Category Archives: News from Wales

News, News from Wales, North Wales, Retail

Prince of Wales Visits Iceland Head Office to Mark 50th Year of trading and 1000 stores

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited the head office of Iceland Foods during his tour of Wales which will continue over the coming days to mark Wales Week.

Headquartered in Deeside, North Wales, Iceland is celebrating its fiftieth year on the British high street this year, having opened its first store in Oswestry during November 1970. The retailer recently opened its thousandth store in Newport, South Wales, and today employs 30,000 colleagues.

During the visit, His Royal Highness met with and thanked several Iceland colleagues, representing the thousands of retail workers who have been on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis, serving customers in stores and delivering essentials to thousands of customers across the country.

Included in these were four colleagues who were previously recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their dedication throughout the pandemic. Two of these colleagues were commended for their initiative in launching priority shopping hours for the elderly at the height of the pandemic, a move which was later rolled out nationwide by Iceland and replicated by many other retailers.

Launching priority hours for the elderly was part of Iceland’s wider efforts to reach the most vulnerable, which also included upscaling its delivery operation by recruiting 5,000 new drivers and pickers, and introducing priority hours and delivery slots for the NHS, care workers and students. Community action included Iceland’s response to Marcus Rashford’s child poverty task force, providing food and freezers to community groups and a number of charitable partnerships and donations through the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation.

Richard Walker, Managing Director of Iceland, said: “It was a pleasure to host His Royal Highness at Deeside, 34 years after his first visit to our head office. Today’s visit came during a crucial year for our business, marking fifty years of serving the UK’s communities on high streets across the country. Our people have been core to our success and the visit celebrated their ongoing dedication and commitment especially during the pandemic, which has proven to be one of the most challenging periods in our history.”

During the visit, The Prince also visited the Iceland development kitchen where he met with teams responsible for developing product ranges, and supply chain teams who played a crucial role in ensuring that stock reached supermarket shelves during weeks of widespread panic buying, a time which saw a 30% increase in sales of frozen food.

Finally, His Royal Highness met with Iceland colleagues leading on the retailer’s Doing it Right sustainability strategy. Iceland has led the way on various initiatives in this area, being the first retailer globally to commit to removing plastic from all own label packaging by the end of 2023 and the first to remove palm oil in its entirety from own label ranges during 2018.

During its fifty years, Iceland has remained rooted in the communities it serves and given back to a number of good causes. The Iceland Food Charitable Foundation has donated over £30 million to date, to a variety of causes including £17m via its Dementia: ‘Let’s Beat It’ campaign.

 

News, News from Wales, Retail, Wales News

Bridgend businesses showcased in new Independents’ Day video

Local businesses across Bridgend County Borough have been showcased in a new video ahead of Independents’ Day, which took place over the weekend.

The UK-wide event aims to support and promote independent retailers across the nation’s high streets and encourage shoppers to shop locally.

Among those featuring in the video, which was commissioned by Bridgend County Borough Council, are Porthcawl’s Fablas Ice Cream and Sussed gift shop, Casey’s Café and Iced Cake Parlour in Maesteg as well as Miss Label and Morgan’s Bistro and Cocktail Bar in Bridgend.

Lauren Evans, who runs the popular Fablas ice cream parlour, said: “Independent businesses offer an experience that you can’t get from chain stores. We pride ourselves on the Fablas experience as soon as you walk through the door – large chains can’t offer that.

“I think independent stores are the future of British high streets.”

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the diverse selection of independent businesses we have in the county borough and we thoroughly look forward to showcasing them to the rest of the country for Independents’ Day.

“This video really highlights how many unique and wonderful businesses we have here and shows the passion and love that goes into these businesses to ensure they thrive.

“Our independent businesses in Bridgend, Porthcawl and Maesteg town centres and the County Borough offer customers a great choice and diversity of products, as well as service, tradition and innovation.

“I encourage everyone to support our local, independent businesses not just on Independents’ Day but for years to come to ensure our town centres thrive.”

The video is available to watch on YouTube in English and in Welsh.

 

Awards, Construction, News, News from Wales

Building contractor shortlisted for sustainability awards

Two Passivhaus schemes in Mid Wales have earned the building contractor behind the project two top award nominations.

Pave Aways has been shortlisted in the sustainability category in the Wales Property Awards for Passivhaus homes it built in Sarn and the new Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School, which was completed last December. Both projects were delivered for Powys County Council.

The winners will be revealed in a ceremony at Cardiff City Hall on September 15.

The £1.3m development in Sarn, near Newtown, was the first Passivhaus development that had been built for the local authority. The seven energy efficient homes – four two-bedroom bungalows, two two-bedroom and one three-bedroom houses – were built using low energy construction methods and include sustainability features such as solar panels and mechanical heat ventilation recovery systems.

Pave Aways took over the building of the partially completed Welshpool Church in Wales School in January 2020, following the collapse of the original contractor. The 360-pupil school was built around a sustainably sourced timber frame and features a superior level of insulation and was built to be airtight. It also has a heat recovery and ventilation system and solar panels on the roof to minimise running costs.

Managing Director Steven Owen said both projects were equally deserving winners.

“Both schemes were delivered during a testing time for construction following Brexit and during the covid pandemic, so it is testament to the hard work of our team, our partners, our sub-contractors and suppliers, that they have been recognised in these awards,” he said.

“There’s some tough competition from other big industry names, so to be shortlisted is an achievement in itself,” he added.

Law, News, News from Wales

North Wales solicitor challenges “flawed” drug-driving convictions

Hundreds of convictions for drug-driving may be unsafe, according to a leading criminal solicitor.

Dafydd Roberts, Head of Criminal Law at Gamlins Law, is acting for several clients who may have been convicted as a result of flawed testing procedures.

One client, Callum Flynn, lost his job as a civil engineer after being banned from driving for a year, forcing him to find temporary work just to meet his mortgage payments.

Mr Roberts, who is based in North Wales but acts for clients across the UK, says the issue concerns a number of different testing providers.

Following an independent review by The Forensic Science Regulator involving analytical data from a Section 5A Road Traffic Act 1988 case involving Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at one lab, “a number of issues were raised in relation to quality control and evaluation of data”.

UKAS, the national accreditation body responsible for accrediting labs carrying out forensic toxicology work, is currently conducting a review of the sector to see if improvements to testing processes need to be made.

In the case of Callum Flynn, he was stopped by police close to his home in Towyn, North Wales, while driving to his local shop in July 2019.

Five months later on December 2, he discovered that he had been charged after test results claimed to show that he was above the legal limit for THC.

Callum said: “The whole thing was an horrendous experience. I hardly drink let alone do drugs, but the impact on my family life was enormous.

“I lost my job as a civil engineer because I was no use to my boss unless I could drive and I had to take a series of temp jobs just to be able to pay the mortgage. Without them, I would have lost my home.

“It also had an impact on my daughter who suffers from autism and needed to get to hospital in Liverpool for treatment.

“Thankfully, I’ve now got my old job back because my boss knew I was a grafter, but I’m still suffering with things like car insurance which has gone up because of the conviction.”

Dafydd Roberts said: “It is apparent that this is potentially a very big problem with the veracity of test results from several labs in question.

“We are currently acting for a number of clients whose lives have been turned upside down as a result of allegedly flawed testing procedures but the true scale of the problem could run to hundreds of cases.”

Over 11,600 people were found guilty of drug-driving in 2019, according to Government figures – an increase of 20% on the previous year.

 

News, News from Wales

Hospice Balloon sponsors thanked for support

Sponsors of the Nightingale House Build a Balloon campaign to celebrate 25 years of hospice care have been thanked for their support in getting the scheme off the ground.

Nine companies have supported the campaign and work building the balloon is now underway. Its first flight will take place later this year with a special unveiling later this summer for the corporate sponsors and supporters who sponsored their own balloon panel.

The nine companies are: Read Construction, TACP Architects, Ifor Williams Trailers, DTM Legal, Riello UPS, Vanguard, Glyn Wylfa, Scottish Power and P And A Group.

Steve Morgan, Managing Director of P&A Group said: “We were honoured that Nightingale House approached us to ask if we’d like to feature on the 25th Anniversary Hot Air balloon. We recognise the outstanding work they do in providing specialist palliative care services for those with life-limiting illnesses to patients and their families in our local community and are pleased to support this fundraising project. Supporting the community has always been important to us as P&A.”

The location for the unveiling is yet to be announced but weather dependant, it is also hoped the balloon will take flight at this year’s Oswestry balloon carnival.

Hospice fundraiser, Sarah Povey commented: “We are so incredibly grateful for the support our corporate sponsors have given us. It just simply would not have been possible to get off the ground without their funding. Our

Nightingale House balloon is being created to celebrate our 25th anniversary of providing care but it also symbolises so much more… it is a message of hope, appreciation and how we have all come together as a community to create something so special. I cannot wait for our supporters to see this magnificent balloon take to the skies.”

To learn more about Nightingale House, visit https://www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/

 

Pictured:
Left – Andrew Baker Finance Director at P&A Group

Centre – Hospice Fundraiser, Sarah Povey

Right – Rhys Hughes Director – Strategic Development and Supply Chain

Disability, Disability at work, HR News, News, News from Wales

Terry Mills: Building for Success in Supporting Disabled People in the Workplace

Terry Mills, Disabled People’s Employment Champion for the Welsh Government, talks about the importance of supporting disabled people in the workplace – and shares his tips to help employers get it right.

“Throughout my career I have worked closely with disabled people and those over 50 so I understand both professionally and personally how common it is for people to develop impairments later in their career. At the age of 45, I developed severe arthritis and sleep apnoea, which has meant I have experienced first-hand the transition to becoming a disabled employee in the workplace.

“Factors such as age mean that most disabled people acquire their disability when their careers are already established. Only 17% of disabled people are born disabled, while the other 83% acquire their impairments while they are in work[1]. It is predicted that by 2022, one third of people of working age in Wales will be over the age of 50[2], so ensuring that the workplace is inclusive for both older and disabled workers will be increasingly important for employees, employers and the economy.

For HR professionals, an ageing workforce means that dealing with the transition from a non-disabled to a disabled employee is becoming an inevitability rather than a hypothetical situation. So how can this transition be managed effectively?

“I’ve witnessed first-hand many examples of communication breakdowns between HR professionals and employees who acquire impairments whilst working for their organisation. Often, disabled workers are reluctant to share details of their new-found impairment because there are real fears that it might impact their future at the company.

“In my experience, employers often discover an employee has developed an impairment during a disciplinary process because, without adequate support being in place, it has affected their work performance. Therefore, it’s vital for businesses to ensure their HR department is an open and transparent space, regularly keeping all employees updated on the latest policies and support that’s available to them. Even if it’s not relevant to staff in the immediate term, knowing that a support network provided by HR is there can make employees more likely to come forward if they do require adjustments later in their career.

“There’s also a perceived barrier by some employers regarding the costs involved in making adaptations to the workplace which, in turn, can make disabled employees feel uncomfortable about admitting the support they need. While employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to enable the worker to continue in employment these adjustments are usually quite simple with an average cost of just £30. If more costly adaptions to the working environment are required, there is advice and support available to businesses.

“Luckily, in Wales, there’s so much support available to businesses to help make them as inclusive as possible. I am one of a network of Disabled People’s Employment Champions who will be working closely with businesses to raise awareness of the benefits of a diverse workforce and provide practical support to help them attract, recruit and retain disabled employees.

“Employment rates are significantly lower for disabled people than non-disabled people. Retaining employees who become disabled is therefore vitally important if Wales is to become a fair work nation and champion of diversity and inclusivity. Supporting experienced and knowledgeable staff who develop impairments to remain in the workplace is astute and good business practice, saving money on recruitment and, training.

“Put simply, it makes business sense to support staff who become disabled during their working life. Otherwise, businesses risk losing experienced talent from their workforce. Having a diverse workforce can also bring so many other business benefits including attracting the widest pool of talent, as well as increased productivity, creativity and profitability. So if you want to talk about how your business can become more inclusive, I’d urge you to speak to a Disabled People’s Employment Champion today.”

 

Three top tips:

  1) Tackle communication barriers:

Communication is key. It’s important to have an open dialogue with staff to ensure that they feel comfortable approaching HR with any issues, including becoming disabled.

2) Understand reasonable adjustments:

When supporting a member of staff who has become disabled, don’t over complicate the situation. Sit down with them and discuss what adjustments they need to continue working productively; this could be as simple as a change in work hours or some remote working.

3) Awareness of support and funding available:

Businesses could be eligible for funding of up to £60,700 through the Access to Work scheme, which helps cover the cost of any adaptations or additional support needed to enable a disabled employee to start or stay in work. Support is also available from the Disabled People’s Employment Champions.

For more information on how your business can attract, recruit, and retain disabled employees, contact the Disabled People Employment Champions by emailing DPEC@gov.wales or visit Skills Gateway for Business. We’re in your corner. 

About the author

Terry Mills was appointed as a Disabled People’s Employment Champion for the Welsh Government.

He joins a network of Champions who are experts in their field and will provide support to employers to help improve workplace diversity in Wales.

Terry’s career spans over 40 years and has included running his own business and becoming Chief Executive of entrepreneurial charity Prime Cymru. He has also worked as an advisor and board member of Disability Wales. He has gained extensive experience as a trade union representative and has worked with companies to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.

 

References

[1] House of Commons – Disability employment gap – Work and Pensions Committee (parliament.uk)

[2] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/816458/future-of-an-ageing-population.pdf

News, News from Wales

Leekes Retail and Leisure Group become the sole owner of Hensol Castle Distillery

The Leekes Retail & Leisure Group, owners of Leekes, the Vale Resort and Hensol Castle in south Wales, have become the sole owners of Hensol Castle Distillery following a buy-out of the minority shareholder.

Original investors, father and son duo Andy and Rhys Mallows, have sold their 25% shareholding of the distillery to the group, which already owned the remaining share, to pursue their ambition of starting a family-owned business.

The distillery is located in the cellars of the 17th century, Grade I listed Hensol Castle, which has already been transformed into a popular wedding and conference venue, following a multi-million pound investment in 2015.

Hensol Castle Distillery, which started production in spring 2019, has enjoyed a successful initial 24 months of trading, handling an ever-growing order book for contract bottling and launching an on-trade range of Benjamin Hall gin and vodka and an award-winning Crawshay collection of gins. During the height of the pandemic last year, it also launched TRULO – a reduced calorie range of liqueurs, which have done especially well as people have enjoyed their homemade ‘quarantinis’ during lockdown, with almost 100,000 bottles sold in total in 2021 so far.

During the initial Covid-19 outbreak in spring last year, production of its own branded alcohol ranges stopped as the distillery focused efforts on making much-needed alcohol-based hand sanitiser to help protect people from the virus.

New managing director of Hensol Castle Distillery, Christopher Leeke, said: “These are exciting times for the distillery. Our contract bottling division is extremely busy with new enquiries arriving weekly, while our own brands are gaining in popularity via retail outlets throughout the UK, particularly our exciting market defining TRULO range.

“The ‘gin-aissance’ shows no signs of abating, as it continues to be a popular tipple among us Brits. According to the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, 75 million bottles of gin were sold in 2020, 10 million extra bottles compared to the same period in 2019[1].”

Hensol Castle Distillery is also set to become a flagship tourism destination with a visitor experience, tasting bar and gin school, which will enable visitors to distil a bespoke bottle of gin made to their own specific tastes. This is gearing up to open this September – 18 months after it was originally meant to launch in March 2020, before the initial lockdown.

Christopher Leeke continued: “Our plans to open the visitor experience, tasting bar and gin school were scuppered by the pandemic, so we are now eagerly awaiting the lifting of restrictions so that we can finally showcase our exceptional distillery to the public.

“We have invested heavily in creating a first-class visitor experience that is designed to educate and delight in equal measures and, judging by the forward ticket sales, it appears that the public are just as excited as we are about it.”

The 400-year old Hensol Castle Distillery sits in more than 650 acres of parkland and is part of the successful four-star Vale Resort – an award-winning spa, golf, conference and hotel complex.

Appointments, Marketing, PR and SEO, News from Wales

Dragonfly ready to fly following appointments

Following an exciting first year of growth, Dragonfly Marketing, a Cardiff based marketing agency which also operates in Bristol and Milford Haven has welcomed two new members to the team, strengthening their marketing offering for businesses.

Marketing professional, Anna Sherer joins the Dragonfly team as Marketing Manager, bringing with her a wealth of marketing experience from previous roles which include O2 Telefonica and projects abroad in the UAE and Zambia. Anna will be supporting Dragonfly and their clients with creative and innovative marketing solutions and strategies.

In addition to Anna’s arrival, Maggie Jurajda joins Dragonfly as Digital Marketing and Social Media Executive, enhancing the team’s specialist offering for these disciplines. Maggie has marketing experience across a range of sectors and with numerous clients and has recently achieved a masters in Digital Marketing Management.

Dragonfly has seen significant growth since its launch in early 2020, now representing over 20 businesses across a range of sectors, from landscaping to biotech. The agency supports its clients with a range of services including PR, content creation, graphic design and is now developing its offering for social media and digital marketing.

David Dulieu, Managing Director of Dragonfly said; “We are delighted to welcome Anna and Maggie to the team, and excited for the months and years ahead. I have known Anna for a number of years and have always been highly impressed with her professionalism and creativity. Our growth has meant we needed the support of a senior marketing professional to support me and our clients as we continue to expand and we are delighted to have Anna on board.”

Anna spent over 5 years as Marketing Manager for Cardiff-based law firm Darwin Gray and was involved in establishing events such as the Wales HR Awards. Speaking on her appointment, Anna said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join David and the team at Dragonfly and at such an exciting stage in its development. The level of growth that Dragonfly has seen in such a short time speaks for itself and I am excited to be part of what the future holds for this creative and dynamic agency.”

The news of the new appointments follows the announcement in December of the agency entering a partnership with the GS Verde Group. This arrangement has since seen the agency become part of the Group, adding marketing support to an ever-growing list of services offered by the multi-discipline Group.

With the growth of Dragonfly has come an evolution of marketing services offered, an acceleration that has resulted in the subtle change of name from Dragonfly Creative to Dragonfly Marketing. Mr Dulieu added: “We are ahead of our expectations in terms of new clients, which is something I am really pleased with. However, marketing is something that moves quickly, and we have been keen to pivot our offering to help support our clients accordingly. Maggie’s role will be our first dedicated social media and digital marketing role, which is something we are very excited about and are certain will be of significant benefit to our clients”.

Maggie Jurajda, formerly a Digital Marketing coach, advising entrepreneurs and international businesses on digital marketing, joins Dragonfly to support the increased demand for digital and social media marketing support. Maggie said: “I am very excited to join the Dragonfly Marketing team, having the opportunity to be able to share my knowledge about social media and digital marketing as well as business development and having a chance to grow myself as well. Having met the team, I am looking forward to what creative solutions we can develop together, that will contribute to further expansion for the business.”

There is further expansion planned for Dragonfly, and the new appointments to the team will mean that the agency can continue to evolve as well as deliver high-quality marketing and communications services to businesses across Wales and the UK.

Appointments, News, News from Wales

Dudley’s Aluminium strengthens senior management team with five appointments

CARDIFF-BASED aluminium fabricator, Dudley’s Aluminium, has strengthened its senior management team with five director-level appointments.

Selected by the company’s Board of Directors, the appointments are all internal promotions, rewarding the commitment and longevity of their staff.

Neil Andrews and Simon Hoggett have been appointed Estimating Director and Sales Director respectively, supporting new business development.

Neil manages a team of three estimators, reviewing all tender enquiries to ensure that compliant and competitive bids are submitted for new projects. The estimating team led by Neil will liaise closely with Sales Director Simon, whose wealth of sales experience from 30 years within the aluminium curtain walling and window industry, will support the development of existing and new client projects and further company growth.

Neil Andrews said: “Having worked with Dudley’s for over 21 years, I am excited to take on this new leadership role and thank the Board of Directors for this opportunity.”

Simon Hoggett said: “I am looking forward to this new opportunity and further developing Dudley’s highly respected reputation within the curtain walling industry.”

Supporting clients from design to project completion, Neil Jones has been appointed Contracts Director. Neil will oversee all projects from contract appointment, engaging with clients on the planning, coordination and programming of their projects as well as ensuring that quality is delivered through supply and installation by internal employees and their supply chain.

Neil Jones said: “In my 26 years at Dudley’s, I have been fortunate to progress in the company and am grateful for this latest opportunity to further develop the company’s relationships and reputation with clients.”

Dudley’s Aluminium offers clients full in-house design and production facilities and within the design team, Gary Smythe has been appointed Technical Director. Gary oversees the design process of all secured projects, ensuring that his team prepare and present concise drawing packs in line with company guidelines and standards, and provides support to both the estimating and installation departments.

Gary Smythe said: “I am delighted to receive this appointment. Securing new projects across the UK, Dudley’s is continuing to go from strength to strength and I am looking forward to playing my part in the company’s growth.”

The final appointment sees Stephen Muir become Commercial Director. Stephen’s responsibilities include contract condition negotiations for main contractors, issuing sub-contract orders and payments to the company’s supply chain and supporting the planning of future projects.

Stephen Muir said: “Having been with the company since I was an apprentice joiner, it’s a privilege to have been given this opportunity with Dudley’s. I look forward to working closely with the existing Board of Directors, along with the other members of the new structure, to ensure we continue to provide the high level of service and quality our customers have come to expect from us.”

Speaking about the appointments, Dudley’s Managing Director Colin Shorney said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome the five new directors to the leadership team. These appointments acknowledge the dedication of our team to positioning Dudley’s as a leading aluminium fabricator and will help us capitalise on new business opportunities.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has completed many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail and defence sector 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 certified to manufacture “Secured by Design” products.

Finance and Banking, News, News from Wales

Welsh business activity falls at steep rate in February

The headline NatWest Wales PMI® Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – registered 43.7 in February, up from 40.8 in January. The latest data indicated a further sharp decline in output across the Welsh private sector, albeit slightly slower than that seen at the start of the year. Anecdotal evidence stated that lower activity was due to weak client demand, temporary client business closures and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures.

New orders received by Welsh private sector firms decreased solidly midway through the first quarter. The fall in new business was often linked to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and temporary client business closures due to lockdown restrictions. The rate of contraction in client demand was stronger than that seen across the UK as a whole.

Welsh firms signalled more upbeat expectations regarding the outlook for output over the coming year in February. The degree of confidence was the highest for seven years amid hopes of a successful vaccine roll-out and the reopening of the hospitality and retail sectors. Many companies were also positive of a marked pick up in client demand once restrictions begin to lift.

The level of positive sentiment was below the UK average, however.

Workforce numbers decreased for the twelfth successive month in February, albeit at a slower pace. The decline in employment was attributed to reduced new order inflows and efforts to cut costs. Although quicker than the UK average, the pace of job shedding was the slowest in the aforementioned sequence of contraction.

Welsh private sector firms indicated a further fall in backlogs of work midway through the first quarter. The rate of depletion in incomplete business quickened to a solid pace that was in line with the UK average. Firms were reportedly able to work through their outstanding business following lower new order inflows.

Private sector firms operating across Wales registered another marked monthly increase in input prices during February. The rate of cost inflation outpaced that seen across the UK as a whole and was the quickest for three years. Companies stated that higher costs were due to supplier price hikes, greater transportation charges and additional transaction fees following Brexit.

Average output charges at private sector firms in Wales rose once again in February, with the pace of inflation accelerating. The rise in output prices was the quickest for a year and faster than the UK average. Firms commonly attributed higher charges to the partial pass-through of greater costs to clients.

Kevin Morgan, NatWest Wales Regional Board, commented:

“Welsh private sector firms registered a fall in output once again in February, as the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions hampered new sales. Although the rate of decline in new business eased, firms were forced to make further job cuts in an effort to rein in spending.

“Price pressures remained robust, as cost burdens soared following supplier price hikes and shortages. Firms were able to partially pass-through higher costs to clients. That said, the pace of input price inflation far outpaced that of charges.

“Despite challenging business conditions and ongoing lockdown measures, firms were markedly upbeat regarding the outlook for output over the coming year. The level of optimism was the strongest for seven years.”