Category Archives: Business

Business, Business & Property News, News, News from Wales

Welsh language helps us to be successful, say three Welsh businesses

Three Welsh businesses are throwing their weight behind a new campaign by Careers Wales which aims to encourage us to shine the spotlight on Welsh language skills.

A Cardiff bakery that is fast developing a dedicated following, an environmentally-friendly childcare provider in Carmarthenshire and a multi-million civil engineering company based in Ruthin have all come together to champion the business value of speaking Welsh.

In 2021, the Annual Population Survey revealed that 29.1% of us – aged three or over – can speak Welsh. That’s 883,300 people – an increase of 24,600 from the previous year.

And, as the Welsh language grows year on year, so too do the businesses and organisations who recognise the value of Welsh. Whether it can help speak to individual customers in the mother tongue, build relationships or help craft a strong brand, it seems the power of the Welsh language on your CV should not be underestimated.

 

“The Welsh language is part of our brand”

Before you even push open the door of Let Them See Cake in Cardiff (pictured above), customers will spot the beautiful gold lettering spelling out, ‘Siop Cacennau, Parc Victoria’.

And as you enter, you’ll not only be drawn in by the smell of fresh baking, sumptuous swirls and pretty piping, but also a warm greeting – ‘Hello Shwmae’ – which also happens to be the shop’s catchphrase.

The infectious warmth of what has been dubbed Wales’ most instagrammable bakery has been captured by BBC Three series Hot Cakes which follows the shop’s success and the stories behind customer orders.

If you’ve watched it, you’ll know that owners Gareth Davies and Ryan Rowe decided to open a shop specialising in celebration cakes when the business below their flat became vacant. It was 2020 and, while some may have thought the couple was crazy to open in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, the business has gone from strength to strength. And the pair believe that the power of the Welsh language has helped them prosper:

“Gareth grew up speaking Welsh and we are smack bang in the middle of a Welsh speaking community so it feels natural to speak Welsh here. But it’s more than that – it’s our unique selling point,” explains Ryan.

“We have a Welsh speaking team and we’re really known by our customers that they can come in and speak Welsh here. We incorporate it into our social media too. We strive to make the shop as welcoming and inviting as possible – whether that’s through the décor or how we interact. Speaking Welsh feels homely and warm.”

Ryan reveals that he learnt Welsh online:

”I’ll slip up sometimes but it’s all good fun, people do appreciate it when you’ve made the effort to learn.”

The Welsh language is also woven into product names – Seren, Cwmwl and Cariad can all be ordered in store or online.

So popular are their creations that the business has outgrown the shop space and Ryan and Gareth have now leased a commercial unit where the team whips up the cakes and treats. And with more space available in the shop, they plan to offer afternoon teas. And they are not stopping there:

“We’re forward-thinking and you can’t rest on your laurels. We’re looking at book deals, we’d like to explore other TV opportunities and we’re also considering how we could offer a UK-wide delivery service.

“We’ve built a brand that people seem to love and the Welsh language is really woven into it. It’s very much part of our ethos and how we present ourselves. There is a culture attached to the language and whether people follow us on social or pop into the shop, they want to feel like they are in a special part of Wales.”

 

“As a practitioner, speaking Welsh is a huge asset”

Cylch Meithrin Eco Tywi is an eco-friendly nursery that operates through the medium of Welsh in Carmarthen. Although it only opened three years ago, it is thriving with 28 children on its books.

The Cylch leader, Lleucu Edwards, says:

“We are a Welsh language provider and that gives us a huge opportunity. People come to us because we are a fully Welsh setting. Parents want children to get a good start before they attend Welsh medium school.”

Carmarthenshire has the highest rates of Welsh speakers in Wales. With 94,600 Welsh speakers reported in the local authority at the last Annual Population Survey in 2021, so it is no surprise that Lleucu and her team are in demand.

However, she reports that approximately 60% of the families they support are English speaking while 40% are first language Welsh which suggests that the numbers of Welsh speakers in the county are set to soar even higher in the future.

“As a practitioner, speaking Welsh is a huge asset. If you work in education and childcare and you speak Welsh, it is really important to highlight these skills to an employer or a potential employer. I would see the ability to speak Welsh as being a huge advantage if someone is looking to secure work in this sector because it is so important that we can teach and care through the medium of Welsh.

“I was brought up speaking Welsh at home, went to Welsh school and I did my BA degree in Early Years through the medium of Welsh. I want to be able to offer the opportunities and experience I had growing up to children in the area. It’s also of huge benefit to be bilingual – it can strengthen cognitive abilities.”

And Lleucu says that anyone in the childcare sector wanting to learn Welsh will be welcomed with open arms:

“We have one colleague who wasn’t very confident with her Welsh but through online learning and working here, she has come on leaps and bounds because she has been immersed in the language. People need to know that we won’t judge you as a learner, just start speaking Welsh and you’ll be supported.”

And Lleucu already has designs to grow the business further too:

“We currently offer all day care and wraparound care for those children starting out with half days at school. We’d like to offer after-school clubs in the future for older children too and we’d love to be able to offer more spaces because the demand for Welsh language childcare is huge.”

 

“Speaking Welsh helps build rapport in our business”

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is a family business that was founded in the 1950s. With a head office in Ruthin, today it directly employs around 500 staff and operatives and has grown into a hugely successful firm.

From windfarms in Scotland to a reservoir project in Portsmouth, Jones Bros is responsible for projects right across the UK and turns over around £140 million. Yet it is still firmly rooted in Wales, as contracts director, Hefin Lloyd-Jones, explains:

“Most of our staff are from North Wales and I’d say around 250 can speak Welsh. 170 of those are fluent speakers while the remainder have either a basic understanding of – or are learning – the language. We work on projects all over Britain, so you’ll hear Welsh being spoken daily in places such as Hull, Peterborough, and Buckinghamshire.”

“We also operate on many projects in areas where Welsh is used as a first language. For example, we worked on the A487 Caernarfon and Bontnewydd Bypass and most of the meetings and emails were carried out in Welsh. Having a workforce with an understanding of the Welsh language definitely helps build relationships and trust within the business, as well as bringing a warmth and instant rapport.

“Having Welsh speaking staff isn’t just important, it’s absolutely vital so that we can liaise with landowners and local businesspeople who speak it as their first language.”

And Hefin believes that speaking Welsh is a skill that has been vastly under-estimated in the workplace:

“We do take it for granted a bit that we can communicate in two different languages. To be able to talk technically, give instructions and make decisions in both Welsh and English is a real skill. Communicating in Welsh is absolutely key to our delivery and is vital in our success as a business.”

Philip Bowden, Careers Wales Head of Quality and Planning, said:

“As the national careers service for Wales, Careers Wales is committed to supporting the Welsh Government’s vision of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“We do this through our bilingual service delivery and ensuring young people and adults are fully aware of the opportunities that Welsh language skills offer to future career choices.

“There is real value for employers in supporting the language, with 94% of Welsh speakers feeling that Welsh language service provision helps a company make a good impression as well as adding valuable skills to their workforce.

“The three companies who are supporting our campaign, Let Them See Cake, Jones Bros and Cylch Meithrin Eco Tywi, are proof that a real commitment to the Welsh language can have real benefits for companies in Wales and beyond and we’re extremely grateful for their passionate support.”

To find Welsh language resources or learn more about Welsh go to Careerswales.gov.wales and search ‘learn Welsh’.

Business, ESG Investments, ESG/CSR, News

Mining sector puts energy into ESG, but lacks focus on gender and diversity

Demand for greater transparency fuels shift in sustainable approach, finds new survey

Energy efficiency has soared up the list of environmental priorities for the mining industry and now features in the top three for most companies, along with air and water pollution and waste management.

It’s one of the key findings from a survey of global mining sector decision-makers published today (Friday) by mining executive search and recruitment consultants, Stratum International, and independent ESG accreditors, Digbee.

Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss come lower on the list of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors for many mining businesses, according to the new report.

And there’s a concerning lack of focus on gender and diversity for a sector which needs to change the perception that mining is a male-only environment. The issue is deemed the “least important” social priority for mining companies over the next two years.

 

Will Coetzer, Founder and Director at Stratum International, said: “The mining industry has a unique opportunity to set a new standard for ESG globally and be seen as a hero rather than a villain.

“Mining is critical to the energy transition. But businesses must put a solid ESG strategy at the centre of everything they do, in order to attract new pools of capital for the sector and turn the tide on low levels of investment.

“Without an ESG strategy, mining firms will be hard-pressed to secure funding and shareholder confidence, and talented mining professionals are unlikely to want to work for such businesses.”

The survey of mining professionals from 29 countries suggests that although ESG has become a key discipline within the industry, it is still not deemed important by 2% of respondents.

 

For the rest, the biggest drivers for ESG are industry expectations (28%), pressure from stakeholders, investors and NGOs (26%), international standards related to ESG and sustainability (19%), and regulatory requirements (13%).

The survey shows that nearly three-quarters (71%) of respondents considered ESG important in decision-making at Board level, two-thirds (66%) thought it important to compare ESG credentials with others across the sector, and more than three out of five (63%) thought an independent analysis of ESG credentials was important.

 

Jamie Strauss, Founder and CEO at Digbee, said: “There’s huge pressure from industry, investors and other stakeholders for mining firms to be more transparent and report their ESG strategies. It’s not enough to just set and communicate sustainable targets. It’s also key to show how mining companies are progressing to, and achieving those goals.

“Failure to do so will negatively impact future investment opportunities. That’s why the winners will be the ones who swiftly address potential risks and quickly seize the opportunities for ESG innovation.”

 

You can download a copy of Stratum International’s report, here.

 

Business, News

Joe’s Ice Cream plants 100 trees to rejuvenate local green areas

As part of celebrating its 100th year in business, iconic Welsh brand, Joe’s Ice Cream, has shown its commitment to the local community by planting 100 trees in Pellergare Woods, Swansea, on Saturday 26th November.

The event was a multi-stakeholder effort by Penllergare Trust, Swansea University Tree Society, Centenary Forests and Joe’s Ice Cream, with a focus on rejuvenating conservation land and encouraging biodiversity by planting trees that are native to the local area.

Amongst those in attendance were Dominic and Adrian Hughes, the great nephews of the company’s founder, Joe Cascarini, and Lucy Hughes, Joe’s great-great niece and current Director at Joe’s Ice Cream, in addition to other members of its team.

The 100 trees planted in Pellergare Woods was only one aspect of the scheme, another facet of which took place in Nepal in July, where an additional 100 trees were planted. The aim of the scheme is also to educate the local community on promoting biodiversity in the area, encouraging sustainable farming practices and promoting an increased focus around wildlife and wilderness conservation.

As a company with roots ingrained in local culture, Joe’s Ice Cream’s involvement was not only a celebration of its centenary year, but a chance to celebrate Swansea and its green areas. Penllergare Valley Woods –273 acres of woodland situated on northern fringe of Swansea near M4 Junction 47 – comprises the remnants of a landscape of great importance to Welsh heritage, and the scheme ensures it will continue to thrive and be available for future generations to enjoy.

In conjunction with the event and centenary year, Joe’s Ice Cream has also unveiled updated branding. The new look was unveiled as part of the 100th year celebrations, in addition to the renovation and the official grand reopening of its signature parlour on St Helen’s Road, Swansea, back in June.

The new brand represents both a celebration of the firm’s 100-year heritage and a return to its remarkable roots, while also taking into consideration feedback it received from its customers and what’s important to them during the rebrand process.

Joe’s Ice Cream unveiled a new logo with a refined, bright and fresh colour pallet, and as a token of its heritage, featured founder, Joe, at the forefront of its flagship parlour.

Lucy Hughes, Director at Joe’s Ice Cream, said:

“We are so proud to be a long-standing institution within Swansea and our centenary branding reflects our Swansea roots. Penllergare Valley Woods is an area that we all enjoy as a family, our staff and customers enjoy with their families, and our tree planting will help to ensure that families can enjoy this area in the future.

“Our Brand refresh has played a huge role in our 100-year celebration. When we first began the design process, we were keen to get our customers’ feedback. After all, we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. They told us what they liked and didn’t like about our previous image and from that, we were able to pick the best bits from the initial designs. We feel like our brand is a real celebration of Swansea and South Wales, and we are excited to see how the brand evolves as it goes from strength to strength.”

Business, Christmas, News

1 in 3 businesses will not be providing staff with an end-of-year bonus, a new study reveals

  • Companies will not be giving staff an end-of-year bonus this year
  • Over half (61%) of businesses base their decision on whether or not to give a bonus to employees on company sales targets and profit 
  • The majority will be hosting an end-of-year party for staff, yet 12% are still unsure
  • 1% of businesses will not be providing staff with any kind of incentive this festive period

A recent study by Just Eat for Business has discovered that 1 in 3 businesses will not be providing staff with an end of year bonus this year.

The Corporate Christmas Rewards Study asked key decision makers, such as CEOs and business managers at companies across the UK how they will be rewarding staff during the festive period.

The findings show that the majority of businesses base the decision on whether or not to give staff a monetary-based Christmas bonus is based on meeting sales targets (31%), company profit (30%) and whether or not employees have met their personal goals (29%).

However, the majority of businesses (81%) are choosing to give back to staff by hosting a Christmas party this year. Almost half (48%) said that this year’s Christmas party event will be bigger and better when compared to such events that took place pre-pandemic.

The study also found that 7% of UK-based businesses have decided not to host a Christmas party of any kind this year, and the remaining 12% have not yet decided if they will do so or not.

For organisations that have chosen not to host a party, main reasons include; budget issues (57%), a lack of organisation (14%), as well as having a remote workforce (14%).

When it comes to additional festive incentives and activities, other ways in which employers are planning to give back to staff this year include organising a secret santa (34%), funding a Christmas lunch (34%) and providing corporate gifts (27%).

The survey also shows that 1 in 5 businesses (20%) will be providing office catering as an end-of-year incentive, yet 41% of key decision makers at businesses admit they could be doing more to incentive staff all year round.

Rosie Hyam, People Partner, at Just Eat for Business comments on the survey findings:

“Rewarding employees is key to a good working atmosphere and ensuring that staff members feel appreciated. Giving back can also have a huge impact on staff morale and retention, especially going into the new year.

“As many businesses have a higher number of remote workers than ever before, it’s now even more vital that businesses are doing all they can to try and make staff members feel appreciated.

“Yet this can be easier said than done, especially considering that many businesses state the main reason for not incentivising staff this year is due to budget issues, but rewarding staff doesn’t have to come with big budgets.

“There are numerous ways in which employers can ensure that staff remain motivated, and a key way of doing so is to break up monotonous working routines. Understandably, during the run-up to Christmas, not all employees are willing to give up their personal time, so a good alternative can be organising events during working hours, or even during extended lunch breaks can be a good alternative.

“Staff quizzes, employee-voted employee of the month awards or even a funded lunch within the office can be ways of giving staff something to look forward to. Another survey we recently conducted found that 1 in 10 office workers wish their employer would provide more catered lunch breaks, something that employers could consider as part of a festive or regular way of rewarding staff.”

For the full study please see here https://business.just-eat.co.uk/blog/corporate-christmas-rewards  

Appointments, Business, News

Newton appoints Christine Hodgson as Chair as it continues to deliver on its growth ambitions

Christine Hodgson has joined Newton Europe and will become Chair in January 2023, taking over the role from Andy Clarke, who has been Chair for over four years and will continue his involvement in an advisory capacity at Newton.

Christine brings extensive Senior Leadership, Board and Governance experience to Newton. She has always strongly advocated for companies to consider all stakeholders in order to generate value for customers and deliver on their social purpose. In addition to the new appointment, she is also Chair of Severn Trent Plc, and prior to that was the Executive Chair of Capgemini UK Plc, part of one of the world’s largest technology and professional services groups.

Christine joined Capgemini in 1997 and fulfilled a variety of roles including CFO for Capgemini UK Plc and for the Global Outsourcing business, CEO of Technology Services Northwest Europe and the Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. In addition, she was the Senior Independent Director at Standard Chartered PLC until September this year and continues to sit on their board until January 2023.

In the past five years Newton has doubled in size and has moved into new markets, including Infrastructure and Central Government. It has also recently secured external investment to support continued growth, as well as increasing the employee ownership of the business. Christine joins the company as it looks to drive innovation, enter further new markets and continue delivering over 20% growth annually.

 

Commenting on her appointment, Christine said:

“It’s such an exciting time to join Newton. The company is committed to delivering significant tangible benefits for every client and has strong ambitions to continue its exceptional growth trajectory. Building on its strong client base, it is focused on a series of strategic initiatives around new markets, digital innovation and acquisitions to achieve this growth. I look forward to working with the talented team at Newton to deliver this potential.”

 

Personally, and professionally, Christine is dedicated to ensuring that there are opportunities for everybody regardless of identity or background. In December 2014 she was asked by Nicky Morgan, then Secretary of State for Education, to set up The Careers and Enterprise Company. This is a Department for Education backed company which supports greater engagement between employers and schools and colleges to help inspire and prepare young people for the world of work.

She will continue to chair this initiative until December when she will hand over the chair role to Nicky Morgan. Christine also chairs Business in The Community’s Blackpool Pride of Place Partnership which brings together the private, public, and voluntary sectors to help regenerate Blackpool. Christine was awarded a CBE for services to education in the 2020 New Year’s Honours.

 

Commenting on the appointment Andy Hawes, one of Newton’s Founders said:

“Under Andy Clarke’s leadership our work with household names has increased, and so has our presence in the retail and food sectors. We’re incredibly excited to welcome Christine on board as Chair at a time of such phenomenal and ambitious growth for the company. Her experience leading organisations through periods of growth, whilst maintaining a commitment to considering the needs of all stakeholders is a perfect fit for Newton. I look forward to working with Christine in this next exciting phase for Newton.”

 

Christine is the latest senior hire for Newton, following on from Julie Leonard and Robin Vickers, Partners in Public, Kate Haddon and Gemma Brady, Directors in Defence and Infrastructure, Leon Smith, Partner in Consumer and Emily Deer, Director in Consumer.

 

Business, News

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid: Time For Urgent Action to Protect Welsh Businesses

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid have issued a statement calling for urgent action to protect Welsh Businesses as instability and costs are rising

IT has become clear that businesses in Wales are in an unsustainable position, moving from crisis to crisis – none of which are of their making.

Eighty per cent of Welsh businesses are currently struggling to find suitable staff; business confidence has shrunk; and many are having to take drastic action, such as hospitality venues closing two days a week to keep energy costs low. This cannot go on.

A leading drink manufacturer in Wales told the Chamber its CO2 costs have increased by 600pc; packaging has increased by 70pc, while grain is set to rise by 28pc.

The company told the Chamber: “Businesses have endured an exceptionally challenging two years and the continuing instability and cost increases are really starting to push business owners to make difficult decisions about whether or not their businesses can continue into the future.

“We have seen businesses we know and others in our supply chain close their doors permanently and, honestly, it’s scary. We need business support and we need it now if we want to prevent a catastrophic wave of business closures. Support in the form of longer business price caps, structural reforms to prevent monopolies, and further investment in supply chain improvements would be a start.”

The British Chamber network has recently published their Business Manifesto calling for four key priorities and the steps around how to achieve them.

https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/page/policy-and-media-centre/policy-reports-publications/business-manifesto

 

They are:

  • Building British business
  • Investing in people for a stable economy
  • Raising export-led growth
  • Leadership in Green innovation

 

Chambers South East, South West and Mid is calling on our elected officials to adopt the goals of the BCC’s business manifesto and to start implementing the changes within it.

It is time to recognise that without sustained support for businesses, the economy will continue to shrink, affecting livelihoods and communities all over the UK.

Business, Business Advice, News

How to start up an online business

Thinking of starting a business? Whether you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur or already have a product or service you are looking to make money from, there is a lot to consider when starting your own company.

While in the past, this would usually entail finding a physical premise such as a store, creating a venture online now has many benefits. Here is an overview why ‘online’ is the way to go and a guide to everything you need to consider getting started with your online venture:

 

Business is moving online

Most people now have access to a smartphone and the internet and so many people access things online, including social media, shopping, and entertainment. This has contributed to the success of online businesses, as demand has increased so too have the number of businesses being active online.

As of 2022, there are now more than five billion internet users around the world with the highest number of users being in Asia, followed by Europe. Last year, global e-commerce sales added up to more than $5.2 trillion US dollars and this is expected to grow to $8 trillion dollars by the year 2026.

With the success of online, more people are wanting to look at starting their own online business. It is now estimated that there are somewhere between 12 and 24 million stores online and this figure continues to grow year on year.

For many internet users, shopping online has a number of benefits in comparison to traditional retail. For example, free delivery and next day delivery can mean they receive their goods at home in no real time at all.

They are often also able to read reviews and see pictures shared by other customers on the online listing. Furthermore, it is sometimes easier to keep track of loyalty points and find discount codes when on the internet.

This goes to show that there is demand for online businesses and this is going to continue to grow, online entrepreneurs can profit from this. Here is a guide on the top things to consider when starting up your own online:

 

1. What gap in the market are you going to fill?

You should start by looking at the ‘why’. What is the problem that you are hoping to solve for your customers and why should they come to you rather than another business?

New business owners sometimes make the mistake of rushing into creating their product without thinking about who their target audience is and what their specific wants and needs are.

You should also consider any potential barriers to setting up and operating your business and any legal or ethical considerations that need to be made.

For example, you might want to go into the gaming entertainment industry and if you were to set up as an online casino site, you would be following in the footsteps of many successful casino providers. All online casinos must make sure their site is legal and licensed and follows UK gambling laws, or the laws applicable to their country.

Getting any required certifications and licences may come at a cost so you will need to factor this into your budgeting.

2. Building your Website

Once you have an idea and have drafted a business plan with funding, you can start to think about creating your online site and writing the copy. Depending on your own area of expertise, you might wish to hire copywriters and website developers or have a go at doing this yourself.

Once your easy-to-use website is ready to go live, it is time to start building up your search engine presence and run online advertisements. Also think about how you can build your reach and credibility, a popular method is sending samples to relevant social media influencers and asking them to review your product.

You can then really start to build your marketing strategy, setting up social media accounts and creating engaging content such as social posts, email newsletters and digital advertisements.

3. Fine Tuning your strategy

As the business grows and you start to make sales you will need to fine-tune your operations strategy. Where are you sourcing your materials? How is the product made and how is it being distributed?

Not all businesses have a physical product to sell. For example, an online casino will host digital games developed by casino game developers. These businesses still need to consider site useability, promotion and the customer journey.

4. Payment options

All online businesses that handle payments need to consider safe payment options. An online casino might allow customers to make transactions via debit card and use third party payment providers such as PayPal or Skrill.

As an online business owner, you are also responsible for keeping your customer’s data on the site secure and should have a privacy policy. A cybersecurity strategy is important and you can pay third party providers to manage this if required.

On the whole, setting up an online business may be tough as there are so many considerations to be made. However, the potential rewards could be worth it in the long term.

 

Business, Renewable Energy News

Engenera bolsters team with key CFO hire on back of expansion

Engenera Renewables Group helps large organisations embrace green energy and reduce their carbon footprint

 

One of the UK’s leading renewable energy companies has hired a new chief finance officer (CFO) as it continues to rollout ambitious UK-wide expansion plans on the back of completing one of England’s biggest ever solar projects.

 

Engenera Renewables Group, based in the North East of England, works as a decarbonisation partner with large companies looking to reduce their carbon emissions and operate using cleaner, greener – and often cheaper – energy.

 

The business recently completed work on the largest solar park with a private wire connection in the whole of England, which will shortly be operational. The landmark project represents a sign of the future as large corporates, pressured by rising energy bills and government targets, increasingly embrace all forms of renewable energy.

 

Now, Newcastle-based Engenera has embarked on a major drive to help more large businesses reduce their carbon emissions. It works with clients on a range of renewable technologies, including commercial solar PV and battery storage, air and ground source heat pumps, combined heat and power, electric vehicle charging points and LED lighting.

 

As it continues to drive into the utility scale sector, it is actively looking for more large projects to work on – and has stressed that it has the funding behind it to start on such projects, of any size, immediately.

 

To fulfil this growing order book, and to manage the finance involved in such schemes, it has hired an experienced CFO. Chris Alete joins with over 22 years of experience as a finance director including considerable experience of working with private equity and venture capital-backed business.

 

In that time, Alete has worked across a variety of industries. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse, he moved into industry where he has worked as finance director across a number of sectors including training, hospitality, manufacturing, technology and most recently in the domestic heating sector.

 

He also serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of The Key, a charity based in Newcastle dedicated to inspiring belief in young people and, through practical activities, helping them to discover what they are capable of. This is a non-executive role which is undertaken voluntarily.

 

Lloyd Lawson, Chief Strategy Officer, Engenera, said:

 

“This is a very exciting time for the business. We are in a phase of exponential growth for the company as more and more businesses want to examine their carbon footprint and the benefits of reducing this. To help us manage the growth trajectory we are on, we are delighted to welcome Chris into the team. He has a proven track record of career progression, the ability to operate strategically at both executive and board level and manage critical relationships with internal and external stakeholders. He is experienced in all aspects of finance, commercial and general management operating at board level with considerable experience working with PE/VC backed businesses.”

Business, Export, International News, News

Chamber’s international trade showcase success

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid hosted an international trade exhibition and dinner to enable Welsh businesses to thrive on the global stage.

The ‘Wales to the World’ event was held in association with the British Chambers of Commerce, Welsh Government and Moneycorp at Cardiff’s City Hall, with 87 attendees and three keynote speakers: David TC Davies, Andrew Gwatkin and Shevaun Haviland.

In his first official engagement in post, David TC Davies, the new Secretary of State for Wales, discussed the need to increase the pace of trade across the world and his belief that businesses in Wales are competitive globally.

Andrew Gwatkin, Director of International Relations and Trade for the Welsh Government, commented on the need to emphasise Wales’ opportunities in the world and develop international trade at SME level, as well as sharing how the Welsh Government are supporting businesses.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), spoke of the Chamber’s global business network, how the BCC and local Chambers are helping through end-to-end support and the role they hold in leveraging the work done by governments.

The event was held in the lead up to international trade week (October 31 – November 4) and, in addition to the dinner, featured opportunities to engage with exhibitors including Business Wales, Centurion VAT, DIT Wales, Iungo and United Worldwide Logistics among others.

The exhibition also featured an exclusive breakout knowledge sharing session, focusing on customs changes, access to markets and the support that is available for businesses to enable trade.

Drew Flowers, Director of Trade at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “We want businesses in Wales to grow and trade across the world, with a clear understanding and confidence of how to do that effectively.

“That is why we brought in a range of expert speakers and leading organisations to ensure attendees enjoyed an event full of quality knowledge, resources and connections, so Welsh businesses can feel supported when trading.

“There was a real air of positivity at the event with businesses and speakers excited for the future and supportive of the prospects and trading potential for businesses in Wales.”

Business, News

Chamber responds to latest ONS figures on GDP and trade

Responding to the latest ONS figures on GDP and trade for August 2022, Paul Slevin, Executive Chair of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said:

“Today’s UK GDP data compounds fears that the economy is heading towards recession as we battle the cost-of-living crisis and other significant challenges.

“Results from our recent quarterly economic survey show that more than half of Welsh businesses feel that a recession now will be more challenging than the impact of lockdown in 2020. 68% of Welsh businesses have already seen their sales stall or decrease in the past 3 months.

“The Welsh and UK Governments must do all they can to support our businesses by rapidly providing more detail on their fiscal policies and supply side reforms, particularly at a time when businesses face the twin crises of rising interest rates and high inflation.

“The six-month energy support package will have provided some breathing room, along with the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, but businesses need surety to provide them with the confidence to not only survive but thrive in this period ahead.

“In terms of trade, although the UK’s deficit in trade goods has widened, exports have increased, particularly to non-EU countries, with the private sector playing an important role in this, especially in the exporting of machinery.

“Awareness of free trade deals must be an area of focus, along with bringing companies into the fold on future trade negotiations. Decisive action needs to be taken to reduce some of the removable red tape costs for traders.

“Despite a period of immense challenges, many Welsh businesses remain optimistic, with 47% expecting turnover to increase over the next 12 months. They must hold on tight to this optimism and not underestimate the power of the private sector to reverse the downward trend we are facing.”