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businessupdate

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Tuesday July 9, 2013

From the directors mouth

Students take big ideas to the shop floor

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 Cardiffs 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 a range of brands before marketing and selling them to customers at Cardiffs historic Royal Arcade. The three-day challenge, developed by First 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 Governments 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.

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

What a weekend! 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 a lesson in leadership this weekends events were. Both the Lions and Murrays victories perfectly demonstrated working together and working as a team. Even though Murrays was an individual achievement, he has had the support of a fantastic team behind him since the very early days. Both results are great for our countrys international profile and for putting a spring 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 such a major role within the Lions win on Saturday was an added bonus and sets the foundations for a fantastic 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 its the FA Cup Final, The Ashes Series or Gwents amazing Ryder Cup in 2010. Successful businesses can reflect the sporting world by building a dream 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 Newports most resilient and prosperous businesses and are a great model for newer, up-and-coming businesses across the region.

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. Team was the winning team with a mix 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. Its been great working with them and helping them develop their ideas for the future. Who knows,

they might well become tenants in the Morgan Quarter, he said. Owen Derbyshire, of business development company Menter a Busnes, 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 a campaign encouraging 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 a lot 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 its 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.

The big question of the day...

Weve 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 a thing, we couldnt do without our office manager John Waldron who carries out a wide 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. As a major 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. I use the spoons to carry out my own taste tests for each production run, so Id be lost if I didnt have any in my office. Andrew Tugwell, Acorn Group Operations Director People. Without a doubt, we couldnt do without people whether they are our clients, jobseekers, learners or our own staff. Being a recruitment 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 a difference 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 a need after a stressful day to remember that an accountants work although important is not life or death. To that end its 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 for a much 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 a plane. I did a skydive from 14,000 feet the day before my 40th birthday. I have a photo of me in mid-air with the plane behind me as a memento in my office. On a bad day I look at it and think that whatever happens, things can't get worse than that.