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Business Argus

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

City rm is optimistic as prots hit a high

lFrom page 1 last five years and the 2013 performance demonstrates that for job-seekers throughout the UK and internationally, Acorn is increasingly their agency of choice when looking for work. This was further evidenced when Acorn was recently voted by jobseekers UK-wide as one of the top ten recruitment agencies out of 9,500 agencies in the country . This year is already continuing in the same vein we are already placing 25 per cent more people into work each week than we did during the same period last year. Acorn has 35 offices across the UK and three in Australia. He added: Recruitment companies are an important bellwether for the health of the economy and our experience supports the view that confidence has not only returned to many regions and sectors across the UK, but it is continuing to grow.

By Jo Barnes

The big question

BUSINESS people from across the area attended a summit in Newport last week to hear from various stakeholders what the future was looking like for the city . Among speakers was city centre taskforce leader Simon Gibson who spoke about the report from reNewport, Ian Edwards, of Celtic Manor Resort, and city council leader Councillor Bob Bright. At the end of the half-day event there was a certain buzz in the business community . So Business Argus has been asking those who attended, and those who didnt, what they thought of the Newport Summit. Gillian Otlet, chief executive of Newport Unlimited (attended) It was really good to see a new round of enthusiasm at the summit, and a figure-head, such as Simon Gibson, supported by dedicated funding from the Welsh Government, will really help to make the next big step change that Newport needs. The recommendations made by the reNewport team build on physical regeneration successes such as the Newport city footbridge, the university campus and the new Admiral building. But, as Simon Gibson pointed out, the next phase is about people and thats absolutely where it needs to be. The establishment of an innovation company, to act as a hub to attract research funds, inward investors and support the growth of SMEs, is a key part of the next phase for Newport. You definitely get a sense of optimism and positive change in the city, and Newport Unlimited is pleased to have been able to establish the foundations for regeneration and strongly support the work of reNewport to take the city in to the future. Robin Hall, managing director, Kymin, Newport Yes, I did attend and it was a very well attended and inspirational event. As I said in last weeks Business Argus I would definitely like to see this become a regular event and many on the day seemed to share my views. It was evident that 2014 is the year of opportunibeing held at the Celtic Manor Resort later this year, it is essential that Newport is positioned as a thriving environment. We think that Newport could be a technology hub for Wales, as software development and engineering are core skills that will be able to lead the way when it comes to innovation from Wales. As well as Newport being home to Europes largest tier 3+ data centre, operated by Next Generation Data. However, there is currently a shortage of talent in the area, but hopefully with the positive changes happening this wont be the case for much longer. David Russ, managing director, South Wales Chamber and Centre for Business (attended) I wholeheartedly endorse the views that came out of the summit, and there was definitely a feeling of renewed vigour, energy and vibrancy around the regeneration of the city . There have been a number of false dawns for Newport, caused in large by the faltering economy, but there seems to be a greater conDelegates at the Newport Summit, held at the city centre campus of the University of South fidence in the city now. This is Wales reinforced by the recent demolition of the car park to make in Barbados in five years Welsh business. We are ty for the city . We have the way for the impressive Friars time. No-one wanted to have extremely interested in all imminent start of the Friars Walk retail and leisure developa constructive conversation potential developments Walk development, the openment, complete with its anchor about the future unless there which affect Wales, in paring of the Admiral Insurance store, Debenhams. The summit was something in it for them. ticular South Wales and building in May and the should be a regular event, but Not my sort of people. I have those on our very doorstep NATO summit at the Celtic we need to make sure that it heard nothing of that event such as the City of Newport. Manor Resort in September. doesnt turn into just another since, so what was the outSpeakers at the summit These, along with the 15m talking shop. In fact, we should come? Do we now have a masreturned to, and reiterated that has been announced for approach it like a private-secter plan? Can I safely book time and again, the theme of the regeneration of tor business with a vision, a my retirement? working together, collaboraCommercial Street through business plan with smart objecthe Vibrant and Viable Places tion, joined up thinking and tives, and a regular AGM where Nigel Griffiths, team work. Were now lookfunding mean we will start to community stakeholders are chief operating ing forward to seeing how notice a big difference to the informed as to what has been officer at Certus that pans out over the near to city centre over the coming achieved. There definitely TG, Newport medium term for the benefit months. The reNewport should be an open-door policy of all and for those who have report has some great prowhere the community can feed The summit was the best interests of the city jects listed, including a softin to the plans and share their a really positive ware university and hospital- of Newport and its future thoughts and ideas. Above all, event that showed that there prosperity and success at ity school, some of these will we mustnt lose the energy is a practical shift towards heart. And we count ourstart soon and indeed there thats been created through the the continual evolution of selves in that category . In the has been confirmation of inisummit but harness it for the Newport as a city, building mean time I will be studying tial funding for some from future benefit of the city . on the legacy of what has the reNewport report: The Edwina Hart in the past been achieved to date. There week. I have lived in Newport City of Newport ... On the Carolyn is a fantastic sense of Rise with interest. for more than 36 years and Pugsley, direcmomentum with different have always been a great suptor, Freshwater developments such as the Peter Lewis, porter of the city through (attended) 35m university building managing direcbusinesses and other means where the summit was held, tor, IAC ltd, but for the first time in a long The sense of as well as luxury apartments, Newport time I can see the city that I enthusiasm, springing up all over the city . am proud to call home, finalenergy and drive Hopefully this will continue I declined my ly on the up. was clearly palpable at the to change the perception of invitation to summit, and it was apparent Newport and forge a clear attend the Newport City James Pugh, that everyone was left with a brand that positions it as the Summit and Ill tell you why . County Industrial sense of excitement about the gateway to Wales. The future I went to a similar event in Supplies, citys future. Newport of Newport is being driven Newport five years ago and Cwmbran Unlimited has made some great by the commercial sector, felt that I was surrounded by strides forward in regenerating with technology companies civil servants, local governSadly we didnt the city, and reNewport has leading the way on building a ment officers and self-cenknow about the Newport now laid out its vision on how vibrant economy that tred, self-interested councilSummit. We would have been this can be taken forward, posiencourages commerce and lors and the like. On my very keen to have taken part tioning Newport as a city on makes the city a destination table, I was the only one from if invited to attend. County the rise. Positive changes are to go to, rather than avoid. manufacturing and all of the Industrial Supplies is a very definitely afoot in the city, and With the NATO Summit rest wanted to be on a beach successful, privately owned, more is yet to come.

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