Antur Teifi adroddiad saesneg

Recommendations

Info

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
Page 1: @2016 - The Highlights How Antur Te
Page 5 and 6: How the Start Up Loan helped lift t
Page 7: Where next for Aled? IT support by

Antur Teifi adroddiad saesneg

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?