torfaen
Above: Celebrations in Blaenavon. Right: The Folly Tower. Oppostie page (l to r) Blaenavon, Torfaen Business Voice, Cwmbran town centre
in the social enterprise sector. It acts as a forum and plays an essential role in bringing together all key partners who provide services, generate wealth and contribute to a successful and sustainable social enterprise sector within Torfaen. For more information visit www.
torfaensent.org.uk In addition to these, Torfaen holds various
themed business breakfasts through the year free to any business within the borough.
How would the council like to see the future regeneration of the area pan out over the next few years?
Torfaen would look to achieve the establishment of sustainable and balanced communities throughout the whole area, by: • The development of an environment to create business confidence.
• Creating skilled people by providing quality training and improving links with universities and business.
• Provision of improved infrastructure through road and rail improvements. Torfaen has ambitions to open up the Mon and Brecon Canal from Cwmbran to Newport which would lead to greater regeneration opportunities and further development of Cwmbran centre.
• We will look to exploit the latest technologies to bring the area the benefits of being information and knowledge based society.
• The regeneration of the towns connecting local communities to essential services and leisure facilities.
• Quality cared for environment with healthier lifestyles and increased tourism creating employment and economic benefits.
Do you feel you have to attract a certain type of business to the area?
The council is committed to the implementation of the proposals in Torfaen’s Digital Valley Strategy to transform the area into one of the most digitally-connected sub-regions in the UK, offering unrivalled connectivity, putting it and neighbouring authorities in a league which is attractive to global businesses. We also recognise the significance of the
growing ‘green’ economy, which gives sizeable business opportunities to companies in such diverse industries as energy efficiency and renewable energy generation, in addition to embedding sustainable working practices in existing industries.
Would you like to see people living and working in the area rather than commuting out of the area to work?
Many of our people do live and work in the area but we do, however, have the advantage that Torfaen is one of the most accessible regions in south east Wales. It is served by excellent road, rail, air and sea networks, which can provide local people with additional employment opportunities which are easily accessible.
Do you use social media to spread your message and how effective do you think it is?
Society is changing in the way it communicates and does business. Torfaen proactively uses social media to engage with business and the public at large. We currently use digital communication
to market our services, from our business website
www.torfaenbusiness.co.uk to Torfaen Business Voice’s Twitter and Linkedin groups. Following a greater involvement of social
media we’ve seen a dramatic increase in Twitter followers, which has increased our communication with the local business community leading to a growth in membership of Torfaen Business Voice. The council corporately manages two social network pages
www.twitter.com/torfaencouncil and
www.facebook.com/torfaen. These pages, which have around 5,000 followers, are often used to promote local business success, business support and local networking events. Torfaen are focusing more and more on social media because of the benefits. A message on the council’s Twitter page alone recently reached 20,000 people in under two hours.
THEbusiness QUARTER 35
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