Business News Wales Podcasts

Wondering why some the winners of the inaugural FinTech Awards Wales entered and what they have been up to? Business News Wales catches up with winners from Confused.com, Delio and Credas and hears more about the future of FinTech in Wales in a special podcast hosted by Matthew Hyde from Recruit 121.

Kellie Beirne was appointed as Chief Executive of Cardiff Capital Region City Deal in mid-2018. The City Deal is a £1.28 billion GVA-growth and jobs programme, involving ten South Wales local authorities. She moved from a post as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Enterprise Officer at Monmouthshire County Council , where she gained a reputation for bringing innovation and innovative ways of working, often private-sector-derived, into the world of public service delivery.She has previously been Director of Innovation and Enterprise and Chief Officer, Regeneration and Culture at Monmouthshire Council. Before that, she undertook roles in a South Wales Housing Association and in local authority Housing policy.Kellie is Co-Chair of the Innovation Advisory Council for Wales and has been a Prince of Wales Innovation Scholar (POWIS).

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has launched “Connected”, the first in a series of three analytical reports designed to provide robust and reliable data on a series of economic, social and environmental indicators to better understand the performance of the region. On this podcast, CCR Economic Growth Partnership Chair, Frank Holmes and Board Member Chris Sutton talk to Mark Powney, MD Business News Wales about the context for these reports, the essential role connectivity plays in delivering the CCR Industrial and economic plan and some of the great strides that are being taken in this direction through the various investment programmes currently under consideration across the region and in particular through the CCR City Deal.

As part of our Daily Insights Podcast Series, Business News Wales Editor, Mark Powney, interviews Deputy Minister For the Economy Lee Waters. The Importance of the foundational economy and its link to economic prosperity for Wales is clear but how does this dovetail into the climate emergency, social enterprise and changes in procurement? What about our startup community? What does the future hold for organisations such as Business Wales? How realistic is Welsh independence? and of course, we have a new prime minister and government what will the Welsh government be doing to build bridges and of course protect existing powers?

In this episode, Carwyn sits down with Lisa Lucas, Senior Research Officer at MADE Wales Lisa Lucas  has primary responsibility for managing the collaborations with SMEs in delivering the MADE project.MADE Wales is a suite of EU-funded projects delivered by University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) through its Centre for Advanced Batch Manufacture (CBM), tailor-made for Welsh SME's and individuals to plug into the power of disruptive technologies, in order to boost productivity. www.MADECymru.co.uk

Lyndon started constructaquote.com in 1990, aged just 19. He was struggling financially and had to live out of his car when he landed a commission only insurance job. He had no experience in the industry but needed a wage to support his family. Nine months later he decided to take control of his career and started constructaquote. It took a lot of persuading to get insurance companies to trust this rookie, but when Lyndon won his first insurer over, others soon followed. By the time Lyndon was 26 he was a millionaire, and by 28 he was a multimillionaire. He hasn’t looked back since.

Wealthify’s CEO and co-founder, Dr Richard Theo is a Cardiff-based award-winning entrepreneur. Technology is at the heart of everything Richard does, having used his PhD in computer sciences to established a number of successful tech companies, including ActiveQuote Ltd, the UK's leading comparison site and broker of health insurance, income protection & life insurance, and most recently, Wealthify.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE has been championing entrepreneurship in Wales for the last 20 years and is the creator of the Wales Fast Growth 50 which identifies the nation’s fastest growing firms every year. With academic publications in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation, a best-selling textbook on enterprise and regular media commentary on economic development in Wales and beyond.

Director of CBI Wales, Ian heads up the CBI office in Wales, responsible for representing the majority of major businesses in Wales in their dealings with government and its support functions. He also looks after all recruitment and retention of members. He is consistently lobbying government in Cardiff and Westminster to ensure that the view of business is always taken into account when formulating policy. Ian is also Chair Wales Apprenticeship Advisory Board, carrying out reviews of apprenticeship delivery in Wales.  Prior to CBI Ian has held several senior roles within business. Ian was in the Royal Air Force for nine years and served in the Falklands during 1982 and received the South Atlantic Campaign medal. He has one daughter and lives in Mumbles. He is an enthusiastic runner, having completed numerous half and full marathons, and is a lifelong Swansea City fan.

Previous to his appointment as Prince’s Trust Cymru Director, Mr Jones was the Wales Area Manager for The Royal British Legion during a time of that charity’s transformation. Previously, he served in the Armed Forces for over 25 years as an officer in The Royal Welsh.  His roles included overseeing the delivery of combat and leadership training, media and strategic communications, and planning and delivering intelligence training both in the UK and abroad. Phil’s family hail from Lampeter and Llandullas. He was born in Bicester, Oxfordshire and attended Lord Williams's School, Thame, before being commissioned into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1986.

What is ethical banking and how is it different from the traditional model? Is it the solution to growing a more sustainable Wales?

Before joining the Development Bank of Wales, Giles was a partner at private equity firm TDR Capital LLP focusing on deal origination activities.  Prior to this he spent nine years with Punch Taverns plc -- the first year as Chair, and then as chief executive following the IPO of the business. 

GlobalWelsh is a not-for-profit organisation that is proactively engaging with all non-resident Welsh and enlisting their quid-pro-quo support to improve the fortunes of the Welsh economy. Their activities span engaging with entrepreneurs and business leaders across a broad range of areas including; business & entrepreneurship, sport, arts, tourism, education, international trade, inward investment and philanthropy.

The Welsh Economy grew by 2.3% in 2018 making Wales the fastest growing nation across the UK. Why is the Welsh Economy so resilient and is Wales ready to compete on the international stage? What are Welsh Government priorities in regards to the renewables industry, social enterprise and of course the M4 relief road alternatives?

The Swansea Bay City Deal is looking for a new programme director. Who is the idea candidate and what expectations are in place? Is it too late for regional partners to submit new projects or is the window very much open? and what’s the latest update regarding the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon? What could go wrong this time around and what are the chances of a positive announcement in the autumn?

Cerys joined Chwarae Teg in 2017, having spent 15 years working in the education and skills sector. As Chief Executive Cerys sets the strategic direction for Chwarae Teg and stretches our ambitions as we strive to make Wales a world leader in gender equality.  Prior to this, Cerys worked in roles at the Learning and Work Institute, the Open University and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, as well as having served as a Councillor for Cardiff County Council for five and half years. Alongside business partners, Cerys has established, opened and run several businesses in the hospitality and catering trade in South Wales. Starting with critically acclaimed The Potted Pig, which opened in 2011 and subsequently two further branches of Porro restaurants. She is now focused on three venues: Milkwood in Pontcanna (est. July 2017), The Lansdowne pub in Canton (est. 2012) and The Grange pub in Grangetown (est. 2017).

Is there still time for Pembrokeshire to get a bigger slice of the Swansea Bay City Deal? Could the region become the green capital of Europe and how important is digital infrastructure to the future Pembrokeshire economy?

Derek Walker is Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre, which is Wales’s co-operative and social enterprise development body. As well as co-operative and social enterprise development, the Centre develops and implements projects that strengthen communities and promote inclusion. Derek represents the social enterprise sector on the Third Sector Partnership Council as well as the Welsh Government's Council for Economic Renewal and the Programme Monitoring Committee for the European Structural and Investment Funds.

In this episode, Carwyn sits down with Roger Lewis, Chairman of Cardiff Airport

In this episode, Carwyn sits down with Katy Chamberlain, CEO of Business in Focus