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businessupdate News…


From the director’s mouth


Tuesday July 9, 2013


Studentstake‘big ideas’ to theshopfloor S


tudents from Coleg Gwent have proved themselves as entrepreneurs of the future after successfully developing and running their own ‘pop up’ shop in


one of Cardiff’s iconic shopping destinations. Trading Places, an Apprentice style


challenge, saw students competing against college teams from throughout South East Wales to sell products on behalf of arange of brands before marketing and selling them to customers at Cardiff’s historic Royal Arcade. The three-day challenge, developed by First


By Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director of Institute of Directors, Wales


Whataweekend! In years to come, people will ask each other, ‘Where were you when the British Lions won their 2013 tour and Murray won the Wimbledon final?’ We will all say, ‘I remember it was


the hottest weekend of the year and we spent it indoors watching the most outstanding sporting events we can remember!’ And what alesson in leadership


this weekend’s events were. Both the Lions’ and Murray’s


victories perfectly demonstrated working together and working as a team. Even though Murray’s was an individual achievement, he has had the support of afantastic team behind him since the very early days. Both results are great for our


country’s international profile and for putting aspring in the step of the nation. The weekend has provided this fantastic feel good factor. For Sam, Alun and all the Welsh


players to have played suchamajor role within the Lions’ win on Saturday was an added bonus and sets the foundations for afantastic future for sport in Wales, where we are no strangers to putting on high profile sporting occasions. They become a landmark or beacon for the national mood off the pitch or court. In recent times, Wales has had its


fair share of showing the rest of the world what we have to offer, whether it’s the FA Cup Final, The Ashes Series or Gwent’s amazing Ryder Cup in 2010.


Successful businesses can reflect


the sporting world by building adream while working doggedly with this objective in mind; overcoming barriers; taking knocks and set-backs, yet still remaining focussed on outcomes, no matter the hurdles. These are qualities consistently demonstrated by some of Newport’s most resilient and prosperous businesses and are agreat model for newer, up-and-coming businesses across the region.


Campus at the University of South Wales, in partnership with the SE Wales FE Enterprise hub and the Morgan Quarter and supported by the Welsh Government’s Big Ideas Wales, helped the youngsters understand how they can become entrepreneurs by developing their ‘big ideas’. Chris Webb, of First Campus, said: “Throughout the three day challenge the students from Coleg Gwent experienced the commercial world at first hand; working with brands and understanding marketing and sales techniques before running their own retail businesses.


“We certainly saw some of Wales’ entrepreneurs of the future demonstrating their skills throughout the challenge.” Each student had applied to take part in the


challenge through their respective college, with six winning students selected from coleg Gwent for the challenge. Mixed into four teams, they competed


against each other to sell products from a number of Welsh companies before selling the products at Number 1, Royal Arcade within the Morgan Arcade. TeamÜwas the winning team with amix of


students from each college. They were top in their presentations, strategy and sales. The teams had a“tweet” of support from


retail guru and broadcaster Mary Portas during the three-day event and were provided with advice and coaching from Big Ideas Wales role models. Rory Fleming, Estate Facilities Manager at


the Morgan Quarter said they had also seen a 19 per cent increase in footfall through the Royal Arcade on the day the shop was open. “It was great to see so many young people


engaging and learning about enterprise. It’s been great working with them and helping them develop their ideas for the future. Who knows,


young people throughout Wales to become more entrepreneurial. It works with schools, colleges, universities, charities and organisations to promote entrepreneurship as an option for young people. “The students will go back to their colleges


with alot of ideas and experience. The momentum will continue as they work with their peers and college staff to continue their personal journey as well as that of their peers,” he said. Ruth Rowe, Enterprise Officer at Coleg


Gwent, summed up the experience of her students. She said: “I think it’s fantastic that we can


work together as an Enterprise Hub to further our students’ life experiences and to increase their knowledge of the choices available to them.”


Thebig question of the day...


We’ve asked local business people what one thing could they not do without in their work...


Ashley Harkus Partner, Everett, Lloyd, Tomlin&Pratt Solicitors, Newport and Pontypool


While not strictly athing, we couldn’t do without our office manager John Waldron who carries out awide range of tasks from negotiating contracts with our main suppliers and contractors, preparing tenders and panel applications to changing the light bulbs buying the teabags.


Bob Clark, Managing Director and founder of Newport-based Clarks UK Ltd


Spoons are absolutely key to my business –in ensuring the quality of the food we produce and distribute right across the UK and to other areas of Europe. Asamajor supplier of maple syrup and honey to the UK retail trade, the biggest issue we face is being certain the quality of the food we produce is consistently high to ensure our customers and consumers remain happy. Iuse the


spoons to carry out my own taste tests for each production run, so I’d be lost if Ididn’t have any in my office.


Andrew Tugwell, Acorn Group Operations Director


People. Without adoubt, we couldn’t do without people –whether they are our clients, jobseekers, learners or our own staff. Being arecruitment and training provider, people are at the heart of our business. The foundation of our group is built on the quality and level of service we provide, and our reputation relies on the quality of our staff who need to be able to listen and understand the needs of the business and react quickly to our clients’ requirements. It is because we have talented, competent people, who are committed and willing to make adifference that we are one of the leading recruitment and training companies in the UK.


Noel Williams, Managing Partner, Newport-based Kilsby & Williams Accountants


Humour in the office. There is always aneed after astressful day to remember that an accountant’s work –


although important –isnot life or death. To that end it’s good not to get too serious or worried and to see the funny side of situations. Going home after some light banter in the workplace makes foramuch more enjoyable life.


Haydn Thomas, director, Hutchings &Thomas Chartered Surveyors


Professional Indemnity insurance ,which costs a considerable sum and goes up


disproportionately every year –either that or Dave Jones!


Clive Thomas, managing partner of Watkins & Gunn Solicitors


The photo of me jumping out of aplane. Idid a skydive from 14,000 feet the day before my 40th birthday. Ihave aphoto of me in mid-air with the plane behind me asamemento in my office. On abad day Ilook at it and think that whatever happens, things can't get worse than that.


they might well become tenants in the Morgan Quarter,” he said. Owen Derbyshire, of business development


company Menter aBusnes, which manages Big Ideas Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government, said the experience would also help other students to consider becoming entrepreneurs of the future. Big Ideas Wales is acampaign encouraging


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