thescene issue7 digital by Thomas Carroll Group

Issue 7 www.thomascarroll.co.uk

To Protect and Serve Andrew Housley of Eurogroup

Secrets of My Success Tips from the best in their business

Coins of the Realm

The Royal Mintâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Visitor Experience

Win a Luxury Break at Foyles of Glasbury

New CEO for Thomas Carroll Rhys Thomas steps up

CONTENTS

Contents Eurogroup - Who you gonna call?

Club Signature Partners – The Secrets of my Success The Royal Mint - Minted Foyles of Glasbury – New Chapter in Comfort, Quality and Cuisine Priskilly Forest – Afternoon Tee Wales Air Ambulance – Flying High

Welsh Boxes – Boxing Clever

Llanmoor Homes – Building on Success

Bay Productions – All the World’s a Stage

The Scene is published by Thomas Carroll Group plc

© 2016 Copyright Thomas Carroll Group plc. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for any error or omissions or comments made by writers or interviewees. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Thomas Carroll Group plc and services and goods featured are not necessarily endorsed by Thomas Carroll Group plc.

Editorial Services: Yogi Communications Design: burningred Photography: Andrew Davies, Martin Ellard, Mike Hall, Richard Swingler, Castle Photography, Alex Mills

Top tips for managing workplace health and safety

Pension Freedom The story so far

Wheel of Wellbeing

The Insurance Act – What are the changes and what does it mean for customers?

The Listed Home Commitment

Editorial submission to: thescene@thomas-carroll.co.uk. The Editor retains the right to edit editorial submissions according to style and space considerations. Printed by: SET Office Supplies

Thomas Carroll Group plc Thomas Carroll Caerphilly Pendragon House, Crescent Road, Caerphilly CF83 1XX t +44 (0)29 2088 7733

Thomas Carroll Swansea Elm House, Tawe Business Village, Enterprise Park, Swansea SA7 9LA t +44 (0)1792 795265

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Thomas Carroll Pembrokeshire 17 Victoria Place, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 2JX t +44 (0)1437 776775

Thomas Carroll Hereford Broadway House, 32-35 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AR t +44 (0)1432 359500

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Thomas Carroll London Green Park House, 15 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LQ t +44 (0)20 3036 0232

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Thomas Carroll Group plc: Commercial Insurance Personal Insurance Financial Advice Health and Safety Employment Law Legal Indemnities Employee Benefits

WELCOME

Cover Story Andrew Housley Managing Director Eurogroup Photograph: Richard Swingler

WIN a luxury break with afternoon tea at

Foyles of Glasbury Simply find the answer to the question below and you could win afternoon tea for two with an overnight bed and breakfast stay at Foyles of Glasbury. To enter our free competition simply read the article on page 26 where the answer to the following question can be found: How many years did it take to build Foyles of Glasbury? Closing date for entries is 30 December 2016 Email your answer together with your business contact details to: thescene@thomas-carroll.co.uk Date of stay is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply – available on request.

Thoughts of

John Moore MBE

Welcome to the seventh edition of Thomas Carroll’s business magazine, ‘the Scene’. For you to enjoy a browse about a number of our new and long standing clients to the Group: The Royal Mint, Bay Productions, Eurogroup, Welsh Boxes and Foyles, to name a few. Our clients proudly share their secrets of success. With Gwenllian and Laura in our marketing team delightfully featuring topical subjects of interest such as the employee benefits ‘Wheel of Wellbeing’ on page 32-33, which creatively takes you through options and benefits for you and your employees. The Insurance Act update, a significant development in the industry can be found on page 34. It has certainly been an eventful year for our Group... firstly the Group CEO appointment of Rhys Thomas succession from within is always our preferred option, encouraging our culture of independence, expertise and the commitment to building lasting and trusting client relationships. Rhys has already shared his year 2020 vision. The focus is on developing our teams, to invest in our client service, further integrate our Group offering and continue to reward our good people, the next generation of leaders, with shares through our employee benefit trust and other share options. Further developments include, the appointment of Stephen Francis BA (Hons) Dip PFS to join our TCIFA Board... Stephen, an intelligent business thinker who has contributed significantly in the past five years, with Robert Jones MBE and the team, to the exciting growth of our Swansea and Pembrokeshire offices. Of course, business challenges remain with us all... the Welsh

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economy, EU referendum, Port Talbot steelworks and obviously remaining ahead of our competitors. This last year the Group invested in a London office; to broadcast our UK leading TC Legal Indemnities expertise, negotiate better with the London Lloyds market and to enjoy developing business contacts through Wales in London - in addition to remaining close with our corporate and global Welsh clients. Then closer to home, delighted to acquire the insurance division from our friends Monmouthshire Building Society, considerably strengthening our SME position through Gwent. Then from Willis, Paul Hughes ACII agrees a serious career move to Thomas Carroll Brokers, influencing our corporate expertise through construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors. After working with Rhys for over twenty years, I am confident our corporate social responsibility will remain strong, together with our passion for Ty Hafan and our business commitment to Chartered status. And always, my thanks for your continued support around the Group; much valued and appreciated. Enjoy the read. John Moore MBE Chairman

PROFILE

If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood,

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Caerphilly

What began with one man’s major career change, moving into the family business and rolling up his sleeves to assemble timber cases, has now become South Wales’ leading independent pest control and washroom company, set to reach a turnover well in excess of £1 million in 2016. 4

Photographs: Richard Swingler

PROFILE

Ready to clean-up: Andrew Housley with team members at Eurogroup's headquarters in Caerphilly

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PROFILE

Shoulder to shoulder: Eurogroup's Andrew Housley (left) with Mark Eedy of Thomas Carroll

Europest has grown rapidly, catering for independent and larger commercial businesses across Wales, the Midlands and South West England.

This is the story of Andrew Housley, Managing Director of Caerphilly-based Europest Environmental Services, who left the security of his senior management position at a leading UK pest control company after 10 years, to take over his father’s bespoke packing and shipping business, Export Case Company Ltd, in 2000. “It was hard,” admits Andrew. “Being a senior manager with a good salary and a nice car, it was difficult to go from that job to putting my overalls on and making wooden pallets and cases on the shop floor, but I’ve always known that I wanted to work for myself. “I learnt far more in the first two years of running my own business than I ever did in my previous job – it was a very steep learning curve.” Andrew successfully took over the reins of the family business and today the Export Case Company is a significant player in this specialist niche sector. One of the company’s largest clients is Eriez Magnetics UK, a worldwide specialist in magnetic separation, for which Export Case Company provides large timber cases to transport magnets weighing up to 47 tonnes.

Thomas Carroll

After a year, Andrew decided it was time to diversify, using his experience of the pest control industry, and in 2001 he established Europest Environmental Services Ltd. He enlisted the help of his friends and excolleagues Lee Davison, Richard Edwards and Morgan Francis, who became directors and shareholders of the new company. Europest has grown rapidly, catering for independent and larger commercial businesses across Wales, the Midlands and South West England. Its diverse portfolio of customers includes well-known high-end hotel resorts, government buildings and museums, as well as restaurants, pubs, colleges and schools. Andrew is confident that Europest can maintain its position as the leading pest control and washroom company in South Wales: “We’ve built our name on providing a high quality service that is better than anyone else out there and our focus is to ensure that we continue to do that. “The business has always grown organically and we are on track for our portfolio to turnover well past the £1 million mark.”

PROFILE

Showing a keen eye for a business opportunity and following customer requests for a reliable washroom solutions provider, the team went on to establish Eurocare in 2006 which, together with Europest, formed Eurogroup. Eurogroup employs 23 staff and the company prides itself on the fact that all service technicians live in the areas where they work. This allows the group to keep fuel usage to a minimum and reduce the time it takes for a technician to reach their customers. “We get a lot of people wanting to join our workforce and we’ve recently taken on another service technician and a sales account manager, both of whom have come to us from competitors. “Our five-year plan is to get the sales team up to five dedicated salespeople – and 18 months in, we are already up to four in the sales team. We hope to reach five in the next six months.” Europest says its advantage over competitors lies in bridging the gap between larger companies and smaller independents; being able to provide customers with a high quality service and value for money. Despite larger pest control companies also operating in South and West Wales, Europest claims more technicians per capita than its competitors. With over 25 years of experience in the pest control industry, Andrew is familiar with current trends and is keen to invest in new technologies to enhance Europest’s services: “This is a seasonal business. For instance, in the colder months we get a lot of call-outs for rodents that have entered buildings. One of the problems we face when dealing with rodents is that they become tolerant of certain active ingredients in the rodenticides, and so the challenge for the industry is to keep producing palatable baits that adhere to the strict regulations of the pest control industry. “As far as technology is concerned, we are hoping to get the service team more automated in the next few years by introducing equipment and software to aid overall productivity to ensure a swift response to our customers’ needs.”

Having been awarded the Green Dragon Award for taking action to monitor and control its impact on the environment, Eurogroup strives to incorporate ecofriendly ways of working. One of its current environmental initiatives is to encourage children to use hand dryers instead of paper towels. Despite Europest’s success over the past 15 years, Andrew recalls some scary moments:

Andrew says: “The benefit of working with Thomas Carroll is that I have experts that I can call upon at any time and always receive sound advice. My businesses keep me very busy. With Thomas Carroll it is a huge relief to know that everything will be dealt with and everything will be spot on. Their service to us is invaluable and I trust the people that I’m dealing with, which is very important.” Visit: www.europest.co.uk

“We have had some surprises when visiting customers in the past. For instance, we’ve had to remove poisonous spiders from baskets of fruit and have even come face-to-face with a false widow!” Looking to the future, Andrew says: “We are growing outward organically and we want to continue to be the biggest in the area that we operate. It is possible that we will embark on a period of acquisition in the future because we are willing to grow for as long as our customers want us.”

With Thomas Carroll, it is a huge relief to know everything will be dealt with and everything will be spot on. Thomas Carroll has provided a range of services to both Eurogroup and Export Case Company Ltd for the past 16 years, including financial planning, insurance and employment law – in addition to Andrew’s personal financial planning and insurances. Mark Eedy, Managing Director of Thomas Carroll Independent Financial Advisers, began advising Andrew with personal financial planning and business financial planning in 2000. Sheralee Lewis, Account Executive at Thomas Carroll Brokers, provides insurance policies such as motor fleet and office contents insurance for Andrew’s businesses.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Top tips for managing workplace health and safety Workplace activities, whatever the industry or environment, may present a variety of risks. When running a business, it is vital that you understand those risks in order to protect your workforce and prevent accidents. Kevin Price, Managing Director of Thomas Carroll Management Services, offers top tips for managing workplace health and safety:

•• Understand your responsibilities as a director, business owner or senior decision maker. Champion and lead by example.

•• Help empower your workforce with the knowledge to maintain a safe working environment by providing bespoke and nationally-accredited health and safety training courses.

Thomas Carroll Management Services specialise in providing health, safety and employment law expertise to businesses. We work with a wide range of industries in the public and private sectors, providing clear and pragmatic solutions to help your business.

•• Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken by a competent person and safe systems of work developed.

•• Ensure you have access to competent advice and guidance.

•• Engage your workforce and implement a workable system that is proportionate to the level of risk you face.

•• Ensure your systems and procedures are subject to systematic audit and review at appropriate intervals.

Remember, health and safety is not in competition with your profits or service delivery standards. In fact, managing health and safety effectively is good business!

What’s on? Visit www.thomascarroll.co.uk to book any of the following:

By Kevin Price Managing Director Thomas Carroll Management Services kevin.price@thomas-carroll.co.uk

••

Responsibilities of Directors free workshops

•• Health and Safety training courses •• Employment Law training courses •• Upcoming seminars

INDUSTRY NEWS

KEY HSE FIGURES FOR GREAT BRITAIN (2014/15)*

1.2

142

working people suffering from a work-related illness

killed at work

MILLION

76,000

WORKERS

other injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR

611,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey

27.3

ÂŁ 14.3 BILLION

working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury

estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2013/14)

MILLION

9.9

MILLION working days lost due to stress, anxiety and depression in 2014/15

35%

43%

= DAYS / CASE This equated to an average of 23 days lost per case

Stress accounted for 35% of all work related ill health cases and 43% of all working days lost due to ill health

*Source: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/

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PROFILE TITLE

Llantrisant Making history: The Royal Mint Experience designed by Rio architects

MINT E D The Royal Mint Experience is a major new tourist attraction for Wales

Thomas Carroll

PROFILE

“We wanted to make sure that it was testament to an organisation that has a history of over 1,000 years.” It has taken 1,000 years but at last The Royal Mint is opening its doors to the public! May 2016 saw the opening of the £7.5 million Royal Mint Experience at the Mint’s home in Llantrisant, Wales. For the first time in its long and illustrious history, the new facility gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at life in Britain’s oldest manufacturing organisation and the world’s leading export mint.

For over 500 of those years, The Royal Mint was based in the Tower of London, until the UK’s conversion to decimal coinage prompted the building of a new Royal Mint on its current site in 1967. Now firmly based in Wales, The Royal Mint is opening up a new chapter and becoming more public than ever before. The Scene spoke to Anne Jessopp, Director of Commemorative Coin and Business Services at The Royal Mint, who headed up the project to create this new tourist attraction in Wales.

Mint is so proud of working here – they always want to talk to people about it, so this is a great way to be able to share. “We’ve obviously had to think a lot about security and ensuring the running of the actual business was not affected. But everybody’s really enthusiastic.” Who were the architects and interior designers of the Experience?

AJ: “Rio architects designed The Royal Mint Experience building and Mather & Co is the interior designer. The coloured stainless steel facade of the building takes inspiration from the Anne Jessopp thousands of coin blanks which emanate from The Royal Mint's presses every day.” What do people working at The Royal Mint think about the new Experience? AJ: “Everyone is just so excited about it. The building is looking incredible. The architects did a fantastic job. Everyone in The Royal

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PROFILE

THOMAS CARROLL AND THE ROYAL MINT What was required in terms of the overall feel of the Experience? AJ: “We wanted to make it really contemporary. We wanted to make sure that it was testament to an organisation that has a history of over 1,000 years. It also had to be very much about the here and now. “We wanted it to be a tourist experience centre that you would equally want to come to if you collected coins, or if you just wanted a day out with your family. We wanted to make sure that we would appeal to lots of different people.” What is the size of the Experience and what attractions does it house? AJ: “The single storey, 1,700m² building will house an interactive exhibition displaying artefacts from The Royal Mint's rich history, as well as a café and education space. “In addition, visitors will go on a guided factory experience where they will enter our circulating coin manufacturing area. From a viewing area, visitors will look into the striking hall where thousands of coins are produced 24 hours a day. Visitors will then get the

opportunity to strike their own coin, which will be the last of the round £1 and have a picture surrounded by chests of money.” How important is the educational aspect of the Experience programme?

programme is now more

AJ: “Workshops can be booked which will allow school pupils to explore the history of The Royal Mint and the design of Britain’s coinage. Pupils will handle real museum objects and learn new skills, including how to test for counterfeit coins and how to go about designing a coin themselves.”

than in the prior year.

robust and costs far less

How many visitors are you forecasting the Experience will attract annually? “In a full year, we forecast that 135,000 people will visit.” How can businesses get involved with the Experience? “Locally we are hoping that this will bring business to the area and we will also be hiring out space for all sorts of events. We are very much open for bookings.”

Attractions on offer The Royal Mint Experience will offer access to a range of interactive experiences that will bring The Royal Mint’s rich heritage to life, as well as displaying rare and unusual coins and medals from across the world.

Our insurance

Guided factory tours will bring visitors into contact with the processes behind the nation’s coinage and reveal the craftsmanship involved in taking blank pieces of metal from the design stage to being struck as coins.

Other attractions include an on-site café and gift shop. For coin collectors of the future, an education space will be used to deliver workshops for Key Stage 2 pupils.

Thomas Carroll

Jo West, Treasury Business Manager at The Royal Mint, talks about the insurance services Thomas Carroll provides to the Mint. “We appointed Thomas Carroll following a competitive tender process. The team’s presentation gave us confidence that they had the required skills and experience and that they would value The Royal Mint as an important client. “Their challenge was to structure an insurance programme that provided sufficient cover at a significantly lower cost than we were currently paying. Through really getting to know the organisation and spending time with all areas of the business, they have achieved that objective, exceeding our expectations. “Our insurance programme is now more robust and costs far less than in the prior year. They have also given us ideas to further improve the programme, both through additional cover and variations if we are prepared to take more risk to reduce cost. “Thomas Carroll is working in partnership with us, adding value and challenging us where necessary to get the best insurance programme for our organisation. We are confident we made the right decision in appointing them.” Visit: www.royalmint.com

PROFILE

Auto Enrolment Made Easy with £495 Scheme Set-up Service

We have designed a simplified auto enrolment service with a fixed fee structure to suit the needs of small businesses. If you employ less than 30 employees, your staging date for setting up a workplace pension will be fast approaching. Don’t forget, the earlier you start planning the more time you have to put everything in place and avoid any fines. What does our £495 Scheme Set up Service include?

•• Obtain all relevant information to set up your auto enrolment scheme This will include issues relevant to your auto enrolment process such as – payroll integration, procedures post staging date, use of postponement

•• Setting up a compliant auto enrolment scheme with NEST (National Employment Savings Trust)

•• Liaison with your accountant/ Payroll Bureau

•• Assistance with registering your Scheme with The Pensions Regulator post staging date

If you engage our services within one month of your staging date we reserve the right to charge an additional fee which will be confirmed to you at outset.

Stephen Francis Director – Swansea & West t. m. e.

01792 704 306 07771 652 972 stephen.francis@thomas-carroll.co.uk

Tony Smith Employee Benefits Consultant – Cardiff & East t. m. e.

029 2085 3764 07946 270 030 tony.smith@thomas-carroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Boxing Clever Swansea

The Scene lifts the lid on Welsh Boxes, one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading box and packaging companies, which started life as a small hat box business in Swansea nearly 80 years ago.

The power of four: Greg Davies, Lorraine Roberts, Chris Lewis and Norman Pinocci from Welsh Boxes

Thomas Carroll

Photographs: Mike Hall

PROFILE TITLE

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PROFILE

Meeting exact and very specific requirements is how Welsh Boxes has built its reputation. “In the early 1990s, there was a big investment in the company which saw more automated machinery and staff brought in,” says Greg, who bought the business along with Commercial Director Lorraine Roberts, Sales Director Norman Pinocci and Logistics Director Chris Lewis in a management buy-out in 2014.

“We now make the biggest boxes in the UK for some of the biggest brands in the world, but we have always stayed true to our Swansea roots,” says Greg Davies, Managing Director at Welsh Boxes, which recently moved into a colossal 75,804 sq. ft. premises in Penllergaer. From its new base, Welsh Boxes manufactures heavy duty and corrugated packaging for everyone from Calsonic to Panasonic and turns over £6 million a year. Although the business supplies packaging for smaller items, such as coins for The Royal Mint, it also specialises in very large boxes particularly for heavy industry and the automotive sector.

“Being one of the few companies in the industry to weather the recession, we had a real opportunity to grow and strengthen our position in the market and so from 2010 to the present day the company has seen continual growth,” he adds.

This is a far cry from the business’ humble beginnings at local woman Lillian Jenkins’ home, where she first started up Welsh Boxes in 1937. Lillian handmade hat, dress and costume boxes until war broke out in 1939 and the business then started making ammunition and rocket boxes for the war effort.

Recent years have also seen heavy investment in Welsh Boxes with the £725,000 purchase of the former TD Williams premises in Penllergaer and a £600,000 investment in a new TOPRA machine that can produce up to 3,000 cardboard blanks an hour. The company now employs 65 people, including 50 on the factory floor.

The business grew, taking on a larger workforce and new premises. After the war, the business scaled back operations but continued to make boxes and supply packaging, and so Welsh Boxes was truly established.

“Although we have excellent facilities and a much faster manufacturing process now, our USPs still come down to our service and design,” says Greg.

The company now incorporates two brands: Boxability, which manufactures conventional and heavy-duty cardboard boxes and bespoke timber products to exact specifications, and Packability, which supplies protective packaging such as tapes, transit monitor labels, shrink films and bubble wrap.

Welsh Boxes’ designers can create bespoke box and packaging solutions for any kind of item, from automotive parts to medical instruments and industrial machinery. “Perhaps one of the biggest boxes we have made was for Zodiac Milpro, who manufacture inflatable boats,” adds Greg. “Each boat is over four metres in length and so required very large and sturdy packaging. “Meeting exact and very specific requirements like this is how Welsh Boxes has built its reputation. As a business, we can be more flexible than our competitors due to the four company directors being 25 per cent shareholders; we are therefore able to make very quick decisions.” “We also pride ourselves on offering a personal service – something that is unusual in our industry. We get to know our customers very well. For some of them, we can be delivering twice a day, so we understand their business needs and their peaks and troughs and can offer a unique service to them.” The Welsh Boxes formula obviously works well as the business enjoys at least 10 per cent growth year-on-year and is expanding across the UK, with new accounts across the country and Ireland.

Perfect package: Greg Davies, Lorraine Roberts, Chris Lewis and Norman Pinocci from Welsh Boxes

Thomas Carroll

PROFILE TITLE

Stronger together: The Thomas Carroll and Welsh Boxes teams

Thomas Carroll thought of everything.

Welsh Boxes appointed Thomas Carroll during its management buy-out in 2014 and the Group now looks after all of Welsh Boxes’ insurance, pension planning, health, safety and employment law needs.

planning and were guided through the auto enrolment process with ease. Thomas Carroll not only offer us significant cost savings but provide us with confidence that everything is being dealt with professionally.

“It was the fact that Thomas Carroll had expertise in such a wide range of risk and financial solutions that first attracted us,” says Lorraine Roberts, Commercial Director. “Having everything under the Thomas Carroll umbrella made sense to us. As a business, we didn’t have the expertise in-house to deal with some of the challenges we were facing, like employment law, but with Thomas Carroll on board we had experts to consult and advise us.

“Soon after, we employed Thomas Carroll for our insurances, although it was a very difficult decision to leave our longestablished provider. It just made sense to have everything in one place. Thomas Carroll’s insurance team were a major help during our move to the new premises. They thought of everything and in all aspects of our dealings with them gave us complete peace of mind at every stage.

“We started with employment law and health and safety consultancy. Then shortly after, we appointed Thomas Carroll for our pension

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“I have nothing but praise for the way we have been counselled by Thomas Carroll.” Visit: www.welshboxes.co.uk

INDUSTRY TITLE NEWS

It has been over a year since the over 55s were handed new freedoms to allow them to spend up to 100 per cent of their pension fund as they choose.

According to data from insurers, pension savers have been taking out around £27 million a day from their pots – a figure which far exceeded politicians’ expectations. Data from HMRC shows a total of 188,000 savers have released around £18,600 on average from their pensions, bringing the total amount of money transferred from pensions into the economy to £3.5 billion over the first 12 months.

WHO’S DOING WHAT? The data underlines how popular the new freedoms have been with those in their 50s. For the 55 to 59 age group who have accessed pensions, only 16 per cent have bought an annuity, which provides a guaranteed income for life. Data from the Financial Conduct Authority shows that 40 per cent used drawdown, where money is left invested and income is taken. Even more, 44 per cent, took lump sums. Annuities were most popular with those aged 65 to 69.

This early access trend can be explained at least in part by the key drivers for people choosing to access their pension money in the first few years in which they are eligible. Data from insurers shows around one in five savers used money obtained via the new pension freedoms to pay off debts. This is a far cry from the lighthearted prediction made by Webb, former Minister for Pensions, that pensioners would be able to “blow their funds on Lamborghinis” if they so desired.

NEW PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES Much of the press attention has focussed on the rush to withdraw pension funds and the sharp decline in the annuities market. However, the new rules also introduced an additional incentive for those who are still accumulating pension funds.

You can now consider using your pension as a vehicle to pass wealth down through the generations. Pension savings can be passed to any nominated individual (but not to a trust) to draw an income from, while remaining in a tax-privileged pension wrapper via an inherited drawdown fund. This allows pension wealth to be cascaded down the generations, with fully flexible access, and without ever forming part of an estate until it is paid out. While the legislation has been amended, not all pension providers will change their rules to allow this to happen. This is particularly true of group pension schemes and legacy providers that are no longer active in the pensions market. To find out how the new pension rules have affected you please contact: ifa@thomas-carroll.co.uk

By Louise Eedy Director Thomas Carroll Independent Financial Advisers louise.eedy@thomas-carroll.co.uk

A LASTING LEGACY

Thomas Carroll

Photograph: Alex Mills

INDUSTRY NEWS TITLE

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PROFILE

Cardiff Leading the way: Simon Cornish from Bay Productions

Photographs: Mike Hall

PROFILE

BAY PRODUCTIONS

ALL THE WORLD’S

a Stage South Wales scenery creators are enjoying global success

“Can we make it look lickable?” Not your standard client request. Unless, of course, you are creating scenery for the West End production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “It was an unusual request, but nothing surprises us in this business anymore,” says Peter Jones, a Director at Bay Productions in Cardiff, which creates spectacular scenery for theatre, opera and dramas across the world. The incredibly skilled operation, squirrelled away inside an impressive 28,000 sq. ft. unit in Cardiff Bay, has quickly become the ‘one-stop scenery shop’ for the world’s top designers and production companies. It boasts regular commissions from the likes of English National Opera, the Royal Opera House and Lyric Opera in Chicago, as well as top West End productions and even Disneyland Paris. Bay Productions was also responsible for some of the now iconic scenery used in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

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“Our business grew based on our ability to deliver very complicated designs to extremely high standards,” says Peter, who set up Bay Productions with co-directors Simon Cornish and Craig Tucker in 2010. “Designers demand attention-to-detail and quality workmanship. They want their designs to look as stunning in reality as they do on the page.” Establishing a worldwide reputation in just six years is impressive and is something Peter puts down to the team. “We have the best people in the business and word spreads quickly in this industry,” he explains. “Our scenic artists are world class. From creating 25-foot hand-painted canvases, to transforming pieces of foam into entirely lifelike trees, their work is second to none.

PROFILE

The Flat pack: (L-R) Mark Eedy (Thomas Carroll), Simon Cornish (Bay Productions), Ray Dickens (Thomas Carroll) and Peter Jones (Bay Productions)

We have the best people in the business and word spreads quickly in this industry.

We also have a team of very skilled welders, fabricators, carpenters and joiners who bring the designs to life with absolute precision. Designers have a lot of confidence in our team.

Simon explains that a commission for the production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the Glyndebourne Festival during its first year in operation was the business’ big break.

“And, of course, our directors Simon Cornish and Craig Tucker have over 30 years of experience in the scenery business,” adds Peter.

“Le Nozze di Figaro is an opera that is interpreted differently each time it is produced,” says Simon. “For this particular production, very detailed scenery was required. It incorporated mosaics, jewels and specific historic features.

Simon and Craig, both former stage crew, ran their own staging company through English National Opera before approaching Peter to help them create a bespoke scenery business that could service the biggest production companies in the world. “We knew there was a market through our work with the National Opera, but we didn’t have the capacity to expand with them,” says Simon Cornish. “Peter was a friend and was experienced in business development and construction so it was a good fit for us all.”

“All eyes were on us to see how we would bring such opulent designs to life. The theatre and opera world is relatively small, so once we had pulled off a job of that calibre we started to receive commissions right across the world – and it grows year-onyear. Our only limitation is the physical space we have, so we are now keen to expand to offsite work to continue to grow.” Bay Productions now employs 40 core members of staff, which can increase to 70 at peak times. These include a

Thomas Carroll

team of draughtsmen, who take client briefs and turn them into designs if a designer is not appointed by the client. “Often we need to come up with the solution for our clients,” says Simon. “We had a commission for a production of Daphne at La Monnaie in Brussels which required the entire show to be performed in a tree. Our team then had to come up with a bespoke design that would be both practical and breathtaking. It was very challenging but the results were fantastic.” Incredibly, the team can turn round scenery for a whole production in just two months. The biggest undertaking in the company’s history came in 2013 when they were commissioned to create the scenery for The Phantom of the Opera’s UK tour, which featured in 436 performances. It took 55 people just eight weeks to create the full set – and 27 trailers to transport everything between venues!

PROFILE

“Not only do we have to create scenery that looks 100 per cent authentic, it also has to be lightweight, portable and able to fit into many different venues. A big part of our job is logistics,” says Simon.

“We usually attend the technical rehearsals of each production so we can see the scenery in use and be on hand to assist with anything. That’s when our first night nerves set in rather than on the official opening night!”

“Every venue in the world is different. They have different sized entrances, different backstage spaces and even different flooring rakes. We have to plan for all these variables and we have to carefully plan transport too. We always accompany all of our pieces and supervise installation to ensure nothing is damaged and that set-up runs smoothly.

Bay Productions has recently completed work for The Girls UK tour, Beatrice and Benedict for the Glyndebourne Festival and The Force of Destiny for English National Opera. Visit: www.bay-productions.co.uk

The Thomas Carroll challenge The unique nature of Bay Productions’ business, involving working in tight spaces, complicated logistics, global travel and varying materials, made the task of securing the right insurance more challenging. “We needed a flexible underwriter,” says Ray Dickens, Director of Thomas Carroll, who has worked with Bay Productions since it was set up six years ago. “We needed someone to assess the business on its merits, rather than going ‘from the book’. We used one of the best surveyors in the business to get the right cover at the best price.”

Part of the scenery: creating the amazing scenery at Bay Productions www.thomascarroll.co.uk

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Glasbury

Thomas Carroll

Photographs: Richard Swingler

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FOYLES OF GLASBURY

New chapter in comfort, quality and cuisine

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Foyles Four: Team members, Linda Dewan (owner), Sam Atkins (apprentice general assistant), Chris Nicholls (owner) and Terry Dewan (owner)

Ultimately we all wanted to create somewhere which is welcoming, where you can sit in a chair and think ‘I’m happy here’…

Foyles of Glasbury is the glittering brainchild of a team of local business partners. The five-star (Visit Wales) establishment, which opened in 2015, was a long time in the making: four years to be exact, transforming the Grade II listed 18th century former Maesllwch Arms into today’s jewel. Foyles is clearly a landmark addition to the regional tourist economy, but the team behind it is also eager to make it a favourite of local people. Sitting at the heart of the village of Glasbury, Foyles is located just four miles from Hay-on-Wye, the second-hand and antiquarian book capital of the world, from which it partly derives its name (of which more later). The nearest city, Hereford, is just 25 miles away. This makes the 11-bedroomed Foyles ideally located for those wishing to explore everything from the countryside of the River Wye and the Brecon Beacons to the historic charms of the Welsh border towns. For all its luxury, the aim is to provide comfort for its guests, as Chris Nicholls, one of Foyles’ partners, explains: “Ultimately we all wanted to create somewhere which is

Thomas Carroll

welcoming, where you can sit in a chair and think ‘I’m happy here, I could stay here an hour longer’. The whole idea of the decor and the ambience was to make it comfortable and make people feel they want to stay awhile.” Chris owns the independent department stores ‘Nicholls’, purveyors of luxury country lifestyle clothing and gifts, in Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny as well as online at www.nichollsonline.co.uk. His wife Tracey runs the stores and her experience as a retail buyer has seen her travel the world looking for the finest products. In the case of Foyles, however, most of the furnishings have come from British designers. This has helped to achieve the beautiful, contemporary country look at Foyles. Chris makes no secret of the lengthy process behind its creation, and the challenges they faced: “We started thinking we could clean it up and just re-open, and then we realised what a poor state the building was in and had to do a complete job, which is what we did, from top to bottom.”

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Tea for three: Chris Nicholls of Foyles with Thomas Carroll's Wendy Peplow (left) and Claire Humphries

Thomas Carroll Connection Lap of luxury: one of the immpecably furnished bedrooms of Foyles of Glasbury

The modern country style of the hotel surroundings is further reflected in Foyles’ menus. You can expect to find classic dishes served with an unexpected twist and with comfort at the heart of it all. “We hope we’ve created somewhere very special, where everyone is welcomed and finds something that delights them,” explains Tracey. And the name? It seems that the literary link, evidenced by quirky design touches of wall-mounted typewriters and cleverly folded folio art, is not its only inspiration.

There is a framed photograph of Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, lead character in Anthony Horowitz’s long-running British TV detective drama, in the restaurant. When you realise that the much loved Foyle was played by Michael Kitchen, the hotel’s nomenclature seems even more on brand! So, if you are looking for comfort and quality with a fine eye for design and style, Foyles fits the bill perfectly. The next time you are in the Hereford/Powys region, pay a visit or, better still, book a stay and open up a new chapter in your life.

During its four-year building phase and now operationally, the insurance requirements of Foyles of Glasbury have been fulfilled by the Hereford office of Thomas Carroll, headed by Claire Humphries, Director, and Wendy Peplow, Account Manager. Chris Nicholls says: “Thomas Carroll has been very helpful; obviously with an old building there are going to be nooks and crannies that are going to give you some difficulties and they have come up trumps to the extent of sending out specialists to help us. “You try to make everything as friendly as possible, but when you open you realise all the bits that are tricky. They have come out and talked us through those and given us suggestions from a health and safety and insurance point of view, and have been really helpful.” Foyles of Glasbury Glasbury on Wye HR3

“Yes, we liked the theme because we are so close to Hay-on-Wye, where the Hay Literary Festival takes place every year, but we actually called it Foyles because of the TV series Foyle’s War. We really like the name, it’s so evocative of that important era in British history,” says Chris.

Visit: www.foylesofglasbury.com

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

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Llanelli One of the busiest and most advanced emergency services of its kind in the UK, Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) is moving into a new purpose-built air base in Dafen, Llanelli.

Thomas Carroll

Photographs: Andrew Davies

PROFILE

Ready for take-off: [L-R] Ben Seaborne (Critical Care Practitioner), James Grenfell (Chief Pilot), Dr Rhys Thomas (Critical Care Doctor)

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

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Pask force: Thomas Carroll Director Richard Pask with WAA crew

The charity’s first owned home since its foundation in 2001, the new air base will house everything the lifesaving crews and aircraft need to carry out their day-to-day operations. It features a host of advanced technological features and modern facilities to help them do what they do best – save lives. By relocating to its new base, the WAA will maintain optimum flight coverage across South Wales, meaning that pilots can continue to reach any medical emergency around Wales within 20 minutes. As an independent charity, Wales Air Ambulance needs to generate £6 million a year through fundraising activities and legacy donations to maintain its operations. Co-locating the crews and aircraft with its head office will save the charity around £40,000 per year in site rental and fuel costs alone. At their new base, located near Prince Philip hospital in Llanelli and minutes from the M4 for its rapid response car team, the crews will have access to

Thomas Carroll

daily specialised training using video-conferencing to communicate with other bases in Wales. The base also houses purpose-built storage units for lifesaving medicines, equipment and aviation kits, and has room for two aircraft while another is re-fuelling. The new high-tech runway is constructed using recycled milk crates, which form 38,000 ‘geo tech grids’, helping to soften the impact of a helicopter landing. To facilitate night time missions, the WAA has also installed 22 landing lights into the helipad. By mid-2016, the £500,000 Airbase Appeal had reached its halfway point, with the new purposebuilt hangar and helipad already under construction, ready for operations to commence later in the year. Wales Air Ambulance is renowned for providing in-flight pre-hospital care, making it one of the most pioneering services of its kind in Europe. Consultant-level ‘flying doctors’ travel on board, with critical care practitioners helping to provide even more treatments on air ambulance missions.

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The hard work and expertise that the construction team are putting into building our new home really shows.

This enhanced service has introduced advanced treatments and equipment, with pioneering new kit developed from armed forces emergency medical care. These developments are a first for helicopter emergency medical services in the UK, which include equipment usually only seen in hospitals. Angela Hughes, CEO of Wales Air Ambulance, says: “Building our first ever owned home is a big moment for the charity and as the work on the hangar and helipad progresses, everyone at the charity is excited to move in. “The hard work and expertise that the construction team are putting into building our new home really shows, but we still have a lot to do and we can only build our new home through the kind donations to our Airbase Appeal. Any donations are very much appreciated.”

Top flight health and safety

Continual fundraising for the Airbase Appeal will also secure the future for the WAA and will keep this life-saving service flying high for Wales.

Thomas Carroll Management Services provides a wide range of health and safety consultancy support to Wales Air Ambulance, including helping the charity to develop and implement its health and safety management systems and ensure continual improvement. Thomas Carroll also provide health and safety training courses to both staff and volunteers working for the service throughout Wales.

Visit www.airbaseappeal.com

Andrew Lawton, Head of Retail and Trading at Wales Air Ambulance, says: “As we grow, the demands of health and safety are increasing day by day, which is why we decided to bring Thomas Carroll on board to assist us. Their support in terms of health and safety, fire safety, training provision and keeping us up-to-date with changing legislation is vital to the organisation.” Richard Pask, Director of Thomas Carroll Management Services, says: “It is an honour to be supporting the Wales Air Ambulance, which provides a vital emergency service to the people of Wales and is one of the most advanced services of its kind anywhere in the UK. “Health and safety management naturally lies at the very heart of what the Air Ambulance stands for and our consultancy and training services dovetail perfectly with the organisation in terms of its airborne, ground support and office-based operations.”

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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Good employees are vital to the success of any business. The Thomas Carroll Employee Benefits Wheel of Wellbeing above offers a simple insight into employee benefits and how to develop the best possible programme for you and your employees. When setting your business aside from competitors, strategies to retain your workforce are just as vital as recruitment.

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Wheel of Wellbeing

LIFE ASSURANCE

Salary is important of course but additional benefits are taking an increasingly prominent role in reward packages. Pensions, share incentives, healthcare, holidays, childcare flexibility, tax efficiency and work-life balance all feature highly on the list of popular expectations.

Thomas Carroll

Employee At Thomas Carroll, we take pride in the comprehensive employment package we offer our own employees. This has been tried and tested over a number of years. Many employers are surprised by the financial benefits they can offer their employees at very little additional cost.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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HOSPITAL CASH PLANS

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A well thought out employee benefits package can aid employee recruitment, achieve higher levels of engagement and ultimately boost profits. All of these benefits are allowable as a business expense.

029 2088 7733 www.thomascarroll.co.uk/employee-benefits ifa@thomas-carroll.co.uk

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

INDUSTRY TITLE NEWS

The Insurance Act What are the changes and what does it mean for customers? The Insurance Act 2015 is the most significant update to commercial insurance law in the last 100 years.

This means you might need to liaise with key individuals within your business: directors, department heads and other significant decision makers, who have a detailed knowledge of your business operation and risks.

Following a fundamental review by the Law Commission in conjunction with customers, brokers and insurers, the Act should lead to fairer outcomes for the customer. It is designed to mirror the requirements of a modern insurance market and reflect best practice in the UK insurance industry. From a customer perspective, the Act is a balance between providing the legal basis for fairer claims outcomes in return for a fair presentation of the risk. The Insurance Act 2015 applies to commercial insurances (nonconsumers) and will apply to contracts issued, renewed or varied after 12 August 2016.

PRE-CONTRACTUAL DISCLOSURE: THE DUTY TO MAKE A FAIR PRESENTATION

WARRANTIES

Under the current law, the policyholder is required to disclose all ‘material facts’ relevant to the risk. Material facts are defined as being those which a ‘prudent insurer’ would take into account in their assessment or acceptance of a risk. Failure to comply with this duty allows insurers to avoid the contract, in effect treating the policy as though it had never existed. The Insurance Act 2015 replaces this duty of disclosure with a revised duty to make a ‘fair presentation’ of the risk. This requires the policyholder to undertake ‘a reasonable search’ of the information available to them and defines what a policyholder knows or ought to know.

The courts will not look favourably on any data dumping of information, so any reference to a website, brochure or accounting data must be clearly signposted to the insurer.

INSURER’S RESPONSIBILITY You will see from the diagram that the insurer also contributes to a fair presentation of risk. In addition, the Act requires the insurer to carefully consider the information presented, and to which their underwriters have access, and make further enquiries if necessary to gain a better understanding of the risk.

Thomas Carroll

Under the current law, breach of a warranty in an insurance contract allows the insurer to avoid any liability under the policy from the point of the breach, even if this had been corrected. Insurers were also entitled to avoid liability even when the breach was not relevant to the type of loss actually suffered. The Act changes the effect of a breach of warranty so that cover remains in place for a valid claim arising after a breach has been remedied. In addition, the breach of a warranty no longer has any effect on the insurer’s liability for valid losses unrelated to the breach.

INDUSTRY NEWS TITLE

Insured's vs Insurer's Knowledge A fair presentation of the risk requires clear and accessible disclosure, without material misrepresentation, of: Every material circumstance which the insured knows/ought to know;

Insurer's knowledge

Or, failing that,

NOT REQUIRED TO BE DISCLOSED

Sufficient information to put a 'prudent insurer' on notice that it needs to make further enquiries to reveal those material circumstances.

Insured's knowledge WHAT MUST BE ACTIVELY DISCLOSED

INSURER’S REMEDIES FOR FRAUDULENT CLAIMS If the duty of fair presentation is breached, the Act puts in place a new range of proportionate remedies which insurers can apply, dependent upon the action they would have taken had the correct information been disclosed. If the failure in disclosure is deliberate or reckless, or if insurers would not have entered into the contract at all, insurers remain entitled to avoid the contract entirely. If a fraudulent claim is submitted, insurers will have the right to refuse any claim arising after the fraudulent act. Previously valid claims are unaffected.

WORKING WITH THOMAS CARROLL

BASIS OF CONTRACT CLAUSES Basis of contract clauses have the effect of converting precontractual information supplied to insurers into warranties. Under the Act, basis of contract clauses will be abolished. In future, where warranties are applied these must be expressly stated in the policy.

From a customer perspective, the Act is a balance between providing the legal basis for fairer claims outcomes in return for a fair presentation of the risk.

CONTRACTING OUT Insurers are able to contract out of the Act, except for the abolition of basis of contract clauses. This means that insurers could include disadvantageous terms. The Act has not been created with the intention for insurers to opt out and we believe that we will not see this extensively in mainstream business insurance, only for the most complex and high risk cases.

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

Thomas Carroll will fully support customers with insurance renewals, mid-term adjustments and new ventures. Our account executives will encourage you to talk to us early in the process. This will allow sufficient time to gather and present a fair presentation of risk to the markets and report back to you, so that you can make informed decisions. Our aim is to provide our customers with a ‘hand holding’ service through the implementation of this Act. If you would like to discuss the changes in more detail, please contact your account executive.

By Simon Bradwick Director Thomas Carroll Brokers Limited simon.bradwick@thomas-carroll.co.uk

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Thomas Carroll

Photographs: Huw John

Pontyclun

PROFILE

Family-owned home builder Llanmoor Homes is certainly a Welsh business success story. Founded in 1966, Llanmoor is celebrating its 50th year of trading this year and the company continues to go from strength to strength, with 2015/16 having been its best year yet for sales.

and we both spent a good year or two working closely with him, learning about the business. By the time I started work, Simon had already taken over running some aspects of the business on the financial and land acquisition side; and when I’d finished learning the ropes, we agreed that my role would be to learn about and manage the sales operations.

Tim Grey, Sales Director at Llanmoor Homes, explains how the company went from a twoman operation to one of South Wales’ most successful privately-owned house builders: “Llanmoor Homes was founded by my father, Brian Grey, a chartered accountant by profession who had his first involvement with the house building industry through the accountancy practice he was working for. During his early years in practice, Dad began to see a fantastic opportunity for a new house building venture within South Wales.

“Our younger brother Matthew worked with two very well-respected estate agents and valuers and had his introduction to the house building industry with a large national home builder, before joining Llanmoor 17 years ago. He now works as the construction director.”

“In February 1966 Llanmoor Development Co. Limited was incorporated, with Dad at the helm, and his business partner at the time out on site using his own extensive construction knowledge. During his many years in the accountancy practice, Dad worked with a number of clients who were farmers and was able to negotiate land purchase deals and option agreements with local landowners in outlying areas of South Wales.”

Brian Grey began to reduce his involvement in the day-to-day running of the business approximately 20 years ago. Between the three of them, Simon, Tim and Matthew have been running the business ever since.

The business flourished, establishing itself in a relatively short time as a real contender in the South Wales new housing market, and Brian Grey subsequently invited his sons to become involved in the running of the business. Tim continues: “There was never an expectation by Dad that we would automatically join the family business, and we were each expected to gain experience elsewhere prior to this. “Both Simon and I came from a banking background and worked for Barclays Bank before starting work at Llanmoor. Dad played a huge part in our training

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PROFILE

Family business: (L-R) Chris Grey (Llanmoor Homes), Rhys Thomas (Thomas Carroll), Tim Grey (Llanmoor Homes), Matthew Grey (Llanmoor Homes)

The business flourished, establishing itself in a relatively short time as a real contender in the South Wales new housing market.

“The excellent training we received from Dad has been instrumental in our continuing success,” says Tim. “During our first few years at Llanmoor, Dad instilled in us the importance of being able to recognise the signs of downturns and react quickly to changes in the business and the economy as a whole. This training proved to be invaluable during the last recession, when many of the smaller new home developers went out of business.” Throughout its 50 years of trading, Llanmoor has held its own, competing head-on with national home builders while setting itself apart as one of the few remaining, privatelyowned home builders in Wales. As a familyrun company, it prioritises customer care and making the home-buying process as easy as possible, offering a personalised service and after-sales care to each of its customers.

Thomas Carroll

Tim continues: “We’ve been successful in several awards over the past few years, including the LABC Cymru Building Quality Awards and the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards 2015. We are delighted that the incredibly high standards we work to are recognised. “Whilst some other home builders may have cut specifications and build standards, we continue to offer our purchasers a home and service that we ourselves can be rightly proud of. Our developments are very carefully planned to make sure that we’re creating a nice place to live and offering a wide range of home designs to suit most sectors of the market.

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“We know that new home builders will never be popular for various reasons, but we’re working hard to change people’s preconceptions. At Llanmoor, we try to build on brownfield sites when possible. Four of our current sites previously had industrial uses, and we make a significant contribution to the surrounding communities in South Wales, including social and affordable housing in the area, traffic improvements, education and provision of green open spaces and play areas.

“We are continually seeking suitable opportunities to develop new locations for quality new homes throughout South Wales. Over the last 50 years we’ve gone from a very small company to an award-winning and widely respected house builder. In the last two years alone our workforce has jumped from 28 to 88 directly-employed staff, with many more employed on a subcontract basis. We’re going to continue to work hard to push the company forward, build quality homes and, most importantly, do everything we can to continue to set ourselves apart from the national home builders.”

“A complete insurance offering” Thomas Carroll has been Llanmoor Homes’ insurance broker for the past 20 years, providing commercial insurance for the business and personal insurance for the directors, as well as competitive home and buildings insurance to Llanmoor Homes’ customers, offering them significant savings on their premiums.

led to us being able to work closely with them to offer our home buyers competitive premiums and peace of mind too. These kind of tailor-made incentives are an important added value for customers and we have every confidence in Thomas Carroll to deliver the same fantastic customer service that we receive from them to our buyers.”

“Thomas Carroll has grown with us,” says Tim Grey. “Our relationship with them as our own insurance broker has

Visit: www.llanmoor-homes.com

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

Photograph: Richard Swingler

PEOPLE TITLE

It is enjoyable to see and be part of the next generation. Father and son: Rhys and Evan Thomas

New Group CEO for Thomas Carroll Thomas Carroll is delighted to announce the appointment of Rhys Thomas to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Son of our 1972 co-founder Evan Thomas, Rhys joined Thomas Carroll as insurance account executive in 1993 and now steps up from the position of managing director of our award-winning insurance broking division to embrace his new position as CEO. Rhys will oversee business activity across all Group divisions and regions.

Rhys says: “It is an exciting time for the Group with our reputation steadily growing across the regions that we serve. Thomas Carroll has enjoyed sustainable, profitable growth over the years and I am looking forward to the challenge of developing the business further whilst maintaining our unique culture.

Currently living in Groesfaen with wife Michelle and two daughters, Chloe and Amy, Rhys has seen the Group grow from a small office in Llanishen, Cardiff, to offices in Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Hereford and more recently London, in addition to our HQ in Caerphilly.

“Our team is our greatest asset and we are always looking to recruit and retain quality people – it is enjoyable to see and be part of the next generation.”

Thomas Carroll

Commenting on the appointment, Group Chairman John Moore MBE says: “For me, to prolong the winning business culture and further the engagement of our excellent people, it is always preferable to promote from within. “Rhys, having contributed specifically to our growth, is very much with the people, passionately enthusiastic about our independent Chartered achievements and demonstrates an expertise around all our Group services.”

COMMUNITY PEOPLE TITLE

Icing on the cake: (L-R) Rob Jones MBE, Thomas Carroll and Lucia Osmond, Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Swansea

Meeting of minds for Maggie’s Thomas Carroll has pledged to help the Rotary club to raise £25,000 over the next year for a new Maggie’s Centre for Wales. Fundraising efforts for the cancer centre, to be built at Velindre Hospital Cardiff, kicked off with a coffee and cake morning at our Swansea office. The event raised £300 for Maggie’s Centres, which provide free practical, emotional and social support to people facing cancer. Maggie’s at Singleton Hospital opened in 2011 and plans are well underway for the new centre in Cardiff following its huge success. Robert Jones MBE, Regional Director of Thomas Carroll Swansea, says: “We were overwhelmed with how many people came to show their support for Maggie’s. This was a fantastic way to start our fundraising efforts. We have lots more planned across the Group for 2016 to help meet our target amount and we are confident we’ll reach it.”

Lucia Osmond, Centre Fundraising Manager for Maggie’s Centre in Swansea, says: “We are so grateful to Thomas Carroll Group. It is so important to us to have the support of Welsh businesses to bring this facility to life. It is estimated that one in two of us will be affected by cancer in some way and Maggie’s aims to provide vital support for those diagnosed or re-diagnosed, as well as their families and friends, in a calm and uplifting environment.” Each Maggie’s Centre has a team of qualified professionals on hand to offer a programme of support that has been shown to improve physical and emotional well-being. The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996. Since then, Maggie’s has continued to grow, with 17 centres at major NHS cancer hospitals in the UK and abroad. Photographs: Mike Hall

Visit: www.maggiescentres.org

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE TITLE

Priskilly Driving force: Rob Evans of Priskilly tees off

Thomas Carroll

Photographs: Castle

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The growing success of Pembrokeshire’s Priskilly Forest Country House and Golf Club. Set in the idyllic Pembrokeshire countryside amongst rolling green hills, the five-star Priskilly Forest Country House and Golf Club couldn’t be more charming if it were written into a Jane Austen novel. Kept in the Evans family for four generations, since Gwilym Evans bought it over 60 years ago, Priskilly Forest is owned and run by his grandson Phil Evans, Phil’s wife Joy and their son and daughter Rob and Rebecca. Last year, Priskilly Country House won a Visit Wales Gold Award, which recognises outstanding quality, comfort and hospitality – something Joy attributes to their standard of service:

“As a five-star accommodation and a high-end provider, I think what makes us unique is that we’re still very traditional,” says Joy. “The house has been kept within its era, which sets it apart from modern hotels, where guests could feel like they are anywhere in the world. I think one of our main attractions, though, is the good service we offer and the fact that we have kept our high standards over the years.” Rob adds: “We have a lot of returning guests and I think they come back to us for the welcome. A lot of our visitors will spend time chatting with us and getting to know more about the area.”

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Hands on: (L-R) The Priskilly familly, Rebecca Evans, Rob Evans, Joy Evans, Phil Evans

It’s a big help to know the person you’re dealing with and to put a face to the name.

The high standard of food served at Priskilly is another string to its bow. Rebecca, who runs Priskilly’s restaurant, Y Cabin, has seen her own-recipe slow cooked belly pork dish featured in Welsh Rarebits’ Great Little Places Guide for the past nine years. The family’s passion for food dates back to the 1950s, when Woman’s Own magazine ran an article on cooking at home, which featured Phil’s mother’s own recipes, some of which are still used in Y Cabin today. All food is homemade by Rebecca using fresh Welsh produce from local suppliers. Her philosophy towards cooking is very much focused on the needs of guests: “We serve traditional, hearty Welsh meals that appeal to the golfer who has been on the course all day, as well as more contemporary dishes,” says Rebecca. “One of my favourite dishes is the goat’s cheese and fig salad, which I garnish with fresh rosemary picked from the garden outside the kitchen.” Since its humble beginnings in the 50s, and much like the menu at Y Cabin, Priskilly Forest Country House has seen a number of developments over the years.

has played host to a number of famous faces, including amateur championshipwinning golfer Garrick Porteous, who used to frequent the club as a boy with his grandfather. Joy recalls a conversation with Porteous’ grandfather: “He’s going to be a good golfer you know, Joy!” With the golf course coming up to its 25th anniversary, the family plan to develop the course, which boasts panoramic views over the Preseli Hills, by adding more tees. They are also keen to diversify into other outdoor pursuits, in keeping with Pembrokeshire’s active outdoor lifestyle: “Work is currently underway to create a site where our guests can fish in the river Cleddau, something which will hopefully be completed in the near future,” says Phil. “We have beautiful woodland walks on the farm and we want to extend them to include routes around the golf course and down to the river. Also, with it being Visit Wales’ Year of Adventure, and with us being just a few miles from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, we hope to incorporate cycling routes soon.”

“I like to take on a new renovation project every year and at the moment we’re working on the dining room,” says Joy. “We’re also in the middle of renovating a vaulted cellar at the house, which is due for completion at the end of the summer.” A more recent addition to Priskilly is the golf club, which was established in 1992 and now has 100 members. The course

Thomas Carroll has provided insurance cover for Priskilly Forest Country House and Golf Club for the past three years and Phil and Joy have a close working relationship with Simon Lawrence from Thomas Carroll’s Pembrokeshire office. “Simon has been able to offer us good service for a good price and we are confident that we could turn to him whenever we need him,” says Phil. “It’s a big help to know the person you’re dealing with and to put a face to the name.” Simon comments: “As we are based locally to Priskilly Forest, we have a good knowledge of the area and have a strong local presence. People want reassurance more than anything when things go wrong and I think it’s important to be only a phone call away.”

What’s on at Priskilly? Afternoon tea – Enjoy traditional afternoon tea this summer at Y Cabin, complete with homemade sandwiches and scones made with good quality Pembrokeshire produce. Golf competition – Priskilly Golf Club runs a 9-hole summer competition on Wednesdays from April to September each year. Open to all! Call 01348 840276 for more information

Table for two: Rebecca Evans with Simon Lawrence of Thomas Carroll

Thomas Carroll

Visit: www.priskilly-forest.co.uk

COMMUNITY

Supporting

Herefordshire’s Hospice Thomas Carroll has pledged continued support for St Michael's Hospice in Herefordshire following its expansion with a state of the art inpatient unit in 2015.

The first hospice was built in 1984 to help people affected by life-limiting illnesses to live life to the full. The demand over the years has increased and the 90 per cent communityfunded hospice has raised the funds to grow. In 2015, Clive and Sylvia Richards donated £1 million, enabling the charity to open its new inpatient unit. The second stage of the redevelopment project – the refurbishment of the existing building, has now begun. Opening later this year, the two buildings will become a complete hospice fit for the 21st century, whether helping people in their own homes or as inpatients. It costs £13,000 a day to run the hospice and Thomas Carroll is playing its part by naming St Michael’s as its charity of the year for the second year running. Colleagues at the Hereford office are allocating their volunteering day to the hospice. Amongst other events, they will also be taking part in the Hereford 5K run in aid of the charity.

Claire Humphries, Branch Director of Thomas Carroll Hereford, says:

St Michael’s Hospice plays an integral role in Hereford and the local community. We look forward to working closer with the hospice and doing our bit to raise important funds for the hospice to continue its admirable work. Visit: www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Club Signature Partners

Thomas Carroll

PROFILE

Our private insurance arm has been working with clients and their families for over 40 years.

To cater for the needs of our growing clientele, we launched Club Signature Personal Insurance Service. Designed as a concierge level of insurance service, it is specifically for individuals whose financial position and lifestyle require high levels of individualised cover and personal service.

Perfect 10

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Greg Williams SALES DIRECTOR / FINE WINES DIRECT UK

Operated by Alison Davies, Managing Director, and Claire Humphries, Director of Thomas Carroll Private Clients, the service is strengthened by our expert teams of insurance executives and in-house claims managers. One of the other advantages of becoming a member of Club Signature is access to a range of Club Signature partners who can offer insurance-related services such as jewellery and watch valuations, as well as advantageous rates to members.

Operating the only bonded warehouse in Wales, Fine Wines Direct UK was founded in 2009 and today this independent wine importer and wholesaler supplies to restaurants, bars and hotels across Wales, the South West and UK-wide. One of the industry’s fastest growing wine merchants, the company is renowned for sourcing high quality wines direct – many as an exclusive UK agent – from winemakers and producers throughout the world. What gets me out of bed in the morning: “If you are looking for a steady, routine job being a wine merchant is not for you! This business has so many facets, and it’s not just about great wines, it’s the people, the producers and our customers. It’s that variety that keeps me enthralled in my work.”

The Scene met at the Wales Millennium Centre with Club Signature partners, to find out the secrets of their success in their chosen field and their advice to others.

Best lesson I ever learned:

Photos by Mike Hall

“Always be willing to explore. The world is a treasure trove of great wines. Great strides are being made in New World wines, producing quality wines on a par with established producers.” In my business I am most proud of:

Alison Davies

Claire Humphries

Managing Director

Director

“The staff. You can only build a successful business based on committed, loyal people and we place great store in our team in all areas of our work, from the warehouse, logistics and admin to our wine experts out and about.”

Thomas Carroll

PROFILE

The way things are going trends in my business: “Better quality wines are now available by the glass in restaurants and bars thanks to the Coravin system, which enables you to serve wine without pulling the cork, with the remaining wine being perfectly preserved in the bottle using gas replacement technology. It is a great leap forward in our industry and quite a revolution in widening wine enjoyment.”

What gets me out of bed in the morning: “No two days are the same at Cardiff Airport and my job is just so varied. What I enjoy most is that I never know what each day will bring. Meeting lots of new people is also a bonus!”

With a celebrity-sprinkled clientele, this family-run business in the Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, specialises in buying and selling the world’s finest pre-owned watch and jewellery brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega and Cartier. What gets me out of bed in the morning:

The best lesson I ever learned: “Always be honest, up-front and transparent in all that you do. Plus, it’s important to have confidence in your own abilities.”

My vision is:

“You never know what’s next, who you are going to meet and the next interesting items to buy or sell. We have a lot of celebrity and sports community clients phoning, emailing or popping in.”

In my business I am most proud of: “To expand our national and agency business and to continue to serve Wales and the South West with what we believe are the best quality wines in the industry.” Visit: www.finewinesdirectuk.com

Sarah Clifford COMMERCIAL SALES MANAGER / CARDIFF AIRPORT

Best lesson I ever learned: “My team. They’re a fantastic group of people, each with unique skills.” The way things are going trends in my business: “Cardiff Airport is on the up. Passenger numbers are growing steadily and we’ve already seen a number of exciting announcements from our airlines. It’s a very exciting time for our national airport and I take huge pride in being a part of its bright future.” My vision is: “To continue to play my part in creating a vibrant, national airport for Wales that people can be proud of and that acts as the gateway to our beautiful country.”

Paul Hornblow Cardiff Airport is in an exciting phase of its development. Passenger numbers are consistently growing and significant improvements have been made to the customer experience.

OWNER DIRECTOR / WATCHES OF WALES

“It’s the same for many people who provide a service and it has got to be putting the customer first. We are a small family business and we want to keep it small and not move away from our core philosophy.” The way things are going trends in my business: “The pre-owned watch industry has changed massively and more and more people are buying Rolex, Cartier and Breitling watches for fashion and investment, even as wedding presents.” In my business I am most proud of: “Building up my business from scratch to where we are now, a successful business, makes me proud.” My vision is: “To keep growing our customer base, but to keep it on a small and personal level, not too commercial; we don’t want a switchboard. There are lots of watch companies out there who are bigger but they don’t necessarily know what they are talking about!” If I could only own one watch it would be:

In addition to the wide choice of destinations available at Wales’ national airport, Flybe has stepped in to offer ‘rescue flights’ to London City from £34.99 one way starting from 12 September, ensuring that Welsh passengers still have vital access to the city whilst works are underway on the Severn Tunnel.

A vintage Moon Face Patek Philippe from the 1940s! Visit: www.watchesofwales.co.uk

CONTINUED OVERLEAF

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Dylan Matthews MENTOR / ALACRITY FOUNDATION

The Alacrity Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that works with educational institutions, government departments and industry partners to fulfil its mandate of promoting and facilitating entrepreneurship. Dylan Matthews, Chief Executive at the Celtic Manor Resort for 12 years, is also a Board Member for the Newport Gwent Dragons. What gets me out of bed in the morning: “Working with the teams. These are university graduates we put together to make companies.” Best lesson I ever learned: “It’s all about teamwork, inspiring teams.” In my business I am most proud of: “Building up the team at Celtic Manor. It really is one of the best management teams I’ve ever seen and it’s great to work with them.”

Best lesson I ever learned?

The way things are going trends in my business:

“Make decisions that are based on commercial sense, not vanity.”

“The future in the smartphone sales process is called onboarding: paying monthly subscription for an app; and the challenge in the industry is that 50 per cent drop off where people abandon mid purchase. So more people paying for software as a service is a major challenge in my industry.”

Chris Macnamara, The Brogue Trader

Thomas Carroll

PROFILE

My vision is: “For IT businesses to grow in South Wales and enhance the existing businesses. We need to broaden the employment opportunities for young people. IT business employment tends to have higher wages than in the service sector, which is our current largest employment sector.”

Chris Macnamara MANAGING DIRECTOR / THE BROGUE TRADER

by our expert team. I think a lot of people talk about customer service, but in reality provide just the basic minimum, whereas we deliver a whole customer experience.” The way things are going trends in my business: “The trend for traditional country brogues worn with casual trousers, jeans or cords remains very current and very popular; people are prepared to invest in good footwear knowing that they are made in the UK and that they will last and have that timeless look.” My vision is: “To have 10 stores by 2018. We currently sponsor Welsh national football and Wales rugby and we are in talks with Scottish rugby in line with the opening of our Edinburgh store. Our association with sport in general has been instrumental in making our business credible with the public.”

Opened in 2013 by former car dealer Chris Macnamara in the Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, providing classic British-made high quality shoes. Footwear supplier to the WRU and FAW, celebrities and the glitterati, The Brogue Trader’s rise has been spectacular with new outlets already opened in Bath and Chester, soon to be followed by more stores in Edinburgh and Leeds.

In my business I am most proud of: “The customer experience we deliver and the way people feel special and full of life when they walk out of the door, having had an enjoyable buying experience delivered

Best lesson I ever learned: “Without a doubt it’s when to say no to a project! The expression ‘horses for courses’ is true in all walks of life. It is hard to turn down work, but we can only build on our reputation as specialists in bespoke design and manufacture if we focus on what we do best. This way we can confidently achieve a good working relationship with our clients and truly manage expectations.” In my business I am most proud of:

Visit: www.thebroguetrader.com

Drew Williams

The way things are going trends in my business:

DIRECTOR / QUAILS INTERIORS UK

“Great shoes and a love of life and being full of energy. Ours is a serious family business; my daughter joined us in April, so proper family values count in my world and I cannot stress that enough.”

“Make decisions that are based on commercial sense, not vanity.”

“I’m an early bird, getting up at 6am. It’s almost a habit. I think it’s because I find our work and the sheer range of projects we are involved in very exciting. I hope it rubs off on my two sons who are both in the business!”

“I am very proud of producing a design that fits the brief so well that the client invariably thinks they have done it themselves. That’s when we know we delivered exactly what was wanted.”

What gets me out of bed in the morning:

Best lesson I ever learned:

What gets me out of bed in the morning:

“We are enjoying a good variation of projects at the moment, not just kitchens. It is becoming more and more that our clients are looking to refurbish the entire house. Whilst kitchens have become a multi-functional space for socialising as well as food prep, in other areas of the house we are being asked to re-model a room for a specific purpose, be it a walk-in wardrobe/dressing room, study, wine cellar, games room or home cinema. This current trend towards an entire bespoke built-in room fits in well with us.” My vision is:

Andrew Williams – ‘Drew’ – is an acclaimed Welsh cabinet maker and designer and established his furniture making business in 1979. Drew quickly found his bespoke work featured in ‘Country Life’ and ‘Elle Decoration’ amongst countless glossy interiors magazines. Today, with a showroom in Usk and Cardiff, Quails Interiors receives commissions for highend interior projects throughout the UK.

“To let my sons take more of a role in the business and carry on and grow our success. Harry works in logistics and fitting and Monty in design and meeting clients. We have lots of work on, particularly in London, as well as West Wales, Manchester and as far as the South of France. So the vision as a family business is to keep building on that success into the future.” Visit: www.quailsinteriors.co.uk

CONTINUED OVERLEAF

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

PROFILE

Paul Young DIRECTOR / SO EXCLUSIVE INTERIORS

looking back and realising how much out of your comfort-zone you were.” The way things are going trends in my business: “We have acquired an unusual looking building (ironically, shaped like a rugby ball!). We are developing it into a design suite where our high-end clients, architects and developers can meet and discuss current projects.” My vision is:

Founded by former Wales and Newport Dragons rugby player Paul Young, So Exclusive Interiors is based in Newport, South Wales. It employs a team of exceptionally talented interior designers, specialising in contemporary furnishings, interior design and project management for residential and commercial clients in the UK and abroad. What gets me out of bed in the morning: “Meeting new people, developing relationships and networking is what I love to do. If a project is due for completion, it’s a real buzz. There is nothing quite like seeing the finishing touches being put into place and handing over a uniquely designed space back to the client.”

“So Exclusive Interiors wants to change the way you think about interiors. We believe communication is key. We listen to our clients’ needs and wishes and work closely with them from conception to completion. We believe in giving our clients access to the most unique designs and products from around the world whilst offering a service that is personal, friendly and always willing to go the extra mile.” Visit: www.soexclusiveinteriors.com

Anand George CHEF / PURPLE POPPADOM

Best lesson I ever learned: “Always maintain a hunger to learn. Without learning we are nothing. I have picked up so much from working with great chefs around the world and also from the great home cooking traditions of India. We learn from each other, then invent on top of that.” In my business I am most proud of: “Bringing my style of fine dining nouvelle Indian cuisine to Wales. When I first came here I wanted to redefine Indian food in new and fresh ways. It was a risk. We then did the same with Indian street food and pop-up restaurants. We like to create new concepts and I am so pleased that the people of Wales like what we do. We have never liked to stand still.” The way things are going trends in my business:

My vision is:

“Keep an open mind…always! The weirdest sounding concepts can turn out to be the most awe-inspiring spaces. And be willing to learn… I’m open to discovering new products, concepts, designs and opportunities, every single day!”

“Taking the big step to end my rugby career, become a spectator and move into an industry so different to anything I was used to. There is a huge sense of achievement,

“The need to jump into the kitchen and cook! There is always lots to do in and around the restaurant, many projects working on new dishes, developing street food, my cookery classes, my new book, food festivals and judging chef competitions. Lots of variety keeps me busy and going forward all the time.”

“I think there are clear trends for higher quality chef-created street food, that builds on our rich tradition of this type of food in India. The Street Food Circus in Cardiff has been fantastic for us.”

Best lesson I ever learned:

In my business I am most proud of:

What gets me out of bed in the morning:

Kerala-born, multi-award-winning chef Anand George came to Wales in 2007 and pioneered a new style of high-end nouvelle Indian cuisine which has won him many accolades, followers and imitators. His innovative first solo project, Purple Poppadom in Canton, Cardiff, continues to lead the way and is the epicentre of Anand’s innovative diversifications into pop-up restaurants and street food events.

Thomas Carroll

“To keep innovating, developing new ideas and maintaining the highest standards in everything we do. Purple Poppadom continues to grow, which is great as it is always at the heart of everything we do here in Wales and beyond. To see our style of haute cuisine and street food grow in influence would be my vision.” Visit: www.purplepoppadom.com

CAERPHILLY SWANSEA PEMBROKESHIRE HEREFORD LONDON

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Cover includes: •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

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Small businesses choose us because we provide expert advice,

029 2088 7733 www.thomascarroll.co.uk

wide cover and a claims service when you need it most. All from your Largest Local Broker in Wales Vanessa Williams New Business Development Executive

COMPANY TITLE NEWS

Thomas Carroll opens London office In line with its continued expansion, Thomas Carroll Group plc is meeting growing demand for its services in the South East by opening its first office in London.

Located in Stratton Street in Mayfair W1, the office is the new London base for the Group’s Legal Indemnity and Property Services arms. The move has been designed to bring Thomas Carroll closer to its clients in the legal and property development sectors as well as insurance markets. Gareth Cotty, Director of Thomas Carroll who is heading up the new office, says: "We currently provide cover worth over £3.8 billion for the legal sector and property development clients, many of whom are based around the West End and the Square Mile. “Through our access to insurance markets and close proximity to key players in legal and property transactions, we can now provide clients with an even faster service for property transactions.”

Thomas Carroll

As well as commercial and personal insurance broking, the Group will also be providing clients with associated services of health and safety consultancy and independent financial advice. Rhys Thomas, Chief Executive of Thomas Carroll Group plc, says: “London is a major and very exciting move for us and we will be looking to grow our already strong client base in the capital, initially in the property-related sectors. “We are looking to introduce a wider Group offering, a mix of services which have been serving us well over many years in Wales, and we are now delighted to be exporting into London and the South East.”

PEOPLE

Photograph: Mike Hall

Account Executive strengthens Hereford team

Emma Buckley

Emma builds career in insurance Thomas Carroll Group Swansea has announced a key promotion, reflecting its continued strength and growth serving

Dougie Spencer

the city and region.

Thomas Carroll Hereford has further expanded its team with the appointment of Dougie Spencer to the position of Account Executive. The appointment represents further expansion at the Broad Street-based business, which serves Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Welsh borders, following on from the arrival of Claire Humphries as Branch Director and Annette Evans as Account Broker.

Emma Buckley has been promoted to Small Business Account Executive to further enhance Thomas Carroll’s position in the Swansea market. Swansea-born Emma joined the company a year ago as a graduate executive, after completing a CII diploma in insurance, and built up experience across all of Thomas Carroll’s sectors, including engineering, manufacturing, retail and professional services. Emma, who has a degree in business studies from Swansea Metropolitan University, will also be focusing on property insurance in her new role, specifically Thomas Carroll’s Property Select Scheme for commercial and residential clients.

Dougie Spencer joins Thomas Carroll from the Hay-on-Wye office of NFU Mutual, where he held the position of Account Executive. In his new role Dougie will be providing insurance broking advice and support for local businesses throughout a range of trade sectors. Announcing the appointment, Claire Humphries, Branch Director, said: “We are delighted to have attracted another ambitious and knowledgeable young insurance professional to our growing team here in Hereford. “Since opening the office in 2014, we have become integrated into the local business community in a short period of time, offering a full range of risk and financial planning services to our expanding client base. We welcome Dougie on board.”

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

Robert Jones MBE, Regional Director of Thomas Carroll Swansea, which was established in the city in 2009, says: “Emma is a fantastic addition to our insurance team and again exemplifies our excellent graduate programme. Her new role will include reviewing client policies to ensure everything is covered and identifying any potential exposures to keep the business safe.”

Photograph: Richard Swingler

Photographs: ***

PEOPLE

Paul Hughes

We welcome Paul Hughes ACII to the position of Account Director at Thomas Carroll Brokers.

Previously with global broker Willis, Paul, who lives in Pentyrch, joins the new business team to work alongside Broking Director Gareth Cotty at Thomas Carroll’s HQ in Caerphilly. Paul says: “I am thrilled to join Thomas Carroll who have enjoyed significant growth over the years. Well established and respected in the area, Thomas Carroll are a serious independent, regional alternative to your big national brokers.” Paul has 30 years of industry experience, including seven years with Taylor Woodrow, focusing on construction, and 15 years with Marsh. He was a top performing account director at Willis for nine years, specialising in corporate and complex risks across a variety of trade sectors including aviation, sports and multinational construction.

Thomas Carroll

Paul continues: “Joining Thomas Carroll is a serious and final career move for me and represents my priority to deliver a quality service to clients of all sizes and disciplines in a constantly evolving market. “I think it comes down to the right balance of professionalism and a well-rounded proposition of integrated services under one roof. The good accumulation of people, local decision making and freedom to try new things is refreshingly different for all the right reasons – I’m thoroughly enjoying it!” Commenting on the appointment, Chairman John Moore MBE says: “We welcome Paul, whose corporate influence and expertise will complement our growing, successful new business team. With a wealth of market knowledge, Paul’s appetite for understanding risks, and his objective to put clients first, attracted us and is relevant to the business community we serve across Wales and beyond.”

COMMUNITY TITLE

Puppy love: L-R: Kerri Bee (Founder of SPPOT) and Al Rees (Thomas Carroll) with ‘Alf.’

A Pembrokeshire social enterprise which trains disabled and disadvantaged people to become volunteer dog walkers, home boarders and dog day carers, has won a £10,000 grant in the annual Aviva Broker Community Fund competition.

SPPOT (Supporting People and Pets through Opportunities and Training) was set up in 2013 by Kerri Bee, who is a qualified dog behaviourist with 10 years’ experience working with vulnerable adults. Once trained, the volunteers provide dog minding services, primarily to people who are housebound due to physical disability, incapacity or old age. SPPOT was nominated for the grant scheme, which enables insurance brokers to support good causes in their communities, by Thomas Carroll’s Pembrokeshire office in Haverfordwest. Commercial Account Executive Al Rees, who led the project, says: “SPPOT is doing a fantastic job in training disabled and disadvantaged people to in turn help vulnerable adults and their dogs.

“In 2015 Thomas Carroll successfully nominated the Welsh charity, Follow Your Dreams, for an Aviva award, which gave me the idea to help SPPOT generate funds for its invaluable work. I am so pleased that we succeeded.” Kerri Bee, founder of SPPOT, says: “The £10,000 grant will be used to train 10 volunteer dog walkers, enabling 60 dogs a week to be walked, bringing in sufficient funds to train 14 more volunteer dog walkers next year and so the pattern for sustainability will be established. “It will enable us to support many more vulnerable dog owners across Pembrokeshire to maintain good ownership of their beloved dog, thus reducing strain on health and social care services and animal rescue services.” Visit: www.sppot.org.uk

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

Photograph: Mike Hall

PEOPLE

Stephen Francis

Stephen Francis appointed Director of Thomas Carroll IFA Thomas Carroll Group plc in Swansea has promoted Stephen Francis to the position of Director of Thomas Carroll IFA. A member of the Thomas Carroll team in Swansea since 2010, Stephen has worked alongside Regional Director Robert Jones MBE in developing the Swansea office, which opened in 2009. Stephen now moves up from the position of Financial Consultant to take up his new position on the firm’s Board. Commenting on the new appointment, Robert Jones MBE says: “The past

seven years have been hugely exciting for us, since starting out with a very small team and fledgling client base. “Today we are 14 people strong, have purchased our own HQ on the Enterprise Park with 1,000 commercial clients and income exceeding £1 million. Stephen’s promotion is richly deserved and reflects his contribution to our continuing success. I congratulate Stephen on his elevation to the position of director.”

Thomas Carroll

Caerphilly Swansea Pembrokeshire Hereford London

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Our Services Include:

•• Employment tribunal representation •• Guaranteed next day appointment in respect of any issue

•• Drafting of contracts of employment and employee handbooks

•• Fixed-fee unlimited support service •• Redundancy and restructuring advice

in respect of Settlement (Compromise) Agreements

•• Any issue in connection with TUPE •• Legal expenses protection •• Wide range of employment law and HR training courses

Call the employment law specialists today We will be happy to talk through the options with you.

tel.

029 2085 3752

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CHARTERED | INDEPENDENT | AWARD-WINNING

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Listed Home Commitment Looking after your listed home in sickness and in health Occasionally, a property comes onto the market which has a certain special something that sets it apart from the rest. It could have historical features, be situated in a conservation area or possess a certain architectural individuality that makes it unique. If so, the chances are it will be listed.

Listed homes are, by definition, quite unique and an ‘off the shelf ’ or standard insurance policy will typically be inadequate to cover the individual touches that make up such homes. For example, original fireplaces, ornate friezes and wood panelling might be intrinsic features of the building and have a significant impact on the cost of rebuilding. Alison Davies, Managing Director of Thomas Carroll Private Clients and high value insurance service Club Signature, provides some key considerations for protecting a listed home once you’ve said ‘I do’ to a Grade II, Grade II* or possibly even a Grade I property.

COST OF REBUILDING

COVERING THE CONTENTS

Insurers use a standard set of assumptions for rebuilding costs following losses such as flooding, fire, subsidence and escape of water, such as burst pipes.

Standard home contents policies very often apply exclusions which may make your policy invalid. Listed homes tend to possess special features that require a tailored approach and individualised cover.

These assumptions simply don’t account for the additional costs associated with a listed property, such as the use of period materials, expensive traditional construction methods and the possibility of additional planning consent to complete the works, leading to delays. If you own a listed building or a scheduled ancient monument, a specific consent is needed if you want to make changes. In the case of alterations to listed buildings, you need a listed building consent from the local authority – or from the Welsh Government in the case of local authority buildings.

Thomas Carroll

For example, some traditional door locks don’t meet standard insurance criteria. You may not be permitted to fit window locks and traditional lead glazed windows don’t offer the protection of modern double glazing. So, if you keep valuable jewellery, art and antiques in the property, the requirement for specialist listed building insurance is even more important.

INDUSTRY TITLE NEWS

So what does it take to make the list? A listed building in the UK is a building which has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. All buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are listed, as are most of those built between 1700 and 1840. The criteria gets tighter with time, meaning post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. For a building to be included on the list, it must be a man-made structure that survives similarly to its original state. In England and Wales, listed buildings are classified in three grades:

•• Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important. Just 2.5 per cent of listed buildings are Grade I.

HAVE YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSIONS VALUED

•• Grade II* buildings are particularly important structures of more than special interest. 5.5 per cent of listed buildings are Grade II*.

We strongly recommend that our clients obtain a detailed specialist valuation from accredited surveyors and architects. This provides confidence in knowing that in the event of loss, you are adequately protected. Most importantly, it will assist you in obtaining the most suitable insurance policy for your listed home. Common problems with listed buildings include drainage, damp, decay and flooding, so risk prevention and adequate cover is imperative.

•• Grade II buildings are nationally important and of special interest. 92 per cent of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a private residential building.

Source: www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS We appreciate that you need confidence when appointing a reputable insurance broker, which is why we invest heavily in the training of our Club Signature team. If you own or are in the process of purchasing a listed home and require suitable insurance advice, without obligation, a member of our Club Signature team would be delighted to assist.

By Alison Davies Managing Director Thomas Carroll Private Clients alison.davies@thomas-carroll.co.uk

www.thomascarroll.co.uk

Photograph: Laura Eedy

COMMUNITY TITLE

Cool runners: (L-R) Rachel Townsend (Account Executive), Jeff Partridge (Account Executive), Christina Rees (Digital Marketer), Paul Evans (Account Manager), Lisa Williams (Client Account Manager), Bethan Jones (I.T & Operations Manager), Jo Dorey (Senior Paraplanner)

Giving Mo a run for his money It has been another busy year for Thomas Carroll runners, who have successfully pounded pavements and paths around the UK for great causes.

So far the runners have raised over £8,000, with more events to come, for a number of charities including Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, Cancer Research UK, Maggie’s Centres, Insurance Charities and local children’s charity Jac Bach. Christina Rees recently ran the London Marathon in under four hours, raising a fantastic £3,000 for children’s charity Kith & Kids, while Paul Evans completed the Brighton Marathon in just over four hours, beating his previous London Marathon time by 30 minutes! Triathlon-man Jeff Partridge is soon to take part in the Snowdon Marathon, one of seven sporting events on his hit-list this year.

Thomas Carroll

Jeff and Christina completed the World Half Marathon in Cardiff alongside fellow fundraising colleagues Natalie Sankala, Beth Jones, Cerith Bevan and Rachel Townsend – not forgetting British Olympian Mo Farah CBE, who took home the bronze medal on the day! Meanwhile, Jo Dorey successfully completed the Bath Half Marathon. Lisa Williams and Michelle Dacey join the triumphant team who are already training for the next Cardiff Half or Severn Bridge Half and hoping to set new personal bests – watch out Mo!

COMPANY NEWS TITLE

Team effort: [L-R] Peter Tomkins, Rhys Thomas and Tracey George Photograph: Laura Eedy

Thomas Carroll Group acquires Monmouthshire Insurance Services Thomas Carroll Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of the business of Monmouthshire Insurance Services Ltd, a commercial insurance provider and subsidiary of Monmouthshire Building Society Group. Tracey George moves over to Thomas Carroll from Monmouthshire Insurance Services to work alongside dedicated Account Executive Peter Tomkins, to service clients following the takeover. Rhys Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Carroll Group, comments: “We are delighted to acquire the established business of such a well-respected insurance provider. Monmouthshire

Insurance Services represents a perfect fit for our organisation. “We service our loyal clients across Newport and Monmouthshire through our office in Hereford, in addition to our offices in Caerphilly, Swansea, Pembrokeshire and London. The acquisition will ensure the same high levels of ongoing support and expert industry knowledge that their customers have come to expect.”

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Will Carroll, Finance Director of Monmouthshire Building Society, comments: “Monmouthshire Insurance Services is an established commercial insurance business and it’s extremely important to know that its valued customers will be served by such a trusted organisation as Thomas Carroll.”

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Group Approach With over 40 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the industry, Thomas Carroll Group plc is one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading independent providers of insurance broking, financial planning, health, safety and employment law.

Claire Humphries Director

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029 2088 7733

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Swansea

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Hereford

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info@thomas-carroll.co.uk

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