1. Caught in a cycle of success with Business Wales
Olympic gold medallists, Formula One drivers, and celebrity cyclists are among the high-profile customers of Stashed Products, a Powys-based start-up. Launched during lockdown by R&D specialist Elliot Tanner, Stashed produces accessible and space-effective bike storage systems that have been shipped to over 35 countries in 2024 alone. The manufacturer, whose annual sales consist of 80% exports, recently celebrated a £2 million sales milestone. Now, with the support of Business Wales, Elliot and the team are switching business up a gear by opening distribution branches in Europe and the US. You can read more about their export journey and business developments in the Powys County Times.
2. New home criteria to help buyers score starter homes
A space to call your own – that’s the dream. Our client Principality aims to make this dream a reality for many first-time buyers with the introduction of a new shared ownership mortgage and a fresh new homes criteria. These new initiatives make new homes more affordable and accessible for homeowners and first time buyers – allowing even more people to step onto the property ladder and make strides in securing their future. You can read more about the new criteria in Mortgage Solutions, Mortgage Finance Gazette, and Mortgage Strategy.
3. Putting a call out for volunteer voices and views
It’s a year since we helped launch Llais Cymru, the new citizens’ voice body for health and social care in Wales. The organisation, which replaces Wales’ seven community health councils, has been really making an impact across the same seven regions and in a huge variety of ways. We teamed up with Llais Executive Board member Dr Rajan Madhok, as he appeals to everyone in Wales to play their part, to volunteer their experiences of health or social care in Wales, or the experiences of those they care for. Llais also relies on volunteers to help gather these views online, in person and on the phone, and to really make a difference to the future of health and social care in Wales, ensuring it is fit for purpose. Dr Madhok’s column ran on Wales Online and in the North Wales Daily Post and Western Mail newspapers.
4. Building tomorrow’s skyline with Palmers Scaffolding
Back in March we broke the news of the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Wales’ first debt finance deal with Palmers, the UK’s oldest scaffolding firm. Wales Business Insider covered the story at the time and later named the deal as Insider’s ‘Deal of the Month’. In early April, Insider journalist Ben Butler was keen to learn more about Palmers and their ongoing plans for the new investment capital and so we facilitated an interview with Ben and Palmers CEO, Michael Carr, which resulted in a great online feature – check it out here.
5. Operation Julie returns to rock senses and open minds across UK
Almost fifty years ago, a huge police investigation involving eleven police forces invaded the rural Welsh countryside and resulted in more than a hundred arrests across Europe, over a century of jail time and the discovery of over half a billion pounds of LSD. The story captured the imagination of the world. Retelling it from both sides of the drug divide, Theatr na nÓg and Aberystwyth Arts Centre are taking this local story that went global to theatres across the UK, driven by demand following the sell-out of its debut run in 2022. Having successfully partnered with the theatre on their initial run, we were asked to join the team again and we’ve focused on spreading the word in the communities the musical is visiting, securing coverage in the South Wales Argus, Brecon and Radnor Express and Swindon Link amongst others. Stay tuned for more coverage as the show goes on….
