1. Making a home in the headlines with Principality
Principality Building Society released its quarterly Wales House Price Index this week, revealing the average Welsh house price as £232,400 for the period July-October – a slight drop on the previous quarter’s rise of 3.1%. Principality’s report also showed transactions in Wales were up, suggesting glimmers of recovery in the housing market. We set up interviews and expert analysis with Principality’s Shaun Middleton and Harri Jones on Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, as well as pieces on BBC Wales Today, BBC online, Business News Wales, Property Reporter, Business Live, Mortgage Introducer, and Business Money.
2. Protecting creative pursuits with Media Cymru
With the announcement of the UK’s budget this week there are a lot of questions about what impact this could have on industry and its ability to thrive. Considering the Creative Industries contribute £125bn to the economy and employ over two million people, its position as a major driver of the UK’s economy cannot be understated. So, it is vital that the industry is protected and supported financially to allow more space for innovation and growth. Working with Justin Lewis, Co-Director of Media Cymru, a 22-partner strategic investment programme, we gave the Creative Industries a voice and emphasised its impact not only on the economy but culture overall. To read more about why this sector should be considered, celebrated, and cherished in Parliament and beyond check out Justin’s piece in British Cinematographer. Photo credit: fivefoldstudios
3. Having frightfully fun times in creepy Conwy
Our winter tourism campaign with Visit Conwy reached a Halloween highlight this week, with more national coverage on Mirror Online on the back of features we placed in the Express, Daily Post and with Wales Online; outlining the wonder of weekend wintering in Conwy.
The region has stacks to offer outdoor adventurers; fun seeking families or those who do like to be beside the seaside, wandering Victorian proms and promenades.
This week’s timely focus shone a light on Conwy as the perfect Halloween haunt for anyone in search of spooks; with nighttime haunted castle tours; one of the UK’s most haunted hotels; graveyards and ghost hunts all featuring on our Mirror reviewer’s itinerary.
4.International success for Newport company
Newport-based manufacturer Tomoe Valve is set to see its revenue skyrocket to £6m after seeing growing demand for its products across the globe. The company is on track to boost its exports by 20% by the end of this financial year following a string of international deals recently secured with support from the Welsh Government’s export team. Read more on the South Wales Argus, Insider online and the Manufacturer
5.Start up dreams come true
“I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved in setting up my business and there’s a real joy that comes from playing football with other people. The fact that I get to experience all of this as a business owner is a dream come true.” Leon Stapleton combined his love for teaching with his lifelong passion for football to launch Wales’ first franchise of the football training academy for children: We Make Footballers Cardiff. Recently named Start Up Loans Ambassador for Wales, an annual programme run by the British Business Bank which celebrates UK business owners, we shared a Q+A blog about Leon’s inspirational journey with Wales Business Insider.
