Business News Wales

Skills.Wales Latest Edition: Addressing Skills Shortages in the Food and Drink Industry   GUEST COLUMN: Food and Drink Producers Thrive with Bespoke Skills Support   Written by: Kate Rees, Project Manager of Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales https://lnkd.in/eRrgRNS9

In today's Business News Wales newsletter, our top story highlights that the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone is set to focus on the area’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and is expected to crowd in £1 billion of private investment. We feature two guest columns: - Howard Rupprecht of CSconnected discussing "Wales’ Global Leadership in Semiconductors Must Be Protected" - Kate Rees Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales discussing "Building on Wales’ Reputation for Great Food and Drink" We showcase our fourth Cardiff Business podcast - "Cardiff’s Prospects for Growth and Innovation" Hosted by Lord Carwyn Jones and guests: - Carolyn Brownell of FOR Cardiff - Craig Hampton-Stone MA FRSA FCILT of Cardiff Bus - Matthew Taylor of Cardiff Metropolitan University Other contributions and mentions include; Karen Dee, AirportsUK, Russell Greenslade, CBI Wales, Gus Williams, Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, Kate Nicholls OBE, UKHospitality, Tina McKenzie MBE, FSB Wales (Federation of Small Businesses), Bee Robotics Ltd., Rebecca Evans, Sara Jones, Helen Dickinson, Chris Brook-Carter, BR Needham (Financial Services) Ltd, Cornerstone Finance Group, Haydn Thomas, Principality Stadium, Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Wrexham University, Professor Joe Yates, Transport for Wales, Marie Daly https://lnkd.in/dPTMqKd

A plan which aims to deliver new train stations, halve journey times across South Wales and Western England and which could bring £17 billion of economic benefit has been launched in Cardiff ⚡ Western Gateway, Sarah Williams-Gardener, Huw Thomas, Dan Okey, David McCallum, Transport for Wales Find out more here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eFMTFZWS

In today's Business News Wales newsletter, there is a call for ‘national conversation’ to close Wales’ productivity gap. We feature two guest columns: - Abi Beck of RenewableUK Cymru discussing "A Crucial Year for Wales to Realise its Renewable Ambitions" - Claire Haven-Tang of Cardiff Metropolitan University discussing how "Communities Are Key to Effective Destination Management" We showcase our fourth Skills Wales podcast - "Addressing Skills Shortages in the Food and Drink Industry Hosted by Lord Carwyn Jones and guests: - Kate Rees of Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales - Chris Butler of Radnor Hills - Sarah Drummond of Drop Bear Other contributions and mentions include; Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, Brainbox Ltd, Dan Phillips, Rebecca Evans, Tramshed Tech, Simon Baston, Loft Co, Charles H Knight, Mark Holmes, Phil MorrisEJ Hales, Robertson Geo, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food and Drink Wales, Huw Irranca-Davies, BIC Innovation Ltd, Linda Grant, Nigel Williams, Castell Howell Foods Ltd, Anwyl Homes, Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru | Food & Drink Skills Wales, Culinary Association of Wales Ltd, ICC Wales, Toward, Vanessa Russell, Gus Williams https://lnkd.in/dPTMqKd

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS 🎙 The Role of Innovation and Technology in Wales ⚡ "You have this world leading academic and industrial cluster. It was the first cluster of its kind focused around semiconductors or compound semiconductors and it is literally world renowned for what it does." "My message to the government will be - continue to invest - and we will ultimately deliver" Listen out for more from host Carwyn Jones and guests: - Syed Sameer Rahman, DataMonet - Howard Rupprecht, CSconnected - John Davies MBE, PhD, FCIIS, Cyber Wales FULL PODCAST AVAILABLE HERE ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dcCjuybz Listen to highlights here 👇

In today's Business News Wales newsletter, our top story highlights that the latest Rail Plan Could Create 30 New Stations and Deliver £17bn Economic Boost We feature two guest columns: - Edward Thomas Jones discussing how "We Need a Serious Discussion About Wealth Inequality" - Chris Butler of Radnor Hills discussing how "Investing in Skills is Key to Our Success in Rural Wales" We showcase our fourth Property & Construction Wales podcast - "Sector Outlook 2025: Property and Construction in Wales" Hosted by Lord Carwyn Jones and guests: - Chris Sutton of Sutton Consulting - Cenydd Rowlands of Development Bank of Wales - Philip Jardine of Blake Morgan LLP Other contributions and mentions include; Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Creative Wales / Cymru Greadigol, Jack Sargeant, Bangor University, VisitBritain, Rebecca Evans, Eluned Morgan, M-SParc, Edmund Burke, Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co., Kit Newell, WebBox®, Wales Tech Week, Will Roberts, Avril Lewis, MBE, Culinary Association of Wales Ltd, CAMBRIAN TRAINING COMPANY/CWMNI HYFFORDDIANT CAMBRIAN CYFYNGEDIG, Principality Building Society, Garry S., Wrexham University, Professor Joe Yates https://lnkd.in/dPTMqKd

NEW PODCAST SERIES 🎙️ Net Zero Industry Wales has launched its new podcast series, which aims to amplify the organisation's mission of positioning #Wales as the country of choice for production of sustainable goods and services Featuring Ben Burggraaf of Net Zero Industry Wales and Chris Williams of Diwydiant Cymru - Industry Wales Listen here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dkdweSih

In today's Business News Wales newsletter, our top story reveals that the Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government has announced that the new Ynys Mon Freeport special status has gone live. We feature two guest columns: - Melanie Jones of Cardiff Business School discussing "Addressing the Productivity Challenge in Wales" - Nikki Marshall of Newport Market discussing how "Independent Businesses Bring Magic to Newport’s Heart" We showcase our fourth Innovation & Technology Wales podcast - "The Role of Innovation and Technology in Wales" Hosted by Lord Carwyn Jones and guests: - Syed Sameer Rahman of DataMonet - Howard Rupprecht of CSconnected - John Davies MBE, PhD, FCIIS of Cyber Wales Other contributions and mentions include; Net Zero Industry Wales, Ben Burggraaf, Chris Williams, UKSE, Alan Jenkins, Development Bank of Wales, RegenaDerm, Donna Strohmeyer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Torfaen County Borough Council, Moneypenny, Jesper With-Fogstrup, Regional Learning and Skills Partnership South West Wales, Harlech Foodservice Ltd, Chris Gregson, Ed Warrington, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, EverTrek, British Business Bank, Spectrum Technologies Ltd, Peter Dickinson https://lnkd.in/dPTMqKd

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS 🎙 Property and Construction in Wales 📢 "It takes probably 2 years from submitting a planning application to getting shovels in the ground. That's too long." "There have been missed opportunities when money was cheap, there wasn't the appetite for people and for governments to invest, sadly, and we're now paying the price for that." "However, there is a positive story to tell." Listen out for more from host @Rt. Hon. Professor Carwyn Jones and guests: - Chris Sutton - Cenydd Rowlands, Development Bank of Wales - Philip Jardine, Blake Morgan LLP FULL PODCAST GOES LIVE ON 13TH JANUARY - FIND IT HERE ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dy--Ckp2 Listen to highlights here 👇

One for your weekend playlist 🎧 https://lnkd.in/ezJVYnNj Want to learn more about the Welsh economy in 2025? Listen to Ben Cottam discuss his hopes and ambitions, alongside Rt. Hon. Professor Carwyn Jones, Melanie Jones and Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE For more insights from Ben, check out his Business News Wales article on building a strong business network in Wales 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8-tbQ9i Edrych am sgwrs ddifyr ac eisiau dysgu mwy am economi Cymru yn 2025? Gwrandewch ar Ben Cottam yn trafod ei obeithion a’i uchelgeisiau ar gyfer economi Cymru yn 2025, ochr yn ochr â’r Athro Carwyn Jones, Melanie Jones a Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE 🎧 Eisiau gwybod mwy? Gallwch hefyd ddarllen ei golofn diweddara yn trafod sut gallwn ddefnyddio rhwydweithiau cryf Cymru, arbenigedd o safon fyd-eang, a chyfoeth o dalent entrepreneuraidd i sicrhau bod ein busnesau bach yn gallu ffynnu 👇