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businessupdate
News
Tuesday April 16, 2013
Firm wins top safety accreditation
New Inn-based Dragon Commissioning has been awarded accreditation from safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety. Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors. Dragon Commissioning, which was set up in 2011 by Adrian and Clare Cootes, is principally involved in the utilities sector, specialising in the chlorination, pressure testing and sampling of commercial and domestic pipelines. Its most recent clients have included Noel Fitzpatrick, D T Civils, Exova, Dyno Plumb and Birse Rail. The companys application for safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. Adrian said: We found as a relatively new company we were under a lot of pressure to prove ourselves amongst the larger, well-known companies in the water/utilities industry. By becoming accredited with safecontractor we are able to show prospective clients that although we are a new company we always set ourselves up to achieve the highest possible standards, and will continue to do so. John Kinge, technical director of safecontractor, said: Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place. More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Dragon Commissioning has done.
Ross hopes to In brief clean up on walk G
Iconic building
went businessman Ross Porter will be putting his best foot forward later in the year in aid of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and the Combat Stress charity Ross, aged 40, from Pontllanfraith, is director of commercial and domestic cleaning firm Lady Muck Cleaning. The father of three has signed up to take part in the forthcoming Walk On Wales sponsored walk which starts on August 25. Ross, a native of Barmouth, is part of one of the 11 Walk on Wales relay teams which will walk the Welsh Coast Path, accompanied by Jan Koops and Rod Morgan, who will be walking the entire 870 miles. The teams will be carrying with them a specially commissioned silver baton inscribed with the names of those 50 Welsh Guardsmen who died while serving their country in Afghanistan, the Falklands, Iraq and Northern Ireland. In a journey of remembrance and thanks, the baton will travel the entire length of the stunning Welsh Coast Path before arriving back at Cardiff Bay. The baton is at the very heart of Walk on Wales. Inscribed with the rank, initials and surnames of the 50 Welsh Guards who have given their lives in active service since May 8, 1945, it embodies the spirit of these brave men, many of whom were well known to the people who will be carrying the baton around the Welsh coastline. The sterling silver baton has been commissioned and generously donated by Welsh Guards Rugby Reunion Club. The end caps are embossed with the Regimental crest and the cap rims with two Celtic crosses. The baton conceals a scroll which commemorates the eight soldiers from other regiments and Corps who were killed in action while attached to the Welsh Guards. Ross said: When I found out about the Walk On Wales appeal I had no hesitation in volunteering my
From page 1 of Newport Business Club, said: The fact that there was widespread interest from investors both from within the UK and also from mainland Europe, in acquiring in Clarence House, demonstrates the growing attraction that there is for Newport as a centre where people are confident that they will make a success in business. Clarence House remains an iconic beacon for business success on the River Usk in Newport. Its very welcome that the new owners have recognised the importance it has in the city and are now planning to invest in the building. Hutchings and Thomas are joint letting agents with Savills on Clarence House.
Steam workshop
Tata Steel teamed up with Carbon Trust Wales to hold a steam workshop for more than 80 employees and 20 representatives from other Welsh organisations after saving 185,000 through working with the Carbon Trust. The steel manufacturer, which has a base in Newport, has previously worked with Carbon Trust Wales to reduce energy consumption on several of its sites and recently made the impressive saving of 185,000 by streamlining the steam system at their Trostre plant to make it more energy efficient. The Making Sense of Steam workshop aimed to help other organisations identify whether steam might be an appropriate energy system for their sites. Speakers from the Carbon Trust and Tata Steel outlined the benefits of using steam systems and discussed appropriate alternatives where savings could be made.
Ross Porter, of Lady Muck Cleaning, will be taking part in the Walk on Wales sponsored walk in aid of Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and the Combat Stress charity
time to walk a stage of the event. I hope my involvement will encourage other people I know to join in and help raise funds for this worthy cause. I aim to raise 250 for the cause. Ross is limbering up to walk the Shell Island to Fairbourne, Gwynedd, stage of the walk on September 25. To find out how you can sign up and help, please go to [Link].
A great debate
With the increasing pressures on funding in the charity sector, Welsh charities have been invited to attend a free event in Cardiff to explore the implications of the changing funding environment they now face and raise any issues they might have with key decision makers and leading advisors from the third sector. Representatives from the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, the Charities Finance Group, Welsh Government, Big Lottery Fund, Broomfield & Alexander and Newportbased Centurion VAT Specialists will be meeting on April 24 to participate in a wide ranging and open discussion. The practical difficulties the third sector is experiencing in terms of financial management, audit and accounting concerns and the VAT pitfalls which charities are falling into will be raised by panellists. Liz Maher, director of Centurion VAT Specialists, said: This is a rare opportunity for charities to discuss funding issues with such an influential group. These are practical on the ground problems which build on the backdrop to funding issues in the sector which were with the Wales Audit Office report on Grants Management in Wales in November 2011.
Project highlighted at digital conference
A university project which uses hyperlocal media to champion the high street is to go on show at a national event. 3VTV, run by the University of Wales, Newports Centre for Hyperlocal Media, is working with small businesses in Blaenau Gwent to help them use digital marketing to connect with the customers on their doorsteps. Project manager Gemma Collins will be running a masterclass at Digital High Street 2013, a UK-wide event showcasing how technologies can help the nations high streets. Gemma said: 3VTV focuses on what hyperlocal media or media for a very specific audience can do to help town centres and independent traders. We hear so much about how the internet is killing the high street and its time we harnessed its potential to good effect for small traders. There are so many powerful products and initiatives around the UK using technology to help the high street. Its great to be involved in an event which allows many of these to come together, learn from each other and potentially collaborate. 3VTV is funded by the Welsh Government as a pilot project to investigate the potential of hyperlocal media to help the local economy. It is due to re-launch in late spring 2013 with a new look to help encourage people to support the county boroughs five towns and the independent businesses in them. The new-look [Link] will include: An individual profile page for independent businesses, with information including contact details, links to social media and a video advert Money-off vouchers and other incentives A Whats On calendar and other useful information designed to make 3VTV a onestop shop for Blaenau Gwent. Tickets for Digital High Street 2013, which takes place in Halifax on May 13 and 14, start at 48. For more details, go to [Link] or follow the hashtag #digihighst on Twitter. For more information on 3VTV, go to [Link]/.
Gemma Collins