Simon Thomas, of Asset International


news


Record month for manufacturer


N


ewport-based water management solutions provider, Asset International Ltd, has announced record sales of


its Weholite products for the month of July, despite claims that manufacturing output in the UK has declined. Asset, which is part of the UK-based


infrastructure, building and construction products group, Hill & Smith Holdings, achieved £1.38m in sales during July, the highest for the company despite figures from the office of national statistics saying


manufacturing output fell by 0.4 per cent. The company has also taken on 10 new


members of staff over the last year in order to meet higher levels of demand, taking the total staff figure to 56. Now in its 15th year of trading, and with


a forecasted turnover for 2011 of more than £13.2m, Asset credits large-scale projects within the UK water industry and a re-surge in the new build housing market for the increased demand of its patented high- density polyethelyne pipe systems known as


Weholite. Simon Thomas, managing director of


Asset, said: “July certainly proved to be an excellent month for Asset and we’re confident that it signals a true return to form for the UK manufacturing industry. We are predicting an increase in sales of around 30 per cent for the current year which is a real achievement in current market conditions. “We are currently witnessing a raft of


enquiries from outside the UK, particularly from Scandanavia.”


Jobless initiative to expand with success


An initiative to help long-term benefit claimants back into work is to expand into new areas in Wales after helping more than 60 people find their feet after months of unemployment. The Enterprise Clubs, run by the Newport-based


Centre for Business, were launched in conjunction with Job Centre Plus, to provide the jobless community with help to get into self-employment. Since its set-up in Merthyr Tydfil, the format has


spread to venues in Newport, Torfaen, Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale. Centre for Business is now looking for suitable venues to set up the events in Caldicot and Chepstow. A total of 122,000 people in Wales


are unemployed, giving Wales the highest unemployment rate of all the UK regions at 8.2 per cent, when compared to the rates in England (7.9 per cent), Scotland (7.7 per cent) and Northern Ireland (7.3 per cent). The clubs were developed in response to a


central government idea to launch clubs that would help unemployed people to see self-employment as a viable route off benefits and into financial independence. The clubs would provide people who had claimed job seeker’s allowance for more than six months and had an interest in self-employment with a place to meet and exchange skills, make contacts, share experiences, receive support and encourage


each other to work through their business ideas. In addition to this, the Centre for Business is also


able to offer members subsidised training and one- to-one mentoring as part of its Welsh Government funding as well as advice and support about self employment. One of the first people to benefit from the


events was Charlie Cryer, from Abergavenny, who had previously been made redundant. He was given help to produce a business, sales and marketing plan and was able to start his own business and register it as a limited company within four weeks of his first meeting. The company, CC Property Solutions, provides general property maintenance.


Elaine snaps up a new career


A former admin assistant with the Department of Work and Pensions has branched out on a new career path after taking redundancy after 20 years service. Elaine Fletcher, pictured left, has


decided to become a professional photographer and has set up Little Romans Studio, which is based at the Ffwrrwm in Caerleon. Elain said of her decision: “In


these turbulant times, I hope to prove that somebody can make the transition from the public to private sector and make it a success.


“I have always been interested


in photography and the severence package that I had allowed me to take the time to train professionally. “I specialise in family/child


portraits and also do passport photographs with a personal touch including passport photos for children and babies, which are very difficult to arrange in a photo booth.


“I also offer people to have


a portrait done dressed in full Roman Centurion uniform and


body armour due to historical significance of Caerleon. I have bought two complete outfits which my husband Mike has been modelling for me. The neighbours did a double take when they saw a Roman Soldier in our garden in New Inn! “My costumes are also available


to hire for the ultimate fancy dress costume. “I have been amazed at what


help there is for people in my situation and the advisors at Careers Wales have been great.”


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