Fighting high business rates in Narberth

An action plan to fight the 200%+ business rates hike in Narberth is beginning to take shape.

South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns has now met local government minister Brian Gibbons and been told that he is considering raising the rates threshold.

"However he was extremely adamant that there was no way they would postpone the rates review," she said.

"He made it clear that businesses have got until April to try to renegotiate their levels and then after that date they can appeal. But by then they should have paid the first instalment and I know that businesses are extremely worried about their cash flow while any appeals go through.

"I had a meeting last week with a business owner in the town who said he was going to close after Christmas because he cannot afford his enormous rate rise."

Two weeks ago Mrs Burns called a public meeting in the town at which the Valuation Agency Office (VAO), which set the rates, promised to review the situation.

A working party made up of representatives from different types of businesses from the town is now being set up by Narberth Chamber of Trade. It aims to collect evidence to show that the increase is disproportionate to present to the VAO.

A petition for concerned traders to sign is being drawn up and it will then be sent to the Welsh Assembly’s petitions committee.

"Every petition is carefully considered by the committee so it is vital that we get the wording right as they only look into exactly what is petitioned for," added Mrs Burns.

“Now that I have had a chance to talk to Mr Gibbons we can ensure that we do.”

South Pembrokeshire’s Conservative parliamentary candidate Simon Hart, who lives near Narberth, is also helping to collate the petition.

"In almost every shop you go into in town the traders are talking about the rates situation and I have heard of at least one that says it will close if the situation isn’t remedied," he said.

"Everyone is keen to work together to fight this increase."

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Free Christmas parking in Newport

Newport City Council will be offering free parking in all council-owned car parks across the city every Saturday from now until Saturday 19 December.

Leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Matthew Evans said: "Car parking fees can certainly add up for shoppers over the festive season, so Newport City Council has introduced this initiative to ease the financial pressures for shoppers and encourage them to use the facilities we have on offer in our city centre. This is a win-win situation to boost footfall and assist traders."

Participating City Council car parks include Cambrian Multi-storey, Park Square, Emlyn Street, Faulkner Road, Hill Street, Maindee and Stow Hill.

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Credit to Wrexham community bank from AM

Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths, has backed a campaign to get residents in Wrexham to join the local credit union.

In the run-up to Christmas, Lesley has reminded people of the facilities at Wrexham County Borough Credit Union on Chester Street.
Commenting Lesley Griffiths AM said:

"I am proud to be a member of Wrexham Credit Union and find it a fantastic source of advice.

"Credit Unions are a safe and reliable way of borrowing and saving money.

"Many now offer other services such as Child Trust Fund accounts, ISAs, insurance products, budgeting advice and debt management.

"I urge all residents in Wrexham to take advantage of their local credit union by signing up and become a member."

For further information from Wrexham County Borough Credit Union call 01978 266843 or e-mail info@wrexhamcu.co.uk

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Online vote for favourite festive float

FESTIVE season fans are being asked to pick their favourite float from Swansea's Christmas Parade.

The Ishtah Belly Dancers, Mayhill Community Centre, the GSP Community Project and Swansea City Bravehearts were among those to take part in the event.

Over 26,000 people lined the streets between The Guildhall and The Dylan Thomas Centre to enjoy the Christmas Parade and the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights.

A prize of £1,000 is available to the most popular float thanks to The Wave and Swansea Sound.

Swansea Council will also give a £250 prize to the most popular walking procession.

Nigel Jones, Swansea Council's Strategic Events Manager, said: "It was wonderful to see so many people watching the parade and getting into the festive spirit.

"The community groups who take part in the parade each year put so much effort into their floats and walking processions and this really helps to boost seasonal atmosphere."

Some of the walking groups that took part were the Habibi Dancers, Interplay and Mentro Allan.

People can go to www.thewave.co.uk or www.swanseasound.co.uk until Friday December 4 to vote for their favourite.

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University of Glamorgan strengthens Chinese ties

A delegation from the Glamorgan Business School recently visited Xi’an University of Finance and Economics (XUFE) in China in order to strengthen the ties between the two institutions.

Marlene Davies, Head of the Division of Accounting and Finance, and Alison Lane, MSc Accounting Scheme Leader, spoke with colleagues from XUFE about students coming over to Glamorgan Business School to study.

These discussions were the latest in a series following a University visit to China in May and a visit by XUFE to us in October.

During their visit Marlene and Alison met with the President of XUFE Mr Hu Jian, the Vice President Mr Wang Guolian and the Deans of the various faculties within the Business School. These talks helped to reaffirm our links with XUFE and allow students the opportunity to study Accounting and Finance degrees at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels at Glamorgan Business School.

Marlene and Alison also met with a range of students who were all very keen to take advantage of the opportunity and study with us in 2010.

To see the Glamorgan Business School’s range of Accounting courses please visit our Accounting subject area.

To see the full range of courses available to you at Glamorgan Business School please visit either our Undergraduate Study page or Postgraduate Study page for specific details.

If you are an international student looking to apply onto any of our courses please visit our International webpages. These are full of important information to aid you in completing an application.

read more... “University of Glamorgan strengthens Chinese ties”

Christmas shopping gets a sparkle in Swansea

A fun event is taking place in Swansea city centre this weekend to boost seasonal spirits.

The Wave will be on hand outside the former Woolworth building on Lower Oxford Street between 10am and 2pm on Saturday, November 21, to help support independent traders in the area and promote the Love Your City campaign.

An outdoor broadcast will take place from a Christmas chalet to raise awareness of the Christmas Market on Oxford Street from November 27 to December 13. Stalls at the forthcoming market will include gifts such as Welsh fruit, wines and liqueurs, jewellery, personalised wooden art, scenic photography and attractive ornaments.

Children from the Mark Jermain Stage School will perform Christmas carols from noon to 2pm this Saturday. The opportunity to donate to the Ty Hafan Children's Hospice Appeal that's inviting people to place a star in celebration of someone special on the Light up a Life tree in Coffee Culture is also being made available.

A giant 20-foot air dancing Santa Claus and Snowman have been arranged to attract attention.

Swansea Council is behind the event.

Daniel Jones, Swansea City Centre Team Leader, said: "Excitement is starting to build as Christmas draws ever closer and this event is aimed at generating a festive atmosphere and attracting shoppers to a traditionally quieter part of the city centre.

"There are so many independent stores in the Lower Oxford Street, Plymouth Street and Nelson Street area that offer something that little bit different and this is vitally important because it helps Swansea city centre stand out from the crowd.

"I'd urge people to come and enjoy the entertainment and discover the shops in the vicinity at the same time."

Call 01792 476370 for more information.

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More businesses receive a LIFt

Three businesses in the Caerphilly county borough have been given a cash boost thanks to the support on offer through a new grant fund.

The Local Investment Fund (LIF) is a new scheme that has been made available to 15 local authorities across the West Wales and the Valleys or Convergence region, including 6 local authorities in South East Wales. They have been awarded EU Funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), delivered through the Welsh Assembly Government, to provide grant funding to assist businesses within their areas.

The three latest firms to benefit from the grant are Fabcraft Ltd in Llanbradach, Hobbs Valve Ltd in Caerphilly and Caer Health Services who are also based in Caerphilly.

Fabcraft Ltd is a fabrication and engineering business operating on Graddfa Industrial Estate in Lanbradach. Established in 1973, the firm currently employs 20 people and was awarded the grant to purchase a special tube bending machine which greatly improves the efficiency and accuracy of the process.

Hobbs Valve Limited is based in a unit on Trecenydd Business Park in Caerphilly. The company, which manufactures specialist valves, was established in 2005 and now employs 21 people. The grant helped purchase an exhibition stand and marketing materials to help raise the profile of the business.

Caer Health Services provides occupational health services to other businesses, government agencies and public authorities and employs 15 people. They were awarded a LIF grant towards the cost of re-branding the business, producing marketing brochures and up-grading their website.

Businesses or business start-ups that are investing in any of the following to expand or start their business may be eligible to apply for a Local Investment Fund Grant:

• Capital Equipment
• Marketing
• E Commerce
• ICT
• External & Internal Building works and alterations

The business must be a SME's (under 250 employees) in the manufacturing, service to manufacturing, business-to-business service sector (minimum75% business to business) or tourism.

For more information contact the council's Business Development Team on 01443 866222

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Deputy Minister congratulates Social Enterprise Awards winners

Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews has presented prizes to the three winners of the inaugural Social Enterprise Awards Wales which were held at the Wales Millennium Centre to mark Social Enterprise Day.

The Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth was victorious in the Best Social Enterprise (turnover of £1 million plus) while Cardiff based firms Pack-It Promotions, and Cycle Training Wales were named Best Social Enterprise (turnover of less than £1 million) and Best New Social Enterprise (operating for less than three years) respectively.

The Welsh winners will now represent the nation at the UK Social Enterprise Awards which will be held on December 3rd and decided by an online public vote.

The Deputy Minister said:

"I congratulate all three companies on their achievements today and those throughout the year that have led to their awards. They have beaten off very stiff competition, not least from the other finalists, and it is testament to the calibre of the Social Enterprise sector in Wales that we had such strong competition in all three categories. We have a long and successful history of social businesses in Wales and it gives me great pleasure to see that we also have a bright and promising future.

"Next year the Social Enterprise Sector’s main UK conference Voice 10 will be held in Cardiff for the first time and I am delighted that Wales will be able to showcase these and many other innovative and thriving Social Enterprises to the rest of the UK. It would give me even greater pleasure if we could showcase these organisations as winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards and so I would like to wish them the very best of luck for the final next month."

The UK competition will be decided by a public online vote which will be open from November 20th - 30th on the Social Enterprise Awards website. In addition to the three categories there will also be an award for Social Enterprise of the Year.

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AM backs efforts to provide land for steel-makers expansion

The go-ahead has been given for more talks to seal a deal to sell land to steel-makers Celsa for a future major expansion of its Cardiff operations, Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks has learnt.

Deputy First Minister for the Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn Jones has agreed that the Welsh Assembly Government officials can continue to negotiate to sell 51 acres land at Pengam Green to the Spanish-owned business.

Chris Franks, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central, who area includes Cardiff, said: “I’m pleased that negotiations will continue to conclude a deal with Celsa. They have become a hugely important employer in Cardiff since the collapse of ASW and it is vital that they are able to expand in the future, hopefully, creating a lot more manufacturing jobs for the people of Cardiff and South Wales.”

In September 2007 Ieuan Wyn Jones agreed that the Welsh Assembly Government should negotiate to sell land at Pengam Green in view of Celsa’s £150m investment and the creation of 800 jobs. Celsa want to protect the potential for future expansion of steel making operations from its existing constrained site. The Deputy First Minister has now agreed to a further period of negotiation to conclude an agreement.

The remaining landholdings of the Welsh Assembly Government in the area of around eight acres are required for a future strategic transport proposal led by Cardiff Council.

Appropriate clauses will be introduced in the disposal documents to ensure that the Welsh Assembly Government has a first option to buy the land back at market value in the event of Celsa going into liquidation, wishing to sell to a third party or declaring the land surplus to their requirements.

read more... “AM backs efforts to provide land for steel-makers expansion”

Flintshire's employer of the year named

The Flintshire Employer of the Year award, sponsored by Gardners, Chartered Accountants, as part of Flintshire Business Week, was won by b2 business systems.

b2 business systems provides technology solutions and professional services to nearly 2,000 business in the North West, with offices in Deeside Business Park and at Parc Menai, Bangor.

Melanie Langton Davies, Gardners, Chartered Accountants, Holywell, said: "The package present was really professional and more importantly addressed the criteria outlined for the award.

"They have work-life balance policies and these were clearly illustrated and they definitely had fresh ideas such as the cycle to work initiative and the provision of showers!

"Their Leadership pipeline and the use of a business coach were clearly explained and made them stand out form the rest."

Councillor Tony Sharps, Flintshire County Council’s executive member for Environment, presented Paul Rutt of b2 Business Systems with this prestigious award.

For more details on the 2009 Award winners and to become a sponsor of the 2010 Flintshire Business Awards, contact Kate Catherall, Business Development Officer on 01352 703221.

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Assembly at sea on rates say Pembrokeshire Tories

Businesses in Pembrokeshire are still in limbo about their rates hike because the Assembly Government has no relief plans in place.

The UK Government is planning to raise the business relief threshold in England on September 30 and in Northern Ireland the rates revaluation has been postponed.

But in Wales, the Assembly Government still has not decided what, if any, action to take.

The admission by Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons that there are no "definitive proposals" in place contradicts a letter sent by local MP Nick Ainger to Narberth Chamber of Trade.

In the letter, Mr Ainger revealed that Brian Gibbons had told him at a meeting on November 5 that business rates relief was to be raised to 20 per cent.

But in another letter to the Welsh Conservatives written the same day, Mr Gibbons revealed instead that the Government is only 'considering measures, including raising thresholds'.

The rates revaluation is due to come into force on April 1 and many local businesses are facing 30 per cent higher bills. In Narberth businesses have seen a rise of 200+ per cent.

“The Welsh Assembly Government needs to provide clear leadership on this matter, not muddy the waters by saying one thing to MPs and another to the Chamber,” said South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns, pictured.

Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly called on ministers to raise the threshold, delay revaluation until at least April 2011 and introduce a scheme to scrap or reduce rates for up to 90,000 businesses.

"I have been contacted by a number of different types of business concerned about their rates revaluations," said Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

"Elsewhere in the UK there has been decisive action taken and relief packages announced but in Wales we are still waiting for answers."

Mrs Burns added: "Businesses need to be able to plan their budgets. This revaluation has been on the cards for five years so it can hardly have come as a surprise and yet the Welsh Assembly Government is all at sea."

read more... “Assembly at sea on rates say Pembrokeshire Tories”

Suited and booted for Pumas' visit

Wales rugby stars, including captain Ryan Jones and centre of attention Jonathan Davies, took time out of their busy schedules today to attend a fashion photo-shoot at the Millennium Stadium for WRU official formalwear supplier Eden Park.

Eden Park unveiled their new Autumn Winter collection for 2009 to Jones, Davies, Martyn Williams, Jamie Roberts, Tom James and Alun Wyn Jones under flashing lights on the brand new national stadium pitch.

Former Welsh international John Bryant, who opened a new Cardiff Eden Park Store in April on the first floor at the Capitol Centre, was on hand to supply the clothes.

"All our team suits are supplied by Eden Park and it really is top quality gear. Some of the clothes on show today would go well in my wardrobe and I have picked out a rugby top which John has kindly let me have," said Scarlets centre Davies, who makes his first Millennium Stadium start this Saturday in the Invesco Perpetual Series clash with Argentina.

"The squad had a rest day today, so we were available to take an hour or so out to help out Eden Park. But we are straight back into training tomorrow to continue preparation for the Pumas."

Eden Park, the Paris-based, rugby inspired fashion brand, were photographing the players modeling the brand's latest collection of stylish men's suits, shirts, jackets, rugby shirts and V-neck jumpers.

for a PR and advertising campaign to run in Wales ahead of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations.

"The new range of gear is in our shop now. We opened in the Capitol Centre in April and things really have been going well for us," added Bryant, the former Pontypridd and Celtic Warriors centre, who was capped by Wales against Romania in 2003.

"The Wales players have all been really helpful and Jamie Roberts, who is the official Cardiff Eden Park ambassador, certainly wears the range well."

Eden Park was founded by French international rugby player Franck Mesnel in Paris in the 1980s and is now distributed to retailers world-wide.

read more... “Suited and booted for Pumas' visit”

Flintshire Young Entrepreneur Business Award winner

The winner of the Award, Sponsored by Evans Easyspace, at the Flintshire Business Week awards, was Michael Morris, Managing Director of Distinction Bespoke Tailoring Ltd, Penyffordd.

This award comes with one year rent free office accommodation in Deeside provided by Evans Easyspace.

Distinction Bespoke Tailoring was officially launched in February 2008 by Michael who is a highly experienced tailor who has been working in the trade for many years. His clients include Liverpool Football Club and David Dickinson.

Darren Nightingale - Manger, Evans Easyspace, said: “Michael Morris is a young dynamic forward thinking young entrepreneur that showed significant record of achievement and performance.”

For more details on the 2009 Award winners and to become a sponsor of the 2010 Flintshire Business Awards, contact Kate Catherall, Business Development Officer on 01352 703221

Photograph: L to R Councillor Sharps, Joanne Butterworth, Mike Morris, Darren Nightingale - Evans Easyspace, Tracy Backhouse - Evans Easyspace.

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Free parking for Christmas in Denbighshire

A number of Denbighshire towns will have free parking on certain days in the run up to Christmas, thanks to an arrangement between Denbighshire County Council and town councils.

The council has given town councils five free days parking a year, to be used at the discretion of town councils and some have decided to use some of their allocation in the run - up to Christmas.

Here are the dates:
Rhyl - Thursday, November 19, and between Monday, December 21 and Thursday, December 24.
Denbigh - Friday, November 27
Llangollen - Saturday, November 28
Prestatyn - Thursday, December 3
Ruthin - Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 12

Some towns across Denbighshire have already used their allocation to coincide with local community events.

read more... “Free parking for Christmas in Denbighshire”

Locals firms come out on top

Pembrokeshire is home to some of the fastest growing firms in the country.

According to the Wales Fast Growth 50 project, Unit Engineers and Constructors based in Pembroke Dock has been confirmed as the fastest growing manufacturing and engineering firm in the UK.

The project, which monitors business success in Wales, said the company grew by a staggering 977.8% from 2006 to 2008.

Set up in 2004, the oil industry engineering firm currently employs 167 people.

Meanwhile Saundersfoot-based Trueform Ltd, which relocated from London in 2002, is the fastest growing construction and building service firm in Wales and fourth in the UK with a growth rate of 409.5%.

And Princes Gate Cool Water based in Narberth is the 48th fastest growing company on the Wales Fast Growth 50 list.

Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development congratulated all three companies on their achievements.

"For Pembrokeshire to have three companies placed amongst the fastest growing 50 in Wales and two of these in the top five is an exceptional performance for a relatively small county," he said.

"It says a lot about the opportunities that exist for growth and the support that our companies can receive."

Councillor Mirehouse said that both Unit Engineers and Trueform - along with a number of other local companies - had won subcontract work on the Pembrokeshire LNG sites.

"This says a lot about the quality of their work and the skills of the local workforce," he said.

"Pembrokeshire companies now have the opportunity to become suppliers and sub-contractors to build the Pembroke Power Station. I have every confidence in their ability to work on such a world class project and wish them well.

"And even if contracts go to other companies I know there will be skilled Pembrokeshire people able and willing to ply their trade and demonstrate why Pembrokeshire is a good place to do business."

read more... “Locals firms come out on top”

Global Enterprise Week

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Economic Development Unit will be joining a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people during the month of November.

As part of Global Enterprise Week, millions of people will be unleashing their business potential between 16-20 November 2009 and turning their ideas into reality.

Enterprise Week has been running in the UK since 2004. Last year it became part of a wider global movement, Global Entrepreneurship Week, which took place in 77 countries.

Ray Pearce, Head of Economic Development, said: “We will be carrying out a range of activities in the county borough throughout the week. On Monday, we will be supporting the work of the Education Business Partnership and helping to carry out mock interviews with year 11 pupils.

“On Tuesday, we will be holding a ‘Finance for Business’ surgery at the Innovation Centre with funding specialists from Bridgend County Borough Council, Welsh Assembly Government FS4B, Finance Wales and the Supplier Development Programme.

On Wednesday, we will be hosting a ‘Presenting with Confidence’ workshop. This will be a very practical morning for individuals to develop their business presentation skills, and will be delivered by Team Coaching Network at the Waterton Centre in Bridgend.

“On Thursday, we will celebrate Global Social Enterprise Day by holding our first ever Social Enterprise Trade Fair. This day will profile a wide range of products and services that are produced and delivered by social enterprises.”

For more information call 01656 641359 or e-mail business@bridgend.gov.uk

read more... “Global Enterprise Week”

Newport Business Support Team Exhibiting at New Start Wales

Newport’s Business Services Team will be exhibiting at the New Start Wales business show at Cardiff International Arena on 13th and 14th November.

The team is joining forces with the University of Wales, Newport to provide information on the business support available in the city.

The Council and University will be on Stand G17 to handle enquiries and outline the support they can provide to existing businesses and those wishing to start up in Newport. There will also be help available for businesses wishing to relocate to the city.

The Business Services Team can provide start up support, financial assistance, business advice and help in finding premises. It has helped well over 1,000 businesses in the city in recent years.

For further information on the support available telephone 01633 232543; email inward.investment@newport.gov.uk

Further information on the New Start Wales Exhibition can be found at http://www.newstartwales.com/index.php

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Glamorgan goes global on Women’s Enterprise Day

Staff from the Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub (Centre for Enterprise) at the University of Glamorgan, will be promoting welsh women entrepreneurs on Women’s Enterprise Day, Wednesday 18th November. The celebration is part of Global Eneterprise Week which takes place from 16th to 22nd November

Marilia Angove, Christine Atkinson and Dr Gary Packham will introduce Carrie Shapiro-Rigg of Carrie Elspeth Ltd and Rebecca Exley of Rebecca Exley Groundwater Ltd to colleagues from Universities and Chambers of Commerce from Paris and Lithuania. There will also be exchanges between the two Welsh women entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs based in Paris and Lithuania. The aim is to create cross European networking and mentoring opportunities.

The visit to Paris is part of a wider collaboration between the partners: “Women’s Entrepreneurship in the European Union (WEEU)”, a high profile project lead by the University of Glamorgan, with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union. The project involves developing teaching materials and approaches relevant to meet the needs and interests of women entrepreneurs across Europe and beyond.

During the last 12 months, focus groups were held with women entrepreneurs in the three partner countries (Wales, Lithuania, France) on: Business Planning, Creativity and Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Sustainable Development and Reconciliation of professional, private and family life. A total of 212 aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs took part in discussing these themes. Their views were used as part of the research leading to the development of teaching approaches and materials for courses for women entrepreneurs. The results were piloted during Women’s Entrepreneurship Summer Schools, again in each of the three countries.

Some of the key themes that emerged from the discussion groups were:

• Many women entrepreneurs felt that business plans are only important if required by an external organisation in relation to a grant or loan application. They are viewed as irrelevant, boring to write and akin to form filling.
• Many women entrepreneurs ignore or deny their personal creativity but recognise that innovation is important in business as a means of keeping ahead of the game and is especially important now as a means of surviving the economic downturn and capitalising on the upturn. In Lithuania, innovation is viewed as critical to the development of the economy.
• In Wales, there is a growing recognition among social entrepreneurs that businesses with a social purpose need sound financial structures in order to ensure that they survive beyond the short term. The interpretation of social entrepreneurship varies across Europe.
• Concern for people and the planet are central values for many women entrepreneurs on a personal level. Some are beginning to make these values core to their business development and some are deriving business benefits from doing so (for example, reduced costs from energy saving and waste reduction; qualifying to be part of the supply chain of larger organisations by meeting their environmental standards).
• For many women, work life balance issues are the most critical factor in determining the type of business they can set up and the rate of growth they can envisage. Flexible work options are less well developed in France and much less developed in Lithuania.

There will be two return visits by the European partners to Cardiff late in November and early December. Aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs interested in networking and forming mentoring relationships, particularly with the possibility of links with women entrepreneurs in Paris and Lithuania will be able to attend two free half day workshops. For more information or to book a place contact weh@glam.ac.uk.

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Quay Pharmaceuticals sets up headquarters in Wales

Quay Pharmaceuticals is investing £2.7million in a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in North Wales where, with support from the Welsh Assembly Government, it will create 54 new high quality jobs.

Operations at the new site will include early stage research & development and clinical trials manufacturing for the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The news was announced this week by Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, who said a high percentage of the new jobs will be graduate and post graduate posts in research and development.

"I am delighted to welcome this investment in one of our key strategic industry sectors by a company that has established a global reputation and which is expanding to meet the on-going demand for its services.

"Quay Pharma is a welcome addition to the vibrant healthcare and bioscience sector we have in Wales which employs some 15,000 people and is worth around £1.3billion annually to the Welsh economy. I am pleased we have been able to provide support through the Single Investment Fund to facilitate the company’s expansion programme.

"Quay Pharma will be creating a range of high quality jobs over the next few years providing excellent employment opportunities for Welsh graduates."

The company has reached capacity at its split site on the Wirral and expanding and moving operations to Quay House, Parkway on the Deeside Industrial Park. At 3724 sq mt, the new facility is four times the size of their current premises. The move will safeguard 30 jobs.

Chief Executive Officer Mike Rubinstein said the range of support offered by the Assembly Government to small and medium sized businesses had made Wales an attractive proposition for Quay Pharma’s expansion.

"The support from the Assembly Government is great for a small company and of particular help in the current economic climate. Not only does it provide advice and access to knowledge but also provides businesses with a high level of promotional and marketing support at overseas events.

"We are operating in a growing market and now have the opportunity to take advantage of this. Our new premises will enable us to take on larger sale projects and manage contracts through to the final stage of clinical trials and we have every confidence our operation in Wales will have a long and secure future."

The company is currently fitting out laboratories and offices with the aim of opening in January. The manufacturing operation is due to relocate during the first quarter of next year.

Quay Pharma was established in 2001 by Prof. Rubinstein, a former Director of the School of Pharmacy and Chemistry at Liverpool John Moores University who has more than thirty years experience in the field.

read more... “Quay Pharmaceuticals sets up headquarters in Wales”

New jobs boost for Rhondda

A new £3.6m venture which will bring hundreds of job opportunities to the site of the former Burberry factory at Treorci in the Rhondda Valley is being announced by Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Renamed Parc Busnes Treorci, the site will be refurbished and transformed into a business centre with 15 quality industrial units for local enterprises, 90,000 square feet of floor space and around 10,000 square feet of offices.

Backed with almost £2 million from the Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government, the renovation project is being led by two South Wales businessmen, Michael Henderson and Robert Kearns, who have also made a significant investment.

The project has also received £118,550 funding from the Heads of the Valleys programme for site preparation works necessary to bring the redundant building back into full use and for the creation of a dedicated marketing suite on site.

Mr Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said:

"I am delighted to announce that the former Burberry site has been purchased and will be developed as a business park for local enterprises.

"The community was dealt an enormous blow when the factory closed and moved production overseas with the loss of over 300 jobs.

"Now, the site will provide new, sustainable employment opportunities, created through partnership working across the public and private sector to support local businesses and entrepreneurs which, in turn, will bring increased prosperity to the whole community."

The intention is to attract local businesses by offering quality units at competitive rates and at an appropriate size to match demand.

Mr Kearns of Parc Busnes Treorci, said:

"We are delighted that the Assembly Government has chosen to support this vision for breathing new life into the business community and jobs market of the Rhondda. This exciting new development is a perfect example of how the public and private sector in Wales can work hand in hand to re-vitalise sites abandoned by multinationals in favour of cheap labour overseas. We are confident that smaller units with shorter tenancy options and competitive rates will attract a range of local businesses to the site."

Work will get underway to develop the site in December this year.

Mr Henderson said:

"Together we can utilise these assets to the best advantage of the new Welsh economy. The new business park will be specifically designed with small local businesses in mind. Being Rhondda born and bred, I am particularly pleased to see this new project get off the ground and create much needed jobs in Rhondda Cynon Taf."

read more... “New jobs boost for Rhondda”