4 Business Argus In brief...


Confidence is on the rise From page 1 decade can afford to get distracted – and our lead- ers must do everything in their power to ensure the economy goes from being merely good, to being truly great.” In line with confidence


levels, businesses inWales expect growth in their key performance indicators to pick up over the coming 12 months. Turnover is pro- jected to rise by 4.7 per cent, from 3.7 per cent over the previous year, gross profits to grow 4.5 per cent, from 3.5 per cent , and sales volumes are expected to increase by 4.8 per cent over the next year, com- pared to growth of 4.3 per cent over the year just gone. David Lermon,ICAEW director forWales, said: “We need to continue to push to grow our exports, against a backdrop of a widening trade deficit, at the same time as ensuring that the momentum the UKeconomy has is main- tained across all parts of the country. “If the forecast figures


for key performance indi- cators in the country are achieved, it would suggest that the economic recov- ery is firmly in place.” Businesses expect the acceleration in turnover, sales volumes and profit growth over the coming year to be supported by an increase in demand from both theUKand overseas. Domestic sales are pro- jected to rise by 5.3 per cent over the coming 12 months, up from 2.9 per cent over the past year. Meanwhile, export


growth is expected to pick up to 4.5 per cent over the next year, a marked increase from 1.6 per cent growth over the past 12 months.


Newdirectors INDEPENDENTcontract caterer, Wilson Vale, has expanded its board of directors by appointing Claire Long as sales direc- tor.


Claire, from Raglan in Monmouthshire, joined the Leicestershire-based company to become the fifth member of the board. Her appointment comes


just nine months after Wilson Vale appointed Alan Beddie as operations director. Before joining Wilson


Vale, Claire was strategic partnership director with Compass GroupUKand Ireland for over six years, duringwhich time she handled a portfolio of top 300 clients within the busi- ness and industry sector.


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


BASSALEG School worked in partnership with local businesses to engage its students and help plug the growing skills gap with its first industry careers fair. The event, supported by the ESTnet, was an opportunity for businesses in the local area to showthe school, its students and parentswhat Newport and SouthWales has to offer. Historically, the school has


had limited interaction with businesses and other com- mercial organisations in SouthWales, this was the first event linked specifically with business. Many areas of the diverse electronics and software technologies industry were present, representatives from companies including Axiom Manufacturing, SPTS, General Dynamics, Ernst&Young, Siemens, Celtic Manor,Wynne Jones, Harding Evans and Barclays attended the half-day event. Atotal of 249 students in


Year 9 attended the event along with parents. The stu- dents, aged between 13 and 14, were able to speak to young graduates, apprentices and business leaders to gain a first-hand account of each organisation, and learn of


Tuesday, March 11, 2014


School and industry join to help promote careers


Thomas Gardner, Axiom apprentice, pupil Olivia Lawrence and Pippa Bleach, Axiom graduate


potential future opportuni- ties. David Davies, managing director at Axiom, said: “Wales’ world class manufac- turing industry provides exciting and diverse career opportunities for young peo- plewhether it is in finance,


engineering, IT or sales, the opportunities are vast. Many students fail to consider thesewhen they think of a career in the industry. Part of that is due to image and with more events and engage- ment with schools like


Bassaleg, we can help to address this.” The careers fair provided


the opportunity for employ- ers to make lasting impres- sions on students, attracting them for future employment and addressing the demand


Building society helps aspiring Gareth Bales kick off in style


WALES’ largest building society has helped aspiring Gareth Bales in Torfaen kick off their first football steps in style.


Principality Building Society has provided a new kit for the newly formed Fairfield Football Club under 6s.


Liz Mahoney, from Principality’s Abergavenny branch, said:“We are proud to work inWales and its com- munities. “Through this sponsorship


we are able to support young children in our community to live a healthy and active lifestyle,while also enabling them and their families to come together. “With headlines around the


world focussing on Gareth Bale, many local youngsters have been inspired to take up football and we are really


pleased to help them kick-off their football journey with Fairfield under 6s.” Gavin Rees, head coach of Fairfield under 6s, said:“We are extremely grateful for the support that Principality has given us.Weare a relatively new team and didn’t have any kit for children of this age. “We want to inspire our


youngsters so that they con- tinue to play football for many years to come and we are delighted that thanks to Principality they can nowdo this in style.” Principality has contribut-


ed to a variety of similar causes in the past year, including sponsoring a foot- ball tournament in Aberystwyth, sponsoring new kits for Cwmbran Park Bowling Club and improving the gardens at Penarth Community Centre.


for future engineers. The day also provided a platformfor students to learn more about the career oppor- tunities available to them as teachers were also on hand to discuss subjects suitable for their chosen career paths.


Firms are urged to join bid


BUSINESSES in the seven Welsh Enterprise Zones, including the Ebbw Vale zone, are being invited to bid for more than £3m in the latest round of a Welsh Government Business Rate scheme. The Enterprise Zone


Business Rates Scheme is a discretionary grant scheme for SMEs to lower their operating costs by provid- ing a grant to offset their business rates for up to two years. Minister for Economy,


Fairfield Under 6s Follow us on Twitter: @SWABusiness


Edwina Hart calls on all eli- gible businesses in the Enterprise Zones to bid for a share when the scheme opens for applications on March 20: “I’d encourage all SMEs either located in an Enterprise Zone or looking to start a business in an Enterprise Zone to apply.”


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