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businessupdate News…


Restaurateur looks tomore successafter business awardwin


The Inn at the Elm Tree, a restaurant near Newport, was picked as one of the winners of the South Wales Argus Local Business Accelerators. Here


wefind outabit more about the business...


S


ue Jones and Allan Morris took over running The Inn at the Elm Tree, in St Brides Wentlooge, near Newport, 19 months ago. This is their first enterprise.


Number of employees: SJ: Two full time chefs and four part time additional staff


Why did you decide to go into this line of business? SJ: It was our lifelong life ambition to go into the hospitality industry, although initially not on this scale! However we’ve no regrets


Howis it going in this tough economic climate? SJ: Yes it’s tough times however any business


its city branch Award-winning Welsh estate agent Peter Alan celebrated creating two new jobs at its city centre branch in Newport with aspecial St David’s Day themed open day. The local branch in Bridge Street, which


has recently undergone aredesign, has created one new job for its lettings business and another new role for the launch of the distinctive homes range ‘pa black’. James Matthews, sales manager for the


branch, said: “It’s afantastic feeling to be part of abusiness which is in aposition to create jobs. IamaNewport boy and it’s great to be able to offer people in my community opportunities with ahousehold name with ahistory of success.” The addition of pa black, launched in


Wales in 2011, to the busy Newport agency aims to attract sellers and purchasers of distinctive homes across the city. Every home for sale or to let with the range comes with afull colourHDfilm of the property which can be viewed on its website www.pablack.co.uk.


Agency revamps


is going to be hard. In order to survive you have to ensure what you are selling is what the public wants. Ithink we have two great chefs producing fresh quality foods at affordable prices. There have been afew longstanding restaurants around us closing which is worrying but we all have lots of passion for what we do, sometimes working in excess of 18 hours aday. As long as we have the passion and determination hopefully we can survive.


What’s the best thing about it? SJ: Knowing we are providing afirst class service for our guests and diners. This has been reflected in the amount of positive reviews we have been receiving through our web site, Late Rooms and Trip Advisor. With the knowledge we are doing things people want, receiving positive feedback both written and verbally gives us agreat sense of achievement –not only to us as the managers but to our dedicated staff who without this would not be possible.


Toughest challenges? SJ: As the Elm Tree was closed for seven months prior to us reopening it has been difficult to build up the reputation it deserves. It has been aslow steady progress but a continuous battle to sustain and meet sales


targets due to anumber of factors out of our control. These include aroad closure in November 2012 for six months which could still result in us having to close the business due to passing trade being taken away. Our local regular trade has to drive an additional 24 miles via the diversion to get to us. The snow closed us for three days earlier this year and no telephone service and no internet meant bookings could not be taken. The hot water tanks burst spilling 600 litres of water through the ceilings resulting in us having to close for a few days cancelling all bookings for restaurant and hotel. And as there is no mains gas available in the area we have to rely on Flo Gas. This has caused problems with gas not being delivered on time hence restaurant and hotel having to be closed, again loss of revenue through no fault of our own.


What does being an LBA winner mean to you? SJ: Free advertising and mentoring would be an invaluable asset to any company wanting to take their business forward.


Have you had any help from any business agency? SJ: None. You read about the government


Designagencywitha differenceopensitsdoors


MettaEngine, anew web design and web development company has opened its doors in Bridge Street, Newport, dedicated to ethics, meditation and kindness.


Managing director William Elworthy


said: “We want our work to be meaningful and ethical.Weare all Buddhists and each day we follow the Buddha’s five precepts (no harming other beings, no stealing, no false speech, no taking of intoxicants and no sexual misconduct) and cultivating mindfulness.” ‘Metta’ isaBuddhist word meaning


‘loving kindness’ and employees intend to act with kindness towards each other, customers and the local community. MettaEngine will give apercentage of its


profit to local charitable causes. Aroom at the new offices in Bridge


Street is dedicated to early morning and lunchtime meditation sessions. William said: “Meditation is agreat


way to relieve stress and develop a calmer and more equanimous disposition. “Many companies in Japan and the


USare seeing the benefits of providing meditation space and making workplaces calmer and more focused. “The macho business culture of


long-hours and frenetic working doesn’t work, and it doesn’t make people happy.”


Mettaengine was formed by


managing director William Elworthy and creative director Graham Shimell.


providing millions of pounds to help small businesses to start up or expand, but in reality the money is not readily available when it is most needed.Wedon’t meet the criteria in most cases when looking to apply.


Plans for the future of your business? SJ: To build on existing sales, with asustained sales growth in order to survive, through local marketing and awareness campaigns of what we have to offer at The Elm Tree.


Advice to anyone planning on going it alone? SJ: Do your homework on the market you plan to go into to ensure you can deliver what your set out to achieve. Make sure you have asolid exit strategy should things not work out. Ensure you have enough money in order to survive should you meet unexpected challenges on the way as we have done.


Anything else you thinkweshould know? SJ:Wetook on this enterprise with our eyes wide open but still did not expect the amount of setbacks we have had to endure. Had it not been for the invaluable support of our families, friends and staff we are sure we would not be here now.


Tuesday March 5, 2013


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