Latest news with #CBIWales
Business News Wales
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Welsh Planning Reforms 'Poised to Deliver Generational Change'
CBI Wales says that planning reforms in Wales are 'poised to deliver a generational change.' Welsh Government has said the changes aim to streamline the planning process, address resource challenges, and build a modern, efficient planning system fit for the future. Announcing the measures, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said: 'I am determined to make Wales the fastest country in the UK to determine infrastructure applications. This ambition extends to all planning applications, recognising that this will drive economic growth across our nation.' Now CBI Wales has welcomed the announcement, saying the Welsh Government had listened to business concerns that the planning system was delaying investment. It urged Welsh Government to follow the announcement with 'quick, decisive action' which it said would make Wales a more attractive destination. Russell Greenslade, Director, CBI Wales, said: 'The Welsh Government's wide-ranging planning reforms are poised to deliver a generational change. A Welsh economy with the fastest, most innovative, digitalised system in the UK would be a big driver for business expansion and inward investment. 'We are very pleased with the inclusion of seven of the recommendations from our Planning for Growth report. This shows that the Welsh Government is listening to business concerns that delays in the current system are holding up investment. Our recommendations are not about cutting regulation but smarter implementation.' The Welsh Government announcement includes several key measures it said would accelerate decision-making and boost the planning profession: • Nearly £9 million of direct investment into planning services provided by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Welsh Government's Planning Directorate, strengthening the capacity of the services to deliver faster decisions. • New fee regulations to be introduced by the end of this year, representing the largest single investment in planning services for many years. • The increased revenue will be reinvested directly back into planning services to improve performance and reduce waiting times. • Funding for two Senior Planner roles to work on infrastructure applications across North Wales as part of an expanded North Wales Shared Planning Service. • A new Town Planning Bursaries scheme via the Pathways to Planning programme to increase the pipeline of qualified planners across Wales, with the Welsh Government meeting the costs for graduates to obtain a post-graduate planning qualification. Russell continued: 'From £9 million of direct investment for planning services and funding for senior planners in North Wales, to incentives for students to take up a career in planning, the reforms outlined by the Economy Secretary will make a real difference to business investment plans. Business is clear it wants a better service in return for the planning fees it pays local authorities. But we need more detail about the changes to planning fees, and how they will be used to improve the service. 'Now we need plans to turn to action. We want quick, decisive action to create a faster, more agile planning system that will allow companies to realise their ambitions and develop improved infrastructure, making Wales a more attractive destination for firms, creating jobs, prosperity and driving forward sustainable growth.'
Business News Wales
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Principality Building Society's Iain Mansfield Appointed as CBI Wales Vice Chair
Principality Building Society director Iain Mansfield has been appointed as CBI Wales Vice Chair. Iain, Chief Financial Officer at the 165-year-old building society, brings substantial business experience, insights and considerable acumen to the CBI, which is also celebrating a special anniversary – 60 years as the voice of business. Iain will be Chair-designate of CBI Wales, stepping up to this role in 2026. He is working with CBI Wales Director Russell Greenslade and Chair Alison Orrells during a busy period for business following the Uk Government's Spending Review, the forthcoming launch of the UK Industrial Strategy and the Welsh Government's international investment summit – an event that was announced at the CBI Dinner last year – in Newport on 1 December. Iain will also be a high-profile presence at the CBI Wales Dinner at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on 13 November, a key date in the calendar for Welsh business, UK, Welsh government politicians and other stakeholders. Welcoming Iain's appointment, Russell Greenslade, Director, CBI Wales, said: 'I'm excited to welcome Iain as Vice Chair. He will play a crucial role supporting myself and the team in representing the interest of business in Wales, utilising the CBI's unrivalled expertise and policy insights from across the UK to ensure the governments in Cardiff and London are delivering for business. 'With such an extensive business background, an understanding of the financial burden and risk businesses face – from high energy costs to rises in NICs introduced in the Autumn Budget – and knowledge of a rapidly changing economy that includes advances in AI, and the skills shortages holding back firms, Iain will complement our current Chair's tremendous work. 'Although the CBI has a few years to go to match the Principality's 165 years, our organisations have much in common, including a strong and supportive membership base, and businesses – from north, south, east and west – that I've spoken with about Iain's appointment are delighted that he further strengthens the CBI Wales senior leadership team.' Alison Orrells, Chair, CBI Wales and Managing Director and CEO, The Safety Letterbox Company, said: 'With my extensive background at the front of a Welsh business and in particular manufacturing, exporting and SME challenges, coupled with Iain's significant experience in financial services, we'll be a strong double-act over the coming months to reinforce the CBI's reputation as the voice of business in Wales amid a time of increasing global economic uncertainty, from trade tariffs to conflict in the Middle East and to continuing high energy prices. 'We must ensure firms across Wales have access to a ready supply of skilled people and are equipped for the rapidly changing technology and use of AI. We need to do all we can to unlock barriers to growth and we'll both be listening closely to what businesses have to say at our quarterly CBI Wales Council meetings and working groups, taking CBI members views and experiences to policy colleagues to feed into the heart of government.' Iain Mansfield, Vice Chair, CBI Wales and Chief Financial Officer, Principality Building Society, said: 'It is a genuine privilege to take up the position of Vice Chair, and eventually Chair, at the CBI in Wales, particularly as the organisation celebrates its 60th anniversary alongside Principality's own 165th year of supporting communities across Wales. 'Throughout my career, I've witnessed firsthand the resilience, adaptability and innovation that define and drive businesses in Wales. 'Businesses today are navigating a complex economic landscape shaped by global challenges such as elevated interest rates and inflationary pressures. Yet here in Wales, we also face specific challenges closer to home—particularly the urgent need to unlock productivity to secure sustainable, long-term growth. 'Addressing these issues requires collaboration across the diverse businesses that underpin our local and national economy. 'I look forward to working with Russell, Alison and our membership to represent and champion the needs of businesses in Wales and ensure that together we help shape a thriving economic future for Wales and its businesses.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
High street empty shops action needed, expert says
The challenge posed by empty shops in Wales is "too big for the tools we are using", a property expert has Sutton, a chartered surveyor, said a lack of coordinated action meant cities such as Newport - which in 2021 was found to have more empty shops than any other city in the UK - had Sutton said the Welsh government and councils needed to be "heavily involved" in solving the problem, pointing to towns like Caernarfon which had found ways to Welsh government said it was working with trade bodies and trade unions to find solutions, while Newport council said footfall in the city was rising. Despite millions of pounds of public funding and a number of reports into the issue over the years, many Welsh high streets have continued to decline.A recent study found most small businesses wanted to be in town centres, but many were looking for office or workshop space rather than Street, Newport's main shopping street, remains a patchwork of boarded up premises and vacant despite calls for action, many visibly empty shops are not available for are tied up with long leases or are held by sometimes anonymous landlords who are unwilling to rent them out. Mr Sutton said the problem was not a lack of ideas but a lack of coordinated action."We don't need another report," he said. "We need implementation."Mr Sutton, the former chair of Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Wales, said the sometimes confused ownership of empty shops also restricted options."Our retail centres are probably the location with the most mixed ownerships," he said."Trying to masterplan regeneration is incredibly difficult when ownership is so fragmented."He said larger empty stores needed to be refurbished "and perhaps subdivided down to smaller units" to attract new tenants. Away from Commercial Street, independent businesses who have revitalised one of the city's arcades said Newport should not be judged on the state of its main shopping street."I think it's kind of like one big family in this arcade. It feels a community, as opposed to a bunch of just separate shops," said Jax Jones, who co-owns the Mythos tattoo training at another shop, he opened his own studio in the city centre but felt frustrated that the wider strategy in Newport appeared to be on enticing the big brands."Newport, at least for the last 10 years or so, has really put that focus on big business to the detriment of independents," he said the decline of stores like Debenhams provided an opportunity to support smaller local businesses."Given the chance, we can really see that independent business can thrive," he added, with "even a taxidermy shop" doing well in the arcade. 'Look beyond the empty shops' Newport City Council disputed the 2021 Centre for Cities data that showed the city had the UK's worst empty shops problem and said it was working to reduce vacancies and support independent businesses."Transforming the city centre's fortunes is not something that can happen overnight or by the council on its own," said councillor James council said footfall was rising - up 2.6% in 2024 - and nearly two thirds of city centre units were now occupied by independents. It also pointed to successful regeneration projects like Newport Market, and urged people to "look beyond the empty shops" to see the progress being made. Caernarfon, in Gwynedd, is among the town centres which are thriving despite the setbacks elsewhere."It's a small town with huge character," said Sue Kirk, whose souvenir and toy shop is in the centre of said the ease of buying online meant she had needed to "find things that are not readily available on the internet"."And if you can fill that gap and appeal to your customer base, you have a winning formula," she local Business Improvement District (BID) in Caernarfon works to keep shopkeepers informed of events and address problems Ms Kirk, it comes down to a simple idea: "Collaboration.""[There is a] strong connection between business owners, so that if we have a problem or if we have an idea, we can move together," she Strain, manager of the BID, said the lack of a shopping centre in Caernarfon had allowed the high street to thrive."We don't have a shopping centre. People might think it's a bad thing, but I think it's a very good thing," said Mr Strain."We've got a lot of commercial properties that are smaller, easier to fill and ideal for the many independent businesses that we've got here in town."Mr Sutton said other towns across Wales would need support in order to achieve similar results."We need local leadership," he said, "but also the local authority and Welsh government need to be heavily involved in this, and they really need to drive it forward."He said there was also the opportunity for "regeneration companies and development corporations" to coordinate and tackle empty added a change in how businesses were taxed could make a difference."We should be incentivising private sector development through wider use classes and property taxation reform," Mr Sutton Welsh government said in May that it was considering cutting business rates for smaller retail shops to help them compete with online retailers and to create "more vibrant high streets".A Welsh government spokesperson said retail was "experiencing a period of challenge and change"."Our retail action plan, developed in partnership with sector representatives, sets out the actions we are taking to ensure a successful, innovative, sustainable and resilient retail presence in Wales that offers fair, secure and rewarding work."The spokesperson also said the government's transforming towns programme would provide £40m for 2025 and 2026 to develop town centres and "breathe new life" into spaces.
Business News Wales
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Time to Change Wales' Image, First Minister Tells CBI Event
Wales needs to put up a 'massive flag' to show the world it's open for business, the First Minister told the CBI Wales Annual Lunch. Eluned Morgan MS addressed more than 200 business leaders, politicians and other stakeholders at the event in Cardiff. She said it was time to 'turn the page' on the image of Wales as a post-industrial economy and look to the future. She cited priority sectors including natural resources, renewable energy, digital, creative, compound semi conductors and life sciences as areas where Wales could attract investment. The First Minister spoke to Business News Wales about her priorities for jobs and growth, skills, working in social partnership including with the private sector, and what she hoped December's investment summit, set to be held in Newport, would achieve: The event, sponsored by FOR Cardiff, the Business Improvement District (BID), and Blaenavon-based GOS Tool & Engineering, took place at the Parkgate Hotel as part of the CBI's 60th anniversary celebrations. Guests also heard from Russell Greenslade, the new Director of CBI Wales, Alison Orrells, Chair, CBI Wales, and Tracy Black, Chief Commercial Officer, CBI, along with Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director, FOR Cardiff, Joshua Western, CEO and co-founder, Space Forge. Other speakers were Alan Francis, Managing Director, Gaunt Francis, who represented GOS Tool & Engineering and Amanda Fenton, Director of Fundraising & Marketing, at City Hospice, CBI Wales' charity partner. Conversations over lunch centred on the impact of US trade tariffs on the economy, the regional economy, skills and December's Welsh Government international investment summit in Newport. Russell Greenslade, Director, CBI Wales, said: 'This lunch celebrated the businesses, innovators, and leaders shaping our future, alongside a thought-provoking discussion on how we can build on this momentum to deliver sustainable economic growth. Welsh businesses are leading the way. From pioneering technologies to attracting investment and driving innovation, Wales is demonstrating what a modern, agile economy can achieve.' Alison Orrells, Chair, CBI Wales, MD and Chief Executive Officer, The Safety Letterbox Company, said: 'It is a great honour to chair CBI Wales in the 60th anniversary year. Being exposed to many companies across Wales of all sizes and sectors, there's no shortage of drive, determination, passion and enthusiasm to succeed, despite the very challenging backdrop and repeated global headwinds businesses currently face. There has never been a more important time for collaboration and support of business to unlock opportunity.' Carolyn Brownell, Executive Director, FOR Cardiff, said: 'As the economic engine of Wales, Cardiff city centre is the perfect location for the CBI's 60th anniversary lunch and FOR Cardiff are proud to have sponsored the event. It was great to see so many of the businesses that make up our Business Improvement District represented at the event and discuss the challenges and opportunities that doing business in central Cardiff provides.' Neil Gregory, Director, GOS Tool & Engineering in Blaenavon, said: 'In challenging times for business in Wales, it is essential that the CBI works closely with the Welsh Government on a whole range of issues including amongst others, investment, infrastructure and apprenticeships. Consequently, we were delighted to sponsor this event highlighting the close links between both organisations in this iconic building in the centre of Cardiff.'
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Eluned Morgan warns Donald Trump's tariffs will hit Wales harder than England
Eluned Morgan warns Donald Trump's tariffs will hit Wales harder than England She believes though that Wales could benefit from renewable sector investors pulling out of the US (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Global tariffs from US President Donald Trump will hit Wales harder than England but could create inward investment opportunities, believes First Minister Eluned Morgan. Last month Mr Trump's administration introduced a 10% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports and 25% on the automotive sector. A 10% tariff on all UK goods, as well as a range of tariffs on nations globally and the EU at 20%, were paused for 90 days. Whether any trade deal can be struck between the UK and USA is yet to be seen. The US has though imposed eye-watering tariffs on China, which has reciprocated, leading to concerns that Chinese goods could flood UK and European markets. Of all Welsh goods exported in value terms America accounts for 15.2%. Addressing the CBI Wales annual lunch event in Cardiff Ms Morgan said unlike in England goods make up well over half of the total value of all Welsh exports. She said: "There are particular challenges for some businesses in Wales at the moment with the US policies on tariffs. "The impact of Wales is proportionately much greater than in England because in England they have a much more service-based economy. In Wales around 67% our exports are goods while in England it is 32%. That is a massive difference so the impact on Wales and Welsh businesses would be far greater. Article continues below "So there are headwinds we are trying to deal with and all of this creates turmoil." The First Minister recently attended the WindEurope 2025 conference in Copenhagen where she held talks with some of Europe's biggest renewable companies and investors. She said: "Talking to some of those wind developers they are pouring out of America because of the 'drill baby drill' approach .They are looking for a new home [to invest] so there are opportunities and I am always trying to be positive and see where the opportunities are amongst this chaos." In December her government will host an international investment summit at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) and adjoining Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. It will focus on sectors where Wales currently has significant strengths including compound semiconductors and renewables. She said that efforts in trying to increase direct foreign investment into Wales shouldn't be seen as being at the expense of indigenous firms, pointing to the fact that inward investors generate significant opportunities for home-based firms through supply chains. Ms Morgan said: "I want to put a huge flag up and say: 'Wales is open for business' and there is no better way of doing that than hosting an international investment summit. "There are 180,000 people in Wales that are employed by foreign companies which is quite a substantial number. We are working in a very competitive global environment and we need to make sure that we put our best foot forward and demonstrate what we can do uniquely and where we have additional power to bring people to our country. That may be about resources, skillsets, and particularly sectors where we have excellence like compound semiconductors. "It is time to get [more] inward investment and obviously if we land those investments there will be massive opportunities for Welsh-based companies as things will fall out of that. "At the renewables conference in Denmark I talked to people who have a genuine interest investing in Wales but the interest for us is not just about a big massive turbine turning in the Celtic Sea but: 'Where is our piece of pie here?' "So what do you need us to do as government to make sure we can surround that investment and our hope is that will be greater opportunities for businesses in Wales." She identified planning and productivity and two key areas that need improving in Wales. The First Minister said: "Planning is a big issue and the first thing we did [after I became First Minister] was to pour money into it in order to speed things up. We know that any day a business is waiting for a decision is money and time wasted." On improving productivity levels, which is not a unique Welsh issue but a UK-wide one, she added: "As a Labour politician you would expect me to make sure that the voice of the worker is absolutely essential." Addressing a business audience she added: "You understand how important it is to get people in workplaces that are happy, trained up, and have that sense of security as we know that is going to improve productivity because of having a happier workforce. "I think there is a strong case to be made for supporting the new employment rights so what we get is actually better productivity and, God, don't we have a problem with productivity in this country. Article continues below "Some of that is about the need for improved management for example and needing to make sure that people are accountable in our workforce. "And I think there is a role for government in helping to upskill people. I think upskilling constantly in this day and age is imperative. If you look at AI the world is about to change and we have to make sure that we are part of that change and that we embrace it in a way that works for businesses and our communities as well. "If we can harness that power there are real opportunities but there are obviously things that we have to be cautious about as well."
