The investor 2013 14

For further information please contact:

The Business TeamEconomic Development DepartmentCarmarthenshire County CouncilT: 01269 590214E: [email protected]

InvestorTHE

The Business Location Magazine from Carmarthenshire County Council Issue 1

LlanelliWatersideA new wave of opportunity

Star attractionEastgate

Cross Hands EastSustainability and the bottom line

02-61THE BIG PICTURE

Llanelli WatersideA new wave of opportunity

North DockHeart and soul

Burry PortLocation, location, location

Delta LakesThe right mix

Star attractionEastgate – Llanelli’s new leisure development

The Beacon The shining light for enterprise

Cross Hands Food ParkCentre of excellence

Cross Hands East Sustainability and the bottom line

62-75THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

Strategic positioning

People our greatest asset

76-97THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

A breath of fresh air

Talk of the town

A taste of Carmarthenshire

Golf in Carmarthenshire

Feel the hwyl

Stradey Park Hotela sleeping giant

98-100GETTING THINGS DONE

Joined-up support

The InvestorPublisherCarmarthenshire County Council

Designnb-design.com

PhotographyCarmarthenshire County Council, philipgriffithsphotography.com, Welsh Government

No articles, design, illustrations orphotography may be reproduced orcopied without the explcit permissionof Carmarthenshire County Council.

© Carmarthenshire County Council, 2013

www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk THE INVESTOR 01

Welcome

Welcome to Carmarthenshire and ourfirst edition of the Investor. Insideyou will find all you need to know

about Carmarthenshire at your fingertips. We are certain that when you try to quantifyinvestment in the county it will becomeapparent that it is no easy task, simplybecause the scale of investment is huge.

We know that choosing a place to invest is adifficult decision, there are many factors in the mix – low costs; excellent communicationnetworks; quality of life; financial support orthe simple availability of what you’re lookingfor. We feel that Carmarthenshire does have more than its fair share of qualities to drawinspiration from and makes your investmentdecision that much easier.

In recent years Carmarthenshire has seenunprecedented levels of investment in thebusiness environment. It is now a place withoptimism, growing confidence and has somuch more to give. Because of this we’vedecided to capture in The Investor everythingthat has happened, is happening and due tohappen. Hopefully you will then get a sense of the scale and direction we’re taking inCarmarthenshire and give you an insight to the opportunities available to you as aninvestor in our County.

In competitive business sectors, smallmargins can be immensely significant. A littlebit extra can make a massive difference. The

Open for business

The needs of modern business are changing; investorsare looking for alternative sites that offer far more thanthe crowded locations of the past. Carmarthenshire is one of the new breed of development regions offeringunrivalled development potential and support.

Mark JamesChief ExecutiveCarmarthenshire CountyCouncil

same is true in providingopportunities for new investment.Many locations across the worldhave a lot to offer, butCarmarthenshire has more. Byoffering a little extra to companiesthat invest here, they too get theextra edge when they compete withothers across the world.

We’re fortunate in Carmarthenshireto be able to accommodate allventures regardless of their size orbusiness sectors. Our track record ofattracting blue-chip brands such asOdeon and Mitsui to the County isenviable but we’ll never overlook thenew, unknown or opportune investor– all enterprise is welcome and Ifirmly believe that our ability toadapt to the bespoke and tailoredneeds of every individual is a keystrength of ours.

Our attitude matches our ambitionwhen it comes to investing here – ifyou’re interested in Carmarthenshirethen we’re interested in you. By thetime you’ve read through TheInvestor I think the term “hiddengem” will mean more to you in thecontext of our location for yourbusiness. I hope you enjoy readingabout us and we look forward toworking with you!

02 THE INVESTOR ISSUE 1

Investment and Development

THE BPICTUCarmarthenshire is a county with bigambitions – a county that’s going places.This is reflected in the scale ofinvestment and development you will seefor yourself as you discover our county.


IGRE

The big picture is one of transformation, optimism and investment opportunities for businesses large andsmall across a wide range of sectors including: retail and leisure; commercial and office; manufacturing;food and tourism.

Be part of the big picture. Share our ambition and go places with us.


Llanelli WatersideA new wave of opportunity

A good job, in a modern and pleasant workspace;comfortable contemporary homes in an attractive setting;ample leisure and recreational facilities; a real sense ofcommunity and a spacious setting that gives you room torelax. Llanelli Waterside provides all this and more.




When Llanelli was one of the world’s great tin andsteel producers it was

undeniably prosperous, and thismassive new regeneration projectwill see this prosperity return –with opportunities for all.

This ambitious regenerationinitiative is changing the face ofLlanelli – and people are sitting upand taking notice. New investment,businesses, workers and visitors arebeing attracted to the area. They allhave a positive impact, bringingfresh energy, confidence and pride.

The most obvious result will becontinued improvements to the

physical environment. But theprocess of change will also create a positive knock on effect that isgoing to be felt throughout the local community and economy.

The wealth of new office and work space, plus theproliferation of bars,restaurants, shops and hotels proposed, are sure to create a wave of new job opportunities.There’s also a massive increase in the supply of attractive andaffordable housing.

As more people move into the areathere will be further provision for

educational, leisure and culturalfacilities. An upward spiral of growthis being created in which everyonecan participate. Communities,existing and new, will become acatalyst for an invigorated Llanelli

well equipped to make the very bestof what promises to be an excitingfuture.

We’re creating a vibrant and modernspace in which people can enjoy

Investment and Development Llanelli Waterside

This ambitious regenerationinitiative is changing the faceof Llanelli - and people aresitting up and taking notice.




working, living and playing. Anenvironment where stylish andcontemporary office buildings,attractive housing developments, as well as lively restaurants, bars,theatres and a wealth of othercultural and leisure facilities, sitcomfortably together aroundexpanses of sparkling water andlush green parkland.

A few minutes’ walk in one directionand you will be in a thriving towncentre. Step the other way and you’ll immediately find yourself inthe Millennium Coastal Park, 22 kilometres of beautifully restoredcoastline that provides stunning

views of the Gower Peninsula, and traffic-free cycle paths. Thereare acres of space in whichto walk, think, breathe, laugh - somewhere to rediscover those simplepleasures that make life truly worth living.

The Llanelli Coast JointVenture between theWelsh Assembly Government andCarmarthenshire County Council is a flagship partnership delivering an ambitious regeneration strategyfor Llanelli Waterside. This includesproposals for a number of locationsacross this part of the South West

Wales seaboard, many of whichhave been completed – including

major infrastructure investment, the coastal link road; residentialdevelopment at North Dock andaward winning homes at Machynys;the Nicklaus designed golf course;the Dragon 24 Office Developmentat North Dock; the renovation of the

This ambitious regenerationinitiative is changing the faceof Llanelli - and people aresitting up and taking notice.


harbour and the construction and 100%let of Dyfatty Park – all at Burry Port.

Controlled development and investmenthas been the cornerstone of theregeneration of the area coupled withvisible returns for those wishing to investhere – projects are designed, delivered and realised in a true partnership betweeninvestor, community and the Joint Venture.

The activities of the Llanelli Waterside JointVenture have dramatically enhanced theland and seascapes of a part of the worldthat is often referred to as a “hidden gem”.




North DockHeart and soul The eighteen acre North Dock site, regarded as the axisof Llanelli Waterside is at the heart of the MillenniumCoastal Park and overlooks Carmarthen Bay and therejuvenated dock. It offers a unique waterside settingthat provides an appealing environment for a variety ofuses including retail and leisure.




Prime waterfront developments includecommercial office space in the shape of therecently completed Dragon 24 complex which

offers 30,000 square feet of BREEAM Very Goodaccommodation and an enviable working environmentfor modern businesses.

Dragon 24 has transformed the dock edge and forms a business district that links into the town centre itselfand right across Llanelli Waterside into developments at Burry Port and Delta Lakes.

New Waterfront housing has already been built withstunning views over the estuary. The Discovery Centre –a landmark building housing a restaurant, touristinformation, ice cream parlour and meeting facilities –sits in the centre of the site with the promenade running alongside.

The now critically acclaimed “Sospan” Restaurantowned by International rugby stars Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel now finds its home along the northern embankment at North Dock.

North Dock has evolved organically over the yearsgenerating a variety of development opportunities. It has steadily grown into a natural visitor destinationwith increased footfall year on year due to the manyleisure activities North Dock offers.

At the head of the dock lie otherimmediatedevelopmentopportunities -suitable forcommercial usessuch as a café bar,restaurant and alandmark hotel. These will create a lively visual focusfrom the bridge accessing the dock and generatelinkages further west along Llanelli Waterside into thewider leisure and recreation developments at Old CastleWorks.

Prime waterfrontdevelopments includecommercial office spacein the shape of therecently completedDragon 24 complex.


Delta LakesThe right mix Delta Lakes is considered to be Llanelli’s most prestigiousbusiness park location. This 34 acre site adjacent to thecoastal link road is ideal for a mix of commercial andbusiness development. Overlooking the lake and parklandon one side, and the coastline on the other, there can beno more appealing site to locate your business.



Delta Lakes is locatedimmediately to the south of Llanelli adjoining the

principal Coastal Link Road (CLR)which provides direct access to the M4 Motorway and all majorconurbations.

There is an opportunity to develop a mixed use and modern businesspark in line with the partners’ desire to attract companies from key growth sectors such as the LifeSciences; Private Healthcare andFinancial Services sectors.

In total the potential exists toaccommodate approximately275,000 square feet of floor space. A 7.3m wide road traverses the sitewhich is also fully serviced with gas,electricity, water, mains drainageand communications.

Two storey contemporary officedevelopments for single or multipleuses are also envisaged for DeltaLakes possibly incorporating an“office village” complex for smaller end-users. These officedevelopments would naturally fittowards the coastal-facing front ofthe park offering future tenants highprofile accommodation.

To the rear of Delta Lakes, facing thesalt-water lake, are envisaged twoplots to accommodate interest fromthe private healthcare sectors. This has linkages with recentdevelopments underway on theadjacent Avenue development.

This part of the park is primed for the forecast growth in the privatehealthcare industry and hassympathetic landscape, movementand ecology features appropriate for the sector.

In total the potentialexists to accommodateapproximately 275,000square feet of floorspace.



Burry PortLocation, location, location Take a perfect mix of leisure facilities within 14 miles oflandscaped parkland at the edge of the sea, multi-millionpound investment in regeneration, infrastructure andtransport and you have a site that provides the investor witha diverse range of opportunities in one of the most up andcoming areas in the UK.


Burry Port enjoys stunning viewsof the Gower and CarmarthenBay and is within easy reach of

our world famous coastline and makesan ideal base for exploring the Southand West Wales seaboard.

Over £8 million has been spentconverting the old tidal harbour into a modern marina and yet the facilitystill retains its Victorian charm and isjust a stone's throw from a small butvibrant town centre. One of the maingateways into the award winningMillennium Coastal Park, Burry PortHarbour is the latest marina in Waleswith a 450-berth facility.

Current retail developments and astartling yet considerate rate of changein Burry Port in recent years havemanaged to retain the vibrant and

mixed heritage of industry, leisureand tourism Burry Port is loved for.

Investment has been made ininfrastructure and transport tomake the area more accessibleand now provides perfect accessinto the Pembrey peninsularwhich now hosts attractions suchas Kidwelly Castle and Ffos Lasracecourse.

The opportunities on offer at BurryPort are diverse – retail, leisure,commercial, tourism – all nestleside by side in this seaside town.Enviably placed in more ways than one, Burry Port can allow the canny investor to achieve notjust a good return but to have aposition in one of the most up andcoming areas in Carmarthenshire.


PembreyThe great outdoorsIf you’re looking for select leisure-based developmentopportunities, you need look no further than the PembreyPeninsula. This distinctive area, including the 500 acre PembreyCountry Park, offers the investor considerable potential to set upa plethora of operations that complement the many businesseswho are thriving in Carmarthenshire’s great outdoors.



The Pembrey Peninsularcombines the traditionalindustrial areas of Llanelli

and Burry Port with the hinterlandincluding the Gwendraeth Valley and parts of rural Carmarthenshire.Pembrey is personified by severalleisure-based operations including:Ffos Las Racecourse; Pembrey WestWales Airport; British AutomobileRacing Club (Pembrey) and the 500 acre Pembrey Country Park.

This westernmost area of the Llanellicoastline is also identifiable by theeight miles of golden, blue-flagsands at Cefn Sidan, edged by a beltof sand dunes. The beach forms partof the Pembrey Country Park whichhas a variety of leisure facilitiesavailable. Extensive grassland and

forest adjoin the dune system. Thereare clear panoramic views acrossCarmarthen Bay to the Gower andCarmarthenshire coast. The parkserved as a railway and an airportduring World War II, and bunkersand pill boxes still remain today on view.

Pembrey Peninsular is very muchpart of the “outdoor” offeringavailable in South-West Wales with a plethora of natural recreationsavailable such as walking, surfing,cycling, skiing and horse-riding.

Select leisure based developmentopportunities are available atPembrey to complement thesurrounding businesses on thepeninsular and the current operators

within the country park itself.Potential exists at adjoining land to the Park for a high quality selfcatering operation including indoorfacilities such as swimming pool andhealth spa. Consideration to a smallhotel facility could also be given.

Select leisure baseddevelopmentopportunities areavailable at Pembrey to complement thesurroundingbusinesses on thepeninsular .


Star attractionEastgate – Llanelli’s newest leisure development

Think buzz. Think vibe. Then think Eastgate. 5 acres of theold Llanelli town centre transformed to bring a mix of usesincluding a multiplex cinema, restaurants, cafes, retail, a hotel, office accommodation attracting some of thebiggest brands plus a new bus interchange forecast togenerate some 1 million users per year.




Investment and Development Eastgate



East Gate will regenerate 5 acres of Llanelli town centre, and adjoining the existing St ElliShopping Centre, it will bring a mix of uses

comprising of a multiplex cinema, restaurants, cafes,retail, a hotel, office accommodation and a new businterchange (which is forecast to generate some 1 million users per annum).

East Gate is now a thriving and unique leisuredestination for both leisure and business trips acrossCarmarthenshire and South-West Wales.

Construction is complete. This dynamic new leisurequarter brings a new 6 screen digital multiplex cinemato the centre of Llanelli. The cinema is operated byOdeon Cinemas.

The leisure scheme also provides for 6 restaurants,cafes and bars overlooking the striking new public realmareas and town square. Familiar brand names such as

Costa Coffee; Ben & Jerry’s and Nandos are alreadyoperating with a host of other retail and leisureoperators due to follow.

The scheme also benefits from a new Bus interchangewith associated retail units. The scheme is thereforevery accessible and includes 240 surface car parkingspaces as well as good access to the A484 east-westroad linking to Carmarthen and Swansea. Thedevelopment provides for a mix of other uses, includinga 53 bed Travelodge hotel, 20,000 sq ft of officeaccommodation and 10,000 sq ft of prominent retailspace fronting on to the new busy bus station.

Adjacent to East Gate a new regional theatre has beencompleted and provides a modern 550-seat facilitywhich is a considerable attraction for the whole countyof Carmarthenshire.

Investment and Development Eastgate


What do you get if you combine apopulation of over 500,000 within a 30 minute drive-time, a youngleisure-led population coupled with the promising retirement-ledleisure driven market? The answeris simple: you get Odeon, one of theUK’s top brands, choosing to moveinto Eastgate to anchor the newdevelopment.

Odeon’s new cinema, is state of the art, with the newest and mostadvanced sound system in the UKinstalled – an investment madejointly by Odeon andCarmarthenshire County Council.Opened in time for the James Bondepic Skyfall in October 2012; alongwith the ancillary Costa Coffee andBen & Jerry’s outlets at Odeon; thenew cinema is performing beyondall income expectations.

Curtain up! The physical solution of a cinemabuilding had been developed inpartnership with Carmarthenshire’sdevelopment team; however thehigh quality staffing requirements of the cinema were identified at an early stage and byworking together withOdeon, Carmarthenshirepaid for and organised a 2-day targeted recruitmentevent to source 40 newemployees – these weresourced from an initial recruitmentreturn of around 800 applicants. Thepeople power behind the Odeonexperience is critical to a successfulcinema – appropriate training wasorganised by the local Job CentrePlus; and some employmentsubsidies were identified for Odeon.

This positive and proactive offeringis a typical service offered inCarmarthenshire to anyone whoneeds it – the return on investmentfor the county by undertaking thisrecruitment activity is huge –

concentrated effort and dedicatedbespoke solutions at an early stageensure that the big names takecomfort from the support offered inthe county and it always makes thedecision to re-invest inCarmarthenshire that much easier!

This positive and proactiveoffering is a typical serviceoffered in Carmarthenshire to anyone who needs it.

THE BEACONThe shining light for enterprise An unique location and concept on the edge of Llanelliand just 5 minutes from the M4, The Beacon is now oneof the most sought after addresses in South Wales andhome to some of the top companies in Carmarthenshire.



Established in 2011,Carmarthenshire is proud tobe home to The Beacon. Not

only does The Beacon provide topquality office space and free highspeed broadband connectivity, italso offers so much more by beingpartners with the highly respectedUniversity of Wales Trinity St Davidand Coleg Sir Gar the local furthereducation institution. These providecontinued professional developmentservices at The Beacon to residenttenants, businesses in the countyand to clients from the rest of UK;mainland Europe and the MiddleEast.

Home to some establishedcommercial names such asChromogenex and Finance Wales;The Beacon also accommodatesWales’ next generation of businessenterprise. New names such asLexium; Stratus and Melin alloperate from The Beacon and aregenuinely “young” in their lifecycleand commercial outlook – the nextbig and bright young things areemerging!






More to offer

The Beacon is also the preferred conferencelocation of choice in the area. The Vistaconference room regularly hosts high profileproduct launches; CPD training and businessseminars. Associates of The Beacon can alsobe part of the concept – an innovativepartnering arrangement with the BridgeInnovation Centre in Pembroke Dock, Wales’next Enterprise Zone, exists to allow tenantsand associates every opportunity of benefitingfrom this exciting economic opportunity.

For more information on The Beacon go to:www.beacon-enterprise.co.uk


Investment and Development Advertorial

Development Land – 15 AcresThe BeaconCentre for EnterpriseDafen, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8LQ

For Sale

beacon-enterprise.co.uk

Space to growThe Beacon recognizes that businesses grow. When the time is right tenantsat The Beacon can spread their wings and develop their own purpose builtcommercial premises on The Beacon land site.

15 acres of prime commercial land is available as part of The Beacon and it isearmarked in Carmarthenshire for special projects and enterprise spin outsfrom The Beacon.

Competitively priced and perfectly located the land option is a unique featureto have at such a facility.

More capital forbusinessesFinance Wales can now invest in evenmore growing businesses from the £40 million Wales SME Investment Fund.

To find out more about our investment opportunitiescall Rhiannon Wilkinson or David Knightor visit www.financewales.co.uk



Investment and Development The Beacon


Chromogenex TechnologiesLight years ahead

Chromogenex Technologies Ltd, based at The Beacon, is the UK’s leading developer and manufacturer ofadvanced light and laser technology systems for use in medical and cosmetic procedures.

Since its beginnings in 1986, Chromogenex has appliedground-breaking innovations in the laser industry torespond to the dermatological and cosmetic challengesfacing medical professionals.

Today practitioners worldwide use Chromogenexproducts to offer safe, effective treatments for a widerange of conditions using non-invasive procedures.These currently include the treatment of vascular andpigmented lesions, psoriasis, vitiligo and acne as wellas permanent hair removal, skin rejuvenation and fatreduction.

Innovation drives successful growthChromogenex continues to focus on the high growthexport markets of Brazil, the Far East, India and SouthAfrica as well as Europe and North America theirturnover has increased from £6.9m to some £12m this year.

This continued rapid growth, despite the currentchallenging economic climate, follows substantial sales in the USA of the top selling slimming product,iLipo. This safe, non-surgical slimming device wasintroduced into the North American market just last Julyand already accounts for over 60% of the company’stotal sales.

Significant investment in R&D each year enablesChromogenex to remain a market leader. They continueto look to the future. New products include a non-invasive facelift device launched last year and a newhair removal product brought to market in 2012.

Chromogenex occupy a sales, marketing and researchand development facility at The Beacon and theirmanufacturing facility is also located at Llanelli.

The Mediwales Export Achievement Award recognizescompanies that seek opportunities and develop newmarkets, with outstanding performance in other areas of international trade – they demonstrate overseasearnings and commercial success, to levels that areoutstanding for the goods or services concerned.Chromogenex have proudly announced the winning of the MediWales Export Achievement Award for thethird year running in 2012.

www.chromogenex.com


Melin ConsultantsPerfectly positioned for growth

Rapidly expanding building consultancy, MelinConsultants, has recently moved to what is one of Carmarthenshire’s premier business venues – The Beacon. The Beacon has given them the perfectpositioning to continue their rapid expansion – anappropriate image through a high-profile corporatebuilding; high-speed communications and easy access to the M4.

The Llanelli based company, founded by husband andwife team Mel & Jamie Best has also opened a secondbranch outside Wales in Bristol. “It’s an expansionfounded on our presence here at The Beacon – we’re so lucky to have top quality staff who are able togenerate and convert new business for us here inLlanelli”, beams Jamie Best, Managing Director of Melin Consultants.

The company offers environmental services to theconstruction industry working with constructioncompanies across the UK; architects and localauthorities. The directors are recognised experts in BREEAM – the world’s foremost environmentalassessment method and rating system for buildings –Melin is also a member of the CarmarthenshireConstruction Training Association.

“As a building consultancy specialising in Part L of theBuilding Regulations and sustainability assessing of

new buildings our technicians are qualified andaccredited to issue certification in all the following fields BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes, EPC,SBEM, SAP, Air-Tightness Testing. These qualificationsand skills are critical to the success of our business – all our technical services are carried out at The Beaconand 95% of our staff are permanently housed here andare from the area.”

“Having expanded three times in recent years all withinCarmarthenshire at new premises every time, we’refortunate to have the required components at hand toallow us to expand at such a rapid pace. At The Beacon,we’ve engineered a fun and vibrant work place in a highprofile corporate building – our staff love it! And ease ofaccess to the M4, allows us to get to our clients and ourclients to come to us.”

“We also offer a wide range of support services thatinclude daylight factor, thermal bridging, ‘U’ value andsolar gain calculations. Along with condensation riskanalysis, sustainability studies, energy statements andlow and zero carbon energy reports we really do have allaspects of sustainable design covered.

www.melinconsultants.co.uk

Investment and Development The Beacon


Critical to our business is the reliance we have on ourcommunications – with ournew site in Bristol and theneed to frequently transmitheavy electronic documentssuch as plans and drawings to customers we must havereliable and fast Comms – we get this at The Beacon – if we need it we have 100mbspeeds here – it’s super fastand ultra reliable for us!


Cross Hands Food Park

Centre of excellence

The Cross Hands Food Park, the first designated centre forfood technology in the whole of Wales, is a joint venturebetween Carmarthenshire County Council and the WelshGovernment, and is the centre piece of the county’seconomic strategy.


Swansea, and an hour’s drive westof Cardiff. It offers direct links withthe UK motorway network via the M4and the “Heads of the Valleys” A465provides direct access to markets inthe Midlands. The M4 is part of thearterial Euro-Route to and fromIreland, across the UK and into the continent.

Going back to Roman times,Carmarthenshire has always beenone of the UK’s most prominent foodproducers, renowned for naturalwholesome produce and for theexpertise of its people. It is knownas the Garden of Wales. Today, thistradition is being strengthened byinnovation, technology and adynamic strategy. A rich heritage, a new perspective and an ideal

already been invested here, with theaim of providing opportunities forfood producers and ancillary supportbusinesses to add value to the rawproduct. Twenty-first centurycompanies are looking for more than a workspace; they need an environment where they cangrow. The Cross Hands Food Park offers this with excellentroad links but none of themajor problems ofcongestion, gridlock andtraffic pollution.

It has the dual advantage ofa rural location, with a highquality of life, and a stable locally-based workforce, plus rapid access to local labour markets,services and suppliers across aregion which contains the keypopulation centres of Swansea,Carmarthen, Llanelli andAmmanford.

The Food Park is strategically locatednear the A48/M4 at Junction 49,some twelve miles north of

The Food Park incorporatingIncubator Food ProductionUnits is fully serviced for allmajor food processingactivities.


It is well placed at the heart of avibrant food producing countywith numerous high quality

suppliers based nearby thusreducing food miles for production.The Food Park incorporatingIncubator Food Production Units is fully serviced for all major foodprocessing activities, is unclutteredand has full access roads in place.

That is why key businesses havecommitted to growing theirbusinesses here. Irish food giantsDawn Group, despite other optionsand locations available acrossEurope have twice expanded in theCounty and now occupy a 200,000square foot state of the art foodprocessing facility on 20 acres of the50 acre Food Park situated near theA48/M4 at Junction 49 connecting toboth east and westbound carriages.

Cross Hands Food Park is only one ina portfolio of development sites, allwithin minutes of the M4 and a largeskilled workforce within short drivingdistance. A total of £50million has


beyond. Enterprise is in the blood;hard work is second nature. Theworkforce locally is hard-workingand loyal, flexible in its approach tochanging work practices, technologyand shift patterns. It is productivity –allied to excellent labour relations –rather than lower earnings whichmakes Carmarthenshire so attractiveto the burgeoning foodsector, and which ultimatelymakes it so competitive.

It is about adding value;taking the goodness of localmeat, fish, vegetables, milkand dairy produce, preservesand beverages to create thekind of new products and dishesthat modern consumers love. That is how vibrant the food sector is inCarmarthenshire. The developmentof the Cross Hands Food Parkenhances the county’s reputation byadding value to the Garden of Walesand for those that buy its produce.

Recognised names such as CastellHowell Foods – Wales’ largestindependent wholesaler; DawnGroup Cross Hands – operating in 200,000 square feet of space;Gower View Foods – one of the most respected food packagingcompanies in the UK and NR Evans –the dedicated food haulier all

operate from the park with so manymore niche producers in situ andmore exciting projects on the way.Cross Hands Food Park offerseverything the modern foodproducer needs to flourish.

location for food based business.Whether using traditional methodsor working from modern productionunits, whether the latest generationin a long line of producers or peoplewith new ideas, the knowledge andskills of the producers are vital.

Food production contributes over£30 million to the economy ofCarmarthenshire. Now as part of thecounty’s overall economic strategy,new production and processingfacilities have been developed at theCross Hands Food Park to add extravalue to the raw produce.

Supported by financial incentivesand imaginative strategies at bothlocal and national level, the foodsector in Carmarthenshire is as richand varied as the land itself and asimportant for the future. Smallproducers have built up flourishinginternational businesses taking fineingredients and high qualityproducts throughout the UK and

The workforce locally is hard-working and loyal, flexible in its approach to changing workpractices, technology and shiftpatterns.

Investment and Development Cross Hands Food Park


Proof of the pudding

Twenty-first century businesses are looking for more than a workspace; they need an environment where they can grow. The Cross Hands Food Parkoffers that – and much more.

With an investment to date of over £50million, the Park provides excellentopportunities for food producers and ancillary support businesses to addvalue to the raw product. That is why key businesses have committed togrowing their businesses here.

From large scale businesses such as the Irish food giant, Dawn Group, to an indigenous and rapidly expanding sales and supply business, CastellHowell Foods, to an asset and service business, Gower View Foods, all foundit an easy choice to locate their businesses at Cross Hands Food Park.


When a massive fire burnt down Dawn Meats Group’spackaging centre at Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire, it could have been the end of the company’s links to the area.

But when the Irish Food Giant’s parent company weredeciding on their response to the tragedy, they had noreal doubts – they backed Cross Hands, building a newmulti-million pound production facility as part ofWales’s biggest dedicated Food Park.

They are proof of Carmarthenshire’s success, not only in attracting companies in the first place, but also inhelping them to succeed and making them keen to re-invest and expand.

For a company like Dawn Meats Group, Carmarthenshire’sposition on the Ireland Euroroute was crucial; the

Dawn Meats GroupDedication and commitment

enthusiasm of both economic development personneland the workforce was one of the deciding factors.

Padraig McCarthy, Head of Group Development, hasbeen impressed by Carmarthenshire and its people:“Proximity to Ireland and access to the UK motorwaysattracted us to Cross Hands. In ten years we went from30 people to more than 600 – a credit to theadaptability and resilience of the local workforce. We’vehad major expansions twice and, after a devastating firein 2002, we committed to the area again, despite otheroptions and locations across Europe. The energy of thelocal agencies seriously impressed us – that and theworkforce, were crucial.”

www.dawnmeats.com






Organic growth over 20 years has seen one of Wales’Jewels in the Crown blossom into a major player in theUK’s food industry. Castell Howell Foods chose to investat Cross Hands Food Park and is now firmly bedded-in.

Sustained growth in the food service industry meant thatCastell Howell Foods needed to invest in a new HQ anddistribution centre. Supplying over 4,000 customers,employing over 280 staff and stocking over 8,000products, the business has evolved with huge successfrom a Carmarthen farm based-business. Established in1988 and celebrating over 20 years in business theymoved off-farm to Carmarthen in 1990 and are nowrecognised as Wales’ leading independent foodwholesaler.

Cross Hands Food Park was the obvious choice toestablish its 50,000 square foot Head Office and central distribution hub – servicing satellite depots inWales and England on a 7 acre site at the park. InSeptember 2007 they moved to the new facility whichallowed them to immediately double their warehousingspace and significantly improve operational logistics

The development created a great opportunity to reviewall operations from an environmental point of view.BREEAM Assessors were appointed in order to reducethe environmental impact of the development. A 450foot bore-hole to supply clean water to the site wasinstalled to enable the extensive vehicle fleet to be

Castell Howell FoodsOrganic growth

spotlessly maintained and also used throughout thewaste systems in the main buildings. Movement sensorshave been introduced to ensure lighting systems areactivated only when people need it and the supply fromScottish & Southern guarantee the source to be 100%renewable. In addition due to the requirement of highlevels of packaging material required by the businesswhich lead to a disposal problem they have set up astate of the art baling plant to avoid the need to sendthe waste to landfill sites. All of Castell Howell’s non-food waste is now recycled.

The fully serviced 50 acre dedicated food park site – theonly one in Wales – 3 miles from Junction 49 of the M4and on the Euro route between Ireland and London is anideal location for Castell Howell. Brian Jones, Director,said ‘The relocation and expansion of the business atCross Hands was very timely. There was not enoughroom to expand at our original premises in Carmarthenand the development of the Food Park was of enormousbenefit with the infrastructure in place and links to theM4 corridor. The concept of the Food Park is great withthe land available to help an expanding business andalso the starter units to assist new food businesses.There is a noticeable feeling of everyone workingtogether on the park, and the benefit is there for all to see’.

www.chfoods.co.uk


Cross Hands EastSustainability and the bottom line Major plans to develop a strategic business park at CrossHands, Carmarthenshire have been given a multi-million poundEU funding boost. The £13.5m investment aims to develop anew strategic employment park at Cross Hands capable ofemploying over 1,000 people.



The project will provide vitalinfrastructure works at the site to ensureit is developed into a prime location for

businesses, offering a high quality centre forspeculative industrial development, owneroccupier development and expansion projects.

Cross Hands is already a dedicated businesshub area for the food industry; retail; andindustrial activities. Cross Hands East willcompliment the surrounding employmentsites of Cross Hands Business Park and Cross Hands Food Park and showsCarmarthenshire’s drive and ambition to continue its growth in key sectors.

Specific works will include a new access roadfrom the A48, together with the constructionof a new internal road and provision forelectricity, gas, water, drainage, lighting and landscaping to ensure protection andenhancement of existing bio-diversity.

The funding package to develop Cross HandsEast is made up of £9m from the WelshGovernment, including the Western ValleysRegeneration Area programme, EuropeanRegional Development Fund and Transportgrant. The development will be managed andimplemented by Carmarthenshire CountyCouncil who will invest £4m in the scheme.Cross Hands East will be promoted with thebusiness ethos of sourcing and selling withinthe local or regional area in order to reducejourney time and lower its carbon foot print. It is believed that the new site could be anexemplar development demonstrating that all kinds of businesses can operate at asignificant lower carbon foot print than thecurrent average. The critical mass of likeminded businesses will enable sustainablepractices to become more economic byproducing less waste, recycling wastecommunally, and efficient use of work space.

Made in Carmarthenshire


Whether it’s an established major global player, a specialisthigh tech start-up facility, or a family-owned business operatingworld-wide, all these operations large and small, across a widerange of sectors, have one thing in common: what they produceis manufactured in Carmarthenshire. And they’re here to stay.


It could be becauseCarmarthenshire is such abeautiful area and such a

pleasant place to work. It might bethat which makes for such loyalworkforces. Then again it might bethe highly-skilled workforce and theconvenient links with centres ofacademic expertise. Or it could bethe location with excellent links tomarkets. And then again it could bethe level of support offered with sitelocation, recruitment and finance,offered by Carmarthenshire CountyCouncil and other agencies, whichmade Carmarthenshire the natural

choice, in which their businessescould gain competitive edge.

The following businesses, chosenfrom many more, summarise whyCarmarthenshire is such a greatplace for manufacturers and whythey’re proud their goods are madein Carmarthenshire.



The workers at Calsonic Kansei know all aboutcompetitiveness. As part of a global company in the fierce automotive sector, they constantly have tojustify any new investments, and their position as theEuropean Hub for the Japanese giants. They haven’tfailed yet.

More than just a manufacturing plant for car airconditioning systems, the Calsonic Technology CentreEurope also supplies design expertise and research anddevelopment work for the company’s seven sites acrossEurope. When they came to Llanelli at the end of the1990s, the company took advantage of a highly-skilledworkforce and the excellent support they received fromthe different agencies that are part of the team atCarmarthenshire. The convenient links with centres of

Calsonic KanseiComing up with the goods

Investment and Development Made in Carmathenshire


academic expertise have also beencrucial in the company’s continuedsuccess.

James Davies, Plant Manager forCalsonic Kansei, is proud ofLlanelli’s success: “Our EuropeanHQ and all our research anddevelopment are based at Llanelli.Every year there is an increase ininvestment here, both in ourmanufacturing operation and R+D.We are operating in an extremelytough environment, but the Llanelliworkforce keeps coming up trumpsand our contracts with mainland

Europe are increasing. Businesssupport is excellent, the relationshipwith local colleges is the best in thegroup and the workers have greatexpertise.

www.ckeurope.com

Established in 1893 to make socks for local miners, andstill family owned, Corgi Hosiery of Ammanford suppliesboth the Royal Family and designers like Paul Smith,Ralph Lauren and Thom Browne. Their high qualityhosiery and knitware products are truly global.

The British Royal Family are well known for their love of corgis – and that means more than the breed of dogs.In 1988, Corgi Hosiery of Ammanford was given theaccolade of a Royal Warrant by HRH Prince Charles for their high quality hosiery products.

The company’s story is one of adaptability andenterprise and from making miner’s socks at the end ofthe nineteenth century they now work in the field of highcouture knitwear, attracting the attention of some of the

Corgi Hosiery By royal appointment



world’s top designers. The companysupplies major customers like theMinistry of Defence and J-Crew.

Director, Chris Jones, canunderstand why people love to visit and why they have such a loyal workforce: “Many of our mostimportant customers come down tosee us in Ammanford and they loveit. It’s such a beautiful area and sucha pleasant place to work. Comparedto many of them, we have none ofthe stresses and pressures of citylife. But we supply major designersand shops in the UK, Japan, France

and North America. And we have a loyal workforce with no turnoverproblems. They’re happy, so they stay.”

www.corgihosiery.co.uk




Some of the world’s most famous businesses andorganisations are now sitting up and taking note of what Haydale is doing in Carmarthenshire.

Haydale, a wholly owned subsidiary of InnovativeCarbon Limited, is a global leader in facilitating thecommercial application of Graphenes. Graphene is asubstance composed of pure carbon, but is just oneatom thick.

Graphenes are currently supplied to over 100 leadingresearch institutions worldwide, and are findingcommercial applications in inks, sensors, energystorage, photovoltaic’s, composites, paints andcoatings.

Haydale was established in 2003 as a spin out fromSwansea University, providing nano-materials to the

HaydaleTaking Carmarthenshireto the world



advanced materials community. Thecompany was acquired in April 2010by Innovative Carbon Limited, andholds a substantial patent portfolioin the production, processing andapplication of carbon nano-materials. 2012 saw them locate toCarmarthenshire in 7,500 squarefeet of clean room and office space,the company manufactures at thesite – however its presence is feltglobally – Haydale are regulars atinternational seminars across theworld.

Ray Gibbs, Director and Graphenepioneer, notes: “Our property inCarmarthenshire is ideal – it’s new;

BREEAM Very Good and hasaccommodated our need for cleanroom and laboratory space withease. As such we’ve investedsignificantly in state of the artequipment, and we’ve plans toestablish a Graphene centre ofexcellence. The location is ideal forour staff and although it’s a semi-rural spot, we’re literally 2 minutesoff the M4 motorway. Key forHaydale is access to intellectualcapital – the capability emanatingout of the local universities isexcellent and truly world class.”

www.haydale.com



Following a management buy-out, The MagstimCompany Ltd, could have moved almost anywhere.But their high-value, low-volume product is extremelysuitable for production in a small town with a cleanand healthy environment – so they stayed at Whitlandand have had a customised unit built for them on thelocal business park.

Magstim Company Ltd specialises in neurologicalequipment, of which 85% is exported worldwide andCarmarthenshire is as convenient a location asanywhere, using 24-hour courier services to all cornersof the globe. Management at the company also kneweverything about the local workforce, and theavailability of educational and training resources to develop people to meet Magstim’s needs.

MagstimWorldwide fromWhitland



Magstim are confident they made the right decision in staying in Carmarthenshire:“We work in a very specialised field, creatingelectronic instruments which monitor the functionof the nerves during disease and treatment. We sellour high-value products all over the world andcould easily move from Whitland. Instead, a newfactory has been specially built for us, to many ofour specifications. Transport and communicationsare good, while the education infrastructure helpsus invest a great deal in training. We have foundWhitland to be an excellent location.”

www.magstim.com



Her jewellery has appeared on the pages of Vogue,Tatler and Hello. She exhibits nationally andinternationally including, London, New York andTokyo. But it’s in the iconic Welsh town of Llandeilothat Mari Thomas manufactures and sells herproducts.

Mari Thomas is a Welsh contemporary designerjeweller with over 20 years’ experience. She has wonnumerous design awards including the Gold Medal forCraft and Design at the National Eisteddfod of Walesand recognition for her contribution to the arts inWales, culminating in an honorary fellowship from theUniversity of Wales Trinity St David.

Recognition of her successes has resulted in manyprestigious commissions by some of the leading Welshcultural institutions such as BBC Wales, National

Mari Thomas A passionate sense of place



Eisteddfod of Wales, WalesMillennium Centre, National Libraryof Wales and the Welsh RugbyUnion. Mari has also made the UrddEisteddfod crown and two NationalEisteddfod of Wales crowns.

She has designed and deliveredseveral pieces for leading Welshadvocates, such as Ioan Gruffudd,Catherine Zeta-Jones and the leadingWelsh Male voice choir, Only MenAloud and their musical director TimRhys-Evans.

Mari Thomas continues to beenthused by her passion for thedesign of contemporary jewellery,both drawing heavily on her Welshheritage.

Based in the iconic Welsh town ofLlandeilo, Mari manufactures andsells her products across the globeusing precious metals and a strongdesign conviction founded from apassionate sense of place.

www.marithomas.com

Investment and DevelopmentInvestment and Development Advertorial

TO LET / MAY SELL

Dura ParkSelf-contained industrial premises with modern office accommodationYspitty Road, Bynea, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA14 9TD

Licence for waste management

Approximately 10,500 sq. m (113, 020 sq. ft) Site of 3.03 hectares (7.48 acres)



LOCATIONThis property is situated on thejunction of Yspitty Road and Heol Y Bwlch. Llanelli town centrelies approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) to the west with Swanseaapproximately 16 kilometres (10miles) to the east. Junction48 of theM4 lies approximately 9.8kilometres (9 miles) to the north.

DESCRIPTIONThe property provides a traditionalindustrial unit together with ancillaryoffice accommodation and yard. Theoffice accommodation is of modernspecification and is arranged overground and first floor which is of atraditional steel-framed constructionwith a combination of brick, glassand clad elevations under a slopingroof. The main industrialaccommodation is of a traditionalsteel-frame construction with acombination of brick and cladelevations under a multi pitched roof with the benefit of translucentpanels. Internally it benefits fromstrip lighting and a sealed concretefloor.

PLANNINGPlanning permission was granted byCarmarthenshire County Council on28th April 2009 for change of theuse to a Materials Recycling Facility(MRF) reference number S/20310.

Further enquiries should be directedto the planning department atCarmarthenshire County Council on01558 825344.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITThe property benefits from anEnvironmental Permit dated 23rdSeptember 2009 (RefEPR/EP3195VL) to operate a materialsrecycling facility.

The principal conditions aresummarised below:• The permitted wastes that can betreated consisting of manualsorting, separation, screening,bailing, shredding andcompaction into differentcomponents for recovery arelimited to household, commercial,industrial and institutionalwastes.

• The total quantity of wasteaccepted at the site shall be lessthan 75, 000 tonnes per annum.Further enquiries should bedirected to the EnvironmentAgency on 08708 506 506.

SERVICESWe understand that all mainsservices are available at the propertyincluding water, gas, electricity andsewerage.

TENUREThe property is available to let as awhole or in part on a full repairingand insuring basis, full terms uponapplication. Alternatively, theproperty may be available on afreehold basis.

VATAll reference to rents and salesfigures are exclusive of VAT whichmay be charged.

LEGAL COSTSEach party is to bear their own legal costs.


Chris Sutton 029 2072 [email protected]

Heather Lawrence 029 2072 [email protected]

Misrepresentation Act: The particulars in thisadvert have been produced in good faith, are set out as a general guide and do notconstitute the whole or part of any contract.All liability, in negligence or otherwise,arising from the use of the particulars ishereby excluded.


Infrastructure and People

THE SU ITS PACarmarthenshire’s economic success isattributable to the sum of its parts. Todaythe results of joined-up thinking andmulti-million pound investment in thedevelopment of twenty-first centuryinfrastructures are plain to see.


UM OF ARTS

You’ll see for yourself how well-connected andaccessible we are for efficient distribution to majormarkets. But above all you’ll sit up and take notice of our people. Our workforce offers prospectiveinvestors a tradition of loyalty combined with an open-mindedness and adaptability to new practicesand procedures, plus high skill levels.

Be part of our success story.



Strategic positioning

Perhaps you can’t imagine that a place could offer direct links with the UKmotorway network and at the same time suffer none of the major problemsof traffic snarls and pollution, not to mention stress. In Carmarthenshirethis is a reality. But there is only one way to be convinced ofCarmarthenshire’s potential as a place for investment and prosperity –take a visit and travel around the county to see for yourself thedevelopments taking place. Welcome…


North…Just off the M4 to the north isAmmanford and its flourishingindustrial estates. Here, side byside, you will see internationalautomotive companies like MitsuiComponents Europe (MCE) andPullmaflex, another major player inthe international automotive sector;Watts Industries, is also based atAmmanford, a prime example of howthe local workforce can adapt itshigh engineering and technologicalskills to new sectors.

RoadsCarmarthenshire’s position at thehead of the M4 motorway is alsovital. The motorway itself runs intothe heart of Carmarthenshire andthen extends across the wholecounty, as the dual-carriageway A48and A40. Trunk roads link in to thismain route providing direct routes toall the important towns andcommercial centres.

From the east, you enter the countydirectly on the M4 motorway, whichcontinues as a dual carriagewaytrunk route across the county and onto the international ferry links atnearby Pembroke, Milford Havenand Fishguard. The main railway linefrom London Paddington follows asimilar route, providing direct linksboth to Ireland and the Continent.

South…Take the link south to Llanelli, only afew miles on fast, high quality roads.This is already home to companiesas diverse as automotive giantsCalsonic Kansei, which has itsEuropean Headquarters here, tohome-grown multimedia innovatorsTinopolis, and global exportersChromogenex who are at the cuttingedge of world biotechnology.

At Llanelli Gate, for instance, theBeacon offers scope for innovation,young enterprise and a vibrantcorporate environment. Theambitious Llanelli Watersidedevelopment meanders along thesouthern seaboard of the countyoffering so many developmentoptions.


Straight ahead…Follow the M4, A48 and A40 acrossthe county along the Euroroute toIreland. Nowhere expresses thespirit of twenty-first centuryCarmarthenshire better than CrossHands, with its attractive, modern,industrial and commercial parks oneither side of the road. Newstructures are rising, new companiesare moving in. Cross Hands BusinessPark; Cross Hands Food Park andCross Hands East are constantlyevolving at a rapid pace.

Carry on…Carmarthen is the county town – a proper county town. Probably theoldest market town in Wales, but isnow one of Wales’ newest shoppingdestinations – the lauded StCatherine’s Walk is home to many ofthe UK’s main shopping names –Carmarthen blends it’s out of townand town centre shoppingexperiences seamlessly.

Keep going…St Clears and Whitland are home toseveral small innovative companies,including Magstim, a world leader inneurological equipment. A formercreamery site there is currently beingredeveloped to offer 19 acres of landfor mixed business, leisure andresidential use.

Into the country…Carmarthenshire’s RuralRegeneration Schemes haverevitalised communities throughoutthe county. Streets and shoppingcentres in many of the traditionalmarket towns have been upgraded,while many have small-scalebusiness parks offering a range ofunits that are particularly suitablefor high-tech developments.Carmarthenshire’s rural economyhas long attracted the smaller andartisan investors – goodcommunications, physical andvirtual in rural Carmarthenshireallow this collective economy tothrive.

Investment and DevelopmentInfrastructure and People Strategic positioning


RAIL-TRAVEL TIMES

Carmarthen Cardiff 1hr 50minsCarmarthen London 5hrsCarmarthen Birmingham 3hrs 50minsCarmarthen Manchester 5hrs 30mins

ROAD – TRAVEL TIMES

Carmarthen Cardiff 1hr 10minsCarmarthen London 3hrs 40minsCarmarthen Birmingham 2hrs 40minsCarmarthen Manchester 4hrs 10mins

AIR-TRAVEL TIMES

Cardiff Amsterdam 1hr 20minsCardiff Belfast 1hrCardiff Brussels 2hrs 50minsCardiff Dublin 1hrCardiff Edinburgh 1hr 15minsCardiff Glasgow 1hr 45minsCardiff London 1hrCardiff Milan 3hrs 40minsCardiff Prague 3hrs 30mins

By airNo less than five importantinternational airports are within easy travelling distance ofCarmarthenshire. Cardiff-WalesInternational Airport with its nearbyaircraft repair establishments is lessthan an hour away by road. It is wellknown for being able to stay openwhen other airports are fogbound.Carmarthenshire has directmotorway links to the other fourairports, including Heathrow, whichis one of the busiest airports in theworld. Heathrow is within little morethan two hours of the county’s mainindustrial districts.

By seaThere are five ports with deepharbour facilities within about anhour’s drive of Carmarthenshire.Swansea port is only about 20minutes away from some of thecounty’s most importantdevelopment sites. Other vitaltransport links are the modern rollon/roll off ferry ports to Ireland. All three ports in South Wales arewithin less than an hour ofCarmarthenshire and have directlinks with the county by road andrail.

Carmarthenshire’s strategicposition, between Ireland, the UKand the rest of Europe has oftenbeen cited by many European basedbusinesses as a major reason tolocate in Carmarthenshire.




PEOPLEOur greatest asset

It is one of the basic principles of investment thatsuccess lies in people. Even all the infrastructure andfacilities being developed in Carmarthenshire would befar less valuable without its skilled, adaptable and loyalworkforce. That is why so many companies have chosento invest – and reinvest –in Carmarthenshire time andtime again.


Tata SteelResponsive to change

Over 60 years ago, the world famous Trostre Steelworks in Llanelli were completed. They are still goingstrong today. This is in no small part due to theattributes, dedication and attitude of its most prizedasset – the workforce.

Manufacturing tinplate packaging products such aspaint tins; aerosol canisters and food and drink cans for some of the world’s most prestigious blue-chipbrands, Tata Steel currently employ around 700 peopleat the site.

In a constantly shifting global market, the staff at TataSteel are constantly required to adapt to new processesand cultures. Now operating as Tata Steel, the site veryrecently was under Corus operation and prior to that was a British Steel plant – these critical changes havehappened in a 15 year window and the workforce hasadapted every time to the challenging requirements ofthe new company.

Tata Steel is also rightfully proud of its apprenticeshipprogramme with over 200 apprentices on the 3 year

programme at any one time in Wales. From all walks of life and across many disciplines Tata Steel firmlybelieve that the investment is repaid exponentially in future years with many apprentices going on to have distinguished careers in the Tata group and atTrostre itself.

Plant Manager Joe Gallacher is a staunch advocate of the initiative at Tata: “We have given apprenticeships over many years in arange of engineering, technical, logistics and manyother areas. This is a three year apprenticeship whichforms work based training and college based work at thefaculty of Engineering and Construction at Coleg Sir Garin Llanelli. Many of our apprentices over the years havegained awards and gone on to have good careers withinTata Steel in their chosen field and skill. Hundreds ofyoung people have started out on the apprentice route,while training and earning gives them a good balance to start life – it is something we’re very proud of here at Trostre and it’s good to note that our apprenticeshipintake is always oversubscribed – there seems to be agenuine appetite for work in the area.

Investment and DevelopmentInfrastructure and People People our Greatest Asset


The relationship with the local Further Education facilityin Llanelli and Ammanford really allows us to developour apprenticeship scheme in line with what we need atthe plant – they, as well as the apprentices are verymuch part of the team – we look forward every year tothe prize-giving at Coleg Sir Gar as it’s always great tosee our young apprentices representing Tata Steel insuch a positive light.

We feel that our continued increase in apprenticeshipsis a sign of Tata Steel’s commitment to building aworkforce for the future of the steel industry. Even in thecurrent economic climate, the business is looking to thelonger term by maximizing the availability of careeropportunities, in its dedication to sustaining the steelindustry in Wales. Our apprentices have been selectedaccording to the technical skills and personal attributesthat are required to work in this challenging and excitingindustry.”

www.tatasteel.com

Many of our apprentices overthe years have gained awardsand gone on to have goodcareers within Tata Steel intheir chosen field and skill.




that exceed customer expectations in both designand quality. Our experience working with OEM’s and their suppliers within the automotive industry is extensive and the whole team has to be consciousof working to customer’s concise budgets and leantimescales.

Our engineers are multi-disciplined – they have tobe! We’re a collective of technology specialists with awealth of experience across the automotive industryincluding electronic and software design; calibration;validation; product design and customer service atthe very highest level. We keep abreast of newtechnologies and research that can be implementedand utilized effectively in design approaches forvarious mechatronic problems that our customerswill no doubt ask us to solve! We’ve achieved TotalQuality Management here and it is constantlymaintained – our customers appreciate it and ourworkforce embrace it.”

www.treharne-automotive-engineering.co.uk

Treharne Automotive Engineering is blazing a trail –and leading the way is the workforce! Specialists inMechatronics and Diagnostics with major OriginalEquipment Manufacturers on their books, the companybased at the state of the art industrial site at TheBeacon, Llanelli, is going from strength to strength.

Mechatronics is a design process that includes acombination of Mechanical engineering, Electricalengineering, Control engineering and Computerengineering. Mechatronics are present in manydisciplines and end uses such as the Aerospace andAutomotive sectors. This means that Treharne havesome big hitters as customers who not only demandexpertise in Mechatronics but excellence all round from their suppliers – so much so that they are notconsidered suppliers, but development partners.

This excellence is perfectly demonstrated by the calibre of team member at Treharne. Many of whom are sourced from local academic institutionswith postgraduate engineers all adding value to thedevelopment process and the founders also comingfrom experienced engineering and managementbackgrounds. Jason Treharne, Managing Directordescribes the business as “experts in Mechatronics and the diagnostics of Mechatronics.”

The testimony to the staff at Treharne is clearly stated in the company’s mission statement: “Our mission is to provide our customers with a hassle-free handover and delivery of contracts, while exploringbest practices to ensure our people, processes andtechnology are working together to achieve optimumperformance.”

Jason critically recognizes that the staff at Treharneunderpins the business and cannot deliver the missionwithout the rest of the team: “We pride ourselves on the ability to engineer solutions

Treharne AutomotiveEngineeringOptimum performance


Carmarthenshire has agrowing population – upmore than 10,000 from 2001

to 2011 (UK Census). The total nowstands at 183,800 with a 50/50 splitof male to female, but populationdensity is only about 25% of the UKaverage. That’s why Carmarthenshireis also one of the most desirableplaces in Wales to live and work.Many of its young people want tostay in the area and show greatloyalty to companies that offer themthat chance.

Tradition feeds the futureMany parts of Carmarthenshire have constantly adapted to newtechnologies and opportunities.Some heavy industrial sites are now centres for knowledge basedenterprises but the county still has a dynamic mix of the traditional and new, offering potential for allkinds of investment. What setsCarmarthenshire apart from many

less-rooted communities is theloyalty and commitment of itspeople. 42% of the county isbilingual, with pride in the area and in its social and cultural life is transferred to the investors and companies that helpprovide prosperity.

Teamwork is a natural part of the county’s culture –there are hundreds ofexamples of communitiespulling together to revitalisetheir localities, to improve socialresources and raise money. Thesame spirit of joint endeavour has always been one of the area’sgreat economic strengths Now,Carmarthenshire and its partners aremaking sure that today’s workforceis suited to tomorrow’s needs.

Education and training strategies arein step with economic developmentstrategies – while there is an

emphasis on transferable skills,tailored packages of specialisttraining are also available forinvestors. Once again the proof liesin the experience of the companiesalready investing here. Many point

to the workforce as one of thepivotal reasons for moving to the area and then re-investing.Companies are first attracted by theobvious skills and flexibility of thepeople; they are convinced by theirmotivation and reliability.

Many of its young people wantto stay in the area and showgreat loyalty to companiesthat offer them that chance.


Working age people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (%)

0Oct 2009

Wales

Aug 2010 Jun 2011 Apr 2012

1

2

3

4

5

Carmarthenshire

WalesCarmarthenshire

Size of local business units (%)

1 – 4people

5 – 9people

10 – 19people

20 or morepeople

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0


Lifestyle and Leisure

If a quality of life that is second to noneattracts you, you’ve come to the rightplace. From ancient castles to modernshopping malls, from lush green valleysto golden yellow beaches and a variety ofinteresting towns, we have it all.

THE BES BOTH W


Locating your business in Carmarthenshire will allowyou and your workforce space to grow and a perfectwork – life balance

So Carmarthenshire is the exception to the rule andproves that even today, it is possible to have the best of both worlds.

ST OF WORLDS



A breath of fresh air

No long, frustrating commuter journeys…beautifulcountryside within minutes of the main industrial andcommercial centres… a wealth of leisure and recreationalfacilities …a clean environment …Carmarthenshire couldhardly offer more.


But it does. Carmarthenshirehas a rich and linguistic past reflected in its myths,

legends and history, with the CountyCouncil supporting and enhancingthe status and use of the Welshlanguage through its day-to-dayactivities; more than 60% of theCounty’s population are Welshspeaking compared to a nationalaverage of just 28%.

Carmarthenshire is the third largestcounty in Wales covering some2,371 square kilometres, 11.5% of the total landmass of Wales. Less than an hour from the Welshcapital, Cardiff, the population ofCarmarthenshire is 181,000.

Carmarthenshire has a richcountryside with the BreconBeacons National Park, and the lush green river valleys of the Tywi,Taf and Teifi providing a variety ofleisure and recreation opportunities.Coast and countryside are the main

focus together with the area’s rich industrial heritage.

A broad array of attractions,integrated walks and trails includingcycleways and a mountain bikecentre in some of the highest quality environment the county has to offer at Brechfa, all makeCarmarthenshire a place to enjoyand savour.

The Carmarthenshirecoastline is abutted to thewest by the PembrokeshireCoast National Park and tothe east by the Gower, anArea of Outstanding NaturalBeauty. The coastline is of a veryhigh quality with blue flag status in parts, and is a major attractionitself. The Millennium Coastal Park,located in the south east of thecounty with its cycle path andcoastal walks enhances the alreadyglorious Carmarthen Bay coastline.The county has branded itself the

Garden of Wales and as home to the iconic National Botanic Gardenof Wales, is a favoured visitordestination year round.

Recreational and sporting facilitiesare abundant including the JackNicklaus designed MachynysPeninsular Golf and Country Club,Ffos Las racecourse – built on thesite of a former open cast mine andParc y Scarlets – the new home of

the world famous Scarlets rugby club.

Carmarthenshire prides itself on thelow crime rate in its areas, with theDyfed Powys Police’s detection rateamongst the best in England andWales. This assists in enriching theexisting quality of life in

Coast and countryside are themain focus together with thearea’s rich industrial heritage.


Carmarthenshire which is alreadyvery high.

Carmarthenshire offers a superbselection of first class housing atcosts comparably lower than the rest of the UK.

The two biggest cities in Wales,Cardiff and Swansea, are easilyaccessible. In many urban centres,security and safety are constantworries, both for companies andtheir individual employees.Carmarthenshire is part of the Dyfed-Powys police area which has someof the lowest crime figures andhighest detection rates in Englandand Wales. Even more importantly,community life is strong inCarmarthenshire – people still keepan eye out for one another. Familiesflourish in such an environment.Education has always been highlyprized in Carmarthenshire. Schoolshave always offered far more than abasic education, priding themselveson producing highly skilled and

adaptable people to serve theiremployers and communities.

Carmarthenshire is within the Dyfed-Powys police area, longacknowledged as the safest place to live in the whole of England and Wales. Crime rates are low,detection rates are high… a tributeto the force itself, but also tothe strength of communitylife in the county.

The first things families look for is safety, safety from crime, heavy traffic andpollution and the freedom for children to live ascarefree as possible. In most places, that means long,frustrating commuter journeys oreven complicated arrangementswhere breadwinners spend the week near their workplace and only the weekends at home. InCarmarthenshire you have the bestof both worlds. While the county hasdeveloped a range of leisure and

sport facilities to rank with any cityor conurbation, children and youngpeople in Carmarthenshire can alsoenjoy the ‘lost’ pleasures of playingin the street and exploring thecountryside. It is a place wherepeople care for each other and keepan eye out for the young - where theycan still be “happy as the grass was

green”. The second vital requirementis a good education. With low classsizes and a high reputation,Carmarthenshire’s schools arehighly respected in a country whereeducation has always been prized.Here, scoring well in attainmentleague tables is taken for granted,and education also includes creatingrounded citizens for the future.

Investment and DevelopmentLifestyle and Leisure Best of Both Worlds

Carmarthenshire is within theDyfed-Powys police area, longacknowledged as the safestplace to live in the whole ofEngland and Wales.




Talk of the town Croeso that’s our word for welcome. And that’s what you’ll find inall our towns in Carmarthenshire. They’re full of interest, characterand often quirky. They have everything from ancient castles andwalkways to modern shopping centres and waterfrontentertainment. Enjoy!


Ammanfordlocated on the edge of the wild Black Mountain, Ammanford has lots of small shops and a cobbledpedestrian area. It also offers indoorbowls, a charming park withtraditional bandstand and cricketpavilion and swimming pool.

Burry Port & The Pembrey Peninsular Burry Port is an historic harbourtown with a bustling modern marinaand landscaped seafront. NearbyPembrey is home to PembreyCountry Park, one of Wales’ topvisitor destinations. Also on thepeninsular is the British AutomobileRacing Club and Pembrey Airport.

CarmarthenThe oldest town in Wales with quaint alleyways, a medieval castleand riverside setting. A range ofindependent traders sit comfortablyalongside High Street retailers, thenew St Catherine’s Walk £74mshopping development withmultiplex cinema, the bustlingindoor market and Merlin’s Walkshopping centre. Carmarthen is theadministrative heart of the Countyand is now one of Wales’ mostpopular shopping routes.

KidwellyAt its historic heart lies KidwellyCastle – one of Wales’ bestpreserved medieval castles. Situatedin an attractive setting on theGwendraeth Estuary, Kidwelly has ariverside walk and fascinatingIndustrial Museum.

LaugharneThe sleepy, timeless town madefamous by Dylan Thomas on thesandy fringes of Carmarthen Bay.Dylan’s Boathouse and Writing Shedare favourite visitor attractions,along with the castle andbeachfront.

LlandeiloClassy, country town in the lush Tywi Valley. Llandeilo is a shoppinghotspot with a tempting array offashionable galleries and boutiques.The National Trust’s Dinefwr Parkand Castle can be found on theoutskirts of this popular countytown.

LlandoveryAn attractive town with an oldmarketplace, historic inns, ruinedcastle and crafts centre. Llandoveryis ideally located as a base toexplore Carmarthenshire and theBrecon Beacons. An important townin the Tywi Valley it has recentlyacquired a new resident in HRHPrince Charles, Prince of Wales.

LlanelliThe largest town in Carmarthenshire,famous for its global and historicrugby brand of the Llanelli Scarletsand sweeping coastline. Llanelli hasa bustling pedestrian friendly towncentre; charming indoor market andmodern retail and leisuredevelopments at Eastgate. TheMillenium Costal Park includes apromenade, walks, cycleway, fishinglakes and an array of wildlife at theNational Wetlands Centre for Wales.Llanelli is also home to the JackNicklaus designed Machynys GolfCourse and towards the hinterlandof the town the ever popular Ffos Lasracecourse can be found.

LlandysulA quiet town in the heart of thecountryside with an ancient churchoverseeing daily life. The River Teifirushes alongside a championship-standard canoe slalom course andthere is excellent fishing andwalking locally too.

Newcastle EmlynAn historic country town on a loop inthe River Teifi, and another attractiveboutique shopping destination.There are a good range of oldfashioned Inns, lots of fine periodarchitecture, ruined castle and theNational Wool Museum.

St Clears & WhitlandComfortably set in rural andagricultural Carmarthenshire thesetwo towns nestle side by side on theborder with Pembrokeshire, bothhave traditional shopping fayre andimportant histories to tell.

Investment and Development Advertorial

Serviced Residential Development LandFfos LasTrimsaran, Carmarthenshire, SA17 4DEFor Sale

• Up to 22 acres available as a whole or in parts• Semi rural location adjoinging Ffos Las Racecourse• Adjoining earlier phases of housing by Persimmion Homes• M4 (Junction 48) 9.5 miles, Llanelli 6 miles, Swansea 17 miles,Carmarthen 12 miles, Cardiff 58 miles, Fishguard (Irish FerryTerminal) 56 miles, Cardiff Wales airport 59 miles


International agent Savills has beenappointed by Ffos Las Limited, theowners of the newly establishedracecourse to market the nextphases of residential developmentland adjoining the new racecourse at Trimsaran on the outskirts ofLlanelli.

Gareth Carter, Director of SavillsCardiff office, who is managing thesite, comments, “The available landextends to approximately 22 acres in three separate parcels situateddirectly overlooking the racecourse.The Ffos Las racecourse facility is a£25m investment, a further £12mhas been invested in theconstruction of a 5 Megawatt SolarPower Generating Park, the first twophases of housing are now occupiedand this brings the total financialcommitment to approximately£45m. This is an exceptionalexample of how the private sectorcan deliver a mixed use project thathas seen the creation of amagnificent new leisure facility,renewable energy, private homesand affordable accommodation.Future phases of Ffos Las will involvebusiness and employmentgenerating development.

Planning permission for the housingwas obtained in conjunction with theracecourse development in 2009.

Persimmon Homes, one of the UK’slargest house builders, has alreadycompleted the first two phases ofdevelopment and construction is underway on Phase three.

“A range of house types has alreadybeen built and the location hasalready attracted a range ofhomeowners including first timebuyers, families and retirees. Theracecourse development featuresextensive areas of landscaping andecological zones which have rapidlybecome established and nowprovide a natural buffer to thedeveloped parts. Ffos Las is situatedin a semi-rural location with a goodaccess to the coast; other localfacilities include Pembrey CountryPark, Kidwelly Castle and Glyn AbbeyGolf Club.

“The available land is ready fordevelopment as all infrastructureand services have been provided.We expect interest to be generatedby regional and national housebuilders who will be attracted by an established market place andproximity to the commercial centresof Llanelli and Carmarthen.

“We are seeking offers for either thewhole 22 acres or smaller partssubject to negotiation.”


Gareth Carter, Savills Cardiff: 02920 [email protected]

Further expansion at Ffos Las

savills.co.uk



A taste of Carmarthenshire They say what you eat is what you are. That’s why we takeour food so seriously in Carmarthenshire and perhapswhy what we produce is renowned across the UK. Afterall, Carmarthenshire is known as The Garden of Wales.


Being blessed with some ofthe most fertile, green andprolific agricultural land in

Britain and a network of riversdraining into a beautiful coastline, it is no wonder the county producesa fine range of agricultural produceand a bustling rural economy.

In Carmarthenshire’s larder you’llfind sewin, salt marsh lamb andsamphire, farmhouse cheeses andother dairy products, ham and curedbacon, beef and poultry and an arrayof verdant vegetables.

The food industry inCarmarthenshire is big business andis highly geared to the demands ofmodern lifestyle. From field to fork,food is a key element of life inCarmarthenshire as testified by our award-winning produce andrestaurants and a dedicated FoodPark.

Lamb shank cawlServes 4

Ingredients4 Carmarthenshire lamb leg shanks1 tablespoon oil2 bay leavesLarge sprig fresh thymeSea salt and freshly milled black pepper1 litre lamb stock300g carrots, peeled and cut into large dice200g leeks, washed and cut into rings250g potatoes, peeled and cut into large dice250g swede, peeled and cut into large dice20g Welsh butter20g flat leaf parsley, chopped

Slow roasted Carmarthenshire lambshanks deliver maximum flavour and a modern presentation to thistraditional Welsh broth which is areal winter favourite.

MethodPre heat oven to 170°C, gas mark 3.

In a heavy based, lidded casseroledish, heat the oil. Add the shankstwo at a time and seal the meat inthe hot oil, browning it all over.When all four shanks are browned,lie them on their sides in thecasserole dish, add the thyme, bayleaves, seasoning and stock andbring to the boil. The stock shouldhalf cover the shanks. Cover with aclose fitting lid and place in theoven. Cook slowly for 3 hours. Checkfrom time to time to ensure that thestock has not evaporated.

Just before the shanks are ready,cook the potatoes, carrots andswede in boiling salted water. Sautethe leeks in the butter for a fewminutes, do not allow them tobrown, try to keep the rings wholefor presentation.

When the lamb shanks are cooked,remove from the casserole dish andkeep warm. Pass the stock through a



sieve and skim off any fat. Check forseasoning and add more water ifnecessary to bring back to 1 litre,bring to boil.

When just cooked, drain thevegetables and keep hot.To serve, place a lamb shank in thecentre of each serving bowl,surround with vegetables and ladlehot stock over the meat andvegetables. Sprinkle with freshparsley.

Breakfast stackServes 4

Ingredients8 slices rye bread4 large ripe tomatoes150g Carmarthen ham2 tsp oil4 large Welsh free range eggsWelsh butter

MethodA great alternative cooked breakfast.The rye bread adds flavour and bypoaching the eggs this recipereflects our tastes and desires to eat healthier and increase fibre!

Pre-heat the oven to 200°C, gasmark 6. Slice the tomatoeshorizontally into 4 or 5 slices, placeon an oven tray, season with blackpepper and sea salt and bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

To poach the eggs, bring a saucepanof water to a gently rolling boil andadd a small dash of white winevinegar. Gently break the eggs intothe water one at a time, and cook for2 minutes or until the white has set.Lift out with a slotted spoon andkeep warm whilst the remainingeggs are poached.

Pre-heat the grill and when hot, grillthe slices of Carmarthen ham for oneminute on each side until crispy.

Toast and butter the rye bread andarrange on serving plates. Place theroasted tomato slices onto the bread

and top with some crispyCarmarthen ham and a poached egg.

Laverbread and blue cheese tartServes 4-6

IngredientsPastry150g plain flour Pinch salt75g Welsh butter, diced, from the refrigeratorIce cold water

Filling150ml Welsh milk150ml single cream2 large free range Welsh eggs1 tablespoon laverbread100g local blue veined cheese,crumbled roughlySea salt and freshly milled black pepper

MethodUse a local blue cheese in yourrecipe to give a real Carmarthenshireflavour to this rich, creamy tart andserve with a fresh crisp side saladfor a lovely lunchtime treat.

Firstly, make the shortcrust pastry by rubbing the fat into flour until itresembles fine breadcrumbs,sprinkle with the ice cold water alittle at a time until the mixture justcomes together. Place in a polythenebag and chill for 30 minutes.

Pre heat the oven to 200°C, gas mark 6.

Roll out the pastry and use to line a20cm loose bottomed fluted metalflan tin. Chill for 30 minutes.

Prick base of pastry lightly with afork then line with greaseproof paperand fill with a layer of dried beans orrice and bake blind for 10 minutes.Reduce oven to 180°C, gas mark 4and bake for another 10 minutesuntil the pastry is crisp and golden.Remove from the oven and allow tocool slightly.

Meanwhile, lightly whisk together thecream, milk, eggs, laverbread andseasoning. Pour the mixture into thepastry case. Sprinkle over the crumbledcheese and bake for 35 minutes, or untilthe filling is set.

Allow to cool slightly, remove from tin,slice and serve with a dressed side salad.

Bara brith puddingServes 4 to 6

Ingredients1kg loaf of bara brith50g local butter, softened40g golden caster sugar3 large local free range eggs600ml local milk2 tbsp Welsh whiskeyZest of 1 orange

MethodUsing traditional local bara brith thispudding is comfort food at its best. Servewarm with a local honey or vanilla icecream as the perfect accompaniment.

Use a little of the butter to grease a 1.2litre baking dish. Slice the bara brith into1cm slices and spread each slice withbutter, arrange a layer in the bottom of thedish and sprinkle with some orange zestand a little sugar. Continue to layer thebara brith, sprinkling with sugar andorange until it is all used up.

Lightly whisk together the eggs with the milk and add the whiskey, pour thiscustard mixture over the layered barabrith. Cover and chill for a few hours orovernight.

Pre heat the oven to 160°C, gas mark 3. Bake the pudding for about 45 minutes to an hour, until it is golden on top.

Serve warm, cut into squares with a scoop of local ice cream.






Golf inCarmarthenshireStephen Jones is a legend in his own lifetime. He is known world-wide for his prowess on the rugby field both for Wales and theBritish Lions. He is also a passionate golfer and has equal passionfor Carmarthenshire, his county of birth and residency. He sharesboth passions with us and explains why Carmarthenshire offers anunparalleled variety of quality courses.




Iconsider it a great privilege towrite an introduction to Golfwithin Carmarthenshire as I am

both an avid golfer and native of this beautiful county.

Although I have been lucky to playmany excellent courses on mytravels, to my mind (I admit a littlebias here) no area offers theunparalleled variety of qualitycourses - old and new, parkland and links - with none more than 30minutes from its furthest neighbourand all within 15 minutes of itsclosest.

The coastline is superb varying frompeaceful estuaries to long majesticbeaches, interspersed with secretivecoves and offering some superlativelinks golf - the Ashburnham, onehundred years young, a classicWelsh links course withchampionship status; the MachynysPeninsula, a championship coursethat has already hosted theEuropean Wales LadiesChampionship of Europe 2005-2008. It is a challenging Nicklausstyle design in a dramatic settingoverlooking the Gower Peninsula.

For those who enjoy parkland, theWelsh Golf Club of the year 2009,Glyn Abbey, is just five miles fromMachynys and adjacent to the newFfos Las horse racing course inTrimsaran. It is renowned for beingthe best technical layout in SouthWales with tremendous views overthe Gwendraeth Valley.

My home town isCarmarthen, the oldest town in Wales and on itsoutskirts is the one hundredyear old Carmarthen GolfClub. Undulating parklandwith spectacular views andas a result the wind can playa major part just as on links.

Derllys Court is a shorter 18 hole par70 course, offering an informal andrelaxed atmosphere with highlyenjoyable golf and picturesqueviews over the south westCarmarthenshire countryside.

Moving eastwards you have both oldand new. Close to Llandeilo (aka thechic boutique capital of west Wales),Glynhir Golf Club celebrates itscentenary in 2010 and is located inidyllic surroundings.

Facing the brooding Black Mountainand the start of the Brecon Beaconsis Garnant Golf Club, the STRI WelshEnvironment winner in 2004. Built in1995, it has superb USGA greens,challenging layout and is a favouritewith another local, my fellow Wales& British Lion, Shane Williams whois now President of the club.

Whether you come to play all sevencourses or choose to blend the oldand the new with some time setaside to sample the splendour andbeauty that Carmarthenshire has to offer, you will leave with anexperience you will never forget.

The coastline is superbvarying from peacefulestuaries to long majesticbeaches, interspersed withsecretive coves and offeringsome superlative links golf.




Feel the hwyl We’re passionate about rugby in Carmarthenshire.And Parc y Scarlets, the fabulous new home ofScarlets and Llanelli RFC reflects that passion andpride. The ground replaced Stradey Park, the homeof Llanelli’s rugby teams for almost 130 years butdidn’t leave the “hwyl” behind.


The stadium also hosts somematches of the Wales nationalunder-21 and senior football

teams, as well as Llanelli A.F.C.’smatches in European competitions.Swansea City A.F.C. Reserve Teamplayed all of their home fixtures atthe stadium in the 2011/2012season.

The ground was built by Port Talbot-based Andrew Scott Limited on asite owned by CarmarthenshireCounty Council, next to a new retailpark featuring stores such asMorrisons. The stadium wasdesigned by specialist sports stadiaarchitects, The Miller Partnership,whose designs include MurrayfieldStadium in Edinburgh.

The stands have a slight curvature toallow for better views. The stadium’smain stand, on the south side of theground, contain the club’s shop andmuseum, the ticket office, a largesports bar (called “The Delme

Thomas”), the players’ gym andchanging rooms on the ground floor,while the upper floors is providedwith eating and drinking areas.

Having previously been known bythe provisional title of“Pemberton Stadium”, thestadium’s official name –Parc y Scarlets – wasannounced on 20 May 2008. The approach to themain stand is known as the “Ray Gravell LegendsWalkway” paved with bricksnaming each Llanelli RFC andScarlets player to have played forWales. A statue of Ray Gravell is erected outside the stadium,while other Llanelli legends arehonoured in the naming of other of the stadium’s facilities, with themuseum known as the “Ken JonesMuseum”, while the variousexecutive lounges are named afterCarwyn James, Phil Bennett and theQuinnell family.

Parc y Scarlets officially openedwith Llanelli RFC playing the firstmatch at the stadium in a 32–3win over Cardiff RFC in thePrincipality Premiership. TheScarlets hosted their first match at

Parc y Scarlets against Munster inthe Celtic League with capacitylimited to 9,000. The Scarlets’ firstHeineken Cup match in the newstadium was against Ulster, with a capacitylimit of 11,000. The officialopening ceremony was held on 31 January 2009 when the Scarletshosted the Barbarians, defeatingthem 40–24.

The ground was built on a site owned byCarmarthenshire CountyCouncil, next to a new retail park .


Stradey Park Hotel A sleeping giant It didn’t take magic. Obvious potential was what localbusiness woman, Angela Saunders saw in the Stradey ParkHotel, Llanelli. So she set about using her acumen and thehigh quality of the local work force to turn a sleeping giantinto what is today recognised as one of Wales’ top hotels.

With more and more major companiesinvesting in the area, with excitingnew commercial and industrial

ventures and some of the UK’s most importantleisure developments, Angela could see aready market for a top quality hotel. Vital too was the support of CarmarthenshireCounty Council – not only in helping to accesssubstantial investment finance, but alsothrough encouragement and advice.

As well as transforming the hotel’s facilities,Angela has now bought the nearby GwenllianCourt Hotel at Kidwelly, placing her company,Gryphon Hotels, in an ideal position to takeadvantage of the county’s burgeoningbusiness and leisure market. A brand newhotel development is also underway with thegroup at Carmarthen.

Angela says that her tenure in charge hasproved how right she was:“We took over in 2000, from a hotel chain.We’re now attracting the big local companies,visiting international rugby sides and coachtours from the USA and Europe. With grantsfrom the Wales Tourist Board and EU, we’vetransformed the hotel, refurbishing all 84rooms, opening a new restaurant and aconference suite – and are developing a newhotel further West at Carmarthen. The Councilhas been excellent, offering encouragement,funding and pro-active support. We’re verylucky to be in Carmarthenshire now – there’stremendous potential here.”

www.stradeyparkhotel.com




Business support

GETTING THINGS DONEToday’s businesses don’t have time towaste. Wasted time means wastedmoney. They demand easy access, simpleprocesses and as little bureaucracy aspossible when seeking business support.


GETTING THINGS DONE

Carmarthenshire County Council understands thesedemands. And so we think differently, do thingsdifferently. And that is why we have created a focusthat brings together all the different forms ofsupport from all the strategic levels to meet thewide-ranging needs of an investor whatever theneed, whatever the business.

So join us here in Carmarthenshire. You’ll never look back.


Business support

The crucial concept is that of the team at Carmarthenshire –creating a focus that brings

together all the different forms ofsupport from all the strategic levels.The County Council’s services canmeet all the needs of an investor,from drawing down European fundsto providing the vital local knowhowto help identify sites, workforce andsupply chains.

This attitude involves strategicplanning – identifying potentialprojects and then quickly targetingother forms of support on them. Forbusinesses, it means easy access,simple processes and as littlebureaucracy as possible.Carmarthenshire’s BusinessDevelopment Unit is the gateway to the full suite of business andinvestment support services, from all the providing agencies.

There is another important aspect to this co-ordinated, committedstructure. As part of the CountyCouncil, the unit also has direct linkswith some of the other vital servicesan investor needs, includingplanning, education and trainingand trading standards. The extraingredient is attitude –Carmarthenshire County Council is widely acknowledged as an

Joined-up supportThe team at Carmarthenshire thinks differently. The team at Carmarthenshire thinks efficiently. That’s because weunderstand the demands on today’s businesses.

enterprising authority and itsservices are designed to offer thehighest levels of support asefficiently and as streamlined aspossible. Indeed, support foreconomic development goes right tothe top of the council. Regeneration& Leisure is one of the five maindirectorates.

We widely recognise thatno business or project isthe same as the next.There are always a myriadof requirements needed inany project and thebusiness team has theskill to resolve all of them.The open attitude of theteam is founded in getting thingsdone and overcoming obstacles tosee projects come to fruition in thecounty. Quite often projects demandsolutions that are unconventional –this is never a problem to resolve fora Carmarthenshire bound business.Many of the firms who have locatedhere in recent times will testify tothis and no doubt recall fondly theiroverall experience of developingtheir project into Carmarthenshire.

Carmarthenshire has built up abroad based and varied economy,offering balance and opportunityboth for investors and local people.

While developing centres ofexcellence and business clusters ina few vital sectors, the wider aim isto create an economy that offersstability and long-term prosperity.The foundations are sound.Carmarthenshire’s indigenouseconomy ranges from strong fooddevelopment and creative industries

– to highly specialised and hightechnology businesses and to large-scale manufacturing andengineering. Big name businessesare commonplace and residealongside the SME backbone of theCounty. If you’re think of joining us,then do so, we know you’ll be veryhappy that you did!

Support for economicdevelopment goes right to thetop of the council. Regeneration& Leisure is one of the five maindirectorates.

Documents

The investor 2013 14