Wales eBusiness Network

Wales eBusiness Network http://www.business4wales.co.uk News | Advice | Features Wed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 LOW CARBON ENTREPRENEURS AND THE NORTH WALES ECONOMY http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/low-carbon-entrepreneurs-and-north.html http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/low-carbon-entrepreneurs-and-north.html#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Dylan Jones-Evans http://www.business4wales.co.uk/?guid=da3ceaf5132beee443d67088139b34bd

Last week, a fascinating report landed in my email inbox.

Published by the Carbon Trust and Shell UK, “Low Carbon Entrepreneurs: the new engines for growth” looks at the critical role that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can play in the low carbon sector. This includes both nuclear and renewable power, transport and activities within various manufacturing and services industries that essentially contribute, either directly or indirectly, towards reducing environmental impacts or adapting to environmental changes.

Whilst some may believe that it is still a relatively small industry, it was one of the few sectors to grow during the recent recession and it is estimated that such green business accounted for over a third of the economic growth in 2011/12. Indeed, the low carbon economy is estimated to be worth over £120 billion to the UK and currently employs 940,000 people.

And the good news is that the market is set to grow, driven by small dynamic companies that are focused on international opportunities. For example, a survey from the report shows that almost forty percent of low carbon SMEs are already exporting despite the fact that the majority have a turnover of less than a half a million pounds. Given that the global low carbon industry is forecast to be worth £4 trillion by 2015, this is certainly a sector that demands further support in its development.

Yet, when we look at the five main locations for the growth of low carbon SMEs in recent years, the report shows that the most successful areas have been London, Cambridge, Oxford, West Yorkshire and Hampshire.This must be enormously disappointing, but something of a challenge, for North Wales, where Anglesey has not only been branded as the ‘energy island’ as a result of potential investments into nuclear and wind power but, more importantly, has recently been given enterprise zone status by the Welsh Government to drive forward this sector. In addition, the status of Bangor University as having one of the highest concentrations of environmental science students in the UK means that there is a local skill base already available for businesses in the sector.

However, all is not lost. According to the report, the most common reasons for a low carbon SME’s current location were access to talented people and support from the local innovation network, both of which could be developed locally if the new Science Park touted for the Menai area focuses specifically on energy and low carbon sectors. More importantly, two thirds of low carbon firms would move location if there was regional funding available to help the business. This is certainly a vital lesson for those who are putting together the financial ‘offering’ that the Anglesey Enterprise Zone will have in order to attract businesses to the island in the future.

But there are also opportunities to develop new dynamic businesses in the region. A survey of participants in the Shell Livewire programme, the biggest online community for young entrepreneurs aged 16-30, shows that almost a third say they would like to start a new low carbon business or get involved in the low carbon economy but don’t know how to go about doing it.

Given this, there is certainly a real chance for North Wales to focus its efforts on helping young people within the region to get into the low carbon economy and to help build up a cluster of businesses in this sector. Therefore, whilst North Wales has been slow in getting into this growing sector, it does have several competitive advantages that, if managed properly, could see the region emerging as one of the main low carbon areas of the UK during the next five years and creating hundreds, if not thousands, of highly paid skilled jobs in the local economy.

]]> http://www.business4wales.co.uk/low-carbon-entrepreneurs-and-the-north-wales-economy/feed/ 0 What’s the answer to solving the woes of Wales’ high streets? http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/whats-the-answer-to-solving-the-woes-of-wales-high-streets/ http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/whats-the-answer-to-solving-the-woes-of-wales-high-streets/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 21:23:03 +0000 Gemma Collins http://www.walesbusiness.org/?p=1318 http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/whats-the-answer-to-solving-the-woes-of-wales-high-streets/feed/ 0 WALES CAN LEAD THE WAY IN PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/wales-can-lead-way-in-public-sector.html http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/wales-can-lead-way-in-public-sector.html#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000 Dylan Jones-Evans http://www.business4wales.co.uk/?guid=90a9b3c2d1d4d64d6ba2581d1a8b8154

Last week, a report was published that, woefully, received little attention from the Welsh media but could, if implemented, have a transformational effect on the way that public services are delivered here in Wales.

Funded by NESTA, 'State of Innovation: Wales Public Services and the Challenge of Change' should be compulsory reading for every senior manager within government and the public sector in Wales. Authored by Matthew Gatehouse and Adam Price, the facts from the report were startling.

More than two thirds of our economic output comes from the public sector, a situation that is compounded by low private sector productivity, which means Wales remains the poorest part of the UK.

Nearly a fifth of the Welsh population is aged over 65, which is a higher proportion than the UK as a whole, putting pressure on an already stretched health and social care system that will only increase as life expectancy improves.

Pockets of Wales, especially in postindustrial areas, have some of the worse health of any parts of the UK, with 27 per cent of economic inactivity due to long-term sickness. In addition, we also have higher comparative levels of child poverty.

Whilst in the past, governments have dealt with such issues by merely throwing money at them in the good times, that scenario is now at an end. Welfare spending is set to fall dramatically over the next few years and the funding that the Welsh Government receives from the Treasury will continue to reduce.

In the past, such government cuts have been accepted with largely a shrug of the shoulders, some industrial action but then a quiet acquiescence that we might as well accept it as there is little that can be done ‘in the current circumstances’.

However, this report blows that comfortable complacency out of the water by showing that stronger and healthier communities can be created if we embrace greater innovation within the public sector.

And we already have some strengths in place.

According to the report, Wales is big enough to scale beyond the purely local but small enough to organise a coherent national strategy.

Indeed, a radical programme of transformational change is possible because of this “Wales effect” i.e. the common sense of belonging, the strong personal relationships between the main players, the much shorter communication distances between national government and local delivery, and close connections between policymakers, practitioners and academic institutions.

This natural advantage, along with a dominant public sector, a strong academic base and close communities, means that there is a real opportunity for Wales to become a global leader in public service innovation.

And it is not that we are beginning from scratch.

There are already several cases of excellence of innovation within public services in Wales, including the “Your County Your Way” strategy led by Monmouthshire County Council; Time Banking Wales which is transforming local engagement in the South Wales Valleys; and the Gwent Frailty project which, as a partnership between five local authorities, Aneurin Bevan Health Board and the voluntary sector, is reshaping services in primary and community care around the care needs of people.

But despite such examples, there is more that can be done to ensure such innovation does not remain within isolated areas across the nation but becomes a normal part of the delivery of public services in the future.

There is also the opportunity to incentivise new partners in the private sector, such as technology providers, to turn Wales into a global test bed for those wishing to develop innovative solutions via digital technologies in areas such as health and education.

This of course, will require acceptance of greater risk within the public sector where innovation and accountability can go hand in hand, and failure is an chance to learn from mistakes rather than an opportunity to apportion blame when something goes wrong. With a new Permanent Secretary who, in his public statements so far, embraces such a culture, the Welsh Government could be leading such change across the public sector in Wales.

But it is not only the public sector alone itself that can make a difference to this agenda.
For example, with the creation of a new University of South Wales, there is an opportunity for this institution, with its roots in some of our most deprived communities, to become a catalyst for change in driving forward innovation within public services in Wales, especially by making innovation skills centre stage in management and leadership programmes in order to create a new cadre of innovators across Wales’ public services.

There is also a greater role that can be played by the third sector in Wales, especially in the creation of new social enterprises that can help deliver local services around their communities in a far more efficient way than many public bodies. Indeed, could the current review of mutuals and co-operatives by the former minister Andrew Davies herald a seismic shift in the way some public services are delivered in Wales?

In 2011, the economist Gerry Holtham wrote in an article in the Western Mail that instead of bewailing the fact that our public sector is too big, why don't we make virtue of necessity? As he noted at the time, whilst industries rise and fall, there will always be a need for good government in every part of the World.]]> http://www.business4wales.co.uk/wales-can-lead-the-way-in-public-sector-innovation/feed/ 0 THE FUTURE OF TOURISM IN WALES http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-future-of-tourism-in-wales.html http://dylanje.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-future-of-tourism-in-wales.html#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 09:33:00 +0000 Dylan Jones-Evans http://www.business4wales.co.uk/?guid=ad10f1af4ed413b3fd505dc53deff095

Given the importance of tourism to Wales, it was fascinating to read the Welsh Government’s 2013-2020 strategy for the industry.

Of particular interest was their take on what actually differentiates Wales from the rest of the World and identifying the ‘magic sauce” that ensures tourism makes a growing contribution to the economy.

Not surprisingly, the natural environment is seen as a central reason as to why visitors choose to take their holidays in Wales.

Certainly, developments such as the opening of the 870-mile long coastal path will help to maintain this key advantage as will the growing importance of activity holidays, including cycling, horse riding, adventure sports, fishing and golf, which make full use of our coast and countryside.

Allied to the natural beauty of our nation is its heritage and culture which makes us a distinct destination. This ranges from castles, both Welsh and Norman, to industrial attractions, such as Llechwedd Slate Caverns and the Big Pit, which catalogues the nation’s more recent history.

There has also been a recent interest in so-called religious tourism, with American visitors being seen as a potential target for this growing segment of the market. To capitalise on this, a North Wales Pilgrim’s Way, which starts in Flintshire and continues across the coast to the Bardsey Island, was opened in 2011.

Events and festivals, such as Wakestock, the Hay Festival and the Kaya Festival, are also seen as being important in attracting a different, and younger, type of visitor to Wales. And whilst the sporting facilities we have in our cities are attracting big events such as the Rugby World Cup, Ryder Cup and the Ashes, one mustn’t forget the success of more specialist venues such as Pwllheli in hosting four World championships and thirty-two UK National championships in the last seven years.

These are all positive trends for tourism over the next few years that could make a real difference to many local economies across Wales. Yet there remain a number of other challenges which the industry faces and which need addressing quickly.

Leisure and tourism is one of the industries that has been hit hard by the reluctance of banks to lend to smaller firms in recent years and this lack of capital is preventing the industry from carrying out important improvements. Indeed, given that a key strategy of the Tourism Sector Panel is the improvement of better quality visitor facilities, particularly accommodation, this cannot be achieved without the right financial support, whether it comes from the banks or the Welsh Government.

The Wales Tourism Alliance has also pointed out the importance of upgrading skills within the industry and yet there is a lack of focus to achieve this. Given this, perhaps the time has come for a National Tourism College which would be industry led, be focused on excellence and would provide the upskilling critical to make Wales the best holiday destination in the UK.

Finally, the industry needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century to make sure it makes the most of the social media now used by potential visitors to not only book their holidays but, via sites such as TripAdvisor, to recommend them to their friends and peers. In particular, greater use of mobile social media, via smartphones, could add real value to the tourism experience in Wales.

Clearly, Wales needs to make the most of its natural assets to grow the tourism industry over the next few years but to succeed the Welsh Government and other bodies must ensure that tourism businesses have the funding, skills and social media awareness to take full advantage of these opportunities.

]]> http://www.business4wales.co.uk/the-future-of-tourism-in-wales/feed/ 0 Having a properly co-ordinated digital marketing strategy the key to success http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/having-a-properly-co-ordinated-digital-marketing-strategy-the-key-to-success/ http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/having-a-properly-co-ordinated-digital-marketing-strategy-the-key-to-success/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 18:54:38 +0000 Kevin Ogden http://www.walesbusiness.org/?p=1314 http://www.walesbusiness.org/2013/05/having-a-properly-co-ordinated-digital-marketing-strategy-the-key-to-success/feed/ 0