Category Archives: Newport

Accountancy, Appointments, Business, Investment, Newport, South Wales

Kilsby Williams continues to grow with new appointments

Tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has strengthened its business services and tax teams as the Newport-based firm continues to grow.

Ken Vargis has been appointed as a manager in Kilsby Williams’ business services team. An assurance professional, Ken will be applying his significant auditing expertise to support the firm’s varied client portfolio.

Ken said: “I am elated to be joining Kilsby Williams at such a pivotal point in its growth. I am looking forward to working with new clients, and adding value to their business by providing robust services.”

Joining Ken in the business services team is Hannah Griffiths, a Swansea University accounting and finance graduate.

In her role as business services assistant, Hannah will be involved in the preparation of accounts for a number of clients and assisting with audits, while working towards the ACA qualification to become a chartered accountant and progress further in the firm.

In the tax team, Cardiff University graduate Luis McCarthy has been appointed as a trainee. He will support the team with the preparation of corporation and personal tax returns and will study towards the ATT and CTA exams to become a chartered tax advisor.

Ataf Salim, partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “We are focused on attracting the best accountancy and tax talent at every stage of their careers and are pleased to share the news of our latest appointments ranging from trainee to managerial level.

“As the largest independent firm in the region, it is exciting to grow even further and we know that Ken, Hannah and Luis’ work will strengthen our services.”

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams works with clients from across south Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

Events, Healthcare, Newport, News, Wales

ICC Wales secures the Royal College of General Practitioners Annual Conference and Exhibition for 2025

ICC Wales will welcome more than 1,900 delegates, 320 exhibitors and 90 speakers when the venue hosts the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Annual Conference and Exhibition in October 2025.

The RCGP is the professional body for GPs in the UK and its mission is to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards of patient care in general practice in the UK. The Annual Conference is a highlight in the calendar for healthcare professionals who can update their knowledge by accessing the latest learning to support their continuing professional development and practice skills.

It is the first time that this high-profile, two-day meeting has been held in Wales, and RCGP will have exclusive use of ICC Wales enabling them to have full flexibility when developing the programme, extensive branding opportunities and the ability to create a dedicated community environment for delegates to collaborate and network with their peers.

 

Ben Clacy, Executive Director, Membership Development & Education, RCGP said “The RCGP are delighted to be running our prestigious conference at the ICC Wales in 2025. We are excited to be running our event at such a fantastic venue where we are sure our members will have a really worthwhile and enjoyable time.”

 

Dr Rowena Christmas, RCGP Cymru Wales Chair said, “There has long been a desire to bring the RCGP Conference to Wales and I am so excited it is going to happen in 2025. The superb facilities at the ICC in Newport will be an ideal setting for the important debates and discussions our members will be having as we all seek to work towards a sustainable general practice for our patients.”

 

Danielle Bounds, Sales Director, ICC Wales, commented: “We are thrilled that the Royal College of General Practitioners has selected ICC Wales as the venue for its Annual Conference and Exhibition in 2025, particularly as we will be hosting the Royal College of Nursing Congress in June this year. It will be the first time that these prestigious Colleges will have held their annual events in Wales, and we are looking forward to building upon these partnerships to ensure that these events will be the first of many.”

 

The RCGP joins the increasing portfolio of medical associations that have selected ICC Wales for their conferences; others include the British Renal Society’s UK Kidney Week, British Society of Interventional Radiology, and British Oncology Pharmacy Association who staged their conferences in 2023. For 2024, ICC Wales is looking forward to welcoming the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland, the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, events which combined will generate £9.25m of economic impact for the Cardiff Capital Region.

Newport, Transport

Veezu becomes official ride partner for Dragons RFC and Newport County AFC

Veezu, the UK’s fastest-growing private hire private hire technology platform, is the official ride partner for Dragons RFC and Newport County AFC.

 

Dragons RFC, based in Newport, is one of the four professional rugby union teams in Wales and shares a home at the Rodney Parade Stadium with Newport County AFC, the professional League Two football club.

 

With the introduction of the Veezu brand in the region last month the company is looking to strengthen its connections in South Wales with sporting partnerships that matter to the local communities where it operates.

 

As official ride partner, Veezu will be offering reliable, safe and convenient travel to and from Rodney Parade stadium for fans on match days.

 

Jack Price, Regional Operations Director at Veezu, said: “We are delighted to partner with Dragons RFC and Newport County, helping shape a great matchday experience for fans. With local community at the heart of Veezu, it’s great to be able to continue to support local clubs year-on-year, and invest in our community.”

 

David Watts, Commercial Executive at Dragons RFC, said: “This new partnership will be of real benefit to visitors to Rodney Parade, whether on a match day or in the working week.

 

“A big area of focus for Dragons this season is our environmental impact, so it’s fantastic to join forces with Veezu who align closely with our values and have a real focus on sustainable growth.

 

“We’re excited to continue to grow and develop our partnership with Veezu in the coming years, and our supporters should look out for future updates on the partnership and further benefits for them.”

 

Louis Cartwright-Walls, Media Manager at Newport County, said: “Partnering with Veezu will bring great benefits to our dedicated fans at Newport County AFC by ensuring safe and reliable transport for all.

 

“Being a local team, community is very important to us so it’s a joy to see Veezu sharing those values and connecting with the community through their ongoing support. We are very much looking forward to what this partnership has in store, and how we can work together to give back to fans and create unforgettable experiences.”

Events, Hospitality, Newport, News

ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection Join Forces with isla to Lead the Way to Green Events

ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection have joined independent industry body, isla, as a venue member, cementing the portfolio’s commitment to being environmentally responsible and continuing to develop an environmentally sustainable business.

As a member of isla the portfolio will have access to sector-specific action groups which provide a voice for members to help drive change within the industry, policy and planning templates, and a progression pathway review and action plan with three bespoke training modules. The ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection teams will also have the opportunity to attend isla-run educational and networking events.

Commenting on ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection’s membership, Anna Abdelnoor, CEO, isla said: “Both ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection have made considerable progress addressing sustainability within their businesses in recent years by implementing more robust sustainability procedures. It’s great to see sustainability not just talked about but weaved into the ethos of their business and to see tangible outputs. I am delighted to welcome both ICC Wales and The Celtic Collection to the isla community. isla is looking forward to working closely with them to further enhance their green business initiatives.”

 

Fitzroy Hutchinson, Energy & Sustainability Manager at The Celtic Collection said: “Sustainability is a huge focus for us and we like to advise and guide our clients on how they can create their own sustainable events and joining isla will help us to share up-to-date with industry standards and insights.

“We have implemented several robust sustainability procedures across the portfolio and are looking to expand this, this year starting with the launch of a solar panel site at the Celtic Manor Resort which will help us to reduce electricity consumption and emissions across the resort and the nearby ICC Wales. I am looking forward to working with Anna and the team at isla and developing a plan to help us on our sustainability journey.”

 

ICC Wales was designed and built with sustainability in mind. The venue utilises a building management system, combined heat and power technology, and has committed to being a no single-use plastic venue to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Celtic Collection implements sustainable procedures throughout its venues, including procuring locally grown products, reducing packaging waste, and recycling food waste and oil waste to generate power for the South Wales grid. The Celtic Manor Resort, which is part of the collection, has 93 hectares of woodland that annually offsets CO2 emissions. Event organisers are encouraged to utilise the natural surroundings for their events.

To find out more about The Celtic Collection’s environmental commitments click here.

Appointments, Creative & Marketing, Creative News, Marketing, Newport, PR and SEO

Fast-growing creative agency Milk & Tweed’s staff is expanding – and so is its office

FAST-GROWING creative agency Milk & Tweed has made two more appointments to keep up with demand from an ever expanding list of clients.

At the same time the Wiltshire agency is expanding its head office in Chippenham by taking on the unit next door to provide more space for its growing team.

Creative Director Jake Jeffries said the agency, which specialises in website, brand and logo design and digital marketing, needs the extra resource and space to stay ahead of new business coming in. “We made seven new appointments last year to maintain our high standards of customer service as well,” he said.

“When the opportunity to take on the extra space came along we jumped at it. It will give our team a lot more room to work comfortably. We’re knocking through to make one big open plan office and we’ll create two extra meeting rooms so that we can welcome even more clients.”

Joining the team are graphic designer Hannah Woolley and web designer Sara Antonacci. Both had been working from home in previous roles and said they were attracted by the prospect of being based in the agency’s Chippenham office, where there is a strong staff culture.

“I’ve been in situations where remote working has been really good but for the past year I have needed to get back into an office and be around people,” said Hannah, who has worked for several agencies since graduating from Falmouth University with an MA in Communication Design.

“I really wanted to go somewhere where they really valued team and really cared about people, where you felt like you were a part of it as well and you were part of building something,” she said.

She will be working as part of the design team working on new projects and liaising with clients. “I’m quite comfortable with that client relationship side of things and I also really enjoy like the process side and organisation and building the team,” said the 27-year-old.

Sara, who is originally from Rome but moved to the UK to study, said she was looking for somewhere where she could work among a team. “I’ve been working from home for years, so it was quite isolated,” she said. “What I was looking for was actually to go in an office, spend time with people, have some social interaction and also be able to rely on somebody else’s advice if I needed to.

“After my interview I liked the vibe here and I really, really wanted to be picked for the role. It’s the change that I needed so I was so pleased to be offered it.”

The 34-year-old, who learned web design while working at an agency in Newcastle, has already been busy. I’ve jumped on various different projects in my first few weeks and I’ve now been assigned a few new builds of a couple of projects by myself, which is quite exciting,”

Mr Jeffries said the agency’s emphasis on its staff culture is having a bearing on recruitment. “It is definitely more challenging finding the right people but we’ve found that the quality of the work we produce and having a good, creative and supportive atmosphere really helps.

“I’m delighted to welcome Hannah and Sara to Milk & Tweed, they are already proving to be excellent appointments.”

Sara added: “I felt I’ve known everybody here for a long time already, so I think it’s a good feeling to have, meaning that you’re probably in the right place.”

Find out more about the agency’s services at milkandtweed.com.

Charity & CSR, Law, Newport, News

Harding Evans Rally To Provide Christmas Gifts For Newport Children

LEADING Welsh law firm Harding Evans, headquartered in the centre of Newport, have stepped in to ensure that local families are able to give their children gifts this Christmas.

In 2022, when the Children Law department at Harding Evans discovered that Newport City Council had lost regular contributors of Christmas gifts for children from low-income families they offered to help. Having launched a toy appeal, they went on to collect gifts for 125 children living in the local community with donations coming from colleagues within the firm, along with local businesses and organisations.

Now, with times even tougher in 2023, the team at Harding Evans have once again stepped in to help families that are supported by Newport City Council and are struggling financially to provide gifts for their children to open on Christmas Day.

In fact, the collection went so well that there were actually more toys than had been requested, so those, added to a donation of gifts from Nuttall Parker Estate Agents and staff at Newport Crown Court, will all be handed over to BAWSO, an all-Wales organisation supporting people affected by domestic abuse, human trafficking, FGM, forced marriage and other forms of violence, to ensure that the children living in their refuges and safe houses also receive a present.

Siobhan Downes, Partner and Head of Harding Evans’ Children Law team commented “Once again, the team here at Harding Evans have thrown themselves behind this appeal and through their generosity, we have been able to supply Newport City Council with gifts for all of the children that they identified. The cost of living crisis is really hitting people hard and we hope, through providing these gifts, this eases a small part of the pressure these families must be feeling, especially at this time of year, and they know that people do care”.

Narise Mason, Social Work Assistant at Newport City Council added “we are so grateful to everyone who has so kindly and generously donated these toys, to help us at Newport Children’s Services to provide children with presents this Christmas”.

Accountancy & Accounts, Appointments, Newport, News

Further appointments support Kilsby Williams’ growth

Newport-based tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has made further appointments to its tax and business services teams as the firm continues its expansion.

 

Ashley Wareham, a Chartered Certified Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, has joined the firm’s tax team as a manager. Ashley brings with him a wealth of experience in tax services for owner managed businesses and VAT advisory work. In his new role, he will oversee a portfolio of personal and corporate tax clients.

Ashley said: “I am delighted to be a part of this firm. I am excited to work with the knowledgeable team at Kilsby Williams and apply my expertise of owner managed businesses to the firm’s extensive client base.”

 

Elizabeth Turner has been appointed as a manager in Kilsby Williams’ business services team. A qualified FCA and ICAEW business finance professional and ILM business coach and mentor, Elizabeth has honed her wide range of skills and technical knowledge through her work in both public and private sector practices.

Elizabeth said: “It’s an exciting time to be starting my new role with Kilsby Williams, as their client portfolio and team continues to grow. I look forward to supporting the firm and its clients with my knowledge and skills.”

 

Joining Elizabeth in the business services team are trainees Charlotte Lewis, Conor Foster, Jake Maddocks and Joshua Raisis. The quartet will support the team with the preparation of accounts, audits and completing stock takes for clients, while also working towards AAT and ICAEW qualifications to progress further in their careers.

 

Simon Tee, managing partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “We are the largest independent firm in the region and this latest series of appointments boosts our headcount further. We have exceptional clients who we support with our very talented staff. These appointments allow us to continue and improve on services to our growing client portfolio.

“From our enthusiastic trainees to our experienced managers, our clients will benefit greatly from these new additions to our team.”

 

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams works with clients from across south Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

Construction, Newport, News

Premier Forest Products grows presence in the north

Premier Forest Products, a leader in the UK’s timber and timber products industry, has announced another acquisition with the purchase of North-East Sheets & Panels Ltd. (NESP).

Established in 1998, North-East Sheets & Panels is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of made-to-measure doors, panels, cabinets and worktops to trade customers and retailers in the fitted kitchen, bathroom and bedroom sector. The business is based in County Durham, just a short distance away from Decorpanel, Premier Forest’s northern arm.

North-East Sheets & Panels’ capabilities in CNC machining and joinery complement Decorpanel’s specialised panel processing, and Premier Forest can further expand into the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom sector, in residential, commercial and public sector markets.

 

Anthony Hopps, Managing Director of Decorpanel, will be expanding his role to cover NESP as Division Director, driving the business forward within the Premier Forest framework. Richard and Lisa Williams, joint owners and directors of North-East Sheets & Panels, have taken the decision to step down from their current positions to begin their well-deserved retirement.

Richard said: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of North-East Sheets & Panels by Premier Forest Products, marking a new chapter in the company’s story. Our 21 dedicated staff will remain in their roles, providing Premier Forest with the benefit of their considerable expertise and experience that has allowed us to grow into the business it is today.

“Whilst Lisa and I are sad to leave North-East Sheets & Panels, it is an exciting time in our lives as we embark on our retirement.”

 

Lisa said: “Becoming part of Premier Forest is a hugely positive step for the company. With their financial backing and support, the business will be able to grow to the next level and I’m confident that it will flourish as part of a larger group.”

 

Terry Edgell, Co-founder and CEO of Premier Forest Products said: “This acquisition is the perfect fit for Premier Forest Products, as the synergies between the business and Decorpanel provide exciting opportunities for growth in the north-east and nationwide. North-East Sheets & Panels’ skills and expertise fit perfectly with our strategic goal of expanding value-add product categories, whilst the business will thrive by expanding its manufacturing capacity via Decorpanel and continuing to produce quality, made-to-measure doors, panels, cabinets and worktops.

“Acquisitions are a key part of Premier Forest’s strategic growth plan and we are continually seeking new opportunities to welcome businesses like NESP to the Premier Forest family.”

 

The deal was structured and completed with the support of Acuity Law providing legal counsel, Gambit Corporate Finance who supported the Premier Forest team throughout the deal process, and Kilsby Williams accountants, who conducted financial due diligence.

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, sawmilling, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its multiple sites in the UK.

 

HR, HR News, Newport, News, STEM

Intellectual Property Office launches second programme to help people on a career break return to work

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and STEM Returners have joined forces for the second time to support STEM professionals return to work after a career break.

The IPO, the government organisation responsible for intellectual property rights, will run a new workplace returners programme at its Newport, South Wales, offices, where roles will include Service Designer and Junior Business Analyst. The placement will be on a hybrid-working basis.

The initial 12-week placement opportunity is open to anyone with a background in science, technology, engineering or mathematics who has had a career break. It will also include additional support and advice, career coaching, and mentoring, to help candidates be ready and confident to return to work. At the end of the programme, candidates will have the opportunity to apply for further opportunities within the IPO.

The programme follows the success of the first programme in 2020 in which Sarah O’Neill became an Associate Patent Examiner with the IPO after completing an initial 12-week placement.

Sarah applied for the programme after a five-year career break to care for her two children and returning to the UK. Sarah’s youngest child was three years old and starting nursery, so the time was right for her to look for a new role.

However, after living in Australia for nearly 15 years and with a background in engineering going back to 2002, Sarah felt a little apprehensive about applying for roles in the UK as all her experience was from abroad.

She said: “It was reassuring to know I was not alone, and others had returned to work after a career break.

“The IPO are so flexible; it has been amazing. I can work part time around the family, I have targets, but they are achievable. I’m really enjoying my time here.”

Annual research from STEM Returners (The STEM Returners Index) shows some of the challenges people face when trying to return to work, with recruitment bias a main barrier to entry.

Natalie Desty, director of STEM Returners, said: “Professionals like Sarah, have valuable experience and knowledge that will benefit any employer. Yet, a gap on their CV, of any length, means they face an uphill battle when trying to return after time away from the industry.

“We are very proud to continue working with the IPO to provide more opportunities for highly skilled people to return to STEM. Only by partnering with industry leaders like the IPO, will we make vital changes in recruitment practices, to help those who are finding it challenging to return to the sector and improve diversity and inclusion.”

Penny Phillpotts, IPO Director of People and Place, says of the programme: “We welcome the STEM Returners programme as a really practical way of supporting people with STEM skills through their first step back into employment after a career break. This scheme will enable us to give returners of all genders the chance to restart their STEM career and help us to recruit some great talent for the future.”

The programme is open to all STEM returners across the UK who have had any length of career break.

For more information or to apply to the scheme, please visit https://www.stemreturners.com/placements/.

Construction, Newport, News, Sport

Mon Timber kicks off sponsorship with Blaina RFC

Mon Timber, a branch of Premier Forest Products, one of the UK’s leading timber groups, is sponsoring Blaina RFC for their 2023/24 season.

Blaina RFC has one senior men’s team and a senior women’s team across the club and are looking to launch a mini and junior section soon. The club relies on sponsorships and grants to fund their work in the local community.

The Premier Forest logo features on the club’s kit and signage at their grounds, and their donation will support the club as they continue to grow grass roots rugby across the region.

Dilwyn Howells, co-founder of Premier Forest, has been involved with the club for over 40 years and is now club president at Blaina RFC, after playing there in his youth.

He said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support a club that is so close to my heart and plays such a pivotal role in the local community. As a company, we are always looking to give back and support the communities in which we operate, especially across Newport and Gwent, as that is where we first started. When we founded the business, I was playing for Blaina RFC in Heineken league one, so it’s great to see these two important things in my life support one another years later.”

Andrew Pugh, Chairman at Blaina RFC, said: “We’re very grateful for Mon Timber and Premier Forest’s support this season, as it is thanks to our sponsors that we can continually develop local talent at a grassroots level and see it thrive. We hope to see them cheering us on along the sideline this season, alongside Dilwyn of course.”

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, sawmilling, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its multiple sites in the UK.