and UK business.

South West Wales takes a starring role in new TV drama The Collection on Amazon Prime.

It’s an example of how well Swansea and other parts of the region are regarded and the growing impact the creative industries sector is having on the UK economy.

Staying with Amazon, Business Life made a trip to the multinational’s fulfilment centre at Jersey Marine and we include a feature on expansion plans ahead of Christmas.

The online retailer’s fashion line is becoming more and more popular and the site here specialises on that. Read about how it’s doubling its clothes and shoes stock over the next few months.

We touched on some of the wind farm projects Innogy Renewables UK is working on in our last magazine, but this edition, our Big Interview focuses on how the company, which has just re-branded from RWE Innogy UK, is making great strides in developing energy opportunities in the Swansea Bay region and elsewhere. UK head of development Tanya Davies, who lives in Swansea, describes it as “exciting times” and how all types of energy are needed for the prosperity of the country.

So, take note of some of the industries that are really thriving at the moment and celebrate with us those successes – both in our Top 100 and off it – that are making the region proud.

Chris Campbell

Editor

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07 Contents

Workforce 108 The power of water Surfer sets up healthy drinks firm

In Focus

118 Ospreys consider move ‘a coup’ New commercial manager looks at how to drive brand forward

07 Tanya Davies Harnessing growth 20 Growing trend Amazon doubles fashion stock

Property & Construction 128 Law of the landlord How landlords can face upcoming changes

Start ups 56 Covering up loose ends Electrician invents safety sleeve

134 Avoid office move traps Issues representing highest risks for companies

60 Jam adds to Welsh design Furniture firm makes its mark

Technlogy & Communication

Our region 66 It’s a fantasy world Semi-pro footballer goes on to co-found £1bn firm 70 Putting Wales on New York’s radar Brothers launch Welsh-inspired restaurant

Finance

88 Sports car firm veers towards site TVR identifies site for South Wales factory

150 Reaching new heights Director juggles office time with paragliding passion 156 Getting creative City takes starring role in glossy TV drama

Networking 170 Swansea Bay Business Club’s latest lunch With former European president of Staples Inc 188 Dates for your diary Events being held across the region

Our columnists...

Tommy Davies

Juliet Luporini

Lawrence Bailey

Julie Williamson

Entrepreneur with businesses in telecoms, marketing and heavy industry

Chairwoman of Swansea BID

Owner of Whiterock Consulting

Chairwoman of the FSB Swansea Bay branch

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116

150

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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Advertising Feature

What SMEs really think about Brexit Agreeing access to the EU Single Market and negotiating trade deals with non-EU countries should be the Government’s main priorities as it negotiates the UK’s exit from the European Union. That’s according to a post-referendum survey of SMEs, conducted for PwC’s My Financepartner (MFp).

The online survey of a representative sample of 566 SMEs from across Britain with an estimated combined turnover of over £5.7bn, says trade deals and market access are more important than immigration targets, or environmental legislation and emission targets.

Two thirds (66%) of firms say Westminster should focus on agreeing continued access to the single market, while 62% also want trade deals to provide access to non-EU markets.

Germany would be the top priority EU market for 67% of SMEs with the next preferred export markets - France and Ireland – lagging well behind and favoured by only 5% and 3% respectively.

While SMEs see market access and trade as government priorities, only a fifth (21%) of respondents believed the UK Government should prioritise environmental legislation and emission targets, with 40% believing that setting immigration targets should be a government priority.

However, despite opting for trade over environment and immigration, only 38% of companies say they have a clear plan to drive their growth in the aftermath of the EU referendum outcome, with nearly half (46%) saying the government should focus on support for UK exporters looking to expand outside the EU.

However, the inability to pass costs on to your customers will squeeze margins and ultimately reduce productivity while the lack of genuine insight by internal management information systems could leave companies unable to make informed choices.

The level of confidence in new opportunities in new post-EU markets is encouraging, but companies need to have the confidence in their data in order to make informed choices at pace.

History has taught us that UK business is adaptable and innovative when confronted with new challenges and opportunities.

It is precisely this adaptable spirit, combined with foresight and planning which will allow the businesses to weather the storm – and indeed thrive.

However, as the survey results show, without a robust plan coupled with clear, accurate management information, SMEs may struggle to remain competitive.

Entrepreneurs’ ability to turn on a sixpence and make things happen is quite often a hallmark of their success. So, at times like this, the most important thing is to ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Now is the time for owner managers to pause and take stock of the situation, review the effectiveness of management information systems, and devise a well thought-through plan based on the specific risks and opportunities facing the business. By doing so Britain’s SME owner managers will help to ensure that their business is ready to react no matter what changes Brexit brings.

And when it comes to growth, almost a third of all respondents (32%) said they intended to grow their workforce over the next 12 months. Perhaps insulated by their size, medium sized businesses (45%) are more confident than smaller businesses (29%). Across the board however, a fifth (21%) plan to put recruitment on hold.

While opinions are mixed over strategy and recruitment, a similar picture emerges when it comes to productivity. Some 41% expect Brexit to increase their cost-base, while only 25% expect their prices to increase. Unsurprisingly then, just under a quarter (24%) say they have the right level of management information (MI) to help them fully measure and About PwC predict the impact on their business.

Many of the businesses surveyed have contingency PwC helps organisations and individuals create the value they’re looking for. If you would like further plans to grow their business and take advantage of information please contact Ian Clarke on 0776 the opportunities that leaving the EU will bring - and 4331557. Also find out more about My Financepartner that’s welcome. at www.pwc-myfinancepartner.co.uk

©LW

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Tanya Davies

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Harnessing growth...

South West Wales-born Innogy Renewables UK Ltd head of development Tanya Davies speaks to Business Life about the need for a variety of energy sources that can create wealth and jobs in the region.

Photography by Rob Melen

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The construction of a £52 million renewable energy project in South West Wales is an example of forward thinking which will help the region grow and meet its future needs, according to one of the drivers behind it.

Tanya Davies, UK head of development at Innogy Renewables UK Ltd, formerly branded RWE Innogy UK, says the 16 turbine Mynydd y Gwair wind farm could have an instrumental impact on the region’s economy.

Davies, who lives in Swansea with her family, adds opportunities are there for businesses in the region to get involved in construction of the site, located 15km north of the city centre, and the supply chain.

She said: “It’s exciting times to be based in South Wales with the Swansea Bay City Region and the number of big infrastructure projects. Swansea’s very much on the up.

“There are a lot of businesses in the region, there’s a lot of skilled research in the region, there’s a lot of projects

coming online and renewables seem to be a strong part of that, probably fronted by the (Swansea Bay Tidal) Lagoon, that’s attracted a lot of interest, but good for us as well. A lot of our projects we’ve been working very hard on for ten years but now they’re starting to move towards construction, there’s a lot more awareness and it’s really exciting times for us as well to be able to finally get towards that final hurdle.

“To be able to finally talk about construction and the opportunities for local businesses during construction but also the communities and local people after construction during the operational period is really nice, because they’ve been a long time coming.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has delayed approving the £18 billion Hinkley

Point C nuclear power plant project in Somerset and is concerned about China’s involvement, but Davies said a variety of energy resources was the best route forward.

“We need both nuclear and wind energy,” Davies said.“Even if the Hinkley deal goes ahead, we’ve still got a big gap. It’s all hands to the pump really. We need to get on with it and get some of these projects built.

“We need a balance, portfolio of lots of types of energy. A lot of our conventional generation plant is quite old now and it’s closing, so we have got this energy gap looming in 2030, so we need to keep investing in a range of technologies.”

“It’s not about wind versus other technologies, I think we need a bit of everything. Why wind is good is it’s

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The Big Interview

low cost, we’ve got a really good wind resource in Wales, the UK has the best in Europe. It makes sense to use it, it’s a free resource and it’s carbon free, it’s clean, so why wouldn’t you?”

Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths AM approved the Mynydd y Gwair common land application in July after nearly a decade of work.

The 22 month construction project, expected to start in December, could mean a potential £52 million investment in the region and Innogy UK has been working with Construction Future Wales, a Welsh Government and Construction industry Training Board initiative, to encourage interest from local suppliers. Each wind farm, once built, has an operational period of 20 to 25 years and time has also been spent on changing public perceptions.

“A couple of years ago we were always very keen to ask people have you been to see one (a wind farm), have you stood underneath one?” Davies said. “I think most people have seen them now because they’re a lot more prevalent, particularly the single turbines, so people are more aware of what they look like and have seen them a lot more often. Whether that’s built acceptance. The Swansea project has had its detractors for a number of years and it’s now up to us to do a good job, to demonstrate how responsible we are as a company, to be very mindful of people’s concerns, and address them as we build the wind farm.”

“In 20 years’ time, if technology has moved on, then one of the very good things about this technology is it is quite temporary. Yes, 2025 years is a long time but if technology has moved on, you can decommission the sites, take them down and re-instate them relatively easily. Ultimately, we’re looking to develop renewables for the longer term.”

Figures from an independent study by economic development and regeneration consultancy Regeneris show the Mynydd y Gwair site is expected to initially deliver £8.5 million for South and South West Wales, while operating and maintenance could mean a further £600,000 for the region annually. The project is also set to create 104 full-time jobs per year, on average, during construction and eight jobs afterwards.

Innogy UK is also waiting for consent for Brechfa Forest West, 10km north east of Carmarthen on land managed by Natural Resources Wales. The site, which will include up to 28 turbines, could support an injection of £19 million into the South and West Wales economies and a common land application decision is set to be made on October 6.

The project is set to create 480 full-time

In Focus

construction jobs in the region.

Innogy UK, which employs 100 people across Wales, currently has 26 apprentices, who are spread out across different sites.

Davies, who leads a team of 15 at the company’s office in Baglan, Port Talbot, said: “If you take a step back and think about some of the other projects that have been under construction in South Wales and the fact that we’ve had wind farms in south, mid and north Wales for a good ten, 15, 20 years now, there’s no point developing that experience and then not having any projects for them to move on to next, so we’re really pleased that our projects now are going to provide a couple of years work and that there is that sort of skill and experience within the supply chain. There’s going to be some sizeable contract opportunities.

“We work on these projects for a long time, so it’s a really nice moment to see them all lining up and moving into construction. It’s a lot of time and effort getting this far. When I was planning

EVEN IF THE HINKLEY DEAL GOES AHEAD, WE’VE STILL GOT A BIG GAP. IT’S ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP REALLY. WE NEED TO GET ON WITH IT AND GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS BUILT.

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In Focus

The Big Interview

officer I used to think that a planning application was the start of the process, whereas we work on a site maybe four or five years before we even submit it for planning and then there’s planning consent and you have to discharge all the conditions. So it’s ten years sometimes to get a site into construction. So it’s not quick, but to have these sites now moving over to construction is really exciting and that’s all been done from our office in Baglan.“ “Consultees might come back and say we’re concerned about this particular turbine because we think from views from this village that turbine is overbearing or it’s too high or we think it looks a bit strange because it’s seen behind another turbine, so constantly trying to balance and maximise the electricity output of the site against it being acceptable in terms of residential amenity, ecological interest or aviation.”

Innogy UK has a German parent company, RWE, and UK offices in England and Scotland. Davies travels to Germany once a month and looks to adopt practices from wind farms she has seen there.

“Their turbines are considerably bigger than ours,” she said. “When they submit their planning applications they already know the type of turbine they’re using even down to the manufacturer. Whereas we keep our options open.

“So, there are quite a lot of differences, but we can learn from what they do over there. They’ve done a lot of community ownership which we are learning from.”

Davies grew up in Swansea and studied A-Level Geography at Gowerton School.

She went on to read an MA in regional planning at Cardiff University and later attained a postgraduate certificate in Public Sector Management at the University of Portsmouth.

She has worked at Innogy UK for 13 years and moved back to Swansea ten years ago.

“I always had the desire to come back,” she said. “That was always part of the plan. The quality of life, having grown up in Swansea, you take it for granted until you go away.

“Where we are in Baglan, being able to say half an hour from the beaches of Gower, 45 minutes from the Brecon Beacons, it’s quite a draw for people.

“We’re getting better at marketing ourselves, especially for short or themed breaks, and all the different opportunities that are available.”

WE WORK ON THESE PROJECTS FOR A LONG TIME, SO IT’S A REALLY NICE MOMENT TO SEE THEM ALL LINING UP AND MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION.

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9/8/2016 1:41:31 PM

Industry Insight With Peter Lynn

Senior Partner at Peter Lynn and Partners

Marital breakdown and business failure – the unspoken pitfalls of separation...

Restructuring businesses is something that frequently hits the headlines when a business is bought or sold but it is not something that is often considered when there is a marital breakdown.

A family enterprise can be established in many different ways and this will have a direct impact on how the business is dealt with during a marital breakdown. The family business is not shielded from the proceedings, even if one partner has nothing to do with the actual business.

Consider the following situations: • Wife or husband is added as a director, so they can take a salary, even though they do not attend the business.

• Partner is given some shares, so that they can take dividends.

• A partnership exists but with no formal arrangement meaning that it is automatically governed by the Partnership Act 1890.

Each of these scenarios could present a real headache when looking to split a family business.

For a limited company where husband and wife or civil partners are involved in the business, having the positions documented correctly allows not only for the business to be managed through successful times, but also to deal with any future splits.

What can we do to help?

• Shareholder Agreements Stating who owns what and how these shares can then be transferred in the event of a dispute or the need for a split for any other reason. Crucially, such agreements will also deal with how the shares are valued.

• Service Contracts Providing a mechanism to deal with a director leaving voluntarily (or otherwise) and managing any posttermination restrictions.

• Partnership Agreements Crucial to determining who owns what and precisely what is contained within the partnership and what is not. Failure to document partnership agreements can lead to lengthy battles, in the event of dissolution or statutory rules being applied that you never knew existed!

“A family business can bring many rewards but if matters take an unexpected turn, this could prove one of the hardest aspects of a matrimonial breakdown” For expert advice that combines matrimonial advice with commercial law, contact the specialists 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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WEST WALES IS KEY FOR A RAPIDLY EXPANDING RECRUITMENT BUSINESS Centric Recruitment celebrate the expansion of their Swansea team, which has doubled in size in less than six months.

Branch manager Paul Southard welcomes newly appointed Claire Davies who joins his existing team of dedicated and experienced recruitment professionals.

The expansion is in response to unprecedented growth which has seen the firm recently relocate to their fantastic waterside premises in the SA1 development as well as the launch of a new dedicated hospitality and catering division.

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With their network of five branches across South Wales, Centric specialise in providing an honest and transparent service to their clients, working in partnership with them to support the needs of the business. Their growing team of industry experts provide effective staffing solutions across a range of sectors, specialising in both temporary and permanent recruitment.

The firm’s investment in the region is testament to the significance they place on delivering a tailored and professional service. Commercial Director Steve Matthews says; “Whilst most of the national recruitment businesses are closing offices in Swansea and West Wales in order to centralise their offerings in Cardiff, we are bucking that trend and putting a greater emphasis on our client network in West Wales. With the recent expansion of the team and moving to a new premises on the SA1 we are committed to delivering our clients a tailored service from a local office.” ©NM

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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.

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ŠNM

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In Focus

Post-Brexit

Post-Brexit road may be bumpy, but where does it lead?

Welsh think tank Gorwel has called for Welsh Government to appoint a dedicated Brexit minister.

Do we need one? BUSINESS LIFE talks to leaders in the region to get their take on the question of What Next?

“We’ll all fall down the plughole into a dark irretrievable pit of recession”. Or something like that. Remember Project Fear? You know, the one that was supposed to get everyone out in a sweat voting to keep the status quo.

But it didn’t pan out like that, and Wales was not even a yellow area on the EURef map; Wales voted overwhelmingly to leave.

So what now?

There’s a growing appetite among business leaders in the region to grapple with this question. Armed with some answers, enters stage left, Patrick Minford.

If Patrick Minford, economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher and now Professor of Applied Economics at Cardiff University, is right, then Project Fear was largely a farce.

“Project Fear was pretty impressive, but now the second quarter of 2016 has shown a surprising 50 per cent rise in growth on the first quarter, its doom-mongering seems to have been overdone,” said Minford.

His message to Prime Minister Theresa May is essentially, get out of the EU as fast as a bat out of hell – in order to save time and money.

Negotiating with the iron-will of the EU, says Minford, is a pleasing notion, but sadly not possible – given that each of the 27 member states wields a veto.

The Shangri La of the post-Brexit journey gleaming in the distance, according to Minford and a swelling number of like-minded pragmatists, is a robust trade framework – driven by free trade agreements, FTAs, with countries around the world.

It’s hardly rocket science. If being outside

the protectionist EU single market means that the UK and Wales trades less with the bloc on its doorstep, it has to look for other trading partners, globally.

From Wales’ point of view, Minford points out that Brexit is a national issue and needs to be dealt with at UK level.

“For Wales it will be important to discuss with HM Treasury how EU funding will be replaced, allowing for the huge inefficiencies in the distribution of EU funds to Wales,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Bevan Foundation has published a report calling on Welsh politicians, business and community leaders to seize the agenda.

The report from the Welsh think tank calls for more than just a rallying behind the Brexit result, and a stumbling along the ‘business as usual’ path, in favour of a more pro-active approach, aimed at clawing back decision-making.

“The referendum result was more than just a vote to leave the EU – it was a vote for greater control over and a stronger say in decision making and for a better quality of life now and in the future,” said Victoria Winkler, director of the Bevan Foundation.

“This goes beyond dealing with the economic impact – which could be substantial – and includes employment rights, the environment, public spending and services, and developing ideas for a new constitutional settlement and stronger democracy. This might even, in my personal view, include a federal system and a shift to proportional representation.”

“Six weeks after the referendum we don’t have all the answers – nobody does. But we

hope that the principles and approaches we set out will shape the thinking of the new Assembly Brexit committee, as well as those of CBI Wales, FSB Wales, WLGA and WCVA to name but a few.”

The call for strong leadership has never been more pertinent. Now that Welsh think tank Gorwel has called for a dedicated Welsh Government Brexit minister, the question is whether that leadership should come from First Minister Carwyn Jones, or

Professor Patrick Minford

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Pictured from left, Mark Bowen, Andrew Scott managing director, Paul Brooks from Santander, Andrew Scott business development manager, Chris Roles and Harri Lloyd-Davies from Bevan and Buckland.

a Welsh Brexit minister.

Gorwel said that Welsh businesses see Brexit as an opportunity to “transform” the Welsh economy and make it “less dependent on government support.”

The think tank’s chairman, Meirion Morgan, said: “It is now crucial that the people of Wales have strong political leadership and we feel a minister is required to lead and focus on Brexit.”

Mark Bowen, director of Andrew Scott, Wales’ oldest contracting firm, agrees that a Brexit minister would be a positive move for Wales – driving positive change in Welsh legislation, including procurement laws, resulting in the Welsh pound getting divided up more in Wales, rather than exported.

“We want to know who’s representing us in Westminster. Is it Carwyn Jones or is he going to appoint someone to head that up?” asked Bowen.

“I think it would be a good thing to have a Brexit minister, someone who can act for us – if we don’t ask then we won’t get and more money will be ploughed into England and Scotland rather than Wales.

Welsh Leader Carwyn Jones

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In Focus

Post-Brexit

“It would be good to have someone shouting for Wales up in Westminster. Westminster is London-centric and you tend to get the short straw if you’re outside the M25,” said Bowen.

“The biggest thing for Andrew Scott as an SME operating within EU legislations in the UK, was the procurement laws. No matter what anyone says, they did favour big FTSE 100 companies or big corporates – especially those with European headquarters.

“Essentially, a lot of the much-talkedabout money that was coming in was going straight back out through the Channel Tunnel.

“Every time I have voiced concern over EU-influenced procurement laws to a Welsh Assembly member, they have held their hands up and said, ‘It’s European law, we can’t do anything about it’, but they can’t use this excuse anymore!

“We need the procurement laws to change in favour of indigenous companies.

“We’re not going to see the Welsh GVA climb to where it should be unless we help Welsh companies to grow. At the moment within the construction industry procurement laws are not helping us to do that,” he said.

On the question of speed – whether, as Minford suggests, Theresa May should fast track Brexit, Bowen says he feels divided.

“On the one hand, I would like to see things time-tabled because I want to see that market settled and the pound regain the ground it lost.

“But at the same time, I don’t think we should rush it because we need to negotiate

a good deal with Brussels,” said Bowen.

Passionate pro-Brexit businessman, Garath Williams, director of Siarad Network, said that he personally is happy with the Brexit result, and views it as an opportunity for Wales to build on its strengths.

“It’s what I wanted from a personal perspective because of the constraints that have been put in place by the EU over many decades.

“Many of these constraints are widely unknown or misunderstood by the business community, and they have certainly not had a say on them.

“Does Wales need a Brexit minister? No, I don’t think so. Does Wales need a new vision? No. Wales needs to continue looking at what it can do in its own marketplace,” said Williams.

“Our heavy industries appear to be waning. I say ‘appear to be’ because it’s not yet clear yet how the situation will unfold in this area. We don’t yet know how any potential buy-out or governmental support will play out with Tata steel, for example.

“Wales is really a collection of villages that trade with each other. They say all small business is local – let’s build on that!

“The only way we are going to improve our own economy is by selling more. We don’t need a Brexit Minister in Wales, what we need is a clearer vision of our own enterprise – a better understanding of what we offer.

“We have been called a nation of shopkeepers, and the UK has always been a centre of trade. We have to start believing

Prime Minister Theresa May

that the EU money that gets talked about is actually our money, and needs to be distributed in a different way.

“Wales voted overwhelmingly to leave and Welsh government should be able to act on what the people voted for.”

Head of ACCA Wales Cymru said that Wales needs to be “open for business” and urged Welsh government to draw on the expertise of trained accountants and to work closely with Business Wales and Finance Wales as well as business leaders to navigate the best route through the postBrexit terrain.

DOES WALES NEED A BREXIT MINISTER? NO, I DON’T THINK SO. DOES WALES NEED A NEW VISION? NO. WALES NEEDS TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT WHAT IT CAN DO IN ITS OWN MARKETPLACE.

Garath Williams, director of Siarad Network 16 swanseabaybusiness.com

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News round-up

In Focus

First Minister Carwyn Jones

Firms hope for boost from First Minister’s US visit...

Businesses in the Swansea Bay region hope they will win a boost from the American market after First Minister Carwyn Jones flied the flag for Wales in the US. Jones made his first ever visit to Atlanta, Cincinnati and Chicago, where his key message to political and business leaders was that “Wales means business.”

The five-day visit was a bid by the Welsh Government to draw inward investment into Wales — following the Brexit vote.

Wales is currently home to more than 250 North American companies making the US a key trading partner. They include GE Aviation, Ford, and General Dynamics, with many Welsh companies also investing and doing business in North America.

Alan Wenden, managing director of Langland-based firm, Welsh Brew Tea, who trades with the US and first founded 28 years ago, said he would like to see the firm make inroads into Chicago and also in New York and New England.

Wenden said: “We are looking for a big

boost to get into the Celtic market.

There’s a lot of interest in Celtic brands out there and that’s what we would like.

“There’s a big Welsh Society running through America — it’s very significant.

“Carwyn (Jones) knows our product and has been to our stand at the Royal Welsh.

It’s great that we have a voice out there, a voice of Wales telling America the good things that we have.”

Chris Sander, operations manager at RAP International in High Street, Swansea, which develops risk assessment software solutions for companies working in hazardous environments, said he hoped the trip would have a knock-on effect.

“Anything that can raise the profile of Welsh business has got to be good.” he said.

“We are a very proud Welsh company and have been flying the flag in the global market for 22 years doing business with some of the largest global companies in the oil and gas sector.”

James Wenden and his father Alan Wenden of Welsh Brew Tea

CARWYN JONES KNOWS OUR PRODUCT AND HAS BEEN TO OUR STAND AT THE ROYAL WELSH. IT’S GREAT THAT WE HAVE A VOICE OUT THERE, A VOICE OF WALES TELLING AMERICA THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE. swanseabaybusiness.com 17

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

Universities respond to the changing needs of students...

As the dust settles on another busy summer period of student recruitment and universities welcome the beginning of a new academic year, it is perhaps timely to consider how universities have transformed their offer and way of working in order to meet the needs of today’s students and employers.

Over the summer months there has been considerable media attention on students receiving A-Level results and securing places on full-time university programmes. In Wales, over 19,000 students entered higher education in September, representing a 9 per cent increase over the past 4 years, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

However, in addition, an increasing number of students enter university through non-traditional routes and many are now choosing to study through parttime and flexible learning. Universities, such as the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, are therefore rising to the challenge to adapt to these needs and are developing an expanding portfolio of programmes which cater for alternative modes of delivery.

Such programmes enable students from all backgrounds to balance their professional and personal commitments but still allow them to study for a higher qualification to improve their job prospects, and therefore, life chances.

At UWTSD we are working with employers across the region to develop bespoke part-time programmes to ensure that their employees develop the higher level skills needed to make a real difference to their business. For example, the university’s partnership with Qinetiq has led to the development of a range of

part-time programmes in the area of nondestructive testing.

UWTSD’s award-winning Wales Institute of Work-based Learning has developed a professional practice framework which enables employees to gain a range of qualifications directly related to their workplace practice from certificate level to doctoral studies. Its flagship EUfunded GWLAD (Growing Workforces through Learning and Development) project delivers accredited work-based learning programmes to support the ongoing professional development of more than 550 employees from over 100 businesses in the region. In addition, there are new opportunities for blended and distance learning using technology enhanced learning methods.

THE UNIVERSITY IS PROUD OF THE FACT THAT 93 PER CENT OF ITS UNDERGRADUATES ARE EITHER IN EMPLOYMENT AND/OR FURTHER STUDY WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

The UWTSD Group, which comprises Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion as constituent colleges, has campuses across South West Wales through which we are demonstrating our commitment to widening access and providing increased opportunities for learners to engage with education and encouraging participation at all levels and from all backgrounds.

The university is proud of the fact that 93 per cent of its undergraduates are either in employment and/or further study within six months; many of these students are now working within companies across the region and making a real contribution to the economy in South West Wales.

The university’s mission is transforming education; transforming lives and educating the future workforce in Wales is at the heart of UWTSD.

18 swanseabaybusiness.com

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TSD

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UWTSD Swansea has a wide range of programmes

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• • • •

CILEx (Level 3 and 6 in Law and Practice) CIPD (intermediate certificate in Human Resource Management) Management HNDs in Business, Finance, Sport, Public Services and more

For more information: 0 www.uwtsd.ac.uk

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Am fwy o wybodaeth: www.ydds.ac.uk/

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o fyfyrw y Rheolae r HND th Busn yn fodlo es n ar eu c wrs (NSS 2 01 6)

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9/8/2016 1:54:55 PM

GROWING TREND From high heels to flip-flops and underwear to jackets, Amazon’s fulfilment centre is growing stock levels to meet demand ahead of Christmas.

As BUSINESS LIFE reveals...

Photography by Rob Melen

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Amazon

In Focus

swanseabaybusiness.com 21

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In Focus

Amazon

Global online retailer Amazon is set to double its clothes and shoes stock in the region

by Christmas.

The major South West Wales employer is a specialist site for all items of shoes and clothing - from swimwear to heavy coats and will increase its aisle space by 100 per cent over the next few months.

Amazon’s fashion lines are steadily growing as a result of higher demand and the retailer’s fulfilment centre, at Jersey Marine, is the biggest in the UK for stock.

Pat Faulkner, general manager at the centre, said this was due to its team and reputation for sending items out on time.

As well as the retailer’s Amazon Prime service, which includes one day and same day delivery on millions of items, the multinational launched its Dash Button in the UK last week.

The wi-fi connected device allows customers to order certain products with

the push of a button and is available to Amazon Prince subscribers, who can buy it online.

Faulkner, who worked at a highly specialised digital company before joining the Jersey Marine site as general manager last year, said: “We are at the heart of UK distribution here. More people are looking to buy their clothes and shoes online and like the stock Amazon have.

“Our speciality is clothes and shoes and we have proven to be very reliable and high quality.”

Hundreds of thousands of footwear is stocked in very narrow aisles (VNA) at the centre, from high heels to flip flops, and there are as many clothing items.

But it’s not just clothes and shoes, all sorts of products are stocked at the site,

22 swanseabaybusiness.com

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WE ARE AT THE HEART OF UK DISTRIBUTION HERE. MORE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO BUY THEIR CLOTHES AND SHOES ONLINE AND LIKE THE STOCK AMAZON HAVE.

swanseabaybusiness.com 23

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In Focus

Amazon

Editor Chris Campbell (right) with Pat Faulkner, general manager at Amazon’s Jersey Marine fulfilment centre

including books, toys and most other items you can find online. However, it no longer stocks pet food.

Departments at the site include inbound products, outbound and VNA. There are 35 area managers across all shifts and departments.

Antony Wolfe, from Dublin and who now lives in Swansea, is the VNA area manager for shoes and apparel and works the Wednesday to Saturday shifts.

He said: “We’ve already started thinking about Christmas. The last three months of the year are very busy, but we are all year round.”

The centre, almost nine years old, is also increasing its canteen facilities and has improved break rooms to meet the needs of its rising staff levels.

The expansion is set to cater for growing numbers of workers joining the site as the busy festive season approaches. It will take up to 320 staff in one sitting.

There are currently 1,200 permanent workers at the site, with 200 temporary employees currently going through the process of being made permanent.

Amazon has 14 sites around the UK. 24 swanseabaybusiness.com

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9/8/2016 4:03:23 PM

THE SOAPBOX How are our leading firms flying the flag for the region and what sectors should we be celebrating the most?

Laura Burkinshaw, licensed conveyancer at Dezrezlegal

Steve Evans, managing director of the construction division of The Premier Group

When people are asked about up and coming companies, quite often those in South Wales are overlooked, whereas in fact if you look at the fastest growing companies in the UK, they reside in this region.

I don’t think it matters these days where your head office is as long as you provide good customer service. Nowadays you have to adapt your business strategy and internal communications to provide the expected level of service in 2016. It is just as important to think about the now as it is about forward planning for what will be required in the years ahead.

I think that we have a lot of companies in Swansea and the surrounding areas that are doing just that. I work in Ethos Building and our building and all those in the SA1 development are teeming with highly proactive and innovative companies.

At The Premier Group we are extremely proud to be working for blue chip companies such as Esso, Asda, Tesco and Shell across the UK. We are essentially a small construction firm, yet we work for the biggest companies in the world to provide high quality fuel engineering services. We have been able to do this because we can recruit locally and build a team of people who are willing to adapt to changes and learn new skills. This in turn helps us to enhance the construction services sector in the Swansea region.

Paul Davies, lecturer and technology entrepreneur

Peter Lynn, senior partner at Peter Lynn and Partners

An important and interesting question as we look to move into unchartered waters post vote. I live and work in two worlds. As an educator I teach business at Swansea’s new Bay Campus and as a business owner I work with hundreds of local retailers. I see both sectors growing and small businesses regaining confidence. I feel education forms a cornerstone of what we should be looking to promote (while safeguarding our legacy industries). We have world class research and teaching resources in Swansea that brings in large numbers of students and with that comes huge amounts of local spend critical to our economy. Swansea offers a fantastic environment to set up new digital or collaborative ventures and we should be looking to attract and retain new talent in the region that can help us prepare for the future.

Over recent years, Swansea has seen a huge amount of expansion and growth as a city and can proudly be associated with success.

The new university campus on Fabian Way, the development of the Creative Bubble and TechHub on high street to support business startups, the new University of Wales Trinity Saint David University campus to be built at SA1, not to mention once projects such as the tidal lagoon and the city centre redevelopment start to take shape - all of these and more are flying the flag for our region.

All in all, Swansea is an exciting and invigorating city to be part of and with our Premiership football team continuing the city’s success on the pitch, we are shining a spotlight on the city and demonstrating our ambition to the world.

Gary Walpole, director of Indycube As a director of a firm with 26 offices across Wales, including Swansea, that provides space for freelancers and small firms to work and share knowledge I get a range of views on what would help the freelance and small business sector.

I think that businesses in Wales would really benefit from better mobile phone signal coverage and better broadband access. As high growth firms create the ‘lion’s share’ of all new jobs in the private sector, shouldn’t we give all the same opportunity?

Mandy St John Davey, property investor I have never felt so positive and enthusiastic about Swansea and the surrounding region.

Swansea has some of the most stunningly beautiful beaches and coastline in Wales, but it is the investment that’s coming into the area that excites me more and will certainly change the dynamics of the region.

The opening of the new Swansea University campus with its state of the art facilities, will not only attract the best lecturers and students, who hopefully will settle in the area, but many of the students are overseas students, so will help the private sector housing market. New opportunities within the property and construction industry will be opened up if the tidal lagoon project goes ahead, as well as the redevelopment of Swansea city centre. There are also some significant regeneration projects such as Coed Darcy.

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

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SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE PRESENTS

23-PAGE SPECIAL

SPONSORED BY

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

A word from Barclays... with Mike Hayden, head of Corporate and Business Banking for Barclays in Swansea and South West Wales At Barclays, we are passionate about helping businesses to grow. Every single business we work with brings value. Driving growth, jobs, innovation and helping to foster the export mentality the UK needs to succeed on a world trade stage.

The last few years have seen unprecedented challenges for businesses across the Swansea Bay business region.

We are focused to deliver for our clients, ensuring they are at the heart of everything we do.

It is great to see that many businesses in the region are investing for the future, creating wealth and employment, investing in new technologies or exploring new markets for exports. There are some terrific success stories across this region and we are committed to helping clients to realise their growth ambitions.

It is always a personally rewarding experience meeting clients and working with them side by side. Small or large companies, start-ups and multinational corporations, operating in the UK and abroad – we always do our best to deliver the right solutions that will help them achieve their business ambitions.

Barclays is actively engaging with businesses and committed to providing the support they require to achieve their ambitions. Identifying trends, clients’ needs and consumer behaviours is imperative.

It enables us, and indeed the industry, to create an optimum environment to support this valuable economy, which in turn will boost economic growth.

Barclays is proud to be associated with the Top 100 companies in South West Wales, which gives business owners the opportunity to be recognised for the invaluable contribution their business makes to the regional economy and the communities in which they operate through links with education and development of local supply chains.

The innovation, energy and depth of knowledge displayed by the businesses we work with in the region are a continual source of inspiration for us. It is a privilege to work with such a wide and diverse range of innovative businesses, across a breadth of markets. The quality of businesses we have in the region has made this year’s judging process very difficult and my congratulations go out to all the companies which have made this year’s Top 100 list.

BARCLAYS IS ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH BUSINESSES AND COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THEY REQUIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR AMBITIONS.

To find out more about how Barclays can help you succeed, call Mike Hayden, head of business and corporate banking West Wales at Barclays, on 07766361792 28 swanseabaybusiness.com

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9/9/2016 9:47:39 AM

A word from PWC... with Ian Clarke, director at PwC This has been another successful year for the Top 100 companies in South West Wales and we are proud of our association with such a prestigious group.

It is fascinating to note the diversity of sectors and the geographical spread of organisations across the region. Companies continued to flourish in a year which was not without its challenges. The impact of the UK leaving the EU also brings a new dynamic to the environment that organisations now face.

We support the Top 100 because we believe it is important to celebrate the success of our region and the great contribution that the area’s Top 100 companies provide. This ranges from contribution to employment,

the community, sustainability and the environment as well as the provision of goods and services. Indeed we should not also underestimate how such companies contribute to furthering the area’s economic voice in Wales, the UK and beyond. The judging process was tough with such a wide range of sectors and a range of achievements.

The importance of the Top 100 becomes even more important in the post Brexit world. However, history has taught us that our businesses are adaptable and innovative when confronted with new challenges and opportunities. I look forward to seeing how the Top 100 develops and evolves in the future.

For more information on how PWC can support your business, email Ian at: ian.m.clarke@uk.pwc.com

The methodology...

In essence, this ranking shows the 100 biggest companies by turnover based in a postcode beginning with SA. This covers the area now known as the Swansea Bay region plus a few areas a little further afield.

For a company to be included, we naturally need its turnover. We look for these on Companies House. If the data is not available and we cannot corroborate it by other means, we cannot include that company.

The tricky part can be around the registered address of companies. These can be separate from their main operations.

We changed the methodology slightly

last year to make it more representative of companies truly domiciled in the region and allowing us to include businesses with substantial operations here even if they are registered elsewhere.

We also excluded a number of companies that are subsidiaries of much larger, global conglomerates. They made previous rankings because a specific limited company might have been registered in this part of the world but the profits were often being distributed elsewhere.

In their place, we have included a number of entities with owners, substantial operations and staff in this part of the world

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOP 100 BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE POST BREXIT WORLD. but which may have been excluded before because their limited companies may have been registered elsewhere.

Some of the decisions around which companies to include and exclude have been based on this methodology – made by this publication and our partners on this project: Barclays and PwC. As such, we are also open to input when it comes to future rankings. If your company has been included, you will already have heard from us. If it has not and you feel it should be, please get in touch.

Pillars of our region...

Our fifth Top 100 Companies in South West Wales list features businesses from a wide range of sectors. An insurance provider tops the list one again and there are strong performances from construction and civil engineering firms. Also worth noting, is that there are seven car and vehicle sales firms in the top 20. Take a look at our fastest growing companies by turnover and staff too and you might be pleasantly surprised at some of those firms that are climbing the ladder and the industries they represent.

This ranking, for the fifth year, is partnered with Barclays and PwC and our judges have selected some exciting businesses for our Top 100 awards, revealed over the pages that follow.

- Chris Campbell, editor

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9/8/2016 12:03:44 PM

COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

awardwinners Here, we reveal our Top 100 Companies in South West Wales award champions, picked by our judging panel...

Swansea Company of the Year Winner Premier Group With over 60 years’ experience, The Premier Group has become a respected provider of liquid fuel storage, measurement and dispensing systems in the UK. It operates as three main divisions: construction, installation and servicing and employs around 75 staff.

The company has a strong track record in community engagement projects and has grown steadily in recent years especially from a substantial base in Swansea. At number 65 in the ranking, the company enjoyed a remarkable 40 per cent growth year-on-year and increased its staff numbers by 22 per cent.

Highly Commended JCP Solicitors, Edwards Coaches

Neath Port Talbot Company of the Year Winner Cuddy Group With 40 years’ experience, Cuddy Group carries out work across Wales and overseas. The company’s main operations include demolition, preparing sites from redevelopment and asbestos removal. At number 17 in the ranking with a turnover of £42 million, the business enjoyed solid growth of 19 per cent year-on-year and increased its headcount by 42 per cent.

Highly Commended Runtech, EJ Lewis

Carmarthenshire Company of the Year Winner Lonetree (McDonald’s)

attraction. It’s currently home to over 50 different species, amounting to more than 250 animals.

It also has Wales’ only lions, which are clearly attracting the crowds. With a turnover of £6 million, it increased its turnover by 20 per cent year-on-year and its staff by 10 per cent.

Highly commended Ledwood, Princes Gate Water

Incorporated in 1998 by former farmer Ron Mounsey, Lonetree owns and runs 15 McDonald’s franchises from Pembrokeshire through to Newport. It employs around 880 staff. Frustrated by having to work within the straitjacket of EU dairy quotas, Mounsey was initially tempted to go into fish and chips, but changed his mind when he saw what was on offer to a McDonalds franchisee.

Now number 29 in the ranking with a turnover of £32 million, the company has gone from strength to strength in recent years and increased its turnover by 33 per cent year-on-year and its staff by 26 per cent.

Highly commended LBS, TRJ

Pembrokeshire Company of the Year Winner Hayloft (Folly Farm) Hayloft Holdings is the holding company of Folly Farm, a Pembrokeshire tourist attraction which opened in 1988. The farm celebrated its 25th birthday in 2013 with a major extension to the Jolly Barn

WITH OVER 60 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE, THE PREMIER GROUP HAS BECOME A RESPECTED PROVIDER OF LIQUID FUEL STORAGE, MEASUREMENT AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS IN THE UK.

30 swanseabaybusiness.com

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Top 100 judging: Pictured are are Mike Hayden from Barcalys and Ian Clarke from PWC

Editor’s Choice Award Winner Dawnus Group The UK construction industry showed signs of recovery in August as activity picked up from July’s seven-year low, according to Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers’ index. But Dawnus Group, with its head office in Swansea, continues to grow.

The international civil engineering and building company has offices throughout the UK and West Africa. Projects have included modern apartments at Castle Quarter in Swansea.

The group has seen turnover grow 20.6 per cent year-on-year, while its number of employees has risen 26.5 per cent over the same period. Good signs for the group and the industry.

Barclays Overall Winner for Contribution to the Local Economy Winner Swansea City FC Swansea City were promoted to the Premier League in the same year that Top 100 launched. Since then they have enjoyed success on and off the pitch; they remain in football’s top tier and recently completed a £75 million deal which sees American investors take a substantial stake in the club. Fans and anyone with the interests of Swansea at their heart will hope the deal represents growing investment in the club, which ultimately benefits the wider region in significant ways. The club now has a turnover of more than £100 million and employs well over 300 staff.

DAWNUS GROUP HAS SEEN TURNOVER GROW 20.6 PER CENT YEAR-ON-YEAR, WHILE ITS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES HAS RISEN 26.5 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD. GOOD SIGNS FOR THE GROUP AND THE INDUSTRY.

swanseabaybusiness.com 31

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9/8/2016 12:04:40 PM

COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 ank

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2,104,600

368,700

7,857

268

12/31/2015

Services

Swansea/Cardiff

Sinclair Motor Holdings

325,935

3,081

587

555

12/31/2014

Services/Retail

Port Talbot

3

Dawnus Group Ltd

248,647

1,461

2,328

107

12/31/2014

Services

Swansea

4

C.E.M Day Limited

229,975

10,050

567

406

12/31/2015

Services

Swansea

5

DMWSL 660 Limited

208,002

-5,106

640

325

9/30/2014

Media

Llanelli

6

Swansea City Football 2002 Limited

103,928

1,676

307

339

7/31/2015

Leisure/Sport

Swansea

7

Castell Howell Foods Limited

94,289

3,173

447

211

10/31/2015

Services

Llanelli

8

Oil 4 Wales Ltd

88,989

629

66

1,348

8/31/2015

Services

Carmarthenshire

9

Bassett Property Holdings Ltd

75,473

576

154

490

12/31/2014

Services

Swansea

10 Dragon LNG

64,429

-50,384

96

671

12/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Pembrokeshire

11 MTR Bailey Trading

57,047

5,439

109

523

11/30/2014

Services

Neath

12 FRF South Wales Holding Ltd

56,438

2,296

151

374

31/12/2014

Services

Swansea

13 JTG Holdings

55,257

1,273

96

576

12/31/2014

Services

Carmarthenshire

14 Pontrilas Group

55,042

3,363

356

155

7/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Hereford

15 Dyfed Steels

46,839

265

277

169

31/12/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Llanelli

16 Protherics UK

42,348

13,460

113

375

3/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Ceredigion

17 Cuddy Group Ltd

42,252

191

417

101

31/07/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Neath

18 LBS Holdings (UK) Ltd

41,936

2,911

248

169

31/12/2015

Services

Carmarthenshire

19 Owens Road Services

41,847

1,835

579

72

6/30/2015

Services

Llanelli

20 N R Evans (Holdings) Limited

41,277

2,402

374

110

31/08/2015

Services

Llanelli

21 Leslie H Trainer & Son

38,145

542

83

460

12/31/2014

Retail

Swansea

22 First Cymru Buses Limited

38,127

3,434

811

47

3/28/2015

Services

Swansea

23 J&J Motors Limited

37,909

854

90

421

6/30/2015

Retail

Llanelli

24 Cawdor Cars (Newcastle Emlyn) Limited

36,150

681

104

348

4/30/2015

Retail

Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed

25 Arthur Bassett Co.

35,804

304

79

453

12/31/2014

Services

Swansea

26 CK’s Supermarket Limited

35,486

1,987

442

80

4/30/2015

Retail

Llanelli

32

x4 - Top 100 data.indd 1

9/8/2016 12:05:53 PM

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27 Edwards Coaches

35,285

2,604

445

79

3/31/2015

Services

Rhondda Cynon Taff

28 Andrew Scott

34,511

367

168

205

6/30/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Port Talbot

29 Lonetree Ltd

32,776

821

1,112

29

12/31/2014

Retail

Carmarthenshire

30 MC327 Limited

32,316

3,732

389

83

12/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

31 Mansel Davies & Son Group Ltd

29,640

712

284

104

31/01/2016

Services

Pembrokeshire

32 Ledwood Holdings

26,630

1,363

255

104

12/31/2014

Services

Pembrokeshire

33 Solo Service Group

26,147

1,270

3,041

9

7/31/2015

Services

Swansea

34 TRJ Holdings

26,087

404

175

149

31/07/2015

Construction

Carmarthenshire

35 Wheelies Direct

24,762

714

151

164

2/28/2015

Retail

Swansea

36 Burns Pet Nutrition

24,471

2,691

97

252

7/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Kidwelly, Dyfed

37 J E Lawrence & Son Ltd

24,139

370

40

603

12/31/2014

Retail

Clarbeston Road Dyfed

38 Milford Port Authority

23,074

3,198

189

122

12/31/2014

Port

Pembrokeshire

39 Riverlea Tractors

22,731

-66

70

325

9/30/2015

Services

Pembrokeshire

40 Cambrian Pet Foods

22,473

1,750

91

247

6/30/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

41 Grwp WRW Cyf

21,591

263

60

360

8/31/2014

Construction

Llanelli

42 NSJL Ltd

21,100

388

177

119

12/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Port Talbot

43 GDH Holdings

21,048

1,121

182

116

8/30/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Pembrokeshire

44 Morgan GRP (Morgan Marine) (2015 Report)

20,025

3,196

243

82

6/30/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Carmarthenshire

45 Dr. Organic Ltd

18,661

5,281

18

1,037

12/31/2014

Retail

Swansea

46 Bluestone Resorts Holdings

17,809

594

546

33

1/7/2016

Leisure/Sport

Pembrokeshire

47 Morgan Stone

17,531

495

79

222

3/31/2015

Services

Llanelli

48 Ellis Steel Holdings

17,147

639

80

214

12/31/2014

Services

Swansea

49 Afon Tin Plate

16,324

131

65

251

12/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

50 Course Hill Fuel Depot Limited

16,015

1,097

21

763

31/03/2015

Services

Pembrokeshire

51 Hale Developments Ltd

15,926

522

93

171

12/31/2014

Construction

Neath

52 Puffin Investments

15,856

1,308

111

143

6/30/2015

Services

Pembrokeshire

53 Curveball Leisure

15,815

4

21

753

6/30/2015

Retail

Swansea

54 Nantcwmrhys

15,709

699

29

542

9/30/2014

Services

Carmarthenshire 33

x4 - Top 100 data.indd 2

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 k Ran

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55 John Thomas & Son (Aberaeron)

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14,999

912

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3/31/2015

Retail

Aberaeron, Dyfed

14,761

1,258

154

96

1/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Pembrokeshire

57 Pump Supplies

14,495

1,106

66

220

7/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Port Talbot

58 Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd

14,454

67

146

99

3/31/2015

Agriculture/Retail

Pembrokeshire

59 Fairwood Holdings

14,449

73

243

59

8/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

60 CWM Environmental

14,103

177

65

217

12/31/2014

Services

Carmarthenshire

61 GenQuip Limited

13,322

1,421

6

2,220

6/30/2015

Retail

Port Talbot

62 Mainport Engineering 1990 Limited

13,178

13

247

53

3/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Pembrokeshire

63 Montagne Jeunesse International Limited

13,003

1,310

50

260

12/31/2014

Retail

Port Talbot

64 WAA (Holdings) Limited

12,996

246

70

186

9/30/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Carmarthenshire

65 The Premier Group (CNC Supplies)

12,960

642

91

142

3/31/2015

Engineering

Swansea/Hertfordshire

66 Rhyal Engineering

12,859

78

134

96

1/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Pembrokeshire

67 Cowindale Feeds Limited

12,203

329

11

1,109

30/09/2014

Retail

Carmarthen

68 John Weaver (Contractors) Limited

12,079

239

93

130

12/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

69 MMR Holdings

12,066

795

616

20

8/31/2015

Services

Llanelli

70 Jones Brothers (Henllan) Linited

12,056

202

89

135

31/07/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Llanelli

71 MCBH LIMITED

11,890

348

66

180

12/31/2014

Retail

Swansea

72 Cornelius Holdings

11,729

513

212

55

6/30/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Port Talbot

73 Comcen Technology

11,092

158

59

188

12/31/2014

Retail

Swansea

74 Lyte Industries

11,030

82

139

79

10/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

75 Bakerfield (Wales) Limited

10,909

483

213

51

29/03/2015

Retail

Swansea

76 Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) Ltd

10,868

77

157

69

5/31/2015

Leisure/Sport

Swansea

77 Trojan Electronics

10,741

56

--

--

3/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

78 Unit Engineers and Constructors (Unit Birwelco Group)

10,692

246

100

107

12/25/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

56 Celtic Engineering Holdings

34

x4 - Top 100 data.indd 3

9/8/2016 12:06:08 PM

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79 Princes Gate Water

10,644

681

43

248

11/30/2015

Services/Retail

Pembrokeshire

80 GLT Exports

10,634

937

44

242

10/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

81 Monolithic Refractories Ltd

10,398

486

131

79

31/12/2014

Service

Neath

82 Victorian House (Sales) Ltd

10,064

1,005

--

--

31/12/2014

83 E G Lewis Holdings

9,592

320

89

108

1/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Neath

84 David Jenkins Ltd (Jenkins Bakeries)

9,319

906

314

30

12/31/2015

Retail

Carmarthenshire

85 The Magstim Company

9,160

-806

95

96

31/03/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Carmarthenshire

86 Low Cost Vans (Crownhawk Properties Ltd)

9,000

822

40

225

2/28/2015

Services

Neath

87 Scarlets Regional Limited

8,977

-988

237

38

6/30/2015

Leisure/Sport

Llanelli

88 Rylo Limited (Fieldbay)

8,923

2,362

261

34

12/31/2014

Services

Swansea

89 Runtech limited

8,664

127

87

100

31/07/2015

Services

Port Talbot

90 Viscose Holdings

8,422

-129

51

165

12/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

91

Altarvest

7,817

1,054

141

55

6/30/2015

Services

Swansea

92 StyleGrange

7,426

240

20

371

9/30/2014

Services

Swansea

93 Cronfa Cyf (Quinshield)

7,374

1,265

101

73

12/31/2014

94 Altron Manufacturing and Engineering

7,316

527

105

70

6/30/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Carmarthenshire

95 John Collins & Partners LLP

7,228

1,801

133

54

4/5/2015

Services

Swansea

96 Vincent Davies & Son

6,542

1,045

106

62

1/26/2015

Retail

Pembrokeshire

97 Lewis Pies

6,382

532

119

54

7/31/2015

Retail

Swansea

98 Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd

6,145

156

51

112

12/31/2014

Manufacturing/Engineering

Swansea

99 Hayloft Holdings (Wales) Limited

6,076

1,291

135

45

2/28/2015

Leisure/Sport

Pembrokeshire

100 Afan Landscapes

5,988

-6

67

89

1/31/2015

Manufacturing/Engineering

Port Talbot

Ammanford

Camarthenshire

35

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

Getting to know our Top 100...

Here, we take a more in depth look at each of the businesses that make up Swansea Bay Business Life and our sister title the South Wales Evening Post’s Top 100 Companies in South West Wales 2016.

1. Admiral Group PLC • £2.1bn Insurance provider

Swansea City Football

Admiral Group was first floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2004, making it the first FTSE 100 Company with its origins in Wales. Although the company has its main operation in Cardiff, it has branches in Swansea and its contribution to the city is significant. Around 1,990 of Admiral’s nearly 7,000-strong Welsh workforce are based either at the SA1 development in the city centre or at Telelink 2 in Llansamlet.

2. Sinclair Motor Holdings • £325.9m • Car sales Sinclair group is a well-known local company and holder of several car franchises throughout South West Wales.

The group secured its first franchise in 1971 (Audi) and was followed by VW and Mercedes in 1977 and 2002 respectively.

However the company’s origins date back much further, to when Bill Sinclair opened his own garage on Dan-y-Bryn Road, Port Talbot, in 1945.

3. Dawnus Group • £249m Constructors and civil engineers Since it was established in 2002, Dawnus Construction has grown to become a construction company with truly international projects, operating in locations such as Senegal and Sierra Leone. Although the business has offices in Bangor, Exeter and Newbury, Dawnus’ head office remains in Swansea.

4. C.E.M Day • £230m Vehicle rental and sales CEM Day is a family-owned company boasting a long history in South West Wales.

With around 500 staff spanning 12 locations, the company has won numerous awards for customer service. As well as franchises including Ford and Peugeot, the company’s operations now include rental and contract hire services.

5. DMWSL 660 • £208m Independent media producer DMWSL 660 is the parent company of Tinopolis. The company remains one of the largest independent media producers in the UK, with brands such as Mentorn Media and Sunset & Vine. The group has covered many well-known events including the Aviva Rugby Premiership and FIFA World Cup.

6. Swansea City Football 2002 • £103.9 • Football club Swansea City Football 2002 is better known as Swansea City FC. The club has come a long way in its 100 year plus history and is Wales’ first premiership football team.

Having changed its name to Swansea City in 1969, the club moved from the historic Vetch Field in 2005 and now shares the Liberty Stadium with the Ospreys rugby team.

7. Castell Howells Foods • £89.3m Food wholesaler Castell Howell Foods has been based in Cross Hands for over 20 years and employs over 400 people. The business is an independent food wholesaler supplying goods to sectors including hospitals, pubs, cafés and schools.

8. Oil 4 Wales • £89m Fuel Supplier Oil 4 Wales is an independent fuel supplier providing a much needed range of services to homes, businesses, commercial premises, agricultural and retail customers throughout Wales. Products include planned oil deliveries, fuel/bunkering cards and oil tank supply.

9. Bassett Property Holdings • £75.4m • Vehicle sales Bassetts Property Holdings is the parent company of Arthur Bassett Co – the holder of Nissan, Honda and Citroen franchises

in South West Wales. The company has operations across the region including premises in Swansea, Carmarthen and Bridgend.

10. Dragon LNG • £64.4m Storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) Dragon LNG Group specialises in the storage and regasification of LNG (liquefied natural gas). In order to store and transport the natural gas more easily it undergoes a process whereby the gas is turned into liquid and therefore becomes LNG. This process reduces the volume of the gas by a ratio of 600:1. The Milford Haven LNG terminal can unload up to 217,000 cubic metres of LNG every 24 hours.

11. MTR Bailey Trading • £57m Car retailer MTR Bailey Trading is the parent company of ‘The Trade Centre Wales’ of Neath.

Employing around 100 people, the business is a used car retailer. MTR Bailey Trading was established in 2001.

12. FRF South Wales Holding • £56.4m • Vehicle sales FRF South Wales is a family-run business and consists of FRF Toyota, FRF Accident Repair Centre, and FRF Volvo. The business has three branches: Swansea, Bridgend and Haverfordwest. The company currently employs around 140 people.

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13. JTG Holdings • £55.3m Vehicle Sales JTG Holdings is the parent company of well-known automotive retailer Gravells.

The company was founded by Tom Gravell MBE in 1932 and was awarded the Renault agency in 1954, making it the oldest Renault dealership in the UK. Selling over 2500 new cars and vans annually and having a stock of around 400 used cars, the business is now a franchised dealer of several other brands including Isuzu, Kia and Dacia – employing nearly 100 people.

14. Pontrilas Group • £55m Packaging Pontrilas Group is a manufacturer of products for use in the storage and transportation industry. Formed in 1989, Pontrilas manufactures products including heavy duty cases and high volume pallets.

It now employs around 300 people and is based in Llangennech, Carmarthenshire.

15. Dyfed Steels • £53.5m Steel Dyfed Steels was founded in Wales over 30 years ago and has two sites in Llanelli.

The business has operations in Newport, Portishead, Newtown, Cullompton and Shaftesbury – employing over 260 people. Dyfed Steels remains the largest independent steel stockholder and processor in Wales and the South West of England.

16. Protherics UK • £42.3m Pharmaceuticals Although acquired in June of 2008 by BTG, Protherics UK retains a large manufacturing facility in Llandysul, West Wales. The company was founded in 2003 and is focused on the discovery and development of antibiotics.

controlled distribution companies in the UK. It delivers in excess of £1 billion of chilled products annually via its fleet of over 160 units and 180 trailers. This family-run business was established almost in 1984 by Neil Evans and employs over 100 staff at its Cross Hands Headquarters and many more across the UK.

20. Leslie H Trainer & Son • £38.1m Car retailer Leslie H Trainer and Son holds both BMW and MINI franchises at its showrooms in Cwmbwrla, Swansea. The business has been established for over 35 years and now employs around 80 people.

21. First Cymru Buses • £38.1m Public transport provider With a fleet of around 300 buses, First Cymru is a major provider of public transport throughout South and South West Wales. Carrying over 21 million passengers annually, the company has depots in Carmarthen, Port Talbot and Llanelli.

22. J&J Motors • £37.9m Car dealer

Dealing in both new and used cars, J&J Motors is based in Carmarthen. The company was started nearly 30 years ago and holds franchises including Nissan, Ford, Suzuki and Fiat. The business has retail outlets covering South West Wales including Haverfordwest, Crosshands, Swansea and Bridgend.

23. LBS Holdings • £37m Vehicle sales Arthur Bassett Co is a subsidiary of Bassett’s Property Holdings. The company produces revenue independently of its parent and has therefore been included within the Top 100. The business has around 80 employees.

24. Cawdor Cars (Newcastle Emlyn) • Car retailer Cawdor Cars is a family-run business based in Newcastle Emlyn. As well as Newcastle Emlyn, the company also has retail outlets in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Aberystwyth – employing over 100 staff. The business is the holder of Vauxhall, Subaru and Isuzu franchises.

25. Arthur Bassett Co • £35.8m Vehicle sales Arthur Bassett Co is a subsidiary of Bassett’s Property Holdings. The company produces revenue independently of its parent and has therefore been included within the Top 100. The business has around 80 employees.

26. CK’s Supermarket : £35.5m Food retailer Founded in 1988, CK’s Foodstores has grown to become the largest independent food retailer in South West Wales. It now has 20 supermarkets spread across the South Wales area.

27. Edwards Coaches • £35.5m Transport Established 90 years ago, Edwards Coaches has moved on from the days of ‘charabancs’ and now currently operates a fleet of around 250 vehicles and transports over 6,500 students to school each day.

In 2011, the family-run business acquired Diamond Holidays, based in Swansea. It currently employs around 400 people.

28. Andrew Scott • £34.5m Construction and civil engineering Andrew Scott is Wales’ oldest construction and civil engineering company. Established in 1870, it has developed into one of the leading and most respected companies

17. Cuddy Group • £42.3m Demolition With 40 years’ experience, Cuddy Group carries out work across Wales and overseas. The company’s main operations include demolition, preparing sites from redevelopment and asbestos removal.

Jason Edwards from Edwards Coaches

18. Owens Road Services • £41.8m Road haulage Owens Road Services is well known throughout the area, employing over 500 people. The company is a true local success story – starting with one van in 1970 it grew to employ over 100 people by 1990 and began accepting European work in 1992.

In 2008 Owens opened its first English depot in Worcestershire, followed by the acquisition of the former Panasonic site in Baglan in 2010.

19. N R Evans (Holdings) • £41.3m Temperature controlled distribution NR Evans is one of the largest temperature 37

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 in the country. One of the area’s largest indigenous contractors, it has the capability to deliver high quality innovative solutions across the whole civil engineering and construction industry with a healthy turnover and over 200 employees.

Ron Mounsey, managing director of Lonetree

29. Lonetree • £32.8m Fast food Incorporated in 1998 by former farmer Ron Mounsey, Lonetree owns and runs 15 McDonald’s franchises from Pembrokeshire through to Newport. It employs around 880 staff. Frustrated by having to work within the straitjacket of EU dairy quotas, Mounsey was initially tempted to go into fish and chips, but changed his mind when he saw what was on offer to a McDonalds franchisee.

30. MC327• £32.3m Manufacturing Established in 1988, Glass Systems is a manufacturer of glass products such as sealed window units. In its purpose-built factory in Swansea, the company produces 30,000 sealed units every week. As a result Glass Systems has grown to become the UK’s largest manufacturer of sealed units.

31. Ledwood Holdings • £26.6m Oil and gas industry

35. Burns Pet Nutrition • £24.5m Pet food manufacturer

Experts in the oil and gas industries, Ledwood are leaders in complex project management work at oil refineries and gas processing plants. The company thrives on the most challenging and diverse engineering, procurement and construction contacts (EPC’s), delivering high quality design solutions for essentials such as FCCUs, fired heaters, re-heaters and process furnaces.

Burns Pet Nutrition is a producer of high quality hypoallergenic pet foods. The company was founded in 1993 after John Burns continually saw the same pet health problems at his veterinary surgery as a result of pets being fed on poor quality foods. Burns Pet Nutrition aims to use locally sourced ingredients and only use egg products from free range hens.

32. Solo Service Group • £26.1m Cleaning contractors Established in 1990, and employing around 4200 employees, Solo Service Group is one of the largest independent cleaning companies in the UK. As well as cleaning services the business also provides janitorial equipment such as dusters and Hoover bags.

33. TRJ Holdings • £26.1m Holding Company TRJ Holdings is the holding company of T Richard Jones (Betws). The company is a building and civil engineering company based in Ammanford. T Richard Jones (Betws) was founded in the mid-1930s and continues to employ a large number of local people.

34. Wheelies Direct • £24.8m Bike retailer Wheelies Direct is a major online retailer of bikes and bike accessories. Established in 1982, the business initially opened as a Swansea-based bike shop. Since then it has grown into a successful online retailer and is also the UK’s largest insurance replacement provider for the cycling industry.

John Burns, the vet-turned-entrepreneur behind Burns Pet Nutrition

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36. J E Lawrence & Son • £24.1m Fuel supplies Founded in 1936, JE Lawrence & Son includes a fuel division that delivers to homes, farms and industry with a reputation that has been built on competitive prices and a quality delivery service. Its agricultural machinery division is the main dealer for JCB, New Holland and many other manufacturers, providing a one-stop shop for every machine on the farm. The company sells a wide range of new and used equipment and sales are supported by a comprehensive parts and repair service.

37. Milford Port Authority • £23.1m • Port authority As the UK’s largest energy port and the biggest port in Wales, the port of Milford Haven is a 24/7 operation. It offers a range of marine services as well as owning and operating Pembroke Port and Milford Marina and Fish Docks. It employs nearly 200 people.

38. Riverlea Tractors • £22.7m Agricultural and construction machinery Riverlea provides products and services to the agricultural, horticultural and construction sectors. With three depots covering the South and South West of

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Wales, main franchises include Claas, Case Construction, Manitou, Ifor Williams and Husqvarna. The business was founded in 1992 and now employs around 70 people.

39. Cambrian Pet Foods • £22.5m Pet foods manufacturer Cambrian Pet Foods is a producer of both wet and dry pet foods. With manufacturing facilities at Pencader and Llangadog in Carmarthenshire, the company’s facilities have the ability to produce up to 450 cans per minute. Cambrian Pet Foods follow a private label strategy and produce products for pet food brand owners.

40. Mansel Davies & Sons • £22.1m Haulage Mansel Davies and Sons is a road haulage company based in Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire. The company was started in 1997 and now employs around 225 people within the area.

41. Grwp WRW Cyf • £21.6m Construction WRW is one of the leading construction and development companies in mid and south Wales and has been established for more than 30 years. The two core subsidiaries are: WRW Developments and WRW Construction. The group has been significantly expanded over the last 10 years, with many notable high profile projects throughout Wales including The National Library of Wales and Ffos Las Racecourse.

42. NSJL • £21.1m Pharmaceuticals

45. Dr Organic • £18.7m Cosmetics

NSJL is a holding company with several subsidiaries associated with the pharmaceuticals industry including Cultech, Verywise Nutrition, Supplements Compared and Vega Nutritionals. Cultech makes up over 90 per cent of NSJL’s turnover accounting for £15 million of NSJL’s turnover. Cultech is a manufacturing company concerned with the supply of supplementary pharmaceutical products such as blister packaging and hard capsule filling.

Based in Swansea’s SA1, Dr. Organic manufactures skin care and cosmetic products. The company’s ethos is based around the use of natural and organic ingredients such as plant extracts and herbs. Dr. Organic was established in 2007

by Fred Whitcomb and Steve Quinn.

43. GDH Holdings • £21m Quarried aggregates supplier The largest producer of quarried aggregates in West Wales, GD Harries & Sons has made a significant investment with the addition of asphalt production, concrete and screed production and a contracting arm to its operations. All of its products are delivered using a specialist fleet of tippers and ready mixed concrete trucks.

44. Morgan GRP • £20m Manufacturing/engineering Morgan GRP was founded in 1965 and is based in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

The company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) structures such as kiosks and ticket booths. Spanning over nine acres with over 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Morgan GRP employs around 250 people.

46. Bluestone Resorts Holdings • £17.8m • Short breaks and holidays Bluestone national park resort offers short breaks and family holidays in beautiful Pembrokeshire. Visitors can stay in the resort’s luxury accommodation set in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with everything from lodges, cottages, and studios available. To add to the experience the resort features restaurants, shops, an adventure centre and a water park for children and adults alike.

47. Morganstone • £17.5m Construction Llanelli-headquartered Morganstone was founded in 2008 by managing director Ian Morgan. With around 100 employees, the company delivers high quality developments for public sector organisations, private developers and residential landlords.

48. Ellis Steel Holdings • £17.1m Metal supplier Ellis Steel Group is a long-established steel stockholder and processor with depots throughout the UK. Although the group’s origins are in South Wales, with depots in Milford Haven and Swansea, they also have depots in Bristol and Swindon. There is a dedicated export department based in Swansea that specialises in the sourcing and supply of steel and metal products to locations throughout the world.

49. Afon Tin Plate • £16.3m Metal packaging Afon Tin Plate is an independent company based in Bryntywod, Swansea. The company specialises in the lacquering, painting and varnishing of metal sheet products for applications such as food packaging.

50. Course Hill Fuel Depot • £16m Fuel distributor Based in Templeton, Course Hill Fuel Depot is a local fuel distributor specialising in home heating oil, lubricants, farm fuels, commercial and industrial fuel, derv/ petrol and boiler maintenance. It stocks 12 different types of fuel and is a plastic oil tank specialist and bottle gas supplier.

Swansea council leader Rob Stewart at the Dr Organic depot with Group Export Director Steve Price, Operations Director Kevin Wykes, Group Marketing Director Michael Lightowlers (crrt), Group Finance Director Matt Harvey and Co founder/Director Steve Quinn.

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 51. Hale Developments • £15.9m Construction JG Hale Construction was founded in 1996 by Jonathan Hale. The company has grown considerably since then and now undertakes construction projects for local authorities, housing associations, and the private building market. It works closely alongside Seven Oaks Joinery, a sister company also based at the same Milland Road site. In 2003, it also opened a plumbing division and runs apprenticeships in plumbing and other trades.

52. Puffin Investments • £15.9m Investment Services Puffin Investments is based in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. The company was founded in 1994 and employs around 100 people. The company has one subsidiary, Puffin Produce.

Steve Evans, managing director of the construction arm of The Premier Group

53. Curveball Leisure • £15.8m Leisure Curveball Leisure has more than 40 years’ experience of the video games industry and has over 1,600 lines in stock at any given time. Their experienced buying team are continuously securing the best range of computer and video game stock at competitive prices.

54. Nantcwmrhys • £15.7m Motor dealers Based in Fishguard, Nantcwmrhys is a motor dealership. The company first started trading in 2003 and employs around 25 people.

55. John Thomas & Son • £15m Retail John Thomas & Son is a retail business based in Aberaeron. Having been established for over 35 years, the company employs around 100 people.

56. Celtic Engineering Holdings • £14.8m • Engineering Celtic Engineering Holdings was founded in 1982. Based in Port Talbot, the company offers general engineering services including design, manufacture and maintenance in a variety of sectors from chemical works to iron and steel foundries. It currently employs over 100 people.

57. Pump Supplies • £14.5m Pump supplier Port Talbot-based company Pump Supplies was founded in 1982 by Andrew John.

The company was founded with a view to hiring electric submersible pumps to local construction, steel and mining companies.

The last 30 years have seen considerable growth for Pump Supplies, with the company now operating from five UK and Irish locations.

58. Capestone Organic Poultry • £14.5m • Poultry farm

62. Main Port Engineering 1990 • £13.2m • Engineering

Capestone Organic Poultry is a family-run business in the heart of Pembrokeshire.

The Scale family have farmed the land at Capestone Farm since 1826, while poultry production began in 1920. The philosophy of the company is to grow the business in line with its strict high quality and welfare standards, inspire young people and improve the local environment within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Main Port Engineering was established in November 1990 by managing director, David Harris, to provide a complete engineering service to the petro chemical, food process, water treatment, manufacturing and power generation industries.

59. Fairwood Holdings • £14.4m Steel fabrications

Montagne Jeunesse International produces environmentally considerate beauty and skin care products. Founded in 1989, environmental awareness and eco credentials form a large part of the company’s ethos. As well as being ISO 4001 and 18001 accredited the company has also run environmental campaigns such as the 1989 “save the seal” campaign.

Established in 1979, with a proud history of serving the steel industry in South Wales, the Fairwood Group has developed into a quality provider of fabrication engineering and pipework services. With a dedicated and experienced management team supported by a highly skilled workforce, the group prides itself on an emergency call-out service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing round-the-clock response and support for customers.

60. CWM Environmental • £14.1m Green waste management CWM Environmental aims to boost the amount of waste material being reused, recycled, and recovered. The Carmarthenshire-based company manages unwanted materials in an effective and environmentally friendly manner helping to slash the amount that goes computer and video game stock at competitive prices.

61. GenQuip • £13.3m Mobile welfare units 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.

63. Montagne Jeunesse International • £13m Beauty and skin care manufacturer

64. WAA (Holdings) • £13m Agricultural and industrial building manufacturer WAA Holdings is a parent company with two subsidiaries – Celtic Cladding Services and Shufflebottom. It employs around 70 people.

Shufflebottom is a Carmarthenshire-based company that specialises in the manufacture of steel framed buildings for industrial and agricultural uses such as barns and stables.

65. The Premier Group (CNC Supplies) • £13m Liquid fuel storage provider With over 60 years’ experience, The Premier Group has become a respected provider of liquid fuel storage, measurement and dispensing systems in the UK. It operates as three main divisions: construction, installation and servicing and employs around 75 staff.

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66. Rhyal Engineering • £12.9m Storage tank and vessel contractors Rhyal Engineering has built up a reputation as one of the best site-built storage tank and vessel contractors in the UK. The Pembrokeshire-based business specialises in the design and build of new tanks and refurbishment of existing models. Its experienced

67. Cowindale Feeds • £12.2m Animal food manufacturer Established in 1997, Cowindale is a familyrun business specializing in manufacturing prepared farm animal feeds. From its base in Carmarthen, it sells direct to farmers and wholesale merchants across Pembroke, Cardigan, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

68. John Weaver (Contractors) • £12.1m • Construction John Weaver is an established family firm with over 100 years of construction expertise, combining the strong traditional values of skilled craftsmanship with modern materials, building techniques, and sound business management. New build, refurbishment and conservation work, in addition to specialist joinery and a small works department now collectively form the main thrust of their expanding portfolio.

and construction firm working across wide range of sectors – including full scale demolition, remediation/reclamation, motorway construction and commercial developments. Its company base is in Cross Hands.

71. MCBH • £11.9m Motorcycles MCBH Limited is the parent company of M&P Direct, a supplier of motorcycle spares and accessories with 35 years of mail order experience in the motorcycle industry. The distribution warehouse and showrooms are located in Gorseinon. It is also the South Wales dealer for Kawasaki road and off road models.

72. Cornelius Holdings • £11.7m Electronics Based in Port Talbot, Cornelius Holdings is the parent company of Cornelius Electronics. 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 not only serves the UK market but also other areas of Europe as well as North America.

73. Comcen Technology • £11.1m Computer products supplier Comcen Technology was established in 1982. It is a supplier of computer hardware and software equipment as well as providing consultancy services. It has operations in Leeds as well as Swansea and currently employs around 65 people.

74. Lyte Industries • £11m Ladder manufacturer Established in 1947, Baglan-based Lyte Industries specialises in the manufacture of aluminium and glass fibre ladders and towers.

John Greene, managing director at Lyte Ladders

69. MMR Holdings • £12.1m Holding and investment company MMR Holdings is a holding and investment company whose subsidiaries offer security services and services to construction and civil engineering projects. The company also offers management services and employs around 500 people.

70. Jones Brothers (Henllan) • £12.1m • Civil engineering and construction company Established in 1971, Jones Brothers has grown to become a full service engineering

77. Trojan Electronics • £10.7m Multi-channel ecommerce solutions and product refurbishment Established in 2002, Trojan has three divisions. Its refurbishment unit works with many of the biggest retailers in the UK to handle all manner of consumer goods, including electronics. It also runs a multichannel ecommerce solutions unit that resells many of these goods on behalf of its customers. Finally, a contract electronic manufacturing unit works with a wide range of companies needing to sub-contract their manufacturing process, especially high complexity, bespoke work.

78. Unit Engineers & Constructors • £10.7m • Engineering contractor Unit Engineers and Constructors is a worldwide engineering contractor serving mainly the chemical, oil and gas sectors.

The company acquired Unit Super Heaters in 2004 and Birwelco, a Birmingham Engineering company, in 2010 to form Unit Birwelco. Birwelco operations remain at its Birmingham base.

79. Princes Gate Water • £10.6m Bottled water producer Based in Pembrokeshire, bottled spring water business Princes Gate Water was founded by two brothers. It employs over 50 people local to the Pembrokeshire region and is the official Welsh Water Sponsor of WRU. The company was incorporated in 2001.

80. GLT Exports • £10.6m Fire alarm manufacturer GLT Exports was founded in 1985 and is a privately owned manufacturer of fire alarms, emergency systems and gas detection systems. The company sells products in over 40 countries worldwide and employs around 45 people.

A Lyte ladder was famously used by Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay in their ascent of Mount Everest in May 1953. It is believed that the ladder was used to negotiate a crevasse they encountered along the way. Lyte Products have also been used in several popular TV DIY programs.

81. Monolithic Refractories • £10.4m • Specialist removals

75. Bakerfield (Wales) • £10.9m Franchise of international fast food chain

82. Victorian House (Sales) • £10.1m • Sliding sash window manufacturer

Burger King, Bakerfield is headed up by entrepreneur Chris Baker and incorporates nine outlets across South Wales and West, and may look to grow its network.

Brain child of founder and chairman Scot Starkey, Victorian house is Europe’s largest vertical sliding sash window manufacturer. It recently jumped up the Top 100 league table following a major expansion in 2014.

76. Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) • £10.9m • Rugby club Incorporated in 2006, Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) is the holding company of professional Welsh rugby team the Ospreys.

The team currently shares the Liberty Stadium with Swansea City FC.

Established in July 2004, Monolithic specialises in the safe removal of refractory ceramic fibre. It has Asbestos Removal Licence and in addition would be able to provide an asbestos service to our clients.

It originally operated from three sites in Hendy, but is now based within a 12-acre site and has a 100,000 sq foot premises at Capel Hendre. A £1.15m loan from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking facilitated the expansion.

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

87. Rylo (Fieldbay) • £8.9m Holding company Rylo Limited is the holding company of Fieldbay, a group that operates a number of care homes across South Wales.

Established in 2004, the aim of the company is to provide people who have a primary diagnosis of acquired brain injury and/or dementia/mental infirmity, learning disability and functional mental illness, with a secure, relaxed and homely environment in which their care, well-being and comfort is of primary importance.

88. David Jenkins (Jenkins Bakeries) • £8.8m Bakeries Lewis Pies

83. E G Lewis Holdings • £9.6m Engineering & property development The E G Lewis Holdings group encompasses several companies operating in various areas such as blast coating, property development and engineering. One of the companies, E G Lewis & Company, specialises in industrial painting and decorating and was founded by Edward Lewis in 1974. Another company, E G Lewis Developments, was founded in 2004 to buy and develop land in South Wales and South West England.

84. The Magstim Company• £9.2m Neurostimulation products supplier Based in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, The Magstim Company is a business specialising in advanced neurostimulation products. The products are used in applications such as the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. The Magstim Company currently employs nearly 100 people.

85. Low Cost Vans (Crownhawk Properties) • £9m Commercial and private vehicle broker Low Cost Vans, the trading name of Crown Hawk Properties, was established in 1997 and is a leading independent light commercial dealer supplying new and used vans to businesses and private individuals.

86. Scarlets Regional • £9m Rugby club Incorporated in 1997, Scarlets Regional Limited is the holding company of the Scarlets rugby team, one of four professional Welsh rugby union teams.

The club is based in the Parc y Scarlets stadium, Llanelli.

With 94 years of experience, Jenkins Bakeries currently employs 200 staff across 29 locations from Carmarthen to Bridgend.

The company has obtained the Gold Standard Welsh Food Hygiene Award and the Investors in People award.

89. Runtech • £8.7m Transport Established in 1988, Runtech specialises in vehicle support to the industry across Wales. It offers a comprehensive range of services from daily rental to contract hire, combined with new and used vehicle sales.

Based in Port Talbot, Runtech currently employs around 70 staff.

90. Viscose Holdings • £8.4m Product supply and design Innovators in caps, closures, shrink sleeves and celons, Viscose Holdings has over 100 years of credentials in the industry and experience of UK and worldwide customers.

It offers bespoke solutions with short lead times and a quick turnaround.

91. Altarvest • £7.8m Investment holding company Altarvest is a privately owned investment holding company based in Swansea. Its investments and interests are within both trading and non-trading assets across a diverse range of activities and business sectors.

92. StyleGrange • £7.4m Fuel supplier Formed in 2002, Style Grange sells automotive fuel in specialised stores. It currently employs 20 people in the Swansea area.

93. Cronfa Cyf (Quinshield) • £7.4m • Manufacturer Cronfa Cyf designs and manufactures bespoke glass reinforced plastic (GRP) products, specialising in kiosks, enclosures, cabinets, shelters and industrial structures.

The company is based in a 55,000 sq ft manufacturing complex in Capel Hendre, Ammanford, and has a further 135,000 sq ft of product development and storage space.

94. Altron Manufacturing and Engineering • £7.3m CCTV equipment supplier Based in Ammanford, Altron has over 30 years experience in manufacturing and supplying CCTV mounting equipment. There are over 600 town and city centres using Altron CCTV throughout the UK, from John O’Groats to Lands’ End.

95. John Collins & Partners LLP • £7.2m • Law firm With 25 years’ experience, JCP Solicitors provides legal services across South and West Wales. Headquartered in Swansea, the law firm currently employs over 100 staff members. Since 2011, JCP Solicitors has completed a series of mergers and acquisitions and expanded into additional offices across Wales.

96. Vincent Davies & Son • £6.5m Home & Garden Based in Haverfordwest, Vincent Davies offers a wide choice of goods for the home and garden. The family business, founded in 1906, currently employs over 100 staff.

97. Lewis Pies • £6.4m Manufacturing company Established in 1936, family-run business Lewis Pies is a well-known for its quality ingredients across Wales. In 2009, it completed a £2 million expansion increasing its production space and currently employs around 125 staff. It has recently ventured into the Halal market.

98. Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) • £6.1m • Chemists A successful chain of chemists concentrated on the east side of Swansea.

99. Hayloft Holdings (Wales) • £6.1m • Holding company Hayloft Holdings is the holding company of Folly Farm, a Pembrokeshire tourist attraction which opened in 1988. The farm celebrated its 25th birthday in 2013 with a major extension to the Jolly Barn attraction.

It currently has over 50 different species, amounting to more than 250 animals.

100. Afan Landscapes • £6m Landscapers Based in Port Talbot, Afan Landscapes was incorporated in 1979. The landscape contractor currently employs 67 members of staff.

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9/9/2016 10:36:38 AM

COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 THE MOST PROFITABLE COMPANIES...

Rank Company Name

Pre-Tax Profit (£000's)

1......... Admiral Group PLC ............................. 368,700 2......... Protherics UK ........................................ 13,460 3......... C.E.M Day Limited ............................... 10,050 4......... MTR Bailey Trading ............................... 5,439 5......... Dr Organic Ltd ....................................... 5,281 6......... MC327 Limited ...................................... 3,732 7......... First Cymru Buses Limited..................... 3,434 8......... Pontrilas Group ...................................... 3,363 9......... Milford Port Authority ............................ 3,198 10 ....... Morgan GRP (Morgan Marine) ........... (2015 Report) ......................................... 3,196 11 ....... Castell Howell Foods Limited................ 3,173 12 ....... Sinclair Motor Holdings ......................... 3,081 13 ....... LBS Holdings (UK) Ltd ............................ 2,911 14 ....... Burns Pet Nutrition................................. 2,691 15 ....... Edwards Coaches ................................. 2,604 16 ....... N R Evans (Holdings) Limited ............... 2,402 17 ....... Rylo Limited (Fieldbay) ......................... 2,362 18 ....... FRF South Wales Holding Ltd ............... 2,296 19 ....... CK's Supermarket Limited .................... 1,987 20 ....... Owens Road Services ............................ 1,835 21 ....... John Collins & Partners LLP .................. 1,801 22 ....... Cambrian Pet Foods .............................. 1,750 23 ....... Swansea City Football 2002 Limited .... 1,676 24 ....... Dawnus Group Ltd ............................... 1,461 25 ....... GenQuip Limited ................................... 1,421 26 ....... Ledwood Holdings ................................. 1,363 27 ....... Montagne Jeunesse International ........... Limited ................................................... 1,310 28 ....... Puffin Investments ................................. 1,308 29 ....... Hayloft Holdings (Wales) Limited ......... 1,291 30 ....... JTG Holdings ......................................... 1,273 31 ....... Solo Service Group................................. 1,270 32 ....... Cronfa Cyf (Quinshield) ........................ 1,265 33 ....... Celtic Engineering Holdings ................. 1,258 34 ....... GDH Holdings ........................................ 1,121 35 ....... Pump Supplies ....................................... 1,106 36 ....... Course Hill Fuel Depot Limited ............. 1,097 37 ....... Altarvest ................................................ 1,054 38 ....... Vincent Davies & Son ............................ 1,045 39 ....... Victorian House (Sales) Ltd ................... 1,005 40 ....... GLT Exports ..............................................937 41 ....... John Thomas & Son (Aberaeron) ............912 42 ....... David Jenkins Ltd (Jenkins Bakeries) .....906 43 ....... J&J Motors Limited ..................................854 44 ....... Low Cost Vans ........... (Crownhawk Properties Ltd) ...................822 45 ....... Lonetree Ltd .............................................821 46 ....... MMR Holdings .........................................795 47 ....... Wheelies Direct........................................714 48 ....... Mansel Davies & Son Group Ltd .............712 49 ....... Nantcwmrhys ..........................................699 =50 .... Cawdor Cars (Newcastle Emlyn) ........... Limited .....................................................681 =50 .... Princes Gate Water ..................................681

THE BIGGEST EMPlOYERS...

Rank

Company Name

No. Emp

1.......... Admiral Group PLC....................................7,857 2.......... Solo Service Group .....................................3,041 3.......... Dawnus Group Ltd ....................................2,328 4.......... Lonetree Ltd ...............................................1,112 5.......... First Cymru Buses Limited .......................... 811 6.......... DMWSL 660 Limited .................................... 640 7.......... MMR Holdings............................................. 616 8.......... Sinclair Motor Holdings .............................. 587 9.......... Owens Road Services .................................. 579 10 ........ C.E.M Day Limited ...................................... 567 11 ........ Bluestone Resorts Holdings ......................... 546 12 ........ Castell Howell Foods Limited ..................... 447 13 ........ Edwards Coaches ...................................... 445 14 ........ CK's Supermarket Limited .......................... 442 15 ........ Cuddy Group Ltd ........................................ 417 16 ........ MC327 Limited ............................................ 389 17 ........ N R Evans (Holdings) Limited ..................... 374 18 ........ Pontrilas Group ........................................... 356 19 ........ David Jenkins Ltd (Jenkins Bakeries) ........ 314 20 ........ Swansea City Football 2002 Limited .......... 307 21 ........ Mansel Davies & Son Group Ltd ................. 284 22 ........ Dyfed Steels ................................................. 277 23 ........ Rylo Limited (Fieldbay) .............................. 261 24 ........ Ledwood Holdings ...................................... 255 25 ........ LBS Holdings (UK) Ltd ................................. 248 26 ........ Mainport Engineering 1990 Limited........... 247 =27 ..... Morgan GRP (Morgan Marine) ............ (2015 Report) ............................................... 243 =27 ..... Fairwood Holdings ...................................... 243 29 ........ Scarlets Regional Limited ........................... 237 30 ........ Bakerfield (Wales) Limited.......................... 213 31 ........ Cornelius Holdings...................................... 212 32 ........ Milford Port Authority ................................. 189 33 ........ GDH Holdings.............................................. 182 34 ........ NSJL Ltd ..................................................... 177 35 ........ TRJ Holdings ............................................... 175 36 ........ Andrew Scott............................................... 168 37 ........ Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) Ltd..................... 157 =38 ..... Bassett Property Holdings Ltd ..................... 154 =38 ..... Celtic Engineering Holdings ....................... 154 =40 ..... FRF South Wales Holding Ltd ..................... 151 =40 ..... Wheelies Direct ........................................... 151 42 ........ Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd .................. 146 43 ........ Altarvest ...................................................... 141 44 ........ Lyte Industries ............................................. 139 45 ........ Hayloft Holdings (Wales) Limited ............... 135 46 ........ Rhyal Engineering ...................................... 134 47 ........ John Collins & Partners LLP ........................ 133 48 ........ Monolithic Refractories Ltd ......................... 131 49 ........ Lewis Pies .................................................... 119 50 ........ Protherics UK ............................................... 113

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FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES BY TURNOVER...

Rank

Company Name

% Difference Turnover

1 ......Bluestone Resorts Holdings ..................... 107.03% 2 ......Protherics UK........................................... 64.95% 3 ......Celtic Engineering Holdings ................... 64.58% 4 ......Wheelies Direct ....................................... 59.72% 5 ......TRJ Holdings ........................................... 59.68% 6 ......Ledwood Holdings .................................. 45.72% 7 ......Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) Ltd................. 41.14% 8 ......The Premier Group .........(CNC Supplies) ........................................ 40.56% 9 ......Dr Organic Ltd ........................................ 37.06% 10 ....Lonetree Ltd ............................................ 33.64% 11 ....E G Lewis Holdings ................................. 28.70% 12 ....Mainport Engineering .........1990 Limited ........................................... 27.64% 13 ....MC327 Limited........................................ 24.86% 14 ....N R Evans (Holdings) Limited ................. 24.28% 15 ....Lyte Industries ......................................... 22.81% 16 ....Nantcwmrhys ......................................... 21.10% 17 ....Dawnus Group Ltd ................................. 20.60% 18 ....Hayloft Holdings (Wales) Limited........... 20.32% 19 ....Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd .............. 20.06% 20 ....John Collins & Partners LLP .................... 19.67% 21 ....Cuddy Group Ltd .................................... 19.25% 22 ....Bassett Property Holdings Ltd................. 19.12% 23 ....Princes Gate Water ................................. 18.69% 24 ....JTG Holdings ........................................... 18.18% 25 ....MCBH LIMITED ....................................... 17.54% 26 ....Cornelius Holdings ................................. 15.95% 27 ....NSJL Ltd ................................................. 14.80% 28 ....Mansel Davies & Son Group Ltd ............. 14.37% 29 ....LBS Holdings (UK) Ltd ............................. 13.36% 30 ....Cambrian Pet Foods ............................... 13.00% 31 ....Scarlets Regional Limited ....................... 12.88% 32 ....Runtech limited ...................................... 11.84% 33 ....MMR Holdings......................................... 11.66% 34 ....CWM Environmental .............................. 11.25% 35 ....Vincent Davies & Son ............................. 11.11% 36 ....Curveball Leisure.................................... 10.95% 37 ....Andrew Scott........................................... 10.48% 38 ....Pontrilas Group ....................................... 9.81% 39 ....Burns Pet Nutrition .................................. 9.48% 40 ....Montagne Jeunesse .........International Limited .............................. 9.25% 41 ....Puffin Investments .................................. 8.80% 42 ....J&J Motors Limited ................................. 8.70% 43 ....Owens Road Services.............................. 8.69% 44 ....Leslie H Trainer & Son ............................. 8.19% 45 ....Altron Manufacturing .........and Engineering ..................................... 8.06% 46 ....Edwards Coaches .................................. 7.61% 47 ....Admiral Group PLC ................................ 6.78% 48 ....CK's Supermarket Limited ...................... 6.25% 49 ....Ellis Steel Holdings .................................. 6.22% 50 ....Arthur Bassett Co. ................................... 5.88%

Rank

Company Name

% Difference Turnover

51 ....Cawdor Cars .........(Newcastle Emlyn) Limited .................... 5.57% 52 ....Castell Howell Foods Limited ................. 5.56% 53 ....David Jenkins Ltd (Jenkins Bakeries) .... 5.44% 54 ....Swansea City Football 2002 Limited ...... 5.31% 55 ....J E Lawrence & Son Ltd .......................... 4.95% 56 ....Afan Landscapes .................................... 4.54% 57 ....C.E.M Day Limited .................................. 3.09% 58 ....Morgan Stone .......................................... 0.18% 59 ....Morgan GRP (Morgan Marine) .........(2015 Report) ........................................... -0.37% 60 ....Afon Tin Plate ......................................... -0.64% 61 .....Lewis Pies ................................................ -1.08% 62 ....Pump Supplies ........................................ -1.59% 63 ....John Weaver .........(Contractors) Limited .............................. -2.09% 64 ....Altarvest .................................................. -2.15% 65 ....First Cymru Buses Limited ...................... -4.71% 66 ....John Thomas & Son (Aberaeron) ........... -6.64% 67 ....Comcen Technology ............................... -7.52% 68 ....Oil 4 Wales Ltd ........................................ -8.78% 69 ....Dragon LNG ............................................ -8.92% 70 ....Riverlea Tractors ..................................... -10.30% 71 ....Dyfed Steels............................................. -12.52% 72 ....Solo Service Group .................................. -12.90% 73 ....The Magstim Company .......................... -15.79% 74 ....Low Cost Vans .........(Crownhawk Properties Ltd)................... -18.18% 75 ....Course Hill Fuel Depot Limited ............... -22.02% 76 ....Rhyal Engineering .................................. -23.56% 77 ....Viscose Holdings ..................................... -32.35% 78 ....Unit Engineers and Constructors (Unit Birwelco Group) ............................. -59.63% Sinclair Motor Holdings ......................... N/A DMWSL 660 Limited ............................... N/A MTR Bailey Trading ............................... N/A FRF South Wales Holding Ltd ................. N/A Milford Port Authority ............................ N/A Grwp WRW Cyf ...................................... N/A GDH Holdings ......................................... N/A Hale Developments Ltd .......................... N/A Fairwood Holdings ................................. N/A GenQuip Limited ................................... N/A WAA (Holdings) Limited ......................... N/A Cowindale Feeds Limited ...................... N/A Jones Brothers (Henllan) Linited ........... N/A Bakerfield (Wales) Limited .................... N/A Trojan Electronics .................................. N/A GLT Exports ............................................. N/A Monolithic Refractories Ltd .................... N/A Victorian House (Sales) Ltd ................... N/A Rylo Limited (Fieldbay) .......................... N/A StyleGrange ........................................... N/A Cronfa Cyf (Quinshield) ......................... N/A Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd ........ N/A

*N/A- Company is either new to this year's list and has no comparative information or no new accounts were available

x2 - COMBINED STATS PAGES.indd 2

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016 FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES BY STAFF...

Rank

Company Name

% Difference Employee

1.........Ledwood Holdings ............................... 62.42% 2.........David Jenkins Ltd ...........(Jenkins Bakeries) ................................ 57.00% 3.........Cuddy Group Ltd ................................. 42.81% 4.........Celtic Engineering Holdings ................ 36.28% 5.........Wheelies Direct .................................... 27.97% 6.........John Collins & Partners LLP ................. 26.67% 7.........Dawnus Group Ltd .............................. 26.52% 8.........MMR Holdings...................................... 26.23% 9.........Lonetree Ltd ......................................... 26.22% 10 .......Runtech limited ................................... 26.09% 11 .......Mansel Davies & Son Group Ltd .......... 25.66% 12 .......Swansea City Football 2002 Limited ... 24.80% 13 .......NSJL Ltd .............................................. 23.78% 14 .......The Premier Group (CNC Supplies) ..... 22.97% 15 .......Montagne Jeunesse ...........International Limited ........................... 21.95% 16 .......Dr. Organic Ltd .................................... 20.00% 17 .......MCBH LIMITED .................................... 20.00% 18 .......E G Lewis Holdings .............................. 17.11% 19 .......Lyte Industries ...................................... 16.81% 20 .......Dragon LNG ......................................... 15.66% 21 .......Pontrilas Group .................................... 14.47% 22 .......JTG Holdings ........................................ 14.29% 23 .......N R Evans (Holdings) Limited .............. 13.68% 24 .......TRJ Holdings ........................................ 13.64% 25 .......Admiral Group PLC ............................. 13.59% 26 .......Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd ........... 13.18% 27 .......Scarlets Regional Limited .................... 12.86% 28 .......J&J Motors Limited .............................. 12.50% 29 .......MC327 Limited..................................... 12.43% 30 .......Bassett Property Holdings Ltd .............. 12.41% 31 .......Nantcwmrhys ...................................... 11.54% 32 .......Edwards Coaches ............................... 10.70% 33 .......Hayloft Holdings (Wales) Limited ........ 10.66% 34 .......Course Hill Fuel Depot Limited ............ 10.53% 35 .......Mainport Engineering 1990 Limited ... 10.27% 36 .......Burns Pet Nutrition ............................... 10.23% 37 .......Puffin Investments ............................... 8.82% 38 .......Owens Road Services........................... 8.63% 39 .......CK’s Supermarket Limited ................... 8.60% 40 .......Afon Tin Plate ...................................... 8.33% 41 .......Altron Manufacturing ...........and Engineering .................................. 8.25% 42 .......Llandarcy Park (Ospreys) Ltd.............. 6.80% 43 .......C.E.M Day Limited ............................... 6.78% 44 .......CWM Environmental ........................... 6.56% 45 .......Pump Supplies ..................................... 6.45% 46 .......LBS Holdings (UK) Ltd .......................... 5.98% 47 .......Ellis Steel Holdings ............................... 5.26% 48 .......Andrew Scott........................................ 5.00% 49 .......Oil 4 Wales Ltd ..................................... 4.76% 50 .......Castell Howell Foods Limited .............. 4.20% 51 .......Vincent Davies & Son .......................... 3.92% 52 .......Dyfed Steels.......................................... 2.97%

Rank

Company Name

% Difference Employee

53 .......Bluestone Resorts Holdings .................. 2.82% 54 .......Leslie H Trainer & Son .......................... 2.47% 55 .......The Magstim Company ....................... 2.15% 56 .......First Cymru Buses Limited ................... 2.01% 57 .......Cornelius Holdings .............................. 1.92% 58 .......Protherics UK ........................................ 0.89% 59 .......Altarvest ............................................... -0.70% 60 .......Riverlea Tractors .................................. -1.41% 61 .......Viscose Holdings .................................. -1.92% 62 .......Morgan GRP (Morgan Marine) ...........(2015 Report) ........................................ -2.02% 63 .......J E Lawrence & Son Ltd ....................... -2.44% 64 .......Low Cost Vans ...........(Crownhawk Properties Ltd) ................ -4.76% 65 .......Lewis Pies ............................................. -5.56% 66 .......Cambrian Pet Foods ............................ -6.19% 67 .......Comcen Technology ............................ -10.61% 68 .......Rhyal Engineering ............................... -11.84% 69 .......Morgan Stone ....................................... -21.00% 70 .......Solo Service Group ............................... -27.44% 71 .......Unit Engineers and Constructors ...........(Unit Birwelco Group) .......................... -49.75% ......................................................................... ...........Sinclair Motor Holdings ....................... N/A ...........DMWSL 660 Limited ............................. N/A ...........MTR Bailey Trading ............................. N/A ...........FRF South Wales Holding Ltd .............. N/A ...........Cawdor Cars ...........(Newcastle Emlyn) Limited ................. N/A ...........Arthur Bassett Co. ................................ N/A ...........Milford Port Authority .......................... N/A ...........Grwp WRW Cyf .................................... N/A ...........GDH Holdings....................................... N/A ...........Hale Developments Ltd ....................... N/A ...........Curveball Leisure................................. N/A ...........John Thomas & Son (Aberaeron) ........ N/A ...........Fairwood Holdings ............................... N/A ...........GenQuip Limited ................................. N/A ...........Cowindale Feeds Limited .................... N/A ...........John Weaver (Contractors) Limited .... N/A ...........Jones Brothers (Henllan) Linited ......... N/A ...........Bakerfield (Wales) Limited................... N/A ...........Trojan Electronics ................................ N/A ...........Princes Gate Water .............................. N/A ...........GLT Exports .......................................... N/A ...........Monolithic Refractories Ltd.................. N/A ...........Victorian House (Sales) Ltd ................. N/A ...........Rylo Limited (Fieldbay) ....................... N/A ...........StyleGrange ......................................... N/A ...........Cronfa Cyf (Quinshield) ...................... N/A ...........Davies Chemists (Briton Ferry) Ltd ...... N/A ...........Afan Landscapes ................................. N/A ...........WAA (Holdings) Limited ...................... N/A

*N/A- Company is either new to this year’s list and has no comparative information or no new accounts were available.

46 swanseabaybusiness.com

x1 - Fastest growing by STAFF NUMBERS.indd 1

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the new look for RWE Innogy UK Ltd. Proud to be working in Swansea to build Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm. www.innogy.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL TOP 100 COMPANIES

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.

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law@jcpsolicitors.co.uk www.jcpsolicitors.co.uk

Swansea Cardiff Carmarthen Fishguard Haverfordwest

01792 773 773 03333 209 242 01267 234 022 01348 873 671 01437 764 723

9/9/2016 3:58:39 PM

COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

COMPANY PROFILE Milford Haven Port Authority

Port Ahoy! Putting Milford Haven on the map One small West Wales coastal town has big plans for its multi-million pound waterfront...

Milford Haven, perched on the western coast of Wales, has the third largest port in the UK and it’s also Wales’ largest commercial fishing port.

Its growth was generated by its importance for the oil and gas industry – an estimated 30 per cent of the UK’s gas and 20 per cent of its oil enter via the port.

Last year, the Port of Milford Haven was Top 100 overall winner for contribution to the local economy.

As a Trust Port, the port has no shareholders and all profits are re-invested back into the port – with knock-on benefits for the local economy. (As well as its marine function, it has commercial operations at Milford Marina, Milford Fish Docks and Pembroke Port).

This year it retains a strong place in the Top 100 companies list, and is on track to enter a new era as the hub of the marine renewables industry.

Even before the swell of interest from hi-tech marine renewable firms, Pembrokeshire had a strong engineering base – in fact, that was part of its attraction.

“Pembroke Port is essentially a facility for these new industries – companies like Marine Power Systems, Tidal Energy and Wavetricity,” said Andy Jones, deputy chief executive of the Port of Milford Haven.

He stressed that this was an important reason why the strong cluster of high-spec engineering skills in the area should remain in Pembrokeshire, and not be diluted in any way.

“Valero accounts for around 25 per cent of Welsh exports – it’s a very significant organisation in terms of Wales and yet many people don’t know enough about them. If that refinery closed it would impact 3-4000 jobs around the waterway,” he added.

Meanwhile the Port is also tapping into another industry. The forward-thinking organisation is already part-way through a transition process that will see its already popular site at Milford Marina

reincarnated as a thriving tourist hub. At the cornerstone of this is its new identity as Milford Waterfront – a multi-million pound regeneration project.

Currently the marina has a very broad use, but the project aims to revitalise the marina and docks into a vibrant tourist destination, extending the existing mix of leisure, retail and dining businesses and boosting the economy by providing long term, sustainable jobs.

“We gained a resolution to grant consent from Pembrokeshire County Council in February 2015,” Jones said.

So far, a number of flagship projects have been completed, including the installation of new lock gates that have speeded up locking times and the construction of new fishing buildings for the industry.

In terms of what Milford Waterfront will offer tourists, the new development will celebrate the arts, culture and heritage of the area, working in partnership with key stakeholders.

“We’re in the process of engaging commercial operators for a range of indoor activities that will extend Pembrokeshire’s offer,” Jones added.

The Port already hosts a busy calendar of events at the marina, including Milford Fish Festival, Torch Theatre Sunset Cinema screenings and awards ceremonies, and there are plans to extend its programme.

“Winning last year’s Top 100 showed that we are doing the right things and moving in the right direction,” Jones said.

He points out that the work they do at the Port supports a huge swathe of jobs in Wales.

“We did a study a few years ago with Cardiff University – and it demonstrated that the Port directly or indirectly supports around 4000 jobs around the waterway and around 5000 jobs in Wales,” he said.

“The decisions we take as an enabler of that level of economic activity are crucial, and we want to ensure further economic

Andy Jones, deputy chief executive of the Port of Milford Haven

THE PORT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORTS AROUND 4000 JOBS AROUND THE WATERWAY AND AROUND 5000 JOBS IN WALES. activity so that there are more local jobs available.”

Now, the Port is looking for further investment and development to ensure the success of the project.

So far, the Port has made a significant investment in the Milford Waterfront project by working with architects and developers to get it to a stage where it can be taken to the market but funding will be sought for other aspects of the development.

“It’s too early in the process to say where all funding will come from,” said Jones, although he does point out that

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the Port has been successful in the recent past in securing funding from the Welsh Government through various European Funding schemes.

“We’re currently engaging commercial operators to gauge the extent of the interest.”

In terms of a timeline, the Port is working on a five year plan for the Milford Waterfront project.

He said: “We’ll be able to go as quickly as the commercial proposals come forward – if they all came forward tomorrow we would be off and building tomorrow.”

And it’s not just a We Build It, People Will Come philosophy – Jones points out that the Port’s well-established events itinerary has already raised its profile.

“The quality of existing businesses has increased footfall too but clearly there is a lot more to be done on marketing the area, and we will also be focussing our efforts on a strong digital marketing strategy to attract people,” he said.

“We recently launched the brand ‘Milford Waterfront’ following some extensive market testing, and we intend to start using it in a meaningful way very shortly.”

“Milford is still a working commercial fishing port and we don’t want to lose that, so that authenticity has to come through,”he

said, pointing out that during the planning stages of the new waterfront there has been a great effort to keep a strong and tangible connection between Milford’s traditional town centre and the marina area.

“We’ve also drawn on the reputation that people in the area have for being friendly and approachable.”

Historically, Milford hasn’t been a tourist hotspot but with several up-market eateries and watering holes already dotted along the waterfront area and in the town, and plenty more attractions to come within the planned waterfront development, the town is expected to be firmly on the tourist radar very shortly. swanseabaybusiness.com 49

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COMPANIES IN SOUTH WEST WALES 2016

COMPANY PROFILE TROJAN ELECTRONICS

Making a positive future Contract manufacturer Trojan Electronics welcomes business home...

At number 77 in the Top 100 companies in South West Wales with a turnover of just over £10 million, Trojan, based off Fabian Way, Swansea, provides multichannel retail sales and fulfilment, electronic manufacturing and asset recovery through refurbishment and recoup business.

The company has enjoyed solid growth in recent years which culminated in it moving to new, vastly expanded premises at its existing site. Part of this growth has been on the back of a significant amount of contract electronic manufacturing (CEM) business coming back to the UK, which for many years has been placed with companies overseas.

Established nearly 15 years ago, Trojan’s three specialist divisions make it a leading electronics services company in the UK. Its refurbishment unit works with

Clive Murphy, managing director of Trojan

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many of the biggest retailers in the UK to handle all manner of consumer goods, including electronics. Allied to this activity, Trojan runs a multichannel ecommerce solutions unit that resells many of these goods on behalf of its customers. Finally, a CEM unit works with a wide range of companies needing to sub-contract their manufacturing process, especially high complexity, bespoke work.

There was once a time when the design and manufacturing of electronic goods would all happen under one roof. The search for great efficiency and lower costs gradually changed this and the majority of electronics companies then outsourced the manufacturing of their products to specialist factories with the capacity and workforce to make the process cost efficient. The destinations of choice have been the Far East for consumer products and Eastern Europe for industrial products.

Yet this trend has started to reverse in recent years. Concerns about the cost of offshore production, a desire for better quality, shorter lead times and more flexibility are just some of the principal motives that have prompted many companies to move manufacturing back to the UK. The UK has never completely lost the ability to make these products. It has preserved a solid, core, contract manufacturing sector, which has now started growing again as more companies reshore their manufacturing needs.

Trojan is a beneficiary of this trend. The company’s comprehensive CEM service performs a wide range of services from PCB (printed circuit boards) assembly (both through hole and surface mount), cable assemblies and electro-mechanical assemblies, through to complete product build. Through offering a complete procurement service, Trojan is able to source all elements required for a complete build.

TROJAN’S APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE CLIENT’S REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE, FIRST TIME, EVERY TIME. Since its inception, Trojan has grown steadily but has specifically seen demand for its services rise in recent years as companies seek a reliable manufacturing partner close to home.

David O’Keeffe, operation director of Trojan, suggests there are numerous opportunities for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring manufacturing back to the UK to companies like Trojan.

“OEMs should focus on assessing the costs of off-shoring manufacturing against the flexibility of local production and really look at the benefits that exist for using manufacturing services in the UK rather than outsourcing overseas to former production giants like China,” he said.

The model provides significant benefits to Trojan’s customers, which, O’Keeffe says, can schedule their production requirement, agree phased deliveries and leverage its scale to ensure working capital requirements are optimised.

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David O’Keeffe, operations director at Trojan Electronics, Garngoch

With the production and quality taken care of, customers know they are procuring assemblies finished to the level they require, at an agreed price, to the lead-times they need, he said.

“This way, customers don’t have to source what can sometimes be hundreds of components from a multitude of suppliers.

This benefits our customers with the freeing of more time and resources to concentrate on R&D and sales.

“Trojan’s approach has always been to truly understand the client’s requirements, and then to provide for those, first time, every time. We continually invest to ensure our equipment is the best of breed and we deploy a skilled and dedicated workforce that’s motivated to produce the quality our customers deserve.”

According to O’Keeffe, Trojan always looks to understand each customer’s unique needs, understanding that requirements can change. “There’s a wealth of experience in all aspects of Trojan, with the company respecting the trust its customers place in us to produce for them. We take an approach where we continually review all aspects of our activities to ensure they are

as correct and refined as possible,” he said.

There remain challenges faced by the CEM sector. O’Keeffe claims the UK’s vote to leave the European Union in June will provide both opportunities and challenges to all industry sectors, including CEM. In the immediate wake of the vote, Sterling has come under pressure from the other major traded currencies, falling in value against both the Euro and US Dollar. The devaluation has meant an increase in the imported price of some components and assemblies, but on the flip side, it has made UK goods significantly cheaper to export.

“This nets to a competitive advantage for UK-based production and has already led to an increase in activity for Trojan from Europe and beyond,” O’Keeffe said. “It’s too early to yet know exactly what shape the UK’s exit from the EU will take, but one thing that is known is great businesses producing quality always survive.

“We are making sure we minimise any adverse effects from Brexit, so then we are best placed to maximise on the opportunities that will manifest themselves over the coming months and years.”

THERE’S A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF TROJAN, WITH THE COMPANY RESPECTING THE TRUST ITS CUSTOMERS PLACE IN US TO PRODUCE FOR THEM.

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In Focus

News round-up

Debra Barber, managing director and chief operating officer of Cardiff Airport.

‘Rescue flights’ could save 800 working weeks...

The Cardiff to London City Flybe route operating while the Severn Tunnel is shut could save the Welsh economy over 800 working weeks.

With passengers landing in the heart of London just one hour after take-off from Cardiff they will save approximately two hours from their working day.

The flights between the Welsh Government-owned airport and London City Airport, started on September 12, and will continue until October 21, when the tunnel is scheduled to reopen.

Flybe is operating up to three return flights per day during the six-week closure of the Severn Tunnel.

Work is being undertaken to install a new electric conductor rail on the direct railway line between Cardiff and London.

With 78 seats on each flight operating over 35 weekdays that’s 32,760 hours saved during the six week period. For those working a typical 40-hour work week, the time saved using the new London City route could save Welsh businesses up to 800 working weeks, which is the equivalent of one person stopping work until January 2022.

The closure of the Severn Tunnel means passengers heading from South Wales to London via rail will be diverted via Gloucester or compelled to use replacement buses, adding approximately two hours to their journey time.

The flights - which have been labelled

by Flybe as “rescue flights” for the six week disruption period – are on sale from just £34.99 each way at Flybe.com, with the added feature of “fast track” at Cardiff Airport’s security search area to save even more time.

The new route is set to shake-up the way business professionals across Wales connect with London, saving both time and money, with the potential to become the business person’s default choice of transport.

Furthermore the additional service, once established, would act as an additional access route to the Welsh capital for visitors to the city.

Debra Barber, managing director of Cardiff Airport, said: “Cardiff Airport is growing from strength to strength.

Constantly striving to meet and exceed the demands of the modern day traveller.

“We fully understand that efficient connectivity to and from London is key for business professionals across Wales, and that time really does equal money.

“We welcome Flybe’s decision to operate this new route from Cardiff Airport, which is certain to minimise the disruption for people across Wales affected by the Severn Tunnel closure.

“We hope to see this new route fully embraced by our customers so that it becomes a permanent part of Flybe’s evergrowing network of routes from Cardiff in the future.”

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, director of the Institute of Directors Wales, welcomes the new London City flight route from Cardiff Airport, and thinks that this easy and accessible means of transport could change the way professionals travel to and from the Welsh capital.

“We know that time often equals money for business people so the London City flights scheduled for the six weeks closure period of the Severn Tunnel will be a great test to show business people how connecting the capitals by air can save both.”

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CARDIFF 9/8/2016 1:56:18 PM

Start Ups Covering up loose ends

One South West Wales electrician’s patented design is now a global product set to become a new industry standard for suspension wires.

Start ups is sponsored by

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Covering up loose ends One South West Wales electrician’s patented design is now a global product set to become a new industry standard for suspension wires.

BUSINESS LIFE reveals...

Blood everywhere. When electrician John Taylor gashed his arm on suspension wire while working on a suspended ceiling in 2010, it was like an instant Tarantino movie.

He was patched up at hospital but it left him wondering about the ongoing safety hazard.

“It has been a UK industry standard to leave excess metal wire to hold up suspended ceilings,” Taylor, from Llangyfelach, said.

“I’ve been an electrician since 1976 and the problem is still there. I started to wonder why there wasn’t something on the ends of these wires.”

A self-confessed life-long tinkerer/ creative, he was in a queue at a shop when some plastic children’s pens caught his eye.

“I went into my garage for several hours…I dismantled the pens, stuck them together with a bit of glue, put a wedge in, and basically came up with the design to go into the end of suspension wire,” he said.

Fast-forward a few months, and Taylor had invested £8,000 into the process.

He employed Salisbury-based Innovate Design to help him formalise the design and apply for a patent. Then came the challenge of getting the product to market.

“I was ready to approach the market but didn’t know where to go,” he said.

“After some research, I phoned Knauf and asked if I could speak to someone about a

prototype and doing a presentation.

Taylor met with Peter Simons, commercial director of Knauf UK. “Knauf are a big global company, and the biggest ceiling manufacturer of suspended ceilings in the world,” Taylor added.“He basically said that they wanted to be part of it.They were fully aware of the problem but nobody had ever addressed it. They wanted the original design to be retro-fitted so it could be put on existing ceilings.”

Several meetings later, he had a partnership with the global company, and had signed up to a 20-year agreement for the Knauf AMF safety sleeve.

“I had to set up a limited company, which I called ART Design South Wales Ltd, the initials represented my father’s name – Alan Raymond Taylor – and I was really proud to be able to do that.

“Knauf then invested the money to manufacture the tool that makes the plastic sleeve, and this was then sent to Knight Plastics in Cardiff, which is now manufacturing the sleeves.

“It was a challenge getting it to market and I realised without a big company it would never happen.”

So far, around 50,000 sleeves have been manufactured, although the plan is to scale that up to millions now that it is on the threshold of being launched throughout the UK by Knauf.

“I feel like I’ve achieved something in my life, and I’m proud of it,” he said. “To see it

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Covering up loose ends

Start Ups

I FEEL LIKE I’VE ACHIEVED SOMETHING IN MY LIFE, AND I’M PROUD OF IT.

John Taylor from Llangyfelech - inventor of the Knauf Safety Sleeve

come from two plastic pens, and become a product like this that will be available throughout Europe, and possibly Dubai, is really amazing.”

The product is currently on trial with Swansea City Council and several local construction companies, including Caswell Interiors, Crest Ceilings and Lewis Civil Engineering.

Lyndon Williams, health and safety manager at Lewis Civil Engineering, heard about the product from a colleague and describes it as a real innovation.

“It’s been especially useful for our security panels that feature wire mesh,”

he said. “Often when the links break they are very jagged, so we have been using it to secure broken ends, and it saves us having to replace the panel – which is a huge cost saving.

“It’s such a straightforward idea, you don’t think of these things until someone comes up with them.”

Another local company is also full of praise for the design of the sleeve.

Martin Caswell, contracts manager at Caswell Interiors describes it as “a simple but awesome design.”

Caswell said he wished someone had thought of the design a long time ago. “Everybody who works for us has commented on it,” he said. “We really hope it takes off for him.”

When it comes to ideas, Taylor says he has had multitudes over the years, but none have transpired to be as tangible and successful as the Knauf AMF safety sleeve.

“My advice to someone with an idea, is to get to the prototype stage and then approach a reputable company, someone like Knauf. And don’t tell anyone about the idea until you have the patent!”

Meanwhile, he says that he could get used to what he calls the ‘popstar treatment’. They fly me up from Cardiff and a big Mercedes takes me from the airport,” he said.

Taylor is busy in his garage again at the moment.

“I’m working on something else at the moment but can’t disclose exactly what,” he added mysteriously… “but it could be really big.”

Knauf safety sleeve What is it? A simple yet effective safety sleeve aimed primarily at securing loose wires in ceiling voids in order to minimise risk to electricians. The sleeve can also be used on temporary fencing and therefore prevent injuries in that market too.

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Top tips to help you become the next Welsh billionaire...

Wales might not be thought of as a traditional technological powerhouse, but as an industry Welsh tech is growing. BUSINESS LIFE speaks with young entrepreneur Adam Curtis…

What’s unique about the tech landscape here is the above average number of start-ups and small tech firms that have been driving the sector.

Adam Curtis, a young tech entrepreneur from Swansea, has founded two start-ups; software and web design agency Clockwork Bear and Hoowla, which provides online conveyancing software for solicitors.

Here, he gives his top tips for budding tech entrepreneurs.

1

Work out the most efficient way to test...

Testing an idea with your target market is vital for any start-up, but try and remember that everything doesn’t need to be ‘perfect’ before you begin.

It’s ok to have some unrefined manual processes initially. As long as testing proves to people that your final product works and is of value, you can (and should) start selling.

2

Get to know your customers’ industry...

Leverage the help that is available to you...

ICT is one of the Welsh Government’s priority sectors, and as such there is a wealth of available help and resources to assist entrepreneurial individuals with good ideas.

And it’s not just financial assistance either – organisations like Big Ideas Wales help guide young entrepreneurs (in any sector) through all the practical steps of setting up and growing their own enterprises. The help is there so use it – never look a gift horse in the mouth!

Tech in particular has always been a sector with a vibrant and influential start-up scene. Everyone tends to know everyone, and there’s always a lot of buzz around exciting start-ups.

Ultimately though, the success of your business isn’t judged by how close your network is, or your number of Twitter followers – selling to customers will always be priority number one.

You don’t need to start up in a tech hub...

Before I launched Clockwork Bear in 2009, I’d spent several years earning good money as a software developer in Bristol. Leaving that thriving tech scene to establish a start-up in my native Swansea on a shoestring budget may have seemed crazy at the time, but it turned out to be completely the right decision for many reasons, one being that in a lessdeveloped market, you’re more likely to stand out from the crowd.

To those young people in parts of Wales without an established digital base, I’d encourage you to be the change you want to see in your local area.

Adam Curtis

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Become the next Welsh billionaire

Welsh Office Minister Alun Cairns (right) is pictured meeting TechHub director Adam Curtis during his visit to the Swansea company.

5

Start Ups

TESTING AN IDEA WITH YOUR TARGET MARKET IS VITAL FOR ANY START-UP, BUT TRY AND REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING DOESN’T NEED TO BE ‘PERFECT’ BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

Get on the road

Speaking of which, don’t limit yourself geographically. In tech, as in most sectors nowadays, selling online is very important, but if you are selling business to business, nothing beats a face to face meeting.

There’s real talent within Wales...

When it comes to staff (should your start-up take off!) there is a huge pool of talent in Wales to draw in. Across Welsh universities there are over 1,400 graduates a year in computer-related studies, with a further 2,500 a year in IT-related disciplines.

Just do it...

As I alluded to earlier, don’t wait until you have the perfect product. It doesn’t exist. It’s easy to get caught up worrying about whether everything is just right and identifying the optimum launch date. Trying to pre-plan and strategise everything perfectly may mean you miss a big opportunity.

Curtis also acts as a role model for Big Ideas Wales. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the programme forms part of the Welsh Government’s Business Wales service and encourages young people across the country to develop their entrepreneurial skills and consider entrepreneurship as a future career.

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Jam gives new flavour to the Welsh design scene In a remarkable two-year whirlwind, one West Wales furniture firm has made its mark on the UK market. BUSINESS LIFE catches up with the designer behind it...

When 38-year-old Ben Cramp came back to Cardigan from Australia two years ago, he used the move as an opportunity to make his dream of working for himself a reality.

The last two years have been something of a whirlwind, says the designer, who has already scooped several awards, including the 2016 regional (Wales) award in the annual Etsy Awards.

“It’s all been quite quick really,” said Cramp, whose striking reclaimed oak and powdered metal items have been turning heads, especially in the London market.

The designer-maker has been busy setting up his workshop, sourcing materials, building relationships and getting his range onto some of the top niche selling platforms – as well as Etsy, his range is showcased on Not On The High Street, and via his own website.

A professional designer who honed his skills in some of the UK’s top design powerhouses, Cramp had wanted to move away from a desk-based role and become a more active part of the design process.

“The reason I got into design in the first place was because I had a real passion for

actually making things,” he said. “I wanted to get back into that more tactile side of things, where I actually use my hands.

“For a number of years I had been making pieces for my own home and I had started to develop my own design ‘language’. It was largely based around reclaimed timbers and presenting them in a contemporary way.

“We really wanted to move back to west Wales, which is where I’m originally from, but I realised I couldn’t practice industrial design there so I needed something where I was going to be self-sufficient, and ideally where I was making products and selling them all over the world.

Although the Jam furniture workshop is in Cardigan, the products sell all over the world, with around 90 per cent of sales going to south east London.

“I do a lot of travelling up and down the M4 delivering,” Cramp added.

“I started off with some of the smaller products in the range – in the first year we did a fit-out for Borough Market in London, six tables and bespoke shelving on walls and all the lighting. It was our first big commercial job.”

Roll on a year and a half, and Cramp has just landed his largest contract yet – a big commercial fit-out for a company in London.

He said: “I was looking at the time hop on my phone, and only two years ago I was setting up the workshop space, and there’s a picture of it all empty. I always look at it and am blown away by how much has happened.”

There are ebbs and flows, says Cramp, times where there are very few projects on.

“I’ve been quite fortunate, living and working in West Wales, you can have particularly low overheads, and that’s a big advantage for me and allows me to weather those ebbs and flows,” he said. “The great thing about online sales platforms is that you can be based anywhere and sell your product all over the world.”

Jam Furniture was chosen to represent Wales at Etsy’s stand at London Design Fair last year.

Working with a range of selling platforms has been hugely helpful, says Cramp.

“Esty is a really wonderful organisation,

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Award-winning furniture

Start Ups

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY BRAND AWARE, AND HAVING BEEN FULLY IMMERSED IN THE DESIGN WORLD, I ALWAYS WANTED SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE AND VERY PUNCHY. Ben Cramp at his Cardigan workshop

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Start Ups Award-winning furniture

really supportive and proactive with its marketing and media, and it has been a wonderful platform to boost my business.”

Underpinning the success of Jam is Cramp’s deep understanding of design and brand.

“I’ve always been very brand aware, and having been fully immersed in the design world, I always wanted something very simple and very punchy,” he said.

“I made a conscious decision not to make the brand about reclaimed timber, and I didn’t want my name in it; I wanted it to be more than just the individual a bit broader and punchier – something clean and simple to go with the aesthetic of the product.

“One of my main inspirations was TED – the TED talk has always really appealed to me, the simplicity of that logo and brand.”

In terms of inspiration, Cramp lists Tom Dixon as an influencer. “I really like everything that he is doing, bringing in a lot of classic metal and a lot of brass – it’s a particular passion of mine because my father is a brass engineer,” he said.“He has a business in West Wales, making brass desk accessories, paperweights clocks.

“I’ve definitely taken a lot of inspiration from them.”

The hardest part of the design and manufacture process of Jam bespoke furniture is setting up a good supply of materials.

“With the reclaimed French Oak, what I really loved was the story behind the timber,” he added. “As soon as I found it I bought as much as I could – I knew it would sell well. It’s coming to an end now.

“I spent a lot of time visiting different reclamation yards and I’ve got to a point now where they know what I want – so that part of the process is getting a lot easier now.”

Plans for the future? Cramp says he is looking to expand, hiring more staff and getting better premises.

Meanwhile, he’s enjoying the beguiling beauty of West Wales. “Life runs at a different pace there,” he said. “I probably work more than I ever did but I choose when. I take the children down the beach on a Wednesday afternoon – it’s about the simple pleasures after spending so many years in busy cities.”

At a glance...

Ben Cramp Age: 38 Studied: Industrial design at the University of Hertfordshire Career route: Design consultancies in Herts, London and Australia See his work? Pendre Art gallery and cafe, and a few stockists in Cardiff. Or on www.jamfurniture. co.uk; www.etsy.com Tips for inspiration: • Tent London, London Design Festival www.londondesignfair. co.uk; • Clarkenwell Design Week www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

Jam Furniture coffee table

LIFE RUNS AT A DIFFERENT PACE HERE. I PROBABLY WORK MORE THAN I EVER DID BUT I CHOOSE WHEN. IT’S ABOUT THE SIMPLE PLEASURES AFTER SPENDING SO MANY YEARS IN BUSY CITIES.

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Expert opinion with Julie Williamson chairwoman of the FSB Swansea Bay branch

David Bellis, David Atkins, Dai Wakely and Clive Atkins toast the new million pound redevelopment in Swansea

Micro distillery and restaurant scheme to create 40 jobs...

A live micro distillery and restaurant scheme for the Swansea Bay region has been revealed in a project creating 40 new jobs.

The redevelopment of 1 York Street – formerly Colin Charvis Carpets - is on the gateway to the £500 million regeneration currently underway to link Swansea city centre to the waterfront.

Details of the new scheme have now been released.

The 1 York Street site will be split between a 90 seater restaurant and Wales’ first live micro distillery, producing gin and rum.

Upstairs, the current Fancy a Rum? bar will expand a capacity of 100 to 330 and add a gourmet kitchen and terrace.

All planning hurdles have been negotiated and everything is scheduled to be in place by next March.

The company behind the scheme is Cygnus Investments, which is made up of local businessmen David Bellis, David Wakely, Clive Atkins and David Atkins. Mr Bellis and Mr Wakely opened Fancy a Rum? and Li’l London in The Strand.

Bellis said: “I am hugely excited about it. It seems to be good timing with the night time economy, and the daytime one, on the up. I am enthused about it.

“There are a lot of nice people in Swansea and they deserve nice bars.

We have unique ideas that will bring something new to Swansea and indeed Wales, whilst being on the gateway of the huge regeneration in the area.”

He said the distillery would manufacture and retail gin and rum on site.

Bellis said: “The addition of a south facing terrace will allow the venue to open for additional hours, giving customers a place to enjoy drinks and the added provision of food via a gourmet Rum Kitchen overlooking

the National Waterfront Museum, the boulevard and creating a relaxing and welcoming space in the middle of the city centre.

“The development is expected to be completed by March 2017 and has received support from the VVP (Vibrant and Viable Places) funding scheme.

“Planning and licensing consents have been achieved and significant works will begin in the coming months.

“This will create a further 30 to 40 local jobs and bring an extra dimension to the tourism opportunities in the area with the unique micro distillery feature.”

Russell Greenslade, chief executive of Swansea Bid (Business Improvement District) said: “This further independent private sector investment by a commercial astute business operator in the city centre is obviously great news.

“We look forward to working with the team as they progress at this exciting time for the city centre in its regeneration journey.”

Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council cabinet member for enterprise, development and regeneration, said the scheme would dovetail nicely with the city centre regeneration plan.

Bellis is also chief executive of the Millennium Group, a national supplier of security solutions and car park management. Father and son Clive and David Atkins, of Atkins Accountants, have been assisting companies of all sizes for over 30 years.

The project was initially designed by Andrew Shipley, of ADI Design, and further developed by Thomas Parry Architects, of Sketty. The work will be carried out by Morgan Construction which aims to redevelop the building into one of the most eye catching architectural features in the city.

Reducing energy bills...

Energy is a big cost for many small businesses. But it is also an area where, with a little investment, you can become more environmentally friendly and cut your costs at the same time.

Figures produced by the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change estimate that the average small and medium-sized business could reduce its energy bill by 18 to 25 per cent by installing energy efficiency measures with an average payback of less than oneand-a-half years.

The Federation of Small Businesses has been keen to help businesses get the support and information to reduce their energy costs and last year we carried out a survey of businesses across the UK. We found that the vast majority of surveyed businesses (90 per cent) wanted to be energy efficient and said they saw the direct benefits of energy efficiency (86 per cent).

The biggest issue preventing many small businesses becoming energy efficient was the fact they operated in leased or rented premises. Although problems of access to finance and having enough available capital to make improvements were also cited.

But 58 per cent of those surveyed had made changes to improve the energy efficiency of their business. The most common energy efficiency investment was the installation of more efficient lights.

Around a quarter of businesses had also invested in improved insulation for their premises.

It is always worth thinking about what we can do as businesses to be more sustainable, but when it comes to energy efficiency, simple investments can make a real difference.

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9/9/2016 11:20:48 AM

Our Region It’s a fantasy world

Business Life meets the Welsh man behind the success story of FanDuel, the daily fantasy sports company that has taken the US by storm...

PEMBROKESHIRE CARMARTHENSHIRE

SWANSEA NEATH PORT TALBOT

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Our Region

Pembrokeshire

pembrokeshire It’s a fantasy world!

BUSINESS LIFE meets the Welsh man behind the success story of FanDuel, the daily fantasy sports company that has taken the US by storm…

What do you get when you mix a semi-pro footballer from Pembrokeshire with some serious coding talent? Ding! Fantasy sports company FanDuel, is the correct answer.

Creative director Rob Jones co-founded FanDuel in 2009 when he and the team spotted an opportunity to introduce daily fantasy sports to America - a faster, more condensed way of playing than the usual season-long team selection.

The fantasy sports sensation is now valued at more than $1 billion, and names Google Capital, KKR and Time Warner/ Turner Sports among its investors.

FanDuel boasts partnerships with 16 National Football League teams and its deal with Orlando Magic Stadium incorporates the FanDuel magic stadium experience.

Registered user numbers have soared exponentially, and FanDuel now has over six million registered users – and counting. Meanwhile, app downloads have hit the four million mark.

Following its rip-roaring success in America, FanDuel has designed a daily fantasy football product for UK footie fans and plans to launch it in time for the English Premier League.

Jones was a semi-pro footballer when he was younger, and even played in the UEFA Cup for Haverfordwest County AFC in 2004. He now heads up design at FanDuel.

He honed his product design skills at Cardiff University before launching three start-ups and finally FanDuel.

The journey has been interesting.

Together with fellow Pembroke lad, Tom Griffiths, Jones set up Inside Studios – a creative agency making websites for local companies.

“We saw YouTube sold for a whack and thought we could do that!” Jones said. “Tom was studying for his PhD in Edinburgh, so I moved up there and we hired a developer.

“Following this, we had an idea for a social networking site called Groopit. com.”

The company, with a base in Edinburgh, now employs more than 400 people.

The team met Nigel Eccles at a networking event, who had been looking for a team to help him create HubDub – a news prediction website. Starting as a group of five and working from a kithcne table, they completed their first-round of funding for $1.2 million, before later

going on to launch FanDuel.

“I had creative director and frontend coding experience, and Tom had experience in coding, and we had a nice mix of people who could build the product,” Jones added.

“Then it became a question of how do you scale a company? How do you get live data? How do you make sure that if you get to hundreds and thousands of users that the capacity is there.”

The team raised some money for HubDub and went out to Palm Springs, California – an established tech product launch pathway.

“The day we launched we had tens of thousands of new users signing up,” Jones said.

“When we got back from California, it was a question of how do we monetise this, how does this translate to a grownup company.”

After a while, HubDub numbers started to decline and there wasn’t sufficient funding to scale it to the millions of engaged users it would require to be viable. The team hunkered down.

“We looked at the most popular areas of HubDub and one of the most popular areas was sport,” Jones added. “So we

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IN THE STATES, THERE’S AN AGEOLD TRADITION OF PLAYING FANTASY SPORT – IT’S A HUGE MARKET; THERE ARE 57 MILLION PEOPLE PLAYING FANTASY SPORT IN THE US ALONE.

Rob Jones, creative director

homed in on this and asked how can we make a premium product from this?

“And from then on, it was a case of – we’re going to build this new product, it’s going to be a fantasy sports product.

“With HubDub we launched a product we thought people wanted without testing it.

“With FanDuel we did the opposite.”

So, how did FanDuel become the largest fantasy sports operator in the US? “In the States, there’s an age-old tradition of playing fantasy sport – it’s a huge market; there are 57 million people playing fantasy sport in the US alone,” Jones said.

“Traditionally, fantasy sports were seasonal. You picked a fantasy team and then stuck with that team for the whole season. The difference with daily fantasy sports is that you pick a team, watch your players perform and then you can pick a brand new team for the next day’s games.

“It’s less commitment, faster paced, and more exciting for players.

“So FanDuel revolutionised the industry.

“We basically did what Instagram did to photos and what YouTube did to videos.

“As a UK company launching a fantasy sports game aimed at the US, it drove us to have a lot of focus on the product itself and on the metrics.

“We were up against the big guys. We iterated loads of times on the product and stumbled on what we have today which is the salary cap format – with, for example, a £100 million budget.

“Once we found that format, we saw a massive spike in user numbers.

“It’s very much like a puzzle – there are some players you would splurge on and then you have to find a few bargains within that mix, so that’s where the skill comes in.

“The other side of the product is a fantastic live scoring experience, you get an alert when games kick off – it’s a second screen mobile experience – US and UK users love it because it gives a real excitement and added edge to watching sport.”

FanDuel partners with data company Opta which provide stats – so that players’ movements and scores can be computed in milliseconds after real-time.

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Our Region Pembrokeshire

FanDuel Office

OUR VALUES ARE ALL ABOUT MAKING SPORTS MORE EXCITING ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS FOR USERS - FOCUSING IN ON BEING A MOBILE COMPANY.

“Every stat, every movement, everything that they do has a figure against it and the success and accuracy of their movements and passes is calculated,” Jones said.

FanDuel’s success is largely thanks to clarity of vision and a focus on user experience, but it has also been a triumph of marketing.

Reaching the users, and getting them to engage with a brand new way of playing this American past-time was the Holy Grail.

“We tested various channels and we tracked every penny that was spent across all outlets – ppc, paper advertising, online advertising,” Jones explained.

“We thought, perhaps naively, that it would be new media, but actually the radio advertising was working really well for us, so we started with radio and TV. We test it, make it local, and then scale it up.”

It hasn’t all been plain sailing though.

“When you go on a start-up journey you

have to be prepared for the highs and the lows,” Jones said.“One day you’ve signed a deal with a team, and the next day you’re faced with a problem.

“I think my favourite thing is having a company with over 400 people. Based in Edinburgh, the engineering design focus gets to shape the way we work.

“Our values are all about making sports more exciting across all platforms for users - focusing in on being a mobile company.

“Wherever people are focussing on watching sports we want to give them complimentary products that make it more interesting.

“I remember when I was in New York in 2011 and it was the first time I had seen FanDuel in the wild. A couple of guys were watching a match and they had their phones out and were on FanDuel and really getting into the game. And I just thought, wow!”

Where is it? FanDuel has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York, Orlando and LA, employing over 400 people (and continuing to hire). The majority of the engineering team is based in Scottish offices Founded by? Five cofounders founded FanDuel in 2009 in Edinburgh Office culture? Trendy tech, games tables, fridges full of beers and a sweet station

68 swanseabaybusiness.com

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9/9/2016 9:31:04 AM

Design

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Working alongside your business, our team of in-house marketing specialists will give your business a competitive advantage and help your business grow. “ I now have a fantastic website that has boosted my business up and beyond, and I am truly thankful for the teams after-care and support after the site went live. I am now confident enough to upload any content that I want onto the site, but it is always good to know Copper Bay Creative are always at the other end of the phone in case I forgot something.�

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9/8/2016 9:22:22 AM

Our Region

Pembrokeshire

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

Illtyd Barrett (back row, centre left) and staff outside the Sunken Hundred in Brooklyn

Two brothers hope to put Wales on New York’s radar...

Two brothers who have launched a Welsh-inspired restaurant in Brooklyn hope to put Wales firmly on the Big Apple’s radar.

New York is one of the world’s most celebrated culinary hotspots, with almost every type of food being represented across the metropolis.

But if there’s one type of cuisine that was under-represented, it’s probably Wales – something two Welsh brothers are hoping to change.

The latest addition to the never ending food scene is Welsh-inspired Sunken Hundred, a cosy eatery sitting on Cobble Hill, on Brooklyn’s 276 Smith Street.

Named after the legendary sunken kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod, it is the brains of brothers Dominic and Illtyd Barrett, who come from Milford Haven.

Plans for the restaurant, which seats 50 people, have been in the making since around 2008.

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Managed by Illtyd, who has lived in New York for more than 20 years, the bar and restaurant has just enjoyed its grand opening with Dominic, 48, who lives in Spain, on hand to watch their dream finally be realised.

The Welsh brothers have been taking Brooklyn by storm with their menu featuring ingredients imported from Wales, thanks to The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, and bagged a mention in the New York Times less than a week after opening.

Diners in New York can now tuck into typically Welsh fayre including seaweed from Pembrokeshire, Glamorgan croquettes, lamb pasty, braised leeks and summer seafood cawl with laverbread, or the simple classic, Welsh rarebit.

Keen to raise the profile of Wales, Illtyd and Dominic have teamed up with American chef Tom Coughlan, who’s enjoying creating meals with a Welsh twist.

“I just thought it was sadly lacking, really”, Illtyd said.

“Dom and I talked about this for a long time and we’ve been looking a while.

“We’ve had plenty of time to think about it and develop it.”

The brothers, born in Cardiff and raised in Pembrokeshire, are now exploring bringing in Welsh beer, spirits and cheese to sell, and are optimistic about featuring Welsh lamb on the menu next year.

They are also in talks to sponsor a local rugby team, and would like to host Welsh classes at some point.

Recipes for success...

Over the past decade or so I have both observed and participated in businesses that have started, grown and developed in Pembrokeshire.

While not all have succeeded, I have seen common factors at work in many that have - hard work and dedication being taken as read.

The drive for quality has certainly paid off for some. For example, Pembrokeshire has a very strong tourism sector, but those parts of it that are really thriving are those businesses that are moving relentlessly up the market to meet the ever increasing demands of customers whose discernment is made ever more easy by social media. It can laud the best but destroy the rest.

New and rapidly growing markets are another success for some local businesses.

While there is a real challenge of rurality and distance from market there are some, usually small businesses which take advantage of the improving IT network (at last) or have a particular niche market (seeds; bees; bugs being examples) where location is not a problem.

We are lucky to have a few larger companies that compete globally which can bring high rewards, especially in the energy sector, but are at risk in that decisions taken globally may impact adversely locally. Those that prosper are the local businesses that align themselves with the global drivers.

Speaking of alignment, all businesses require investment, which is of course often financial, but for the really far sighted companies this also includes their staff. For me the message of the Investors in People and other similar benchmarks is highly resonant – aligning the needs and vision of the business to the commitment and aspirations of the staff.

Examples of many successful businesses demonstrating some of these qualities are outlined elsewhere in this magazine.

9/9/2016 9:24:37 AM

Carmarthenshire Our Region

CARMARTHENSHIRE

Young salmon are facing an ‘unprecedented’ threat in Wales...

Salmon stocks in some Welsh rivers are facing an unprecedented threat after a dramatic decrease in the numbers of salmon fry, Natural Resources Wales chiefs have warned.

Young salmon hatched this spring were absent from 31 of the 37 sites monitored in the Towy in Carmarthenshire. But a survey of the Tawe found normal levels of fry.

Other rivers with critically low numbers of salmon fry were the Usk and the Clwyd, which also had its worse trout fry numbers on record.

NRW said the cause of the decline remained a mystery. Possible reasons include extremes of river flow over the winter and high water temperatures in the affected rivers. The possibility of disease or parasites is also being considered but is thought most unlikely.

Peter Gough, NRW principal fisheries adviser, said: “These initial survey results are unprecedented in Wales in 30 years of monitoring and are clearly very concerning, especially as our salmon and sea trout stocks already face serious

challenges.

“The decline in fry numbers will not only harm the biodiversity of our rivers but could also have an economic impact on the angling and tourism sector.

“It is therefore imperative that we continue our investigations to discover the cause of the decline and put in place actions to ensure the maximum number of fish are able to spawn this winter and in future.”

NRW’s fisheries team is stepping up its monitoring programme as part of its investigations into the cause of the decline, carrying out fish health checks and is consulting with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Environment Agency to establish whether there are similar problems in England.

Gough added: “At the moment we are trying to establish the level of threat to Welsh salmon stocks and we will be working with the angling community to protect our existing stocks.

“It is too early to be sure on the cause or causes, however we note that December

2015 was the warmest and wettest December since records began.”

Other rivers with normal salmon fry levels were the Glaslyn and the Wye. Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith, chief executive of Afonydd Cymru, the association of rivers trusts in Wales, added: “It’s important to understand that this finding by NRW will not immediately impact on returning salmon and sea trout numbers but will be evident in two to four years’ time.

“It is crucial that NRW, the Rivers Trusts and Welsh Government get together to press forward a recovery programme for this valuable resource as well as a full investigation into the cause and effects.

“In the meantime, it is vital that every salmon and sea trout is left to spawn this year and of course in the coming years.

“We are therefore appealing to anglers to build on their excellent response to earlier appeals, and ensure that they release all of their fish as well as strongly encouraging others to do the same.”

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Our Region

Carmarthenshire

Pictured are Sharon Bowen and Jenny Fox with the mini Epic lettering outside the castle walls in Nott Square, Carmarthen

Town’s own ‘Epic’ adventure...

Carmarthen is following in the footsteps of Swansea’s Gower peninsula and has been branded as “Epic”.

The now familiar giant Epic mirrored lettering, which was placed at Rhossili, divided opinion last month — but got people talking.

It was part of a Visit Wales marketing campaign to promote Wales as a place of adventure. It had also been in Snowdonia and Tintern Abbey.

Now Carmarthen can boast its own mini Epic sign — in a bid to show off the town, county and West Wales as a whole.

While its bigger brother weighed in at more than a tonne, standing 11 metres wide and four metres high, the town’s little group of letters at around 15cms has a story all of its

own — and even a Facebook page.

Jenny Fox, who is behind the idea and involved in helping to promote Carmarthen, said: “It’s just a bit of fun really.

“The letters were actually being thrown away at the town council offices in Carmarthen where I work. They used to be up outside on the wall back in the 1970s.

“So instead of letting them be thrown away I rescued them.

“I saw that the big Epic sign had been popular on the Gower and decided to get out and about with the letters, taking photos of them in spots to let everyone know how epic our area is too.

“You can have adventures of the best kind in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. West is best, as the saying goes.

“It was just a way of taking that great idea from Visit Wales and having a little fun with it.”

Joining Fox in the Epic project is Sharon Bowen who owns a costume and fancy dress firm based at Trysordy in Johnstown, Carmarthen.

Spots so far where the Epic letters have appeared are outside the castle walls in Nott Square, the Corsydd Llangloffan Welsh National Nature Reserve in Pembrokeshire and at Spittal.

However, Bowen said there were many more places to come and the public were encouraged to get out there with their own Epic signs. These can then be uploaded to the newly launched Facebook page Epic Cymru.

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SIR GAERFYRDDIN: ADFYWIO STRATEGOL Parc Arfordirol y Mileniwm, Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli

Cyfleoedd datblygu arfordirol o’r radd flaenaf yn Sir Gaerfyrddin Mae nifer o safleoedd o’r radd flaenaf ar hyd arfordir Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cael eu cynnig ar gyfer eu datblygu. Maent yn rhan o adfywiad y llain arfordirol, sy’n ymestyn o’r Bynea yn y dwyrain i Bentywyn yn y gorllewin. Ar hyd yr arfordir dramatig ceir tir datblygu cyfoethog sy’n ymestyn dros ehangder o 50 milltir, gan gynnwys safleoedd strategol allweddol ym Mhorth Tywyn a Phentywyn.

Mae syniadau eraill hefyd yn cael eu harchwilio ar gyfer gweithgareddau tywydd gwlyb a chynnyrch a syniadau newydd arloesol sy’n cynnig rhywbeth hollol newydd i’r llain arfordirol.

Marina modern a naws Fictoraidd Mae Porth Tywyn wedi mwynhau buddsoddiad sylweddol hyd yn hyn o ran trawsnewid yr hen harbwr llanw yn farina modern.

Pentywyn / Pendine

Cyfoeth o weithgaredd ym Mhentywyn Mae Pentywyn ar fin cael buddsoddiad ac adfywiad sylweddol gan gynnwys amgueddfa, eco-hostel a chanolfan llety awyr agored.

Bydd buddsoddiad hefyd mewn cyfleusterau parcio, gwaith ar lecynnau cyhoeddus a thirweddu.

Mae buddsoddiad mor sylweddol yn dangos pwysigrwydd cynyddol y sector twristiaeth yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, ac ynghyd â’r nodweddion yn Llanelli, bydd yn trawsnewid ac yn cwblhau Llain Arfordirol hyfryd Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Ac eto, mae’r lleoliad yn parhau i gadw ei hud Fictoraidd. Cafwyd buddsoddiad o ran seilwaith a chludiant, ac mae bellach yn cynnig porth i benrhyn Pen-bre, sydd eisoes yn cael ei gydnabod yn genedlaethol fel cyrchfan i dwristiaid. Mae’n cynnig potensial buddsoddi enfawr wrth fanteisio ar asedau sy’n bodoli eisoes gan gynnwys Cae Rasio Ffos Las, Parc Dyfaty, Parc Gwledig Pen-bre a Maes Awyr Pen-bre. Bydd cyfleoedd newydd yn dod i’r amlwg ar gyfer buddsoddi ymhellach mewn datblygiadau adwerthu, preswyl a hamdden.

Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch â Nick More drwy ffonio 0117 917 2005, nick.more@colliers.com

Y cyfleoedd sy’n weddill: Uned 3 ar y Llawr Gwaelod: Uned adwerthu ar y traeth Uned 5 ar y Llawr Cyntaf: Uned yn cynnwys balconi at ddefnydd Bwyty / Ystafell Ddigwyddiadau

Rhagor o ddatblygiadau ar yr arfordir

Argraff Arlunydd Doc y Gogledd, Llanelli / Artist Impression North Dock, Llanelli

Mae nifer o safleoedd eraill o’r radd flaenaf ar hyd arfordir Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cael eu clustnodi ar gyfer eu datblygu.

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 Pentywyn a Phorth Tywyn.

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Maent yn cynnwys Llynnoedd Delta a Doc y Gogledd. Mae Llynnoedd Delta, safle 34 erw, eisoes wedi cael ei glustnodi ar gyfer Pentref Llesiant Llanelli gwerth £100miliwn, a fydd yn cael ei ddatblygu drwy brosiect ARCH Dinas-ranbarth Abertawe. Mae Tir yn Noc y Gogledd yn cael ei glustnodi at ddefnydd masnachol megis bar caffi, bwyty a gwesty nodedig.

9/9/2016 12:28:35 PM

swansea bay city region

advertising feature

CARMARTHENSHIRE: A STRATEGIC REGENERATION Prime coastal development opportunities in Carmarthenshire A

in

A modern marina Victorian charm Burry Port has enjoyed significant investment to date in converting the old tidal harbour into a modern marina.

NUMBER of prime sites along the Carmarthenshire coastline are being offered for development.

They are part of the regeneration of the coastal belt, which stretches from Bynea in the east to Pendine the west. Nestled along the dramatic coastline are pockets of rich development land across a 50-mile sweep, including key strategic sites at both Burry Port and Pendine.

Alternative ideas are also being explored for wet with weather activities and innovative new products and ideas offering something completely new to the coastal belt.

Porth Tywyn / Burry Port

The facility, which retains its Victorian charm, has had investment in infrastructure and transport and now provides a gateway into the Pembrey peninsula, already recognised nationally as a tourist destination. It offers huge investment potential to capitalise on existing assets including Ffos Las racecourse, Dyfatty Park, Pembrey Country Park and Pembrey Airport. There will be new opportunities for retail, residential and leisure development.

For further information, contact Nick More, TEL 0117 917 2005, nick.more@colliers.com

Pentywyn / Pendine

Doc y Gogledd, Llanelli / North Dock, Llanelli

Wealth of activity at Pendine Pendine is in line for significant investment and regeneration including a museum, eco-hostel and outdoor activity accommodation centre.

There will also be investment in parking facilities, landscape and public realm works. The investment demonstrates the importance of the burgeoning tourism sector in Carmarthenshire, and along with the features at Llanelli will beautifully bookend the Transformational Carmarthenshire Coastal Belt.

Opportunities remaining: Ground Floor Unit 3: Beachfront retail unit First Floor Unit 5: Unit with Balcony for use as Restaurant / Function Room

Contact: Sian Mathias, 01267 246262, SEMathias@Carmarthenshire.gov.uk

More coastline development

Andrew Myden, 01267 246196, AEMMyden@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

A number of other sites along the Carmarthenshire coastline have been earmarked for development.

They include Delta Lakes and North Dock. Delta Lakes, a 34-acre site, has already been earmarked for the ÂŁ100million Llanelli Wellness Village, being developed through the Swansea City Region ARCH project.

Land at North Dock is being marketed for commercial use such as a cafĂŠ bar, restaurant and landmark hotel.

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Pentywyn / Pendine

Cefn Sidan, Pen-bre / Cefn Sidan, Pembrey

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 both the Pendine and Burry Port sites.

Llwchwr / Loughor

9/9/2016 12:28:47 PM

Our Region

Carmarthenshire

Expert opinion with Emlyn Dole, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council

Restoring to former glory...

Martyn Ingram, group managing director of Morgan GRP

£1m investment as firm enters ‘most important chapter’...

An expanding security solutions manufacturer is investing just under £1 million into a new system.

Ammanford-based Morgan GRP continues its growth and revisioning drive by introducing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

It works by integrating all applications across the group, to manage the business and to automate back-office functions relating to IT, services and HR. The investment is part of an extensive remodelling move at the firm.

Its directors have committed to weekly immersion and training sessions to familiarise themselves with the system’s processes.

Martyn Ingram, group managing director of Morgan GRP, said: “Morgan GRP is going through one of the most important chapters of its life

this year, with a renewed drive to push the company towards ever greater growth and productivity.

“As a company and as a workforce we are very proud of our achievements to date and we are resolved to build upon those achievements. But moving into the next stage of a firm’s life takes bold thinking.

“Our determination to reshape our way of working and, importantly, our way of thinking, has seen us take on some key new recruits, some of who specialise in change management itself.

“And this latest £1million investment is part of a series of other investments planned for Morgan GRP Ltd going forward.”

Morgan GRP’s turnover is approaching £21 million and continues to grow year-on-year.

The town of Ammanford is steeped in history and the reference to Amanwy (or the Amman Valley) in the story of Culwch and Olwen links the area inextricably with the magical world of King Arthur.

In its more recent history, the town of Ammanford was synonymous with coal.

But in common with so many other postindustrial towns and communities in South Wales, it experienced a steady decline in its fortunes over a number of years.

At Carmarthenshire County Council we are determined to support the businesses and people of Ammanford and aim to restore its former glory as a thriving and prosperous town.

Ammanford is home to some long established and well known family run companies such as TRJ (est. 1935) and Corgi Hosiery (est. 1892). Both firms are well regarded in the area and the Corgi trademark can be seen in many of the world’s top fashion houses with around 80 per cent of their business going for export from Ammanford. These are terrific examples of historic businesses that have adapted through the times. They employ many local people and are part of the fabric of the town. There are other internationally-renowned companies that thrive in Ammanford - Pullmaflex, Mitsui, Haydale and Team Precision to name but a few. What they have in common is that they operate in key employment sectors that contribute so much to the Swansea Bay City Region.

As a council we have plans to improve the physical features of the town and have identified Ammanford as one of our key priority sites for improvement. We will see improvement to road infrastructure and buildings, high street enhancements and technological advances within the town.

I have set up a dedicated task force to achieve all these priorities and more for Ammanford. Change is happening.

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Swansea Our Region

SWANSEA

From left to right: Teresa Hannon - Joe’s Ice Cream company director Nicola Edwards - community colleague at Asda Swansea Jill Jones - sales and marketing manager at Joe’s Ice Cream

Scream for ice cream...

A Swansea business with more than 94 years of heritage has seen its ice cream fly off the shelves at a national supermarket chain.

Joe’s Ice Cream has long been regarded as a Swansea institution. It employs 148 people, 90 per cent of whom are from Swansea.

Its tubs are available at Asda stores across South Wales, including the Swansea store at Upper Forrest Way, which stocks the full range of 500ml, 120ml and 1 litre tubs.

And so far this year, Joe’s has already sold more than 14,000 litres of ice cream via Asda.

Joe’s was originally set up in 1898 by Luigi Cascarini as a coffee and food café before his eldest son, Luigi, introduced unique tasting luxury ice cream to Swansea residents in 1922.

Due to a growing demand, the wholesale side of the business was launched in 1993 making Joe’s ice cream available across South Wales.

A century later, Joe’s Ice Cream is still a small family run business owned and run

by Joe Cascarini’s great nephews and the recipe still remains a secret.

Joe’s has dramatically increased its Asda stores listings since first supplying a branch 15 years ago – and now supplies 18 of the chain’s supermarkets and superstores across South Wales.

Jill Jones, sales and marketing manager at Joe’s, said: “We have a fantastic relationship with Asda who are clearly committed to providing local suppliers with opportunities and the tools to grow their business.

“As the saying goes, we all scream for ice cream and we look forward to supply more of Wales with our ice cream.”

Matt Trigg, Asda’s local sourcing and events manager for Wales, added: “We work closely with our local suppliers across the country, and listen to customer feedback, to ensure that our shelves are always stocked with the most innovative produce available that are that little bit

extra special.

“Joe’s has a rich history and has been doing Swansea and Wales proud for decades – we love to champion Welsh produce and collaboration between Welsh producers.”

Asda, which has 36 stores across Wales, currently has over 40 different Welshbased suppliers and in the last 12 months alone has introduced more than 27 new product lines from these businesses, stocking over 400 local lines across its Welsh stores. swanseabaybusiness.com 77

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Our Region

Swansea

Players Jedd Evans (left) and Sam Kiley (right) with Alun Williams (middle), CEO of Swansea Building Society

Building Society in new shirt sponsorship deal...

Swansea Building Society is the new shirt sponsor of Swansea RFC. The mutual, founded in 1923, has signed a three year deal to be the main kit sponsor of the club, which was founded in 1874 and is now back in rugby’s Premiership which is one flight below regional rugby.

Players from senior teams will display the Swansea Building Society logo as the main branding on shirts from the current season.

Alun Williams, chief executive of Swansea Building Society, said: “As a

Swansea based company, we are thrilled to support Swansea RFC for three years.

The club has a fantastic heritage and also very strong links into the community, which is important to us.”

“The club does a great job in promoting sport across a wide age group in the community. We feel that thanks to this partnership both us and the club will benefit from the association.

“We are now looking forward to this season and wish the club every success in all competitions.”

THE CLUB DOES A GREAT JOB IN PROMOTING SPORT ACROSS A WIDE AGE GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY.

Jaguar E-Type on Only Fools and Horses sells for £115,000...

A vintage Jaguar sports car made famous when it featured in Only Fools and Horses and owned by a Swansea businessman has sold for more than £115,000.

The old English white Jaguar E-Type Series III was driven by comedy characters Del Boy and Rodney in an episode of the BBC series.

In the 1981 episode, the pair borrowed the car from John Challis’s character Boycie for a “night on the tiles”.

In a moment of comedy gold, Del Boy slams on the anchors when the pair are driving home and it is then ‘rearended’ by a dodgy Ford Cortina driven, coincidentally, by actor Nick Stringer from Swansea.

The car, said to be in near pristine condition, had spent the past 10 years in storage in a heated garage.

It had been expected to fetch £85,000 in the auction at Blenheim Palace. But it sold for £115,800.

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Our Region

Swansea

Gift firm’s rapid expansion continues with Buddhistlinked move...

South West Wales gift firm’s turnover and workforce growth continues with new acquisition. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

A South West Wales gift wholesaler has bought the customer base of one of its main rivals after doubling its turnover and workforce in the past three years.

Swansea-based Something Different Wholesale Ltd has acquired the customer base of UK-based Windhorse Trading, which is run by a group of Buddhists.

Founder Jane Wallace-Jones said the latest acquisition was an exciting one for the company and the rapid expansion of her company had been due to savvy

planning and careful use of financial forecasting tools.

The firm, which began life as a car boot sale hobby, now employs 54 staff.

“We are delighted to see the continued expansion of Something Different Wholesale Ltd,” she said.

“One of the reasons Something Different has grown so steadily, from a one-man band to a thriving business with a staff of 54 and an in-house design team working on our own product lines, is that

we have been careful to invest in tailormade accounting tools, and, in particular, a bespoke financial forecasting tool designed by our long-term accountants, Morgan Hemp, designed to fit our business specifically.

ONE OF THE REASONS SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAS GROWN SO STEADILY IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CAREFUL TO INVEST IN TAILOR-MADE ACCOUNTING TOOLS, AND, IN PARTICULAR, A BESPOKE FINANCIAL FORECASTING TOOL DESIGNED BY OUR LONGTERM ACCOUNTANTS, MORGAN HEMP

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Jane Wallace-Jones from Something Different Wholesale and Martin Hudson from Swansea-based chartered certified accountants, Morgan Hemp

“It has been invaluable for us to be able to programme our data and our figures into this tool each month so we can see in black and white any potential pinch points, any areas of potential growth and ways of moving money around the business to fund important acquisitions like this one.”

The group behind Cambridge-based Windhorse are Buddhists who set up the business arm of Windhorse to fund their charitable activities.

And since taking over Windhorse, Something Different has continued to support those charities, which has included spending time with the Kupu-

Kupu Foundation in Bali, a charity for handicapped children. They also support an orphanage in Thailand for children with HIV. The firm has continued to employ a number of the sales reps from Windhorse, who are also Buddhists.

Martin Hudson, a director at Swansea-based chartered certified accountant, Morgan Hemp, said: “Something Different Wholesale has been a remarkable success story and I’m delighted to see it blossom further.

“SMEs of all kinds, and particularly wholesalers, face unique challenges around cash flow, and having the right

tools to help create a robust, resilient business can mean the difference between success and failure.

“More often than not a business owner will use forecasting tools when devising a business plan or when approaching a lender for financing – perhaps once every few years.

“But expert financial forecasting is like driving while looking at the road ahead, rather than in the rear view mirror. A tool like this one, which can be designed by accountancy professionals to fit individual businesses, can pay dividends.”

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Our Region

Swansea

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

When onwards may not mean upwards...

Canadian coffee chain to open in Wales...

A Canadian coffee shop chain says it is planning to open up to 40 outlets in Wales over the next decade, including one in Swansea.

The Second Cup Coffee Company will open its first branch in Cardiff’s Queen Street in September, where it plans a further four venues, before a Wales-wide expansion.

Jon Cullen, franchise director for The Second Cup Coffee Company in the UK, said there were plans for 600 outlets across the UK, of which up to 40 would be in Wales, creating hundreds of jobs.

There are currently 12 franchise partners with 86 stores planned between them over the next three years, and the franchise partner in South Wales is expected to be looking to branch out to Swansea, Newport and the Valleys after the five venues in the Cardiff area open.

They are also looking to expand further into mid and north Wales.

Second Cup is looking to open 600 venues across the UK, with between 35 and 40 in Wales The first venue on Queen Street, along with a Swindon venue, is the first in a wave of openings across the UK. Jim Ragas, president and CEO of The Second Cup Coffee Company, said: “We are delighted that our brand is well-received and expanding in the UK at full speed.

“We look forward to adding Cardiff and Swindon to our list of existing UK locations and look forward to future announcements of more cafes for the United Kingdom.”

The Second Cup Coffee Company was founded in 1975 in Toronto and over the past 40 years it has expanded globally to more than 30 regions worldwide with over 160 cafes operating internationally.

The announcement comes after another Canadian coffee company, Tim Hortons, confirmed it too will open coffee shops in Wales and across the UK under franchise.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ADDING CARDIFF AND SWINDON TO OUR LIST OF EXISTING UK LOCATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MORE CAFES FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM.

There are times when high-flying ambition needs to stay grounded. At least that’s the historical backdrop that should inform thoughts about Swansea Airport becoming a regional facility.

While the ambition behind the aim can’t be faulted, even the most well-heeled consortium would need to take a long cool look at the commercial realities.

Airport owner Roy Thomas knows to his cost that the air passenger business involves a lot of red ink. For all the popularity his ill-fated Air Wales brand attracted during its brief lifetime, the company never once made a profit.

It’s estimated that upgrading Swansea to accept 50-seater jet traffic could take as much as £8 million. What’s more, in an uncertain industry where fortunes are as fickle as Gower weather, operating costs would be upwards of £2.5 million a year.

That kind of investment needs a solid business plan with the ability to overcome the geographical drawback that it takes longer to drive to Fairwood than to Rhoose from most eastern conurbations.

Airport or airline operators will tell you that their economic lifeblood is passengers.

Every sq ft needs to be productive floorspace. Indeed, it’s not unusual for domestic carriers to end up paying more to land at a destination than to travel there. That’s where subsidies come in.

Cardiff Airport is now prospering, in comparative terms, but it took a Welsh Government buy-out and a hefty investment package to turn things around.

Ministers were profoundly criticised over their intervention and it’s a move they’re unlikely to repeat soon.

In this instance I reckon upward may not necessarily mean onward for Swansea.

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Neath Port Talbot Our Region

NEATH PORT TALBOT

From left, Dr Laura Baker, Tata Steel; Professor Louise Miskell, Swansea University; Katie Daehn, University of Cambridge; Professor David Worsley, Swansea University; Jon Fitzmaurice, of the British Science Association.

Call for steelworks to become a vast steel recycling hub...

New ways of processing steel, and then making new products with it, could help secure the long-term future of steelmaking in places like Port Talbot.

That was the view from a panel of speakers at a British Science Festival debate held at Swansea University about steel in the 21st Century.

Laura Baker, technical manager at Tata Steel, said she felt there was a “vibrant future” for the Port Talbot works, which employs around 4,000 people and produces some four million tonnes of steel per year.

“We have invested for the future in Port Talbot, Llanwern and other areas in the UK,” she said. “We have got new graduates and apprentices coming in every year.”

Swansea University graduate Dr Baker, who stressed she was speaking in her professional role as an engineer rather than a Tata employee, said when asked that she felt electric arc furnaces, which use recycled metal rather than iron ore to make steel, were not something that Tata should ignore.

She said the steelworks, which were put up for sale earlier this year, would probably make more steel-coated products in the

future but added that ongoing demand from the automotive sector would remain strong.

Coated products include steel roof panels which double up as solar panels. These are being made by a Baglan-based academic and industrial group called Specific.

“I think there is lots of untapped potential in coatings,” she said.

Specific research director and fellow panellist, Professor David Worsley, said: “Strip steel in construction is a new market.”

He felt the future of steel was “extremely positive” given the amount used in the UK, but said innovation was critical.

He agreed that electric arc furnaces were a good idea as long as you had plentiful electricity to power them, and pointed out the two new blast furnaces at Port Talbot were probably the most efficient in Europe.

The panel agreed that recycling more steel, and finding better ways of ensuring its quality, was also a big priority.

Katie Daehn, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge, who was also on the panel, said the average lifespan

for a steel product was 38 years, that UK scrap steel was likely to double in the next 15 years, and that there was no room for blast furnace expansion due to global over supply.

“Right now we (the UK) are exporting about two-thirds of our scrap, and that’s a big opportunity missed,” she said.

She reckoned that Port Talbot’s steelworks could become a big recycling hub for steel. “I think it needs a big change in mindset,” she said.

The audience also heard that the steelworks could become self-sufficient in energy needs from around 2018 onwards.

Louise Miskell, professor of history at Swansea University, said that the original Abbey Works plant, which opened in 1951, was outward-looking and state-of-the-art.

“It was a symbol of post-war reconstruction,” she said. “The town was renamed, briefly, ‘treasure island’.”

Fleet Street journalists came to witness the steelworks’ opening, with one scribe writing that Port Talbot was “a fine cure for gloom”. swanseabaybusiness.com 83

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How the Hinkley Point C station would look

Some 200,000 tonnes of Welsh-made steel will help build Hinkley Point...

Steel from Wales will be used in the building of the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Some 200,000 tonnes of reinforcing steel involved in the building of the project will be supplied by Neath-based Express Reinforcements, using steel produced by Celsa Steel in Cardiff.

Celsa recycles scrap steel using electric arc furnaces. It means that locally sourced, sustainable steel with the minimum carbon footprint will be supplied for this major infrastructure investment.

Express Reinforcements has been given preferred bidder status for the Hinkley Point C project via the Tier 1 contractor BYLOR, a joint venture between Bouygues TP and Laing O’Rourke, as part of the continuing preparatory work for the Hinkley Point project.

The £18 billion Hinkley Point C is being developed by French energy giant EDF with a significant investment from CGN of China.

The project is currently being reviewed by the Government amid reports the Prime Minister is concerned about the role of a Chinese state-owned firm in the investment.

Andy Lodge, managing director of Express Reinforcements said: “We are

pleased to be the preferred supplier of reinforcing steel to this contract through BYLOR. It cements long-term relationships and puts Express at the forefront of reinforcing steel supply, having already been a major supplier to other key infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and Heathrow Terminal 5.

“It shows that our proven track record in delivering on these significant projects is highly valued and local, responsibly sourced steel to the highest quality standards is fundamental to all involved on this construction.”

Martin Westbury, project director BYLOR added: “The Bouygues TP/Laing O’Rourke joint venture is delighted at the prospect of working with Express Reinforcements as our preferred supplier to the Hinkley Point C project. The choice supports our strategy of working with the UK supply chain wherever possible, using UK-sourced materials.

“BYLOR is currently working closely with EDF Energy to prepare the site at Hinkley Point C for the main construction programme, so that when full Governmental approval is received, work can commence in earnest without delay.”

GMB, the union for workers in the steel industry, has welcomed

AT LONG LAST WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE STEEL INDUSTRY IN SOUTH WALES WHICH HAS SEEN A BIG REDUCTION IN STEEL WORKERS IN RECENT TIMES.

EDF’s announcement that Express Reinforcements is the preferred bidder for the 200,000 tonne order of steel for Hinkley Point C. Dave Hulse, GMB national officer for steel, said: “This is really good news for both Hinkley point C and the Welsh economy as a whole. At long last we have some good news for the steel industry in South Wales which has seen a big reduction in steel workers in recent times.

“With this amount of steel being sourced from Express Reinforcements and Celsa Steel, let’s hope that manufactures like Port Talbot Tata Steel plant and Sheffield Forge Masters award further steel and forging contracts for this project in the UK, so that the positive economic impact of large manufacturing projects can spread to where it’s needed most.”

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Neath Port Talbot Our Region

Tata promises to keep workers in picture...

Tata Steel has said it wants to put workers and customers more in the picture about its plans for the future, but that it would not set deadlines for the sake of it.

The steel giant put its loss-making European operations up for sale earlier this year, creating uncertainty for the 4,000-strong workforce at its Port Talbot and Llanelli plants.

There had been interest from Newportbased Liberty Steel to buy the operations at Port Talbot, but Tata said it was pursuing other options. These include a possible merger with German firm thyssenkrupp AG. The UK and Welsh Governments have both been involved to try to find a way forward.

A Tata Steel spokesman said: “We remain committed to achieving the best possible outcome for our UK business. Our aim remains to find a sustainable future for our UK business. There are a number of options which we are pursuing to achieve that.

“These are complex discussions involving very significant enterprises.

We’ll be looking to move as quickly as is practical and sensible, in order to give greater clarity to everyone involved — customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders etc — but we’re not going to set arbitrary deadlines just for the sake of it. We don’t consider that to be in the best interests of getting a good outcome for all stakeholders.”

Tesco, Neath Abbey

Tesco is ending 24-hour trading at 30 more stores...

Thirty 24-hour Tesco stores are to have their opening hours cut.

But the Neath Abbey Road Superstore in Neath won’t be affected, remaining open 24 hours from Tuesday to Friday.

The changes will impact three stores in Wales; Merthyr Tydfil Extra, Hengoed Ystrad Mynach Superstore and Swansea Pontardawe Superstore.

A 45-day consultation period will start this week and staff impacted by the change in shifts will be offered shifts at other times, possibly in other, nearby stores.

There are 149 Tesco stores that will see the night replenishment moved to take place in the day, along with the 30 24-hour stores to have hours reduced.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re making some changes in a number of our stores to help us run them more simply and deliver the best possible service for customers.

“We understand this may be disruptive for some of our colleagues and where there have been changes to a colleague’s role we will be working really hard to

ensure they are fully supported.”

Tesco changed opening times to 20 of its 24-hour stores in June.

The stores affected will see hours change to be closed between midnight and 6am.

Except on Sunday when they will be open between 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm.

The Neath Abbey Road Superstore’s opening hours are as follows: Monday, open 6am onwards; Tuesday-Friday, 24 hours; Saturday, open until midnight; Sunday, 10am-4pm. swanseabaybusiness.com 85

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9/8/2016 9:23:19 AM

Finance Sports car firm veers towards site

Iconic sports car brand TVR identifies site for its South Wales factory...

Finance is sponsored by

Finance DONE.indd 1

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Finance

TVR

Sports car firm veers towards site...

Iconic sports car brand TVR identifies site for its South Wales factory. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

The company that is bringing the iconic TVR sports car back into production has chosen its factory site.

It was confirmed last year that a new generation of TVR vehicles will be made as part of a £30 million investment in South Wales, backed by the Welsh Government.

It is understood that TVR, following an extensive property search within the Ebbw Vale enterprise zone, has chosen a unit on the Rassau Industrial Estate.

And the former Techboard factory, which extends to 184,000 sq ft , is now under offer to TVR. The unit has been actively marketed by property advisory firm Lambert Smith Hampton, which said at this stage it was not in a position to comment.

It is understood that the building is owned by a London-based investor.

When operational the TVR factory will employ 150, but will support far more jobs in the wider automotive supply chain.

Production will start in 2017 with plans to bring four new models to market over the next 10 years.

TVR has been contacted for comment.

But, speaking earlier this year Les Edgar, chairman of TVR said: “This is a fantastic opportunity both for TVR and the Welsh Government.

“South Wales is becoming a major hub for automotive and motorsport technology and development and the area is a serious opportunity for business development and job creation.

“We have a sports car project that has garnered global approval and excitement, and we are delighted that the Welsh Government wish to become a part of an exciting new era for TVR.” The TVR brand was acquired in 2013 by a consortium led by Edgar.

It has already received deposits on orders for more than 300 cars. The TVR brand will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year.

IT WAS CONFIRMED LAST YEAR THAT A NEW GENERATION OF TVR VEHICLES WILL BE MADE AS PART OF A £30 MILLION INVESTMENT IN SOUTH WALES.

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PRODUCTION WILL START IN 2017 WITH PLANS TO BRING FOUR NEW MODELS TO MARKET OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

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Finance

News round-up

Graeme Yorston, Group Chief Executive of Principality Building Society

Group reveals record figures Principality Building Society remains confident after strong trading results for the first half of the year. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

Record figures have been achieved by a major building society in Wales.

Principality Building Society has exceeded £8 billion in assets for the first time in the society’s history.

Profit before tax increased to £23.9 million, its 2016 half year results show.

Graeme Yorston, group chief executive at Principality Building Society, said its performance over the first six months of the year would place the society in a good position to offset any negatives that might occur due to Brexit.

“I am delighted that our continued delivery of the strategy we set about implementing in 2012 has enabled us to deliver a very strong first half performance for the Principality Group,” he said. “This strategy has been particularly important in creating a robust platform for further transformation and the ability to cope with some of the uncertainties we now face as we respond to the vote to leave the EU. “The strength of the Principality balance sheet puts us in a strong position and places us very well to cope with any downturn in markets that might follow the EU vote. We are in a stronger position than we were when we entered the last downturn in 2009 and, therefore, I remain confident about the future and our ability to protect and

serve our loyal savers as well as continuing to support the housing market. The transformation of the core Building Society will continue as we reshape the business for the next generations while enhancing the service and products for our existing members.”

Yorston added increasing lending to homebuyers had contributed to the society’s strong start to the year.

“The group has delivered a very good trading performance in the first half of the year with profit before tax increasing to £23.9 million,” he said. “This means we have also been able to grow our capital base and have a solid balance sheet with net assets now of over £8 billion. This has been achieved by again increasing our lending to people to buy homes. In the first six months of this year group net lending increased by £364.5 million.”

Commercial lending has also performed and the society’s projects include The Bible College of Wales in Sketty and a new scheme on South Beach in Tenby.

Yorston said: “Our Commercial lending division has delivered its strongest performance for several years, signing a number of high profile deals across Wales.

“Principality Commercial continues to support our mutual ethos of helping

people into homes and often by adopting innovative approaches to funding is able to support the housing agenda in Wales and beyond.

“The team are working on some exciting projects including the continuation of the work at Ely Mill, bringing much needed affordable housing to Cardiff, a new agerestricted development in Dinas with Portabella Group, aimed at providing suitable new housing for older people, along with several projects with Waterstone Homes including the Bible College in Sketty and a new scheme on South Beach Tenby.

“Although the commercial market has been improving steadily over the last year, the impact of the uncertainty around Brexit has the potential to cause a slowdown as we see market uncertainty cause decisions to be delayed, particularly in this sector. The division is very well placed to cater for this.”

Looking ahead to the next six months, Yorston added: “I have indicated before that a slight reduction in headline numbers is to be expected over the coming years as we see continuing pressure on margins as well as increasing investment being made in the Principality business to transform it for the future. This is likely to start in 2017 with the outlook for the rest of 2016 remaining stable.”

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advertising feature

New Guidelines Bring Health and Safety Responsibilities Into Sharper Focus for Employers Christian Edwards is a Director at JCP Solicitors and Head of Business Litigation.

All responsible employers strive to ensure their staff and colleagues are safe at work, and robust Health and Safety regulations are enshrined in UK law.

But accidents happen and when they do they can have a major impact upon the injured party and the employer.

In February this year, new sentencing guidelines for Health and Safety offences came into force which employers need to be aware of and which are designed to ensure that employers take their Health and Safety duties even more seriously and to penalise employers who do not do so.

These new guidelines, apply not only to Health and Safety offences but also to Food Safety and Corporate Manslaughter offences.

The Court now refers to a detailed checklist to determine what sentence ought to be handed down – resulting in a far more uniform and prescriptive approach.

Using prescribed sliding scales this checklist focuses upon the degree of culpability of the employer, the degree of actual harm caused, as well as the degree of potential harm that could be caused by any risk present in the workplace.

The guidelines also use a prescribed sliding scale when it comes to fining offenders.

Whilst turnover of the offender has historically been a factor taken into account when handing down sentence, it is now one of the primary factors that the Court considers when deciding the level of fine to impose. This is expected to have a major impact upon the value of fines levied and already some commentators have suggested that the likely level of fines will be “eyewatering”.

In practice most fines for offences not involving a fatality were determined by Magistrates with most fines falling within a bracket of between £5,000 to £15,000, particularly if the employer pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Many employers would plead guilty at the earliest opportunity because it was commercially sensible to do so. The new guidelines may impact on this practive given that the starting point for such fines is considerably higher.

So – overall, the new guidelines send out a signal to employers that it should not be cheaper to offend.

The guidelines will be used to ascertain the harm, culpability, and level of fine or other legal sanction using an established sliding scale which takes into account company turnover.

There is little doubt that fines for offending firms will now be higher. It is likely too that companies involved in Health and Safety prosecutions may challenge the facts of the case relevant to sentencing resulting in “Newton” hearings.

The most important consequence of the new guidelines is that employers need to revisit their obligations and responsibilities and take any necessary measures to improve things if they need to.

Christian can be contacted on: 01792 529618 or email: christian.edwards@jcpsolicitors.co.uk

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9/8/2016 2:00:43 PM

Finance

What not to wear

WHAT NOT TO WEAR BUSINESS LIFE looks at whether brown shoes and loud ties are stopping working class graduates getting jobs in banking...

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Wearing the wrong colour shoes or a tie deemed “too loud” could mean you don’t get that job in banking.

Fashion mistakes and accents are some of the factors stopping poorer graduates getting jobs in an industry that is, according to researchers, rife with snobbery.

A report by the Social Mobility Commission, with research from Royal Holloway University of London and the University of Birmingham, examined diversity in life sciences and investment banking.

People from more modest backgrounds are more likely to be turned away because they don’t know the unwritten rules about clothing - even if they have all the right skills and wear a smart suit to the interview.

Mike Hayden, head of Corporate and Business Banking for Barclays in Swansea and South West Wales, said: “First impressions when meeting a new client or potential new employer are most

important and Barclays endeavours to display a standard of professional dress code appropriate to the relevant business area and expected by our clients.

“It would seem inappropriate to meet a potential new client interested in financing a multi-million construction project dressed in flip flops, however the dress code is more relaxed for example in our call handling centres where customer contact is executed entirely over the phone.

“The same standard of dress code should apply to any new entrant relative to the business area whether graduate, apprentice or any other avenue of recruitment. With regard to state or public school education, this should make no difference whatsoever, as we strive to recruit the best individual for the available position. We will seek to hire the candidate with best attitude, aptitude and ability regardless of background, to deliver the best results for our clients, the business and the individual.”

swanseabaybusiness.com 93

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9/8/2016 5:24:24 PM

Finance

What not to wear

Brown shoes Wearing brown shoes with a business suit is generally unacceptable for people, unless you are in a senior position then may ‘get away’ with it, the report suggests.

Also mergers and acquisitions bankers from Europe are also ‘permitted’ to wear brown shoes.

The right tie One interviewee, from a non-privileged background, described feedback received from a mentor after an interview.

“He said you interviewed really well. He said you’re clearly quite sharp, but, you’re not quite the fit for [this bank].

“You’re not polished enough. He looked at me and said, “see that tie you’re wearing?

It’s too loud.

“Like you can’t wear that tie with the suit that you’re wearing.”

Accent The report found: “Equally important is ‘fit’ with the bank and in relation to the chosen specialism, which in turn involves an emphasis on issues including speech patterns, accent, behaviour and dress.”

This has led to many applicants altering their accent to increase their chances of getting a job and succeeding.

The right school One person interviewed for the reports stated: “There are some areas in the bank

where the concept of diversity is about taking a different year group from Eton or from Harrow, if some of the departments are really ambitious they might include St Paul’s and Westminster School, areas where there is a lot of money, where the biggest perks are, those are the areas where there’s a very narrow intake of people.”

Confidence The report also found the students from private school gave off confidence in a level great that state school graduates. The confidence also means greater contacts and social networks. As one interviewee said: “If you went to a school and you were privileged and so on, there’s a sense of entitlement that comes in and breeds confidence”.

The Social Mobility Commission is chaired by Labour politician Alan Milburn.

“Bright working class kids are being systematically locked out of top jobs in investment banking because they may not have attended a small handful of elite universities or understand arcane culture rules,” he said.

“While some banks are doing excellent work in reducing these barriers, there are still too many that need to wake-up and realise that it makes sound business sense to recruit people from all backgrounds.

“It is shocking, for example, that some investment bank managers still judge candidates on whether they wear brown shoes with a suit, rather than on their skills and potential.”

THE SAME STANDARD OF DRESS CODE SHOULD APPLY TO ANY NEW ENTRANT RELATIVE TO THE BUSINESS AREA WHETHER GRADUATE, APPRENTICE OR ANY OTHER AVENUE OF RECRUITMENT.

94 swanseabaybusiness.com

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9/8/2016 5:24:35 PM

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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9/8/2016 9:23:43 AM

Finance

Severn Bridge

Time takes its toll on bridge crossing costs...

It has been the link between Wales and England for 50 years.

The Severn Bridge was officially opened by the Queen on September 8, 1966.

Since the swinging 60s, hundreds of millions of vehicles have crossed the world famous suspension bridge.

But the question most of them ask themselves as they pay the seemingly endlessly increasing charges at the toll booths is - ‘why is it so expensive?’

According to some stats, it shouldn’t be.

Back when it opened, the cost to cross it in a car was 2d 6d - that’s about 12.5p in modern money. And if you slot that figure into an inflation calculator, in today’s money the toll should have risen to 95p.

Instead, drivers pay £6.60 for a car - almost (appropriately) seven times more.

Price increases were agreed in the Severn Bridges Act 1992.

The aim was to pay for the construction and maintenance of the second Severn

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Severn Bridge facts...

Crossing. But, adjusted annually, using a formula based on the Retail Price Index, the cost of using the bridge has increased significantly since the Second Severn Crossing opened in 1996.

Severn River Crossing plc owns the bridges currently. But once takings from the tolls reach £996million at 1989 prices, ownership will pass back to the Government.

It is expected that this will happen in around two years’ time.

Tolls are expected to halve by 2018, after the move was announced in this year’s budget. But it does not appear that there will be an end to them any time soon.

According to the Department for Transport tolls will continue to recover extra costs incurred - around £88 million. This could take one to two years after the Government has taken over ownership of the bridges.

Meanwhile, pre-tax profits at Severn River Crossing plc, rose from £29.4 million in 2014 to £38.8 million last year.

“The formula for toll increases was part of the tendering process for the design, build and finance scheme to deliver the second bridge,” said Robin Shaw, of the Severn Bridges Trust.

“It allows the consortia to finance the debt which will be paid off when the bridges are handed back to the Department for Transport.

“Tolls will continue after the hand back at a reduced rate.”

Thomas Telford first proposed a bridge in the same location in 1824.

THE FORMULA FOR TOLL INCREASES WAS PART OF THE TENDERING PROCESS FOR THE DESIGN, BUILD AND FINANCE SCHEME TO DELIVER THE SECOND BRIDGE.

Chepstow and Urban District Council were next to raise the issue in the early 1920s, but a parliamentary bill was rejected in 1935 after opposition from Great Western Railway Company.

At the end of World War Two the Severn Bridge was once more proposed, but the Forth Road Bridge was prioritised, meaning work did not begin until 1961.

The bridge cost £8m to build.

It took three and a half years to construct.

The cables supporting the bridge were spun from 18,000 miles of wire.

The main cables are each made up from 8,322 individual 5mm wires.

When the Queen opened the bridge she hailed it as the dawn of a new economic era for south Wales.

The bridge was closed on February 6, 2009, because of ice falling from the structure and damaging vehicles following a week of snowfall.

The bridge is 1,600 metres long and 988 metres at its highest point.

swanseabaybusiness.com 97

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9/8/2016 5:25:47 PM

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9/8/2016 9:24:03 AM

Expert opinion with Dave Kieft, president of the ECA and ECA Wales spokesperson

Visitor numbers are falling at under-threat hothouse Plantasia...

Visitor numbers are cooling off at Swansea’s own tropical haven - Plantasia - figures have shown.

The number of people who walked through the doors of Plantasia was 69,032 from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, compared to 73,693 in the 12 months previously.

And the decreasing trend is continuing into 2016-17.

The Swansea Council-owned attraction is one of many under review as the authority looks for third parties to help run and manage some of its services to save money. The council has had to slash more than £50 million from its budget over the last two years, with further cuts an inevitability.

But despite the fewer people walking through its doors, income at Plantasia rose from £186,676 in 2014-15 to £191,179 a year later.

Council leader Rob Stewart said in budget discussions in December 2014 that closing Plantasia at Parc Tawe would save the council £100,000 the following financial year. But in the end the Labour leader rowed back on the proposed cut, subject in part to external funding being found.

The tropical hothouse may well suffered visitor-wise due to the drop in tenants at Parc Tawe, which owner Hammerson has pledged to revamp with a £15 million investment.

A council spokesman said: “As we look to make inroads into the considerable financial savings we have to make, the council is exploring different ways of running many of our cultural services, including Plantasia, as we look to protect these services for the benefit of residents.

“An exercise we recently carried out led to expressions of interest from a number of external national and local organisations who could potentially work in partnership with the council at some of our cultural services.

“The next step will see the council inviting organisations to demonstrate how they’re potentially better able to deliver these services, when compared with transformed in-house models of delivery here at the council.”

He added: “No decisions have been made and staff are being kept regularly updated.”

Receiving payment on time...

The need for fair payment and more streamlined supplier selection are two of the most pressing issues facing SMEs in Wales’ engineering services sector.

As a result, I recently met with Swansea East AM Mike Hedges to discuss the way forward on these issues, which ultimately can be a financial burden on the regional economy.

With unfair payment practices arguably one of the main reasons for low industry growth, productivity and investment, securing prompt and fair payment for SMEs remains a top priority for the ECA. While 30 day payment is considered the benchmark for good practice, recent ECA figures found that less than 10 per cent of member firms received payment within 30 days for all their work.

The ECA is looking for a digitalised public sector payment framework, which will help add transparency and speed to the payment process. Greater use of project bank accounts (PBAs) would also help lower tier contractors to be paid on time, as they are paid directly from a dedicated project account.

Another unfair payment practice is the withholding of retentions by clients, including some local authorities, from contractors down the supply chain.

This can be up to 10 per cent of contract value, for as long as two years.

Overall, there is an estimated £3 billion worth of cash retentions in construction, with some £40 million of retentions written off each year due to upstream insolvencies. Put simply, this leaves SMEs with cashflow problems, and can wipe out what were viable and growing small businesses.

The ECA wants the government to abolish retentions, but in the meantime is seeking greater protection for subcontractors by ensuring that retention monies are initially placed in trust – in effect preventing them being subsumed into everyday planning and budgeting by clients.

In Wales, around £20 million annually is estimated to be lost by businesses as a result of inefficient supplier prequalification practices.

Following our discussion, Mike Hedges asked Mark Drakeford, the cabinet secretary for finance in Wales, about the inconsistent use of SQuID (the Wales supplier qualification questions database) for purchasing by local authorities.

Drakeford said he would ask his officials “to make sure that its use is maximised across all public procurement”. This is positive and we will be monitoring developments closely. swanseabaybusiness.com 99

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advertising feature

Succession planning in the family business You’ve spent the last thirty years building your business; worrying about the next customer and how you’ll pay that tax demand and now you suddenly realise that although you have a disaster recovery plan in place you haven’t got any idea how you are going to extract the value from your business and hand the reins over to the next generation.

Planning your succession or retirement is as important in business as managing your cash flow. You may have an excellent IFA who has structured your investments and pensions so you don’t need anything more from your business but for most people the investment they have made in their business over their working life needs to fund their retirement.

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that a willing seller will accept from a willing buyer.

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Caroline Wheeler Partner Pembrokeshire Office Tel: 01646 682383 Email: caroline.wheeler@bevanbuckland.co.uk Web: www.bevanbuckland.co.uk

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9/8/2016 9:24:23 AM

News round-up

Finance

Customers could receive £330 from MasterCard...

Up to 46 million Brits including those in South West Wales could receive hundreds of pounds in compensation after MasterCard faces a damages claim of up to £14 billion.

A lawsuit has been made against MasterCard under the new Consumer Rights Act 2015, which allows people to pursue collective damages in the UK. Former financial services ombudsman, Walter Merricks, who also led the lawsuit, said: “MasterCard charged billions of pounds of unlawfully high fees for its sole benefit and to the detriment of consumers.”

MasterCard, however, “firmly disagrees” with the claim, the company said.

Originally, the first claim in July worked out as customers receiving £450, but this dropped to roughly £330 when lawyers filed the case at the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

If you are over 18, you could be compensated hundreds of pounds, even if you’ve never had a MasterCard, as the case is on behalf of everyone in Britain who made payments between 1992 and 2008.

This is the first case of its kind under the new act, so how customers get the money hasn’t been worked out yet.

MasterCard charges businesses

“interchange fees” when people use cards to buy products – this is why some shops have minimum card spends.

Card providers use these charges to fund cashback card deals, air miles and more to attract customers, among other things.

The new lawsuit claims that MasterCard set interchange fees that were unlawfully high and went against European Law. These fees were passed on to customers through inflated prices for products and services, with total damage to UK customers possibly reaching as much as £14 billion.

Merricks said: “My aim is to get the redress to which UK consumers are entitled and to ensure that MasterCard cannot hold on to the illegal profits it made.”

If Merricks’s lawsuit is successful, everybody could get money back, regardless of whether or not they had a MasterCard.

“Now that the claim has been filed, we will take time to review it in detail, however we continue to firmly disagree with the basis of this claim and we intend to oppose it vigorously,” MasterCard said.

“We deliver real value through the benefits of security, convenience and consumer protection, and we are committed to

MY AIM IS TO GET THE REDRESS TO WHICH UK CONSUMERS ARE ENTITLED AND TO ENSURE THAT MASTERCARD CANNOT HOLD ON TO THE ILLEGAL PROFITS IT MADE. investing in our payment services in order to continue to meet the rapidly evolving needs of all our customers.”

The case is expected to be heard by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. A spokesman said the case should be decided by 2018. It will not be affected by Britain’s decision to leave the EU. This lawsuit is the first of its kind to be brought to the UK under the new rules, meaning that if it’s successful, other companies could be held to account. swanseabaybusiness.com 101

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• • • • • • • •

Preparation of annual accounts Submission of tax returns Payroll Bookkeeping VAT returns Management accounts New business start-ups Company formations

Swansea Office: 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW 01792 543520 mail@gordondown.co.uk www.gordondown.co.uk ©LW

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9/9/2016 11:51:04 AM

News round-up

Finance

Swansea City chairman, Huw Jenkins

Swans made ‘significant’ cash loss...

Swansea City supporters have been warned to expect “significant losses” when the club issues its financial results for the 2015-16 season.

Chairman Huw Jenkins issued a joint statement with manager Francesco Guidolin yesterday in which they both said they were confident Swansea had a squad of players capable of a successful Premier League campaign.

It followed criticism in some quarters of the club’s transfer activity.

But as well as defending this summer’s recruitment, Jenkins also warned the Swans have to live within their means.

He said: “The team has been in transition over the last year or two, with a number of players who have been the bedrock of our success in first achieving and then maintaining our Premier League status moving on for different reasons.

“That transition, which happens to all clubs and proved the downfall of many, has to be managed. The recent majority shareholder takeover will help us secure that future, which is one of the reasons they

came on board.

“Our accounts are due out next month and it will highlight a significant loss for last season.

“That’s why we always have to strike a balance to work financially within the budgets we have.

“That balance becomes even harder to achieve every year, but it makes us more determined to find a way to remaining strong and competitive in the Premier League.” He added: “We have made seven additions to the squad from last season when you include the return of Nathan Dyer from his loan spell at Leicester City.

“And the manager is happy with the squad he has to work with. Three strikers have gone out (Eder, Bafetimbi Gomis and Alberto Paloschi) and three have come in with Fernando Llorente, a World Cup winner, Borja Baston, a club-record signing, and the promotion of Oliver McBurnie from the development group.

“Two defenders have gone out (Kyle Bartley and Ashley Williams) with Mike van der Hoorn and Alfie Mawson replacing

them, while goalkeeper Mark Birighitti has also come in.

“The midfield has stayed the same following Leroy Fer’s permanent move from QPR.” During last season’s campaign, that eventually saw Swansea finish 12th after a turbulent season, they spent £8 million on Italian striker Alberto Paloschi in the January transfer window. While Andre Ayew arrived on a free transfer, it is likely he would have received a significant signing-on fee.

Other arrivals included Eder (£5 million) and Franck Tabanou (£3.5 million), while Swansea also reached a settlement with Garry Monk after he was dismissed as manager in December.

On top of that, Swansea have also been investing heavily in youth and training facilities at Landore and Fairwood.

The club banked just under £76 million in TV income, central commercial rights and prize money during the season. swanseabaybusiness.com 103

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9/8/2016 5:26:38 PM

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01792 284400 www.gcstraining.co.uk Part of Gower College Swansea Untitled-1 1

9/8/2016 9:25:37 AM

Workforce The power of water

Surfer from South West Wales left global energy drink company to set up ‘healthy’ alternative, now turning over £1 million...

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Workforce.indd 1

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9/8/2016 9:41:58 AM

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Untitled-1 2

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9/8/2016 9:42:08 AM

The power of water...

Surfer from South West Wales left global energy drink company to set up ‘healthy’ alternative, now turning over £1 million.

He speaks to BUSINESS LIFE about its growing success and contracts with Sainsburys, Waitrose and Boots.

It is unusual for a young executive with a high-paid, secure and even glamourous job to walk away and go it alone – especially when they have a young family to support.

The arrival of children makes most people seek security and routine.

But that is exactly what Ed Woolner, the founder and managing director of POW Energy Water did two years ago. And he did it with not only his children’s best interests at heart but those of an entire generation.

Woolner grew up in Langland from the age of eight and immersed himself in the outdoors surfer lifestyle of that part of the world. His academic successes including a degree and then a Masters from Swansea University were complemented by his passion for health and fitness. As well a surfing, he played rugby for Mumbles and Swansea RFC. In his early 20s, he moved to Devon. He embarked on a career in the food and drink industry. His first job was with a start-up organic team company, which was eventually sold for £25 million.

He said he learned a lot from that. “I enjoyed that entrepreneurial spirit where you would make mistakes but learn from them and get on with it. There were no rules so there were none to break. That was such an advantage in many ways,” he said.

Ed Woolner, the founder and managing director of POW Energy Water, with his family and enjoying a surf.

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The power of water

Workforce

I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING THAT I COULD BELIEVE IN AND WHICH HAD HEALTH BENEFITS. IN THE END I DECIDED TO LAUNCH A PRODUCT BASED AROUND THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATER. POW Energy Water flavours cranberry and apple, citrus and zest, and coconut and lime.

After a stint in other jobs, he was then recruited by one the world’s biggest energy drinks companies. He was instrumental in the company’s growth in Europe reaching senior roles and very good money. The entrepreneurial spirit he so enjoyed also existed there and he thrived in the culture.

“Life was good. The money was good, we travelled a lot including to California and it was something of a rock star lifestyle. But I had a fundamental issue with the product. I never drank it myself. In the end, I realised I couldn’t spend my life representing something I did not believe in.”

He said the levels of sugar – up to 14 teaspoons of sugar in some – was what made him change his mind. Especially in light of society’s growing obesity crisis, he said he wanted to do something that would counter that growing problem.

“My mates thought I was mad but I had been brought up with a very active lifestyle around the ocean. I decided to do something that I could believe in and which had health benefits. In the end I decided to launch a product based around the health benefits of water.”

He set up The Power Water Company, its main product, POW Energy Water.The drink brings together the hydrating qualities of water but enhances it with natural caffeine from guarana, and a natural sweetness from fruit and no artificial flavours or colourings. It includes ginseng root and vitamin B for energy, 100 per cent natural fruit and the plant extract Stevia is used to sweeten. “It is a drink that celebrates the positive benefits of water and which uses a sensible amount of natural ingredients to enhance it,”Woolner said.

To launch the company, he raised money – over six figures - from contacts in the food and drink industry in return for equity in the business. He said the first year of trading was the hardest thing he had ever done. “We have been in some deep, dark corners where you feel the world is against you but you just have to keep going,” he said.

Central to his ability to keep going has been a commitment to the surfing lifestyle.

He still surfs most lunchtimes and says he is doing what he is doing to allow him to continue to enjoy life in that way.

“Surfing gives me clarity and a sense of perspective,” he said. “There is a lot of pain you go through but the pay-off is being able to do those things.”

But, 15 months on, the hard work is starting to seem worth it. The business now turns over more than £1 million and is projected to increase further in 2017. It has secured distribution contracts with Sainsburys, Waitrose, Spar, NISA and, most recently, a very big contract with Boots.

It is also starting to extend its reach into Belgium and Holland.

He says the plan now is to continue to sign up retailers and head towards a turnover of around £5 million. He believes the launch of The Power Water Company has come at the right time – just as attitudes to health and the consumption of high-sugar food and drink is changing.

“Health is the biggest driver in the food and drink industry at the moment,” he says. “Regulations are helping but there is also just far more awareness of what is in these products and consumer attitudes are changing. It is cool to be healthy now.”

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9/9/2016 11:36:59 AM

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Other Plant - Equipment Training also available, please ask

TEL: 01639 822269 01446 743913 / 739457 elainewatts@barrytrainingservices.co.uk For a full list of courses, please visit our website:

www.barrytrainingservices.co.uk

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Specialist training for today’s industries Barry Training Services started from modest beginnings, delivering localised training. They have now developed into a national company with 2 training centres based in South Wales (Port Talbot and Barry). They offer training throughout the UK as well as EU Member States such as Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Croatia and Turkey. This is due to the high quality training delivered by BTS as well as being able to respond to training requests at relatively short notice.

BTS offer a vast range of courses and are constantly adding new courses to meet the ever changing demands of the industry. Some of the latest courses to be added to their extensive portfolio are: IPAF MEWP’s (International Powered Access Federation), PASMA for Mobile Access Towers (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) and CITB Site Safety Plus courses. With over 25 years’ experience in offering the very latest in Health and Safety, BTS has developed into a leading health and safety training company. BTS understand that you have to move with the times, so in addition to the above, they are now also able to offer an on-line Asbestos Awareness refresher training course.

BTS have been delivering RTITB Lift Truck Training for over 25 years. In addition, they deliver the ECITB/ CCNSG Safety Passport course and have done since the early 90s for entry to petro chemical, power stations, oil refineries etc. to over a

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100 delegates a week and to date, have issued in excess of 50,000 passports to successful delegates.

Where possible, if there is a particular course required not listed, we are more than happy to tailor a course to suit a client’s own specific needs.

Whilst training can be seen as a lot of red tape to some, the benefits of training people on the correct use of plant and equipment along with making people aware of the dangers whilst working and their responsibility to others, has proven to keep people safe. Every year the HSE release new statistics on workplace injuries and deaths and we’re very pleased to see that the figures released are continuing to decline - this is due in no small part to people being trained to work safely.

BTS are accredited by various awarding bodies such as the ECITB, CITB, NPORS, IOSH, UKATA, CIEH, RTITB, SQA, IPAF, PASMA, Department for Transport and JAUPT.

For more information on the services BTS provide, please take a look at our website www.barrytrainingservices.co.uk or contact the office on 01639 822269 or 01446 743913/ 739457 where a member of our team will be more than happy to assist.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to have an informal chat with either Elaine Watts (Marketing Manager) or Deborah Boyle (Course Development Manager) on any of our courses, they are more than happy to visit.

9/9/2016 11:22:38 AM

Expert opinion with Tommy Davies

Dump bad customers...

It was when a web developer in my media company showed me the 222nd email he had received in two weeks that I knew that the line had been crossed. If an exwife harassed you in that way, you would call the police. My spotty young web developer was a long way off having a first girlfriend, never mind multiple wives. He was a nervous wreck; I knew I had to do something.

I acted swiftly and decisively: we politely dumped the demanding client, blocked her emails and even, just to try and avoid retribution, refunded 50 per cent of what she had paid us so far. We tried to avoid burning bridges, a key philosophy of mine in business (what goes around and all that), while also understanding that is not always possible.

That not so simple act achieved several things. Firstly, it bought me the intense loyalty of a very talented member of staff who ended up becoming a key part of that team long term. I am pretty sure he turned down many other offers in the years that followed because of me doing that.

Interestingly, my young friend seemed to understand the very real financial impact of walking away from a key client. Not all young people are so insightful but he certainly appreciated me doing that.

Secondly, it changed the atmosphere in the office almost overnight. The unhealthy nervous tension in that office disappeared within days, they learned to laugh and smile again. This meant creativity and productivity flourished and the team prospered.

Such a decision is not always that easy. Some businesses by definition require an element of pragmatism and client management of

a different type – emotional intelligence is needed in abundance in some sectors and there are times when you just need to hang on.

Especially when services are on a monthly retainer, the long-term picture needs to be considered as a counterbalance to short term difficulties.

But it is also worth recognising that there is and always should be a line in the sand and you, your staff and your business all deserve an element of respect that should be understood and enforced when needed.

Sometimes a client may be disrespectful or even abusive in their actions; sometimes it may be simply that they take what you do for granted. In that later scenario, it can get to the point when you end up working for them rather than for yourself.

An element of appreciation of what you do, what it takes and the skills needed helps. I also had a client recently who said he would ‘give someone else a try’ for a bit.

Such a phrase is frankly insulting.

Fine, that always tells me they have no loyalty and interest in building long term partnerships.

And, of course, a business owner should always have a good sense of how much a client is paying for your services. When a set fee has been agreed, demanding individuals can quickly put you into loss-making territory.

So remember, no matter how tight things are or how important it seems, it is OK to dump bad customers. The long term benefit usually outweighs any short term loss.

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

Swansea loses 2,500 financial and professional jobs in one year...

The number of professional and financial jobs in Swansea has slumped in the space of a year.

It fell from 15,700 to 13,200 from 2014 to 2015, a fall of 2,500.

That was against the backdrop of an overall increase in jobs in this sector in Wales. The figure has risen by 8,700 to 136,200.

Neath Port Talbot gained 500 jobs in this area, while Carmarthenshire lost 1,000.

‘Financial and professional services’ includes jobs in central banking, accountancy, the law, the media and consultancy.

These jobs tend to be better paid so are considered a priority by the Welsh government.

In Cardiff the number of jobs increased from 37,000 to 42,000, but Newport and Wrexham, like Swansea, both saw falls.

The data is based on where people work rather than where they live.

Other sectors considered a priority for the government include advanced manufacturing, construction, IT, tourism, the life sciences, food and farming, the creative industries and energy and the environment.

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9/9/2016 5:00:23 PM

ION leadership

Can you do the triple?

“

Gyda thipyn o help gan eich cwrs chi, fe lwyddon ni i dreblu maint y cwmni…A fyddech mor garedig â diolch i’r tîm a roddodd y cwrs! Mae’r newid yn y ffordd o feddwl am redeg y busnes wedi digwydd oherwydd rhai o’r cynghorion gwych a gawsom ar y rhaglen.

“

“

With a little help from your course we managed to triple the size of the company…

If you could thank the team that takes the course it would be appreciated! The change in thinking towards running the business has been a result of some of the great tips picked up on the programme.

Allwch chi dreblu?

“

– Lee Roblin, www.rl-group.co.uk and www.claimrite.co.uk.

– Lee Roblin, www.rl-group.co.uk a www.claimrite.co.uk.

Find out how you can grow your business

I gael gwybod sut gallwch chi dyfu eich busnes

01792 606738 | www.ionleadership.co.uk | info@ionleadership.co.uk @IONleadership Untitled-4 1

9/9/2016 11:47:51 AM

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* Secure Office Consoles available * Dedicated Account Manager • Also shred CDs, harddrives, floppy disks, memory sticks and x-rays

9/8/2016 9:27:31 AM

advertising feature

To Comply or not to Comply in Civil Litigation A recent court decision highlights the importance of complying with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) preaction protocols. In Chapman v Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (June 2016), the court was asked to consider whether a defendant should pay a claimant’s costs, despite the claimant discontinuing the claim. This was because the defendant did not disclose key documents and failed to comply with the pre-action protocol for personal injury claims.

Circumstances of the Case The case concerned a claimant who claimed to have suffered injuries after she slipped on a flyer on the waiting room floor at an A&E department. A letter of claim was sent to the relevant health board’s legal department. Liability was denied and the health board stated that it had no documentation regarding the incident.

The claimant issued proceedings and the health board defended the claim, on the basis it had a reasonable system in place at the time of the accident to protect visitors. Once the documents relating to the system of cleaning and monitoring were disclosed, the claimant discontinued the claim.

On the issue of costs, the claimant argued that had it received the documents at an earlier stage the case would have settled without court proceedings and those costs would not have been incurred.

The court has power under CPR44.2 to award costs in proceedings. One of the considerations will be the parties’ conduct pre and post litigation and whether any pre-action protocols were followed.

What the Court decided The defendant was ordered to pay the claimant’s costs despite the claimant discontinuing the proceedings. This was because had it disclosed important documents earlier, as per the pre-action protocol, the claim would have been resolved prior to litigation. In failing to do so, the Court criticised the defendant’s conduct as being entirely unacceptable.

Points to note Not all types of claims have their own specific protocol under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, yet parties are expected to comply with the Rules’ general protocol on civil claims. For that reason, irrespective of the strength of a party’s case, even before court proceedings commence, parties should consider taking legal advice on their obligations. Doing so can help to avoid the type of difficulties Tameside NHS trust found themselves in by paying costs to a claimant who had a claim without merit.

Phillip Lewis is a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer with Hutchinson Thomas and specialises in personal injury law and civil claims.

What does the law say?

It is not often that a case is discontinued because a party discloses documents helpful to its case after litigation has commenced (but where they were available and ought to have been disclosed before litigation). However, parties to potential litigation ought to take note of this case as a reminder that a court may impose costs sanctions for non-compliance with the pre-action protocols.

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Neath Office Pendrill Court 119 London Road Neath, SA11 1LF T: 01639 645061 reception@hutchinsonthomas.com

Swansea Office Suite 9B Langdon House Langdon Road Swansea Waterfront, SA1 8QY T: 01792 439000 reception@hutchinsonthomas.com

9/9/2016 2:12:30 PM

Up for the challenge in today’s jobs world...

Lorraine Kitchin, the HR manager at a South West Wales-based van firm who starred in a recent TV show, reveals the reasons behind her success...

On paper Lorraine Kitchin sounds more like a modern-day superhero than a HR manager.

A Neath-based businesswoman, she juggles busy family life with involvement in two businesses, planning every day to a tee as if it were a military operation.

And these are skills which have led to a highly successful career.

Her recent appearance on Channel 4’s The Job Interview — a factual programme that exposes the interview process to establish how real people apply for real jobs offered by genuine employers - alongside MD Rod Lloyd — added another feather to her cap.

It shone the spotlight on Kitchin’s talents in an otherwise stressful job search nightmare.

Her position at van hire company Low Cost Vans in Skewen, however, is purely a product of hard work, dedication and, as Kitchin will tell you, her stubborn nature.

Kitchin has worked at the company for nine years, and while her days are meticulously planned, holding such a senior position doesn’t come without its challenges.

She said: “While I don’t feel I have had a tough journey to get where I am today because of my determination and my gregarious personality, my challenges

have definitely been to stand up for what I believe in and to inform managing directors where I think they are failing, which is not an easy task.

“There is always a battle between managing the rights of the employees and the financial overhead many businesses see HR as being.

“It’s about having determination and selfbelief together with being stubborn and persuasive — a bit like a dog with a bone.”

In addition to working for Low Cost Vans, Kitchin also started her own childcare business in 2012.

This fruitful venture was made possible with the help of her husband, a registered childminder, and her mother, who is a childcare assistant.

Her job roles to date, however, have been purely in the field of HR, and Kitchin worked as HR manager for FRF South Wales Motors Ltd and Ethnic Cuisine.

Before that, Kitchin worked as an HR assistant for the Ministry of Defence, managing area managers in different locations throughout Scotland and Wales, a role that brought her into close contact with the way the Government does things.

So, if Kitchin was Employment Secretary, what policy changes would she introduce?

“If I was Employment Secretary, I would

Rod Lloyd CEO and Lorraine Kitchin HR manager at Low Cost Vans.

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Lorraine Kitchin

THERE IS ALWAYS A BATTLE BETWEEN MANAGING THE RIGHTS OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THE FINANCIAL OVERHEAD MANY BUSINESSES SEE HR AS BEING.

focus on working with students prior to them leaving school,” she said.

“Working with them and the schools to show them how to write a good CV and taking the time to talk and listen to them about their aspirations to help guide them in the right direction.

“There are too few organisations that take this approach, but only time and experience teaches you this.”

Brexit is of course one area that we have to ask Kitchin about as a seasoned businesswoman, so what’s next after our exit from the EU, and more importantly for Kitchin, in an ideal world?

“To move the Brexit process forward it’s all about negotiating the terms of our withdrawal from the EU,” she said.

“We will only leave once, so we need to make sure that the terms of the exit give us what we want.

“In essence we need to negotiate the terms of our membership and trade deals with EU members, looking at each deal and moving forward one country at a time.

“With regards to my ideal next move, apart

Workforce

from working in HR, which I thoroughly enjoy, I would love to create a children’s holiday entertainment company.

“Through plenty of research, lingo learning and financial development, the company would be designed around making children laugh, learn and, most importantly, create lasting childhood memories.

“Positive memories after all make positive people.”

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Workforce

News round-up

Ospreys consider appointment ‘a coup’...

Ospreys Rugby has appointed Huw Warren as commercial manager at the Liberty Stadium.

He joins from Aviva Premiership side Bath, where he held the post of business development manager, leading the sponsorship platform and working with global brands such as Dyson and Red Bull.

Originally hailing from Abergavenny in Wales and with family ties to Swansea, Huw previously worked in 7s rugby, establishing tournaments and working for a leading global brand Ultimate Rugby Sevens.

This followed the completion of a masters degree in international management from Exeter University.

“I’m excited to join the Ospreys” he said.

“As a rugby business, they already have a strong commercial brand and I’m looking forward to working with the team to strengthen it further. It’s clear that the board has a clear vision and ambition to develop the brand, and the senior management team at the Ospreys share that ambition.

“The commercial landscape in rugby is changing fast, with digital and international growth opening up exciting opportunities.

My immediate challenge will be to establish a commercial strategy that will enable Ospreys Rugby to fully exploit those opportunities while keeping the strong

connection we enjoy with the local business community.

“Also key to my role will be the close relationship with Ospreys in the Community and the London Ospreys Business Network, and pulling all these diverse strands of the business together to develop a clear commercial pathway for the future.”

Andrew Millward, managing director at Ospreys Rugby, stressed the importance of the appointment.

He said: “This is a significant coup for the business. Huw is a forward thinking, well connected and commercially focused individual who will bring his experience and contacts from the cutting edge of Premiership Rugby, and help to continue driving the Ospreys brand.

“The growth of our commercial operation, with year-on-year revenue increases, has been a big part of our financial turnaround, but we understand that the way big companies do business and what they expect from a sporting investment is changing.

“Huw has a clear understanding of what the Ospreys are about and where we fit in to the wider, fast changing world of rugby business and, in particular, the opportunities that will open up to us in the

coming years. We are delighted to be able to welcome him into the organisation.”

Huw replaces former commercial manager, Yarnie Guthrie, who has headed home to New Zealand following five years at the Ospreys to take up an opportunity with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

THE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE IN RUGBY IS CHANGING FAST, WITH DIGITAL AND INTERNATIONAL GROWTH OPENING UP EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES.

Huw Warren, commercial manager at Ospreys Rugby

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9/8/2016 5:29:01 PM

advertising feature

Flying high Your child’s future can depend on the school they attend – and as St Michael’s School in Bryn, Llanelli celebrates another bumper batch of A level results, Jenny White explores how the school is able to turn even underachieving pupils into successes.

If you ever need proof that your choice of school can dramatically affect your exam results, look no further than the dazzling A and AS level results achieved at St Michael’s School in Bryn, Llanelli, this year.

The school welcomed a number of pupils last year who had been underachieving in other independent and state-run sixth forms in the area. These pupils have gone on to achieve outstanding A level and AS results that far exceed what was projected prior to them joining the school.

One such pupil is Theo Davies-Lewis, who transferred from another independent school towards the end of his first year in sixth form with the aim of boosting his performance. Last week he learned that he had achieved three A* grades in English Literature, History and Geography, meaning he will now take up a place to study Archaeology & Anthropology at Oxford University.

“We have several pupils like Theo who have really excelled after transferring here,” says headteacher Alun Millington. “In some cases pupils have come here to repeat their AS year, and after achieving A grades in this year’s results they are now on target to gain A and A* grades at the end of next year.”

Overall, the school’s A level results this year were sparkling, with a 100% pass rate and 50% of all grades being A or A*.

One third of students gained at least one

A grade, with St Michael’s continuing its tradition of producing medics: four pupils are going on to study medicine and one is going to study dentistry.

Another pupil singled out for special praise is Aman Abrar, who has won a place to study Economics at Cambridge University.

Aman, based in Swansea but originally from Pakistan, achieved 3 A* grades in Economics, Maths and Further Maths, plus an A in Physics.

“The School is delighted, and we are thrilled to see our international and local students achieve success in equal measure,” says Mr Millington.

How does the school achieve such strong results year after year? Alun Millington puts it down to a strong focus on offering individual support specially tailored to every student.

“It’s a very student focused environment with no distractions,” he says. “We have a happy and supportive culture and I don’t impose a restrictive teaching model on our teachers. We are not a slave to passing fashions and fads, and our experienced, high quality staff are free to take a very practical approach to getting the best from each pupil. The parents like that we give their children that level of individual support and attention.”

Another advantage is that St Michael’s follows a traditional model rather than having to teach Welsh Baccalaureate,

St. Michael’s School Co-Ed Independent day and boarding school 3-18 years

Culture of Achievement

es t School in Wal Top Independen15 - Non-Selective & Co-Ed) (The Times 20

50%

el A*-A at A-lev

leaving pupils free to choose the subjects they really want to study.

In order to boost pupils’ chances of getting the university places they dream of, St Michael’s offers special coaching geared at helping them sail through the application and interview process.

“We have an extensive range of contacts to support students in the application process, offering advice and high quality university application preparation, plus mock interviews.”

As St Michael’s pupils prepare to start the next chapter of their lives, it’s clear that the school’s thorough approach works – and Mr Millington is proud to add that they are sending well rounded, confident individuals away to university.

“We are confident our students are ready for the next step because we focus on developing the whole individual, not just the academic side: our pupils have enjoyed great achievements in everything from sport to music, drama and public speaking. Our Political Society’s debate was a recent highlight, as was having a UK athletics champion among our pupils.

St Michael’s is not just about the exams, but we are very proud of the outstanding results achieved each year, and excited about what this enables our pupils to go on and do.”

OPEN DAY9.30-12.30

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St. Michael’s School | Llanelli | 01554 820 325 | office@stmikes.co.uk | www.stmikes.co.uk

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9/9/2016 10:38:46 AM

Expert opinion with Ian Price, assistant director of CBI Wales

Unite demand answers from car giant Ford...

The main union at Ford in Bridgend has demanded answers as to how it will keep 1,850 staff in work.

The concerns come on the back of a recent announcement that the number of new engines the company produces will be cut by half.

The American car giant announced that it plans to make 125,000 new Dragon engines a year instead of 250,000 from 2018 due to changes in global demand.

The Bridgend engine plant currently makes 250,000 engines a year for Jaguar Land Rover, which will end in 2018, with Unite having written to workers saying that the employment level “clearly” could not be maintained.

The deal to produce the new engine has been scaled back from a £181 million investment to £100 million.

Unite’s Wales secretary Andy Richards admitted the union had been made aware some months ago that there would be a shortfall in production.

He said in a letter to workers: “Unite the union will never roll over and quietly accept the same fate for Bridgend.

“When I started there were 24 Ford plants in Britain. In my view, they’re attempting to pull out of Britain.

“It’s arguable they’re looking to reduce their Ford Europe operations, which will affect places like Cologne too. I think this is more to do with Ford’s global repositioning strategy, which seems to favour China and Russia.

“As far as we’re concerned we’re concentrating on our members’ jobs in Wales.”

Ford said it did not plan job losses among the 1,850 workforce and said it still had a “substantial commitment” to the plant.

Facing a different future...

Two months ago, the British people spoke in a seismic referendum which will shape the UK for generations to come.

Wales is now facing a different future and we need to take some time to fully assess the implications of the changes.

But we must remember that businesses – particularly those operating in energy and climate change – are used to dealing with change and so we should be confident that we can adapt and exploit this future as an opportunity.

But while negotiations with Europe take centre stage in the months and years to come, equally important will be the need to demonstrate that the UK remains open for business with a stable, long-term and joined-up energy and climate policy framework.

From Wylfa B nuclear power station in the north to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon in the south, what we need now is certainty for investors and 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.

There is no question that the UK needs a long-term industrial strategy to meet our carbon targets while growing our economy and that strategy needs to dovetail with the Welsh Government’s new fledgling economic strategy.

Only by working together, towards a common goal, can we most effectively achieve low-carbon growth.

Developing additional support for Wales’ energy intensive industries, such as Tata in Port Talbot, will be a critical factor in determining the success of the Welsh Government’s response to Brexit.

In terms of new developments, Wales’ new Infrastructure Commission and national planning system will be critical tools to leverage in support of a more responsive and effective business environment for new energy projects.

There can be no doubt that the referendum result will change the course of the river for the UK. Now, more than ever, government and industry in Wales and Westminster need to find a new way of working together which can support businesses to invest in a low-carbon future and support a more prosperous society.

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9/9/2016 4:04:27 PM

Industry Insight With Mark Jones

Principal, Gower College Swansea

A new academic year...

The beginning of a new academic year is always an exciting time at the college and this is particularly the case this year as we build on another set of excellent examination results and record breaking enrolment numbers.

Of course there are still many unknowns which make it difficult to plan ahead as effectively as we would want to including the impact of Brexit, the new Apprenticeship Levy and the future for full time higher education ‘fees’ following the Diamond Review (which is due to be published in September) but, in the circumstances, this is to be expected and not something that we’re going to wait around for.

Of course, one of the key priorities for any FE college is to engage closely with our local employers – large and small, public and private – to help provide the skills that enable individuals and businesses to grow and adapt as the demands of the local economy change and, by doing so, to play a driving role in the overall economy of Wales.

The college is already doing plenty in this area but one of the reasons why we are so looking forward to the coming year is that, in the next few months leading up to Christmas, we will be announcing a further set of new programmes or interventions which, we believe, will be of interest to many organisations who are looking for that added extra in terms of skills development, and that will make an impact on both business operations and the bottom line.

Firstly there is the multi-million pound

European funded Skills for Industry 2 programme which the college leads on across South West Wales. This provides up to 70 per cent of the funding (dependant on the size of your business) for a wide range of courses across a wide variety of sectors and will allow the college to work with local companies to ensure that training and support is customised to their specific needs and ensure that qualifications are designed to benefit both the organisation and the sector in which they work.

Then there’s our new ‘Positioning for the future’ programme funded by the Welsh Government’s Sector Priorities Programme and which focuses on improving an organisation’s productivity (which no less an organisation than the CBI sees as one of the key priorities for business leaders to focus on).

by email training@gcs.ac.uk or contact Gill Davies, Director of Skills and Business Development, on gill.davies@ gowercollegeswansea.ac.uk

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME AT THE COLLEGE AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE THIS YEAR.

The programme allows employers to choose from a range of modules from business improvement techniques (BIT) and Lean programmes together with tailored support and is offered in partnership with the award winning company Track Training.

On top of this there are a wide range of new higher education courses on offer (at HNC, HND or Foundation Degree levels) as well as new apprenticeships (including many new higher apprenticeships) with many of the latter delivered from our new facilities at Jubilee Court in Fforestfach.

If you want further details on any of the above programmes please get in contact with GCS Training on 01792 284400 or

Gower College Swansea 01792 284000/890700 www.gcs.ac.uk

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9/9/2016 11:59:07 AM

From FromApril April2017 2017all allemployers, employers,operating operatingininthe the UK UKwith withaayearly yearlypay paybill billofofover over£3 £3million, million, will willbe berequired requiredtotopay payan anApprenticeship ApprenticeshipLevy.

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Untitled-1 1

9/8/2016 9:30:55 AM

SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE

WOMEN IN

BUSINESS A W A R D S 2 016

Judging panel for 2016 Women in Business Awards, Hayley Davies, Lisa Cameron, Alex Shufflebottom, Chris Campbell and Jill Burgess.

Finalists picked for Women in Business Awards...

Judges for this year’s Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Women in Business Awards have praised the talent of this year’s entries.

The five-strong panel spent hours deliberating the winners and finalists across 11 award categories.

The judges include international travel expert and Swansea businesswoman Jill Burgess; Alex Shufflebottom, director of Shufflebottom Ltd, who won Woman of the Year at the 2015 awards; Hayley Davies, president of Swansea Bay Business Club and director and CEO at JCP Solicitors; Lisa Cameron,

commercial director at South West Wales Media; and Business Life editor Chris Campbell.

“It was a formidable task but a joy to see the strength and high number of entries,” Campbell said. “Each judge appreciated the level of skill and talent attributed to nominees and the journey it has taken many individuals to get where they have. There is a huge amount to be proud of in the Swansea Bay region and our Women in Business Awards highlight this.”

Finalists are being revealed in the South Wales Evening Post and online

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.

Its in-depth features, interviews, columns and news analysis are read by directors and senior decision makers in the region’s business and public sector communities.

The magazine looks to champion the best of business in the region while covering national and international business issues from a local perspective.

GUARANTEE YOUR COPY. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

at www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/ business.

Categories include Woman of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Growth and Expansion Award, New Business Startup of the Year, Professional Woman of the Year, Innovation in Business Award, Mentor of the Year Award, Family Business of the Year, Green Award, Ambassador Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

A glistening ceremony for the seventh Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Women in Business Awards will take place at the Swansea Marriott Hotel, at Maritime Quarter, on October 7. For more judging photos turn to page 194.

For event information and opportunities, contact Zena Laws, business manager at South West Wales Media, on 01792 545585 or email zena.laws@swwmedia.co.uk

SWANSEA BAY

BUSINESS LIFE

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News round-up

Workforce

From left, Neil Rees, fleet manager and aftersales manager Clive Roblin welcome Adam Lewis, new head of business at Swansea Van Centre

Apprentice climbs the ladder to head major Volkswagen van centre...

A Swansea businessman who has risen through the ranks has taken the helm at a South West Wales motor group.

Adam Lewis, who joined Sinclair Van Centre in 2002 as a sales executive, has accepted the role of head of business at the city firm.

The 34-year-old has dedicated the past 14 years to the Volkswagen commercial vehicle site.

Having initially completed an apprenticeship as a panel beater, Adam turned his motoring passion to sales and joined Sinclair.

Starting as a sales executive before progressing to sales manager, a position he held for seven years, Adam is well prepared for his new role, having been part of a management development programme for the past three years.

Adam said: “I am delighted to be in charge at Swansea Van Centre.”I have dedicated the

vast majority of my career to the Gorseinon Road site and have always been passionate about finding solutions for my customers by delivering a good service.

“I have been in the fortunate position to fully understand all aspects of business operations, through training courses as well as learning from my predecessor while fulfilling my previous managerial duties.

“I already have a fantastic team of dedicated and experienced individuals in place.”

And although the business has been performing well, my focus will be on raising the bar by reviewing existing processes and introducing new efficiency to help drive growth and ultimately lead to improved customer service levels.

Julian Harrington, head of franchise for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles at Sinclair Group, said hard work was vital to career progression.

AS A COMPANY WE FEEL IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FRAMEWORK IN PLACE TO DEVELOP OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES. “As a company we feel it’s important to have a framework in place to develop our existing employees, and Adam is a perfect example of how dedication and hard work can increase your career opportunities within the Sinclair Group,” he said.

“We have selected the Swansea site as the central location for our Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles fleet division.

“This will stretch from Newport to Milford Haven and Adam’s role will also encompass this new department to develop its potential.” swanseabaybusiness.com 125

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9/8/2016 2:03:22 PM

Property and construction The law of the landlord

Time is running out for landlords in Wales to make sure they are up-to-date with new mandatory training and licence legislation...

PropertyConstruction DONE.indd 1

Property & Construction is sponsored by

9/9/2016 12:01:31 PM

Property & Construction

The law of the landlord

The law of the landlord Time is running out for landlords in Wales to make sure that they are up-to-date with new mandatory training and licence legislation. BUSINESS LIFE reports...

Landlords in Wales face a new challenge in November this year.

By November 23, all landlords will have to register with government body Rent Smart Wales and complete a mandatory training course to obtain a licence.

This must be done either directly with Rent Smart Wales or via an approved training provider. Failure to comply with training requirements will become a criminal offence under The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and could result in a hefty fine.

“Training is a key part of the licensing process for landlords and agents, 96 per cent of our training attendees feel it will help them to become a better landlord,” a spokesperson for Rent Smart Wales said.

Individual landlords must complete either landlord or agent training depending on what type of individual licence they are applying for.

“If the applicant for a licence is a company or charity, the people it employs, under a contract of service, who do letting and management work as part of their employment, need to undertake training for the applicant to get their licence,” the spokesperson added. “The type of training they will need to do will depend on whether the applicant is applying for a landlord or agent licence.”

One Swansea-based provider of the training is Alex O’Brien, director of A19 Secure Solutions and Landlord Training Wales.

“Whether you’re a property mogul with a to-die-for portfolio of houses, or you’re just renting out your wife’s old flat – you’ll need to get your head around the simple steps of complying with new legislation,” O’Brien said.

Getting into buy-to-let can be a great way to boost your income. And if you play your cards right, you may even be able to make a career of it.

Of course, there’s more to it than just buying a property and finding some tenants to pay the rent – you have legal responsibilities to make sure the home is safe and suitable for the tenant.

And now those legal responsibilities extend to making sure you have the proper training and license.

This new legislation follows months of uncertainty in the property market, which was particularly wobbly after Brexit shockwaves, and also comes on the back of tougher buy-to-let mortgage criteria.

“It’s important to stay calm and look at all the facts, especially for first-time buyers.

For landlords, it might be a good time to focus on current homes in their portfolios

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Alex O’Brien

and ensure that they are prepared for the law changes ahead,” O’Brien added.

In light of the new legislation, Landlord Training Wales, a division of welfare services company A19 Secure Solutions, partnered with Gower College earlier this year to provide an in-class training course designed to help landlords secure the qualifications they will need by law to manage properties in Wales.

Landlord Training Wales was the first Rent Smart Wales-approved provider to offer this course both online and within a classroom.

Different types of licence and training are required depending on the role of an individual. Individuals would complete either landlord or agent training depending on what type of licence they are applying for. Those who do letting and management work as part of their employment will also

need to apply for either a landlord or agent licence.

Following successful training by the individual, a license will last for five years.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 individuals in Wales will need to complete one of the two options by November this year, which has led to a surge in demand for both online and classroom-based courses.

O’Brien says the move to offer a classroom-based option was taken based on increasing demand for the company’s courses.

“The change in the law represents a huge step in making residential lettings a more credible, trusted sector,” he said. “We have embraced the need for training in the sector via our online portal but we realised there are many individuals who would prefer to learn in a classroom environment.

“With so many landlords in Wales, we want to be able to provide the most comprehensive training and help them further their understanding of their industry. This is an ideal opportunity for landlords to carefully consider how they manage their properties while also achieving the necessary qualifications to comply with the law.”

Time is running out for landlords to safeguard their business by successfully training and getting an approved licence.

There are a number of providers to choose from, but don’t delay!

THE CHANGE IN THE LAW REPRESENTS A HUGE STEP IN MAKING RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS A MORE CREDIBLE, TRUSTED SECTOR.

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9/8/2016 5:30:44 PM

Property & Construction

Coldra Woods

Drive to bring new firms to former HQ of technology firm Alcatel-Lucent Savills and JLL are marketing Coldra Woods where there remains 36,000 sq ft of available space...

A new drive to attract businesses to the former headquarters building of technology firm Alcatel-Lucent in Wales has been launched.

Property advisory firms Savills and JLL have been jointly instructed by Celtic Manor Resort Ltd to market the former Alcatel-Lucent office space, now known as Coldra Woods, just yards from the five start Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.

Celtic Manor Resort purchased the 70,000 sq ft building last year and have since occupied part of the space as support services to the Coldra Woods Hotel.

In addition, Wesley Clover - the investment technology fund chaired by Sir Terry Matthews, who also owns the resort and is chairman of the Swansea Bay City Region Board - has occupied 28,000 sq ft in the building for its new innovation centre.

It is also home to Excalibur Steel, which is bidding to acquire Tata’s UK steel business.

There is currently just over 36,000 sq ft Coldra Woods in Newport

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Sir Terry Matthews is chairman of the Swansea Bay City Region Board

THERE ARE A RANGE OF AMENITIES WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY INCLUDING THE FIVE STAR CELTIC MANOR RESORT AND ITS CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES AND NEWPORT RETAIL PARK. available to let at Coldra Woods, located over the ground and lower ground floors at a quoting rent of £10 per sq ft.

The property also benefits from a strong car parking ratio of one space per 216 sq ft.

Gary Carver, director of business space at Savills Cardiff, said: “Coldra Woods provides good quality office space just off J24 of the M4 “There are a range of amenities within close proximity including the five star Celtic Manor Resort and its championship golf courses and Newport Retail Park.”

Rhydian Morris, director of JLL in Cardiff said: “Coldra Woods provides very large office floor plates of 25,000 sq ft as well as a former data centre, which will appeal to a number of companies.

“In addition, on-site amenities, incorporating large canteen, back-up generator, generous car parking and direct motorway access provides a strong opportunity for occupiers.”

The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport

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9/9/2016 5:19:49 PM

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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9/9/2016 10:40:37 AM

LAND FOR SALE

Land at Penrhos Farm, Brecon Road Ystradgynlais, SA9 1SN • Residential development land • Included with Powys LDP Draft Deposit - 76 dwellings •18.473 acres - 7.476 hectares • Situated on edge of Brecon Beacons For all enquiries contact Matthew Mason Tel: 01792 478908 matthew.mason@dawsonsproperty.co.uk

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9/9/2016 10:40:44 AM

Property & Construction

Avoid office move traps Office moves are often a positive for companies but there are risks that must be carefully navigated too. Here, Simon Thorpe, of commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton, speaks to BUSINESS LIFE about five issues that represent the highest risks for companies relocating...

Occupiers are required to sign a lease when moving, which can expose businesses to significant liabilities if the correct due diligence is not carried out.

Fit-outs and move management are two further areas where risks abound.

But, what are the biggest dangers?

Due diligence surveys...

Most commercial leases are on full repairing and insuring terms and so profiling and managing the financial and operational risks to your business is essential.

A building survey should be undertaken, along with a mechanical and electrical survey. It will pinpoint current and future cost commitments and any issues that need to be addressed before exchange of contracts.

With a detailed understanding of the building to hand, companies can then better protect their interests going forward.

Procurement and management of fit-out...

LSH’s building consultancy team has years of experience acting as consultants for clients throughout the often complex process of fit-outs, which includes IT/data requirements and furniture needs.

It provides varying services including feasibility studies and assessment of the most appropriate procurement route. Then there’s preparation of the specification of works, management of the tender process, cost consultancy, health and safety duties and project management of the works on site.

Overseeing the quality of the works, the building consultancy team is also able to advise on the provision of warranties,

LSH handled the transaction as recruitment company Education Staffing Solutions moved into Axis Court, Swansea last year

134 swanseabaybusiness.com

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CLIENTS TELL US THAT IT IS EASY TO UNDERESTIMATE THE TIME IT TAKES TO SEARCH, ACQUIRE AND FIT OUT ANY NEW PREMISES AND THAT CREATES DIFFICULTIES.

bonds and statutory consents, right up to negotiating the contractor’s final account.

Getting a building surveyor involved from the outset is imperative to ensure the best due diligence is obtained along with an understanding of all associated costs.

It is an approach that many companies have benefitted from as they are able to budget both time and money with confidence.

are required to rectify or pay to have resolved as part of the lease.

It is sensible to work with a commercial property building surveyor as they are best placed to provide strategic dilapidations advice in order to minimise a company’s exposure to any dilapidations liability.

Without it, companies can receive a hefty bill at lease expiry.

Move management...

When all is said and done, it’s your move...

Experienced project managers understand what it takes to manage a move efficiently and often this is planned on a phased basis, depending on the client.

Successful move management means a tighter control of costs and allows businesses to benefit from a smooth transition and all-important business continuity.

Dilapidations when leaving a property...

While not every company decides that consultancy is required, many do. Clients tell us that it is easy to underestimate the time it takes to search, acquire and fit out any new premises and that creates difficulties.

It is one of the reasons why when facing relocation; many then find it expedient to use a specialist advisor to help remove the burden across all aspects of a move.

Looking ahead to the opportunities that a move represents is positive but the existing occupied premises must not be overlooked.

Dilapidations cover issues such as disrepair, decorations and alterations which tenants

LSH marketed and negotiated deals in building Heol Parc Mawr on Cross Hands Business Park (above)

LSH negotiated deals for Dafen Trade Park in Llanelli

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9/8/2016 5:31:33 PM

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Our expert local knowledge and great customer service sets us apart from other Lettings Agencies! That’s why 2016 is our sixth year* as ‘Lettings Franchise of the Year’. So let your property with Belvoir and get the right result for you.

Call our team today to see how we can help you on: Swansea (01792) 461929 & Mumbles (01792) 361656 or visit belvoir.co.uk/swansea

*Belvoir was officially awarded the Best Lettings Agency Franchise – Gold Award at the 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010 Lettings Agency of the Year Awards in association with The Sunday Times & The Times.

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9/8/2016 9:31:33 AM

Industry Insight With Lee Mogridge, head of national commercial property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton Wales

Western Powerhouse...

There has been a good deal of fanfare about how regeneration efforts in the north of England are helping to establish a Northern Powerhouse and there is evidence of record confidence and levels of take up in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.

So what can Swansea learn and adapt from the strongest performers?

Planning Local government budgets have been severely constrained which has meant a reduction in the capacity of local planning authorities and a slowing of planning application decisions.

Since 2012, England has benefitted from the National Planning Policy Framework, government reforms that made the planning system less complex by reducing over 1,300 pages in 44

documents to a 50-page document.

The Welsh Government has also asked the Law Commission to consider the need for a Planning Consolidation Act for Wales, to create simplified primary planning legislation. Due to report with a draft bill in the summer of 2017, it is expected to be adopted in 2019.

Infrastructure The National Infrastructure Plan has supported vital projects in the north and infrastructure will prove critical for our city too.

Welsh Government has tackled practical improvements such as the Morfa Distributor Road, linking Swansea city centre to the Liberty Stadium, but it is major projects such as the Tidal Lagoon which could transform Swansea. The £1.3 billion tidal power project will have to await the outcome of the Department of Energy & Climate Change review, due to report in late 2016.

Another setback was perhaps more disappointing when it was announced that electrified trains originally due to arrive in Cardiff by 2017 will be delayed until 2019 with Swansea unlikely to benefit until 2024. Business can’t be seen to stop at Cardiff if we are to encourage more investment.

THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN HAS SUPPORTED VITAL PROJECTS IN THE NORTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE WILL PROVE CRITICAL FOR OUR CITY TOO. Housing The Right to Buy and Right to Build schemes have been a boon for the north and our local market would welcome long-term incentives.

The recent announcement of a national housing taskforce to drive efforts to increase the supply of housing is positive but more can be done at a local level. In 2018, Wales gains powers over stamp duty land tax and there is scope for imaginative ventures between local authorities, housing associations and developers.

Building affordable housing in our city centre will help re-energise the city’s night-time as well as daytime economy and create more commercial opportunities. It is part of why northern cities are thriving as places to live as well as work and so Swansea can flourish and alongside Cardiff, take its place as part of an emerging Western Powerhouse.

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

swanseabaybusiness.com 137

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9/9/2016 4:28:14 PM

OnE Of THE lEAdinG indEPEndEnT firMS Of ESTATE AGEnTS And cHArTErEd SurvEyOrS in WAlES And THE bOrdErS dEdicATEd TEAM Of quAlifiEd AucTiOnEErS fOr OvEr 40 yEArS WiTH A WEAlTH Of ExPEriEncE TO SEll yOur PrOPErTy

Our quarterly property auctions in Wales are held at Hotel Mercure | The Enterprise Park | Swansea | SA7 9EG now taking instructions for our following auction on th

WEdnESdAy nOvEMbEr 30 cOnTAcT yOur nEArEST clEE OfficE Swansea 19 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NQ

Tel 01792 475332

Morriston 111 Clase Road, Morriston, Swansea.

SA6 8DY

Tel 01792 795727

Pontardawe The Old Factory, 1a Tawe Terrace, Pontardawe.

SA8 4HA

Tel 01792 865042

Ystradgynlais 22, Heol Egwlys, Ystradgynlais, Powys SA9 1EY

Tel 01639 844426

Ammanford 8, High Street, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire SA18 2LY

Tel 01269 591884

Neath 82, Windsor Road, Neath SA11 1NR

Tel 01639 646926

Port Talbot 40 Station Road, Port Talbot SA13 1JS

Tel 01639 881556

www.ctf-uk.com ©LW

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9/9/2016 10:45:48 AM

News round-up

Property & Construction

Leisure and retail development site up for sale...

Land at Burry Port Harbour, which has planning consent for a mixeduse development scheme, has been put up for sale.

The 2.8 acre site has approval for a leisure and retail led mixed-use regeneration project that will provide opportunities for shops, restaurants, a pub and hotel and new residential accommodation.

The site is being marketed by Colliers International on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

Carmarthenshire Council leader, Emlyn Dole, said the development would “create an exciting new waterfront area for the town.”

He added: “The project has an emphasis on design quality and sustainability which will set a standard for other future developments to meet.”

The Burry Port Harbour site is one of three in Carmarthenshire set to be regenerated through the Llanelli

Coast Joint Venture - a partnership between the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire Council.

Nick More, associate director at the Bristol office of Colliers International, which covers the South West and South Wales, said: “Times have changed since Burry Port Harbour was a coal port for the local mining industry.

“It is now the newest marina in Wales with a 250 berth facility, and its location in the heart of the awardwinning Millennium Coastal Park provides an ideal base for exploring the south and west Wales coastline.

“The combination of its picturesque setting, and its history as the place where the American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart landed as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic make Burry Port Harbour a unique tourist attraction, and we are anticipating interest from a variety of potential purchasers.”

THE PROJECT HAS AN EMPHASIS ON DESIGN QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY WHICH WILL SET A STANDARD FOR OTHER FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS TO MEET.

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Incentives and Flexible Terms Available within a City Centre Location Situated on Cradock Street, CLC Chartered Surveyors are marketing a mix of retail and office accommodation.

Centrally located and within easy reach of the Train Station, Bus Station, Kingsway and the Quadrant, there is on street parking available within the immediate area, and a bus stop directly outside.

The ground floors of numbers 30 and 31 Cradock Street are currently available to rent on flexible terms, with offices to the upper floors also available on a room by room or suite basis.

All space is available on a short or long term agreements, with the additional possibility of incentives being available.

The property is situated close to a mix of commercial occupiers with Cradock Street a busy link between Mansel Street and the Kingsway.

Neighbouring occupiers include Jack Wolfskin; Swansea Building Society, Tilleys; Moustache and Steak By Night.

For further information please contact:

Contact CLC Chartered Surveyors

Tel: 01792 524452 Churchill Buildings 128 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RG

Robert Camm MRICS

Tel: 07786514451 robert@clcproperty.co.uk ŠLW

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9/9/2016 3:21:45 PM

News round-up Property & Construction

Art deco look returning to a famous arcade...

Art deco has returned to part of the Swansea Bay region as the multi-million pound Oyster Wharf scheme enters the home straight.

Developer James Morse is hopeful the revamp of the former cinema Tivoli Arcade in Mumbles and, in more recent times, amusement arcade will be a blockbuster for the area.

Morse, commercial director of Nextcolour Developments, said two of the Oyster Wharf tenants — Loungers and Prezzo — were due to open in early November.

The Co-op, meanwhile, is to relocate from its premises opposite Oystermouth Square and could open in the Tivoli on October 22.

Morse said two other tenants, La Parrilla and Bistrot Pierre, should start fitting out their units in October.

“I think people will be very pleased with the quality of what we are doing here,” he said. “It is going to look the part.”

Construction on the £5.5 million Oyster Wharf began last October, with the stone-

clad Tivoli Arcade to be the centrepiece.

Homeware and clothing stores Seasalt and Joules are set to occupy the vacated Co-op premises, which will be divided into two units.

The current one-storey Tivoli Walk arcade is being replaced with a two-storey structure, with roof terraces and a recessed restaurant terrace.

The seafront end of Tivoli Walk will be for cafe/restaurant use, while the Mumbles Road end will be commercial. It will have white-painted timber cladding, with a nod to the nearby Bristol Channel Yacht Club and Langland Bay beach huts.

Morse, of Gower, said he believed Oyster Wharf would encourage other high-profile brands to consider a move to Mumbles.

Once the development was completed, he said he wanted to help regenerate the city centre.

“I’m a Swansea boy, and you want to do your bit,” he said.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE VERY PLEASED WITH THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. IT IS GOING TO LOOK THE PART.

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9/8/2016 5:35:43 PM

Property & Construction

News round-up

BHS demise could be ‘golden opportunity’...

Swansea Council chiefs are to meet the landlords of the city’s former BHS building, amid calls for a business rate freeze to attract a high-profile tenant.

They said they would like the building to be occupied as soon as possible.

The council owns the freehold of the building but leases it to a landlord, who in turn sub-leased it to BHS Group.

The now defunct retailer had a 25-year lease on the Oxford Street building with rent set at £870,000, according to Land Registry records.

Swansea businessman Steve Herbert said he believed there was now a “golden opportunity” to attract a John Lewis or a TK Maxx-type tenant.

Herbert, the owner of The Crepe Vine, Whitewalls, urged the Welsh Government to consider free business rates for five years.

“A good offer to a major retailer is what we need and BHS is that golden opportunity not to be missed,” he said. “The landlord would love to offer this incentive to major players, I am sure.”

A council spokesman said: “Although the council doesn’t set business rates, we have already made contact with the building’s landlords and will shortly be meeting them to discuss their intentions.

“We recognise the importance of this building, which is why we’ll be on hand to give any advice or assistance that’s needed to help bring it back into sustainable use as soon as possible.

“The building’s location and size means it’s well-placed to complement our planned regeneration of the St David’s development site and our ideas to transform Castle Square into a family-friendly destination with the feel of a city park.”

The former BHS store shut its doors on Sunday, August 28. It was one of the company’s last branches to cease trading.

BHS traded for nearly 90 years before going into administration. It was wound up in June with the loss of 11,000 UK jobs.

MPs have been critical of the collapse and the way in which it was run by Sir Philip Green, who promised in June to sort out the company’s £571 million pension deficit.

Matthew Hopkinson, of the Local Data

IT IS SHAME THAT A BUSINESS AS WELLESTABLISHED AS BHS HAS GONE DOWNHILL AS IT HAS. ON THE OTHER HAND IT DOES OPEN THE DOOR FOR FRESH BLOOD TO GO IN AND REALLY REJUVENATE THE CITY.

Company, which tracks high street activity, said some BHS stores would be easier to relet than others.

He told the BBC: “There will be some landlords who will be delighted BHS has gone because it was a tired, old brand and they can bring in someone new and vibrant and it will be part of their overall strategy.

“But you also have a large number of stores in weaker towns, some of which are likely to remain empty for many years to come.”

Andrew Cox, a commercial surveyor at Dawsons in Swansea, said: “It is shame that a business as well-established as BHS has gone downhill as it has. On the other hand it does open the door for fresh blood to go in and really rejuvenate the city.”

Russell Greenslade, chief executive of city business group Swansea Business Improvement District, said: “We are and will continue to work with the local authority and others to help recruit a tenant for the old BHS premises.

“The building lends itself well to a number of uses that would support the economy and vibrancy of the city centre.”

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9/8/2016 5:36:14 PM

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS of the “go-to” law firms for c o mm e rc i a l p ro p e r t y w o r k o u t s i d e o f Lo n d o n ” .

Peter Lynn

A s o n e o f t h e l arg e s t an d f as t e s t gro w i n g l a w f i r ms i n t h e re g i o n , P ete r Ly n n a n d P ar t n e r s at t r i b u t e s it s s u c c e s s i n p ar t t o t h e w o r k o f t he i r C o m m e rc i a l P ro p e r t y t e am.

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P et e r Ly n n , Senior P ar t n e r com m e n t e d “ Th e w o r k o f o u r Co m m e rc i a l Pro p e r t y t e am o v e r the l a st 1 2 mo n t h s h as b e e n unp re c e d e n t e d an d t h e y h av e co n t r i b u t e d si g n i f i c an t l y t o P e t e r Ly n n a n d Pa r t n er s b e c o mi n g o n e

With a string of successful deals in their wake including a £4.5m d e v e l o p m e n t a n d re g e n e r a t i o n o f A b e r a f a n H o u s e , P o r t Ta l b o t, a £ 25 0k p urc h a s e o f a l o c a l s c h o o l for conversion in to apartments an d a £ 1 . 5 m d e v e l o p m e n t o f a s t ed e d B ri st ol p ol i ce s ta t i on ; t he l i st t ea m a re g oi ng f ro m s tre n g t h t o s t re n g t h .

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Preventing Legal Problems

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T h e rem a i n d e r o f 2 0 1 6 c o n t i n u e s t o l o o k b r i g h t f o r t h e We l s h l a w firm with a £2m mixed use d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n a t i o n a l re t a i l e r i n O x f o rd S t re e t , S w a n s e a a n d a £3m Residential P ro p e r t y Development of a Bristol Pub soon to be announced.

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From investors, developer, SME’s, retailers, banks, pension funds, housing associations, manufacturers plus many more, we work with a diverse range of clients to offer an individually tailored property service that works.

CONTACT US TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH OUR TEAM www.peterlynnandpartners.co.uk info@peterlynnandpartners.co.uk 01792 450010 /peterlynnandpartners

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WALTER RD.

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MORRISTON

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CARDIFF

9/8/2016 9:32:37 AM

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

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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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9/8/2016 9:33:38 AM

New Lettings at Tower Court Tower Court, St Davids Road Industrial Estate, is one of the

Enterprise Park’s most popular locations. Situated just minutes from Junction 45 of the M4 Motorway, with excellent transport links to the immediate area, Tower Court offers a range of office, retail and trade counter units from 1,000 to 7,000 sq ft and has ample parking provisions for both staff and customers.

Over 5,000 sq ft has been let to a rapidly growing locally operated gym who see Tower Court as the ideal location for further expansion, and for attracting new members to their varied programmes. Anyone interested in joining one of Swansea's most popular fitness groups should contact crossfitswansea.co.uk A further letting has also seen the relocation of Bergoni Swansea to one of the large modem units Tower Court offers. The modern light unit with ample parking provisions offered on the site attracted Bergoni into relocating within Swansea's Enterprise Park.

Easily accessed from the main trunk roads of the park and just 5 minutes from the M4 Motorway, Tower Court is home to local and national businesses, many of which established themselves here a number of years ago.

Established businesses within Tower Court include Aston and Fincher, St. John's Ambulance Training, The Rocking Chair, Nicobond, Sweet Dream Beds, City Fabrics, Lincweld and Muscle Finesse, with Bergoni and Crossfit Swansea, the two most recent additions.

If you would like to see for yourself the quality accommodation offered or believe your business will benefit from this excellent trading location in a modern out of town environment, contact CLC Chartered Surveyors to arrange a viewing. Short and long term letting options are available.

Contact CLC Chartered Surveyors on 01792 524452 Churchill Buildings | 128 Walter Road | Swansea | SA1 5RG Robert Camm MRICS 07786514451 | robert@clcproperty.co.uk

www.clcproperty.co.uk ŠLW

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9/9/2016 3:20:45 PM

News round-up

Property & Construction

Green light for Port Talbot transport hub...

Artist’s impression of the transport hub

Permission has been granted for the construction of the new integrated transport hub at Port Talbot Parkway station.

The £5.6m project, which has been given the green light by Neath Port Talbot Council, will link up with the £11.3 million redevelopment of Parkway train station by Network Rail.

Port Talbot-based Andrew Scott Ltd has been appointed as the contractor.

The works will comprise the re-alignment of the A48 Heilbronn Way and main Talbot Road through Port Talbot, and road junctions with Station Road, Grove Place and Oakwood Lane.

This will create a large area to facilitate the integrated transport hub between the station with a proposed bus station, taxi rank and drop-off and pick-up bays, providing an attractive pedestriandominated concourse.

The project is identified in the joint

regional transport plan and Swansea Bay City Region strategy, and endorsed by the Swansea Bay City Region Board as a priority.

It is funded by the Welsh Government’s vibrant and viable places programme and local transport fund, and supported by European structural funds.

Mark Bowen, managing director at Andrew Scott, said: “We are delighted to be working with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council on this prestigious project.

“As part of our approach to social and economic improvements, we’ll be looking to create supply chain opportunities for businesses in the area, as well as generating employment and training opportunities for people in Port Talbot and the surrounding area”.

The integrated transport hub will provide easier access to employment and residential areas in and around the town and valleys

areas, and forms part of the council’s wider regeneration plans for Port Talbot’s town centre and harbourside.

The project is part of Port Talbot’s vibrant and viable places regeneration programme and will see more than £35 million invested in providing new homes, improving existing homes, providing space for new businesses and creating new transport and communication links.

Ali Thomas, leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “Improving transport and connectivity are key priorities for Neath Port Talbot and the Swansea Bay City Region to improve the economic prosperity for our local communities.

“Together with the redeveloped Port Talbot Parkway station, the integrated transport hub will not only improve access to employment opportunities but improve the image of Port Talbot as a gateway to the county borough and the wider region.”

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9/9/2016 3:02:41 PM

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9/9/2016 5:03:57 PM

Technology & communication Reaching new heights

Steve Bain, of South West Wales-based Pisys.net, which has partnerships with Microsoft and Dell, seeks out new heights in and out of the office...

Technology & Communication is sponsored by

TechnologyCommunication DONE.indd 1

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Reaching new heights Steve Bain, of South West Wales-based Pisys.net which has partnerships with Microsoft and Dell, seeks out new heights in and out of the office.

As BUSINESS LIFE reveals…

High-flying is a term often associated with directors of successful companies but for one Swansea businessman, the term is taken literally.

Steve Bain, director and joint-founder of Swansea-based Pisys.net, combines his day job at the IT firm with his passion for paragliding, a hobby that has seen him travel the globe in search of the perfect flight.

Bain is part of the team that has seen Pisys.net become one of the biggest IT firms in the region and with franchises in Cardiff, Aberdeen and Inverness, it’s not just his hobby that’s reaching new heights.

Formed in 2003 after meeting at a BNI event, Bain and business partner John Merrick merged their two IT businesses to form Pisys.net and haven’t looked back since. In their 13 years of business together they have seen their company grow considerably, but it’s Bain’s love of flying

that enables him to keep his business life grounded.

The firm now has partnerships with Microsoft, Dell and IBM. He said: “I’m as passionate about Pisys. net as I am about flying and being able to juggle my business life with my family life and my hobby is challenging but highly rewarding.

“My love of flying stems from my time in the Air Cadets and after learning to paraglide in Sweden, I was fortunate enough to join the South West Wales Soaring Club when we moved to Swansea.”

With one of the best paragliding spots in Europe on his doorstep, Bain can regularly be found in Gower when he is not solving IT issues for clients.

“Rhossili Downs are arguably one of the best paragliding spots around. Not only are the conditions excellent for the sport but being on my doorstep, I can often get a flight

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Reaching New Heights Technology & Communication

I’M AS PASSIONATE ABOUT PISYS.NET AS I AM ABOUT FLYING AND BEING ABLE TO JUGGLE MY BUSINESS LIFE WITH MY FAMILY LIFE AND MY HOBBY IS CHALLENGING BUT HIGHLY REWARDING.

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Technology & Communication

Reaching New Heights

Steve Bain, director and joint-founder of Swansea-based Pisys.net

in after work or in the summer months, early in the morning before heading in to the office”.

Although a familiar face in paragliding circles locally, his passion has taken him around the globe. Most recently he visited Tenerife but trips to Sweden, as well as a scheduled flight to Spain next year, will keep the air miles adding up as he travels with fellow club members.

And using the IOTA glider by Advance with an Impress 3 Harness and a Navitar Oudie 3 computer, the kit carried is smaller than most people expect.

Bain added: “The club are off to Algodonales just outside Cadiz in Spain, which is regarded as one of the best paragliding spots in the world.

“The whole kit weighs approximately 15kg, which makes it relatively easy to carry and climb to the best spots for the sport.”

As his love of paragliding continues to grow, so too does Pisys.net. The firm’s vision of providing affordable IT support and services to SMEs in South Wales has led to it becoming one of the leading

outsourced IT suppliers in Wales. The business spans both the private and public sectors as far north as Aberdeen and east to London.

Bain said: “At Pisys.net we are committed to providing our clients with fast, efficient, professional and courteous service of the highest level. We have formed partnerships with some of the world’s biggest and most respected technology providers, such as Microsoft, Dell and IBM/Lenovo, so that we

can make the very best technology available to small and mid-sized businesses. But only when they’re ready and only when we know it will benefit their business”.

With a growing UK-wide franchise base and expanding portfolio of clients, the IT business has a bright future and with the ability to indulge his passion locally, Bain is one of the few local businessmen who has the work-life balance just right.

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9/8/2016 5:34:17 PM

To re l i eve s o m e o f t h e m o u n t i n g p re s s u re ex p e r i e n ce d by m a r ke t e r s , E u ro p e a n Tel e c o m S olu t i o n s h a ve d eve l o p e d a p a c kag e o f m a r ke t i n g p ro d u ct s d e sig n e d t o n o t o n l y m e a s u re yo u r m a r ke t i n g a c t i v i t y, but m a xi m i s e o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t m a y h a ve b e e n m i s s e d .

N ic k Fo d e n , Business D eve l o p m e n t Manager c o m m e n t e d “ We u n d e r s t a n d t h e b u sin e s s n e e d f or s h o r t t e r m re su l t s l i n ke d t o m a r ke t i n g a c t i v i t y a n d h a ve p u t i n p l a c e a s u i t e o f p ro d u c t s t h a t c a n h e l p b u s i n e s s e s se e w h a t i s a n d i s n ʼ t wo r k i n g ”.

M r Fo d e n c o n t i n u e d “ Wh e t h e r yo u r c a m p a i g n i s o n - l i n e o r o f f - l i n e , a t s o m e p o i n t t h e re w i l l b e a re q u i re m e n t t o t al k t o c u s t o m e r s a n d t h a t ʼ s w h e re o u r m a r ke t i n g s o l u t i o n d e m o n s t ra t e s i t ʼs p owe r ”.

W i t h c o s t s s t a r t i n g f ro m a s l i t t l e a s £ 1. 5 0 p e r m o n t h , t h e s o f t wa re i s n o t o n l y a f f o rda b l e b u t b e i n g we b - b a s e d , i t i s a c ce s s i b l e f ro m a ny w h e re s o yo u c a n m o n i t o r a n d t ra c k yo u r m a r ke t i n g a c t i v i t y i n re a l - t i m e .

Fro m m e m o ra b l e telephone numbers for use in campaigns to in t u i t i ve s o f t wa re t h a t i d e n t i f i e s m isse d call numbers and g e n e ra t e s re p o r t s o n c al l - vo l u m e s lin ke d t o s p e c i f i c c a m p a i g n s ; t h e s of t wa re i s a p owe r f u l t o o l t o j u st if y m a r ke t i n g a c t i v i t y. ju

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9/8/2016 9:34:02 AM

advertising feature

Local Communications Specialist Promotes New State of the Art Vehicle Tracking System Antony Worsley, from ANYCommunications in Swansea, is excited to promote SmartCam, a new state-of-the-art vehicle tracking system, to the local market.

SmartCam, has been developed

by Crystal Ball, the UK’s foremost developer of smart vehicle, camera and mobile tracking systems and ANYCommunications is the only certified partner for the new product in South West Wales.

Unlike black box tracking devices, SmartCam is an android based futureproof device offering integrated 3G HD video camera capability with comprehensive fleet tracking.

The device includes key functionality such as monitoring driver behaviour and driver ID; differentiating between business and private mileage; and offering paperless vehicle checklists. In addition, SmartCam’s 3G HD video recording quality provides fleet managers with valuable eventgenerated videos in real-time, allowing operators to immediately view them remotely from any desktop or smartdevice.

What’s more, the device provides drivers with visual and audible speeding and fixed-speed camera alerts through onboard road speed and speed camera data, which is provided under license and updated regularly. This not only helps to

safeguard licenses but also assists with identifying and improving poor driver behaviour by warning the driver when they are exceeding speeding thresholds set by the company, and when approaching fixed speed cameras.

Event-generated videos can also provide invaluable evidence in respect of accidents and subsequent insurance claims, reducing claim processing times and protecting against ‘crash for cash’ scams.

Explains Antony Worsley, “The FTA recently highlighted the fact that crash for cash incidents are a significant issue affecting vans and trucks. It said that staged accidents targeting vans are rapidly on the increase and recommended forward-facing cameras as both a control and preventative measure.

“With upcoming and tightened legislation impacting fleets, businesses must ensure they are operating well-maintained, roadworthy and safe vehicles at all times.

After new sentencing guidelines came into force on February 1, companies that breach health and safety laws will face fines of up to £20 million, making it absolutely necessary that operators

provide employees with adequate tools to conduct daily vehicle checks.

“SmartCam is ideal for fleet managers needing to run efficient and effective fleets on one platform, enabling them to clearly identify and improve poor driver behaviour by having meaningful discussions around event-generated videos which will help to identify dangerous, reckless or tired driving. Improving poor driver behaviour is also paramount to reducing fuel costs, vehicle wear-and-tear and improving safety.”

SmartCam is a unique product in today’s market, delivering significant savings, improving fleet productivity and providing legislative compliance to fleets of all sizes.

It is supported by an established GPS fleet tracking system which is used by many SMEs and local government departments across the UK.

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9/8/2016 9:34:31 AM

Expert opinion with Adam Curtis, CEO of Hoowla & MD of Clockwork Bear

Alwen Williams, director for BT Cymru Wales

Ultrafast broadband helping firm’s ‘competitive edge’...

Access to a new ultrafast broadband service is giving businesses in the Swansea Bay region a competitive edge, according to broadcast solutions provider.

Swansea-based Quicklink is one of around 35 businesses taking part in a technical trial of cutting-edge G.fast technology.

The technology has been pioneered in BT’s labs and delivers ultrafast speeds of around 300Mbps - more than ten times the UK average - over existing copper lines.

Quicklink, which provides broadcasters with software and hardware solutions to help them transmit live and edited video, is using its G.fast connection to promote video acquisition, management and distribution over IP technology. The firm, which is partnered with Skype’s media division, believes ultrafast speeds is allowing it to showcase the latest broadcast technology and win new customers.

Technical manager Luke Griffiths said the connection was helping provide a “competitive edge” for the business.

He said: “We partnered with Skype TX a professional media division in Skype owned by Microsoft. Together we have recently developed The Quicklink TX Multi Range a portfolio of hardware which allows broadcasters to integrate multiple Skype video calls into their programmes.

“This technology provides a dedicated system for broadcast networks to directly plug in studio-grade Skype feeds into their productions.

“For newscasters it provides a quick and cost effective way of providing live links to reporters in the field or conducting interviews. The TX technology allows you to have multiple Skype feeds simultaneously and send a much higher quality picture.

“The live demonstrations have been very popular with our clients and the response has been incredibly positive.

But to showcase what our products are capable of you need the bandwidth that G.fast provides to upload the content especially with the increasing demand of Ultra HD. “We definitely want to keep the G.fast connection – it has most definitely given us a competitive edge, it really has helped us to promote and sell our technology which is a key development for us.”

Griffiths added customers had also been impressed with the performance of the G.fast service with a number of broadcasters now looking to make the switch.

Quicklink, which has been on the Swansea trial for the last seven months, has also been streamlining its internal systems by using ultrafast speeds, including its phone system.

The technical trial, which is serving a number of apartment blocks and business centres in Swansea, is being delivered by Openreach, BT’s local network business.

If trials like the one in Swansea prove successful - and if UK regulation continues to encourage investment - Openreach aims to start deploying G.fast in 2016/17 alongside its existing fibre broadband services.

Alwen Williams, director of BT Cymru Wales, said Swansea was increasingly playing a key part in BT’s ultrafast broadband delivery.

The technology changes the way broadband signals are transmitted, delivering the sort of speeds that would previously have required fibre to be run all the way from an exchange to a premises.

The company is committed to bringing the technology to 10 million homes and businesses across the UK by the end of 2020.

Growth is good.

High growth is better...

You can’t be involved in the technology and communication industry for long before getting bombarded with people talking about growth or even better, high growth.

There are many variables to whether a company or product will achieve growth.

Companies grow when everything is aligned. What I mean by that is the team, finance, product and customer demand all come together. When it comes to metrics as a business owner the only one metric that counts is turnover and profit. Forget head count or fancy offices, the only number of interest in a high growth business should be turnover and how to reinvest that turnover to create further growth.

The Top 100 companies in South West Wales is the ideal barometer of growth in the region. Seeing the turnover and competition on this list increase will mean a more prosperous Swansea Bay region.

High growth is a marathon, not a sprint.

When you look at the history of successful tech companies many of them took years of hard work and 24/7 commitment. If your business is at the stage where you want investment to further grow the best advice I can give is to network. Meet as many people in your chosen industry and let them know you are considering investment. Once you have a network of interested parties, get down to the details and focus on the serious offers.

Good businesses that are pitched correctly will raise money in today’s investment environment. If you aren’t having much success, Wales has a good support network in the Accelerated Growth Program run by Winning Pitch and Finance Wales.

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The cast of new historical drama, THE COLLECTION, which premiers on Amazon Prime on Friday 2nd September. While set in Paris, the series was filmed predominantly in Swansea

GETTING CREATIVE The UK’s creative industries sector is worth £81 billion and is growing twice as fast as the economy as a whole. As Swansea takes a starring role in a glossy new TV drama, BUSINESS LIFE looks at the impact film making is having in the region...

It’s 7 o’clock in the morning on a bit of a blustery and rather cold day in March. But there’s already a throng of people outside Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall.

They are dressed up to the nines too. Ball gowns, dinner suits and bedecked with jewels. They are each ready to attend what looks to be a swanky ball of some kind or another.

In fact, they are all actors in the line-up for what has been something of a stella ensemble cast for the series The Collection, currently airing on Amazon Prime TV. As anyone who has been glued to the series over the past couple of weeks will know,

it is set in post-war Paris and focuses on the fashion industry. But rub away at the surface just a little, and you will see Swansea shining through too. For in the main, it has been shot here. Both at the giant Bay Studios in Fabian Way on the site of the old Ford transmission plant and at a string of different locations such as the Brangwyn.

It means the people behind it, the film makers, the producers, the actors, the lighting teams, the special effects professionals have been pouring money into the coffers of local restaurants, hotels, taxi companies and shops, which have all

seen the benefit of a welcome upturn in spend.

And, as a new report has just shown, it is this creative industries sector which is now making an increasingly important economic contribution to the UK economy. The major new study from the innovation body NESTA whose recent report - The Geography of Creativity in the UK - creative cluster, creative people and creative networks - shows that the annual contribution of the sector to UK national prosperity is now £81.4 billion, which equates to five per cent of the whole economy.

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Getting creative

IT IS AN AREA THAT IS GROWING ALL THE TIME AND ONE WITH HUGE POTENTIAL STILL TO COME.

The sector includes advertising and marketing, film, TV, video, radio and photography, games and digital media as well as music, performing and visual arts.

And it has grown by nine per cent, almost twice as fast as the UK economy as a whole and outstripping many other industries across the country. It also reinforces how vital government investment in creativity is, nurturing talent which in turn creates jobs and economic success. And here, the Welsh Assembly has been heavily involved in pushing the sector.

In terms of where creative industries are important, the NESTA research has identified 47 so-called ‘creative clusters’ across the UK, with only one in Wales which is based around Cardiff. Not surprisingly, London and the south east of England still dominate the sector having around a third of all the significant creative clusters in the UK. In fact, London alone accounts for four in ten UK creative industry employees and around 30 per cent of all creative businesses, although significant clusters

Getting creative.indd 2

are also found in the north of England, Scotland as well as individual cities such as Bristol and Brighton.

But Swansea too has a role in this growing field. And it has been one of the unexpected stars of The Collection.

The series has been made up of eight hour-long episodes and has featured an impressive cast which has included Richard Coyle (Coupling, Crossbones) and Tom Riley (Da Vinci’s Demons). Other names include The Good Wife’s Mamie Gumer, acclaimed stage and screen actor Frances de la Tour, plus a wonderful local cast which features Bethan Mary James (Belle).

Though set in Paris, The Collection was in fact filmed mostly in Swansea and was supported by investment from the Welsh Government’s Media Investment Budget.

So a significant proportion of the generous budget for this ambitious show was spent in Wales.

The family saga was written and created

by Oliver Goldstick, the writer and producer of Pretty Little Liars and Ugly Betty, and has followed two clashing brothers at The House of Sabine, a fashion house hiding dark secrets.

The drama comes hot on the heels of the filming at Fabian Way of the blockbuster series Da Vinci’s Demons, sold worldwide.

It may not look like it from the outside, but last year some 900 people were employed there in various capacities. It has been a standout success.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, says the Amazon Prime show is “yet another example of a high profile drama series being filmed on location in Wales and can only serve to enhance and promote our growing reputation as a premier filming location.”

He said: “These types of projects provide a huge boost to the industry, offering work and up-skilling opportunities for Welsh crew while creating a wider range of economic benefits for many small businesses working across a range of sectors.”

The series recruited a highly experienced Welsh crew and construction team to recreate 1940s Paris in Swansea with amazing results.

While rapid growth has been experienced in many parts of the creative industries, it is worth noting that key sectors such as design, software and digital and advertising are having the biggest economic impact.

Most of this is being driven by new entrepreneurs entering the sector with a large increase in the number of businesses in many creative clusters.

In Wales, there is now certainly growing optimism that the sector will be supported further given that in the run-up to the last Welsh Assembly elections, the Labour

Technology & Communication

Party made a commitment in its manifesto to establish Creative Wales. This wholly owned Welsh Government subsidiary will be given its own budget and freedom to grow the creative industries in Wales, albeit with a target to establish 100 new creative businesses by 2020 alongside 4,000 new jobs. It will be a body that backs home-grown talent - but with a hotline to Hollywood.

Although nothing has happened yet in terms of establishing this organisation, it will be a major policy move for Wales to have such a body operating quickly given the growing importance of the sector.

Ian Kirk, who has worked on two TV series in Cardiff and has now moved to Swansea to get on board with the city’s creative sector, says its value cannot be underestimated.

“It is an area that is growing all the time and one with huge potential still to come,” he said.

“I think a lot of people would be truly amazed at what is coming out of the area.

Yes, The Collection is currently the most high profile. But it is the tip of an iceberg and one which really can grow if sufficient resources are allocated to help it really develop. It needs nurturing. But given the talent already here, the sky is the limit.

“The Government is working hard to foster the right environment for businesses to thrive, and is helping our creative startups to not just find their feet, but to hit the ground running.”

Actor James Cosmo during a break in filming ‘The Collection’. A fashion house drama set in 1940’s Paris.

9/8/2016 5:42:29 PM

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9/9/2016 10:42:32 AM

Motoring Porche Panamera Turbo

Is the new 2016 Porsche Panamera Turbo the ultimate family car?

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Motoring

Peugeot Expert range Motoring

Peugeot Expert range

Peugeot proves Expert on van front...

By Stewart Smith

Peugeot is one of the biggest commercial vehicle manufacturers in the EU, taking a share of around 20 per cent of the van market, and its compact offerings can be seen on many of the UK’s motorways and town and country roads.

It’s highly successful Expert range is popular with tradesmen and small companies around the country and now the third generation Expert is on the horizon, bigger and better than ever.

The new Expert will be available in three body lengths and with two or three seats in the front and offers up to 1,400kg of load weight with a potential length of four metres.

Standard and Long versions, at 4.95m and 5.30m, are designed for the core market.

The Compact 4.60m version, unique in the van market, has a useful cargo length of 3.32m and its reduced height of 1.90m guarantees the new Peugeot Expert has ready access to all car parks.

Power comes from ultra-efficient Euro 6 BlueHDi diesel engine with options from 95bhp to 180bhp and most models are equipped with stop-start technology.

Peugeot claims the new range of Expersts also offer record fuel economy and CO2 emissions while the new BlueHDi 180 EAT6 gearbox and the BlueHDi 95 ETG6 electronic automated gearbox, frees up extra legroom for the middle passenger.

The Expert comes with a choice of five diesel engines, the most efficient version offers 55.3mpg with emissions of CO2 at 133g/km, and the entire Expert range, with gives 52.3mpg with CO2 at 140g/km on average, are best-in-class.

There is a choice of five or six speed manual gearboxes as well as the ETS6 automatic.

Van styling hasn’t always been high on the priority list, but the new Peugeot Expert is actually looks pretty smart with a new elevated vertical grille introduced with the

new Peugeot 2008 Compact SUV. It you want to promote an even more impressive image of your company a “Look Pack” is available as an option. It includes items coloured to match the bodywork such as front and rear bumpers, the casings of the rear-view mirrors and the side strips, as well as the chrome front grille surround.

The front bumper houses an LED light signature, integrated within chrome-plated ‘boomerang-shaped’ trims.

The new Expert is fitted with nonremovable bulkhead in accordance with current European regulations.

An insulated glazed bulkhead, available as an option instead of the standard bulkhead, provides greater acoustic and thermal comfort, as well as ensuring occupant safety.

To improve ergonomics and driving comfort, this insulated bulkhead also allows more room by making it possible to recline the seat-back, or slide it an extra 40mm back compared with a standard partition.

Up front the new Expert gives driver and mate more comfort than is usual with a van.

It offers very comfortable seats, two glove boxes on the passenger side, a five-litre A4-size storage compartment above the

dashboard, jack plug points, 12V and USB sockets in the lower glove compartment can be used to charge mobile devices.

Connectors to house a digital tablet of up to 11 inches within reach, or a smartphone with built-in supply, are available as accessories.

There is a lot of high tech gear available, including a seven-inch touchscreen which can be operated by a finger or by using voice recognition which provides additional security in particular for using the navigation, telephone and media features without drivers taking their eyes off the road ahead.

Other useful standard and optional gear includes parking sensors, drivetime warning system, blind spot monitoring, front and rear radar parking assistance, driver attention alert and lande departure warning.

I found the new Expert easy to drive, comfortable, and the high driving position a bonus when on the motorway - especially in torrential rain.

The new Expert van price starts at £21,939 for the Panel Van S Compact and up to £32,799 for the Panel Van Professional Plus.

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N E W G E N E R AT I O N .

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Official Fuel Consumption in MPG (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) for the New Expert Range are: Urban 44.8 –50.4 (5.6–6.3), Extra Urban 51.4–57.6 (4.9–5.5),

Combined 47.9–54.3 (5.2–5.9) and CO2 155–137 (g/km). MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Peugeot Motor Company PLC’s registered office is Peugeot Motor Company PLC, Pinley House, 2 Sunbeam Way, Coventry CV3 1ND. Registered in England No. 148545. Peugeot Motor Company PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Motoring

Vauxhall Adam

Vauxhall Adam S 1.4i Turbo Start/Stop

By Peter Keenan HAVING overcome a bit of an identity crisis the Vauxhall Adam S is on its way to making a big impression in the warm-hatch sector of the city car market.

Vauxhall recently changed the name of its range-topping three-door model from Grand Slam to S to avoid confusion for customers with the Opel version sold in Europe – as S logos could still be seen on the British car’s bodywork and in the interior.

That teething problem sorted the Adam S is going on to bigger and better things with customisation the order of the day as there are a head-spinning number of ways to make the car unique to you. This is in addition to the changes Vauxhall include on the S model to make it stand out from the standard Adam including a natty body kit and excellent brakes.

The exterior looks the part with bodycolour front lower spoiler, side sills and rear lower skirt making their presence felt.

The red brake calipers and rear roof spoiler indicate this is a car that doesn’t want to hang around when the traffic lights turn green.

A tuned chassis hugs the ground and, together with a firm suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels, the ride is firm. But providing you keep out of the many potholes littering our roads these days it’s not uncomfortable.

Where the set up scores is in the sharp handling and superb cornering characteristics exhibited by the Adam S.

The steering is sharp and the car is nimble as a ballerina so more than able to handle the turbocharged version of Vauxhall’s 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine residing under the bonnet.

The tweaked engine develops 150ps propelling the car to 62mph in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph. Power is sent to the front wheels via a reasonably slick six-speed manual transmission.

Official fuel economy is claimed by Vauxhall to average out at 47.9mpg with carbon dioxide emissions of 139g/km.

The cabin matches the exterior for snazziness thanks to little details such as the special floor mats while dark-tinted rear windows give a rock star feel to the car.

The optional Recaro sports seats up front are supportive and there is plenty of room, but space in the rear is tight - a fact that became clear when I gave a lift to two pals who had to shoe-horn themselves into the back seats. The space given is only really suitable for children and it was with some relief that the journey was a short one for my friends.

The 170-litre boot is pretty small as well although the rear seats can be easily folded over to create more room.

There are plenty of toys to play with including a CD player with USB facility and aux-in socket, digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel mounted audio controls and cruise control.

Safety is well catered for with six airbags

and a tyre pressure monitoring system on the team.

However safety and practicality are likely to be of little interest to the motoring fashionistas the Adam S will tempt. They will be more impressed with the claimed million-plus configurations on offer to personalise it.

Fast facts Price: £17,475 Mechanical: 150ps, 1,364cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 130mph 0-60mph: 8.5 seconds Combined mpg: 47.9 Insurance group: 15 CO2 emissions: 139g/km BiK rating: 24% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

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SAVE AN EXTRA £500 WHEN YOU TEST DRIVE A NEW CORSA OR ADAM* IN ADDITION TO OUR OTHER GREAT OFFERS BY 30TH SEPTEMBER

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range: Urban: 12.7 (22.3) – 83.1 (3.4), Extra-urban: 23.9 (11.8) – 94.2 (3.0), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) – 91.1 (3.1). CO 2 emissions: 373 – 82g/km.# *Participating Retailers only. £500 Test Drive offer only available on limited, selected Corsa and ADAM models, excluding Corsa Sting and Corsa Sting R, and excludes certain allowances which the Participating Retailers can advise. Offer available on eligible, selected new vehicles ordered from 19 August 2016 and registered by 30 September 2016. Offer applies to private individuals, Vauxhall Partners and small businesses 1- 24 units (purchase only). All other customers are excluded. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/500testdrive or contact your local Retailer for further details. #Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Correct at time of going to press.

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall Corsa range: Urban: 38.2 (7.4) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 58.9 (4.8) - 94.2 (3.0), Combined: 48.7 (5.8) - 88.3 (3.2). CO 2 emissions: 133 - 85g/km.# Personal contract hire offer on Corsa Energy 3-Door 1.4i 90PS (a/c), including free of charge metallic paint, on orders received before 3 October 2016, subject to availability and status. Age 18+ only. Figures based on a non-maintenance contract hire package with advance rental of £504, then 47 monthly rentals of £168. Excess miles over contracted mileage of 20,000 over 48 months charged at 6.64 pence per mile. Excess charges also apply if you breach manufacturer servicing or maintenance guidelines or if the car exceeds BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guidelines for its age/mileage when it is returned to Vauxhall Leasing. Package includes Road Fund Licence and Vauxhall Assistance. Guarantee/indemnity may be required. Prices and details are subject to change without notice. For full specification and Ts&Cs contact your local Retailer. You will not own the car. ALD Automotive Ltd., trading as Vauxhall Leasing, BS16 3JA. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. #Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Official EU-regulated test data is provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Correct at time of going to press.

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Motoring

Porche Panamera Turbo

Is the new 2016 Porsche Panamera Turbo the ultimate family car?

Porsche has completely reworked its luxurious Panamera sports saloon.

We take the top of the line Turbo model for a spin to see how it fares...

What’s new?

Pretty much everything, really. The secondgeneration Panamera Turbo has been completely reworked from the ground up, featuring improved styling, a more powerful engine and cutting-edge technology. The new Panamera’s proportions have increased over those of the first-generation model. The car is now 34mm longer, 6mm wider and 5mm taller, while the wheelbase has also been lengthened by 30mm.

Under the bonnet, Porsche has fitted a new 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8, which powers all four wheels through an eight-speed, twin-clutch PDK gearbox. While the Turbo’s powerplant may have shrunk in comparison with its predecessor’s 4.8-litre V8, power is up 30bhp to 543bhp. The Panamera Turbo now has more pulling power than ever before, too, with the new car producing 770Nm compared with the old model’s 700Nm.

Looks and image Despite a number of facelifts over the years, the first-generation Panamera was never much of a looker. While the new car has been dramatically improved in the looks department, you would still be hard-pressed to label it a properly attractive car.

the ultimate cabin. The Panamera’s interior more than makes up for any misgivings the car’s exterior might inspire. Those features that aren’t operated through the buttons on the centre console are controlled through the new 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash - even the air conditioning. Other features controlled via this large, responsive screen include the online sat nav, Apple CarPlay integration, and chassis set-up controls to name but a few.

Styling cues such as a new LED light bar that stretches across the rear end of the car help to link the Panamera to the rest of the current Porsche range - a similar feature also adorns the new 718 Boxster and Cayman models.

In addition, trapezoidal quad exhausts help differentiate the Panamera Turbo from the new 4S and 4S Diesel models. The Panamera Turbo also features a new extendable rear wing, which splits as it deploys. Not only does this help with downforce and stability, it also looks incredibly cool.

Space and practicality

The Panamera’s interior has also been completely reworked. The majority of the traditional buttons that festooned the centre console on the old car have been done away with. Touch-sensitive buttons housed in smartlooking black panel surfacing now control the majority of the Panamera’s fixtures and fittings.

Although these new controls may not be as easy to use (or find) while on the move as traditional buttons are, they certainly make for an incredibly attractive and luxurious-feeling

Like any vehicle that caters towards the premium end of the saloon car section of the market, the Panamera will certainly not leave you wanting for space on the inside. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the 20mm reduction in roofline height above the rear passenger compartment has infringed on space, as Porsche claims there is now more headroom available for backseat passengers than ever before. This is a win-win situation, as the lower roofline makes the car appear longer, lower and, ultimately,

better looking. Rear passengers also won’t feel short-changed when it comes to headroom. As you would expect from a car of this nature, rear legroom is plentiful.

From a practicality point of view, the Panamera has been improved yet again. Boot space is up by 50 litres over the old model, reaching 495 litres with the rear seats in place. Fold the back seats down and this figure is increased to 1,304 litres of luggage capacity. It means this car is now a real option as a high-end family car.

Behind the wheel One thing rapidly becomes apparent the moment you set off in the Panamera Turbo: the huge amount of power the 4.0-litre V8 is capable of putting down on the road. Producing 543bhp, this new engine helps shift the car from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 190mph.

In a car this vast, experiencing such acceleration feels rather surreal, yet incredibly addictive.

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FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: Porsche Panamera Turbo Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 543bhp and 770Nm of torque Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch (PDK) automatic Performance: Top speed 190mph, 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds (3.6 with optional Sport Chrono pack) Economy: 30mpg combined Emissions: 214g/km CO2 Price: £113,075

family car?

There is the tiniest amount of turbo lag when you first plant your foot, but as soon as the turbos kick in you’ll find yourself rocketing up to speeds that certainly wouldn’t please the local constabulary. While the V8 doesn’t make the angriest or most exciting noise in the world, at the end of the day it’s still a V8, which means it sounds good - if a little reserved.

The optional Sport Response button is also a great toy to play with, summoning the Panamera’s maximum power for 20 seconds.

Once pressed, the engine’s response is dramatically sharpened, as is the shift ferocity of the PDK gearbox.

This all adds up to you being thrown into the back of the comfortable, supportive seats.

Through the corners, all-wheel drive coupled with the optional active rear-wheel steering system we had on our test car mean you never really feel like you’re going to run out of grip.

The car’s steering is also well weighted and gives a pleasing amount of feedback.

Trundling around town, the Panamera is incredibly refined and comfortable, with road noise kept to a minimum. Put the car on the motorway and it’s much the same story.

This is a great cruising machine, with wind noise being the only intrusion you might notice as you push on. That said, even at speeds of up to 125mph on the German autobahn you still won’t find the increased wind noise all that annoying.

Value for money Compared with its closest rivals, the Panamera Turbo could almost be considered something of a bargain. Porsche throws in plenty of kit as standard for the £113,075 you’ll pay for a Panamera Turbo.

This includes features such as full leather upholstery, satellite navigation displayed on the large 12.3-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple Carplay for easy iPhone

connectivity. You can even make your Panamera a wireless hotspot for internet access on the fly.

Considering that a Maserati Quattroporte GTS or Mercedes-AMG S63 will set you back at least £115,980 and £127,675 respectively, the Panamera does make a fairly strong case for itself. Be wary of Porsche’s infamously expensive options list, however...

Who would buy one?

The Panamera Turbo will appeal to anyone who is after a large, luxurious saloon that is both capable of ferrying them around in a composed and comfortable manner, yet powerful enough to give them a proper adrenaline rush when the mood takes them.

Remember, this car conquered the Nurburgring in 7 minutes 38 seconds, so if you want a car you can spend a day blasting around a track in before cruising leisurely back home, this could be the one for you. swanseabaybusiness.com 167

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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

Swansea Bay Business Club’s July 2016 lunch Tell me more: Rob Vale, former European president at Staples Inc spoke in front of guests

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DEVELOPING FUTURES SWANSEA UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT IS DEVELOPING FUTURES, THROUGH COLLABORATIONS AND FUNDING

DEVELOPING BUSINESS By starting a conversation with us, you may uncover opportunities you never knew existed. As a business in South Wales, we can provide you with the chance to grow and develop without the need to input large amounts of time or money. It starts with as little as a few minutes of conversation.

Email somplacements@swansea.ac.uk to arrange a call or meeting.

“I have been involved with Final Year Projects with the School of Management for several years now, each time working with a different group of Business Management students. The impact that they have on my business is both real and ongoing. This year they completed research which has reassured me that my business is making the right choices regarding products and has assured me of the market potential, mirroring some of my own observations. It went as far as to quantify the possibilities and set the tone for the business to grow in the future. I look forward to engaging with the University further this year and would encourage all local businesses to grasp this opportunity as there is real value from this quality of research.”

Antony Worsley FCMI AIC, Managing Director | ANYCommunications Ltd

DEVELOPING STUDENTS We have launched 40 Developing Futures Scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate students with total funding worth £100,000. This programme is more than just a scholarship package. Students will have opportunity to gain valuable career-enhancing skills, our scholars will contribute to all aspects of student life, and contribute positively back to the programme, School and University. There is additional funding available for Postgraduate Research (PGR) students, the School of Management has put aside £250,000 to sponsor fully-funded PGR scholaships. The School of Management is committed to developing our students into high calibre graduates.

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP CASE STUDY

DEVELOPING COMMUNITY It has become almost a cliché to point to the reliance of the Welsh economy on the activities of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). However the fact remains that SMEs form a large and            innovation and potential growth.

At Swansea University’s School of Management we have established the Centre for Responsible Organisation and Social Innovation (CROSI). We are working with strategic partners, The Federation of Small Business, and Business in the Community (of which the School is a member) to investigate and evaluate the non-economic contribution that SMEs of all types make to Welsh society.

Most SMEs do not even recognize that they undertake activities we might call ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’, however, what is clear is that the aggregate contribution of SMEs to communities, the       

Tope Balogun has successfully established his own company ‘Great Worqs’, which aims to connect creative individuals so that they can share their creative digital content, whilst studying for his BSc Economics.

He has also been a winner in the University £250 Challenge and secured a £1000 Santander bursary.

            and how the School of Management could support you, please contact sommarketing@swansea.ac.uk

RESEARCH CENTRE Centre of Responsible Organisation and Social Innovation (CROSI) The School is leading for the University on membership of Business in the Community and has also signed up to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education, as a way of signaling its intent to be a responsible organisational citizen.

Get in contact: E: sommarketing@swansea.ac.uk T: 01792 295601

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Networking Ladies Day

Ladies day

Where: Ffos Las Racecourse

Tell me more: A chance to turn on the style and to dress to impress at one of South West Wales’ social events of the summer

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Everything your event needs…

With hundreds of meeting spaces across two beachside campuses, Swansea University provides an incredible location for meetings, conferences and events of all shapes and sizes.

Whether you’re putting on a seminar, a conference or an exhibition, or you’re hosting a dinner or organising an important launch event, Swansea University offers an extensive and versatile range of meeting and event spaces, as well as excellent event catering and event management and support services.

The Bay Campus

and working spaces, each seating up to 50 delegates, many of which offer incredible views over the bay.

Home to the University’s College of Engineering and School of Management, and with its very own beach and access to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Swansea University’s new £450m science and innovation Bay Campus provides a unique backdrop for any conference or event.

The Great Hall At the heart of the Bay Campus is the iconic Great Hall building, which was opened in June by HRH Prince of Wales. The £32m facility was designed by world-renowned architect Dr Demitri Parphyrios and provides a venue in which the local, business and University communities can come together.

Singleton Park Campus Back at Singleton Park, there is a whole host of meeting and event spaces to choose from. audio visual technology. All the seating in the auditorium retracts, allowing the room to be converted into a large, flat floor space which is perfect for exhibitions, parties and dinners for up to 300 people.

Running alongside the Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium are two light-filled galleries which offer perfect networking and exhibition space. The galleries lead to a gorgeous café bar which opens out onto a beautiful balcony giving breathtaking views over the whole of Swansea Bay. On the floor below the auditorium, the Great Hall houses three large tiered lecture theatres, as well as a series of smaller flat floor meeting rooms; all of which are equipped with the latest AV technology.

The Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium The key event space within the impressive Great Hall complex is the magnificent 700-seat Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium; complete with flexible staging and international-standard acoustics, as well as state-of-the-art

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The Grade II listed Fulton House at the heart of the campus is home to the Refectory; the largest flat floor space on the site, which has a huge balcony giving impressive views over Swansea Bay. Fulton House also houses a large number of additional meeting spaces and lecture theatres which are perfect for breakout rooms, workshops and exhibitions.

Other key venues within the Singleton Park Campus include the Taliesin Arts Centre, with its 350-seat auditorium; the Faraday Building, offering a large lecture theatre and adjoining breakout spaces; and the Grade II listed Wallace Building, offering a delightful marble porch, and a lecture theatre seating up to 140 people.

The School of Management

On-site accommodation and a wide range of facilities for delegates to enjoy

Adjacent to the Great Hall is the state-of-the-art School of Management building. The ground floor of the building boasts an impressive glass Atrium and a delightful amphitheatreshaped lecture theatre which can seat up to 150 delegates. On the first and second floors there is an impressive range of Harvard-style meeting rooms

For event delegates who don’t want to rest their heads too far from their conference venue, Swansea University offers convenient, single ensuite bedrooms during the summer months, together with a wide range of onsite facilities; from cafés, bars and supermarkets, to banks, gymnasiums, and even a post office.

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Swansea University has recently played host to a range Swansea University has recently played host to events, a range of concerts, conferences, international sporting of concerts, conferences, international sporting events, exhibitions and more: exhibitions and more: u The British Science Festival u The British Science Festival u The FISU World University Championships in Rugby 7s u The FISU World University Championships in Rugby 7s u The Morriston Orpheus Choir Annual Gala Concert u The Morriston Orpheus Choir Annual Gala Concert u The International Conference on Hybrid and Organic u The International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics Photovoltaics u The Dunvant Male Voice Choir Annual Patrons Concert u The Dunvant Male Voice Choir Annual Patrons Concert u The International Population Linkage Data Conference u The International Population Linkage Data Conference u The Merched y Wawr Annual Conference and AGM u The Merched y Wawr Annual Conference and AGM u The Contemporary Arts Society Annual Conference u The Contemporary Arts Society Annual Conference u The EESW Big Bang Fair u The EESW Big Bang Fair u The Careers Wales Careers and Employability Fair u The Careers Wales Careers and Employability Fair

Visit the website to find out more Visit the website to find out more

www.eventsandhospitality.wales www.eventsandhospitality.wales 01792 295665 01792 295665 events@swansea.ac.uk events@swansea.ac.uk @SwanUni_Events @SwanUni_Events

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Networking Ladies Day

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Advertisement Feature

Ospreys Announce New Commercial Manager “Huw has a clear understanding of what the Ospreys are about and where we fit in to the wider, fast changing world of rugby business and, in particular, the opportunities that will open up to us in the coming years. We are delighted to be able to welcome him into the organisation.”

Ospreys Rugby are delighted to announce the appointment of Huw Warren as Commercial Manager at the Liberty Stadium.

Huw joins the region ahead of the new season, from Aviva Premiership side Bath, where he held the post of Business Development Manager, leading the sponsorship platform and working with global brands such as Dyson and Red Bull.

Originally hailing from Abergavenny in Wales and with family ties to Swansea, Huw previously worked in 7s rugby, establishing tournaments and working for a leading global brand Ultimate Rugby Sevens, having completed a Masters Degree in International Management from Exeter University.

“I’m excited to join the Ospreys” he said. “As a rugby business, they already have a strong commercial brand and I’m looking forward to working with the team to strengthen it further.

It’s clear that the board has a clear vision and ambition to develop the brand, and the senior management team at the Ospreys share that ambition.”

When asked what excites him most about his new role, Huw told us: “I think that the ambition of the board and also the rugby department is very exciting - Ospreys is a brand that is highly thought of in both rugby and beyond, and I relish the opportunity to work with such a prestigious team.

Andrew Millward, Managing Director, Ospreys Rugby, stressed the importance of the appointment, saying: “This is a significant coup for the business. Huw is a forward thinking, well connected and commercially focused individual who will bring his experience and contacts from the cutting edge of Premiership Rugby, and help to continue driving the Ospreys brand.

“The commercial landscape in rugby is changing fast, with digital and international growth opening up exciting opportunities.

This role provides a great opportunity to develop on a commercial front but remain passionate about our local community, which is an important part of the Ospreys values and culture. I look forward to meeting and working with local, national and international businesses to build on the already stellar reputation of the team.”

Huw replaces former Commercial Manager, Yarnie Guthrie, who has headed home to New Zealand following five years at the Ospreys to take up an opportunity with the NZRU. To contact Huw regarding commercial opportunities at Ospreys Rugby, email huw. warren@ospreysrugby.com

OSTC FX makes long-term investment to Ospreys Rugby Wales’ only foreign exchange company, OSTCFX were confirmed as the official foreign exchange partner of the Ospreys in the summer of 2013, with the logo featuring on the left sleeve of the jersey during the 13/14 season.

That relationship has since grown, with the company now providing services to all parties within the Liberty Stadium, and they currently feature on the front of the region’s away shirt.

Thanks to the new agreement, OSTCFX will continue to feature on the kit for the next three years, while in the last week the company has launched the OSTCFX Business Suite, a luxurious new five-star hospitality room and

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match day meeting place operating throughout the season in conjunction with both clubs at the Liberty Stadium.

To talk to a member of the commercial team about opportunities for your business, email commercial@ospreysrugby.com

Paul Langley, Managing Director, OSTCFX said: “OSTCFX are extremely proud of our association with Ospreys Rugby, which continues to go from strength to strength. It’s a relationship that fits well with our overall business ethos, which is to partner with organisations that retain a strong community focus while succeeding on an international stage.

“The partnership with a renowned sporting association like the Ospreys helps promote our business, while we are able to assist with the multiple international financial transactions they make every season, helping them in terms of everyday efficiency as a business.”

9/9/2016 3:08:26 PM

Advertisement Feature

Hospitality for 2016/17 at Brand New OSTCFX Lounge Brand new this season, the OSTCFX Suite will be the creme de la creme of Ospreys’ hospitality packages.

Flooded with natural light and designed with guest comfort foremost in mind, the state-of-the-art glassfronted suite provides outstanding views over the award-winning pitch.

The OSTCFX Suite Package includes: • Redesigned and newly refurbished glass-front suite access (2 hours pre-match and 2 hours post-match)

With inclusive drinks, upmarket dining, padded balcony match seating and dedicated hospitality staff, Super Suite showcases a complete package with a fresh and spacious environment perfect for entertaining, networking or simply relaxing.

• Premium padded balcony seating with carpeted exterior • All-inclusive beer, wine and soft drinks • All-Inclusive premium food

For season long membership costs please contact the hospitality team on 01792 616488 or email hospitality@ospreysrugby.com

through the day • Pre-Match appearance with

Membership availability is very limited so don’t hesitate to book your space.

first team Ospreys players • Post-match interview with Ospreys Man of the Match • Dedicated and professional hostess staff • Complimentary match day programme • Souvenir Ospreys lanyard • In-Lounge TV’s for match previews • Transferable membership • Inclusive On-site Parking

HOME FIXTURES AT THE LIBERTY STADIUM BEFORE CHRISTMAS

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• Limited guest passes are available

Fri, 07 Oct

19:35

Cardiff Blues

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Fri, 14 Oct

19:05

Newcastle Falcons

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Sat, 29 Oct

15:00

Newport Gwent Dragons

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

• Exclusive priority access to

Fri, 02 Dec

19:35

Edinburgh Rugby

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

WRU International tickets

Sat, 17 Dec

15:00

FC Grenoble Rugby

Liberty Stadium, Swansea

for home fixtures*

9/9/2016 3:08:44 PM

Presents

Mistletoe Masquerade Drinks Dinner

Dancing

AVAILABLE DATES 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th DECEMBER Three Course Meal | DJ | Photobooth Doors Open 7pm – 1am Tickets £30 WWW.PARCYSCARLETS.COM/CHRISTMAS2016

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

FOR TICKETS & MORE INFO CONTACT: ALYS@SCARLETS.WALES OR 01554 783939

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9/8/2016 9:39:38 AM

Networking Grand Opening

Opening of Port Talbot Parkway railway station.

Tell me more: Station manager Luke Endsor gives Network Rail’s Gareth Woodruff, Aberavon AM David Rees and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates, a tour of the new station

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Networking Charity dinner

Charity dinner

Where: Langland Golf Club Tell me more: A charity event staged by Swansea Macmillan Cancer Support fundraisers to recognise a ÂŁ1 million milestone, which has been raised over 17 years by the Swansea Macmarathon walk.

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Networking

Awards Evening

Mumbles Community Council Awards Tell me more: Celebrations took place as awards were presented to Mumbles residents at Langland Bay Golf Club

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£15* SANTA MEETS SAMBA

01792 341 270 VILLAGE SWANSEA, Langdon Road (Off Fabian Way), SA1 Waterfront, Swansea, SA1 8QY ©LW

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Networking

Dates for your diary September/October 2016...

Sept 12

Sept 14-15

Sept 15

Sept 16

Sept 19

FSB Wales Seminars - Meet the Lord Mayor

What is business modelling?

West Wales breakfast

What is Digital Marketing? - Copper

Swansea University Bay Campus TBC

Tenby Golf Club, Pembrokeshire 7.30am

Bay Creative

South Wales Networking for Women

Mercure Hotel, Swansea 10am

Tino’s, Wind Street, Swansea 10am

Sept 21

Sept 21

Sept 22

Sept 23

Swansea Business Breakfast

Carmarthen BizMums

HSBC Economic event and dinner

Neath BizMums

Aberavon Beach Hotel, Port Talbot 7.30am

Xcel Bowl, Carmarthen 10am

Round Reading Room, Swansea 5.30pm

Sept 23

Sept 27

Sept 29

Sept 30

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Business Lunch Pembrokeshire

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Maximise your membership

South Wales chamber of Commerce: Maximise your membership

FSB Wales Seminars - meet Christina Rees MP and Jeremy Miles AM for Neath

Lamphey Court, Pembroke 12pm

The Old School Estate, Narberth 8.30am

CWM Environmental, Carmarthen 8.30am

Swansea University Bay Campus 7pm

Mansion House, Swansea 7pm

Harvester Llandarcy, Neath 10am

Oct 04

Oct 06

SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Welsh Business Barometer

The Village Hotel, Swansea 8.30am

Oct 25 • South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Maximise your membership • The Grand Hotel, Swansea 8.30am

Aberavon Beach Hotel, Port Talbot 12pm

Oct 14

Oct 20

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Business Breakfast

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Business Breakfast

Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire 7.30am

Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire 7.30am

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Swansea Bay Business Club’s upcoming events...

Sept 19

Sept 20

Hive - The community for modern working

Boosting the manufacturing sector in Wales

DVLA, Morriston 10am

Swansea University Bay Campus TBC

Calendar highlights...

September 2016 lunch

Hive - The community for modern working

With: Gareth Davies, Welsh Rugby Union

Date: September 19 Venue: DVLA, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 7JL Time: 10am

Sept 20 • Boosting the manufacturing sector in Wales • Swansea University Bay Campus

What: The community promoting modern working practices brings together employers from across the sectors to explore the 21st century workplace

FSB Wales Seminars - meet Christina Rees MP and Jeremy Miles AM for Neath Date: September 30 Venue: Swansea University Bay Campus, Fabian Way, SA1 8EP Time: 7pm What: An informal and informative evening with Christina Rees MP and Jeremy Miles AM

Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Women in Business Awards 2016 Date: October 7

Oct 07

Oct 07

Neath BizMums

Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Women in Business Awards 2016

Harvester Llandarcy, Neath 10am

Swansea Marriott Hotel, Swansea 12pm

Oct 25 South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Maximise your membership The Grand Hotel, Swansea 8.30am

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Venue: Swansea Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 3SS Time: 12pm

Location: Swansea Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea

When: Friday, September 23 Time: 12.15pm arrival for 1pm lunch Member tickets: £25 Non-member tickets: £30.50 Bookings close: Friday, September 16

October 2016 lunch Location: Swansea Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea With: Joseph Valente, winner of The Apprenctice 2015 When: Friday, October 21 Time: 12.15pm arrival for 1pm lunch Member tickets: £40 Non-member tickets: £45.50 Bookings close: Friday, October 14

Beaujolais Day lunch 2016 Location: Swansea Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea

What: This magazine and our sister newspaper celebrate top women with the region’s business community

When: Thursday, November 17

South Wales Chamber of Commerce: Business Breakfast

Non-member tickets: £45.50

Date: October 14

Time: 12.15pm arrival for 1pm lunch Member tickets: £40

Bookings close: Wednesday, November 9

Venue: Port of Milford Haven, Gorsewood Drive, Milford Haven, SA73 3ER Time: 7.30am What: Guests will hear from key people at the port regarding developments around the region

For more information, visit: www.swanseabay businessclub.com

9/9/2016 2:40:04 PM

Best places to Eat

Restaurant Guide Whether it’s a business lunch or a rewarding meal after a hard days work, we thought we’d give you a heads up on the best places to eat.

MUMBLES

Norton House Hotel & Seafood Bistro Norton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 5TQ T: 01792 404891 E: enquiries@nortonhousehotel.co.uk www.nortonhousehotel.co.uk /Nortonhousemumbles

@nortonhousemumb

Christmas Dates and prices for 2016

Christmas Day Lunch

2 courses £17.95 | 3 courses £19.95 Served from Monday 28th November until Friday 30th December

Adults £80.00 children under 10 £40.00 Let us take care of you and your family and friends on this special day.

Bar from 12pm-4pm | Lunch served 12pm-3pm Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival

Christmas Fayre Dinner

New Year’s Eve

Christmas Fayre Lunch

Monday - Thursday: 2 courses £18.95 | 3 courses £22.95 Friday - Saturday: 2 courses £21.95 | 3 courses £24.95 Served from Monday 28th November until Friday 30th December

Sunday Lunch with Santa Adults £16.50 per person Children under 10 £9.95 (inl present) Sunday 27th November, 4th, 11th, 18th December

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Adults (over 21’s only) £55pp See in the New Year in style by dressing to impress and enjoying our gala buffet in our function suite while dancing the night away to the sounds of our resident DJ

Tribute Nights Saturday 3rd December - Neil Diamond Saturday 10th December - Simply Red Friday 16th December - Rod Stewart Saturday 17th December - Dolly Parton

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Best places to Eat LLANGENNECH

Tafarn Morlais

Pontardulais Road, Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, SA14 8YE 01554 820121 | www.tafarnmorlais.co.uk

Excellent pub food that’s beautifully presented and locally sourced served 7 days a week including traditional favourites and daily specials.

Sunday carvery served 12-4pm Bookings advisable Now taking bookings for Christmas

TREBOETH

The Eagle

855 Llangyfelach Road, Treboeth Swansea SA5 9AU Tel 01792 700491 | www.theeagletreboeth.co.uk

As well as Traditional Pub favourites there are also Daily Specials as well as Traditional Sunday Lunch The Eagle has come a long way since Michael Verbeeck became its landlord six years ago, but he attributes much of its success to his trusty chef Matthew Kompaniez, who has been cooking at the Eagle for three years and has really put in on the map as a place for honest, hearty, great value food. “He’s getting brilliant reviews on TripAdvisor and consistently wins us a TripAdvisor certificate of excellence every year” says Michael.

“He excels in cooking traditional food, but he can also be relied on to come up with great new ideas for the specials board”.

PENYCAE

Craig Y Nos Castle

Brecon Road, Penycae, Powys, SA9 1GL 01639 73 11 67 • http://www.craigynoscastle.com

HALLOWEEN : ALL HALLOWS GHOST TOUR AND CASTLE HISTORY TOUR THE NEXT DAY • Ensuite accommodation • 5-Hour Ghost tour • 3-Course Meal • Haunted Bar Full Cooked Breakfast the next day, followed by Castle History Tour - £99 per person Book Now for Mon 31 October Call Today – 01639 73 11 67 www.mosthauntedcastle.com/halloween.html

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Directory Computer Repair

Planning Advice

SUMMER VALLEY PCs PC & Laptop Repair from Mon - Fri 10.30am - 5.30pm Sat - Appointment only Sun - Closed

01792 538168

01792 538168

CDN Planning provides town planning, urban design and development advice to a wide range of clients in both the public and private sectors. From its base in Swansea, CDN Planning serves the whole of Wales and elsewhere in the UK and Ireland

01792 830238

info@cdnplanning.com

www.summervalleypcs.co.uk

32 Aberdyberthi Street, Swansea, SA1 2LL

North Hill, 7 St James Crescent, Swansea, SA1 6DP

©LW

£25.00

Workshop Opening Hours:

©LW

Accountants

Waste

WASTE DISPOSAL LTD Commercial & Domestic Skip Hire Swansea Office: 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW

TEL 01792 584585 89 Ystrad Rd, Fforestfach, Swansea SA5 4BU www.briscowaste.co.uk

01792 543520 mail@gordondown.co.uk www.gordondown.co.uk ©LW

©LW

To advertise in the next issue of Swansea Bay Business Life, please call

Swansea Office: 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW Untitled-4 1

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Caravans

Computers

Document Management

Computer Problems?

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www.valecaravansales.com Healthcare

Lofts

PHARMACY + WELLNESS CLINIC OUr PhArmAcy ServiceS inclUde

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01792 545570 or email services@swwmedia.co.uk

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Networking

Judging for the 2016 Women in Business Awards Tell me more: The judging panel picks winners and finalists for this year’s Swansea Bay Business Life and South Wales Evening Post Women in Business Awards

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Mae arian gwerth £1000oed ar gael i fusnesau

Buddsoddi yn Eich Hun A’ch Gweithle Investing in You and Your Workforce • Dysgu dwyieithog a geirei ddatblygu i gwrdd â gwir anghenion eich busnes • Cymwysterau addysg uwch dysgu seiliedig ar waith • Cyflwyno newidiadau bositif i’r gweithle aci’ch busnes • Modiwlau yn Arweinyddiaeth, Marchnata Digidol, Rheoli Prosiectau, Cynaliadwyedd, Adnoddau Dynol, Cyllid, Ymwybyddiaeth Ofalgar ac eraill

• Bilingual learning developed to meet real business needs • Higher Education qualifications through Work-based Learning • Delivering positive change in the workplace and to the business • Modules in Leadership, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Sustainability, HR, Finance, Mindfulness and many more

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/gwlad/ gwlad@uwtsd.ac.uk 01267 225167 @UWTSD_GWLAD www.facebook.com/uwtsdgwlad

Funding worth £1,000s available to businesses

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©LW

9/6/2016 1:32:25 PM

Conservatories, Orangeries & Sun rooms as well as Windows & Doors in PVCu, Aluminium & Timber

2000ft

SHOWCENTRE 2 Orangeries on display

OPEN 7 DAYS

• 4.9% APR or BUY NOW PAY 2017 • 2 Years Interest Free Credit • Mortgage finance busting by Barclays • FREE Planning Service • FREE A-Rated glass upgrade • No telesales or comission only salesmen • FREE quotation and 3D imaging service • 10 year insurance warranty

SOLID ROOF CREATES A CONSERVATORY TO ‘LIVIN’ WHATEVER THE WEATHER 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 www.securahome.co.uk Securahome PVCu Ltd, Garngoch Ind Est, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 9WN

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