Cardiff Cross Challenge Returns to the City for the Sixteenth Year

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jan 29, 2013

Cardiff has successfully hosted the 16th annual McCain Cross Challenge this month.

Cardiff Council Leisure Services are one of the main sponsors for the event which saw 1400 athletes as well as primary school children compete in one of 12 races throughout the day.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “The Cardiff Cross Challenge is one of the most high-calibre events on the calendar and boasts an impressive number of different race events throughout the day.

“We are thrilled it was hosted here successfully for the 16th year despite the cold weather. Cardiff Council recognises the importance it has for the sport as it appeals to experienced runners as well as encouraging grass roots talent which leads to healthy and active lifestyles in young people”.

The event attracts competitors of all levels and ages from across the UK and takes place in the centre of Cardiff within the beautiful grounds of Cardiff Castle, Bute Park along the River Taff and leads into Blackweir fields.

The event is organised by Graham Finlayson BEM from Cardiff Cross Country and Road Events with the support of UK Athletics and Welsh Athletics.

Cardiff was the fourth fixture in the 2012 and 2013 series, which includes races in Bristol, Liverpool, Antrim and Birmingham.

The Cardiff Cross Challenge was founded in 1997 and has since become one of the most prestigious events in the UK.

The high-class competition incorporates a full range of men’s, women’s and young persons races for age groups including Seniors, Under 20s, Under 17s, Under 15s and Under 13’s.

The course is marked up to national standards and incorporates a mixture of flat fast running with interesting woodland and riverside sections.

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

Bute Park through to the final of Lottery Best Heritage Project awards

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 25, 2012

Cardiff’s very own Bute Park has succeeded in getting through to the final of the 2012 National Lottery Award under the category Best Heritage Project, but it needs your help to win!

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and aim to celebrate and recognise the difference that those projects have made to people, places and communities all across the UK.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “For the Bute Park Restoration Project to make the final for this national award is fantastic news both for those working in the park as well the people of Cardiff.

“Lottery funding has helped transform the park into a must-visit destination at the heart of Cardiff’s city centre and it is a great tribute to the many people who are working hard to transform Bute Park into a place of heritage, education and enjoyment.

“This is a great achievement for the city and I would like to encourage people to vote for this project –it’ll only take a few clicks online. This puts Cardiff on the map and recognises what a fantastic attraction we have at the heart of our city.”

The Bute Park Restoration Project is one of only three projects to make it through in the Best Heritage Project category as a result of public votes, in the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.

The final will be televised on the BBC One National Lottery Draw Show.

Please support Bute Park by voting. Either call 0844 836 9711 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Voting ends at midnight on Sunday 28 October.

The Bute Park Restoration Project has transformed Cardiff’s largest city centre park into a place celebrated by the city’s residents and visitors alike.

The project, supported by a new flourishing friends group, has preserved the park’s unique heritage while creating educational and recreational opportunities.

The project has enhanced the parks historical features, provided new facilities, widened access and has helped tell the park’s stories.

Bute Park has a listed building, famous listed boundary wall, historic waterways and a scheduled ancient monument; the park’s medieval Friary site, all of which are being restored and interpreted as part of the project.

There are also many opportunities for community involvement and examples of several great projects to date including the work of the park’s regular litter champions, clearance of invasive species by volunteer groups, and clearance of litter from the park’s waterways.

Exciting new facilities developed through the project support in-house training of horticultural staff and apprentices, offer educational visits, provide a wealth of guides and information for family and tourist visits to the park, and provide refreshments and toilet facilities.

Lottery funding has helped restore the iconic Animal Wall, build a new outdoor eatery echoing the style of an old park Summerhouse, build a new education centre and transform the old park keeper’s lodge into a tea room, gift shop and art gallery.

Improved pathways, benches, bins and signage have also been provided through the project.

Tickets for derby day at the Millennium Stadium on sale

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 14, 2012

Tickets for Wales’ double-header derby day at the Millennium Stadium will go on public sale today (Friday 14 September) at 12noon.

The festival of rugby will see the Newport Gwent Dragons face the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues take on the Ospreys in back-to-back clashes on Saturday 30 March, for the first of a new annual rugby initiative at the home of Welsh sport.

Rugby fans can get their tickets from midday priced at £10 for U18s, £25 for adults and £50 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) via WRU.CO.UK at Ticketmaster (08442 777 888) or Ticketline UK (02920 230130).

The event, launched jointly by the Welsh Rugby Union and Regional Rugby Wales, will bring the Blues and Dragons RaboDirect Pro12 ‘home’ games against their regional rivals to the iconic stadium for the next four seasons.

Season ticket holders for the Blues and Dragons will be given free entry to the Millennium Stadium for the annual rugby extravaganza.

The WRU has promised a carnival atmosphere for the unique event with details of a full spectrum of match day entertainment coming soon, while almost 1,000 fans have already pre-registered to book their places at the iconic venue.

“Tickets for the Millennium Stadium’s inaugural double-header derby day are on sale now and fans will get to see two regional rugby derby matches, played back-to-back, all on just one attractively priced ticket,” said Gerry Toms, Stadium Manager.

“The event promises to be a fantastic festival of rugby entertainment and we hope all fans will wear their regional colours and support their teams in their droves at the first event on Saturday 30 March.”

As well as WRU’s official ticketing outlets WRU.CO.UK, Ticketmaster and Ticketline UK tickets will be available from the four regions in coming weeks; details to be announced in due course. All season ticket and box holders from the Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons will be allocated prime reserved seats at the Millennium Stadium please contact the WRU in the first instance.

On behalf of the four regions, Stuart Gallacher, Chief Executive of Regional Rugby Wales, said:“We’re delighted to be working with the Welsh Rugby Union to bring a new derby day to Wales’ national stadium, which showcases the commitment and success of the four regions to producing and supporting so many talented players in Wales.”

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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