7


businessupdate News…


Sponsorshipboostfor ‘green’awardsscheme A


green awards scheme aimed at showcasing the environmental improvements taking place across the


Caerphilly county borough has received asponsorship boost. SEDA,amajor international


packaging company with abase near Blackwood, has agreed to be a key sponsor for this year’s‘Pride in Your Place’ awards. The awards help acknowledge


the endeavour, innovation and commitment of those who have helped make our area cleaner, greener, safer and abetter place to live, work and visit. SEDA managing director


Lorenzo Angelucci announced that the firm will provide £3,000 to sponsor the overall winner’saward, as well as four individual category winners: •Best Environmental Business •Sustainable Transport •Environmental Education •Best Community Project “We are delighted to be part of this exciting


SEDA managing director Lorenzo Angelucci


awards scheme which helps highlight the good work being done across the county borough. Here at SEDA we pride ourselves on being a green, sustainable business so we are keen to align ourselves with this worthwhile scheme,” said Lorenzo.


Rightchoicefor training


Admiral Group has been named as an approved training centre of the Institute of Leadership&Management. The insurance specialist will now be


able to provide nationally recognised management qualifications to staff through the Admiral Academy, its in- house training department. The company gained the status


after working with ILM to train anumber of its team managers last year. Gareth Roberts, Admiral’shead of


training, said: “Last year, 200 of our managers began ILM training with an


external provider and we realised that our Academy had the skills to become an ILM centre, so we began the accreditation process. “The Academy team have worked


hard to create meaningful courses that meet ILM requirements and we are very pleased to have received this accreditation.” The Admiral Academy ILM-


approved programme will include courses on effective teams, how to cope with conflict and first line management.


Bringing theMidastouch


Midas People Management, the training andHRoutsourcing division of Newport- based Smart Solutions, has recruited an experienced business development manager in anewly created role to boost the company’sexpansion plans. Steffan Edwards joins Midas having


previously worked for the Welsh Government’sFlexible Support for Business programme as well as a training provider where he worked with clients across arange of sectors including British Airways and Owens Haulage. He will assume responsibility for


driving Midas’ commercial strategy in both new and existing markets by concentrating on its range of training packages for businesses. Steffan said: “This is an exciting time


to be joining the company. Ireally believe in the Smart Solutions business model and feel there is huge potential to extend Midas’ offering both in Wales and


Steffan Edwards and chief executive, Nathan Bowles


over the border to Smart Solutions’ existing customers as well as new ones.” Nathan Bowles, chief executive of


Smart Solutions, said: “We are seeing increasing demand from businesses for training across arange of disciplines from leadership and management techniques and Six Sigma to business improvement techniques and this presents areal opportunity for Midas.”


Findout now how the Welsh Government can help you start or expand your business


call 03000 603000 visit business.wales.gov.uk/startup


Last year saw the first ever


‘Pride in Your Place’ awards organised by Caerphilly county borough council and the competition was agreat success. The awards scheme is open to all residents, schools, businesses and community groups with the Caerphilly county borough. Mark Williams,CCBChead of


Public Services said: “The inaugural Pride in Your Place initiative was extremely successful. It was agreat opportunity to reward those who are making our community abetter place to live. I’d like to say abig ‘thank you’ to SEDA for kindly sponsoring the competition this year so that we can continue to recognise the efforts of green-minded residents across the area and we now look forward to launching this year’s scheme.”


For more information about Pride in your


Place contact Rhodri Lloyd on 01495 235178. To discuss sponsorship opportunities contact Jan Bennett, Business Enterprise Support Manager on 01443 866240.


Tuesday March 20, 2012 In brief…


Job is permanent Acting general manager at Chepstow Racecourse Rebecca Joy (pictured) has had her position made permanent, less than two months after stepping up to the role. The former Celtic


Manor events director joined Chepstow in 2011 and is now among four women in top jobs among the Northern Racing group’snine racecourses.


Funding available The University of Wales, Newport is holding an information evening this week on it’spart time Foundation Degree in Business Practice. Employees in the private and third


sectors, who live and/or work in the Valleys, could be entitled to afully or partly-funded place on the course. Prospective students and their


employers can find out more at The Innovation Centre, Ebbw Vale on Thursday, March 22, 2012, 4.30pm – 6.30pm. The Foundation Degree is atwo-


year, part-time course. For details, contact the Centre for Lifelong Learning on 01495 722973.


Hypothermia. The inspiration for ahot new business.


When his friend suffered from hypothermia, the traditional foil blankets they carried didn’tdothe job. So Alex Lewis created ajacket that was four times moreeffective at warming you up. He needed support getting his venture up and running and recalls the Welsh Government werehappy to help:


“I had access to specialists and experts Iwouldn’tbeable to affordotherwise.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8