Transforming the Economy Across the South Wales Region
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As part of a new series focused on the ambitions and opportunities of the Celtic Freeport bid in South Wales, Business News Wales spoke with Chairman of the Port of Milford Haven, Chris Martin, about the impact the freeport will have, in transforming the economy in South Wales and helping to sustain communities in the region.
About the Celtic Freeport Bid
Celtic Freeport is an exciting project that will unlock the widest possible opportunities for Wales by accelerating innovation and encouraging significant investment, while fast-tracking modern skills for new green industries and national decarbonisation.
With development sites throughout Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire, the Celtic Freeport will:
Support 16,000 new green jobs
Generate £5.5bn of new investment
Accelerate the roll-out of floating offshore wind and the hydrogen economy
Background
In September 2022, the Welsh and UK governments invited proposals for a freeport in Wales.
The closing date for bids was 24 November 2022, with the winning bid expected to be announced in early February.
The Celtic Freeport bid was lodged on behalf of a public-private consortium whose partners include Associated British Ports (ABP), Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Port of Milford Haven.
Total company insolvencies registered in 2022 leapt by 57% to 22,109 from the previous year, new data from the Insolvency Service revealed.
Experts said the rise was partly driven by the end of coronavirus support measures by the Government to support firms during the pandemic as well as weaker consumer demand.
The increase was also partially linked to the higher number of companies operating in total during the year.
The Insolvency Service reported the rise was driven by the highest number of Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations since records began in 1960.
Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations are a process which allow directors to voluntarily fold their insolvent firms.
Administrations also increased against 2021 but were lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The final quarter of 2022 showed that insolvencies continued to accelerate during the year, as they increased by 7% to 5,995 compared with the previous three-month period.
Christina Fitzgerald, president of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 and partner at Edwin Coe LLP, said: “2022 was the year the insolvency dam burst.
“After nearly three years of trading through a pandemic, and in the face of the end of Government support, rising costs and a cost-of-living crisis, many directors simply ran out of road this year and chose to close their businesses before the choice was taken away from them.
“Alongside this, the end of the Government’s temporary legislation on winding-up orders has left creditors free to pursue unpaid debts, which is why compulsory liquidation numbers are at their highest in three years.”
David Kelly, head of insolvency in PwC’s restructuring and forensics practice, said: “Annually the construction, retail, accommodation and food services sectors were the hardest hit industries, a telling sign of the impact of rising costs and shift in consumer habits and the continued challenges certain sectors are facing getting and retaining staff.
“We are seeing many companies putting themselves in the shop window for a possible merger or acquisition, which is a sensible move in this environment helping redistribute capital.
“However, during the current challenging market conditions where values and appetite are uncertain, all options need to be considered including contingency planning for restructuring.”
The proposed HS2 high speed line from London to the Northern England was under discussion exactly ten years ago this week.
However, building HS2 between Birmingham and Crewe/Manchester is not yet beyond the strategic evaluation stage and so not guaranteed. If it were, parts of North Wales around Wrexham would benefit through driving to Crewe. North Wales will only benefit more generally if the North Wales Mainline is electrified to Holyhead. This will enable high speed trains to continue their journey on the existing track with higher line speeds.
This principle has worked well in France where TGV trains travel on new lines to, for example, Marseilles and on ‘classique’ track onwards to the Cote d’Azur. However that is the beneficial limit of HS 2 for Wales
South Wales receives an economic set back. Cardiff, Newport, Bristol and their hinterlands have benefitted from the creation of major company back-office functions employing highly qualified and relatively well-paid staff. This has brought an input of wealth into those areas. The attractions are the lower office space rental costs compared with London and south-east England and, for many employees, a better quality of life.
The current journey time between Cardiff and London is one hour and 50 minutes compared with Leeds (2h 20m) or Manchester (2h 08m). This attractive journey time competitiveness will be lost when HS2 delivers a journey time to Leeds and Manchester of only 1h 20m. Of course the underlying rationale for HS2 is to relieve congestion on the London – Birmingham route where the new journey time will be 49 minutes.
There are sound economic reasons for HS2 providing a levelling-off function for parts of northern England. However this scheme has been designated an ‘England and Wales’ scheme rather than an ‘England only’ scheme. This implies that Wales receives the same economic benefit from HS2 as does England but that rationale has no basis. The consequence is however financially disadvantageous for Wales’ government expenditure.
For all UK Government expenditure there exists in the financial relationship between the UK and Welsh governments the ‘Barnet consequential funding formulae’. Under this, 5% of England’s domestic expenditure transfers into the Welsh block grant from Westminster to the Welsh Government. The expenditure so far planned for HS2 is £50bn giving Wales £2.5bn – and contribute to electrifying the North Wales Mainline to Holyhead and the South Wales Main Line to Swansea and Carmarthen.
These are all aspirations of Welsh Government in both the Network Rail 2024 – 29 network infrastructure expenditure period (referred to as control period 7) and in the longer term.
Of course Welsh Government could spend that funding on any aspect of expenditure but this column would prefer it spent on public transport.
Building HS2 then begs the question – why not an HS3 westwards to South Wales and the west of England?
In terms of population and distance from London, the Cardiff and Bristol urban agglomeration together with the South Wales industrial belt meet the criteria set down as a prerequisite for high-speed rail construction (Commission for Integrated Transport 2006).
The case was made for HS3 in 2010 with several studies (involving this columnist and others) through reduced journey times. Speeds then of 250 kph/156mph have risen in Europe to 300 kph/186mph would provide for a 50 minute journey between Cardiff and London. Even faster speeds being developed in China to reach 400 kph/248 mph and where currently the 1300 km/800 miles between Beijing and Shanghai takes 4h 30m.
This reduced journey time accessibility is an essential pre-condition for economic development. It will also provide a competitive mode to the M4 corridor which, though a critical transport artery for south Wales, is congested. Evidence from France’s TGV programme suggests that a significant number of the 100,000 car users could be enticed from their cars on the M4 onto HS 3.
HS3 would bring to South Wales regeneration, new employment opportunities, reduced journey times, increased track capacity and environmentally sustainable travel. It would also put south Wales on the inward investment map, particularly with further electrification to west Wales.
However all such schemes, large and small, have to be not just planned, but also constructed, if we are to achieve the net-zero emissions targets all governments claim they want.
Professor Stuart Cole, CBE, is Emeritus Professor of Transport (Economics and Policy), University of South Wales
YOUNG people could get business funding to help keep them in Welsh language strongholds like Carmarthenshire or to encourage those who have left the area to return.
The Welsh Government has allocated £11 million to boost the economy in leading Welsh language counties, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.
The scheme – Arfor, now in its second round of funding – is a bigger package than first time up.
Speaking at a Carmarthenshire Council cabinet meeting, Cllr Gareth John, cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, said the first £2 million round of Arfor funding was shared between the four same counties, with Carmarthenshire allocated £500,000.
Cllr John said this money was invested in 40 food and creative industry enterprises, creating 40 jobs and safeguarding a further 170 jobs.
Among those to benefit was honey business Gwenyn Gruffydd Ltd, which was set up by Gruffydd Rees and his wife Angharad.
It started as a hobby in 2010 with two hives at the back of Mr Rees’s parents’ back garden in Crwbin, near Pontyberem, and these days comprises 250 hives around the county.
The Welsh-speaking couple, who now live in Dryslwyn, have a part-time employee and run bee-keeping courses and sell bees as well as honey.
Mr Rees said the Arfor support helped them buy machinery to extract beeswax and bottle honey to meet demand.
The 35-year-old said bees clustered in their hives at this time of year to keep warm, feeding off honey they’d produced months previously. “This week and next week we’ll check their food levels,” he said.
Mr Rees said an average-sized hive would produce anything from 20kg to 80kg of honey a year, with bees more productive in warm, dry summers.
“Last summer we had our best crop ever,” he said. “It can get too hot and dry for bees, but I’ve never seen that in Wales.”
The new round of Arfor funding aims to develop careers and business opportunities for young people aged under 35 and families to stay or return to their place of origin. The idea is to foster enterprising Welsh-speaking communities, and strengthen them by supporting the use of the language and encouraging a sense of place and loyalty.
Council leader Darren Price said it was an important project.
“Understanding the relationship between the economy and the language is going to be central to us in the next few years, especially thinking about the context we are in at the moment with the results of the recent census, which were disappointing,” he said.
The percentage of Welsh speakers in Carmarthenshire fell from 43.9% to 39.9% between 2011 and 2021, according to the 2021 census – the largest decline of any council area in Wales. Put another way, there were just over 5,200 fewer Welsh-speaking Carmarthenshire residents in 2021 than a decade previously.
The council wants to make the language the county’s main one, and is firmly behind the Welsh Government’s ambition to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Cllr Price said the authority needed to do as much it could to show Welsh speakers there was a future for them in the county, and to encourage young people to create work locally.
The £11 million will be spent by the four counties up to the end of March, 2025, on a youth programme supporting entrepreneurial skills, grants for businesses, start-ups and social enterprises, and funding for organisations which develop and pilot Arfor-focused activities. A key element will be monitoring the results and the impact of the programme.
Cllr Glynog Davies, whose cabinet brief includes the Welsh language, said: “It’s important that we do something positive to promote the Welsh language in these areas and that we look at the identity and the strength of the areas and try to give them a boost forward.”
MELBOURNE, Jan 31 (Reuters) – New South Wales is set to finalise an order by mid-February that will require all mining firms in Australia’s biggest coal exporting state to reserve as much as 10% of their output for domestic supply.
A Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the government would issue final directions after talks with miners.
“The draft revised directions allow suppliers the option to provide coal from their own production or to strike an agreement from another supplier to meet their obligations under the directions,” the spokesperson said.
The updated plan, disclosed last week, is designed to keep a lid on coal prices and drive down household power bills. The state last week had planned to issue the expanded order by the end of January, but has faced resistance from miners.
The department did not say how many tonnes of coal will be required.
Whitehaven Coal (WHC.AX) Chief Executive Paul Flynn has said the government appeared to be looking to secure around 3 million to 5 million tonnes, but the company was pressing the state to explain how that shortfall estimate had been determined.
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Directions issued in December required a dozen coal mines that supply power plants in New South Wales to fill a shortfall in supply at a capped price of A$125 a tonne – well below the export price currently at about $265 a tonne – under a deal with the federal government.
The mines are mainly owned by Glencore Plc (GLEN.L), Peabody Energy (BTU.N), New Hope Corp (NHC.AX) and Thailand’s Banpu PCL (BANPU.BK).
The state now wants to spread the requirement to all the state’s coal producers, including those that export all of their output, including BHP Group (BHP.AX), Whitehaven Coal (WHC.AX) and Yancoal Australia (YAL.AX).
BHP has said the new policy could affect its plan to keep its Mt Arthur coal mine, the state’s largest single coal mine, open until 2030.
Reporting by Sonali Paul; Additional reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Edwina Gibbs
Welsh business activity has risen at its quickest rate since June according to the NatWest Wales Business Activity Index.
The index is seasonally adjusted and measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors.
It registered 52.0 in December, up from 49.8 in November.
This data signalled a modest uptick in business activity across the Welsh private sector at the end of the year. The rise in output was the fastest since June, with companies linking the expansion to greater client demand and a renewed increase in new business.
Welsh firms were the best performing of the 12 monitored UK areas and bucked the wider UK trend, which indicated a marginal contraction in output.
Welsh private sector firms recorded a return to growth in new business at the end of 2022, thereby ending a four-month sequence of contraction. Welsh businesses bucked the UK trend, with the average across the UK as a whole signalling a modest decline in new orders. Firms often stated that increased new business was due to stronger client demand.
The rise in new orders was only marginal, however.
Output expectations for the year ahead at Welsh private sector firms strengthened for the second month running in December.
Confidence reportedly stemmed from hopes of a pick up in client demand and investment in new products. The level of optimism was lower than the series and UK averages, however. Firms noted that efforts to keep costs down amid inflation concerns harmed expectations.
December data signalled broadly unchanged levels of employment across the Welsh private sector, as the respective seasonally adjusted index posted fractionally above the 50.0 no change mark. A fall in manufacturing staffing numbers was offset by job creation in the service sector. The UK average indicated a marginal contraction in workforce numbers.
Welsh private sector firms registered a slower fall in the level of outstanding business at the end of the year. The rate of decline was only marginal and the softest since May. The decrease in backlogs of work was largely linked to greater stability in supply chains which allowed firms to process incoming new business. That said, increased new order inflows led to the slower contraction.
The fall in incomplete business was slower than the UK average.
December data signalled another historically elevated rate of cost inflation at Welsh private sector firms. Increased cost burdens were linked to higher energy and material prices. Nonetheless, the pace of inflation eased for the third month running to the slowest since April 2021. Service sector firms recorded sharper price rises than their manufacturing counterparts.
Welsh private sector firms indicated a slightly slower uptick in costs compared to the UK average.
Welsh private sector firms signalled a marked rise in output charges at the end of 2022. Higher selling prices were often due to the pass-through of greater costs to clients, according to panellists. Although sharper than the long-run series average, the rate of charge inflation was the slowest since August 2021.That said, Welsh companies recorded the second-fastest rise in output prices of the 12 monitored UK areas, slower than the West Midlands only.
Kevin Morgan, NatWest Wales Regional Board, said: “Welsh firms ended the year on a promising note, as business activity and new orders returned to expansion territory in December.
“Modest upturns followed stronger demand conditions, with Wales the strongest performing monitored area of the UK.
“Nonetheless, cost pressures continued to impact business decisions, as employment was broadly unchanged amid cost cutting initiatives and reductions in temporary labour.
“Cost burdens and output charges continued to rise at historically elevated rates, as energy price hikes were passed through to customers. Inflationary pressures eased, however, amid reports of reductions in some key input prices.”
Chepstow-based medical device business IQ Endoscopes has secured a £5.2 million investment in a round led by BGF – one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland – alongside existing investor the Development Bank of Wales and a consortium of investors.
The funding will help to support the development and roll-out of IQ Endoscope’s ground-breaking medical device which has the potential to revolutionise the early diagnosis of a range of cancers and other gastro-intestinal conditions.
IQ Endoscopes has created a single-use endoscopy device which is not only cost effective and scalable but also sustainable.
The company was recently supported with grant from Cardiff and Vale Health Board, and received backing from the Cardiff Capital Region Challenge Fund to create a new recycling strategy for the product
Dr Patrick Ward-Booth has more than 40 years of clinical experience in the endoscopy field, while CTO Andrew Miller has a background in automotive engineering which has been applied to the design and manufacturing of the company’s products.
The business was launched in 2017 and has raised £5.9 million to date, with seed funding and subsequent investment raised from investors including the Development Bank of Wales.
Of the 70 million endoscopy procedures currently completed each year, 98 per cent are performed with reusable devices which require decontamination and reprocessing after each use, which is both costly and reduces patient capacity, as well as posing the risk of cross contamination.
IQ Endoscopes aims to add much needed capacity and flexibility to help the healthcare system meet patient demand.
Matt Ginn, CEO at IQ Endoscopes, said: “Regulatory bodies such as the FDA are increasingly encouraging single use endoscopes as a means of improving patient safety and ensuring the early detection of GI diseases.
“Single use endoscopes not only eliminate all threat of cross contamination between procedures, but also increase throughput of patients and allow greater access to treatment on a global scale.
“This latest financial backing will allow us to bring our disruptive technology to market, making it available to patients undergoing vital treatments and procedures as soon as possible. Furthermore, we can continue our organisational expansion in South Wales and ensure we scale the organisation in line with commercialisation plans.”
Tim Rea, investor at BGF, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to back an early-stage medical device business with a truly innovative technology that has the potential to make a significant positive impact on a strained area of the healthcare system.
“The team at IQ Endoscopes are extremely committed to improving outcomes for patients and healthcare providers the world over. This investment will enable IQ Endoscopes to complete its remaining developmental milestones against a clear roadmap towards its next stage of growth.”
Dr Richard Thompson, senior investment executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said: “Matt Ginn and the team at IQ Endoscopes have made impressive progress. As a PhD materials scientist, I’ve been particularly impressed at the quality of the products the team has developed.
“As an initial investor into IQ Endoscopes, we’re delighted to see the progress they’ve made, and to have made a second med-tech equity co-investment with the ventures team at BGF, increasing our stake in this exciting company.”
Companies from all over Wales have made a host of top hires and promotions in the last month. In our latest jobs round-up, we take a look at some of those who have taken on new roles.
If you have a new or recent appointment or promotion that you would like featured in our next round up, please e-mail lauren.phillips@reachplc.com.
The Welsh Government has appointed internationally recognised research chemist, Professor Jas Pal Badyal, as its new chief scientific adviser.
In his new role, which he takes up in February replacing Professor Peter Halligan following his recent retirement, Professor Badyal will provide science advice to the First Minister and Welsh ministers.
He will also be responsible for developing the Welsh Government’s science capability and supporting the growth of a strong and dynamic science and research base in Wales.
Prof Jas Pal Badyal said: “I am excited to be given this opportunity to contribute towards building a high-skill, high-tech economy, helping to bring positive impact and well-being for the people of Wales.
“Wales has great potential to become a world leader for technological innovations targeting some of the biggest challenges facing humanity today—including climate change, environmental degradation, renewable energy, food security, healthcare, and rising social inequality.”
Principality Building Society
Ian Greenstreet has been appointed to the board of the Principality Building Society.
Principality Building Society has appointed experienced former chief risk officer, Ian Greenstreet, to its board as a non-executive director.
Mr Greenstreet has worked in senior roles at financial institutions including HSBC, Lloyds, and ABN AMRO. He is also the founder and chief executive of Infinity Capital Partners, a London-based corporate finance firm. He also joins the mutual’s audit and governance and nominations committees.
Sally Jones-Evans, chair of the Principality, said: “As a founding member of the advisory board of the London Stock Exchange, Ian brings with him a wealth of board experience and will strengthen our capabilities significantly. His knowledge will be a real asset as we transform our core business of mortgages and savings and continue our journey as a purpose driven and sustainable company. Ian is eager to be involved in developing our strategy to have impact beyond our scale, particularly our ambitions around having a positive social impact.”
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Bernie Davies is a TEDx Speaker and bestselling author
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has appointed Bernie Davies, Sue Phelps MBE, Nia Roberts and Dave Tosh OBE as four new independent members of the office’s Advisory Panel and the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
Ms Davies is a TEDx speaker, author, diversity and entrepreneurship leader with a previous legal career in property. She supports entrepreneurship programmes with a focus on diversity, for major banks, universities and government agencies. Ms Phelps was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to dementia in Wales. She has been an independent director on the Cricket Wales Board since 2018 and serves as chair of the EDI sub-committee and a member of the finance sub-committee.
Ms Roberts has worked as head of research and innovation engagement at the Welsh Government and is a European Patent Attorney, chartered physicist and a member of the Institute of Physics. While Mr Tosh was director of resources for the Senedd Commission until he retired in January 2022. He spent 10 years at the Senedd and prior to this he worked in local government, the aerospace industry and Royal Air Force.
Michelle Morris, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, said “I am delighted to make these appointments which will widen the experience, knowledge and diversity that our Advisory Panel and ARAC will bring to the work of PSOW. In particular these appointments will help improve how we deliver services across diverse communities and ensure our services are accessible for everyone. I am looking forward to working with our new and existing members over the years ahead and in delivering the strategic aims that will be set out in our new strategic plan.”
Zip World
Adrian Jones is the new chief executive of Zip World.
The former US president of Merlin Entertainments has become the chief executive of North Wales adventure company, Zip World.
Adrian Jones has over 30 years’ experience in the visitor attraction sector and played a key role in Merlin’s aggressive growth in the states from 2007 to 2019. He brings extensive experience in marketing, sales and strategic partnerships to Zip World, which has ambitious growth plans.
Mr Jones, who previously worked for Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas and Legoland in Florida, now relocates from the US to the Conwy Valley for his new role. He has also served as chairman of Visit Orlando, the largest destination marketing organisation in the US.
Mr Jones said: “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be joining the Zip World team at such a pivotal time in the company’s existence. Having the opportunity to work on an incredible portfolio of outstanding brands and alongside such a talented and dedicated team is a perfect foundation for growth as we look to expand our existing sites and develop future opportunities. This, coupled with a relocation move to such a beautiful part of the world, made this a once in a lifetime opportunity I simply could not pass up.”
Sean Taylor, Zip World’s founder and president, added: “The appointment of Adrian signifies Zip World’s intent and ambitions to continue on its growth journey. We’re very fortunate to have Adrian onboard – his exposure to big brands in this space will add a layer of expertise which will help shape Zip World’s future.”
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Cambrian Training Company
Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s new managing director, with group executive chairman Arwyn Watkins, OBE
Welsh apprenticeship provider Cambrian Training Company has appointed a new managing director.
Faith O’Brien succeeds Arwyn Watkins OBE, who becomes group executive chairman with a strategic focus on Cambrian Training Company, Trailhead Fine Foods, Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen and Mid Wales Fayres.
They will both continue as board members of the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the organisation that represents work-based learning providers.
Ms O’Brien said: “Arwyn and I have worked together for many years and, when I joined Cambrian Training Company, I never dreamed the company would have grown and diversified at such a rate. This is all thanks to our employees and delivery partners. In my new role I will be taking the lead on all aspects of work-based learning at Cambrian Training Company and reporting directly to Arwyn.
“Work based learning has some difficult times ahead with the cost of living and other factors directly impacting staff, employers and the local economy. My focus is to ensure we maintain and grow our quality, providing the same level and volume of support irrespective of the future challenges.
“Our staff and partners have enabled the company to be financially sound with a strong commission moving forward. My priority is to ensure we retain our commission value and improve our quality outcomes, whilst also considering new business opportunities.”
Ms Watkins said: “Due to the level of growth and diversification achieved by the company, we need a managing director who is focused totally on the delivery of quality work-based learning. It’s so important that we get that right and not be distracted by external factors. I will be responsible for the strategic direction of the group as a whole and ensuring that the strategic plan is delivered by my directors.”
Lovell
Suzie Hewitt, regional sales director at Lovell
Partnership developer Lovell has promoted its south Wales and the west of England sales manager, Suzie Hewitt, to regional sales director.
Ms Hewitt joined Lovell in January 2022 after spending over eight years in the construction industry. Prior to joining Lovell, she worked as an area sales manager for Barratt and David Wilson Homes.
As regional sales director, Ms Hewitt will lead the expanding sales team and oversee the new homes sales across the developer’s operational area which spans south Wales, Wiltshire and Somerset.
She said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Lovell in South Wales and West, and I am delighted to be part of its vision. I have always been incredibly inspired by the senior leadership team, their drive and their passion for the brand, and I’m very proud to be a part of that team.
James Duffett, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We are thrilled to have promoted Suzie to regional sales director. She had an incredibly successful 2022 as sales manager and was an excellent addition to the team, providing vital knowledge and expertise.
“I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Suzie achieves in her new role. Her input has already been invaluable, and I am confident that our sales targets and future goals will be achieved with her at the helm.”
Azets South Wales
Accounting firm Azets has made three senior promotions in south Wales. Ashley Bryan has been appointed as partner in the accounts and business advisory team, while Ellen Price and Susan Phillips have been promoted to associate directors in the audit department.
Jonathan Rees, partner at Azets South Wales, said: “It’s an exciting time for us as we continue to support our team to match business demand across a variety of departments. These promotions are incredibly well deserved and reflect the talent and expertise within the region. Alongside the above, 12 other promotions have been made from Associate level to Senior Manager – we’re committed to growing and developing our team and are looking forward to continuing this strategy in 2023.”
Persimmon Homes
Persimmon Homes has appointed Ryan Greaney as new head of land and planning at its West Wales region.
Mr Greaney, who joined the company in August 2018, has been promoted by the regional arm of the housebuilding giant, after previously serving as land and planning manager at the Penllergaer-based business.
Before joining Persimmon, he spent the best part of a decade with Brecon Beacons National Park Authority as a principal planning officer.
West Wales deputy managing director Stuart Phillips said: “This is a thoroughly deserved promotion for Ryan, and has been warmly welcomed by everyone in the west Wales business. Ryan has made a fantastic impact since joining Persimmon four years ago, and has helped us deliver significant improvements in our land and planning operations, which will only continue with him at the helm.
“He will oversee the procurement of land for new homes for local people across South West Wales, and work with key stakeholders to deliver sustainable plans, as we seek to deliver on our vision to be the nation’s leading housebuilder.”
Flotek
Phillip Emanuel, Malcolm Holland, Craig Jones of Flotek
Ambitious IT and communications service firm Flotek has appointed Philip Emanuel to director of telecom and Craig Jones to director of IT.
Mr Emanuel joined the firm last month following the acquisition of Cloud9ine Communications, while Mr Jones was the former technical director of DataKom. The pair become shareholders in the company and join Flotek’s board of directors.
The senior appointments come as the firm continues its robust buy and build growth strategy. Flotek was founded in spring last year by entrepreneur trio Jay Ball, Malcolm Holland and David Middleton.
In that time it has made five acquisitions, with a further two planned for Q1 2023, which has seen the firm expand rapidly across Wales and the south west of England.
Managing director Malcolm Holland said: “We are delighted to appoint Philip and Craig to the board, reflecting our strategic growth and enhancing our delivery of the service and expertise our customers deserve.
“Both Craig and Phill bring invaluable knowledge and experience, and I am confident they will play integral roles in driving Flotek forward as we help even more SMEs adopt innovative, next generation technologies and harness their scale-up potential.”
Academii
Adrian Coles, Academii’s new managing director
E-Learning provider Academii has appointed former NatWest relationship director Adrian Coles to managing director.
Founded in 2019, Academii is an e-learning resource focusing on skill-building within the underserved blue-collar workforce.
Mr Coles joined the firm following 17 years with NatWest where he supported SMEs and startups across south Wales and the south of England. He is experienced in building client relationships and customer advocacy and seeking to add tangible value to client businesses.
He will lead developing a competent, innovative and technically astute customer development team to support the skills agenda.
Mr Coles said: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Academii. I look forward to working with many businesses to drive greater business output and create a more prosperous society by closing the skills gap; creating an engaged, enabled and empowered workforce.”
Co-founder Steve Lanigan said: “Academii was formed to fundamentally change how we engage the blue-collar workforce and provide them with the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by using immersive technology to train and develop that talent. Adrian is trusted and well respected in the manufacturing sector in Wales, having built a reputation as a facilitator and supporter of so many Welsh companies during his time at NatWest. His appointment has come at the perfect time to help us support companies and the broader Welsh economy by engaging workforces and enabling them to thrive and succeed.”
Kilsby Williams
Managing partner Simon Tee, left, with tax associate Dafydd Ford and senior partner Stephen Williams(Image: Matthew Horwood)
Newport-based tax and accountancy firm Kilsby Williams has made a series of promotions within its tax and business services teams.
Dafydd Ford, who has been with the firm for over 15 years, has been promoted to tax associate, while fellow colleagues Sandy Gaywood and Diane Nettleton have been promoted to senior tax managers.
Other promotions for managerial roles were awarded to Kathryn Hof and Lucy Lloyd, while Ross Johnson has been promoted to Business Services Assistant.
Simon Tee, managing partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “Our staff are our most valuable asset and the relationship we have with our employees is of the utmost importance to us. As well as attracting the best talent from outside of the firm, we firmly believe in supporting the professional development of our employees and rewarding their progression in the company.
“We are therefore delighted to announce this series of promotions within the teams as we enter a new year.”
IT’S just not cold enough for Arctic adventurer Paul Fosh. The extreme athlete and Gwent property expert is worried that at just -10c it is far too warm where he is heading next month – the Canadian Arctic.
He said: “You see the warmer it is the trickier the terrain. It’s best when it’s -20 to -40c as the ground is frozen hard. Any warmer and there can be slush and icy pools of water which makes it a lot more difficult.”
The super fit 56 year old, who lives in Monmouth, is completing his intense training ahead of competing in the 430-mile Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra which is staged amid some of the most terrifying and unforgiving icy wastelands in the world.
The event, which has attracted a hardy 24 entrants from across the globe, is universally recognised as the hardest, most gruelling ultra race on the planet.
Paul, who runs Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, has been dragging tyres through the Monmouthshire countryside, alongside the River Wye and up and down the Brecon Beacons in stints of up to 14 hours over recent months in an effort to replicate the unrelenting physical and mental conditions he will face the Canadian Arctic
Thwarted in 2019 when he was forced to pull out of the 430-mile Montane Yukon Ultra due to injury, Paul also had to withdraw during the Lapland Ultra last year when he got covid. He was taking part after the Canadian Yukon event he’d entered was cancelled.
He said: “My head wasn’t in the right place in 2019 and I was pulled from the event by marshals last year when tests showed I had somehow caught covid. It was pretty tough to take. So, yes, I definitely have plenty of unfinished business out there in the Canadian wilderness.”
Paul, owner and founder of Paul Fosh Auctions and Lettings, believes he is in the best shape possible this time.
But if he achieves his aim this year it won’t be the first time he has completed an Arctic ultra.
In 2015 in the then Likeys Ultra in Canada he was one of just eight to finish, coming fourth out of the 24 who entered.
He flies out to Canada on January 31 to acclimatise, get his papers and kit checked before heading into the frozen Yukon wastes on Saturday, February 4.
He said: “If everything goes to plan I hope to be able to complete the 430 miles in 10 or 11 days. I have a maximum of 13 days in which to complete the course.
“I do the event to challenge myself. Barring getting any injuries, or accidents or getting covid, I feel as confident as I ever could be this time.
“I’m very much looking forward to the event but absolutely there is a high level of trepidation which I hope is a very healthy emotion as last time I went into it slightly complacently. This time I feel different and with my planning and making sure everything is just right I feel in a better place and believe I have given myself every chance of completing the challenge.”
Paul said: “These extreme Arctic ultra events tend to have a completion rate by athletes of around just 20 per cent compared to say another race people may have heard of, the Marathon des Sables, which has a completion rate of around 80 per cent.
“Conditions are so brutal in the Yukon that in 2018 just one of the 23 competitors, who began the full distance race, made it to the finish line.
“Frostbite is a constant peril hanging over every racer. One year an experienced ultra-runner from Italy lost part of both legs and an arm to the condition.
“People can underestimate the mental challenge of an Arctic Ultra event. Walking in the daylight is much easier psychologically because you’ve got such fantastic scenery to look at. But when you’re walking at night, you could be anywhere. You’ve just got your head torch beam to follow.
“Competitors often complain of hallucinations amid the relentless wilderness. I’ve ‘seen’ all manner of hallucinations and heard strange sounds. Between the checkpoints competitors are completely on their own.
“I love the challenge, both physical and mental but know that probably less than a quarter of those entering the race will complete it.
“I invest a lot of time, effort and money to get myself out there and I want to do myself proud. I don’t ever want to fail at anything I do.”
Paul, a man who has spent his life in property and who has raised thousands of pounds for the Wales homelessness charity Llamau over the years, is supporting the charity again this time.
He said: “Llamau is an incredible charity. I’m looking to raise at least £6,000 for Llamau from this event. If everyone who sees this story donates just £2 I will smash my goal.”
* The Montane Yukon Ultra follows the Yukon Quest Trail, the trail of the world’s toughest sled dog race. The 430-mile event start at 10.30am on February 4 at Shipyard’s Park in Whitehorse next to the Yukon River in Canada and finishes in Dawson City.
Each entrant must carry their own food, water, sleeping gear and emergency supplies on a sled – a ‘pulk’ – the entire distance and be prepared to encounter wild animals as they jog, walk or crawl night and day over some of the world’s wildest and coldest terrain.
Competitors have 13 days to complete the challenge. The route crosses frozen rivers, lakes, and forests, while markers are regularly covered with fresh snow.
The kit on the sled contains a sleeping system, consisting of a sleeping bag, light tent, stove, freeze-dried meals, first aid kit, emergency equipment and lots of layers of clothing.
A 34-year-old man has died following an incident at a recycling centre. Police confirmed officers were called to the recycling centre in Neath on Tuesday, January 24, where a man was declared dead.
Officers from South Wales Police were called to Fenestration Recycling Company Ltd in Neath Abbey on Tuesday morning. A 34-year-old man from Swansea was pronounced dead.
Detective Inspector Carl Price said: “Police and other emergency service colleagues were called to Fenestration Recycling Company Ltd in Neath Abbey on Tuesday morning, 24th January, following a report of an incident at the site.
“A 34-year-old man from Swansea was declared deceased at the scene. The Health and Safety Executive have been informed and an investigation has begun. Our thoughts remain with the man’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Fenestration Recycling Company Ltd is a “tip” for window companies to dispose of UPVC window frames and glass. The materials are then recycled at the site. The Health and Safety Executive has been contacted for comment.
