WTBusiness Sponsored by LUCKY LAWRENCE MONEY MATTERS Swapping the farm for Your financial designing kitchens questions answered • Pages 54 and 55 • Page 56 ❚ Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 • www.westerntelegraph.co.uk Saturation is the aim Cool deal as water flows into England BY DEBBIE JAMES The acquisition gives the compa- ny a depot in south Wales,along- AN award-winning side its existing depot in Chepstow. Pembrokeshire company which “This gives us blanket coverage in supplies water coolers to offices south Wales,’’ said Mr Jones. across Wales has doubled in size Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd’s following its acquisition of a major clients include Stena Line, rival firm. Chevron and Murco and it has been Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd, the preferred supplier of spring which employs 14 people at its site water to the Welsh Rugby Union. It near Narberth, has bought the is the only Welsh company to be a Porthcawl Water Company in a member of both the European move that will create the biggest Point-of-Use Drinking Water firm of its kind in Wales. Association and the British Water Managing director Glyn Jones Cooler Association. says the acquisition will result in The spring water used in its cool- his company having 5,000 water ers is sourced from Mr Jones’ farm- cooler placements in Wales. land at Princes Gate,which is certi- The company has noW set its fied as organic by the Soil sights across the Severn Bridge. Association. “We plan to expand our market fur- ther into England,’’ says Mr Jones, BUYOUT: Glyn Jones (left), who established Princes Gate Cool managing director of Princes Water Ltd in March 2001, with his Gate Cool Water, seals the deal brother,David. “We have always with Willie McIver, chairman of been keen to saturate the Welsh Porthcawl Water. market and to become market lead- ers in the UK.’’ The acquisition comes just months after Princes Gate Cool Water Ltd was named Pembrokeshire Business of the New home building cut by a third Year at the Pembrokeshire business awards. RECENT statistics reveal months from March to May 2008 9,165 – a decrease of 14% on the 40,271 in the three months to the Mr Jones says the Porthcawl that the number of applica- – a 38% decrease on the same same period a year ago (10,638). end of May this year - 14% Water Company was an ideal match tions from builders to start three month period a year ago. Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC chief lower on the same period last for the business at Princes Gate. new homes fell by more than Of that total, 24,917 related to executive, said: “Our figures year when 46,646 neW homes “Porthcawl Water’s quality of ser- a third during the three- private sector activity,showing shoW that so far this year there were completed. vice is similar to our own,’’ he says. month period from March to a 44% decrease on the same have been 58,863 neW homes Additional figures for the “Both companies are committed to May. three month period in 2007. started by the combined private three months from March to customer service and we pride our- Figures from the National Housing association figures and public sectors,represent- May 2008 shoW that the average selves on being able to deliver a House Building Council for the three months to the end ing a drop of 34% on the same number of daily sales of neW quality service,and supply a quali- (NHBC) shoW that there were of May also revealed a decrease period in 2007.” homes in the UK was 452, a ty product, which is reflected in our 34,082 applications to start neW in applications,although less NHBC statistics reveal that decrease of 18% on the same rapidly increasing client-base.’’ homes in the UK in the three severe,with starts totalling neW build completions totalled period a year ago (549). by Pembrokeshire’s ! 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PEMBROKE DOCK services for your business...services for you Sponsored by 52 ❚ Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 • westerntelegraph.co.uk WTBusiness Number of new companies falls by 4% THE number of new com- of new research showing Jordans,said the figures the total to almost 470,000. formed in Wales at a rate panies formed in Wales that all but two areas of the suggest the slowdown began Much of the increase that equivalent to almost 950 a this financial year fell by UK experienced a decrease. around September and coin- year was due to the change month,” said Paul almost 4% to 11,392, Jordans’ research shows cided with the first effects of in the Government’s tax Townsend. according to figures from a year-on-year drop in com- the credit squeeze. treatment of managed ser- “There is obviously more Jordans. pany formations,from He said there was a mixed vice companies,many of caution among entrepre- The drop from 11,839 for 70,000 to 374,021 – down 16% picture for 2007-2008, com- which formed private limit- neurs but there are still con- the previous 12 months was in 12 months. pared to the almost univer- ed companies instead. siderable numbers of peo- revealed by corporate ser- Paul Townsend, director sal rises of the previous “A lthough there was a ple willing to form their vices firm Jordans as part of corporate services at year,when a 20% rise took fall, new enterprises were own company. ” WOMAN in business ambassador, Lynette Thomas. Lynette Get into makes support the zone her role LYNETTE Thomas, women in business ambassador for mix for Pembrokeshire, is part of a team in Wales which is revolutionising the way local female entrepre- neurs are supported by their bank. The team, which formed as of advice the RBS Group and includes NatWest and The Royal Bank of Scotland,became the only BY DEBBIE JAMES incorporates accountancy, NEW arrival: Jeremy Bowen-Rees is launching the Landsker Business Zone at the UK organisation to offer rela- architectural and legal County Show. tionship managers dedicated THE diversity of busi- firms,aweb designer,an PICTURE: Debbie James. to female entrepreneurs. nesses supporting the HR adviser,apublic rela- Business Zone will be Nia Chris Evans,asolicitor each day on a range of top- Based in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire County tions consultant, an IT spe- Marshall, a human with Morgan La Roche, ics and refreshments will be Lynette is dedicated to sup- Show is set to broaden yet cialist, among others. resources consultant. appreciates how important available. porting and developing further this year after a Mr Bowen Rees said the She had previously the show is to the economy County Show general female enterprise as part of partnership representing show was the ideal place to worked as a HR manager in of Wales.His grandparents manager, Malcolm the banks’ new women in different business sectors bring the partners together. London before setting up were farmers and he grew Crossman, said the show business service. announced it has signed “There is a lot happening her own business in up in Crymych. committee was focused on The service was launched up as an exhibitor. within both the agricultural Pembrokeshire. She hopes “We went to the show bringing variety to the in response to the continuing The Landsker Strategic and non-agricultural busi- to build up her client base at every year,’’ he said. “It is event, and drawing lack of female entrepreneurs Partnership,which is made ness communities locally the show. very exciting that the show exhibitors from the busi- in the small business sector. up of a network of comple- and we are keen to strength- “My own research and will be our platform to ness support sector was At present women represent mentary businesses with a en our position within these that undertaken nationally expand our business inter- very much a part of this. only a third of those self- broad range of skills,will areas.’’ suggests that businesses ests in Pembrokeshire.” “A ll businesses,whether employed in the UK. come together for the first “We want to show people don’t invest enough in their Morgan La Roche will be agricultural or not, need Research shows that while time at the three-day show. that it is possible to access people,even though their running a competition at back up from accountants, 20% of women consider The Landsker Business locally a broad range of greatest asset is their staff,’’ the show, where, in return solicitors and a wide vari- starting a business only half Zone marquee aims to be a skills and business support, she said. for supplying their business ety of other services,so we of that 20% actually do. ‘one stop shop’for any busi- easily,informally and in a There will also be Morgan card, visitors will have the are delighted that the Lynette said: “It’s really ness enquiry. way that is entirely cus- La Roche, a commercial law opportunity to win tickets Landsker Business Zone rewarding to be able to help It is being pioneered by tomer focused,” he added. firm which has a broad to watch either the Ospreys has been established at this local women realise their Whitland business consul- Among the partners client base in or the Swans in action. year’s show, ”said Mr dream of running a success- tant,Jeremy Bowen Rees.It exhibiting at the Landsker Pembrokeshire.