Tuesday, March 11, 2014


Business Argus


Support ensures half marathon is a success


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


SOLID backing from businesses and volunteers of The Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon 2014 helped to make it a run away success, organis- ers claim. The second staging of the annual


event attracted headline sponsor- ship from Admiral. Kris Broome, from St David’s Hospice Care and an organiser of the event, said:“We have had a flood of feedback from entrants who have said howwell the event was staged and howmuch they enjoyed taking part. Each has mentioned the marshals and vol- unteers for the work that they did. “The success is also downto the tremendous support we received from the likes of Admiral and NewportGwent Dragons and the staff at Rodney Parade for allow- ing us to use their facilities at the start and finish, Contact Radios for providing us with radios on the day, Taylor Wimpey, Newport City Council, Chrome Physiotherapy, our media partners SouthWales Argus and Lliswerry and Caerleon running clubs.” Kris added: “The start and finish


area was completely controlled by local running group Lliswerry Runners. They set it up and ensured it flowed smoothly from start to finish. Caerleon Runners also played a major part by guid- ing the runners through the Caerleon Section of the race, and ensuring everyone had water.


Victoria Medherst and Mick Brenton, Broomfield Alexander; Sian Lamrick, Torfaen County Borough Council


Torfaen Business Voice recently held a net- working event at Greenmeadow Golf Club in Cwmbran


Out & About Golf club welcomes business people for a round of networking


7


Debra Spedding and Ashley Harkus, of ETLP Solicitors


City of Newport Half Marathon. Pictured is the start of the race in Rodney Parade. (4337979)


“We are also very grateful to Unilever, Tiny Rebel Brewery, Wilkinson and Burtons Biscuits and all thosewho took advertising space in the event day programme and StWoolos Rotary Club and Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.” Kris said entrants and business- es have already signed up to take


part in next year’s event.A London barrister has signed up after seeing all the publicity sur- rounding this year’s event. Kris said: “There’s no doubt about it; Newport Half is good in terms of fundraising for St David’s Hospice Care and also in helping raise awareness of


Newport and shining a spotlight and all that is offer here in a revi- talised and reinvigorated city and the surrounding area.” If you are interested in getting


involved with the Newport Half Marathon 2015 as a sponsor or vol- unteer, please call Kris on 01633 851058.


VW Camper-van hire firmopens doors


AFTER18 years in the Royal Engineers, Steven Thompson is ready for a new challenge and has set up his own business hiring out VWTransporter vans to holiday makers for flexible time periods. Outdoor enthusiasts Steve and


his partner Charlotte Asson, got the idea to set up the company after renting a classic split screen VWcamper van for a short break inWestWales. While they thoroughly enjoyed


the experience, Steve thought he could use the fitting skills he had acquired in the Armyto customise VWTransporter vans to provide a whole host of modern creature comforts for holidaymakers want- ing to travel between locations. The company, MorningVW Camper Van Hire has leased a unit on Phoenix Park in Newport which doubles as a booking office for the business and as a workshop for Steve to work on the vans. They have already converted two


vans that are nowavailable to hire. Both of which sleep up to four peo- ple, include custom made fixtures and fittings including a cooker,


we’ve worked tirelessly to get eve- rything in place to give us a great start. The unit is perfect for our requirements and provides our customers with secure parking inside to leave their carswhen they collect a van to go off explor- ing.Wedon’t limit the mileage so one of the vans has already been up to Scotland. Just by word of mouth, we’ve received our first bookings and expect this to inc- reasewhen the website goes live.” The unit on Phoenix Park was let


(l-r) Harry Dee, M4 Property Consultants and Steven Thompson and Char- lotte Asson, Morning VW Camper Van Hire


Wi-Fi, TV/DVD, diesel night heat- er and power hook ups. “Setting up the business has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve


faced,” commented Steve, “Charlotte and I have been plan- ning this since I knew the date I would be leaving the Armyand


byM4Property Consultants on behalf of The Centre for Business. Harry Dee, graduate surveyor said, “It’s been a pleasure to work with Steve and Charlotte. The specifications of the vans are superb and once they start to pro- mote the business, I’m sure they will prove very popular. This let- ting proves the strong demand that exists in the current market for good quality, starter units.Weonly have a few of these available on our books and desperately need more units like this in Newport to encourage more start-up business- es”.


Follow us on Twitter: @SWABusiness


Gareth Waters, Brand Nu Creation, and Rob Edwards, Hindsight IT


Laura Adams, Bespoke Laser UK, and Tim Wil- liams, Centre for Business


Ben Maassen, Shane Palmer, DMP Publishing


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8