A SNAPSHOT Welcome to our Snapshot of Antur Teifi.

Established in 1979, Antur Teifi has grown and developed from a small dedicated community enterprise group into one of the leading enterprise agencies in .

Having grown from a small but committed base Antur Teifi has an inherent understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing rural businesses and enterprises. That experience comes from our strong local roots in the Teifi Valley – a wealth of experience and knowledge that is proving to be relevant and inspirational to businesses across Wales.

2 40 YEARS OF PROMOTING PROSPERITY

This year Antur Teifi celebrates 40 years of promoting prosperity in Wales. Antur Teifi has grown and developed from a small dedicated community enterprise group into one of the leading enterprise agencies in Wales and is the delivery partner for the flagship Welsh Government Business Wales service in North, Mid and West Wales. Today it has offices in St.Asaph, Newtown and . Remaining true to its rural roots, the company’s Headquarters is still based in .

3 POTTED HISTORY

1979 Antur Teifi was founded in 1979 to assist the looking to re-enter the workforce and delivering two development of the local economy of the Teifi Valley. contracts on behalf of the Department of Works and European money was all important in those early Pensions. years and our aim was to ensure that the rural and predominantly Welsh-speaking communities of the West 1992 Tast y Teifi was set up designed to promote Welsh got their share of those European funds to enable the food produce leading to the creation of Cegin Cymru economy to respond to the challenges it faced. 1997 Enterprises was established after a 1982 Antur Teifi was recognised by Business in the merger with Dinefwr and enterprise companies. Community as the first enterprise agency in Wales. 2000 - Beginning of the journey of delivering various 1984 Business Support Services began. Government funded business support schemes culminating in the Business Wales Service as it is delivered 1989 Antur Teifi was chosen as one of 213 rural enterprise today. agencies to be part of the European Community’s LEADER programme 2010 Canta, Antur Teifi’s commercial Marketing and Consultancy arm established followed by Perspectif 1991 Antur Teifi opened a new information technology (Market Intelligence) in 2015 and telecommunications centre at Newcastle Emlyn and the establishment of Telemat. 2016 3 regional offices established in St. Asaph, Newtown and Carmarthen keeping the Headquarters in 1991 Hyfforddi was established which later became Newcastle Emlyn Trac Training providing specialist support for individuals

4 ANTUR TEIFI AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

The company has the same aim today as in 1979, which is to meet the needs of the businesses to which we deliver our services.

When the company was founded the following core objects were drawn up to support the work of Antur Teifi in the community and those objectives and action remain the same today:

• To foster and encourage the establishment of businesses and organisations

• To share information and give advice to businesses and enterprises

• To commission research surveys and studies

• To work with or become members of societies or organisations who support our aims

5 WHAT WE DO TODAY Antur Teifi Business Services COMMERCIAL Asset Finance As more and more high street banks close in our market towns, Antur Teifi’s commitment MORTGAGES Commercial to helping businesses is more important than AGRICULTURAL Vehicles ever. We know from working with hundreds Tailored finance solutions for existing and of businesses each year, that many of them miss the personal touch and the opportunity start-up businesses to develop and grow to discuss their situation and needs face-to- face. During the past year we have created several new partnerships in order to help businesses prosper and grow and as a result our business services portfolio now includes Card Payments Solutions, Business Energy Solutions, Asset Finance, Commercial Mortgages, Website & Graphic Design, EPOS Payment Tills and CCTV Intelligent Solutions.

6 Case Study Williams Estates moving in the right direction

Having gained 30 years’ experience as an estate agent, in 1999 Jason Williams decided to start his own business eventually opening branches in five towns across Denbighshire and employing 17 staff. When an opportunity arose to buy premises in a prime location in Mold, Jason jumped at the chance. However, he soon found that competition was intense and moving quickly was crucial. He was put in touch with the Business Development Manager at Antur Teifi who arranged the finance for Jason. His proposal was fast-tracked to the team at Shire Finance “If I’d had to wait much longer and the offer was on the table within three working days which really helped Jason to achieve his aspirations for for the funds I would have growth. lost the perfect premises for Jason himself was very impressed with the service. He said “The process was so simple and so quick. If I’d had expanding my business.” to wait much longer for the funds I would have lost the perfect premises for expanding my business.”

7 Towns Wi Fi project

Providing public wi-fi is being adopted by more-and more towns as an important development in creating marketing opportunities.

In June 2018, Telemat IT Support was successful in its bid to install a public access Wi-Fi system in six rural towns across Carmarthenshire. The innovative project funded as part of the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2014-2020 will provide the town centres of Carmarthen, , , St. Clears, & Pembrey and Ammanford with free, fast and safe access to superfast Wi- Fi over a 2 year pilot period.

The data captured as part of the project will be analysed Telemat is well suited to deliver the town wi-fi service as its by the Telemat team and by two digital apprentices position within Antur Teifi enables it to clearly understand employed by Antur Teifi. Stacey and Rhys will help the needs of business. This is reflected in its broad range businesses interpret the data collected in order for them to of IT services that provides business with the hardware and understand how making good use of digital platforms can software and support services to make the most of the improve their marketing activities. opportunities that an efficient IT system can help realise.

8 Case Study Llandrindod Wells

Jude Boutle was Llandrindod Town Champion when this work was commissioned on behalf of Powys and was instrumental in commissioning the work said, “the system Powys County Council has invested in is I believe unique in Wales. What makes it different to what is on offer in other towns across Wales is that it doesn’t just deliver free public access to wi-fi in public spaces in the town but it provides analytical information which can be used by businesses.”

She stressed the value to businesses of having this knowledge in order to plan their marketing activities by means of live data cannot be underestimated. “. . . it provides analytical The other innovative feature the system offers - which information which can be used will also be a huge benefit to businesses - is the link to the town website where businesses that have an by businesses.” account can create promotions which can be seen when people log onto the wi-fi.

9 Brechfa Forest Wind Farm Project in partnership with Innogy

In June, 2018, Antur Teifi was commissioned by Innogy to administer the Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Community Fund. The fund makes £11m available over 25 years to the community surrounding the wind farm to help with economic and social issues. The fund is open to voluntary or community organisations and PTA’s on behalf of schools within a 6km radius of the wind farm.

The first grant panel was held in August 2018 where £60k was allocated to local projects and a second grant panel in November 2018 shared a total of £133k to fund a further 9 projects. Moishe Merry, started work as Fund Manager for the project in October.

10 Brechfa Case Study Village toilets open for business!

Brechfa Village Trust has secured a £1,500 grant paid annually over the next 10 years which will ensure that the public toilets remain open for locals and visitors to the area.

Mari Mitchell is Secretary of the Village Trust. “The upkeep of the toilets has been an on-going issue since they were built in 1980 with responsibility being passed from pillar to post right up until 2014 when the Trust took over from Carmarthenshire County Council. The grant will help cover the utility costs and insurance whilst the current army of The Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm Community Fund is volunteers will continue with the cleaning duties.” open to voluntary or community organisations and PTA’s on behalf of schools within a 6km radius of the wind farm . The Community Fund Manager at Antur Teifi said “The For more information about the fund and to find out if your fund panel was impressed with the way the community organisation or project could be eligible for funding contact has risen to the challenge of taking on the responsibility [email protected] of maintaining the toilets. The commitment of the Trust and the volunteers in continuing to provide this service in the locality made them very deserving of the funding they received.”

11 Antur Teifi has been delivering the Welsh Government’s flagship Business Wales service since 2012. Our re-appointment in 2016 now sees us deliver in a broader geographical area that includes the whole of north Wales to add to mid and south west working Case Study from offices in St.Asaph, Newtown and Carmarthen. From developing The comprehensive BW workshop programme is an important channel for business plans, to securing finance identifying and ultimately nurturing individuals, start-ups, existing businesses and taking on additional staff, the with specific needs and opportunities to realise, through to growth clients. service can provide a wide range of To this end we were commissioned by Business Wales to organise a series of support services to help businesses case study events to present the personal story of businesses and outline the grow as well as providing a bespoke support received by BW as part of that journey throughout the delivery area pre-start and start-up support which included businesses in Dolgellau, Llandysul, Milford Haven, Machynlleth, service. Lampeter, Carmarthen, Caernarfon, St. David’s and Llanddarog.

12 Bootcamp to business 2019

29 young entrepreneurs from across north Wales spent the weekend (15–17 April) at an intensive three-day residential Bootcamp event designed to equip them with essential skills to bring their business ideas to life. This is the third Bootcamp organised by David Bannister and the team at Antur Teifi as part of the Big Ideas Wales Welsh Government’s Youth Entrepreneurship Service.

The ‘Bootcamp to Business’ event at Glan-llyn, Bala, was open to business minded young people aged between 18-25. The young people spent the weekend meeting established business people and entrepreneurial talent from all walks of life. The variety of workshops included a speed- dating session with Big Ideas Wales Role Models!

13 Case Study

One young person who attended the Bootcamp in March was Jessica Peck. In October last year, Jessica visited a zero-waste shop in Narberth for the first time which inspired her to set up her own shop. She said “Big Ideas Wales was a great help. The Business Adviser helped me with my business plan and the financial side of starting a business which I struggled with before. He was also instrumental in me achieving my start-up loan which meant I could open my shop”.

14 Antur Teifi Business Park, Aberarad, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, SA38 9DB.

01239 710238 anturteifi.org.uk