logo
Council Leader Calls for Collaboration at Powys Business Awards Launch

Council Leader Calls for Collaboration at Powys Business Awards Launch

Business leaders attending the launch of this year's prestigious Powys Business Awards were encouraged to collaborate with Powys County Council to grow the economy and create jobs.
Council leader Councillor Jake Berriman declared 'Powys is open for business' and outlined the investment made by the authority.
'If we want Powys to grow then we need to invest in businesses like yourselves so that we can continue to provide employment for a healthy economy,' he told the awards launch at Themes Restaurant, NPTC Newtown Campus. 'The more we do together, the better.'
He revealed that the council's £1 million Powys local business growth grant fund had generated £10 million in investment and had created 200 jobs.
He also revealed that a field alongside NPTC Newtown Campus will be developed as an advanced manufacturing centre which he described as 'a place for innovation and learning'.
'When you come into Newtown and see what is happening here, it's so dynamic,' he added.
This year's Powys Business Awards will have a dozen categories, including the new Business-Education Partnership Award Sponsored by Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership.
This award recognises best practice and collaboration between employers and educational establishments. The existing partnership must have been created in the last three years, have made a significant impact on student achievement and the school and demonstrate sustainability and innovation
Teresa Peel-Jones, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership employer engagement officer, said businesses across Powys and Ceredigion were keen to engage with school pupils much earlier so that they can make informed career choices.
'The employer link is crucial and that's why we are going to develop that relationship with schools,' she added. 'There is going to be a consistent approach from now on.'
The other categories are: Start-up Business Award, sponsored by EvaBuild, Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welshpool Printing Group, Micro Business Award (less than 10 employees), sponsored by Myrick Training Services, Growth Award, sponsored by WR Partners, Small Business Award (under 30 employees) sponsored by BCRS Business Loans, Social Enterprise/ Charity Award, sponsored by RWE, Technology & Innovation Award, sponsored by Aberystwyth University, People Development Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges, Sole Trader Award, sponsored by The County Times, Business in the Community Award, sponsored EDF and Excellence in Sustainability Award, sponsored by the Wesh Government.
The overall Powys Business of the Year is sponsored by Powys County Council, whilst the Judge's Award is sponsored by the awards organiser, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG).
Ceri Stephens, group manager of MWMG, said the award categories had been selected to showcase the diverse range of successful enterprises across Powys.
'There is something for everyone regardless of size or sector, to highlight and celebrate the excellent businesses that we have here in Powys,' she said.
Closing date for entries is July 27. Visit www.powysbusinessawards.co.uk for more information. The award ceremony will be held at The Hafren, Newtown on October 17.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Work has a massive impact on your whole life'
‘Work has a massive impact on your whole life'

Telegraph

time8 hours ago

  • Telegraph

‘Work has a massive impact on your whole life'

On average, each of us will spend 90,000 hours at work across our lifetimes. What we do with that time – where it's spent, who it's with and the impact of the work we do – can have a seismic impact on our happiness, both in and out of work. Work and happiness have not historically been linked, but increasingly the business case for happy employees has become not only understood but embedded within corporate strategies. In the past decade, and even more acutely post-pandemic, the lines between our personal and professional lives have been blurred as ideas of what a business exists for shift from exclusively profit-driven to serving its community, employees and planet alongside its owners and shareholders. And as the corporate world takes a more integrated view of business's role in society, employees are being viewed more holistically, as well as expecting more from employers – elevating the importance of health, wellbeing and happiness so that they are on par with performance, talent and productivity. The building blocks for happiness Susie Wilson has worked at The Plan Group for 17 years, a family-owned independent insurance intermediary selling commercial insurance as well as specialising in niche personal lines insurance, namely home, travel and pedal cycle insurance for cyclists. She's had a front-row seat to the shift in values across the business world: 'Where you work has a massive impact in your whole life,' she says. 'And if you've got a happy workforce, you'll have less employee turnover, less time and money spent on recruitment, and a much more productive and engaged workforce that produces better-quality work.' As head of HR & risk, Wilson is committed to ensuring that happiness is embedded within the company. 'There's a lot that goes into happiness at work, but two big factors are flexible working and continuous learning and development,' she says. 'After Covid, we switched to a hybrid model. I think that definitely reduces stress – for example, I started later to let me do the school run, which is a massive help because childcare is so hard to find.' Wilson also points out that a hybrid model allows The Plan Group to widen its recruitment net and source the best talent, rather than being restricted to a catchment area. 'People are willing to commute one or two days a week if they don't live in the area – but they definitely wouldn't if it was five days a week.' Learning, development and training are also crucial elements to fostering a happy workforce according to Wilson. 'It's so important for employees to grow with the job, because roles don't stay the same. I've been here 17 years, and my job has changed every couple of years. If I was still doing what I was doing when I started, I don't think I'd be happy.' The Plan Group has embedded learning throughout the organisation to ensure that employees have access to growth opportunities, upskilling and professional qualifications. 'We've got an in-house training team and we use an online learning management system to really drive engagement and growth.' Digital learning platforms allow employees to take their professional growth and development into their own hands, such as leading HR, payroll and finance provider MHR's People First platform. This allows employees to cut out the noise and focus on their growth journey more effectively as there's no need to switch between platforms, thanks to the all-in-one ecosystem the tech provides. Empowering employees to have a say in the organisation is also important to a happy, thriving workplace. 'We have an open-door policy,' says Wilson. 'If anyone has a problem or something they want to discuss, we're never too busy to talk to them.' The Plan Group has employee-led committees to incorporate staff opinions, values and interests into how the business operates. Its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee decides how the organisation's CSR budget will be spent every year, while its social events committee ensures that work socials are inclusive and open to all employees. 'Asking what employees think is really important. That's why we do our annual employee survey and always take the feedback to our directors and see what we can put into place.' Business is personal The other increasingly talked-about facet of happiness at work is how we connect to our jobs through values, meaning and purpose. Three of The Plan Group's directors – brothers Scott, Ryan and Grant – are keen cyclists and noticed that finding cycle insurance was difficult. 'They had a passion for it, so they manufactured a policy for cycle insurance,' says Wilson, 'and now we've got two brands that do cycling insurance: Yellow Jersey and Pedal Cover. 'I think that doing meaningful work boosts self-esteem,' she says. 'Aligning work with values and passions often comes down to the environment and the relationships. We've got People First,' she adds, referring to MHR's people platform that empowers employees, prioritises experiences and drives engagement to foster a happier, more productive workforce. 'On there, you can add recognitions about employees, and also keep people updated about what other people in the company have been doing. You might see something on there that affects you or that you're passionate about and then you can get involved or offer to support.' Crucially, Wilson says, it comes down to connecting your employees to the organisation's values. 'If you've got people that are aligned with your values, then you'll get people that are happier in their work.'

Programme to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance Wins Awards
Programme to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance Wins Awards

Business News Wales

time9 hours ago

  • Business News Wales

Programme to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance Wins Awards

Arwain DGC's pioneering work to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock and the environment in Wales has been recognised at an international awards presentation. The Antibiotic Guardian 2024/25 Shared Learning & Awards champions organisations and individuals who have 'demonstrated achievements in tackling antimicrobial resistance at a local, regional, or national level'. Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthficrobaidd Cyfrifol / Responsible Antimicrobial Use) is a Welsh Government-funded programme led by Mentera, dedicated to preventing antibiotic resistance in animals and the environment by supporting farmers and vets through data-driven decisions, innovative technologies, and best practices. Arwain DGC was shortlisted in three categories at the Antibiotic Guardian event in Birmingham – 'Animal Health, Agriculture & Food Supply', 'Innovation and Technology', and 'Public Engagement'. Arwain DGC was named overall winner in two categories 'Animal Health, Agriculture & Food Supply' and 'Innovation and Technology'. The programme's work in creating a coordinated approach to AMR for livestock and the environment in Wales earned Arwain DGC its award in the 'Animal Health, Agriculture & Food Supply' category. The 'Innovation and Technology' category award recognised Arwain's work with project partner Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers to produce an antimicrobial use (AMU) calculator, which has yielded vital data on antibiotic use on farms in Wales. While the nomination in the 'Public Engagement' category was for Arwain's participation in the 'One Wales, One Health' campaign – a partnership between Public Health Wales, Arwain DGC, and primary and secondary care organisations throughout Wales Dewi Hughes, Mentera Animal Health Services Manager and Arwain DGC programme manager, said: 'We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud that Arwain DGC's work has been recognised alongside such strong entries from both the animal and human health fields. This recognition demonstrates how integral reducing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is for One Health. 'These awards reflect the commitment and skill of Arwain DGC's programme partners across the agricultural industry and academia and demonstrate the work they have undertaken to challenge AMR in livestock and the environment in Wales. 'We would like to thank all the farmers and vets who are involved in Arwain DGC, without whom we wouldn't be able to do what we do.' Iestyn Tudur-Jones representing Welsh Lamb & Beef Producers Ltd, which is a partner in the Arwain DGC programme, said: 'We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud that the commitment and dedication that Welsh farmers working with their vets to evidence their antibiotic usage by utilizing technology has been recognised among such strong entries from both the animal and human sectors – Welsh Lamb & Beef Producers farmer members through the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock scheme working in conjunction with their vets are leading the UK and Europe in evidencing the use of antibiotics responsibly. 'Not only does this demonstrate the work they have undertaken to challenge AMR in livestock and the environment in Wales but it goes a long way to evidence and underpin the production credentials of our livestock sector in Wales. A true team effort – with farmers taking responsibility and being supported by industry partners and government.' AMR is classed as a global 'One Health' challenge, and there are calls for urgent multisectoral action. AMR has been described by The World Health Organisation as an issue where 'without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill'. Launched in 2014, the One Health Antibiotic Guardian Campaign started as an online action-based pledge system to increase engagement in tackling AMR through improving knowledge and changing behaviour across human and animal health. Previous award winners have included UK and multinational companies and organisations. Arwain DGC's goal is to continue positioning Wales as a global leader in the fight against AMR by nurturing collaboration, promoting innovation, and sharing knowledge to ensure that antibiotics remain effective for animal and human health for future generations. Working with farmers, veterinarians, researchers, and industry experts, Arwain DGC implements a comprehensive, coordinated approach to reducing AMR. Activities include the promotion of antimicrobial stewardship, technological innovation, antimicrobial use monitoring, AMR surveillance, and knowledge exchange.

South Africa's MultiChoice swings to full-year loss
South Africa's MultiChoice swings to full-year loss

Reuters

time10 hours ago

  • Reuters

South Africa's MultiChoice swings to full-year loss

JOHANNESBURG, June 11 (Reuters) - South African pay television company MultiChoice (MCGJ.J), opens new tab swung to a full-year headline loss as it contended with the ongoing "unprecedented" financial strain on economies, corporates and consumers across the continent. MultiChoice, which is a takeover target of France's Canal+ (CAN.L), opens new tab, reported on Wednesday an adjusted core headline loss of 800 million rand ($45.13 million) in the year ended March 31, from headline earnings of 1.3 billion rand a year earlier. ($1 = 17.7281 rand)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store