The ambitious Oakdale Strategic Development reap major grant

Information Technology Communication Grants - eCommerce GrantsInvestment grantsfor business inWalesThe Welsh Assembly Government deliverstwo discretionary investment grant schemesto businesses in Wales - RSA Cymru Wales(RSA) and the Assembly Investment Grant(AIG).For both schemes, almost all manufacturing sectors areeligible as are many service sectors that serve more than justthe local market. Retail businesses and local services such asgarages, nurseries and hairdressers are not eligible. Qualifyingexpenditure can include the acquisition of new or secondhand capital assets such as plant and machinery, IT and officeequipment, buildings and in some cases, intangible capital assets(such as patent rights).Assembly InvestmentGrant (AIG)AIG is a discretionary, fast-trackgrant scheme which is designedspecifically to help small andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs)make new commercially viablecapital investments in their businesses.Grants of between £5,001 and£50,000 are available, but theamount of grant that may beoffered will always be the minimumnecessary to enable the investmentto go ahead - need for grant mustbe demonstrated and the amountquantified.RSA Cymru Wales (RSA)RSA is a discretionary grantscheme, which exists to helpbusinesses of any size to carry outnew commercially viable capitalinvestment projects that create orsafeguard permanent jobs.RSA is designed for businessesneeding more than £50,000 offinancial assistance. There is noupper limit, but the amount ofgrant that may be offered willalways be the minimum necessaryto enable the investment to goahead - need for grant must bedemonstrated and the amountquantified.An additional New Deal PlusPremium of up to £6,000 per job isavailable to employers who take onlong-term unemployed people aspart of an RSA assisted project.During 2004 - 05, 34 businesseswere approved for an AIG inCaerphilly County Borough,receiving grant offers totallingalmost 1 million. During the sameperiod, 15 businesses in CaerphillyCounty Borough received offersof RSA with a total value of almost£7.5 million. These projectsinvolve capital investment of nearly£23 million and are projected tocreate 351 new jobs and safeguarda further 441.This ranked Caerphilly CountyBorough businesses amongst thetop in Wales to receive investmentgrants from the Welsh AssemblyGovernment. Many of thesebusinesses have received helpand advice from the EconomicDevelopment team to enable themto apply for AIG or RSA.Welsh Assembly Government08454 101010 www.investmentgrants.wales.gov.ukHi-tech crime fighting solutionsAnother business at the cutting edge of technology has moved into theTredomen Innovation & Technology Centre, Ystrad Mynach. The business,Vida Solutions, provides new solutions to preventing crime in the businesscommunity by using the very latest technologies and products.Vida Solutions was formed in 2004 and is operating in both the UK andSpain - with the British side of the company focussing on providing securityconsultancy services to businesses and the Spanish operation concentratingon security solutions for the domestic market.Vida Solutions has successfully accessed an Assembly Investment Granttowards the cost of remote monitoring facilities at Tredomen BusinessPark. This Monitoring Centre will enable the client to view any of theirsites in real time on their PC or phone from any location in the world.“We are very grateful to the Council for assisting us with a BusinessPlanning Grant and guiding us through the process of applying for anAssembly Investment Grant”, said Steve Goodwin, Director. “TheMonitoring Centre at Tredomen Business Park will enable our businessto expand and become a global security consultancy which will help tomitigate business risk in our communities.“Vida Solutions Ltd. 01443 812737 Email: bob@vidasolutions.co.ukL-R: Senior project officer Stan Marcola with Dave Barker from Valleys Rubber & B&A’s Mark Jones.Business with bounceA new specialist rubber manufacturing business has set up on PenalltaIndustrial Estate with help from the Welsh Assembly Government and theCouncil, safeguarding 16 jobs.Hampshire-based rubber manufacturer, Cellular Developments Limited(CDL), has bought the assets of the former Roulunds Codan (Wales)operation, which produced rubber hoses and mouldings for the automotiveindustry. The new company will trade as Valley Rubber Limited, and willcapitalise on Roulunds Codan’s expertise in the automotive sector, expandingits range of products and creating a research and development capability.The financial package, negotiated by professional advisors Broomfieldand Alexander, included an RSA Cymru grant from the Welsh AssemblyGovernment, and a Business Planning Grant from the Council.CDL, which is ISO 9000 registered, has built its success on offeringtechnical solutions and advice on rubber products to designers and engineers,and on the ability to progress to rapid prototyping. Valley Rubber has itsown laboratory and technical personnel, and will maintain CDL’s approachof involvement in the design and engineering of components. The companyholds and will maintain the TS16949 Quality approval standard, which enablesit to supply to the highest level of automotive applications.Valley Rubber Ltd 01443 865013Useful contact numbers Economic Development 01443 866222Head of Economic DevelopmentPhil Davy 01443 864208Business Development OfficerIan MacVicar 01443 866240Tourism OfficerDavid Nutt 01495 235871European OfficerVictoria Phillips 01443 864416Caerphilly Fast4WardAndrew Whitcombe 01495 233110Property ManagerGareth Porter 01443 866221regional selective assistance Grants - Business planning grantsbusiness enquiries: 01443 866222

Bisnet - Promoting the use of ICT’s to small and medium sized business in Caerphilly County BoroughLegalities of eCommerceGet free ICTtrainingAll businesses can benefit fromhelp to improve their web skills tooptimise their website and ensurethat it is working for the full benefitof the business. Regular trainingcourses are provided free of chargeat the IT Training Suite, TredomenBusiness & Technology Centre,Ystrad Mynach. The courses aredesigned to for all levels of ability,from the basics upwards andapply to all sectors of the businesscommunity in Caerphilly CountyBorough.Formal training courses aredelivered by accredited trainers onareas including:• Domain name registration• Understanding web hosting• Web design basics• Basic web development forretailers• Digital image manipulationIn addition to formal trainingcourses the Bisnet Advisorsprovide one-to-one introductionsto a wide range of businesssoftware either in the CaerphillyICT Centre or, if appropriate, atyour business premises.Caerphilly Bisnet 01443 866205The success of the Caerphilly eBusiness Clubcontinues and September’s meeting about theLegalities of eCommerce was fully subscribedwith Miles Rees, from The Patent Officespeaking about copyright, patents and domainregistrations and Jeff Wright from Morgan Coleadvising on managing the risks of eCommerce(see article below “There’s nothing to fear fromtrading on-line”.)Jeff Wright is a partner and one of MorganCole’s management team, responsiblefor IT services, e-business and knowledgemanagement. Having joined Morgan Cole in1992 as a trainee, he practiced as a litigator foreight years before establishing a business unit,the legal innovation team, who streamline legalprocesses for case management, automatedocuments and develop e-business ideas. SinceJanuary 2004 Jeff has been Information andTechnology Director.On the e-business front, Jeff has led thedevelopment of a multimedia e-learningproduct aimed at improving managers’ HRskills called @once (www.once.pro). Jeff andthe I & T Group are engaged in other similarprojects that assist in differentiating MorganCole by combining the firm’s legal expertiseand use of technology to deliver legal services inan innovative way.The eBusiness Club is held on the firstTuesday of every month between 5.30 pm and7.00 pm at Tredomen Innovation & TechnologyCentre, Hengoed.• December: Backups, disaster recovery andcontingency planningCaerphilly eBusiness Club 01443 866205Keen as mustard - Grant helps firm go globalPurple Mustard based on Pantglas Industrial Estate, Caerphilly, manufacturesvisual communications material, and in particular they utilise and improveold technology methods. The business has recently undergone a rapidexpansion, both taking on new staff and also broadening their customerbase in Europe.Purple Mustard originated from Commissioned Sublimation Printersand started up in business last year and moved into the manufacture of acomprehensive range of Matting Products. They also work with partners inthe research and development of new and unique product ideas.“We have a large, modern production facility which gives us thecapability to service a worldwide market at competitive prices. A largeproportion of our output is the production and printing of advertisingand logo mats and providing a commissioned nitrile bonding service. TheeCommerce Grant has enabled us to promote our products worldwide,”said Jon Perry, Managing Director, Purple Mustard, “The website has beendesigned to be easily updated, which is particularly important for newproducts that we are developing.”Purple Mustard 02920 864555 www.purplemustard.co.ukeCommerce - There’s nothing to fear from trading onlineMorgan Cole is a 450-strong lawfirm, working in specialist legaland industry-focused teams acrossSouth Wales (Cardiff and Swansea),London and the Thames Valley.The Legal 500 ranks it in the toptier of information technologypractices in both Wales and theSouth East.“Businesses have nothing tofear from trading online”, says JeffWright, partner and Information& Technology Director, MorganCole, “The key to success is beingaware of, and managing the risksassociated with, e-commerce.”“Central to this is having a goodset of terms and conditions(Ts & Cs) that governs therelationship with your customersand that sets mutual expectationsand obligations. It’s good practiceto bring key information (whichshould be contained in your Ts& Cs) to customer’s attentionboth before, and immediatelyafter, each transaction and whendealing with consumers, it’s a legalrequirement. Basic information likeprice, arrangements for payment,cancellation rights and extra costs(like delivery charges) needs to beput clearly on your website andspelt out in your conditions of sale.”“Clever website design (likerequiring customers to click toaccept your Ts & Cs before anorder is accepted for processing)and good after-sales procedures(like including paper copies ofyour Ts & Cs on delivery ofthe goods/services) will help toensure that you comply with theConsumer Protection (DistanceSelling) Regulations 2001. Theseregulations detail all the informationthat you must provide when tradingonline (in B2C) and that you shouldprovide as a matter of good practice(in B2B) situations.”Businesses that capture datafrom customers and prospectivecustomers also need to beaware of and comply with theData Protection Act – moreinformation is available from www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk theInformation Commissioner’s ownwebsite.For advice on your terms andconditions, complying with the DataProtection Act and selling onlinecontact Morgan Cole on 02920 385385or visit www.morgan-cole.com – forassistance with employment issuesvisit www.once.pro or call02920 385385 too.email: bisnet@caerphilly.gov.uk - bisnet enquiries: 01443 866228

Environmental issues - Helping business achieve environmental best practiceProtecting the environmentKay Premium Marking FilmsLtd has invested £1/2 million tokeep ahead in environmentalprotection. The companyhas installed a new thermaloxidiser to clean the exhaustair stream and incineratesolvent emissions from itsmanufacturing plant onPen-y-Fan Industrial Estate.The new installation,which employs state-of-theartregenerative technology,ensures that the companycontinues to comply withboth UK and EU emissionsregulations, which preventand control pollution. KPMFhave already confirmedtheir commitment to theA packaging specialist based in Caerphilly has gaineda prestigious environmental management award inrecognition of its ‘green’ practices.Dayworth Packaging has successfully attained Level 2of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard and hopesthe firm’s commitment to energy efficiency will helpthem achieve real environmental benefits, as well as costsavings, in the future. The Green Dragon scheme offersan environmental management system relevant to thespecific needs of any company, large or small.Local businessman David Elsworth set up DayworthPackaging in 2002. The firm supplies a wide variety ofpackaging products and also offers an in-house design andmanufacture service for boxes and cartons, which can bemade to customers’ exact specifications.environment by implementingthe environmental managementsystems and achieving ISO14001. The new thermaloxidiser is energy efficient andrecovers heat energy releasedin the processes. In the longerterm, KPMG are planning toimprove their energy efficiencyfurther, using waste heat fromtheir processes to heat thefactory in winter.“We are committed to thewellbeing of our communityand the environment inwhich we live,” said KPMF’smanaging director, GaryThompson, “Throughout our13 years in South Wales, wehave endeavoured to be at theforefront in our industry whenit comes to environmentalprotection systems and thisnew oxidation plant is atangible symbol of this.”Kay Premium Marking FilmsLtd is the only manufacturer inthe UK of high-grade cast vinylfilms specified by the automotive,aircraft and shipping industriesfor branding and used in signmakingand similar graphicapplications. They are also theonly self-adhesive film manufacturerin the world to achieve the ISO/TS 16949 accreditation.Kay PremiumMarking Films Ltd.01495 242300 www.kpmf.comDayworth Packaging is boxing clever“The Green Dragon program has many benefits forus as a successful company, by helping us understandand control the environmental impacts that our businesshas. With help from Groundwork and the Council, weminimise and recycle our converted cardboard waste andare fully aware and comply with our legal requirements.We’ve also set up regular review and recording toensure our environmental impacts are monitored andcontrolled effectively,” said David Elsworth.The Council, Venture Wales and the WelshAssembly Government have all provided support tothe company in the past and the business is now goingfrom strength to strength.Dayworth Packaging 02920 854860www.dayworthpackaging.co.ukKPMF’s Thermal Oxidiser.Green DragonEnvironmentalStandardThe Green Dragon scheme offers anenvironmental management systemrelevant to the specific needs of anycompany, large or small. It wasdeveloped by Groundwork Walesand ARENA Network with supportfrom the Welsh Assembly Government,Welsh Development Agency,Environment Agency Wales, WelshLocal Authorities and the EuropeanRegional Development Fund.The Green Dragon EnvironmentalStandard is a five tiered managementsystem, which shows organisationshow to achieve and demonstrateenvironmental best practice.Companies certified to GreenDragon Level 5 also complyand exceed the requirementsof ISO 14001. Businesses cangain recognition for effectiveenvironmental management at eachstage of the Green Dragon Standard,clearly demonstrating to theircustomers and suppliers that theyare committed to improving theirenvironmental performance. Thereare also other real financial benefitsto the company such as reducingwaste and introducing energy efficientpractices.Since 2000, local partnerGroundwork Caerphilly hasassisted over 80 local businesses inimplementing the Green DragonEnvironmental Standard.Business Environment Co-ordinator01443 866211www.greendragonenv.combusiness enquiries: 01443 866222

Caerphilly Business Forum - Caerphilly Business Awards, 11th November 2005, BOOK NOW!To join, or for more information,Visit www.cbforum.co.ukEmail: cbf@caerphilly.gov.ukTel: 01443 866215Lay back andrelax…CaerphillyBusinessAward 2005The Entries are in and Judginghas begun, but you’ll have to waitto discover who has won theseven categories in this year’sCaerphilly Business Awards, heldin association with The CollegeYstrad Mynach.The Annual Awards Ceremonyhas established itself as the localbusiness event of the year, with adeserved reputation for quality andinformality. The Fourth Ceremony,sponsored by Caerphilly CountyBorough Council, will be noexception andwill be hosted byWelsh televisioncouple Lucy andRhodri Owen atthe Maes ManorHotel nearBlackwood, on 11 November.Tickets are £40, including a threecourse dinner and can be orderedby contacting (01443) 866215 or bye-mailing cbf@caerphilly.gov.uk.In association with:The College Ystrad MynachCeremony Sponsored by:Caerphilly County Borough CouncilWhat’s mine is mine - Or is it?Entrepreneur Glynn Pegler knowsonly too well the asset value of agood business name and identity- and the crucial importance ofprotecting that asset. He set upCulture Magazine as a free music andstyle magazine for young people. Itis expanding on a large scale andthe Culture Magazine brand, part ofCulture Group, has established itselfas the consultancy choice for bluechipbrands and an authoritative voicein communicating with young people.Fortunately Glynn realised theimportance of the brand and decidedto register it as a Trademark withthe Patent Office. “It was just aswell I did, because one of the UK’sbiggest selling newspapers tried tooppose us using the name becausethey had a supplement with a similartitle. Fortunately, we had a strongargument and I’m pleased to say wenow have the rights to what hasbecome one of our greatest assets,meaning we are now are able toprotect it from other people tryingto use it.” Many businesses areunaware that they have IntellectualProperty or that they may well notactually own their logo, literature,website or even their business name.(Being a registered company doesnot protect your brand).To increase awareness andadvise on how you can protectyour Intellectual Property, Glynnwill be part of a special event fromCaerphilly Business Forum andtelling his story as part of an eveningon 15th November, when expertswith the The Patent Office andthe Council’s Trading StandardsDepartment will also be on handwith practical advice.To find out more, or book a placecontact the Forum on (01443) 866215or e-mail: cbf@caerphilly.gov.ukAt the end of a busy day, have youever wanted to just sit down, relaxand just talk to other people aboutyour day, or about business andlife in general, or to make contactswithout the pressure of formalnetworking?Or perhaps you’d just like torelieve some of the stresses ofbusiness life, or to put the world torights? Or maybe you’d like to mixwith people who know what itslike to be in business, before goinghome?Caerphilly Business Forum’snew, early evening Laid BackNetwork offers a new way ofbuilding up relationships with otherbusinesses. Attendance is free andopen to non-members.On Thursday 3rd Novemberbetween 5.30 pm and 7 pm, Forummembers will be meeting in thebar of Bryn Meadows Golf AndCountry Hotel. No charge, nopressure. Just drop in (and out)…The weekend starts here (almost).For more information and membership forms www.cbforum.co.uk - Caerphilly Business Forum 01443 866215

Town Centres - Blackwood Town Centre is to undergo a major faceliftBlackwood - Defining The Futurewww.caerphilly.gov.uk www.caerphilly.gov.uk/cymraeg email/ebost: business@caerphilly.gov.ukA multi million pound regeneration packageis scheduled to take place over the next fewyears which will include:Cllr Tudor Davies Cabinet member forRegeneration said “Blackwood is set tobecome an important shopping centre andwill attract some top High Street names intothe town. Already the new northern retaildevelopment has seen national retailersrecognise the huge potential that Blackwoodoffers. The enhanced transportation linkswith the building of Sirhowy Enterprise Wayand a new bus station increase the town’sattractiveness to multiple retailers as aninvestment opportunity. The future looksbright for the people of Blackwood as thetown looks to deliver a wider choice of shopsmaking it a real alternative to Newport andCardiff.”Above and right: Artist’s impression of the new bus station.Uchod ac i’r dde: Argraff arlunydd o’r orsaf fysiau newydd.Disgwylir y bydd pecyn adfywio gwerth rhaimiliynau o bunnoedd, sydd i’w weithredu ynystod y blynyddoedd nesaf, yn cynnwys:Dywedodd Cyng Tudor Davies, aelodCabinet ar gyfer Adfywio, “Bydd Coed Duonyn dod yn ganolfan siopa pwysig a bydd yndenu enwau enwog y Stryd Fawr i’r dref.Mae’r datblygiad masnach ogleddol newyddwedi gweld masnachwyr cenedlaethol yncydnabod y potensial mae Coed Duon ynei gynnig. Mae’r cysylltiadau cludiant gwella’r orsaf fysiau newydd, yn ogystal â FforddFenter Sirhywi, yn cynyddu atyniad y dreffel cyfleoedd buddsoddi i nifer o fasnachwyr.Mae’r dyfodol yn edrych yn ddisglair i GoedDuon wrth i’r dref edrych tuag at ddarparudewis ehangach o siopau, gan ei wneud ynddewis gwahanol i Gasnewydd a Chaerdydd.”• A new bus station.• Enhanced public spaces and pedestrianareas.NEW BUS STATIONThe creation of an exciting new bus station for the town will becentral to the overall improvements. Demolition of the existingbus-station building will commence in January 2006. The works willbe restricted to non-market days in order to avoid potentialnuisance to the operation of the market. Construction of the newBus Station will be completed by Autumn 2006.Due to the temporary closure of the bus station it will benecessary for buses to set-down and pick-up on the High Street. It isproposed that six bus stops, three northbound and threesouthbound, will be situated on the High Street. Details of thesechanges will be well publicised.STREET SCENEThe first project completed was the Hall Street scheme,completed in Autumn 2003, which links the old town centre with thenew Asda development. This won an Interpave Public Sector awardfor excellence in the design of public space. The second scheme isbased around the Wesley Methodist Chapel (adjacent to the Argosstore). The 12 week scheme, which commenced in September, willsee alterations to the existing junction as well as the creation of newseating areas, planting schemes and eye-catching public artwork.• Gorsaf fysiau newydd.The northern cross valley link in Blackwood.Y ffordd trawsgwm gogleddol yng Nghoed Duon.• Mannau cyhoeddus ac ardaloedd gwell igerddwyr.GORSAF FYSIAU NEWYDDBydd creu gorsaf fysiau newydd cyffroes ar gyfer y dref yn ganologi’r gwelliannau. Bydd dymchwel yr orsaf fysiau presennol yn dechrauym mis Ionawr 2006. Bydd y gwaith yn cael ei gyfyngu i ddiwrnodaupan nad oes marchnad er mwyn osgoi’r niwsans a allai achosi iweithrediad y farchnad. Bydd adeiladwaith yr orsaf fysiau newydd yncael ei gwblhau yn Hydref 2006.Oherwydd caead dros dro yr orsaf fysiau bydd hi’n angenrheidioli fysiau i aros a chodi teithwyr ar y Stryd Fawr. Awgrymir y bydd ynachwech arhosfan bws ar y Stryd Fawr, tri i’r gogledd a thri i’r de.Bydd manylion y newidiadau hyn yn cael eu cyhoeddi’n dda.AR Y STRYDY Prosiect cyntaf a gwblhawyd oedd cynllun Stryd y Neuadd,a gyflawnwyd yn Hydref 2003, sy’n cysylltu cyn ganol y dref â’rdatblygiad Asda newydd. Enillodd hwn wobr Sector CyhoeddusInterpave ar gyfer rhagoriaeth mewn cynllunio man cyhoeddus.Mae’r ail gynllun wedi ei leoli o amgylch Capel MethodistaiddWesley (gerllaw siop Argos). Bydd y cynllun 12 wythnos, agychwynnodd ym mis Medi, yn creu newidiadau i’r gyffordd bresennolyn ogystal â chreu ardaloedd newydd ar gyfer seddau, cynlluniauplannu a gwaith celf gyhoeddus drawiadol.• Traffic calming along the High Street.• Landmark building.The majority of schemes are being jointly funded by the WDAand as schemes are completed building owners are being offered theopportunity to improve their buildings. One example of this is theformer Bierkeller, which had fallen into disrepair but has now beenrefurbished to create new shops and sets the scene to develop a cafestyle quarter.LANDMARK BUILDINGThe development of an iconic office building in Blackwood isalso central to the council’s Regeneration Strategy for Blackwood.The council’s Housing and Social Services departments are seekingaccommodation to serve the Blackwood area. Locating theseservices in the proposed new office building will contribute to bothregeneration and service delivery objectives of the Council.TRAFFIC CALMINGAlso in the New Year, following completion of the SirhowyEnterprise Way, traffic calming measures will be implemented alongthe length of the High Street to help address traffic problems andcreate a safer environment for pedestrians.• Mesurau tawelu traffig ar hyd y Stryd Fawr.• Adeilad tirnodol.The “ Singing Tree” - one of the proposed artworks.“ Y Goeden Ganu” - un o’r gweithiau celf arfaethedig.Blackwood town centre is a popular shopping destination.Mae canol tref Coed Duon yn lle boblogaidd i siopa.Mae’r mwyafrif o gynlluniau yn cael eu hariannu ar y cyd gany WDA a gan bod cynlluniau wedi eu cwblhau cynigir y cyfle iberchnogion adeiladau i wella eu hadeiladau. Un esiampl o hyn yw’rhen Bierkeller, oedd wedi dadfeilio ond sydd bellach wedi cael eiadnewyddu i greu siopau newydd, ac sy’n gosod yr olygfa ar gyferdatblygu ardal mewn steil caffis.ADEILAD TIRNODMae datblygu’r adeilad swyddfeydd eiconig yng Nghoed Duonhefyd yn ganolog i Strategaeth Adfywio’r Cyngor ar gyfer CoedDuon. Mae adrannau Tai a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y cyngor ynedrych am lefydd preswyl a fydd yn gwasanaethu ardal Coed Duon.Bydd lleoli’r gwasanaethau hyn yn yr adeilad swyddfeydd arfaethedignewydd yn cyfrannu at amcanion adfywio a darpariaeth gwasanaethy Cyngor.TAWELU TRAFFIGYn y Flwyddyn Newydd hefyd, yn dilyn cwblhad Ffordd MenterSirhywi, bydd mesurau tawelu traffig yn cael ei gweithredu ar hyd yStryd Fawr er mwyn cynorthwyo gyda’r problemau traffig a chreuamgylchedd saffach i’r cerddwyr.Diffinio Dyfodol - Coed DuonCanol Y Dref - Bydd gwedd newydd i Ganol Tref Coed Duon