News | Page 16

A venue in Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, is set to reopen at double its previous capacity following a major refurbishment it completed with a six-figure package from NatWest.

Firms finding themselves itself in the fortunate position to go on a hiring spree due to increased business demand should also seriously consider the implementation of a solid and reliable time and attendance system designed to help streamline the hiring process. That’s also the case with telecoms giant BT, who’s recently revealed plans to create 65 more engineering roles as part of its Openreach arm.

New employee management systems and smart card access control products are likely to be planned as the second phase of the £70m redevelopment of Milford Dock has started. The project is expected to result in new fish processing units, offices and facilities in Milford Haven.

Time and attendance monitoring and employee management systems are likely to be on the Welsh companies’ acquisitions list as they plan to boost spending next year.

Business confidence levels among Welsh companies have increased significantly over the past 12 months, against the overall trend recorded across the UK, a recent news report in the local business media was able to reveal. A solid rise in sales volume and exports contributed to the growth in confidence, the latest UK Business Confidence Monitor from Grant Thornton and ICAEW points out.

Construction work has started on a new engineering facility in Newtown, Powys, which will employ around 35 new members of staff when completed, a recent news report in the local media was able to reveal. Control Techniques, part of Emerson Industrial Automation, is building the new engineering lab on land adjacent to its headquarters on Pool Road. The new 10,000 sq ft facility will allow the company to expand through the development of new products and will also provide additional office space.

Close to 5,000 Welsh companies have hired young people over the past two years after taking part in the government’s EU-backed Jobs Growth Wales Programme, a news report in the local business media was able to reveal. Official figures suggest that more than 3,000 microbusinesses and 1,412 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participated in the scheme, with more than 300 people starting their own companies using the programme’s Young Entrepreneurs Bursary.

Several new jobs are to be created at a Merthyr Tydfil-based cargo control systems’ manufacturer after securing the necessary funding from the Wales Economic Growth Fund, a recent news report on the matter was able to reveal. The Welsh facility is the main manufacturing operation for the Netherlands-headquartered Load-Lok Manufacturing group and the £210,000 in funding supplied by the Wales Government helped the company create 10 new jobs, while also securing a further 12.

A new development scheme to create a brand new suburb located north of Cardiff that will include building more than 1,000 houses has received planning permission from the local Council after Wales’ First Minister decided not to launch a public inquiry in the matter. Plans were initially approved by Cardiff Council in December last year but strong opposition led to the Welsh Government weighing up whether the plans should be called in for further scrutiny.

An electronics firm that specializes in providing a repair and refurbishment service for products returned under warranty to major retailers has revealed plans to create 138 new jobs after relocating to a larger site. As part of an investment worth more than £2m, Trojan Electronics is to move to a building at the old Visteon factory site in Fabian Way.

A Vancouver-headquartered mobile technology company has revealed plans to invest £2.6m in a new research and development centre in Caerphilly, Wales, with up to 25 jobs set to be created on the short-term as a direct result. Appnovation Technologies plans to make Caerphilly its European headquarters, with ambitions to create up to 100 high-quality jobs on the long-term.

Renewable Developments Wales has submitted a full planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council to construct a power station comprising a combustion plant, fuel storage facilities and an administrative and visitor centre building on a 12.8-acre site on the edge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.