Tuesday, April 1, 2014


Business Argus


Gwent firms celebrate top awards at ESTnet


By Jo Barnes 01633 777240 jba@gwent-wales.co.uk Twitter @SWABusiness


LEADING UK electrical sys- tems integrator Newport-based IAC has been recognised as a UK and global leader at a top awards. IACLtd, of Queensway Meadows, was namedSMEof the Year at the annual ESTnet Awards, held to celebrate excel- lence inWales’ electronics and software technology industries. The firmwas among a number


of Gwent firmswhich scooped prizes at the awards, including Company of the Year and Exporter of the Year, Newport- based SPTS Technologies Ltd; Supplier of the Year, Axiom Manufacturing Services, of Newbridge; Innovative Product of the Year, General DynamicsUK Ltd, of Oakdale for its Virtual Advanced Synthetic Trainer; Start Up of the Year Caerphilly-based Leopard Digital and Young Engineer of the Year, Anthony Harrison, of specialist semicon- ductor manufacturer IR, of Newport. IAC,which employs 65 people,


andwhich is based at Queensway Meadows, undertakes complex integration projects both in the UKand overseas, for a huge range of industries including paper, met- als pharmaceuticals, materials handling, food, chemicals, print- ing, textiles, water and nuclear power. IACLtd managing director Peter Lewis said: “It is very satisfying to be recognised by your peers, par- ticularlywhen they are looking at howthe company is run. “I believe that our philosophy of


paying close particular attention to the people in the organisation waswhat the judges ultimately sawas a real asset.”


Commercially speaking


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By Haydn Thomas, director, Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors, Newport


THEname chosen for the city region of SouthWales is most likely to be the Cardiff Capital region. The argument is that it will be easi-


ly recognisable around the world. However, that feeling is not univer- sally felt here in the city of Newport which believes the focusmay well be drawnsolely onto the capital city leaving the rest included under the umbrella well and truly in the shade. The ultimate aim is to bring a boost


TOP HONOURS: ESTnet Awards winners celebrate their success


Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport said: “There are more than 3,000 companies working in the sector inWales. “When you see the enthusiasm


and innovation you see that there is a bright future.” ESTnet chair Ian Menzies said: “Ours is an industry that drives the global economy. “It is one of Wales’ most vibrant


and important sectors, employing more than 24,000 people in over 600 companieswho collectively gener- ate a turnover of more than £7bn.” SPTS Technologies Ltd employs


GD Environmental make the shortlist for national award


MRW has announced that Newport- based GD Environmental has been shortlisted for this year’s 2014 ‘Best Energy to Waste Initiative’ category. The well-established National Recycling Awards recognises and celebrates excellence, innovation and pioneering leadership in all areas of the recycling and waste management industry. As a finalist in the Best Energy


from Waste initiative, GD Environmental has demonstrated the environmental benefits of recov- ering waste destined for landfill and transforming it into a reusable fuel source, through the process and production of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel). Last year, GD Environmental


invested £350,000 into designing and commissioning a bespoke item of plant, specifically designed to handle waste materials in high vol- umes to effectively sort, bale and wrap residual waste. The bailed commodities are then


transported to Germany and this is where they are used as a fossil fuel replacement to generate heat and electricity. GD Environmental proudly offers


its clients a recycling rate of 96 per cent, the introduction of RDF has enabled GD Environmental to accomplish its long-term ambition of sending ‘zero waste to landfill’. The winners will be announced at


an awards ceremony taking place on July 3 in London.


around 250 people at The Coldra, Newport and manufactures equip- ment used to make electronic devices inside a range of products such as smartphones, tablet com- puters and cars. Its two ESTnet awards crowna


year inwhich the firmexpanded its already extensive network in Asia by opening an office in South Korea, won the Queen’sAward for Enterprise in International Trade and was named as an ‘anchor com- pany’ by theWelsh Government. The judging panel for the awards


was: Dr SteveWelch, Domain Director the Knowledge Transfer


Network; David Rosser,Welsh Government Director of Innovation; Eurfyl ap Gwilym, Non-Executive Director;Emma Watkins, Director of CBIWales and Professor Julie Lydon, Vice Chancellor of the University of SouthWales. The ESTnet, set up in 2011, is a network of technology enterprises designed to provide a collabora- tive environment for people and organisations working within the electronics and software technolo- gy industries to create strong business relationships, exchange knowledge and share ideas.


Businessman says growth is essential


POLITICIANS need to be more business orientated and ‘economi- cally literate’ if theUKis to achieve sustainable growth, according to an industry leader. John Longworth, director gener-


al of the British Chambers of Commerce was tomake a strong case for economic growth at the group’s annual conference today. “The simple fact is that it is only through wealth creation - through sustainable, ‘great growth’ - that we can afford all of the things we want, like the green agenda, defence, emergency services, overseas aid, education, a social safety net and the NHS.


“Achieving sustainable ‘great


growth’ should be and must be the number one priority of any gov- ernment, and our political class needs to be more economically lit- erate and business orientated. Great growth is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” he was to say. MrLongworth was also to plead


for more to be done to forge links between business and education. Business Secretary Vince Cable, Defence Secretary Philip Hammondand Education Secretary Michael Gove are among the keynote speakers at the conference, as well as shadow chancellor Ed Balls.


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to the entire region included in the new city region and thatmay well happen. However, with an emphasis on the name of Cardiff and clear and obvious economic benefits of being the capital city already very evident there, fears are that itmay be much more of the same for the capital and perhaps just scraps for the other areas.


Newport’s Conservative leader Matthew Evans said recently: “Newport has got its own unique identity.Weshould be fiercely proud to talk about the city.Asub-division of Cardiff is notmypreferred choice.” To those outside the capital, this renamingmay lead you to believe that the spotlight will again be nar- rowed to focus only on the City of Cardiff itself. Although it is understandable that


any project needs to carry recogni- tion outside the UK, the success of such a project will need to be felt in areas that need it most, namely the City of Newport and SouthWales Valleys. Only time will tell if the the- ory behind the name change is suc- cessful.” Onthe one hand it can be seen as a


very positive and constructivemove to identify Cardiff and the environs on a local map. It will serve to ensure the region easily identifiable nation- ally and internationally. Ona more, dare I say parochial


level, theremay be the feeling that Newport and the SouthWales Valleys will be swallowed up in this all-envel- oping South EastWales region or is it all just going to be swallowed up by Cardiff? Newport is a recognised gateway to


Wales and is the first city many peo- ple reachwhen they come into the country. It has maintained this posi- tion for very many years and will need to maintain a strong presence and voice if this to go ahead.


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