Following a strong year in sales, the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) has appointed Sarah Ameson as its newest Sales Manager, the second to be recruited in the past 12 months.
Sarah has worked within the sector for more than 12 years and joins ICC Wales from Brightelm, where she was Commercial Sales and Marketing Manager. Prior to this, she worked as a Business Development Manager at RA Venues, part of the Compass Group, and she has extensive experience in retail, as well as event coordination and management.
In her new role, Sarah will be supporting the venue’s sales team with a key focus on leveraging opportunities with agencies, to understand their pain points and work towards their long-term goals.
Discussing her appointment, Sarah Ameson, Sales Manager, ICC Wales said: “I’ve watched ICC Wales grow from strength to strength from a distance and I am excited to now be part of such a fantastic venue and team. ICC Wales is still so new, and has done a phenomenal job of attracting large-scale events, some of which have never been to Wales or the UK before. The team are continually pushing the boundaries of what the country is known for, and I cannot wait to help push the message that Wales is a serious destination for business events, particularly to the agency market I know so well.”
Danielle Bounds, Sales Director, ICC Wales, commented: “Sarah’s abundant sales experience and agency background, alongside her passion, dedication and versatility, make her an incredible asset to the team and we feel privileged to have her on board. We’re extremely proud here at ICC Wales of our creative and committed team who help deliver exceptional events, and it’s because of this collective hard work that we are able to expand our team and offer more to our clients and partners.”
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’.
A glamping park situated in Conwy has announced plans to release further accommodation after an exceptionally popular first year open. The park has released details of three additional luxury glamping pods, each with its own hot tub overlooking the coast in the quiet village of Bryn Pydew between Llandudno and Conwy.
In 2020, the owners Jenny and Darren Jarvis invested over £300,000 erecting 5 luxury pods alongside new motorhome pitches and luxury facilities with the aim of increasing tourism and creating a unique offering unlike anything else in the area.
The park has recently won the Go North Wales ‘Best Newcomer’ for 2022, which is a great reflection on the 100’s of five-star reviews Tan Y Bryn Glamping & Touring received after opening just 7 short months ago.
Owner, Jenny Jarvis said:
“We’re absolutely over the moon to be announcing a further three pods will be added to the park. We’re a small family operation who have heavily invested to create a truly magical experience.
“We love North Wales and everything it has to offer. To be able to share that with people from all over the UK is such a great feeling. We’ve had so many amazing guests from locals who’ve travelled just down the road to rediscover home, to International DJ, Hannah Wants. We feel so humbled by every single person who has walked through our doors.
“2022 is the first year that’s really shown the aftermath of the global pandemic and its impact on tourism. We’re so pleased to see that we can take something positive from it. There are so many people who are now devoted to the staycation because they’ve almost been forced to discover what’s right on their doorstep – us included!
“We’re still welcoming motorhomes to our park, but will be adding three new pods, some of which we will be trailing as pet-friendly options. Each of them will be created to the same high standard as our five well-established pods, and each will benefit from the same incredible view across the coast of North Wales.”
Tan Y Bryn Glamping is currently running a competition on their social media pages to win a stay in one of their new pods, you can check that out here.
To find out more and keep up to date with the latest from Tan Y Bryn Glamping & Touring visit https://tanybrynglamping.co.uk/
A PIONEER of geophysical and geotechnical logging technologies worked on a major rail safety project on the South Coast.
Robertson Geo Operating Services – which has sites in the US, North Wales, and Asia – was contracted to conduct geo-logging on boreholes drilled as part of the investigation into the re-alignment of the Parsons Tunnel to Teignmouth line in Devon.
In 2020, Network Rail carried out a consultation process on its proposals to realign the railway to make room for corrective measures to stabilise the cliffs along that 1.8km section of the track.
Work is ongoing, and Robertson Geo is pleased to have been involved in helping to find a solution to the problem.
A spokesperson added: “The railway travels along a famously picturesque route along the South Coast, with sheer sedimentary cliffs on one side, and the open ocean on the other.
“This project aims to improve this infrastructure by re-aligning the tracks and ultimately creating more space on the coastline, which will allow for the installation of rockfall protection, increasing beach retention and providing amenities for the public, such as walking and cycling routes.”
They added: “Our televiewers were deployed to increase their geological dataset where core sample recovery was impeded.
“Understanding groundwater conditions by running the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resistivity) was also a priority, as with electrical measurements from the Focused Electric and Electric Log probes.
“Other tools used included the 3-Arm Caliper, Triple Sonic, and the Temperature/Conductivity probe, which provided important data on issues such as saltwater incursion into these coastal aquifers.”
For more news and information from Robertson Geo, visit the website: www.robertson-geo.com.
It’s been a busy month for Swansea and West Wales Introbiz Network, with April’s inaugural expo in the Guildhall, Swansea proving to be a huge hit with the local business community.
As well as providing a fantastic exhibiting and network opportunities, the day was kicked off by a sell out Breakfast in the Lord Mayor’s reception room with rugby Legends Shane Williams MBE and Ian Gough, where sponsors Celtic Holiday Parks delivered an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable presentation.
Not knowing what to expect for the inaugural event, organisers Mark and Bernie Davies were delighted to see the Guildhall full of exhibitors and visitors, with an electric atmosphere and a real buzz of expectation. Here’s a selection of images from what proved to be an exciting day for the region:
The event also offered an opportunity for Start Up finalists to pitch for funding and judges were impressed with the high quality of entrants – the winner will be announced at September’s awards dinner.
Exhibitors also had the chance to hear from keynote speakers including Olympian and motivational speaker Derek Redmond, Leader of council Rob Stewart, Network Leader, Speaker and Business Coach Bernie Davies and Headline Sponsor, MD of Ministry of Furniture Graham Hirst. Seminars were also held throughout the day.
Organisers Mark and Bernie Davies said:
“Following the success we’ve seen in Swansea with TedX and in our regular Introbiz events, we were expecting this sell-out event to be a massive success and it certainly didn’t disappoint – we cannot wait for the next one!”
“The energy and passion for business in Swansea and West Wales is electric, if only we could bottle that and sell it – and we’d also like to thank our sponsors for their generosity and support which made the event possible. Feedback from the expo has been overwhelming, our phones haven’t stopped ringing with business owners thanking us for the great connections and business opportunities which were there. The common sentiment is that the venue, the speakers and seminar leaders created an atmosphere that created the ideal networking and business education platform, with many businesses reporting that it has brought in new business opportunities for them.
“We are therefore pleased to announce, that the Guildhall is now the home of Introbiz Swansea and West Wales Expos!”
So, after such a successful event – what’s next for this successful networking group? Quite a bit it seems!
Breakfast Club Networking Event with World Triathlon Para Series and “Super Sam” Holness – Wed 4 May
Introbiz Swansea and West wales and British Triathlon, are jointly hosting a Breakfast Club networking event at The Village Hotel in Swansea on Wednesday 4 May.
Delegates will be able to learn more about the World Triathlon Para Series, hear from competitors and Paralympians and learn more about the event that will be taking place in the city for the first time on Saturday 6 August 2022 – the Swansea and West Wales business community can learn more about how they can engage and even partner with the event.
The event will also be joined by inspirational elite professional Para triathlete Sam Holness (also known as “Super Sam”). The Autistic Ironman Triathlete will share his experience in triathlon and talk about what participating in the event means to him and his sporting journey.
Meet Sam Holness – also known as “Super Sam” The Autistic Ironman Triathlete
Join the network for our celebration of 2022 with our Red Carpet Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Village Hotel Swansea 8th September 7.30-11pm
This event celebrates the 2022 year after COVID, and members. visitors, collaborators and Partners are all welcome to attend – and the network has lined up a fantastic evening, with:
Keynote speaker
Three course meal
Bubbly reception
Red carpet event
Entertainment
Awards ceremony including start up awards with prize money
The Expo Start Up Business awards winner will be announced, finalists include:
See No Bounds
Doolittle Pet Services
Phoenix Bloom
Living at Home
Aspera
Via Fortuna
In addition, Introbiz Swansea and West Wales will present awards in the following categories:
Networker of the year
Male Entrepreneur
Female Entrepreneur
Outstanding Achievement Award
Directors Kindness and Authenticity Award
Tickets are £35 per person and can be bought individually or by table of Ten. Tickets are available on Eventbrite
Mark and Bernie conclude:
“After almost two years of COVID and online meetings, the Swansea and West Wales Introbiz network is now growing from strength to strength and April’s successful expo has set out our intentions for the future. Once again, we have to thank our Partners Swansea Council, Swansea University and our headline sponsors Ministry of Furniture who enabled us to deliver a great business event for Swansea and the South West Wales business community. This is only the beginning – watch this space!”
Building upon the recent expansion of their Cardiff headquarters, dealmaking business GS Verde Group has increased capacity in Bristol city centre by more than double, signing a significant lease at the Generator Building, accommodating over 30 staff with capacity to expand further as the business continues to enjoy rapid growth across its multiple disciplines.
The new offices, situated in the contemporary and centrally located Generator Building at Finzels Reach, will support the increased staff count across the businesses’ multiple disciplines. The business has made several appointments already in 2022 with more vacancies available following a year of significant growth, as demand for the M&A and business sale specialists’ multidisciplinary approach has soared.
Having only recently doubled their Welsh office space, the new Bristol premises underpin the Group’s growing presence across England, Wales and Ireland furthering the team’s reach.
This substantial expansion also follows recent success for GS Verde in the Experian Market IQ reports on deal-making in 2021, achieving a unique feat by being the only firm to rank in both the corporate financial and legal rankings in Wales, in first and second place respectively.
GS Verde advised on over 100 deals across the UK and Ireland last year, in the business’ best year of trading to date, and expects to see their activity increase even further through 2022.
With GS Verde’s complete advisory team across corporate law, finance, tax and communications, these new offices are more than double the Group’s previous space in Bristol, a significant increase that accommodates the fast growth of the business.
Speaking of their expansion, GS Verde Group CEO, Nigel Greenaway said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our Bristol office and operations across the South West, augmenting the scope of our offering of unique M&A advisory services throughout the UK and beyond.
“Just a few months into 2022, GS Verde has already seen rapid growth in multiple locations, reflecting the value of our multidiscipline approach, and the appetite for corporate transactions.”
As GS Verde also progresses plans to expand their EU location in Dublin and expects to continue to acquire as part of its own buy and build strategy, there are still more exciting developments to come this year.
The first details have been released of the green gateway to Plasdŵr, Cardiff’s ‘garden city for the 21st century’.
The Gateway Linear Park will be the main entrance to Wales’ largest development, which will eventually deliver up to 7,000 homes over the next 20+ years.
Situated near Llantrisant Road in Plasdŵr’s Groeswen neighbourhood, these wide tree-lined avenues and greenery will link residents and its surrounding communities to some of Plasdŵr’s key features. These include the main commercial centre, Canol Plasdŵr / Plasdŵr Centre, residential areas, and its first primary school.
With almost 40% of green space planned for the development, the Gateway Linear Park will be a destination for Plasdŵr residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors. Designated play trails and outdoor seating within the park and wooded areas will give residents and the local community a space to keep healthy and active.
Footpaths and cycleways will run through each end of the park, part of Plasdŵr’s carefully designed network of footpaths and cycle routes which prioritise active travel and public transport, linking residents to amenities safely and easily.
In line with Plasdŵr’s commitment to sustainability, the park will include a series of swales – planted drainage features which will be installed to support the reduction of pollutants entering the sewage network and will enhance and encourage biodiversity. Drainage ponds, trees, and wildflower meadows which feature throughout will also benefit local ecosystems, providing a safe network of habitats for local wildlife.
Public art will also feature throughout the Gateway Linear Park, with installations planned for both entrances of the park from Llantrisant Road. Plasdŵr will be working with local Welsh artists to commission pieces celebrating local heritage and the landscape of the area. Plasdŵr’s public art strategy will eventually see these themes repeated across the development through a variety of installations in key public spaces.
Wayne Rees, Project Director of Plasdŵr, said:
“We’re really pleased we’re finally able to announce specific details on Plasdŵr’s Gateway Linear Park. As with other aspects of Plasdŵr, our aim is to take inspiration from local heritage and landscape and the Gateway Linear Park gives an early indication of how the garden city will look and feel once its complete.
“The development of green infrastructure is a key element of our plan showing our wider commitment to creating a sustainable community. We’re also looking forward to partnering with local talent through commissioning pieces of art. This will make a significant contribution to the cultural well-being of the community as well as the physical landscape.”
Ground has already been broken with initial infrastructure and landscape works in place, but the park will continue to develop over the next few years. For more information on the wider development of Plasdŵr, head to www.plasdwr.co.uk.
Toogoodtowaste is one of 100 UK charities to be awarded a £100k donation from Barclays which will help them to continue supporting their local community choose re-use & recycling through the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Charities were invited to apply for one of 100 donations of £100,000, and Barclays were inundated by hundreds of applications from charities across the UK who are struggling to deliver on-the-ground support to vulnerable communities impacted by the crisis.
Barclays launched their 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme to support COVID-19 relief work in local communities. The programme, which forms part of their wider COVID-19 Community Aid Package, focuses on supporting UK charity partners who are meeting the immediate needs of people in our communities, including low income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people and key workers.
Toogoodtowaste are the leading re-use charity in Rhondda Cynon Taff & collect household items like furniture and electrical appliances that are too good to waste from residents for free. They also collect surplus stock from high-street retailers.
All items are sold at affordable prices in their showrooms, helping to alleviate the effects of poverty. Helped by their team of committed volunteers, who play a key part in this, whilst gaining valuable work experience.
Working with other organisations they also give free items to people most in need in their community.
Shaun England, CEO for toogoodtowaste said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from Barclays which will allow us to continue delivering our essential services in the Rhondda Valleys.
We are now able to ensure that these essential services will be here today, tomorrow and well into the future to help combat the environmental impact by reducing waste to landfill, alleviate poverty through the access to affordable furniture, electrical & household items & reduce social isolation through volunteering & community engagement.”
Nigel Higgins, Barclays Chairman, said: “COVID-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis. Incredible charities, such as toogoodtowaste have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support. As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients, and colleagues, and we hope that by partnering with toogoodtowaste and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live, and work are supported through this crisis.”
Variable frequency drive (VFD) technology designed and manufactured in Wales will play a significant part in reducing greenhouse emissions as part of the European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55’ green deal.
That’s the message from Invertek Drives, one of the leaders in the innovation and manufacture of VFD technology, based at Welshpool, Powys.
Announced on 14 July, the EC has set out its European Green Deal to reduce net greenhouse emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. This is part of delivering its European Climate Law which comes into force this month (July). The new law sets out tighter regulation on electric motors and VFDs.
Around eight billion electric motors consume nearly 50 per cent of the electricity produced in Europe. Globally, 40 per cent of electricity is used to power industry, with two-thirds of this used by electric motors. And yet less than 20 per cent of electric motors are controlled by VFDs.
“Electric motors account for a significant proportion of electricity usage globally. And it’s not just in industry. Our everyday lives are impacted by AC motors in one way or another, from HVAC building systems to retail refrigeration,” said Kes Beech, Technical Manager at Invertek Drives.
“Inefficient motors create higher energy use which in turn generate increased carbon emissions. And it’s not just the energy that’s contributing to these emissions. The processes themselves, such as those in manufacturing, the water industry and ventilation, can also impact on emissions or have environmental ramifications if they are not accurately controlled.
“Globally, variable frequency drive technology is already cutting energy use by up to 30 or 40 per cent in many applications. This is leading to reduced carbon emissions. But with less than 20 per cent of electric motors controlled by drives, significant in-roads can be made to meeting the new EC climate ambitions.
“The EC’s green deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. That might seem some time off, but, and in terms of industry, it’s not.
“VFDs can be easily retrofitted on to existing electric motor processes as well as integrated into new applications. We don’t need to look to the future and yet to be developed technology. It already exists. But we, in the drives industry, governments and trade organisations, have to promote and encourage greater use of VFDs in existing and future motor-controlled applications.”
He added: “As with all technologies, drives are constantly evolving. At Invertek we have a large innovation and research and development team working on advancements in VFD hardware and software technologies. This is leading to even more efficient motor control.
“With more motor-based systems integrated with VFDs we can create greater efficiencies, reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions.”
Invertek’s Optidrive VFDs can be used in most electric motor driven applications. With IP66 / NEMA 4X enclosures, they can even operate in harsh environmental conditions.
Cadw, the Welsh Government environment service, is seeking a local business to establish and manage a brand-new catering facility within the beautiful grounds of Tretower Court and Castle.
The opportunity offers an experienced operator to run an independent food and drink service inside the monument’s Grade II listed barn — which is currently being converted to provide space for a permanent food and drink outlet at the historic site.
The Tretower Café will be fully equipped with modern facilities to offer dine-in and takeaway services, complete with indoor and outdoor seating for both Tretower Court and Castle visitors and external parties to enjoy.
Cadw issued the ‘expression of interest’ notice for the opening earlier this week — and is encouraging prospective applicants to register their interest by 12pm on Thursday 29 July 2021.
Interested parties are also invited to attend a viewing of the soon-to-be refurbished space on Thursday 15th July.
A local business will be appointed in September, with the café set to open its doors during October this year, subject to coronavirus restrictions.
The initial occupational agreement will run until October 2024, however, should the relationship between Cadw and the selected business prove successful, the catering opportunity will expand beyond the primary three-year contract.
It is hoped that the arrival of the café will help to drive more visitors to Tretower Court and Castle, all while supporting a local business to expand its horizons, as experienced at the Harlech Castle café in recent years.
It’s all part of a wider investment into the historic monument, which will also see a brand-new visitor centre, retail and exhibition space, lift and visitor toilets introduced at the site by the end of this year.
Gwilym Hughes, Head of Cadw, said: “We look forward to hearing from local businesses across Powys and beyond, who are ready to embark on a new catering adventure.
We’re confident that the operator selected will bring exciting ideas and a varied food and drink offering to enhance the overall visitor experience at Tretower Court and Castle — which welcomes thousands of visitors every year.
“Our aim is to foster a long-term working relationship with the appointed operator, so that we support them in expanding their business while also ensuring our visitors get the highest quality catering experience at one of Wales’s most cherished heritage sites”.
