Category Archives: Cardiff

Cardiff, Cardiff News, News, Retail, Retail News

Paralympic legend opens Llandaff SPAR following £500k Refurbishment

The new-look SPAR Market opened its doors on Friday 3 May, showcasing Cardiff’s first Philpotts concession with a FREE celebratory barista coffee for all customers.

Sporting legend and Paralympian Aled Sion Davies was joined by Llandaff Primary School children on Friday morning (03/05) to declare the new Llandaff flagship SPAR store open.

The SPAR Market store reopened to the public following a £500k refurbishment, boasting Cardiff’s first Philpotts concession and County Bridge Kitchen food-to-go offering.

Aled Sion Davies – who joined in recognition of SPAR’s Disability Sport Wales Insport Series partnership – greeted the school children and members of the public before tucking into a Philpotts sandwich and cutting the ribbon.

Speaking at the opening, Aled Sion Davies said:

“It was great to come down and meet the people of Llandaff and celebrate this wonderful new store. It’s great to see a store that’s so state of the art. Great food really brings people together and it is wonderful to see Welsh products celebrated throughout the SPAR flagship.”

 

The grand reopening showcased a ‘Spinner Winner Wheel’ for those who attended to win prizes and money off vouchers.

The redevelopment hosts a new concept Philpotts sandwich concession selling meticulously crafted sandwiches and salads made from quality ingredients – a little taste of the Philpotts legacy for the first time in Cardiff.

Customers can also enjoy freshly ground, ethically traded and deliciously roasted Philpotts coffee – and for one week only SPAR is giving a free coffee to new customers.

The new flagship store has County Bridge Kitchen, great tasting tonight’s tea solutions  prepared on site for shoppers to cook at home later.  And the store has teamed up with producers from across Wales and local to Llandaff, from Wrexham Lager, Samosa & Co to Lodge Farm Kitchen meals and Welsh Lady Jams.

 

SPAR Market Llandaff store manager, Mike Bircham said:

“It was wonderful to open the doors of our Llandaff flagship store and celebrate with our community of all ages.  We will be offering one free Philpotts coffee, until next Friday, to customers who come down and check out the new store. Llandaff SPAR is a new space, with a fantastic food offering that people can get excited about.”

 

The plush new flagship is the first fully digital SPAR store in Wales – committing to reducing cardboard by using screens and tech throughout.

SPAR will also be offering community groups, schools and universities discounts in the first week of opening, look out for flyers to get your hands on goodies.

 

 

Accountancy & Accounts, Cardiff

Boardroom leadership needed to manage AI risks and drive trust

  • Businesses urged to take steps to maximise the opportunities of AI and lay foundations for responsible use of new technologies
  • AI use in finance must be built on trust in order for it to succeed in rollout and application

 

Chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) need to build trust in artificial intelligence (AI) by taking steps in their organisations to manage the associated risks.

 

As AI plays a greater role in the accounting and financial reporting of businesses, CFOs and financial controllers will have to be confident about the adequacy of oversight and controls of AI systems.

 

In the first in a series of insights, AI monitor: trust, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) urges finance professionals to ensure that AI governance and AI risk management is in place, beginning with:

 

  • Investing in AI literacy and skills development: finance professionals must invest in education and training to critically evaluate AI outputs, communicate clearly with key stakeholders, and make informed decisions.
  • Collaborating via cross-functional teams: finance professionals should actively engage with IT, data science, legal and risk management teams.
  • Developing an AI governance framework: beginning with critical uses, finance professionals should take steps within their organisation to establish clear policies, oversight and governance practices.

 

AI presents many opportunities to businesses such as providing more insights from a wider array of information sources, driving greater efficiency and better customer experiences. But it also poses a challenge to trust in accounting and finance reporting with new dynamics being introduced to the traditional trust mechanisms that underpin corporate accounting.

 

Alistair Brisbourne, head of technology research, ACCA, said: “Introducing AI is both about trust in the systems and trust in the people that we work with, and how we bring those two elements together.

 

“CEOs and CFOs need to focus on making the changes needed to harness the many potential opportunities but also retain trust. This includes upskilling to deal with the technology and introducing new knowledge into their organisations. They also need to focus on the governance, the oversight and culture required to allow different teams to work together effectively. It’s about bringing change management and governance together.”

 

AI monitor: trust highlights some of the risks of AI in accounting systems, such as:

  • Impacting decision-making without clearly explaining the rationale of the forecast or recommendation;
  • An over-dependence on AI procedures in auditing and assurance and a decline in use of human intervention and judgement;
  • Concern over AI bias or error in fraud detection, risk assessment and compliance monitoring;
  • Over relying on AI-powered virtual assistants which give inaccurate or inappropriate responses.

 

Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, said: “In the AI era, the role of finance professionals is to focus on the outcomes driven by technology. Value lies in understanding how these outputs inform decisions and actions that drive business outcomes.

 

“As we recognised at a recent roundtable held in Cardiff, AI will change the finance function and there will be new roles as a result, but accountants will remain central to the success of Welsh businesses and organisations.”

 

In 2024 future issues of the AI monitor will explore talent, risk and controls, the relevance of effective data strategy, and sustainability applications.

 

Read Enabling trust in an AI-enhanced world

 

Visit ACCA’s website for more information.

Business, Cardiff, Mergers, Mergers & Acquisitions

Two south Wales storage businesses announce merger to drive growth and funding opportunities

CARDIFF based blue self storage Ltd (bss) and Maltings Document Storage Solutions (MDSS) have announced their merger to create a new entity branded as ‘Blue Storage Group’, while continuing to operate under the existing brands.

 

While both companies operate profitably and sustainably, the markets in which they operate are changing rapidly with the emergence of new digital technologies. Becoming a larger entity will allow greater investment in new systems and processes, and both companies to take advantage of new funding opportunities, grow operations and scale up geographically.

 

blue self storage is one of the leading container storage providers in the UK, providing storage services for homes, business, vehicles, and removal companies. The fast-growing company has facilities across the UK in Cardiff, Tyneside, Bridgend and a soon-to-be-launched Gloucester site.

 

Maltings Document Storage Solutions, based in Cardiff, provides reliable document storage and management solutions. MDSS has over 40 years’ experience providing its bespoke services in Cardiff and surrounding areas, with aspirations to expand further into England in the near future.

 

Chris Bryan, Managing Director of blue self storage, will assume responsibility for the strategic direction of the overarching entity that includes both companies, and Dean Daly will continue as Operations Director at blue self storage. Gareth Oram will also continue as a non-executive director of MDSS, with the day-to-day operations being steered by Commercial Director, Chris James.

 

Chris Bryan said “This merger will enable us to improve our current offerings, expand our services, and deliver better value to all our customers. While both businesses offer storage solutions to different industries, the infrastructure that’s required for both offerings are very similar.

 

“We have ambitious plans for Blue Storage Group; building on the recent opening of our Bridgend operation, we are currently finalising our plans to open a facility at Gloucester and have several other sites in the pipeline”

 

Gareth Oram added: “The merger represents a strategic move towards greater growth and efficiency. We believe that we will be better positioned to pursue opportunities and continue our aim to be one of the key innovators in what is a very competitive sector. Striving towards innovation, we have invested in the latest digital software and technology so that we can focus on consistent, high-quality service for all our customers, large or small.”

Business, Business Expansion, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Insurance, Investment

New Cardiff office for insurance group Howden

Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced the opening of a new office in Cardiff, to support businesses with tailored insurance solutions.

Located at Regus House, Malthouse Avenue, in Cardiff Gate Business Park, the new office will build on the success of the recently inaugurated office in Swansea last month and Howden’s acquisition of Watkin Davies in 2020. The addition of a new Cardiff office underscores Howden’s dedication to becoming a prominent force in the commercial broking sector in South and West Wales. The expansion will be spearheaded by Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director, who has outlined ambitious plans to position Howden as the foremost competitor in the region.

Gary expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating: “I am very pleased to lead the opening of yet another office in Wales. An office in Cardiff was the natural choice for our expansion, and we are confident that by increasing our presence in South Wales by growing our team of advisors to 20+ enabling us to continuing to provide exceptional services to our clients.”

Under Gary’s leadership, the new Cardiff office is set to accommodate a team of six highly skilled brokers, who will work to uphold Howden’s commitment to excellence in risk advisory services, with more brokers set to join in the coming months. The team will play a pivotal role in driving the growth of Howden’s UK Corporate & Commercial pillar throughout 2024.

Gary added: “We’ve already made great headway in attracting a team of highly skilled brokers, and we anticipate significant growth throughout 2024. Our new Cardiff office, working closely with our Swansea operation, will play a key role in cementing our position as a leader in the South and West Wales commercial broking sector.

“We are very excited about our South Wales presence, and also becoming a Principal Partner of The British & Irish Lions for their forthcoming tour of Australia in 2025.”

Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Education

Cardiff Capital Region joins forces with local universities and colleges for future collaboration

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Higher and Further Education (HE & FE) institutions from South East Wales, forming a framework for future collaboration based on key objectives for economic wellbeing in the Region.

The agreement is a first of its kind in Wales, with Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the University of South Wales (USW) being joined by the Region’s Further Education colleges, including Merthyr Tydfil, Coleg Gwent, Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Y Cymoedd and Bridgend College.

Given the concentration of academic and research excellence in South East Wales, this will ensure the wider region realises the benefits of cooperative working. Each of the institutions has a significant role to play in embracing the regional growth agenda and ensuring civic commitments to inclusivity and sustainability are at the heart of new and emerging initiatives.

Since 2017 CCR has worked successfully with regional HE & FE on transformative projects, leveraging significant research and innovation funding for the Region. This includes being the only UK Region to land two UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Strength In Places Fund initiatives (CSConnected & Media Cymru) with a combined value of almost £100m.

This further commitment will ensure alignment on regional ambitions and create further opportunities for business engagement, collaborative learning, teaching and R&D, allowing CCR to gather the expertise that these institutions can deliver together.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, said:

“I am delighted that Higher and Further Education partners are uniting in their support of our regional ambitions. This builds on CCR’s endeavours to form a coalition of the willing, bringing together the people and organisations who can contribute to our mission for a bigger, greener and fairer region.”

Kellie Beirne, CEO, Cardiff Capital Region, said:

“This partnership demonstrates a significant coming together of educational and research institutions and a newly established regional public body, allowing us to align our efforts to advance our civic missions together. Innovation stands as the cornerstone of our future, and our joint commitment to collaborate and forge a new path provides the best chance of building sustainability and resilience in the face of ongoing change and challenge. By formalising our relationships, we lay the groundwork for regional impact and future sustainable growth and a recognition that together, we can achieve more.”

Appointments, Business News, Cardiff, Cardiff News

Dudley’s Aluminium appoints new Finance Director to continue successful growth

WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has appointed Pablo Shorney as Finance Director to support its growth plans.

 

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Pablo has a wealth of experience, having spent a decade supporting SMEs across south Wales and south-west England. He joins the firm from Lexington Corporate Finance, where he has spent the last five years advising SMEs on financial and commercial strategies for growth.

 

On his appointment, Pablo said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Dudley’s as Finance Director at an exciting time in its growth strategy. Dudley’s has an exceptional reputation in its industry, built over thirty years, for delivering on prestigious projects across the UK. I’m looking forward to being part of the team and contributing to Dudley’s continued success.”

 

Steve Muir, Commercial Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are delighted to have Pablo join the business as our new Finance Director and a key member of our leadership team. Pablo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as enthusiasm to support Dudley’s in our growth plans.”

 

Pablo takes over from retiring Finance Director, Russell Cope, who has been at Dudley’s for the last 11 years.

 

On his retirement, Russell said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve as Dudley’s Aluminium’s Finance Director for the past 11 years. I’m proud of the success we’ve achieved as a team, and I’m confident that the company is well-positioned for an exciting future.”

 

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

 

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.

Business, Cardiff, Events

Cardiff Business Club signs Armed Forces Covenant

At its latest event, Cardiff Business Club signed the Armed Forces Covenant alongside Cardiff Bus, with speaker Major General Duncan G Forbes, the Royal Navy’s Director of Strategy and Policy and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.

Sponsored by RFCA Wales, the Major General addressed the Club, shouting out his old captain and mentor Brigadier Jock Fraser as he retires this summer, before fittingly highlighting his lecture’s theme of legacy.

Promising to talk with no agenda or spin, but using the occasion to tell stories, kindle relationships and rest, the Major General began by discussing the broad strategic context of the Navy’s current work, touching on the UK’s support to Ukraine, the rise of China, politics, and the situation in Gaza, which he highlighted as the most worrying and important issue right now following Israel’s actions over the weekend.

He then moved to discuss what the Navy is doing right now, thanks to taxpayers’ money. He discussed the SSBN in the North Atlantic, a recent £44m drug bust, and the naval support for Ukraine. Having been involved since day one, he stated: “It will get worse before it gets better. If Ukraine lose, we all lose.”

The Major General then proceeded to look forward, highlighting the importance of young servicepeople and the confidence he has in them, but acknowledging that old systems need to be changed to be bolder, more creative, and take more risks. However, whatever they do to change the approach must maintain the key driving force of being in service to the nation, as that is what the Navy is intrinsically built on.

Touching on the Navy in Wales, he stated that they recruit twice as many marines and sailors from Wales than the wider population, and that those recruits serve for longer than average. They then almost always return to Wales after service, with the right traits to support business growth. He mentioned the HMS Cardiff which will be fully operational later this decade, and the Ministry of Defence’s investment into Cardiff and across Wales.

Lt Colonel (Retired) Craig Hampton-Stone, Director at Cardiff Bus, gave the vote of thanks, before he, Major General Duncan G Forbes and Phil Jardine, Chair of Cardiff Business Club, signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Covenant is a voluntary pledge made by businesses, designed to allow organisations to express their support the armed forces community and commit to ways in which they can provide it. All Covenants have to be approved and registered with the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team.

Phil said: “We’re so pleased to have signed the covenant, especially alongside such a decorated guest as Major General Duncan G Forbes. Formalising our recognition and appreciation for the armed forces was an easy decision, and we’re pleased to have taken the step alongside Cardiff Bus.”

Beauty, Business, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Education, Employee Motivation, Hair and Beauty, Job Opportunities, Jobs

Cardiff teen lands her dream job through Jobs Growth Wales+

A 17-year-old apprentice from Cardiff is flying to Budapest after support from the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales+ programme to land her dream role as a Hairdresser.

Darla Wathen recently completed her Level 1 NVQ qualification in Hairdressing and is currently working at Henderson & Co. as a Junior Stylist.

When discussing her route to employment, Darla said: “I wasn’t very academic at school, but I’ve always been a creative person. I decided to meet with Working Wales to scope out my options and Jobs Growth Wales+ appealed to me because of the work placements and hands-on training that were incorporated into your learning.

“Back then I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future, so I attended a few taster days to explore different career pathways. The courses on offer varied from childcare to beauty to construction and animal care, but it was hairdressing that I discovered I had a passion for.”

Having found her feet, Darla excelled on the programme and quickly proved to her tutors that she was a talented and dedicated learner.

Darla said: “My tutor, Charlotte, played a huge role in how comfortable and at ease I felt on Jobs Growth Wales+. I was nervous when I first started the programme, but she spent a lot of time helping me build on my essential skills before looking for employment.

“As well as working with me to improve my CV, Charlotte would act out interview scenarios with me to get me used to a real-life environment. This massively helped with my confidence and was a huge turning point for me.

“My Jobs Growth Wales+ tutors saw my potential. Everyone treated me like an adult, and I could tell the programme wanted me to succeed.”

With the support she received, Darla soon secured her job at Henderson & Co. in Cardiff and is currently thriving as a Junior Stylist.

Darla continued: “Working at Henderson & Co. has been amazing. I really appreciate the advice the other stylists give me, and I’ve already learnt so much in such a short space of time. When I’m not with clients, I’m either on reception, tidying or doing stock take – I love going to work because no day is the same!”

“I’m really keen to specialise in colour and I’ve been lucky enough to practice different techniques – from block colour, balayage, foils and highlights. I even dyed a customer’s hair red the other day.”

This year, Darla will be flying to Budapest with Henderson & Co. to attend a fashion show workshop.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be going with the team to a Kevin Murphy fashion show. It’s another new adventure and an opportunity for me to be taught by the very best influencers and experts in the industry.”

Darla has also got her sights set on gaining more work experience in Australia before returning to Wales to set up her own salon.

Darla said: “I’m hoping to progress with Henderson & Co, and maybe in a few years even live and work in Australia to learn new techniques again. At the moment I’m taking every day as it comes but it would be amazing to set up my own salon eventually.

“My one piece of advice for people who don’t know what they want to do when they’re at school is to talk to others about your options. I felt incredibly listened to and was lucky enough to find a career because of the training and funding provided through Jobs Growth Wales+.”

To learn more about Jobs Growth Wales+ visit workingwales.gov.wales/jobs-growth-wales-plus or call Working Wales on 0800 028 4844.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business Expansion, Cardiff

Aqua Cars joins forces with Veezu

Veezu, the UK’s biggest and fastest-growing private hire firm, is extending its reach further south with the acquisition of Aqua Cars in Portsmouth.

The acquisition opens new horizons for Aqua, promising an elevated private hire experience for its driver-partners and their passengers.

Launched in 2013, Veezu invests heavily in data, technology, and infrastructure to ensure that hyperlocal private hire operators like Aqua Cars remain part of their community, without compromising the passenger experience.

Aqua Cars’ head office in Portsmouth will become part of the Veezu Group, alongside Bridge Cars in Gosport and Andi Cars in Havant.

Ronnie Leng, Co-Owner of Aqua Cars, said: “Joining forces with Veezu is a natural next step for us to further support our local community by improving the passenger experience. The implementation of new technologies will ensure a more reliable, safe, and easy service for passengers and will aid more than 600 drivers that we partner with across the region.”

Arnie Singh Chief Operations Officer of Veezu, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome the whole Aqua team to Veezu. Their reputation for excellence proceeds them and is one we will maintain through the partnership.

“As our first acquisition of 2024, following a number of successful acquisitions last year including Britannia Taxis in Merseyside, it highlights that our growth strategy continues. We’re thrilled to expand further south and develop our strong network of areas across the UK.”

Appointments, Automotive, Business, Cardiff, Careers, Economy & Jobs News, HR, Jobs

Industrial electronic repair firm Kontroltek Ltd welcomes new Director of Commercial and HR

One of the UK’s leading providers of industrial electronic repairs has announced the appointment of Catherine Demaid as its new Director of Commercial and HR.

Kontroltek, being the largest independent firm of its type in the UK, covers the whole of the UK, specialising in Industrial Electronic Repairs, working with all sectors of manufacturing and servicing businesses across the UK and globally.

With her extensive experience and expertise, Cath will play a pivotal role in driving the company’s strategic growth initiatives and fostering a culture of excellence.

Cath brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her new role, having served in various senior leadership positions in the fields of acquisitions, HR and transformational change.

With a proven track record of developing and implementing effective organisational development and growth strategies, Cath is poised to lead Kontroltek’s plans for major expansion in the UK and Europe. Her experience in driving business growth is set to be instrumental in nurturing talent pipelines and fostering a culture of innovation and advancement within the industrial electronics sector.

Commenting on her appointment, Cath said: “I am thrilled to be part of the Kontroltek team and am committed to leveraging my experience to drive the company’s strategic objectives forward.

“I believe in fostering a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and talent development and engagement, and I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Kontroltek to achieve our goals.”

Andrew Follant, Managing Director, Kontroltek Ltd, added: “We are delighted to welcome Cath to the Kontroltek family as our Director of Commercial and HR. With her extensive background in strategic change, performance initiatives and organisational development, she will play a pivotal role in driving our company’s growth and success.

“Her passion for excellence and commitment to fostering a positive work culture and impressive talent pipelines align perfectly with Kontroltek’s vision. We look forward to her transformational leadership as we continue to expand and innovate in the industrial electronic repair industry.”