Links between education and business are vital for budding entrepreneurs says First Minister

A strong partnership between education and business is vital for young entrepreneurs. This was the message from First Minister Carwyn Jones as he addressed the International Entrepreneurship Educators' Conference (IEEC) at Cardiff University on 1st September.

At a time where more and more young people are coming up against fierce competition for jobs, the conference aims to encourage entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviours amongst educators and their students – giving budding entrepreneurs the edge when starting up a new business or venture.

Speaking to the conference, which was attended by Welsh, UK and international delegates, the First Minister stressed the importance of entrepreneurship to the Welsh economy:

"Entrepreneurship is all about people who turn ideas into reality. Wales needs to attract and retain skilled individuals with entrepreneurial spirit and the ambition to succeed.

"We are aiming to create greater awareness of the opportunities and benefits of entrepreneurship in order to encourage more young people to start businesses. This approach is vital for helping our young people realise their full potential.

"Youth Entrepreneurship continues to be a priority for Wales and is an important pillar of our new economic policy, Economic Renewal: a new direction – a radical new approach to economic development in Wales."

The up and coming Welsh golfers competing in this year's SWALEC Wales Challenge have Rhys Davies's success in 2009 to illustrate the huge importance of the Ryder Cup Wales 'Summer of Golf' event.

Bridgend's Davies is now on the full European Tour, competing regularly with the likes of Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, and eventual winner in Abu Dhabi, Martin Kaymer, and all thanks to his first ever Challenge Tour victory at the Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, last summer.

The 150,000 Euro event will be returning to the challenging Wales National course, at the Vale Resort, from August 25th-28th just five weeks before the eyes of the world are on Wales when the biggest team event in world golf is being played just a few miles down the M4 at The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.

New policy to transform business environment

The Welsh Assembly Government today announced that it is going to radically transform the way it supports the Welsh economy. The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn Jones outlined a vision of making Wales "one of the best places in the world to live, to work and to thrive".

"Economic Renewal: A New Direction" sets out the role devolved government can play in providing the best conditions and framework to enable the private sector to grow and flourish.

In future government resources will be targeted at tackling wide systemic issues within the Welsh Economy - investing in infrastructure, research & development and improving the conditions within which businesses operate. Economic Renewal will see a fundamental shift away from direct and generic support for companies to a focus on creating the right environment for businesses to succeed.

The policy has been developed following extensive consultation with business, academia, trades unions and other key organisations and individuals.

The consistent feedback was that government should concentrate resources where it can add the most value – where the private sector by itself cannot deliver.

The new approach includes:

· Reducing the level of direct business support, with resources and funding moved to wider infrastructure development – this will mean half the resources of the Single Investment Fund now going to infrastructure projects. Most of the finance that the Economy & Transport Department provides directly will be gradually moved to a repayable model.

· We believe our role to be an enabler of growth rather than a direct deliverer of services to individual companies, so we will reduce the level of direct business support beyond the start-up phase to create space for private-sector business support.

· Developing high quality and sustainable infrastructure to underpin economic growth. Investors and indigenous businesses must be able to count on communications, transport, energy and other infrastructure necessary for 21st Century enterprise. This includes a commitment for every business in Wales to have access to Next Generation broadband by the middle of 2016, with all households enabled by 2020 – and a major improvement in mobile phone coverage.

· Supporting industry-led investment in six key sectors, where Wales has clear advantages for growth, instead of the current 14. The new target sectors, supported by resources released following closure of the Single Investment Fund are:

o Creative industries

o ICT

o Energy and Environment

o Advanced material and manufacturing

o Life Sciences

o Financial and Professional services

· Full integration of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) teams and stimulating trade teams to support these six sectors. International Business Wales (IBW) will cease to exist as a separate function within the department and the IBW brand will be replaced with a 'Wales' brand that highlights successes and counters negative perceptions.

· Creating a more responsive planning system, with a package of reforms to help businesses. This will include improving guidance for businesses, reducing the number of applications, examining the process of consultation and a careful scrutiny of any changes to the system.

· A reduction of bureaucracy in public sector procurement, including a single National Procurement Website. We want businesses of all sizes to be able to bid for public sector contracts and easily navigate the system.

· We will improve the co-ordination of our processes that lead to regulations that impact on businesses. We recognise that the assessment process for all regulations must challenge the Assembly Government to make sure we fully realise the effect suggested polices will have on business.

· Working with business to broaden and deepen the base of skills in Wales, including science, technology, engineering and maths, extension of the Apprenticeships programme and a new Basic Skills Employer Pledge. We will ensure that our young people are motivated and ready for the world of work, with the right attitudes and skills for the workplace. Employers will get help to tackle the costs arising from low levels of literacy and numeracy.

· Increasing investment in our new priority sectors for Research and Development. We will work with universities and businesses to make sure research and development is commercialised and contributes to economic development.

· Improved supply of premises for business in areas where there is a shortage through a combination of direct provision and gap funding.

· As direct business support is reduced, we will still have a role in providing information on opportunities and guidance to business online. Our websites will reflect this new approach and we will drop the FS4B brand.

Although the Government's ambitions are shaped, but not constrained, by the current economic climate, the Deputy First Minister has said that this change in direction should be seen as an opportunity to help build a stronger future for Wales.

"'Economic Renewal: A New direction' is a radical re-think of the way the Welsh Assembly Government supports economic development. Our actions are based on a shared vision and ambition of what needs to be done to create a more prosperous Wales" , Mr Jones said.

"In the current economic climate our investment needs to be smarter. We must concentrate our efforts and our resources on areas where we have the greatest degree of control and where their impact will be most widely felt.

"We asked for the opinions of business and wider society and we have listened. We want to create a high quality infrastructure so that businesses, large and small, are well connected within and beyond Wales. Our people, businesses and communities need the right facilities, skills and services where they live and work if we are to compete in the global economy.

"We recognise that, over the long term, the performance of the Welsh economy has not met expectations. This new approach sets out a clear, defined role for devolved government.

"It is not our role to get involved in the day to day running of business – but we do have a significant part to play in creating the right environment to encourage entrepreneurship and allow our private sector to grow and flourish.

"The culture of direct business support through grants has run its course. Our aim will be to encourage a stronger culture of investment and therefore the finance we provide will be through repayable investments administered in a swift and responsive service. We will establish a new framework for measuring the performance of this approach and we will publish this in the autumn.

"Our Single Investment Fund will be reallocated to serve our two key economic development priorities: infrastructure and our key sectors. However, we also believe that we still have a role to play in working with regionally important growth businesses. We will make some of our funding available for this purpose. Wales will also continue to be open to good ideas across the wider economy and we will retain the flexibility to fund strategic projects outside the key sectors that will deliver jobs and growth. We reserve the right to continue to be open to strategic projects, including inward investment, outside the key sectors. High-quality proposals for support, including inward investment will be adopted if they represent significantly better value than projects identified within our six sectors.

"I am determined that my department should become a leader in the UK and the wider world. The new department will have a culture of delivery, proactively seeking out new opportunities, focusing where maximum value can be added. We will become far more business led and able to respond more quickly to the ever changing and evolving world in which we live. The strategic restructuring will lead to difficult decisions being made in the short term in order to ensure that the department is properly and effectively aligned to deliver the government's priorities. The aim is to ensure that the necessary changes will be in place by the end of 2010

"We are realistic – 'Economic Renewal: A New Direction' will not yield immediate results. This is a long term approach taking precedence over short term headlines. This is about creating an excellent team that can attract investment and create an environment for strong and sustained economic growth. It is a vision which requires a whole-government approach and I am grateful to my cabinet colleagues who are fully committed to making this work for Wales."

To deliver this new approach there will be significant changes to the way the Assembly Government's Economy & Transport department operates. A new infrastructure group will be created and the department as a whole will be restructured in line with the new priorities to include six key sector teams. The work of the regional teams will be refocused to reflect the new priorities. Although it is too early to give exact figures, a reduction in overall staff numbers is anticipated.

The aim is to ensure that the necessary changes will be in place by the end of 2010.

For further information please call Leon Griffiths 029 2089 8557 or Seb Hains 029 2089 8554

NATIONAL PARKS MANIFESTO FOR THE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS LAUNCHED

The Campaign for National Parks together with the three National Park Societies in Wales today launched their Manifesto for Welsh National Parks at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay.

The event was hosted by Sara Edwards, Vice President of the Campaign for National Parks, and attended by representatives of all political parties.

Norma Barry, Head of Welsh Affairs for the Campaign for National Parks said:

            “We have worked closely with the Park Societies in Wales to develop Manifesto proposals that will improve landscape management in the Parks and enable access for a wider range of people so that all sections of society can enjoy the health, social and educational benefits of these stunning areas of Wales”

She added:

            “ We are conscious of the need for reducing public expenditure and streamlining the delivery of public services in putting forward our ideas.  Overall, we consider that the proposals should improve delivery and after taken into account the benefits, costs should be neutral or reduce overall”.

Gareth Clubb, Director of the Snowdonia Society, speaking on behalf of all three Park Societies in Wales commented:

            “We are asking for responsibilities for the management and improvement of rights of way, sites of special scientific interest and nature reserves to be transferred to Park Authorities from local authorities and the Countryside Council for Wales.  Staff within National Parks already cover some of this work so statutory transfer of the responsibilities could streamline delivery.”

He added:

            “We would also like to ensure that Park Authorities play a full and meaningful role in the delivery of the Glastir, agri-environment scheme as part of their land management planning”

            “Finally, our National Parks provide wonderful opportunities for people from all walks of life to enjoy, improve their health and well being, and widen their understanding of wildlife, nature and our cultural heritage.  We are keen to develop projects that will encourage all the people of Wales to take advantage of these opportunities..

The One Wales agreement signed by the coalition partners in the Welsh Assembly Government has delivered an ambitious policy programme and stable government for Wales.

This will be the message from First Minister Carwyn Jones and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones at a special event to mark the third anniversary of the signing of the One Wales agreement.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will address an invited audience at the historic Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay tonight [Thursday, 1 July] where they will talk about progress made in meeting the One Wales commitments.   The agreement contains 228 specific promises to the people of Wales and more than three quarters of these have already been fulfilled with 10 months remaining for the Government to complete its programme.

The Ministers will describe how the One Wales Agreement has been the bedrock of the coalition government and that the strength and stability this has brought has surpassed all expectations. 

They will also set out how many of the key policies have helped the Government tackle unforeseen circumstances like the economic recession and the challenges now faced by public services.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “At various times in the last 2 years, we’ve been asked as a Government what One Wales Commitments we would drop in response to the recession.  Well, we’ve delivered the majority of One Wales commitments already. And we’re pressing on with the rest!

“The simple reason is that the things we set out to do are even more necessary in bad times than in good. Where cuts are necessary – and I can’t pretend there won’t be painful choices, for the deficit needs to be reduced and Wales will play its part - they must reflect a commitment to strong society and to sustainable prosperity. And that is precisely what the aspirations in One Wales are about.”

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said:  “When I took my own party into government three years ago, I said that doing so would change the way we do politics in Wales and reset the political mindset. I think that has happened.  It hasn’t all been as a result of One Wales, much has happened through external forces, but the political scene I view today is very different from 2007.

“The debate about how to fund Wales properly is not a fringe issue, it is central to our relations with Westminster.  We have a referendum on the horizon to cement the role of this Assembly as a proper legislature.  Our two parties have worked together to put Wales first – particularly in mitigating the effects of the worst recession in 60 years. I look forward to the achievements we shall add in the coming months, for they will lay the foundation for what we achieve in future.”

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joined tens of thousands of people in Cardiff today to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

Troops were greeted by cheering crowds during a parade through Cardiff to mark the second annual event in honour of troops past, present and future, from the oldest veteran to the youngest cadet.

In blazing sunshine, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were joined by the head of the Armed Forces Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox in the Welsh capital.

The national event in Cardiff, attended by around 50,000 people, was one of more than 350 organised around the country.

The Queen, who sent a message of support, said the troops operated in the "most difficult and dangerous of circumstances".

"The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage," she said.

"Then as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas."

Hazel Hunt, the mother of the 200th member of British forces to be killed in Afghanistan, said the celebration provided a "comfort" to her.

Her son, Private Richard Hunt, 21, of 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, was killed last year.

"I think the event is absolutely fantastic," said Mrs Hunt, 50, of Abergavenny, Gwent.

"It brings the armed forces to the public's notice even more. It is a comfort.

Other major celebrations were held in Edinburgh, where guests included the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and Manchester, which welcomed the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.

Later in the evening The Prince of Wales, who is Patron of the Welsh National Opera, attended a superb six hour performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff featuring Bryn Terfel.

The process of transforming public services in Wales is gathering momentum thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government’s pioneering Efficiency and Innovation Programme.  But the implications of last week’s UK Budget for Wales,  particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable, underline the imperative of sustaining public services that so many rely on.

This was the message from Budget and Business Minister Jane Hutt in a Plenary statement today to update Assembly Members on progress with the Wales Efficiency and Innovation Programme.

The Wales Efficiency and Innovation Programme aims to transform efficiency and stimulate innovation in the way that public services are delivered.   One of the key aims is to promote collaboration between public services to deliver better outcomes for those who depend upon them.  The Programme is about service improvements and cost savings with the citizen at the heart of service delivery.

There are seven work streams, each led by a public service chief executive, comprising a set of projects designed to encourage collective approaches to driving down costs and making better use of resources.  These include areas such as procurement, management of the Welsh public sector’s £10 billion property assets, ICT, streamlining working practices and workforce development.

On procurement the target is to achieve a £200m saving over 5 years by taking a more radical approach such as national sourcing and all-Wales contracts and maximising use of the award winning xchangewales e-procurement systems.  In a UK first, for example, Value Wales (the Welsh Assembly Government’s procurement team) and Welsh Health Supplies have joined forces to develop a Community Equipment contract which is already saving more than £1 million a year for local government and the NHS for the purchase of aids such as hoists, commodes and equipment for disabled people.

Changing work practices and streamlining operations has led to improvements and efficiencies in Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent Councils reducing waste in the operation of Housing/Council Tax Benefits and Disability Facilities Grant. 

Budget and Business Minister Jane Hutt said:  “The Efficiency and Innovation Programme is at the heart of the unique response we have been building over the last year to lead public services through the next few years. 

“Our approach is grounded in social partnership, mobilising a common commitment  and endeavour across public services and sectors with the Public Sector Summits convened by the First Minister providing the shared leadership and collaboration needed to take us forward through this challenging time.  Working in silos will not deliver the change required.”

The second Public Services Summit takes place this Friday, 2 July and will focus on integrated health and social care.

Please be aware that the event this Saturday has had to be cancelled

With the continuing delays in the opening of Pont-y-Werin, the footbridge over the River Ely, it has now been confirmed that we will not be allowed to use it as a crossing.

The event due this Saturday (3rd July) will now have to be postponed and will be re-scheduled for later this Summer. When the event was originally planned, the opening date was April. When the last newsletter went to press the official opening had been confirmed as early June - the saga continues with the latest opening date being July 14^th

On the more positive front we have some updates and are able to share some information has been given to us by people on our mailing lists

Our next event is therefore the Kenfig National Nature Reserve Walk on July 14th See http://www.cardiffnaturalists.org.uk/htmfiles/programme.htm for details

After that will be the BBQ, Bats and Glow Worms at Cosmeston. No Bats or Glow Worms will be BBQ�d at this event!  Just good fun as usual.

Our indoor meetings plans continue to firm up and the 2010 � 2011 indoor meeting season looks to be a really good one. Full details will of course be provided at http://www.cardiffnaturalists.org.uk/

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones has today visited one of the UK’s fastest growing IT companies – Cardiff based eLINIA.

Founded in 2005 the managed hosting company employs over 50 people and is headquartered at the Cardiff Gate Business Park.

The company’s success was rewarded last year when it was nominated for Environmental Project of the Year at the UK IT Awards 2009, having moved the National Trust’s IT infrastructure to a data centre powered by burning wood chips and fibre cubes made from used paper and cardboard.

Consequently the Trust managed to reduce its data centres’ energy consumption by 70% - saving around £168,000 each year.

Said Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones: “The continued success and growth of eLINIA is testament to the skill, drive and commitment of its staff which also reflects positively on what is one of our key sectors in Wales.

“The nomination for the award is proof of the quality of service they provide to their customers, and we fully appreciate the positive impact that eLINIA has made on the economy and community.” 

Since 2007 eLINIA has increased its revenues by over 300% and its workforce has more than doubled in the same time. John Jones, founder and CEO, said: “The success of our business has taken us far and wide, but we are very proud of our Cardiff roots and are committed to remaining a part of the community.

“The Welsh Assembly Government has been invaluable to our growth and today’s visit is testament to our accomplishments.”

eLINIA counts numerous FTSE organisations among its clients, including Honda, Lloyd’s Pharmacies and Co-Operative Financial Services.