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businessupdate
Principality Building Society has strengthened its award-winning marketing team with the appointment of Emma Price to the role of corporate communications manager. Emma, a journalism graduate with first class honours from Cardiff University, will lead a team of four, responsible for delivering fully integrated external and internal communications as

News

Tuesday June 4, 2013

Emma takes on new role

James Pugh, of County Industrial Supplies, Jim Hughes, of Milwaukee and customer Peter Gotobed during the Milwaukee tools roadshow

Supplies firm goes heavy duty

well as implementing a social media strategy across the group, which has branches in Gwent. Emma has worked within the Principality marketing department for six years. Prior to joining the society, she was a magazine journalist, where she developed and honed a thorough knowledge of the media.

Commercially speaking
By David Jones, surveyor, Hutchings and Thomas, Chartered Surveyors
After Newport County going up to the Football League following the brilliant play-off final at Wembley versus Wrexham, I thought Id have a look at some of the other things to be optimistic about in the city over the coming months. Granted theres nothing that can come close to the overall good news feeling of The Exiles getting back to where the club deserves to be in the Football League and the undoubted economic benefits to the city that this success will bring. Already County are preparing to bask in the big time with new shirts emblazoned with sponsors name which, before long, will be resplendent in towns and cities the length and breadth of the land. But there are other developments in the city which together serve to create a warm glow of confidence which, after what seems quite some time, may hopefully mean that the tide could be turning in Newports favour at long last. So news revealed today the South Wales Argus that key signings have been made for the Friars Walk scheme is certainly towards the top of the feel good factor list. The major retail players, Next and Topshop, will act as a catalyst to others to pile into the scheme. And, were being told, there is also a wave of restaurant operators looking to get a slice of the action too, which is all good. Anyone who has been into the city centre recently will know, there is now not just one but two towering cranes busy bringing the Admiral building out of the ground at Queensway. This is a major plus for the city from one of Wales and UKs most successful businesses. Once the wave of Admiral employees inhabit that new office block and swarm over town you just see the transformation. Not to be outdone, and equally successful Newport firm, Go Compare has taken more space and is expanding which goes to underpin the general fact that occupier demand in the area is generally up. And one sniff of green shoots gets investors scurrying for positions. Property of all sorts in this part of the world, cantered on Newport is, to coin a phrase from the TV, cheap as chips. Investors know that there are bargains to be had and that now is the time to nab them-which is all very good news for Newport. Investors are most certainly back in the market and looking to invest money, which has been flat lining in banks, and start making serious money in property. Meanwhile RICS has reported the following with regard the residential market. They say that new buyer enquiries have increased at the fastest rate for three years with headline price balance recording the first positive reading, albeit one per cent, since mid2010. They are reporting sales and price expectations which suggest greater optimism. Despite all this there remains difficulty in attracting retailers to the city centre with in town tenant demand declining in line with the rest of the UK with retail performing worst and all this with retail rents at an all time low. But for once the pluses overwhelm the minuses in Newport which augurs very well for the future of our fine city. Up the Port.

County Industrial Supplies has welcomed leading heavy duty power tools world brand Milwaukee to its Gwent showroom. County, which is stocking a full range of the renowned US-based firms products and accessories housed in a new display area at its recently refurbished showroom, staged an open day to show off the brand. County Industrial Supplies Managing Director John Pugh says the business expects to sell some 100,000 worth of Milwaukee products in the first 12 months of being stocked. He said: Milwaukee is such as well know and regarded brand that from the first day we stocked the tools and equipment we had discerning industrial and engineering based professionals coming in and buying products off the shelves. County Industrial Supplies recently made a major investment in expanding its showroom and warehouse and is creating new jobs. The innovative Gwent business, Polo players Rebecca Walters (left) and Philippa Brown gear up for Elemis Polo at the Manor alongside projected to turnover 1.8m in 2013 up from a Bentley Continental GT V8 Mulliner 1.51m in 2012, has been established for more than three decades. The business numbers some of UKs most progressive and blue chip concerns as clients. The privately-owned business, which employs 11 people, plans to boost the size of the existing premises, which supplies trade, industry, engineering and retail customers, by building an extension to the rear. Job numbers at the business will increase by a quarter as a result of an 150,000 investment.

Firms rev up to back polo

uxury motor cars Bentley and McLaren will bring horsepower of a different kind to Elemis Polo at the Manor, which returns to The Celtic Manor Resort on Saturday June 15. While the skilled polo players rely on the strong and nimble ponies they ride, the two main match sponsors are more closely associated with the horsepower you find under the bonnet. As well as having their logos emblazoned on the shirts of the competing teams, McLaren Birmingham and Bentley Cardiff will be displaying models around the polo field, adding to the luxury feel of an event where spectators dress up, sip champagne and enjoy sumptuous hospitality. Andrew Ford, dealer principal at Bentley Cardiff, said: We are delighted to be associated with this years Elemis Polo at the Manor. Polo always delivers a glamorous occasion and The Celtic Manor Resort provides a stunning backdrop to display our luxury cars. Its a perfect fit for us.

David Tibbetts, sales director of McLaren Birmingham, which covers Wales, said: We are proud to sponsor a team at Elemis Polo at the Manor. McLaren has an unquestionable sporting heritage and understands the commitment required for any sports team to deliver a top performance. Crouch, the Cardiff jewellers, and Newport construction consultants, Lewis and Lewis Ltd, are the team sponsors for the second match at an event whose title sponsor is Elemis, Britains leading spa and skincare brand. The inaugural Elemis Polo at the Manor was played out in glorious sunshine in July 2011 and Cirencester Park Polo Club will again be lending their players, connections and expertise to the occasion. Celtic Manor Resort chief executive Dylan Matthews said: We had a fantastic day in the sun for the first staging of Elemis Polo at the Manor and we look forward to another terrific day of top-class polo and first-class hospitality.