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businessupdate News…


Powerfirm’s unstinting support continues


Western Power Distribution has once again switched on its tremendous support for the physically demanding St David’s Foundation Three Peaks of Wales Challenge. The firm, which has abase at Ty Coch,


Cwmbran, and contact centre based at Lamby Way, Cardiff, is putting its energy behind backing the arduous endurance charity event for the fifth year in succession. The event which is being staged on


Saturday, June 30, will see teams of four, plus non climbing driver, scale three of Wales’ tallest peaks –Mount Snowdon, 1,085m(3,560ft), Cadair Idris, 893m (2,927 ft) and Pen-y-fan, 886m (2,907ft), all in a single day. WPD not only backs the arduous team


event but also enters. This year will see 62 members of staff from the company preparingamammoth 13 teams for the challenge including ateam from their Derby office, The Midlands Mountaineers. Paul Bishop, WPD’s corporate communications manager, said: “The excellent work of St David’s is widely regarded and we are delighted to continue our association with the organisation by supporting the Three Peaks Challenge again this year both in terms of sponsorship and also taking part. “It’s areally worthwhile event which not


only encourages people to enjoy the outdoors, is great for team building and great fun and all for such agreat cause.” Emma Saysell, chief executive of St


David’s Foundation, said: “The Three Peaks Challenge is arewarding test to which teams return year after year. “Some, especially those in business, use


the event as an innovative, cost-effective team building exercise while others simply enjoy the thrill and immense satisfaction to be gained in conquering three of Wales' most majestic peaks and raising valuable funds for charity along the way.” For more details on taking part contact


Kris Broome at St David’s Foundation on 01633 271364 or email


fundraising@stdavidsfoundation.co.uk.


Contact... Check out


Editorial


Jo Barnes Special features editor Tel: 01633 777240 e-mail: jo.barnes@gwent- wales.co.uk


Advertising Graham Harris


Senior FieldSales Executive Tel: 01633 777135 e-mail: graham.harris@gwent- wales.co.uk


businessingwent.co.uk for more on local business


Tuesday May 15, 2012


Joint venture setupto helpmanagewealth P


rofessional advisors Broomfield & Alexander, which has abase in Newport, has created ajoint venture wealthmanagement service in response to the


increasing numbersofaffluent people in Wales –where it’s expected there will be 85,000millionaires in Wales by 2020. Broomfield &Alexander Wealth


Management Ltd will offer individualsworth six-figuresand above in-house stock broking and discretionary and advisory investment management alongside the existing high-level tax adviceand planning. Managing director Ian Thomassaid the


new venture, with independentfinancial advisory firm AFH Financial Group plc, was a response to clientdemands for greater interactionbetween tax planning and wealth management from individualswhose wealth


was increasing. Higherproperty values, the first baby


boomerwills,higherprofessional salaries and even lottery winners are all combining to push the assetsofanincreasing numberofpeople above the million mark, with estimates that the numberofmillionaires in the UK will be approachingthe two million mark in the next six years. “The personal and business assetsof


many of our clients are risingtosignificant levels, often above the £1,000,000 mark,”said Mr Thomas. “Our aim through this exciting joint venture


is to be able to offer acomplete integrated service to our clients. “At the opposite end of the spectrum we


can apply lateral thinking to propositions –for example, loan backs from pension schemes can sometimes assistbusinesses with cash-


Appointments strengthen legal team


Acommercial law firm is expanding its Newport office by more than doubling the size of its team. SRB Legal has appointed Ceri


Ritchie and David Wright as associates and Rebecca Jones as atrainee solicitor.


Meanwhile, David Coles has moved


over from SRB Legal’s sister firm, hbj&w (Hornby Baker Jones&Wood) to head up the company and take it forward in providing afirst rate service for its expanding nationwide client base.


Mrs Ritchie joins from Martyn


Prowel Solicitors in Cardiff, and will be responsible for all aspects of commercial property and landlord and tenant matters. She said: “SRB Legal is adynamic


and forward thinking law practice, and I’m looking forward to working on a broad range of work across anumber of quality clients." David Wright joins SRB Legal from Bristol-based law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, where he worked for six years, focusing on financial services litigation helping clients obtain redress from IFAs and other financial institutions. Trainee solicitor Rebecca Jones is


the third new member of the team.Ms Jones, 23, from Marshfield, Newport, started her career as aparalegal at SRB Legal, while she was completing her Legal Practice Course at Cardiff


University. She was recruited on afull time basis after graduating, and impressing the firm with her ability and attitude. David Coles, apartner at sister


company hbj&w, has moved over to SRB Legal to head up the new team, which now consists of 10 dedicated staff members.Apartner since 1997 and qualified since 1986, David has been involved in many areas of law across the board and isaHigher Court Advocate.. David Coles said: “Iamabsolutely


thrilled that SRB Legal is expanding with such an experienced and enthusiastic team. By strengthening our resource, we hope to be able to consolidate the excellent service provided by its founder Stuart Brothers. “SRB Legal has already carved out


aname for itself by leading in the highly specialist area of interest rate swapping.Wewant to continue in this field, while providing astrong offer in employment, financial, corporate and commercial property law." SRB Legal was established in 2002


and grew to become one of the leading law firms in south Wales for claimant financial services litigation. It was acquired by hbj&w in September 2011 to bring astrong commercial offering to the Newport-based firm.


David Coles, Ceri Ritchie, Rebecca Jones and David Wright


Transport firm makesadeal


Newport Transport has agreed adeal with the UK’s leading coach travel provider National Express to its sell tickets through its Travel Centre at Newport Bus Station. The partnership will see


Newport Transport sell tickets to destinations throughout the whole of theUKand Europe as it becomes the sole agent for National Express in the city. Its Travel Centre already accommodates more than eight million passenger journeys ayear and the deal is likely to see this figure increase further.


Gareth Jones, operations


manager at Newport Transport, said: “We are delighted to have agreed this partnership with National Express to become its sales agent in Newport. As the main provider of public bus transport in the city it seems only natural that we join forces with National Express to offer this new travel facility to people in Newport and the wider area. “As abusiness we are


extremely focused on exploring new trading partnership opportunities for the company.”


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flow pressures. “There’s an increase in the wealthofour


clients and we saw an opportunitytocombine seamless in-house wealthmanagement and tax planning –something that is not covered well by other firms.” AFH chairman and chief executive Alan


Hudsonsaid the joint venture markedthe company’s first establishedfoothold withina strongWelsh market. “I see both Broomfield &Alexander and


AFH as two complementary and client- focussed businesses,seeking to deliver end- to-endsolutions for awide range of clients,” he said. “We are delighted they have chosenusas


apartner and we look forward to working with them to grow Broomfield &Alexander Wealth Management Ltd into aleading and recognised brand.”


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