Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The team at West Wales chartered accountants and business consultants Clay Shaw Butler are celebrating passing another significant business landmark. In recognition of the business maintaining the highest standards, Clay Shaw Butler has been awarded the Investors in People award for a further three years. “We were already holders of Investors in People status, but this latest award recognises our continued commitment to achieving the highest standards in business,” said Clay Shaw Butler director Mark Jones. “The award is independently audited and demonstrates our commitment to high performance through good people management. “With our headquarters in Carmarthen, we pride ourselves on playing a key role in the business community in West Wales. “Good practice and good business standards and procedures start at home and we hope that our commitment to providing a quality service to our customers receives the recognition it deserves.” Investors in People is the international standard ...

A new superhero has landed in West Wales to help children and families who may be anxious about a forthcoming visit to hospital. Captain Get Well, or Captain G for short, features in a friendly video aimed at children attending Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, and Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. The video has been launched by Hywel Dda University Health Board at the end of national Play in Hospital Week, following a host of activities promoting the benefit of play in the NHS. Directorate Nurse for Children’s Services, Isobel Hall explained: “The video provides children and their families with useful information about what to expect from a hospital stay in a fun, energetic way that we hope will captivate our audience. “It features our inpatient services as well as paediatric ambulatory care units in each hospital and also the high dependency unit and theatre. “Our play workers and nurses have ensured the video includes information that we get frequen...

Red Kite Law is going from strength to strength as the partners implement the new strategy announced earlier this year. As the leading local firm in West Wales, the partners aimed to invest in improved management and are delighted to announce two significant new recruits: Neil Walker and Simon Campbell-Davies. Neil has joined from Cooperative Legal Services – one of the big brands tipped to revolutionise the way that people buy legal advice. He is now Red Kite Law’s chief operating officer and finance director. Simon is the new head of marketing and business development and joins the firm from Hugh James in Cardiff. Red Kite Law partner David Sangster said he was delighted to welcome Neil and Simon to the firm. “We are a go-ahead legal firm operating in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and now further afield in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. “We have a strong local brand, a fantastic team of solicitors and long-lasting relationships with our clients who like us because we are local, ...

Latest news from the Bluestone resort in Pembrokeshire - There’s something magical about Pembrokeshire. And we’re not talking about magicians - although there are tales of Welsh wizards being here in centuries past! It’s not just the stunning coastline, golden beaches or the spectacular landscape. Neither is it the historic castles, amazing wildlife or stunning walks. It’s much more than that. Bluestone beats in the heart of this great part of Wales, making it a perfect base for your wider exploration, whether by foot, bicycle or car. Combine a short break holiday at Bluestone, enjoying the free-range fun and relaxation you’d expect, with a wider exploration of Pembrokeshire and we’re sure you’ll have a wild time. Spring Breaks Spring into life at Bluestone National Park Resort with our very special short breaks. A Spring break at Bluestone puts you in the heart of the Pembrokeshire playground. Whether you are seeking the first signs of warmer weather, taking a chance ...

Law firm Red Kite is looking at establishing innovative new partnerships with smaller law firms in West Wales. Red Kite Law is drawing up a feasibility study for a West Wales legal hub, following attempts to establish similar networks in other parts of Wales. “Legal hub networks are a recent innovation in the legal world,” said Red Kite Law partner David Sangster, pictured above. “As a go-ahead law firm, we always like to be in the vanguard of new innovations and this legal hub network idea could provide a big plus for smaller law firms in West Wales. “No longer will they have to risk losing clients to bigger firms outside West Wales if they are asked to do work outside their skill set. “For example, smaller law firms can join a hub operated by Red Kite Law, refer the work they can’t do to Red Kite Law and benefit from referral fees, safe in the knowledge that the client will be returned to them with a smile! “We are fortunate in already having good relationships with many West Wa...

Reaction to this afternoon's Budget from West Wales businesses - Social entrepreneur Kevin Green, one of the UK’s biggest private sector landlords, said: You obviously have to welcome the help schemes targeted at getting the housing market moving. The shared equity scheme and guarantees on new lending are very good news. The man in the street will be pleased at the £10,000 threshold and there’s good news for businesses on corporation tax. But my biggest worry is the way the Chancellor was talking about changes to welfare and benefit payments in June. He didn’t really elaborate and that must be a headache to landlords like myself. In short, many landlords will be thinking whether they should take on benefit claimants as tenants. The lack of clarity in the Chancellor’s statement will leave landlords worried. We need more detail and we need it now, not in June, as the uncertainty will not be good for the rental housing sector. Kevin is a self-made multi-millionaire and s...

The welcome mat will be out for West Wales solicitors attending a seminar at Clay Shaw Butler on Thursday (October 18). The continued professional development seminar for solicitors will take place in the boardroom at Clay Shaw Butler's HQ in Lammas Street, Carmarthen. Paul Jones, Senior Associate Adviser with CPM21, will be in the chair for the event, which will focus on compliance issues following recent Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) changes. CPM21 specialise in 21st century professional management for lawyers -  http://www.cpm21.co.uk/ There's more info on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on their website -  http://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page

West Wales businesses owners are invited to a workshop on “Business Planning in the Current Economic Climate” at Aberystwyth University. The workshop, which takes place in the MedRus Conference Centre, Aberystwyth University at 10:30am on Tuesday, 20th March, 2012 will be provided by Peter Cameron Business Consulting based in Machynlleth. “In the current period of extreme economic uncertainty, as some businesses fail, there is clearly an opportunity for other to survive, thrive and ultimately emerge form the recession stronger than ever” said Peter Cameron, experienced business and management consultant and an Investors in People advisor. The event is organised by the Sustainable Learning Networks Ireland and Wales (SLNIW), an exciting and innovative INTERREG 4A funded project being undertaken by the School of Management and Business, Aberystwyth University, Wales in partnership with CEDRE, Waterford Institute of Technology. The SLNIW project, which has established 3 business ...

West Wales brewing entrepreneur Simon Buckley has joined the Steering Committee of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.  The group represents the views of the brewing and pub industry and lobbies MPs in Westminster on behalf of the industry. The group is made up of brewers of all sizes and includes the major pub groups. Mr Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans brewery group in Llandeilo, said: “It is a great honour to be invited to join this unique group and to be able to have the opportunity to help develop drinks industry strategy and to get the message to our elected representatives. “There has never been a more important time for us to work as ‘one’ within the industry, and to correct many of the misrepresentations about what we do and the associated problems that go with an industry that is over-taxed and being driven out of business. “We are a caring group of employers who employ many tens of thousands in the UK and we must not forget that the Great British B...