The fastest growing firm in Cardiff is…

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 3, 2012

Williams PM Electrical Limited, a Cardiff-based mechanical and electrical contractor, has been crowned the fastest-growing business in Cardiff.

Formed in 2009, the company employs highly skilled electricians, experienced in all aspects of domestic and commercial electrical work.

The main core of business is focused within the social housing sector, covering most regions throughout Wales. It also has a reasonably sized commercial section, carrying out projects up to £1.5m in refurbishment, rebuild and new build projects.

The business started with 25 employees and now employs a staggering 110 staff.

Williams PM Electrical was presented with its award by category sponsors, Cardiff Council, in front of 450 business people at the prestigious Fast Growth 50 Awards 2012 held in Cardiff.

The Wales Fast Growth 50 initiative, which was started 14 years ago to recognise the best of Welsh indigenous business, showcases companies that are making a real difference within their sectors and, more importantly during the current economic climate, are creating jobs within their local communities.

The 50 Welsh companies featuring on this year’s list will have collectively created 9,400 jobs since they were started, which is an incredible achievement.

Paul Lewis, Director of Williams PM Electrical, said:  “We are highly honoured to have won this prestigious award. The past three years have been very challenging for us and we as a company have overseen many obstacles. We would like to show our gratitude to all our staff for their hard work throughout this period and thank all our clients for their continuing support. We hope we can continue in this manner for many years to come and look forward to new challenges ahead.”

Executive member for Finance, Business and Local Economy Cllr Russell Goodway said: “I’m delighted to see Williams PM Electrical win the fastest growing firm in Cardiff accolade, as part of the Fast Growth 50 Awards.  The current climate for our businesses is very challenging and Williams PM Electrical are showcasing great success in these difficult times.

“Following from the recent Nesta report showing that Cardiff has one of the highest percentages of high growth of any city in the UK, it demonstrates that Cardiff is a great place to do business.  Fast growth firms need a platform to build upon their success and Cardiff is providing that to our businesses with great results.  The Fast Growth 50 initiative is a constant reminder of the entrepreneurial potential that exists within Cardiff and the rest of Wales, with growth performance by innovative businesses, which is as good as any to be found across the regions of the rest of the UK.”

For more information on the this year’s Fast Growth 50 Awards and all the winners, please visit www.fastgrowth50.com

Cardiff named as one of top cities in UK for business growth

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 14, 2012

Recently published research by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) has revealed that Cardiff has the second highest concentration of high growth firms out of the 62 UK cities it analysed.

High growth firms, or ‘gazelles’ as are they are commonly known, make up just seven per cent of all UK businesses, but in Cardiff the figure is an impressive 11 per cent. This equates to 35 companies who are all vital to the local economy as high growth firms generate around half of all new jobs and are particularly resilient during a recession.

Gazelles were defined in the research as those firms having achieved an annual employment growth of 20 per cent of more per annum between 2007-10.

Because they make a disproportionate contribution to economic growth, it is important that any city economy features a high percentage of high-growth firms.

In Cardiff the sector providing the largest amount of gazelles was business services, followed by the construction and hotel and restaurant sectors.

Business Services is a large sector within the UK economy, with about 23 per cent of all firms and 15 per cent of employment falling into this category. It also includes legal firms, accountants, architects and engineering consultants, management and business consultants, advertising, technical testing, market research, recruitment companies, security businesses and cleaning businesses.

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BUMBO® BABY SEAT SAFETY ALERT

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 19, 2012

Cardiff Council Trading Standards is issuing an urgent safety alert to anyone using a Bumbo® Baby Seat following at least 50 reported incidents in the United States where infants have fallen out of the seats and fractured their skulls.

The company which makes the seats, Baby International Trust, is currently recalling four million seats in the US but not in the UK. Instead, UK consumers are being offered free safety harnesses.

Consumers are being advised that they should immediately stop using the product until they order and install a free repair kit. The kit includes: a restraint belt with a warning label, installation instructions, safe use instructions and a new warning sticker.

The belt should always be used when a child is placed in the seat. Even with the belt, the seat should never be used on any raised surface. Consumers should also immediately stop using Bumbo® seat covers that interfere with the installation and use of the belt.

 

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Britax Baby Safe Infant Carrier recall

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 18, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards is warning owners of certain Britax Baby-Safe infant carriers that were purchased between 1st February & 31st March 2012 about a voluntary recall due to a quality issue.

The reason for the recall is that the handle of a number of the infant carriers could be damaged or, in adverse circumstances, detach, if sudden force is applied to it. This may cause the infant carrier to swing, to separate, to fall to the ground or to arrive in other unsafe situations when carrying the product and can pose a risk of injury to the occupying child especially if the child is – against the user instructions – not harnessed. The defect may not be recognised by the consumers instantly.

Cardiff Council’s head of Regulatory and Supporting Services, Dave Holland, said: “Cardiff Council takes the issue of child safety very seriously. We ask consumers in possession of these particular infant carriers to stop using them with immediate effect and contact the manufacturer.”

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NSPCC and SPAR launch ‘Recipe for ChildLine’ in Cardiff

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 5, 2011

NSPCC and SPAR today (4 July) launched ‘Recipe for ChildLine’, a new initiative to get the people of Cardiff reminiscing, sharing and making their favourite childhood recipes, whilst raising money for the 24 hour helpline for children and young people.

Dishes can range from local traditional dishes such as Bara Brith, passed through the generations to simple classics that stir up special memories, smells and tastes from childhood.

For every recipe that is uploaded to www.spar.co.uk/FoodAndDrink/Recipes/SubmityourRecipe , SPAR will donate £4 to ChildLine, a service of the NSPCC. It costs the NSPCC £4 to answer a call to ChildLine, so every recipe uploaded will make sure there is someone there to answer a child’s call.

Joanna Leonard, local community fundraising manager, will be uploading her favourite recipe for Polish Cake.

She said: “Chocolate Polish Cake was one of my favourite home made treats when I was growing up!  I make it now with my own children and it brings back lots of happy memories.  I hope my own children will remember how much fun we had when we baked. Recipe for ChildLine is a really great initiative to get families reminiscing and spending time together, while also helping vulnerable children and young people. I hope many more people will get involved and share their favourite recipes.”

Maia Riley, SPAR’s spokesperson for South Wales, said: “Every family has their favourite food from childhood and we’re on a mission to get them cooking it! Whether you like bread and butter pudding with custard, an old fashioned curry or cottage pie, we want as many people as possible to upload their recipes and share their memories in aid of ChildLine.

“SPAR is at the heart of local communities and as a business, we strive to be there for our customers. Last year ChildLine counsellors responded to nearly 670,000 contacts from children and young people about a wide range of concerns, including family relationship problems, bullying and physical abuse.¹ Today we are asking our customers to help ChildLine be there for any child who needs support.”

The NSPCC and SPAR have been working in partnership for five years and have already raised over £2.5 million to help protect children across the UK.

Funds raised from ‘Recipe for ChildLine’ will allow the helpline to answer many more calls and online messages from worried or upset children and young people.

To upload your favourite recipe from your childhood visit www.spar.co.uk/FoodAndDrink/Recipes/SubmityourRecipe

 

Welsh low-pay workers cheated by employers

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 27, 2011

Despite nearly three and half thousand poorly paid workers in Wales getting less than the minimum wage since 2002, not one single prosecution has resulted, says Leanne Wood South Wales Central AM.

The scandal involves more than a thousand employers who have made underpayments of nearly one and half million pounds and it seems Cardiff employers are the worst offenders, with Swansea and Llandudno following close behind. The worst industry for underpaying employers is the hospitality sector.

Ms Wood said: “Low paid workers must be protected, but the law must be brought down as hard on employers as it is with benefit fraud. Why are prosecutions not brought against employers? Why are benefit claimants and rogue employers not treated the same?”

The Plaid Cymru Assembly Member went on to say she had approached the government and had received assurances that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs would press for prosecution where there is clear evidence that an employer has committed an offence. Despite these assurances, nothing to date has happened.