Category Archives: South Wales

News, South Wales

Hutchinson Thomas’ expansion sees move to new SA1 premises

Hutchinson Thomas’ recent merger with Simmonds Hurford Solicitors has necessitated a move by the expanding South Wales law firm to new, state-of-the-art premises in Swansea’s SA1 Waterfront area.

The solicitors, with offices in Swansea and Neath, has moved from its prior location at Langford House in Swansea Marina to a larger, modern and convenient premises at the nearby suite GF8, Ethos Building, Kings Road, SA1 Waterfront.

Overlooking the city and river, the new ground-floor premises is three times larger than the solicitors’ previous location, making room for the increased staff and client numbers brought about by its recent merger.

Improved IT infrastructure at the Ethos Building location has also allowed Hutchinson Thomas to utilise innovative cloud-based technology, including phone and other communication software.

The state-of-the-art technology is designed to improve the ease with which staff can work from the office or at home whilst maintaining the same high standards of professionalism and client service.

The new Waterfront office has parking allocated for clients’ arrival as well as increased office space for private face-to-face client meetings. It also has an independent café on site for client and staff refreshments.

Darren Davies, Partner at Hutchinson Thomas, said:

“We are very pleased with our new SA1 Waterfront premises – a move we required due to our recent growth and merger. This new larger office will ensure we are able to comfortably accommodate all our new staff and clients in an attractive and convenient city centre location.

“Through the move, we have also been able to upgrade our IT infrastructure and communications network, allowing for increased flexibility over where our staff work from. This will ensure uninterrupted client service wherever our staff are based – whether in the new Waterfront office, at home or at our Neath premises.”

Manufacturing, News, South Wales

Welsh fabricator demonstrates commitment to the future with significant investment

CARDIFF-BASED leading aluminium fabricator, Dudley’s Aluminium, has invested £96,000 in state-of-the-art machinery as it continues to work on a number of important projects throughout the UK.

The company has purchased a Phantomatic M3 CNC machining centre, featuring three controlled axes allowing processing on three sides of the workpiece, as well as an electronic double mitre saw complete with a swarf extractor and connection kit.

The machines have both been purchased from Emmegi, a leading supplier of advanced equipment for aluminium, light alloy and steel fabricators, to complement Dudley’s existing major CNC machining centre.

CNC machining is a process used in the manufacturing sector that involves the use of computers to control machine tools. The new and existing equipment will be able to read each other’s programmes as well as standardising operation and maintenance procedures, leading to improved product accuracy, increased output and shorter lead times.

Speaking about the investment, Colin Shorney, Managing Director at Dudley’s said: “We are pleased to have made this significant investment in state-of-the-art machinery, adding to our modern, well-equipped production facilities.

“As well as increasing workplace safety, the new purchases will provide us with greater manufacturing flexibility, allowing us to operate more efficiently and take on more projects in the future.”

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects 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, South Wales

South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce rebrands as Chambers Wales with renewed focus on services to support Welsh business

The South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce is today rebranding as Chambers Wales with a renewed laser focus on supporting the changing needs of Welsh business.

As a result of a lengthy strategic review and taking into account the current economic climate, the organisation has brought together a team of industry experts with the know-how to help Welsh businesses grow, both nationally and internationally.

The organisation now focuses its service offering and efforts on helping businesses to recover, rebuild and grow in a post pandemic recession with changing global trade relationships.

With international trade experts making up part of that team, Chambers Wales is able to provide members with a trade network to any market in the world, as well has having the political clout to lobby both Welsh and UK Governments on issues that matter to Welsh business.

Well respected globally for being the ‘go to’ organisation for trading overseas, Chambers Wales has access to over 50 offices in the UK, 60 Chambers of Commerce across the world, and has already helped its members export goods to 119 countries across the globe in the past year.

The organisation covers 80% of Wales and is also well known for its industry leading events and training courses, having delivered these to over 2,500 participants in the past 12 months.

Paul Slevin, President, Chambers Wales, said: “The changes we are announcing today are momentous; they are the biggest shift in private sector support for business seen in many years. That’s because the challenges ahead are momentous. Welsh businesses need different support right now, so we have adapted to meet these needs.

“Frankly, it’s all about growing business, it’s about helping business to get into new markets and find opportunities to increase their productivity and profit. Chambers Wales is totally focussed on helping Welsh businesses navigate the choppy waters ahead.”

Heather Myers, CEO, Chambers Wales, said: “We know the marketplace in Wales and we understand the fast moving and changing global and political landscapes.  We understand what businesses need to do to grow and we influence governments to support this through appropriate policy.

“We are a Welsh SME and face the same challenges as every other business. Businesses don’t have time to hunt around for answers, that’s why have upgraded our solutions to make them more relevant and offer greater value. We are here to smooth supply chains, reduce cashflow risks, save time and save money.

“Businesses needs agility, expertise, information and strong connections locally, nationally and internationally. This is what Chambers Wales is passionate about delivering.”

Visit: https://chamberswales.com/

Charity & CSR, South Wales

Lord’s Taverners pay tribute to former Wales Chair Ray Dyer

THE Lord’s Taverners in Wales have paid tribute to former chairman Ray Dyer, who has died at the age of 77.

The Cardiff businessman was a driving force behind the capital’s extremely successful Christmas lunches for a couple of decades, and was chair of the Taverners in Wales from 2000 to 2009.

Alan Crossley, who was secretary of the region during Ray’s time as chair, said: “Ray was very much a free-thinking entrepreneur, and the lunches were transformed from speaker-based events to extravaganzas featuring major entertainers from stage, TV and radio, coupled with opera and dance.

“They became so successful we once ran four Christmas Lunches in a single week at the Cardiff Marriott. He had a wonderful sense of humour and he never panicked – even as us group of volunteers organised four events in one week! The lunches remain a highlight of the Cardiff business calendar to this day, and much of that is thanks to Ray.

“He certainly raised the profile of the region, and I can’t begin to think how many buses and special sporting equipment were donated in his time as chair.”

Current Lord’s Taverners Wales chair Andrew Gibson said: “On behalf of all Taverners, I would like to pay tribute and say thanks for Ray’s tireless work on behalf of the charity. During his time, the Wales committee raised many tens of thousands of pounds for the causes we support. Thank you, Ray.

“I would like to give our condolences to Ray’s wife, Pam, and his children Nicola, Charlotte, Chloe and Charlie, and the wider family.”

Son Charlie said: “Fun, fairness, and kindness are the three words which best characterise Raymond Dyer. They were at the heart of everything he did whether at home as our beloved Dad, or in his professional life as Ray. This was equally true of his work with the Taverners where he achieved so much over many years as both a committee member and as Chairman.

“As a family we were fortunate enough to experience a great many Taverners events and have particularly fond memories of Dad’s work to develop the Christmas Lunch events which, from small beginnings, blossomed into one of the hottest tickets in town!

“One particularly poignant memory for me was of a visit to a school in Carmarthenshire with Dad, after they had recently taken receipt of a specially adapted minibus and I will always treasure the memory of experiencing at first hand the joy and the excitement of the young people and staff members and Dad, as I witnessed first-hand the impact of the work that the Taverners has on people’s lives and the pride with which Dad has for the Taverners work.

“Dad considered it a privilege to have been involved in this charitable work: he loved helping others in all he did and he often spoke of the pride he felt in having been involved in developing and leading of the Taverners in Wales.

“He absolutely loved life and always enjoyed his Taverners meetings with the likes of Ian Spratling who became one of Dad’s closest of friends. He would always have one for the plank with him and Richard Adler, Richard Jones and many, many more. They were the ‘good ole days’ he would say.”