Antur Teifi adroddiad saesneg

@2016 – The Highlights
How Antur Teifi builds better businesses

Dewi Williams, Managing Director
Bev Pold, Chairman
Trac
employment services
gwasanaethau cyflogi
Antur Teifi –
Building Better Businesses
We work with companies along
their whole journey, from start-up
through business planning to
finding and entering new markets.
This highlights document gives
you a taste of what Antur Teifi has
done in the past year, what we are
working on now and some plans
for the future.
Our roots are proudly in the Teifi
Valley, and we report in this
edition on our recent survey of
businesses in the valley focusing
on their future expectations. We
want to see the Teifi Valley
succeed and flourish, and we
hope some of our services can
help businesses within it realise
their expectations. We now work
throughout Wales and further
afield, and we will be rolling out
our business survey across other
areas in which we work. It helps
us ensure that our services
remain relevant to the needs of
businesses.
Antur Teifi
Aberarad Business Park,
Newcastle Emlyn,
Carmarthenshire,
SA38 9DB
01239 710238
www.anturteifi.co.uk
Trac Employment
Services
12-14 John Street,
Llanelli,
Carmarthenshire,
SA15 1UH
01554 772122
www.tractraining.org.uk
We have experts on hand to help
you access a range of business
services, and here you’ll meet
some of them and get to know
how they might help you.
Last year, we supported over
5,500 companies. Some of that
support was delivered through
our Public sector contracts,
notably Business Wales on behalf
of the Welsh Government. We are
proud to have, this year, been
reappointed to deliver its flagship
business support programme, this
time in a broader geographical
area that includes the whole of
north Wales to add to mid and
south west Wales.
This contract award, along with
other services launched this year,
are the result of significant
investment by us in our services
for businesses. Our aim through
this investment is simple – to
build better businesses that will
contribute to a growing economy.
You can be part of our story next
year, starting with a free business
review. Contact us for more
details.
Telemat
Aberarad Business Park,
Newcastle Emlyn,
Carmarthenshire,
SA38 9DB
01239 712345
www.telemat.co.uk
Canta/Perspectif
Aberarad Business Park,
Newcastle Emlyn,
Carmarthenshire,
SA38 9DB
01239 712321
www.canta.co.uk
Health trends to boost
the health of food companies?
Market Intelligence
New research shines some light on how
food companies can cater for a more health
conscious consumer despite some major
differences between consumers’
perceptions and reality of their health;
While just 15% of the adult population
consider themselves to be somewhat or
very unhealthy (Mintel), NHS data shows
that in fact 64% of the population is in fact
overweight or obese.
The food sector has an important role to
play in helping to redress this balance. The
latest research suggests that consumers are
open to the idea of healthier reformulations
with 77% being in favour of reducing the
amount of fat / sugar / calories in unhealthy
foods. These findings have important
implications for food businesses, not only in
terms of ingredients, but also in terms of
packaging, labelling and how they
communicate with their target customers
about the product.
This represents some of the insight food
companies can use by working with Antur
Teifi’s Market Intelligence service, Perspectif
to understand the markets in which they are
operating, and how changes in consumer
trends constantly affect those markets.
In 2015, Perspectif began working with The
Guild of Fine Food to help them gain a
better understanding of the specialist food
retail market – an area for which very little
relevant data currently exists. Using a
combination of desk and primary research,
Perspectif built up a detailed picture of the
current fine food retail market. This included
evaluating the size, value and composition
of the fine food sector, and building up a
detailed picture of the typical customer at a
fine food retail outlet, including gaining an
understanding of the attitudes and
motivations of fine food shoppers. The
report highlights the current challenges and
future opportunities for fine food retailers,
and the Guild will be using this information
to develop their support services to the
sector. But the pursuit of market intelligence
is a continuous journey, and we look
forward to continuing to work with the Guild
to build an increasingly more detailed
picture of the sector.
As market conditions change, it is vital that
marketing strategies and plans are
monitored and revised as necessary and
Perspectif is well placed to support
businesses to do this. This year, Perspectif is
developing a new product for the food and
drink sector that will launch in November
2016 at Food Matters Live, London. Building
on the Tourism 360, an insight portal for
tourism sector, The Food & Drink 360 portal
will provide access to the latest data within
the industry, insights on the latest trends as
well as forecasts for growth over the next 5
years for specific sectors within the wider
food & drink industry. With this kind of
information businesses can begin to benefit
from greater understanding of the market
conditions, their customers, and identify the
best areas to achieve success.
2
3

The Teifi Valley
is Open for Business!
Survey of Teifi Valley Businesses
Over the Summer, Antur Teifi carried out a survey among businesses within the Teifi Valley.
The research, which includes the views and opinions of a range of 85 businesses in the area,
offers insights into the current issues facing businesses here in rural Wales, as well as
highlighting their aspirations for growth over the coming 12 months.
The findings paint a positive picture for Teifi Valley businesses in the wake of the Brexit vote;
One which sees them looking forward to growth and development with a degree of cautious
optimism, in contrast with the expectations of the wider UK.
Grow:
38% of the companies say that they expect
to remain broadly the same size over the next
12 months.
But overwhelmingly, 60% expect some level
of growth; highlighting the optimism felt by
businesses in the area.
This suggests a dramatic contrast with the
findings of Credit Suisse’s latest research
which states that corporate sentiment has
“deteriorated out of all recognition” since the
Brexit vote, with more companies expecting
to cut spending rather than raise it.
In our survey, a lack of understanding of
market trends is identified by 58% of
companies as being a significant factor that
could hamper development in the next 12
months. While 56% feel that increasing
competition could impact on their growth
ambitions.
55% feel that the company location could
also be a barrier to growth; emphasising one
of the challenges rural Welsh businesses face
in a global marketplace.
Just under a third (31.5%) feel that Brexit will
be a significant issue for their business
growth in the next 12 months.
Recruit:
Alongside growth expectations comes the
need for additional staff, and Teifi Valley
businesses are gearing up for just that.
• 60% of the businesses say that they
definitely will or may recruit additional
staff in the next 12 months.
This presents a positive picture for both the
jobs market in the region as well as
demonstrating some real commitment
towards growth and development from the
businesses.
• Despite this positivity, however, there are
some concerns among businesses;
• 30% saying they are not performing very
well in terms of staff recruitment and
• 45% feeling that a lack of suitably
qualified staff will be a significant barrier
for their business’ development in the
next 12 months
Once they have attracted and recruited staff
however, businesses in the area feel they are
doing well in terms of retaining them with
57% giving themselves a score of 8 or more
out of 10 for staff retention.
Confidence post Brexit:
With around 4 in 10 business in the area stating
that Brexit will be insignificant as a barrier to
their business development over the next 12
months, and a further 3 in 10 expressing a
laissez-faire attitude towards the outcome of
the vote, expecting Brexit to be neither here
nor there in terms of their business.
In the week following the Brexit vote, the
YouGov / CEBR Confidence index showed the
number of businesses feeling pessimistic about
the future doubled from 25% to 49%. In the
Teifi Valley just 31% feel Brexit will be a
significant barrier to their development.
When asked which factors in relation to the
UK’s decision to leave the EU are likely to
impact on their businesses, the highest
proportion of Teifi Valley businesses (47%) felt
that changes to the value of the pound would
have the greatest impact.
A third of businesses (33%) do not feel that
any issues with regards to the UK’s decision to
leave the EU will impact their business.
Highlighting the fact that despite the generally
positive feeling towards Brexit from these
businesses, not everyone feels it will be plain
sailing away from the EU.
Being Welsh is important!
The survey also explored a range of other
issues including market positioning. A clear
message from the survey is that identifying
themselves as a Welsh business was a high
priority for many. The implications of this and
other findings will be considered by Antur Teifi
and the information will be available to
businesses through a new 'Build a Better
Business review' service.
Conclusion:
The research findings paint a positive picture
for Teifi Valley businesses in the wake of the
Brexit vote; One which sees them looking
forward to growth and development with a
degree of cautious optimism.
While businesses expect a range of barriers to
impact their operations over the next 12
months or so, they remain optimistic and
prepared to tackle them head on. With plans to
roll out the business survey throughout Wales,
Antur Teifi will be monitoring and responding to
their changing needs as they do so.
“The survey provided a fascinating insight into
the attitudes of businesses within the area. We
will be rolling out the survey across other
geographical areas, to build a bigger and more
complete picture across Wales and to identify
any striking differences between them. It
promises to be a fascinating project.”
Dewi Williams, Managing Director of Antur Teifi.
4
5

Determination and faith -
Ben’s recipe for success
Sourcing staff through Trac
Gary Doyle, Ben Rogers, Bill Hunter
“Recruitment can be a bit of a headache”
says owner Bill Hunter. “Many young people
dislike the shift patterns and unsociable
hours that are part and parcel of the hotel
industry. However, through Trac we found
Ben Rogers - a young man who’s proving to
be a really valuable team member.”
Antur Teifi's Employment Services arm, Trac
has seen many policy changes in back-towork
employment schemes and welfare
reform over the years. But, for the Trac team,
there’s been just one priority: to provide
clients with the support that will give them
the best possible chance of finding
employment. It is thanks to that dedicated
support that Ben Rogers gained his
placement at the Boar’s Head.
Trac Operations Manager, John Evans,
believes that Ben’s story is typical of so
many supported by the *Work Programme.
Says John: “Initially, Ben was very negative,
finding all kinds of reasons why he couldn’t
find work. Our experienced Employment
Account Executive, Hilary Vaughan, helped
him question the reasoning behind the
barriers he believed were preventing him
from securing a job. Using her established
employer contacts Hilary then got Ben a
month’s work trial at the Boar’s Head.”
Gary Doyle, the hotel’s Head Chef, says:
“The Trac advisors supported us by taking
care of the employment red-tape. From my
point of view, Ben’s a valued member of
staff. We all want him to get the best
possible experience out of his placement.”
“Ben is a different person to the young,
frustrated man who came into our
Carmarthen office” says John. “It’s evident
to one and all that he is now moving
forward with a positive stride.”
In its 5 years delivering the Work
Programme in Carmarthenshire and Powys
Trac has now helped nearly 2000
individuals find employment and new hope
for the future.
* The Work Programme is a Government initiative which
provides support, work experience and training for up to 2
years to help people find and stay in work.
Situated at the heart of
Carmarthen’s busy
shopping area stands the
equally busy Boar’s Head
Hotel. Once famous as a
coaching inn, it is still
renowned today for its
food and hospitality - its
popular carvery making it
a must for locals and
coach trips alike.
6
Hilary Vaughan
John Evans
7

How the Start Up Loan
helped lift the Kindreds’ spirits
Business Finance
Rob Arlington
Along with the Start Up
Loans service, Antur Teifi
can offer access to a
range of Business
Finance options. Contact
us for further details.
Starting a business is a little like planning a
holiday - that feeling of adventure and
excitement when deciding where to go and
what to do (or not do) when you get there.
But that’s where the comparison ends.
Because – as we all know - starting a
business is hard work. The start-up checklist
is daunting. And – most daunting of all -
raising the necessary funds.
Since 2013 Antur Teifi has been part of a
UK network of government approved
agencies providing Start Up Loans. Our
work is to make raising those funds less
daunting.
One of the businesses to have benefited
from a Start Up Loan through Antur Teifi is
the Ginhaus Deli in Llandeilo run by Mike
and Kate Kindred. With a stock of over 200
different gins and a good range of local
Welsh products, the Ginhaus has grown
healthily since its opening, just two years
ago.
But it could have been a very different
story. Says Kate: “The main difficulty was
securing the initial funding. Not only did we
need all the equipment and stock but we
also had to refurbish the whole building.
Our first funding source fell through. So we
approached Antur Teifi - just weeks before
we were due to open! It was a huge relief
when we heard that our application had
been successful - and so quickly too.”
Rob Arlington is Financial Services Officer
at Antur Teifi: “Mike and Kate already had a
business plan when they came to us. Our
Business Adviser helped them refine the
plan and that enabled them to draw down
the funds within two weeks of submitting
the completed application.”
Kate again “Without that initial funding
from the Start Up Loan Company we would
really have struggled to finance the
business and most probably would have
had to reconsider our plans.”
A good business plan is essential in
securing funds for your business. See
opposite for some tips from Sam Allen one
of Antur Teifi’s Business Advisers.
Creating a business plan -
Sam Allen’s top tips
INCLUDE EVERY LITTLE DETAIL: Write your business plan on the assumption that the person
reading it knows nothing about your business.
DO THE SUMS: Make sure that your business plan says in words what your cash flow displays in
figures.
DO YOUR MARKET RESEARCH: the more your know about the market place, customers and trends
the easier it is to be successful.
UNDERSTAND THE COMPETITION: why are your customers going to choose you over other
businesses, what are your Unique Selling Points.
KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES: – if you can foresee potential threats to your business then you have
a far greater chance of overcoming them by having a contingency plan in place.
BE REALISTIC!: what can you realistically achieve given the time and available resources at your
disposal and within your chosen market.
KEEP IT UP-TO-DATE: Your business plan should evolve with your ideas and your business.
DO PUT IT TO USE: Your plan is there for a reason. Don’t be afraid to refer to it as much as possible.
8
Mike and Kate Kindred
9

And the winner is …!
Marketing Communications
The success of the Welsh football team
bringing smiles to the faces of even the
most hardened rugby supporters. Masters
champion Danny Willett’s golf journey
starting in Wales. And so on and so on. With
full justification, we revel in their success
and celebrate their hard work and
commitment.
10
What a sporting
summer it’s been. Team
GB’s Welsh athletes
returning from Rio with
the largest overall
Olympic medal haul
ever won by Welsh
competitors.
Calon Wen Team
But what about business? Hard work and
commitment are just as essential to success
here also. Yes – business has its own awards
ceremonies. But to what extent are they
recognised? Is entering them really worth
the time and trouble?
From local to national, there’s a huge variety
of awards to be sought after. The key is to
be choosey. To go for a particular award and
a specific category. One whose profile will
bring the greatest benefit to your business.
Searching the right award may not be at the
top of your agenda but doing it as part of
your marketing plan could well be a good
investment.
Eleri Lewis, our Account Manager at Antur
Teifi's Marketing solutions arm, Perspectif,
works closely with Calon Wen, a dairy cooperative
based in Narberth. Their products
have recently won industry recognition in
the Great Taste Awards.
Margaret Oakley, Eleri Lewis
“Great Taste is organised by the Guild of
Fine Food and has been described as the
Oscars of the food world” explains Eleri.
“We decided to enter Calon Wen’s products
because the food is evaluated by taste
above all else. We were delighted that the
two products entered - the slightly salted
butter, and strawberry frozen yogurt - won
2* and 1* respectively.”
So what can this mean for Calon Wen and,
indeed, all companies who gain success in
industry awards? The answer is: credibility.
Having that stamp of approval on your
packaging shows to the world that your
products are quality products. It also makes
you stand out from your competitors and
provides enhanced PR opportunities. Being
able to put “Award Winning” on all your
promotional material is a sure way to
generate new business. Says Calon Wen
director Margaret Oakley: “We’ve always
known that our products are of the highest
quality. But now, it’s no longer just us saying
it. Achieving the Great Taste accolade is a
real stamp of approval. ”
But, as in sport, it’s not all about the
winning. Even if you don’t achieve a top
placing first time round, the adventure of
taking part can be a great way of building
that all-important team spirit within your
company.
Along with our sporting heroes, Calon Wen
can certainly testify to that!
11

Where next for Aled?
IT support by Telemat
Since Joining the company in 2015
Aled Davies, Sales Executive with
Telemat IT has certainly clocked up the
miles in his quest to get towns across
Wales connected. Aled has been
working on a project installing open
access wi-fi points in various locations
in a number of towns for use by both
residents and visitors alike.
Good news from the British Retail
Consortium in July of this year
recorded that retail footfall numbers in
Wales rose by 1.7% overturning a
2.6% drop in 2014, a sign, according
to Aled, that perhaps more and more
town centres and businesses are
waking up to the importance of
connecting with shoppers.
“Pembrokeshire County Council has
certainly recognised the benefit of
facing up to this challenge” said Aled.
Over the past few months Telemat has
been installing wi-fi points throughout
towns across the county which the
council believes will benefit both the
high street and tourism.” Some
beaches will have wi-fi points installed
in a bid to satisfy visitors’ increasing
need to communicate with friends and
family for free and at all times.
*The Digital High Street Report 2020
found that local businesses and
independent traders are missing out
on opportunities by not keeping up
with the digitally savvy shopper.
Supermarkets and larger shopping
centres have for some time been using
technologies which gather information
about the shopping habits of
consumers. This information is then
used to help them understand and
connect with their customers helping
to grow sales through targeted
advertising and special offers.
“Llandrindod Wells is a great example
of how a small town is using
technology in this respect” explains
Aled. “The Meraki system that Telemat
has installed allows residents and
visitors to the town to access the free
wi-fi by logging on via a portal page
that is part of the town’s website. What
is unique about this system is that it
not only delivers free access to wi-fi in
public places, it also gathers and
analyses anonymised information
about those using it, where they use it
and how long for.
Telemat is well suited to deliver the
town wifi service as its position within
Antur Teifi enables it to clearly
understand the changing needs of
business. This is reflected in its broad
range of IT services that provides
businesses with the hardware,
software and support services to make
the most of the opportunities that an
efficient IT system can help realise.
*The Digital High Street Report produced by the
UK Government’s Digital High Street Advisory
Board (2015)
Aled Davies
12