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businessupdate News…


Training cultureboost following partnership A


partnership between Coleg Gwent and one of the most well-known family-owned high street stores in theUKis proving that working together


can give staff athirst for learning. Coleg Gwent’s commercial training


department, Business Edge, and has been working with Wilkinson for more than two years to deliver bespoke training to staff members at the business’ distribution site in Magor. With more than 360 stores across the


UK, Wilkinson has astrong tradition of developing its staff. The high-street retailer, which sells


household essentials, from DIY products to pet goods, sought the expertise of Coleg Gwent when outlining plans to bring alearning centre to its Gwent site. The partnership between Wilkinson


and Coleg Gwent provides the opportunity for staff members to develop core skills aimed at strengthening the overall productivity of the organisation. Essential skills training is available to


staff, including English as asecond language, IT, mathematics and communication as well as Welsh language courses. The Essential Skills courses are


tailored to suit the needs of Wilkinson employees who can go on to further develop their careers by gainingNVQ qualifications in subjects that are relevant to the role, including management and leadership courses. Craig Milgate-Hewer, manager at


Wilkinson in Magor, said: “The partnership with Coleg Gwent has been excellent for our business and something we were keen to cultivate the relationship from the beginning.Wewant to get the best out of our employees and give them the chance to develop –alot of that begins with reducing the stigma around learning. “We have already seen increased


uptake for courses from our staff that are realising the benefits of the training offered through Business Edge. Staff that have completed the courses are more confident, more competent and we find


(L) Kay Willis, staff member and learner, with manager at Wilkinson in Magor Craig Milgate-Hewer (R


that it increases their enthusiasm for work. The courses bring people closer to the business and engages them with our long term visions and goals." Such has been the success of the


learning centre that the number of staff enrolling on the course has doubled in its second year of operation. In its first year, from June 2011 to June 2012, 57 staff members completed courses at the centre, compared to 145 that are signed up to courses between June 2012 and June 2013. Kevin Clare, business liaison officer at


Business Edge said: “The development of the training centre at the Wilkinson distribution centre in Magor has demonstrated areal commitment to its staff. Employees at Wilkinson are now seeing the benefits that learning can bring and we hope to enable them to develop and allowing the business to grow.”


IT firm celebrates itsdecade


ACaerphilly-based IT infrastructure specialist has celebrated its tenth anniversary with an annual turnover approaching £1m. Excellence IT started life in Cardiff a


decade ago before moving to its current premises on the Bedwas House Industrial Estate in 2008 –and business has never been better since the move. Employing around ten, its annual


turnover is just short of £1m –double before the move to Caerphilly. The firm was established by former Hewlett-Packard employees Andy Beer and Andy Green when the pair realised they were doing more than their job description of IT Consultant. Andy Beer said: “We were doing alot


of the work the other departments had been doing prior to the dot com crash. Wewere doing it all ourselves, so we


thought why not start our own company.” After outgrowing two different offices


and fed-up with the congestion in Cardiff, the firm decided to relocate to Bedwas. Andy Green said: “We wanted


something abit more connected. It was anightmare in Cardiff and this was much more central. “At the time, one of our customers


Solar Windows had acquired these premises. The office space was done to our requirements and we have a dedicated training room. “To get to theM4from here


compared to Penarth Road where we were, is no contest.” “We’ve taken on alot of new


customers and our turnover since 2008 has doubled.”


Tuesday June 19, 2012 In brief…


Welcome news First Minister Carwyn Jones and Business Minister Edwina Hart have welcomed the news that top level internet domain names for Wales – .wales and .cymru –are now on the internet authority’s official list for consideration. If successful it will place Wales


firmly on the internet map and .wales and .cymru will join other internationally recognised domain names like .co.uk and .com.


Going the extra mile Construction firm Willmott Dixon, which has worked on anumber of projects in Gwent, has launched anew scheme to take afurther stride in going green. The company is financially


incentivising staff to car share and choose more energy efficient cars while imposing strict annual mileage rates to promote local employment opportunities. Across all its sites in Wales,


Willmott Dixon imposes a10-Point Sustainability Plan with targets set for green criteria including use of recycled content, energy performance rating as well as implementation of a sustainability action plan and alife- cycle cost analysis.


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• Howwillthe adoption of International Accounting Standards affect your business? - July11


• Nowwherewas I? The negativeeffects of interruptions and distractions in the workplace - July25


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