Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid is encouraging businesses across Wales to submit their entries for the Wales Business Awards 2024, ahead of the forthcoming deadline.
With just a week until the deadline, Thursday 29 February, businesses are now urged to enter to be in with a chance of winning a prestigious accolade.
The Wales Business Awards, organised by the Chamber and sponsored by Jardine Norton, recognise the very best from businesses across Wales.
Chamber members and non-members can submit their entries for free by completing an application form or uploading an audio or video entry.
Paul Butterworth, CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “The Wales Business Awards are a brilliant way for businesses to shout about the incredible work they are doing, recognise their teams’ hard work and celebrate their successes in the company of the Welsh business community, ministers and dignitaries.
“We can’t wait to reward the achievements of Welsh businesses in May, which is why we are encouraging firms to get involved now and ensure they have submitted their entries before the deadline.”
There are 11 categories for businesses to enter this year, including: B2B Customer Commitment; B2C Customer Commitment; Digital Business of the Year; Diversity & Inclusion; Employee Engagement; Global Business of the Year; Green Business of the Year; Innovative Business of the Year; SME Exporter of the Year; Workplace Wellbeing; and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Chamber will also be awarding ‘Wales Business of the Year’ at the ceremony on 16 May at The Vale Resort, which sees broadcaster Andrea Byrne return as host.
One of the North’s leading chartered financial planning businesses, Rosebridge, has brought together North West business leaders and global expert economists this month at their ‘Owner Managed Business’ event to champion and support business growth within the region.
The collaborative platform, supported by keynote speaker Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, pulled together expertise from the local business community to shine a light on the difficulties many are facing. It was a unique opportunity for the region’s businesses to meet in person and discuss how others are embracing new technologies, utilising funding, championing skill sets and applying innovation to scale up.
“At the start of this year 5.5 million small businesses existed within the UK, accounting for three-fifths of the employment and around half of the turnover in the UK private sector[1]. This is a vast and growing part of our economy, particularly within the Greater Manchester region. We are passionate about providing support for these clients in order to propel their growth and help them thrive,” explained Phil Rose, CEO of Rosebridge.
The event delved into various pressing business and economic topics, such as workforce shortages, skills gaps, the impact of Brexit, and post-COVID recovery plans, spanning a diverse portfolio of sectors including, but not limited to Tech, Hospitality, Property, and Manufacturing. UK businesses are worried about the economic outlook, with higher interest rates, something some of the CEO’s have not faced before, coupled with the uncertain political outlook.
Phil added: “One business owner at the event likened the economy to being in a car with the accelerator and handbrake on at the same time. Whilst another challenge that fuelled the discussion was the twin evils of inflation and interest rates. Value discussions were had around the approach, plans, and proposed effective solutions to overcome such challenges.”
Rosebridge wanted to create a platform at this event that provided an opportunity to interact face-to-face with Kevin and James Daly the Bury North (MP), who were able to explain the Government plans on reallocating HS2 funds, along with some of the incentives that are available to UK and North West businesses.
Vanguard’s Dr Andreas Zingg (Head of Multi-Asset Solutions, UK & Europe) and Felicity Mann (Senior Investment Specialist) also provided clients with an overview of the economic outlook targeting issues that UK businesses will need to address within their future business plans.
This all comes at a particularly poignant time following the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement. This brought news of a new Investment Zone for Greater Manchester, along with four new devolution deals across England and a push for business growth. Hunt outlined 110 measures to grow the economy and level up the country.
Phil said: “We have yet to see the talk of levelling up become reality in the Northwest and Businesses are sceptical that the HS2 funds will be allocated to really levelling up the country.”
This was an event emblematic of the value Rosebridge provide to their clients and the local community.
Phil added: “The insights gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to shaping our understanding of the budget’s impact on our business landscape. Above all, there is increased optimism about the positive changes it is set to bring.”
It is events like these that empower SMEs to thrive, adapt, and contribute to a vibrant economy.
The creative industries are a major pillar to Wales’s key sectors – and with good reason. The Welsh screen sector has seen unprecedented growth in recent years thanks to the country’s breath-taking natural landscapes and historic settings, impressive infrastructure, government support and a strong creative supply chain supported by 56,000 Welsh film sector employees.
A booming creative industry sector
The nation has become known as a thriving centre for TV and film production, with the latest Gov.wales report revealing that film and TV production in Wales saw a turnover of £575 million in 2021, a 36% increase from the year before. Government investment in filmmaking through organisations such as Creative Wales has boosted the country’s economic output by nine-fold in recent years and has set the stage for a variety of productions from homegrown TV dramas, shot in both Welsh and English, to Hollywood blockbusters.
With a combined 822,705 square feet of shooting space split across the country’s seven studios, Wales has nurtured a wealth of screen creations and attracted some of the biggest players in production such as Lucasfilm and NBCUniversal.
It’s not just the rugged backdrops and stretching coastlines that have attracted iconic names such as Disney+ with Willow in 2022; Netflix with the hit show Sex Education; and iconic scenes from The Crown from 2019; as well as national treasures like Doctor Who and Sherlock. Film and TV crews are also keen to take advantage of the country’s world-class infrastructure, with its cutting-edge technology and a variety of flexible spaces that can be adapted for any setting.
Bringing big-budget brands to Newport
ICC Wales, Newport’s purpose-built conference centre, has earned its reputation as a unique filming location thanks to its versatility and adaptability, and has generated £1.2m in economic value for the region. The venue has secured multiple repeat filming business wins, cementing its reputation as a reliable partner in the industry and attracting global giants in the TV and film sector to South Wales.
From large studios to versatile foyers, bars and meeting rooms, and from ancient woodland to an outdoor plaza, the venue offers an abundance of spaces for all types of filming, and has already featured within a variety of dramas, live audience TV shows and advertisements, including His Dark Materials, The One, A Discovery of Witches, as well as the popular BBC series TheWar of The Worlds.
One of ICC Wales’s standout features is the atrium with its modern design, natural daylight, and a vast open layout that can easily be transformed into an airport terminal. The space has been used in both high-profile films and popular television shows such as the longstanding British drama series Casualty and Channel 4 thriller The Undeclared War. With its filming base in nearby Cardiff, Casualty also taken advantage of the venue’s main hall, which serves as the ideal blank canvas for hospital scenes.
Why ICC Wales?
ICC Wales’ ability to transform its spaces into diverse settings, coupled with its direct site access for trucks and production set unloading, has made ICC Wales a magnet for filmmakers looking for efficiency and convenience.
As a joint venture between Welsh Government and Celtic Manor, ICC Wales is also committed to nurturing local talent and fostering artistic expression. ICC Wales’s role as a hub for location filming bolsters the creative ecosystem in Wales, providing a platform for budding filmmakers to gain valuable experience and connect with industry professionals.
For Welsh viewers, seeing homages to their homeland featured in international productions fosters a sense of civic pride and identity, supporting the notion that the power of the events sector is more than merely meetings: it’s a driving force of change in society.
To find out more about filming locations, visit the ICC Wales website.
More than 50 finance, HR and pension professionals attended Quantum Advisory’s latest Breakfast Seminar at the Celtic Manor Twenty Ten Clubhouse which saw speakers discuss the UK economy, global investment markets, cybersecurity breaches and the state of the nation’s pensions.
Paul Francis, Principal Investment Consultant at Quantum Advisory, (pictured above) opened the event with an overview of how investment markets and UK and global economies have been performing despite geopolitical tensions and industrial unrest. Paul explained that with interest rates now normalising and inflation potentially at its peak, the current risk of a recession has reduced. Paul also talked about the Chancellor’s ambitious new ‘Mansion House Reforms’ which could increase pensions by over £1,000 a year for an average earner as well as boosting investment in promising UK ‘high-growth’ companies.
Breakfast Seminar – Chris Heirene
Chris Heirene, Partner and Head of Information Security at Quantum Advisory, examined the recent Capita cybersecurity breach which resulted in 90 companies being affected and cost more than £20m to rectify. Chris used his segment to explain simple steps that attendees can take to create a cybersecurity framework and ensure that, when a breach does occur, you get the best outcome for your organisation and the people whose data you are entrusted.
Breakfast Seminar – Stuart Price
Stuart Price, Partner and Actuary at Quantum Advisory, concluded the seminar by highlighting the potential pension ticking time bomb the UK is facing where people are not saving enough for their retirement.
Stuart said: “Only 8% of people are currently saving enough to be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement with a car and holidays. Shockingly, nearly two thirds are saving the bare minimum. I think key to creating more awareness about pension saving and ensuring people take control over their retirement funds is financial education. We need to start engaging children with financial literacy at school and continue reinforcing this throughout their employment.”
Like in any other aspect of life, relationships are everything in business. Establishing strong affinities with customers, suppliers, producers, partners, and other stakeholders helps your business establish its reputation and boost awareness. One way to establish these relationships is through business networking.
A business’s ability to thrive in any domain heavily depends on the quality of its relationships. It’s true for both large and small enterprises. Having great products and services is important. But without strong networks, you limit your capacity to grow, invest, and innovate. If you want to grow as a business, you’ll need connections.
Business networking aims to form mutually beneficial relationships with other individuals and firms. You must know how to communicate and sell yourself to network effectively. The goal is to gain people’s trust to build genuine partnerships. It won’t be easy. However, it is possible if you have the right mindset.
Here’s a guide on the best practices in business networking you should know.
1. Make A Great First Impression
When it comes to business networking, first impressions matter. You will meet people at multiple events and even by chance in public. You never know when an opportunity to network with someone will present itself. Also, keep in mind that you may never get another chance. So, staying prepared by working on your elevator pitch, communicating well, making yourself approachable, maintaining eye contact, and dressing to impress at physical events would be best. Make every effort to make a good first impression.
2. Keep Your Word
Integrity is extremely important in building business relationships. You need to understand that your integrity level influences your business’s brand perception. People of integrity are good business partners because you can trust that they will do what they say. You can also trust that they won’t make promises they won’t be able to keep.
Deep and effective business relationships are built on trust. If a business or customer can’t trust you to deliver your promises, there’s a problem. If you cannot do what you say, all your efforts at networking could be fruitless. So, you need to make sure that you walk with integrity. Build a reputation for being someone with integrity. It could work in your favour since more people want to work with you.
3. Exchange Contact Details
When and if it is appropriate, you must exchange contact information with people you meet. E business cards are an excellent way to exchange contact info with new acquaintances. But it would be best to refrain from attending a conference to hand out a set quantity of business cards. That’s not an effective strategy for successful networking.
Rather, your goal should be to exchange business cards with people with whom you’ve interacted positively. You can also give your card to someone with whom you share common interests or have future subjects to talk about. Remember that in business networking, quality is more important than quantity. Be focused on building a valuable network more than anything else.
4. Treat People With Respect
Realise that people want to be treated with respect. Individuals will undoubtedly return the. Respect who they are, their efforts, accomplishments, time, and views. You don’t say or do these things to be flattering. You do it because you genuinely respect them. Let your business networking strategy rest on showing respect to all.
5. Listen
Effective listening is a networking hack that some people overlook. People sometimes mistake being a good communicator for being an eloquent speaker. Now, while being a good speaker certainly helps you to communicate well, it doesn’t necessarily make you an effective communicator. Effective communicators are also excellent listeners.
Many people have a lot to say. You may have a lot of things you want to say at any given time. But you must note that effective communication isn’t about dominating the conversation. It’s about engaging with the other person in reciprocity. You must show genuine interest in what the other person says. When someone senses that you’re engaged in what they’re saying, it gives a sense that you care.
People love to be listened to. You should take this to your advantage and polish up your listening skills. People will be more receptive to your requests or even your general kindness if they perceive you as trustworthy. So, whenever you have a networking opportunity, don’t shove your words, knowledge, or opinions down other people’s throats. But listen to understand.
6. Be Authentic
You need to be at your best to get the most out of any networking encounter or opportunity. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not to be effective at networking. Know who you are and be confident in that. For example, if you’re introverted, don’t try to come off as an extrovert because you won’t be able to keep up the façade for long.
Indeed, extroverts generally excel in social situations. But that doesn’t mean that introverts can’t succeed too. They can still engage with others and still network effectively. Introverts can also work to their strengths and do less talking and more listening. You may have to learn to be more charismatic. But then again, it’s something you can learn.
Whatever the case, you want to ensure you’re yourself and bring your best self to the fore. Be excited to meet new people and have fun while doing it.
7. Help Others
One of the goals of developing a business network is so you can get assistance from others. But realise that you also have a responsibility to help others. When you meet someone, you should consider how you can help them and how they can help you.
Before interacting with or pitching to others, you must know what you and your business bring. Think about how you can help them achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle and how you and your business have the tools and resources to make that happen.
So, offer prospective contacts your tools, products, contacts, advice, support, or even new ideas on how to grow their business. People are more inclined to listen to you when they know you have something to offer.
8. Follow Up
Whenever you’ve connected with someone, it’s always good to follow up within a few days. Following up is essential because you risk someone forgetting you. You should follow up if you made a commitment that necessitates it. But even if you don’t commit, keeping in touch is good.
9. Be Consistent
The key to building a solid network is consistency. Realise that building a reliable network will take time. You must be willing to be consistent in your networking efforts. Therefore, it would be best to take a proactive approach to relationship building, regardless of your industry. Your goal should be to be good at building and maintaining relationships whenever the opportunity arises.
Conclusion
Networking is an extremely useful skill that will help you grow your business. Recognise that businesses, like individuals, cannot exist in isolation. Building and maintaining relationships is the foundation of business success. As a result, when it comes to business networking, you must be intentional and proactive.
It is important to note that you do not have to be an exceptional person to be good at networking. It’s all about being purposeful and proactive. Remember to seize any opportunities that come your way. Create networking opportunities for yourself when the occasion arises. The best practices listed above are a great place to start when learning to network effectively.
Xalient is proud to announce that it has been named in the Financial Times and Statista seventh annual list of Europe’s 1000 fastest-growing companies.
Xalient, one of the UK’s leading disruptive network transformation companies, which specialises in software-defined networking, cloud security and unified communications, has been named amongst the fastest growing companies across Europe, joining the top 50% of the 2023 FT 1000 list. Xalient ranks at 336 and is 38 amongst the listed UK companies with an absolute growth rate of 451.2% and compound annual growth rate of 76.6%. Xalient appears in the IT and Software Category, where there are 176 companies listed.
This is Xalient’s second entry into the FT 1000 list, with its first listing last year at 365, thereby it has accelerated 29 places this year. Only 356 companies in the whole FT1000 award have received rankings in two consecutive years and this accolade comes after a year of exponential growth both in the UK and US.
Sherry Vaswani, Xalient’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is fantastic that Xalient has been recognised for the second consecutive year as one of Europe’s fastest growing companies and named on this prestigious list. It is a testament to all the expertise and skills of our incredible team around the world, the work we have achieved with our customers, and our commitment to delivering excellence in what we do.
“We have seen significant growth over the last few years as demand for digital transformation services and technologies has grown exponentially, with companies adopting a work-from-anywhere hybrid approach. Furthermore, the growing importance of the network and its strategic position in helping organisations move to the cloud is another major driving factor of our success.
“We pride ourselves in providing an alternative secure network transformation model to the norm, helping our customers benefit from cloud technologies, with newly transformed networks that are agile, secure, high-performing, and fit for the future. We look forward to helping our existing and new customers in their journey to the cloud, whilst continuing our focus and investment around innovation, to ensure that we remain at the forefront of our industry. As we look to the future, we are committed to continued growth and sustained success, building on our achievements as we strive to be at the forefront of our industry.”
This news comes hot on the heels of Xalient bolstering its leadership team with two key appointments, David Bowes as Chief People Officer and Dorota Gibiino as Director of Marketing, demonstrating the company’s commitment to driving growth and strengthening its global brand. Earlier in the month Xalient also announced that it had secured ISO 20000 Certification in IT Service Management.
The Financial Times identifies Europe’s top 1000 fastest growing companies every year. The list, now in its seventh year, ranks Europe’s most nimble and inventive companies. View the latest list FT 1000 list here: https://www.ft.com/content/1e7a95b8-80ba-4b16-9a03-91b9d6767db0
To learn more about Xalient and its services, visit www.xalient.com
Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid will host an international trade exhibition and dinner later this month to enable Welsh businesses to thrive on the global stage.
The ‘Wales to the World’ event is being held in association with the British Chambers of Commerce, Welsh Government and Moneycorp at Cardiff’s City Hall on October 27.
Since the Chamber’s inaugural international trade event in 2019, the Welsh business community have experienced a global pandemic, seen the impact of the UK leaving the EU on trade and are now tackling a cost-of-living and cost of doing business crisis.
Despite the challenges of recent years, many businesses are still looking to grow through trading their goods and services overseas.
The Chamber’s event will connect businesses with trade experts, share best practices and inform about the latest supply chain, export and import changes to enable the Welsh business community to thrive and create a more prosperous Wales.
The exhibition will feature networking opportunities and two exclusive breakout knowledge sharing sessions, covering topics such as adopting the new customs declaration service and supply chain and growth solutions amid currency fluctuations.
The exhibition will be followed by a drinks reception, dinner and a keynote address from Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce.
Drew Flowers, Director of Trade at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “We want businesses in Wales to grow, trade and prosper with confidence and peace of mind. That is why we are bringing together the best expertise, resources and connections for our international trade exhibition and dinner; to support businesses and continue the long legacy of trade from Wales to the world.”
Drew Flowers has been appointed as Director of Trade at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid.
Drew’s impressive career has seen her rise from an apprenticeship to working in managerial and directorship roles in the freight and logistics industries in South Wales for over a decade.
After spearheading the Brexit transition for an independent, multi-modal logistics provider with franchise bases throughout the UK, Drew turned to consultancy, using her experience and knowledge of all aspects of international trade to support the manufacturing sector.
Drew will now lead the Chamber’s trade team which curates end-to-end supply chain connectivity, connects businesses with new markets and keeps firms informed regarding compliance and changes to trade processes.
Drew Flowers said: “I am so excited to be putting my experience into action in this role to connect Chamber members with opportunities to grow nationally and internationally, and to go the extra mile to promote the best of Welsh business to the world.”
Paul Slevin, Executive Chair of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Drew’s pedigree lead our trade team. Her passion for seeing Welsh businesses succeed on the global stage, combined with her deep knowledge of moving goods internationally, aligns with our own mission to use our network, skills, influence and experience to support business when they need it.”
Young professionals in Leeds are set to benefit from a new network that will support personal development and provide networking opportunities.
The Fresh Prosperity Programme aims to grow the wealth of knowledge and skills of professionals in the deal-making community. Its inaugural event featured former Leeds Rhino Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE and Simon Hartley, an elite performance psychologist. The event helped attendees gain an ‘unrivalled mindset’.
Commenting on the network, Mel Hird, director of Fresh Thinking Capital, said: “At Fresh Thinking Capital, we are pleased to be doing our bit to create opportunities for young professionals to get together and support each other. The Fresh Thinking Network offers invaluable training that will help professional development and meet those all-important CPD hours!
“We hope it will create a new forum for young people to meet and discuss issues of the day. The strength of our deal-making and advisory community depends on a strong network. Professionals with the best connections are best placed to solve issues proactively. Ultimately, a collective effort will help to fuel growth, create jobs and build a better economy.”
The network is backed by Fresh Thinking Capital and will hold monthly events to provide networking opportunities and training seminars from inspirational speakers. It is supported by the wider deal-making community with speakers from leading professional services firms.
It promises to offer a range of engaging events that are designed for younger people. Future speakers include mountaineer Dave Bunting, digital entrepreneur Tim Hyde, and Brendan Hall, winner of the round the world yacht race.
Niall Conlon, relationship manager at Fresh Thinking Capital, said: “We look forward to welcoming people to our program, which is designed to inspire the next generation of leaders with top-class speakers and coaches. When we planned the network, we sought to develop events that instil lessons to complement what your professional qualifications don’t teach you.”
Enterprise-grade, digital age networking and cloud solutions for the channel.
Paris, France & Sandefjord, Norway – 21st June 2022 – Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leading provider of networking solutions tailored to customers’ industries, today appoints the Nuvias Group as a distributor across the Nordics and Baltics.
The partnership will focus on bringing advanced and integrated networking solutions to enterprises via the channel. This will include a comprehensive portfolio enabling connectivity through on-premises and cloud solutions, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, IoT and more. As channel partners, Nuvias Group will have access to robust solutions designed to support enterprise customers in their digital transformation process, which are essential if organisations are to remain competitive in the current market.
These integrated networking solutions address the hybrid working practices that are becoming commonplace in the wake of the health crisis, and enable a complete, uninterrupted network that extends to remote workers. While optimal network functionality is important for business, it is also essential to ensure continuity of learning in educational establishments, and this partnership will allow for remote learning and student-centric environments in ever-challenging times.
Channel partners will be able to deliver network monitoring as a service, through OmniVista Cirrus, a cloud-based, unified management system by Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, to afford visibility and control over the entire wired and wireless infrastructure. Customers will have one platform from which they can manage all their network infrastructures, to ensure a preventative approach and quick resolution for optimum performance.
Joakim Ahrens, Channel Sale Manager for Sweden, at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, said: “We believe in the power and reach of distribution and are excited to leverage the expertise and channel reach for Nordics and Baltics that the Nuvias Group offers. Together we can help channel partners intercept considerable growth opportunities, as business digital transformation accelerates in this period of rapid change. The Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions available through the Nuvias Group partners have been purpose-built to address the requirements of specific market segments, including public sector, education, healthcare, transportation, energy, utilities and more as we move through 2022 and beyond.”
Tom Ivar Solbakken, GM, Nordics at the Nuvias Group, added: “Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise brings an exciting range of innovative networking solutions from a trusted, experienced vendor, and further strengthens our Operational Technology (OT) offering. We look forward to building profitable new business opportunities with our partners, accelerated and enabled through our channel services.”
Nuvias will be distributing Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions across Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
Share this:
Business in the News – the latest UK Business news from NTSI
