Category Archives: South Wales

Appointments, Law, Marketing, PR and SEO, Newport, News, South Wales

Harding Evans appoint new Marketing Manager

Newport-based law firm Harding Evans have appointed Haley Evans as Marketing Manager.

A marketing professional of 20 years and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ms Evans has worked within some of South Wales’ leading public sector companies.
“Harding Evans have such a strong reputation within South Wales and are a firm that are really going places. I am delighted to be here and look forward to working alongside the team, to take Harding Evans to the next level” Haley commented on her appointment.

“During the past two years and emerging from the shadow of the pandemic, Harding Evans have invested in our support services team, as we look to evolve our service offering. This has put us in a strong position to meet the changing needs of our clients, both regionally and nationally” commented Wyn Williams, Residential Property Partner at Harding Evans. “Our success is built on the expertise of our people and the quality of our advice – and Haley’s experience and marketing skills will be invaluable, as we continue our drive to become the region’s law firm of choice”.

About Harding Evans:
Harding Evans is one of South Wales’ most progressive law firms, offering a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals from its offices in Cardiff and Newport. With a 100 strong team of solicitors and support staff, their wealth of knowledge and expertise covers all areas of the law; whatever your legal needs, they are there to help.

Business, interior design, South Wales

Cool Blue Group acquires SPS Brassware

Cool Blue Group, a leading online retail group consisting of a range of home improvement and DIY brands, has acquired SPS Brassware in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

Consisting of ecommerce businesses Socket Store and Cool Blue Interiors, and manufacturer G&H Brassware, Cool Blue Group has custom from consumers, trade professionals, wholesalers and internet retailers.

 

In addition to strengthening and securing the supply chain for G&H Brassware, this acquisition will also further enhance Cool Blue Group’s product offering, which already includes flat pack bedrooms, kitchens, electrical fixtures and accessories, and lighting.

 

Phil Stephens, Director of Cool Blue Group, said: “We’re delighted to have acquired SPS Brassware and take such a reputable business forward, accelerating the Cool Blue Group’s growth journey.

 

“Since we began 10 years ago, our focus has been building relationships with the best industry suppliers and manufacturers, to provide customers with a straightforward online shopping experience. We are excited about the opportunity to connect with a greater number and increased range of customers with this new addition.”

 

SPS Brassware has developed an exceptional reputation over 50 years, manufacturing door and cabinet hardware, electrical switch plates, window fittings, doorstops and hooks. The business also offers metal finishing and polishing, allowing for exclusive ranges to be produced for individual customers.

 

With bases in South Wales and The Midlands and delivering to customers across the UK, Cool Blue Group prides itself on reliable, efficient delivery and excellent customer service.

 

Mr Stephens continued: “The future certainly looks bright, as Cool Blue Group’s businesses become more recognised as brands and become even more people’s go-to for their home improvement needs.”

 

Dealmaking experts GS Verde Group advised throughout the transaction.

Business, News, South Wales

Chamber joins call for government to save the economy from crisis

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid has echoed the call of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) for the UK government to protect the economy from crisis and support businesses in their recovery.

In a speech delivered at the BCC’s global annual conference, Director General Shevaun Haviland said: “Everywhere I go I hear the same stories from businesses. They tell me about the difficulties they have faced throughout this year: increasing cost of raw materials over last summer, supply chain and shipping issues, problems in recruiting people and, by this March, spiralling energy prices.

“It really is the perfect storm of increasing costs, firmly putting the brakes on recovery.”

In Wales, businesses are all too familiar with the concerns recalled by the BCC’s Director General.

In Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2, almost two thirds of businesses in Wales expect that they will have to increase the prices of their goods and services in the next quarter and are under pressure to raise prices due to external factors.

77.22% of businesses cited the cost of raw materials as a factor, while 69.62% and 65.82% cited the increase in fuel and energy costs as contributors to potential future price rises respectively.

The Chamber and BCC had previously called on the government to temporarily reverse their commitment to raise National Insurance contribution and minimise energy costs ahead of the Spring Statement, as well as to introduce emergency budget measures in May.

Shevaun Haviland said: “The Spring Statement was a missed opportunity. We saw some support for business, but the lack of a clear strategic direction meant it did not give clarity or confidence. This has to change as we are on limited time. The government has until the autumn budget to reset, rethink and get their house in order.”

Paul Slevin, President of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “Businesses in Wales have shown their resilience through the difficult economic challenges of the last few years but, with high inflation and soaring costs across the board, there is a real need for government assistance to ensure businesses are able to continue their recovery. Businesses need help now.

“In addition to short-term measures to help businesses face current challenges, a long-term economic strategy for growth and recovery is required.”

The full speech can be read here: https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2022/06/director-general-shevaun-havilands-speech-to-bccs-global-annual-conference-2022

Newport, News, South Wales, South West, West Wales

New appointments bookend successful year for flourishing timber company

UK timber importer Premier Forest Products is celebrating the end of a successful financial year with several key appointments and promotions.

Premier’s like-for-like turnover has grown by 35 percent to £120M in the last 12 months and the strategic new appointments will be integral for helping the company to keep pace with its continued success and rapid expansion.

 

Terry Edgell, Co-Founder and CEO said: “We are in a good position and preparing for growth despite challenging market conditions. The new appointments will enable us to become more focused in some areas of our expertise, enabling us to better support our customers and tailor our services to their specific needs.”

 

Bill Thomas has been appointed to the new role of Regional Commercial Development Manager. Bill joins Premier with a proven track record of transforming the timber businesses he has managed and will be central to Premier’s ambitious growth plans.

Bill said, “My goal is to enable Premier to explore new and exciting opportunities across south Wales and the south west. I’ve been really impressed with Premier’s growth and reputation within the sector and I’m looking forward to playing a part in helping them achieve further expansion.”

 

Industry hardwood expert Steve Rogers has been appointed UK Product Manager – Hardwoods and Speciality Softwoods. Based at Premier’s head-office in Newport, Steve’s role will be to lead a new team focussing on the development and further growth of the company’s hardwood market across all Premier’s brands.

Steve said: “In this role I will harness and focus our expertise to enable Premier to work closely with customers to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions.

“The new hardwood team will mirror the successful implementation of a home-grown and imported softwood business in the UK by another Premier team, which has demonstrated significant growth over the last year.”

 

In West Wales, Brett Gale has been promoted to the position of Branch Manager for Premier’s Merlwood Timber in Haverfordwest. Brett, who has been with the company for 22 years, brings a wealth of product knowledge to the role, with ambitious plans for the expansion and redevelopment of the Merlwood site and scope of service for customers.

 

Terry said: “Bill, Steve and Brett all bring something different and exciting to the Premier team. This is a crucial growth period for the business and their experience and dynamism will help us develop new and innovative timber solutions for our customers.

“Hopefully these are just the first of many new appointments over the coming months as we look to continue the company’s exciting trajectory of growth both organically and through acquisition.”

 

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

Cardiff, Cardiff News, News, South Wales, Sport

Dragon Taxis Supports Whitchurch Heath Cricket Club

SOUTH Wales’ largest taxi firm Dragon Taxis is supporting Whitchurch Heath Cricket Club for its 2022 season as a lead sponsor.

The firm, which operates in Cardiff, Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan, Cwmbran, Pontypool and Newport, is helping the club with financial support to fund day-to-day expenses such as ground maintenance and equipment.

Whitchurch Heath has four Senior league sides and a thriving youth section that runs teams at ages under nine, 11, 13 and 15. They are dedicated to playing competitive cricket in a welcoming, inclusive and social atmosphere in the North Cardiff suburb.

Peter Bryon, Whitchurch Heath Chair, said: “We’re so grateful for the support of Dragon Taxis this season. After a tough two years due to the pandemic, it’s great to see our local club thriving and the players back doing what they love, and that’s thanks to the support of local businesses such as Dragon.”

Jack Price, Dragon Taxis’ regional director, said: “We’re very excited to develop our relationship with Whitchurch Heath, and help support them as they settle back into normality.

“As a business with a long standing heritage in South Wales, we are committed to supporting causes which are at the heart of their communities, just as we are.”

Whitchurch Heath Cricket Club is always interested in connecting with businesses that share its values and can help it deliver on its five-year plan for the future of the club. Find out more at https://whitchurch-heath.play-cricket.com/home.

News, South Wales

Mrs Buckét visits Whitehall for celebratory event

Rachael Flanagan, Managing Director of commercial cleaning company Mrs Buckét, was one of a select group of Welsh female entrepreneurs invited to an event hosted by the Secretary of State for Wales on behalf of the UK Government earlier this week.

The reception at Gwydyr House in Whitehall celebrated the success of Welsh female entrepreneurs and provided guests with the opportunity to network with other female business leaders and UK Government Ministers and Members of Parliament, including Simon Hart MP, Secretary of State for Wales.

Other guests included Chair of PRCA Cymru Shayoni Lynn, publisher and TEDx speaker Bernie Davies and business consultant and founder of the Mubo Business Accelerator Ceri Gillett.

On the evening, Rachael said: “I was thrilled to receive the invitation to such a prestigious event at Gwydyr House, recognising the talented women we have in the business community in Wales. It was great to connect with so many like-minded leaders and share our stories.

“Turning Mrs Buckét into a multi-million-pound business was no easy feat, and my drive has not slowed as we continue to expand our team and provide our ever-growing client list with the best possible service.”

Rachael founded Mrs Buckét in 2005, spending £20 on printed flyers for her new business and distributing them around her local area. Now Mrs Buckét is worth over £5.5 million, employs over 330 staff members and has won over 35 awards.

Mrs Buckét is a high-quality commercial cleaning and facilities management company. Established by Rachael Flanagan in 2005, the business has grown to have 330 employees operating across south Wales and south west England.

Awards, News, South Wales

Welsh law firm recognised as one of the UK’s best workplaces

A South Wales law firm has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.

Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, which has offices in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypool, were announced as one of the 2022 UK’s Best Workplaces™ at an awards ceremony in London.

To determine the 2022 UK Best Workplaces™ list, Great Place to Work® perform rigorous evaluations of hundreds of employee survey responses alongside Culture Audit™ submissions from leaders at each company.

The data is then used to benchmark the effectiveness of companies’ employee value propositions against the culture employees actually experienced, with those businesses who achieve the highest scores receiving Best Workplaces™ status.

Watkins & Gunn Solicitors was recognised in the small business category for its values driven approach, successful transition to hybrid working during the pandemic and focus on staff wellbeing and development.

Clive Thomas, Managing Director of Watkins & Gunn, said: “My fellow directors and I are delighted with this accreditation. We firmly believe that a great workplace is about having a high level of trust in each other, pride in the job and the business you work in, and camaraderie with your colleagues. It’s so validating to hear that our staff think Watkins & Gunn is a great place to work.

“We are confident that happy staff mean happy clients, and this is reflected in the excellent client reviews we have received. We are very proud of our staff and have been Great Place to Work – Certified™ for the last two years. To now be singled out as one of the best workplaces in the UK is even more special.”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud to recognise the companies on our list for their outstanding workplace cultures, and unwavering commitment to supporting employees so they can deliver the best strategic solutions to ever-changing business opportunities and challenges.”

Charity & CSR, Newport, South Wales, Sport

Dudley’s Aluminium score local team sponsorship

WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium is supporting a local football team which is hoping to complete its successful 2021/22 season with a cup win.

Dudley’s Aluminium has sponsored the training and warm up tops for the adult teams at Caerleon AFC during the current season.

The amateur football club, based in the Roman village of Caerleon on the outskirts of Newport, has enjoyed a successful year in the Gwent County Senior FA Cup.

Following a hard fought semi-final victory against Rogerstone, Caerleon AFC has now progressed to the cup final in Abergavenny on May 21 where the team will face Blaenavon Blues.

Stephen Muir, Commercial Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “At Dudley’s Aluminium, we like to give back to the community wherever we can. We are delighted to have been able to sponsor Caerleon AFC in what has been such a successful year for the team and wish them the very best of luck for the final!”

Dudley’s Aluminium is a leading Welsh aluminium fabricator and installer of curtain walling, windows, doors and screens.

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

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and certified to manufacture “Secured by Design” products.

News, Recruitment News, South East England News, South Wales

BRG posts fulsome financial results

Berry Recruitment Group (BRG) anticipates continued strong growth through 2022 as it releases its latest financial figures.

The group’s accounts to the end of 2021 showed its profits before taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA*) up 49 percent on the previous year to £2.27m.

The business, which includes the brands Berry Recruitment, Wild Recruitment, Wild Berry Associates and BuzzHire, also recorded a 17 per cent increase in turnover to £68.8m.

BRG, which is headquartered in St Albans, Herts, – and has a Berry Recruitment branch in Cardiff – said it anticipates continued organic growth as well as more targeted acquisitions.

The business is backed by Tony Berry, former chairman of Blue Arrow and Manpower, and Ian Langley, chairman of infrastructure specialist Airswift Holdings.

Tony, chairman of BRG which was founded in 2009, said: “The dual impacts of Brexit and the pandemic threw up difficulties that had never before been experienced.

“However, BRG’s recovery has been dynamic thanks to the leadership, strategy and the sheer graft of our staff across nearly 40 locations in England and Wales.

“Prior to the pandemic BRG had undergone successive years of rapid expansion.

“When Covid hit, the group immediately explored business development opportunities in new and growing sectors.

“Decisive action was also taken to reduce overheads and manage cashflow, and recovery was swift.

“Former clients have returned but there is still some way to go – and the war in Ukraine is likely to impact on the economy and is of concern.

“However, there are high levels of employment and a recurring difficulty is finding enough candidates for the roles.

“Overall, these factors lead us to remain bullish about the rest of the year and beyond. Our ambitious targets are being hit and we know now how we can pivot strategically and quickly due to rapidly changing circumstances.”

BRG concentrates on seven specialist sectors; office and professional, warehouse and manufacturing, driving, construction, catering, technical and rail.

Bristol, Business, Business & Property News, Business News, Cardiff, FInance, Finance News, Law, Legal News, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, News from England, News from Wales, Property, Property News, South Wales, South West, Wales News

GS Verde Group expand Bristol presence at Generator Building

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.