Category Archives: Wales

Awards, Business, Events, Wales

Welsh business success celebrated at awards

The winners of the Wales Business Awards 2024 were announced by Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid last night (16 May) at a ceremony at the Vale Hotel & Resort in Hensol.

Businesses and organisations from across Wales came together to celebrate business success, innovation and best practice at the ceremony which was saw broadcaster Andrea Byrne return as host.

11 winners were crowned across 11 categories, with one of the lucky winners also receiving the Wales Business of the Year award which was presented by headline sponsor Jardine Norton.

St Athan firm Metrology Engineering Services scooped the top prize in addition to winning Innovative Business of the Year.

A leading service provider in reverse engineering, 3D laser scanning, damage assessment and quality inspection, the firm was recognised for its use of cutting-edge technology to advance the field of repair engineering to meet the evolving needs of the aerospace industry.

Steve Beasley, CEO of Metrology Engineering Services, said: “We are delighted to have won two awards including the overall prize: Wales Business of the Year. We’d like to thank Welsh Government and Aerospace Wales for helping us get started in this dynamic industry. Over the last year we have secured contracts all over the world and expanded our team to 20 highly specialised engineers who share our innovative vision.  I’d like to dedicate these awards to our brilliant team.”

Other winners on the night included Arian Care, Dulas Ltd, Dylan’s Restaurants, Genesis Biosciences, Ogi, Peter Jones ILG, Route Media, Watkins & Gunn Limited, Welsh Refugee Council and Dorian Payne of Castell Group, who took home the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Paul Butterworth, CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “The Wales Business Awards showcased the best of Welsh business, recognising firms who play a fundamental role in driving the economy forward, implementing innovative initiatives and supporting their teams.

“We’d like to offer our congratulations to our worthy winners, as well as those who were shortlisted.”

Business & Property News, Business Advice, News, Training, Training & Apprenticeships, Wales

Budding businesspeople bloom at Bootcamp

37 aspiring young business people from all corners of Wales have come together to hone their business ideas, expand their networks and develop their self-confidence at an immersive residential bootcamp.

Hosted at The Summit Centre, Treharris, this year’s Big Ideas Wales residential ‘Bootcamp to Business’ event marked the eleventh annual event since it first launched in 2013.

Targeted at individuals aged 18-25 with an entrepreneurial spark, Bootcamp to Business aims to strengthen the support framework available for aspiring startups by inviting leaders to collectively develop the skills needed within the first year of trading, from branding and social media to sustainability and pitching.

This year’s Bootcamp to Business weekend began with a speed networking event led by Big Ideas Wales Role Model, Jamie McAnsh. Jamie shared the story of See No Bounds, a networking business thriving on genuine connections, and offered tips on relationship building in business.

Participants then had the opportunity to reflect on what type of entrepreneur they want to be in a self-promotion class with wellbeing and self-development entrepreneur, Ryan Davies, before learning how to attract positive, successful partnerships in a DiSC personality profiling masterclass with key speaker, Emma Melrose.

Role Model and founder of digital marketing initiative Yellow Hat, Destiny Kirk, was on hand to help attendees perfect their business pitches. During her pitch masterclass, Destiny guided them through every step of a pitch from introduction to audience analysis, unique selling points and social values.

Masterclasses concluded with a sustainability session with Big Ideas Wales Role Model Tyra Oseng-Rees. During the hour session, Tyra introduced attendees to the importance of launching sustainably, simple eco-conscious business implementations, and the different accreditations attendees can work towards.

A highlight of the event was a talk on mental wellbeing, led by Andrew Jenkins. Andrew became a mental health advocate after bravely sharing his own journey on the hit BBC show, The Traitors, where he got to the finals. Andrew shared invaluable advice about maintaining a positive mindset and the importance of mental wellbeing during his session on Saturday.

Andrew said: “I’ve met a lot of celebrities over the past year, but I was more nervous speaking to these hugely gifted business leaders. They’re the future of business here in Wales, and their devotion and ambition is inspiring. I feel really grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this weekend, to have witnessed their entrepreneurial drive and be able to offer some words of encouragement. I want them all to just go out there and build their empires. They can do it.”

Andrew spent two days at the event, offering more words of encouragement to the business-minded attendees ahead of their pitches on Sunday morning, and opened the awards ceremony later that day.

The event came to a close on Sunday with the presentation of six awards. Ashima Anand received the Green Award for the most innovative plans and processes around promoting sustainability, while Sarah Rowlands was honoured with the Community Champion Award for her business idea aimed at helping others.

India Lloyd-Evans, received the Bootcamper’s Choice Award after attendees voted her as the most likely bootcamper to learn from. Chloe Henderson was also awarded the Mentors Award which, voted by event hosts George and Glenda, was based purely on her personal growth and improvement over the weekend.

April Garcia, founder of The Galactic Healing Hub, was also among the winners of the weekend, earning the Best Pitch Award for her compelling pitch earlier that day.

Discussing her involvement in this year’s Big Ideas Wales Business to Bootcamp event, April said: “This weekend has been incredible. It pushed me to challenge myself and refine my business idea alongside inspiring peers. I even offered readings for feedback to enhance my business further. I speak on behalf of all my peers when I say that this event has been unbelievable. We’ve all taken key messages and skills from this experience that will strengthen our businesses further.”

 

Fellow attendee and founder of ST Welding, Sion Thomas, said: “I was very pleased to be invited to this event, and was blown away when I heard it was fully funded. There’s a really strong sense of community here and the atmosphere is like nothing I’ve experienced before. Everyone is here to support one another and make their business the best it can be. I’m very proud to be a part of this event and wider network of Welsh businesspeople.”

 

Following the thriving weekend, attendees will now be paired with Business Advisors who, available via email and over the phone, can guide the launch and further development of their business dreams.

Big Ideas Wales is part of the Business Wales service to encourage youth entrepreneurship in Wales. Funded by Welsh Government, it helps young people aged between 5 and 25 to develop business ideas and entrepreneurial talent.

For more information on the help available to young businesspeople and their start-ups from Big Ideas Wales, visit www.gov.wales/bigideas

 

Events, Healthcare, Newport, News, Wales

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Events, FInance, HR, Pensions, Wales

Seminar sets out pensions landscape for 2024

Finance, HR and pension professionals came together on leap day (29 February) to hear exclusive industry insights at Quantum Advisory’s latest breakfast seminar at the Celtic Manor Twenty Ten Clubhouse.

Speakers including Dan Redwood, Chris Heirene and Leah Summers from Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy, discussed investment, the progress of the Pensions Dashboard and upcoming changes in the world of pensions and employee benefits.

Dan Redwood, senior investment consultant and actuary, opened the event with an overview of how investment markets, gilt yields, and UK and global economies have been performing. With a technical recession in the UK in Q4 and economic stagnation since 2022, Dan revealed the impact of high inflation and the Bank of England’s base rate on defined benefit pension schemes.

Dan said: “The era of ultra-low interest rates is over. This has a significant impact on gilt yields, which have experienced volatility in recent quarters, and pension schemes; both of which require stability.

“Inflation is falling and interest rate cuts are expected this year, although not to previous ultra-low levels, so the environment is improving from a macroeconomic perspective and a soft landing is likely. However, there are a number of external factors that could still throw us off course such as geopolitical tensions around the world and disruption to supply chains.”

Chris Heirene, partner and head of technology, updated attendees on the progress of the long awaited Pensions Dashboard.

The Pensions Dashboard, delivered as a website and app, will allow individuals to check their pensions information online in one place. It aims to help savers understand their current financial standing and support better planning for retirement. Originally the dashboard availability point, the moment at which dashboards will be publicly accessible, was planned for April 2024 but has since been delayed.

Chris said: “With a revised timeline now in place, we will all be waiting a little longer for the Pensions Dashboard. While we don’t have a specific date for the dashboard availability point just yet, we anticipate this to be between May 2025 and July 2026. What we do know is that the Pensions Dashboard will be up and running by October 2026 as this has been legislated.”

Leah Summers, consultant, concluded the breakfast seminar by highlighting a number of key upcoming changes including the General Code of Practice, the abolition of the Lifetime Allowance and the allowances replacing it, and assumption changes in defined contribution pension scheme benefit statements.

Leah said: “These three changes are coming into effect very soon. The measures are being introduced to simplify the code, tax allowances and statements for trustees, schemes and members respectively.”

Stuart Price, partner and actuary at the firm, said: “It was brilliant to see so many delegates, including new and familiar faces, spend the extra day in February with us at our pensions and investment breakfast seminar. A diverse range of subjects were covered throughout the morning, providing delegates with a thorough understanding of the current pensions and economic landscape and the changes coming down the track.”

For further information and to keep up to date with Quantum’s latest events, visit https://quantumadvisory.co.uk/.

Accountancy & Accounts, Events, Sustainability, Wales

ACCA celebrates St David’s Day with a focus on building on heritage for a sustainable future

National Day marked with business leaders hearing about sustainability and transformation

 

ACCA Cymru/Wales marked St David’s Day by bringing together the business community in Wales to celebrate the contribution commerce makes to the community and celebrate Wales’ national day.

 

Anne Jessopp, CEO of Llantrisant-based The Royal Mint told the 170-strong audience at a breakfast in Cardiff how a business founded in AD 886 is working hard to make sure it is around for another 1,100 years, transforming the business around its rich heritage.

 

While facing challenges – not least the continuing decline in coin usage – Jessopp set out for the audience of business professionals how The Royal Mint could harness its rich history to ensure it has a dynamic future. It is becoming a leader in reclaiming precious metals from electronic waste such as laptops and mobile phones.

 

With an annual revenue of £1.9 billion and customers in 120 countries, and an unrivalled expertise in precious metals, Jessopp talked about how she set about reinventing and transforming The Royal Mint.

 

The Royal Mint is committed to becoming a leader in sustainable precious metals. Later this year it will open a multi-million pound plant to recover gold from UK electronic waste. The pioneering facility will use patented chemistry to recover gold and other metals from circuit boards, generating hundreds of kilograms of precious metals per annum for The Royal Mint.

 

Jessopp said: “One of the ways we understand our purpose is the value we place on British crafts.  Our new business ventures not only contribute to our overall business success but also provide opportunities. We are moving our people into more sustainable skilled roles as well as nurturing new and diverse talent.”

 

Picking up on Anne Jessopp’s themes, ACCA Global Council member Helen Morgan spoke about the role that accountants play in supporting businesses and organisations of all sizes and in all sectors in challenging times.

 

As well as reflecting on key business issues the event heard about the unique work of the Sir Gareth Edwards cancer charity. The charity supports young people aged 15-35 who live in Wales, are receiving treatment for cancer and who are struggling financially.

 

Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, said: “It was a pleasure to hear from Anne Jessopp as she leads such an important Welsh-based organisation. Anne’s message about a clear vision, international trade, sustainability, skills and business transformation resonates with ACCA and all our members in Wales.

 

“We were delighted we worked on this event with our longstanding partners Menzies and University of South Wales. It was great to see so many guests. It is so important for the business community to come together to ensure we continue to work towards a prosperous future for Wales.”

Accountancy, Appointments, Business, FInance, News from Wales, Wales

Quantum Advisory promotes Simon Hubbard to Principal Consultant in Cardiff

Quantum Advisory, the leading independent financial services consultancy, today announced the promotion of Simon Hubbard to the role of principal consultant. Simon, who is based in the firm’s head office in Cardiff, took up the role from 1 January 2024.

Joanne Eynon, partner, commented: “Our success as a firm depends on the quality of our people and we are pleased to be able to recognise their achievements and support them as their career evolves. This promotion is a demonstration of how we grow our talent from within the firm, and throughout the region.

“Simon has proved himself to be an invaluable member of our team and this promotion is well deserved.”

 

Simon added: “Since joining Quantum I have been pleased to support our clients in all aspects of their journey. I look forward to now also lending my expertise to the strategic leadership of the firm as a whole. We are an ambitious firm with grand plans and to lead the actuarial team in Cardiff will be extremely satisfying.”

Simon joined Quantum in 2016 and sits on Quantum’s risk transfer team, helping to manage client projects and working with major insurers to track market prices and market sentiment.

He has over fifteen years of experience delivering trustee and corporate consulting advice including valuation negotiations, benefit change projects, company pensions accounting and member option exercises.

He is also a member of Quantum’s Defined Benefit Strategy Group and assists with the development of Quantum’s in-house actuarial models.

Simon is currently Scheme Actuary to a number of pension schemes.

For more information on Quantum Advisory, visit www.quantumadvisory.co.uk

Appointments, Business, Business News, Careers, Employment, Tax, Wales

GS Verde Group bolsters senior team with appointment of new tax director

GS Verde Group, the award-winning corporate advisory firm, has appointed a new Tax Director, Emma Jones. This strategic move further strengthens the company’s leadership team and solidifies its commitment to providing clients with comprehensive tax advisory services as part of its ambitious plans for 2024.

Emma’s appointment follows a period of significant growth for GS Verde Group, marked by its recent admission to the JP Jenkins share-dealing platform and the appointment of a new non-executive director in January 2024. Her expertise will be instrumental in steering the Group’s tax team under the leadership of Joel Dunning, Head of GS Verde Tax & Accountants.

Emma brings 22 years of experience as a corporate tax adviser. Before joining GS Verde Group, Emma began her career in accountancy before specialising in tax as part of Azets where she held a senior position as Tax Associate Director covering personal and corporate compliance, as well as advisory in employee share schemes, EIS, tax clearance, and tax planning.

“We are thrilled to welcome Emma to GS Verde Group,” said Joel Dunning, Head of GS Verde Tax & Accountants. “Her proven track record and specialist knowledge of the tax landscape will be invaluable as we continue to expand our tax offering and support our clients through complex transactions. Emma will be leading our specialist tax team as we continue to develop and expand it in the coming months.“

Beyond the boost of recruiting top talent to the business, Emma’s appointment as Tax Director signals the next stepping stone in GS Verde Group’s bold ambitions for 2024; a key investment in expertise that empowers their multidiscipline team to tackle increasingly large and complex transactions. This sets the stage for the new tax team which will allow GS Verde Group to capture an even larger share of the market and solidify its position as a leading multidiscipline powerhouse in the M&A landscape.

Regarding her appointment, Emma said “I am excited to join GS Verde Group at this pivotal time of growth.The company’s innovative, multidiscipline approach to deal-making perfectly aligns with my own values, and I look forward to lending my experience to the Group, identifying efficiency opportunities, and developing the team to deliver exceptional tax solutions to our clients.”

Awards, Business, Business News, Wales

GS Verde Group lead M&A rankings for another year

GS Verde Group, the award-winning multidiscipline corporate advisory firm, has been named the most active dealmaker in Wales for both financial and legal categories in Experian’s Market IQ full-year report for 2023. This remarkable achievement solidifies the Group’s position as a leading force in the UK M&A landscape, further fuelled by its record-breaking growth in 2023 and exciting plans for 2024.

Unlike any other firm, GS Verde Group is the only one to secure the top spot in both the legal and financial categories. This highlights the Group’s unique advantage – a powerful synergy created through its multidiscipline team; offering legal, finance, tax, and communications services under one roof. This end-to-end approach streamlines the dealmaking process for clients, delivering unparalleled efficiency and expertise to optimise the process and secure successful outcomes.

Nigel Greenaway, CEO of GS Verde Group, commented on the placement: “Being named the most active dealmaking team in Wales by Experian for the third year in a row is a great honour,” said Greenaway. “It validates our relentless pursuit of excellence and the effectiveness of our multidiscipline advisory model. Topping both the legal and financial categories truly demonstrates the value our team delivers to clients seeking seamless, efficient transactions.“

While the UK’s M&A landscape cannot seem to recapture the record heights experienced post-pandemic, Experian’s report highlights Wales as the only UK region to show an upturn in deal activity in 2023, the highest levels recorded in the region in the last decade. This growth mirrors GS Verde Group’s busy year, with consistent deal activity across various sectors that delivered a £2m increase in revenue for the Group in 2023. This exciting growth has continued in 2024 as GS Verde Group has been admitted to prestigious share-dealing platform, JP Jenkins, and appointed a new Non-Executive Director, James Lewis.

With momentum already strong, GS Verde Group is poised to capitalise on this pivotal moment and continue its upward trajectory by implementing its ambitious 2024 growth plans, making strategic senior hires, and building additional expert teams. The Group’s unique multidiscipline approach, combined with its proven track record, positions it as a trusted, in-demand advisor for businesses looking to complete a corporate transaction.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business, Business News, Wales

Fast-growth Flotek expands group portfolio with investment in North Wales business

Flotek Group, a leading IT and Managed Services provider, has announced the acquisition of a majority share in OES, a North Wales-based Managed IT, Cyber Security, Managed Print, and Web Development firm.

Displaying rapid growth and a £3.1 million turnover, OES provides digital technology solutions to businesses. Priding itself on its tailored account management and highly trained experts, the business has developed a reputation in North Wales and the Northwest for its bespoke strategies and service delivery, boasting a strong client roster that includes Boots, Hickory’s, and Gamlins, with a particular focus on the legal market.

This strategic move expands Flotek’s regional presence in the area, alongside its Chester office acquired last year, and pushes the Group to achieve a turnover of more than £10.5 million. Additionally, the acquisition brings 22 experienced OES staff into the Flotek fold, bolstering the Group’s team to over 80 individuals.

Jay Ball, CEO of Flotek, said of the investment, “OES’s impressive track record and talented team make them a perfect fit for Flotek. This acquisition will boost our growth and visibility in the area and, crucially, will allow Flotek to enter the Managed Print and Web Business and develop our provision for the legal sector while supporting OES with access to a robust Telecom offering. We’re pleased to be welcoming OES as part of the group and creating new opportunities for our businesses and our customers.”

The deal will see OES’s management team, Wayne Jones, Peter Edwards, and Luke Murray, remain in their roles as Managing Director, Head of Finance, and IT Manager respectively, benefiting from the strategic guidance of the Flotek board, while continuing to run OES and deliver the exceptional service the business has become known for.

Wayne Jones, OES MD, shared his excitement for the investment, “Being part of Flotek is a great opportunity for our team and our clients. It’s a huge deal to receive the investment from a Welsh independent-owned business and I’m personally very proud to remain a Welsh business. We have always prioritized customer service at OES and now we can benefit from the systems and processes that Flotek uses to improve our customer’s experience. We can also offer a broader range of services and use Flotek’s resources to increase our reach in the region. I’m eager to enter the telecoms market and grow with Flotek.”

OES’s brand will be maintained under the Flotek Group umbrella, ensuring continuity and familiarity for clients and employees but delivering an enhanced service through the businesses’ stellar expertise and commitment to future growth.

This is Flotek’s second investment acquisition, following the inclusion of Hampshire-based Flexinet last year, where the Flotek Group can offer its vast service portfolio and expertise alongside the business’s experienced existing management team.

The acquisition was advised on by multidiscipline dealmakers, GS Verde Group, combining law, finance, tax, and communications to offer end-to-end transaction support in one place.

Accountancy, Climate, FInance, Wales

Global accountancy body in net zero first as profession steps up drive for sustainable future

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has become the first global professional accountancy body to have its net zero targets verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative.

 

The achievement highlights ACCA’s commitment to a sustainable future and is part of its larger focus on equipping and upskilling the accountancy profession across the world to drive the changes needed in businesses and organisations to achieve this.

 

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said: “The SBTi applies independent testing to net zero targets in line with climate science, and we’re delighted that it has recognised our approach and targets. It’s a great step forward on our journey to net zero.

 

“The accountancy profession has a critical role to play in driving good business decisions and best practice that will create more sustainable businesses and a better, greener future for all.

 

“We’re working hard to drive this transition through our 773,000 members and future members in 181 countries and our work to influence policymakers. And it’s important that we apply best practice in our own operations.”

 

ACCA is targeting a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2045, using science-based best practice.

 

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organisations to set science-based emissions reduction targets. It brings together experts to provide organisations with independent assessment and validation of targets.

 

Find out more about the role of accountants in sustainability.