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businessupdate News…


Onamission Afirm with abase in Chepstow is among seven Welsh companies in Houston this week (July 7-11) for the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference –aglobal gathering of top Microsoft partners from 160 countries. The visit, co-ordinated and


supported by the Welsh Government as part of its international trade programme, will open up international networking opportunities with other partners and Microsoft employees. The focus of the conference, which


attracts 16,000 delegates from all over the world, is on the modern era of computing including Cloud, Devices and Mobility and Big Data. The companies attending are: Circle


IT Solutions Ltd, Cardiff, Kaimai Research Ltd, Swansea, Method4 Ltd, Cardiff, Net Support UK Ltd, which has operations in Chepstow and Cardiff, Nuvola Logic, Swansea, Pugh Computers Ltd from Aberystwyth and Sequence from Cardiff.


Lending support Monmouth-based Siltbuster Ltd sponsored ateam from the Tottenham Court Road Station Upgrade (TCRSU) Project which took part in the London to Brighton cycle ride. The Tottenham Court Road TCR


ROLLERS were raising money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of Ian Gordon, acolleague and good friend who passed away earlier this year. Siltbuster was only too happy to


sponsor the team of 16, as it has along history with the project; since 2010 Siltbuster equipment has been used to deal with the concrete washwater resulting from the expansion and modernisation of the tube station. The TCR Rollers raised more than


£3,500.


Improving access More needs to be done to remove the barriers faced by businesses in Wales trying to access bank finance, according to an independent review. Earlier this year, Economy Minister


Edwina Hart appointed Professor Dylan Jones-Evans to review the availability of financing for SMEs in Wales. In astatement to Assembly


Members, Mrs Hart said: ““Access to finance for start-ups and investment for growth in Welsh businesses is vital for economic growth. Iwant to ensure that SMEs in Wales can access the finance they need to sustain and grow.” In the review Professor Jones-Evans


provided anumber of recommendations on how high street banks can better meet the funding needs of Welsh SMEs. These recommendations include: •Ensuring Welsh businesses get afair share of funding from the new Business Bank •Welsh Government using its purchasing power in Wales to encourage its suppliers to pay their own supply chain promptly •The banks allowing their Welsh regional managers to make final credit decisions for Welsh businesses •Ensuring better links between business support programmes in Wales and the banking sector.


Astudent from Coleg Gwent has proved he is the brightest spark in Wales by winning the title of Welsh electrical apprentice of the year. Ryan Cartwright, 25, from


Newbridge, battled it out against apprentice electricians from across Wales to be crowned Welsh winner of the SPARKS National Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition. The event, held in Wrexham,


saw Ryan compete against 10 other electricians in acompetition to build and install afull electrical installation, before being judged on precision and neatness. Mr Cartwright, astudent at


Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, has also been working as an apprentice electrician at Ackerman Electrical in Newbridge for two years.


“I have always been interested in construction,” he said. “My brother is acarpenter and so I’ve always found it important to have atrade skill and from there went onto become an electrician. “The competition was agreat


opportunity for me to show what I’ve learnt at the college and through my apprenticeship.” Gareth Jones, construction


lecturer at the Learning Zone said he was very proud of Ryan and his accomplishment. “The competition was very


tough and the win is atrue testament to his hard work and dedication to the industry,” he said. “I believe that Ryan has abright


future ahead of him and will continue to learn through his apprenticeship.”


Tuesday July 9, 2013 In brief… Ryanproveshe’sabrightspark


CAPTION: Ryan Cartwright, 25, from Newbridge, who battled it out against apprentice electricians from across Wales to be crowned Welsh winner of the SPARKS National Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition. He is pictured with lecturer Gareth Jones


Firmcompletesthe picture withmove A


fully let modern south Wales business park office complex is now on the market after the final space in the building was taken. Integra House, at Celtic Springs


Business Park, Newport, is being marketed as an investment premises after aleadingUKcharity snapped up the final space in the building. Kaleidescope has taken afive-year lease on


2,576 sq ft of new office space at Integra House, at aheadline rent of £10 psf. Haydn Thomas, of Newport-based chartered


surveyors, Hutchings and Thomas, who acted for property owners Reflex Holdings, said: “We are delighted to have concluded the letting to Kaleidoscope who have taken the last remaining space available at Integra House. “With its high specification, excellent location


and generous parking we were confident that the space would be attractive to arange of potential occupiers and it is evident that these criteria helped secure an excellent tenant. “We have now been instructed to market the


Investment of the premises which is now fully let.” Rob Jenkins, director of building owner Reflex


Holdings, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kaleidoscope as new tenants to our premises and in the current difficult economic climate are extremely pleased that our agents Hutchings and Thomas have been successful in fully letting our property.” Located close to junction 28 of the M4, Celtic


Springs Business Park is a45-acre development with occupiers such as theHMPrison Service, Wales&West Utilities, Holiday Inn Express, EADS Defence System, Bacaro restaurant, Greggs, and The Dragonfly pub. DTZ acted on behalf of the Kaleidoscope


Project. The firm was initially instructed to acquire


new offices as part of acollaborative project with several other charities including Drugaid and Cyswllt. The purpose of the office requirement is to centralise the administration functions of each organisation to drive efficiencies across the group.


Martin Little, associate director in Cardiff’s


Landlord and Tennant team, who acted for DTZ, said: “DTZ was approached by Kaleidoscope Project and their partners to identify suitable property to share their administration function and make cost savings.Weshort listed anumber of properties but Integra House quickly became the preferred option due to its location, size, specification and existing fit out.”


Left to right: Haydn Thomas, Martin Little, Martin Blakebrough, Caroline Phipps, of Drug Aid, and Rob Jenkins Martin Blakebrough,CEOat Kaleidoscope


Project, said: “Our move was full of trepidation as not only were we moving to anew base but were doing so with two other organisations. The decision to move however has been agreat success. “The location makes it very accessible, the


views are surprisingly scenic and most importantly there is avariety of places to eat. The morale of the team is high as the office is fitted out to ahigh specification and there are alarge number of parking spaces. “The move has cemented our partnership and


ensured we provide aprofessional service in high quality but cost effective environment.”


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