Business Wales service helps create 25,000 jobs

The Minister said the creation of the 25,000 jobs in SMEs across Wales via the direct support of Business Wales is a clear demonstration of the Welsh Government’s commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship and business development in Wales, ahead of the annual celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week from the 8th-12th November 2021.

The Business Wales service, which was launched in 2015, provides a wide-range of business support, from start-up support services, online support, shared workspaces, and specialist advisory services to help Welsh businesses grow and prosper. The service is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

10,000 of those jobs have been created by businesses supported through the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP), a dedicated programme that provides targeted support for ambitious firms who want to grow.

Thermal Compaction Group (TCG) in Cardiff created the 10,000th job attributed to support provided by the Accelerated Growth Programme.

TCG, founded in 2014, is a green business focused on sustainable waste solutions, including the world’s only PPE recycling technology. It offers unique patented products that provide cost-effective solutions to global waste management problems. Its products are being used by the U.S. Navy and the Dutch healthcare system, among other international customers.

It reached the impressive milestone as Alex Spyropoulos, an Operations Manager for the Cardiff-based firm, began work at the firm’s site in Cardiff.

The Business Wales Service supports the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, which sets out the actions Ministers will take to support Welsh businesses to create new jobs, find new export markets and to invest in the sustainable green industries of tomorrow. It includes plans to double the number of employee-owned businesses.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said:

“The Welsh Government is taking bold action to build a stronger, fairer, greener Welsh economy. We want more people to feel confident about planning their future in Wales. Our approach is geared towards investing in our people and supporting people to start-up their own businesses, so we ensure we have firms grounded in Wales who can provide future opportunities. This will help support job creation and help create dynamic local economies.

“Services such as Business Wales play an incredibly important role in helping people start their own businesses, and supporting them to grow and thrive. So I’m delighted Welsh Government’s Business Wales Service has now supported the creation of 25,000 jobs across Wales over the last five years.

“I’m particularly pleased our flagship Accelerated Growth Programme has reached out to our most ambitious SMEs, helping them create 10,000 of these new jobs. The Programme is about more than the growth it drives in companies; it’s also about the impact it’s having on individuals across Wales – including Alex, who has secured a job at a company that’s harnessing technological innovation to create a greener, more sustainable future.

“TCG’s innovative products are exported worldwide and are attracting global attention, so they are a real success story to be proud of in Wales.”

Since signing up to the Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) in 2019, TGC has received mentoring and specialist advice on market analysis, funding opportunities and establishing key client contacts.

This support has proved “invaluable” according to Managing Director Thomas Davison-Sebry:

“As a small company, it’s been invaluable to have the support of our relationship manager and several experienced business coaches as we have navigated our way from the research and development phase to a period of high growth.

“We are very grateful for the service we have received from the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme and would recommend it to any business looking to scale up and grow.”

Another company Business Wales has supported is Cwmbran-based business start-up Cake and Roll. Through the proactive support and the expertise of the Business Wales team, the company created the 25,000th job when the business recently employed 19-year-old Bethany Baber as a Customer Representative.

Co-founder Marcin Panek said:

“Since we launched in May 2021, the support we have received through Business Wales has been fantastic. They have helped us with marketing and promotion, business planning and upskilling our team. We are already seeing the benefits of applying everything we have learned, and it’s meant we have been able to expand our team.

“Bethany is settling into the team well so far, and we are already discussing a fast-track promotion scheme for her. We are confident that our team will continue to grow over the coming months.

“I’ve always wanted to be my own boss. Business Wales gave me the opportunity to do that and has supported me every step of the way. So I’m delighted that we are responsible for creating the 25,000th job, which is a great honour for our team.

“I would strongly encourage other businesses looking for support to contact Business Wales. Since signing up, Cake and Roll has gone from strength to strength, and we are very grateful for all the help we’ve received.”