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businessupdate News…


Fashion students get the thumbs up


Newport University recently recognised the business acumen of some of its fashion students by running an intensive 12 week scheme to test their knowledge. Part of the university’s Bright Ideas


Graduate Programme, 37 Fashion Design students spent 12 weeks, creating aclothing range to accompany the luxury bags and accessories of London designer Ally Capellino. The students formed nine companies


and carried out extensive market research before developing business ideas, preparing business plans and producing designs for the label’s spring/summer 2013 line. Each company showcased their


designs at trade stands in the exhibition space at City Campus, which were scored by apanel of judges before the teams pitched their business plans. Awards were presented for best


promotion of brand, best design and entrepreneurship award, focusing on the overall strength of the business. The Bright Ideas programme is akey


part of the drive to enhance the employability and work focused skills of its students, preparing them for the world of work, whatever discipline they study. EmmaForouzan, enterprise manager


at the university, said: “Newport classes itself as an entrepreneurial university and the Bright Ideas Graduate Programme is just one of initiatives we have here to develop the students’ entrepreneurial mindsets and skills, which will be key in their future careers. “In this programme, we provided


workshops on issues including IP, branding, pitching, lectures from industry experts and one-to-one sessions from business mentors. This gave the students the knowledge and confidence to produce realistic business plans and pitch their ideas to an audience – including Ally Capellino herself.” Ally Capellino said: “It has been avery


rewarding experience, and it was great to see how the students had worked together and learned from one another. I was really impressed with their work – they took on quite atough brief and came up with some really interesting ideas, and Iliked that everybody in the groups had achance to shine.” Christian Hutter, Senior Lecturer on


the Fashion Design course, said: “Every year we give the students alive brief and further our links with the industry at every opportunity, but this project has been the most commercial and realistic design brief that they have ever been involved in. “It has been invaluable for them to


work with asuccessful designer and take her criticisms on board to ensure they keep on improving, and I’m thrilled with the work they have all put in.”


Watkins&Gunn Solicitors has topped off a successful two months by being shortlisted for its fourth award in eight weeks. The firm, which has offices in Pontypool and


Newport, has been recognised for creating a happy, healthy and skilled workforce as afinalist in the People Development category of the Business in the Community (BITC) Wales Impact Awards, part of the Awards for Excellence 2012. Sponsored by Wales&West Utilities, the


awards are aprestigious annual showcase of the best of responsible business in action. Now in their 15th year, the awards highlight


the best examples of the positive impact businesses are having in the environment, amongst their employees, through their supply chains and in the local communities where they


operate. Waktins&Gunn is one of three finalists in


the People Development category as a business making adifference by nurturing the talent and skills of its 40 strong team. Simon Harris, director Wales, Business in


the Community, said: “I congratulate all the companies which have made it through to the shortlist for Business in the Community’s Wales Impact Awards. “This year, we have seen agreat quality of


entries from companies in Wales which tellsme that businesses in Wales are working hard to incorporate responsible business in all they do and benefiting their business and society.” This award comes after afew months for


Watkins&Gunn which has seen the firm and its staff pick up and be short listed for anumber of


Tuesday June 19, 2012 Recordawardshort listing forlawfirm


prestigious awards and accreditations. The personal injury team of the firm was


crowned Legal Services Team of the Year (one to 10 partners) beating off competition from around theUKat the Claims Innovation Awards. Practice manager Vivienne Vermeire won an ‘Extra Mile’ award from Newport City Council, managing partner Clive Thomas was shortlisted for aInstitute of Directors award, while Lindsay Taylor, asolicitor in the family team at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, was afinalist for the 10th anniversary Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) awards. Clive Thomas said: “We have worked


extremely hard to create aculture of continuous improvement in the firm with our aim of constantly ‘exceeding our client’s expectations’.”


Opticians strengthens teamwithnewdirectors


S


precsavers Cwmbran has appointed two new directors to strengthen its senior management team.


Gareth Ward, 35, from Cwmbran,


and Rhys Williams, 29, from Risca, will both combine the roles with their positions as opticians at the store. Mr Ward has worked at the store in


Cwmbran since qualifying as an optician in 1999, and has also spent time at the Specsavers Newport branch. Mr Williams has worked at Specsavers for


14 years. He started his career at the Llewellyn Walk store and then spent five years as a manager at the Newport store, before taking up the same role in Cwmbran in 2010. The duo will join fellow directors Richard


Ward, who is Gareth’s father and has been working at the store for 16 years, and Leighton Griffiths, who has been at the store since it opened 21 years ago. In their new roles, Mr Ward and Mr Williams


will be responsible for overseeing the improvement and growth of the business, as well as maintaining the professional service and high standards of customer care that the store prides itself on. The store employs more than 40 members


of staff, including eight qualified opticians, and has over 1,200 frames on display, with six testing rooms and an in-store lab. Mr Ward said: “I’m delighted to join my


father and fellow directors here in overseeing the strategic development of the store. “Working closely with my dad gave me a


good understanding of what was expected of you at Specsavers from the very beginning –the emphasis is on keeping the focus on the patients and providing aprofessional, yet value- for-money service. “I’ve been working here for nearly 13 years


now, so Iknow the customers well, and Ihope that will stand me in good stead as Ilook to maintain and improve on the high stands of


Gareth Ward and Rhys Williams


customer care here. “That’s what works so well here at


Specsavers –although we have all the benefits of being aglobal brand, each business is run locally and independently by partners, so customers still get avery local and personalised service and are greeted by familiar faces, like myself, who have worked here for years and know what local people want.” Mr Williams was recently presented with an Extra Mile Award from Newport City Council in


recognition for the active role he plays in fundraising for Specsavers’ charities, which include Vision Aid Overseas and Guide Dogs. The intrepid adventurer has completed a


226km Ironman Wales event, a50k ultra marathon, the Three Peaks Challenge and Tough Guy Challenge, as well as climbing to the base camp of Everest -despite suffering from apulmonary oedema, acute mountain sickness and abroken rib during the 4,000m hike.


Business Support Line/Llinell Gymorth Busnes: 01633 432400


Newport Business Services/Gwasanaethau Busnes Casnewydd business@newport.ac.uk www.newport.ac.uk/businessservices


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