Gwyneddbusiness Network
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GWYNEDD BUSINESS NETWORK Issue 9, Autumn 2013 Pictured, from left, Kelly Haynes, Vernon Oliver, Phil George and Mark Salisbury New Chapter for Historic Porthmadog Law Firm Lloyd George and Staff One of the longest established legal firms in Gwynedd is entering William continued to preside a new chapter of its history. William George & Son, based over the family firm, practising in Porthmadog, has just joined forces with Gamlins in a merger law until he died at the age of which will put them at the forefront of the legal profession in 101. Carrying on the family North Wales. The new company, Gamlins LLP, will employ a staff tradition for longevity, his son of 45 solicitors with ten offices across the region, providing a William Richard Philip took greater pool of expertise over a larger geographical area. over control of the business having qualified as a solicitor The firm of William George & Son in 1934. He remained in practice has an illustrious past. It was until his death in 2006 at the originally founded in 1885 by local age of 94. William’s son Philip solicitor David Lloyd George who continues to run the firm set up his own company in the from the Porthmadog office back parlour of his Uncle’s house and is looking forward to the in Criccieth. Success enabled company’s new era. He says: William George expansion into neighbouring towns and his brother William “This merger is a significant and exciting development in the joined the partnership in 1887. history of William George & Son. Not only does it secure the As Lloyd George began his rise to continuation of the business founded some 125 years ago by fame, eventually becoming the my great uncle David Lloyd George but it also means we will first and only Welsh Prime Minister, be able to provide a far wider range of legal services.” William took responsibility for the company providing much needed There may have been some changes since Philip’s grandfather funding for his brother’s political and great uncle bought the 103 High Street premises some David Lloyd George 1915 career. 100 years ago but it seems that now, with the formation of the new company Gamlins LLP, the future is assured. www.gamlins.com www.gwyneddbusnes. net 01 Boost for Creative Industries in North Wales Production company Cwmni Da is celebrating a move to new premises at Doc Fictoria in Caernarfon. The expansion follows a £2.1m investment, backed by funding from the Welsh Government and Cadw. Cwmni Da’s good news story highlights the creative sector’s growing importance to © Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales the economy of North Wales. On the Right Track this Summer Passenger numbers on two of Wales’ most popular narrow gauge railways have steamed ahead this summer. Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways report a substantial increase in year-on-year business with further development of the lines already well underway. In the year to the end of June Ffestiniog Railway traffic income was up 14% on 2012 and Welsh Highland Railway up 20%. It’s been two-way traffic for the Railways: not only have more Cwmni Da’s new premises and more visitors been flocking to get on board, but some Dylan Huws & Carwyn Jones, of the locomotives have been on excursions of their own, far the First Minister of Wales away from their North Wales home. Railway operators have been undertaking an extensive marketing programme, with Established in 1997 and now employing 73 staff, Cwmni Da locomotives on show in Heuston Station Dublin and London’s has built a reputation as one of Wales’ leading independent TV Paddington Station, at the Shrewsbury Flower Show, and the production companies. A major producer for S4C, Cwmni Da Great British Beer Festival at Olympia. also produce content for the BBC and C4. It enjoys a successful track record in the international market, with Paul Lewin, Managing Director, is pleased with the upturn existing co-productions in Germany and Brazil. Programme in visitor figures. “We’ve run a couple of eleven-car trains to formats have also gone global, such as Fferm Ffactor on Caernarfon because of the increased demand,” he says. “One Chinese TV. train left Porthmadog with 270 people on board and picked up more passengers on the way!” Dylan Huws, Cwmni Da Managing Director, says: “As well as our current initiative in Brazil, we are also working on a project The Railways development programme has continued apace with a German company for a World War I documentary using in 2013, with its current phase, the extension of the Cob at 3D imaging. Given the proximity of Manchester and London, Porthmadog, using 25,000 tons of rock. A new wall, signal box though, not to mention our long-standing links with Cardiff, and relay room have already been built, and work will proceed there are also great opportunities closer to home. over the winter to lay a new platform. The completed station layout should be receiving visitors by the summer of 2014. “We’re proud to be part of the North Wales creative hub and Government funding is currently being sought for the this investment is a statement of our commitment to our redevelopment of the station and Slate Quay area of future, the industry and the area.” Caernarfon, with a decision expected in the coming weeks. North Wales has a growing reputation for being at the Research has shown that it has been a bumper year for tourism forefront of the creative industries. Industry insiders identify in Wales, due in no small part to the soaring summer temperatures the potential for major development in the coming years in and fine weather. The success of the Railways reflects the areas such as TV production, software innovations, and overall good news story for attractions in the prinicipality. publishing. It is estimated that the sector employs 30,000 According to a recent survey 57% of Welsh tourism businesses people in over 4,200 enterprises across the whole of Wales reported an increase in August visitor numbers, with the figure and generates over £1.8bn annual turnover. To support the rising to 73% for the attractions sector. industry the North Wales Creative Industries Network (C6) launched in April. www.festrail.co.uk www.cwmnida.tv 02 www.gwyneddbusnes. net Tafarn y Fic Spearheads Go Full Circle Campaign A community enterprise run by locals since 1988, Tafarn y Fic in Llithfaen has been selected as an ideal focus for a new pan-Wales campaign. Go Full Circle seeks to raise awareness of social enterprises and highlight their value to the communities they serve. As part of the campaign launch, some of Wales’ best known musicians entertained locals at the Fic in a birthday celebration of its success over the last twenty-five years. Run by the Wales Co-operative Centre, Go Full Circle aims to show that social enterprises provide essential services in nearly every community, not least in some of Wales’ most deprived areas. They’re varied in nature, and can act as catalysts for community regeneration and hubs for development in fields including health, leisure, welfare, education and skills. Tafarn y Fic director Bleddyn Jones says: “There’s no doubt Tafarn y Fic has given confidence to the whole area. Seeing a Welsh business thrive is encouraging for people and there is a great deal of goodwill in the area towards what’s happening here.” Research has shown that social enterprises are actually outperforming some mainstream businesses, with 63% anticipating that turnover will increase over a two to three year period, compared with 37% of traditional SMEs. The Co-operative Centre’s chief executive, Derek Walker stresses the importance of the Campaign in highlighting the potential of community ventures: “Raising awareness of the existence and contribution of social enterprises and co-operatives like Tafarn y Fic in Wales will be key to increasing their number, sustainability and growth in the future.” Tafarn y Fic is renowned as a premier venue for Welsh language music in the area, and its birthday celebrations were marked by a concert starring artists that have supported the pub over the last quarter of a century. To ensure that the party went with a swing, singers Meic Stevens, Tecwyn Ifan and Geraint Lovegreen, together with folk-rock band Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, all stepped up to the mic. www.supportsocialenterprise.org.uk / www.tafarnyfic.com New Management Courses As part of the Elevate Cymru project, three new management training courses are on offer in November 2013. Designed to enable employers to boost the skill level and leadership capability of employees, the short courses are fully accredited and can contribute towards further qualifications. For private or third sector companies with employees based in Gwynedd, support provided by the programme is either fully or part-funded. The courses on offer are: • Effective Management & Performance: begins 11 November 2013, comprising 6 x day sessions ending on 9 December 2013 and delivered at The Management Centre, Bangor • Social Media Marketing: begins 15 November 2013, comprising 6 x day sessions ending 20 December 2013 and delivered at Bangor University • Introduction to Leadership: begins 19 November 2013, comprising 4 x day sessions ending on 10 December 2013 and delivered at The Management Centre, Bangor The emphasis is on the delivery of outputs which can be put to immediate practical use. Participants do not require an existing qualification in order to benefit. These courses are part of a rolling programme set to continue throughout 2014. Elevate Cymru is a pan Wales project providing access to a range of funded leadership and management courses.