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businessupdate News…


Talking shares


Investing in management and leadership skills has apositive impact on business performance, according to asuccessful retail business which has its headquarters in Newport. Arecent report published by Leadership


&Management Wales reveals that organisations are finding the training and development of their people is giving them a competitive edge. It has the potential to transform the


strategy and structure of businesses in Wales, says the report. Most reported they are continuing to


invest in leadership and management despite the economic downturn. One of the organisations with first-hand


experience of the benefits is JoJo Maman Bébé, the maternity and baby clothing company which has its head office in Newport.


Operations Director Karen Fry said that management development had offered many benefits to the business. “The growth and development of our


staff is very important to us.Wenotice the difference when people have been on management training programmes, particularly in their confidence and their understanding of our business,” she said. She said that the training had helped to


improve staff retention levels, absence levels and team engagement. “It has definitely had an impact on our


Tuesday May 1, 2012 Investing in training givesbusinessanedge


financial performance. It has resulted in changes at astrategic level, for instance in our operational practices. “Management development is


immensely important tomeand it drives our business. Training is also in the very fabric of our company ethos. Ithink that without it the business wouldn’t be where it is today. What Ilove about putting people through development programmes is that they start to challenge the senior management, which Ithink is really important because we do not always have the right answers.” Without access to government funding,


many organisations questioned byLMW would not have embarked on development programmes in the first place.


By Daniel O’Connell, stockbroker and managing director, Redmayne-Bentley Stockbrokers, Newport


Last week was atypically volatile one for the FTSE 100 group of companies. Following asell- off on Monday, afour-day rise for blue-chip stocks saw the index finish slightly above levels seen last week with financials leading the way higher on Friday. Investors seemed to shrug off worse-than-


expected economic growth in the US, a downgrade for Spain and some gloomy confidence data here in the UK with the benchmark finishing firmly in the blue. The rate of US real gross domestic product


(GDP) growth was worse than expected in the first quarter of 2012. The US economy expanded at an annual rate


of 2.2 per cent in the first three months of the year compared with the fourth quarter of 2011, when GDP grew by three per cent, according to a preliminary estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The figure falls short of the 2.5 per cent expected by the market consensus. Meanwhile, Standard and Poor’s


downgraded Spain’s credit rating from Ato BBB+, saying that it now feels that the country’s budget trajectory will likely deteriorate against a background of economic contraction and considers that its government will probably need to provide further support to the banking sector. Despite this there were some good performances for blue chip shares. Shares in hedge fund manager Man Group surged by 14 per cent on Friday after Societe Generale upgraded its rating on the stock from hold to buy. Building group CRH and real estate investment trust British Land were also being helped higher by aratings upgrade, this time from JP Morgan Cazenove which lifted its recommendation on both stocks to overweight. Publishing giant Pearson joined the queue of


companies who advanced after an in-line first quarter statement. The company said it continues to expect growth in sales and operating profits this year. All in all it was agood week after avery poor


start, but investors who have one eye on lingering EuroZone worries will be watching intently over the next few weeks as we edge towards the summer, which has not always been kind to the markets in recent years. Please remember the value of shares can go


down. www.redmayne.co.uk/newport


Rubytowaxlyrical at networkingevent T


he M4 Business Network has revealed the speaker line-upfor the rest of 2012, with the second event of the year taking place on


Monday June 11, when Ruby Wax will be the guest. American comedienne and chat


show host, Ruby Wax will be followed by atalk from political journalist and radio broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer on September 18. The 2012 calendar of eventswill be


concluded by the currentdirector of BBC Wales,RhodriTalfanDavieson November 6. Chair of the M4 Business Network,


Steve Sulleysaid: “We are delighted to announce our line-up of speakers for the year. We are sure our members and guestswill be pleased with the calibreofhosts we have securedand look forward to the upcoming events. “The speakers are drawn from a


diverserange of careersand industries and will all have avery interestingstory to tell.


“The networkhas been runningfor


almost20years and has continued to grow in popularity. It provides memberswith an opportunity to network in an informal setting, share best practice and hopefully gain all- important business leads.” Sponsors of the network include


UHY Peacheys and the South Wales Argus. The next M4 Business Network


event,with Ruby Wax as guest speaker, is being held at the Celtic Manor ResortonMondayJune 11 at 7.30am For more informationabout the M4


Business Network or to join call 01633 213318orvisit www.m4businessnetwork.org.


Ruby Wax Follow us on Twitter: @SWABusiness


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