monmouthshire
over the next few years? We would like to see major growth in high- added value industries such as creative, IT and renewable energy as well as a major upgrading of traditional industries such as tourism and food manufacturing, all leading to the creation of high-quality, well-paid jobs for local people. We would also like to enhance further the skill-base of the area and the transport and broadband communications infrastructure so that Monmouthshire comes to be recognised as a one of Wales’ and the UK’s business growth hotspots.
You use a lot of social media/web-based communication systems. Do you feel they reach the right audience and how do you go about ensuring that they do and that the right people are hearing your message? Growing numbers of decision-makers and influencers are using digital media to access important business information and build networks of contacts, so we are making sure that Monmouthshire is at the forefront of this trend and getting its message out there via these media which are becoming increasingly influential. There are numerous techniques for targeting messages at specific online audiences and we are making use of the most effective of these to ensure we are talking to the right people online.
Do you feel you have to attract certain kinds of business to the area due to its rural nature? Not at all. We have plenty of scope in the kind of businesses we can attract to the area. In fact the higher-value added businesses tend to be very flexible in where they can locate and typically employ smaller numbers of higher-skilled, higher-earning people. We’re very confident that Monmouthshire offers the numbers and quality of people, the right environment and the most modern communications to enable such businesses to thrive.
What benefits would you list for living in Monmouthshire? Essentially it is a very pleasant environment in which to live, there is high-quality employment available, we have excellent schools, attractive community life, top class indoor and outdoor recreational facilities of all sorts and easy road and rail access to big population centres in Cardiff, Newport, Bristol and further afield. Our towns are gorgeous, with some wonderful historic architecture, a range of
thriving independent retailers and excellent facilities, such as libraries, leisure centres and the like. We also have some of Britain’s most outstanding scenery - including the Wye Valley - have part of the Brecon Beacons National Park within our borders - as well as much of the Blaenavon World heritage site.
Would you like to see more people living and working in the county rather than commuting out of the area for work? Most certainly. There is a high proportion of well-qualified entrepreneurial people who live in Monmouthshire but work outside. We want to see more of them working or setting up businesses in Monmouthshire. The potential of these people to regenerate the area is immense so we aim to stimulate more opportunities for them to focus their working lives on Monmouthshire.
THEbusiness QUARTER 29
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