The finalists for awards showcasing the very best in business and entrepreneurship in the Swansea Bay City Region can been revealed.
The awards cover the local authority areas of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
The winners, including the overall Company of the Year and a Judges' Choice Award for a firm that has demonstrated exceptional growth, will be revealed at an awards dinner event at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on September 15th.
Click here for ticket information
Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by the British Business Bank
Darren Briggs of Ascona
Darren Briggs is founder and chief executive of Pembroke-based fast-expanding forecourt venture Ascona.
The business, set up in 2011, now has 62 forecourts across the UK employing 800. The target is to reach 300 by 2026, which would give the firm an enterprise value of £1bn.
The business is one of the fastest growing indigenous firms in Wales on turnover.
Gavin Griffiths
Gavin Griffiths set up Gavin Griffith Recycling in 2005. He has worked to continuously improve the business and push it forward.
During the pandemic, the company invested in a new recycling site in Cwmgwili, despite the wider challenging economic climate With investment and vision, the site has been turned into a cutting edge waste processing plant - with the increased capabilities allowing the firm to access new markets and increase turnover.
Rachel Lyndon Jones
Rachel Lyndon Jones co-founded Ouma in 2017 and has since positioned the business to become one of Wales’ leading digital marketing agencies.
She has strived to help Swansea-based Ouma grow while staying true to her core values - in particular working to provide the team with ample support and opportunities for growth, and to create a truly inclusive workplace.
Family Business of the Year
Allchurch & Co Chartered Accountants
Allchurch & Co Chartered Accountants was set up five years ago by sisters Carly and Ellie Allchurch.
The business has build a client base of around 200 customers in just a few years. Allchurch & Co also works to support other local businesses - hosting online meetings with other small practices in Swansea, to offer support and a way to connect.
Day’s Rental
Founded in 1956, Swansea-based Day’s Rental has been a family business for decades - and today operates a fleet of 8,500 vehicles across the UK. As a family business Day’s Rental strives to make sure that its employees truly feel like part of a team - with an emphasis on recognising the contribution of employees, as well as working together to provide customers with an outstanding service.
LBS Builders Merchants
Founded in 1931, LBS Builders Merchants is one of South Wales’ largest independent builders’ merchants - with 18 merchants branches, 15 plumbers merchants, and 10 kitchen and bathroom showrooms among other services.
Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, LBS Builders Merchants, headquartered in Ammanford, has persevered and thrived - with sales and profit growth up 30% on last year, 11 vehicles added to its fleet, and increased customer satisfaction.
Medium to Large Business of the Year
Ascona Group
Ascona Group has grown to become one of the UK’s major independent forecourt operators.
Utilising both commercial partnerships and in-house brands, Ascona works to ensure that every one of its forecourts can meet the needs of customers with ease. In the last few years alone Ascona Group has shown tremendous growth - going from operating two forecourts to 62, in just three years. It is on track to have 300 forecourts by 2026.
Day’s Rental
Since 1956, Day’s Rental has been part of the family-owned CEM Day Motor Group - operating a fleet of 8,500 vehicles across 14 UK branches.
During the pandemic, the business was able to adapt and thrive - offering fleet management services to corporate clients, saving them time and trouble during a difficult time. Day’s commitment to its customers helped it achieve a growth in revenue from 2020 to 2021, despite a difficult economic climate.
Swansea Building Society
Founded in 1923, Swansea Building Society works with clients and communities to provide financial advice and assistance that meets their needs.
In recent years the business has accomplished impressive growth - reaching £500m in assets for the first time this year. Swansea Building Society is always investing in ways to be a stronger, more effective business - recently recruiting to expand its team significantly, and investing £1m in improving its IT infrastructure.
Vortex IoT
Neath-based Vortex IoT is a business that develops and builds environmental sensors - designed to provide clients with detailed and comprehensive data.
With a particular focus on fighting air pollution, Vortex aims to help make cities greener and safer - and has expanded significantly in recent years. In particular, the business recently opened a new office space and moved to a new industrial facility - and is now capable of producing 100 air sensors per week.
Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Swansea Building Society
Nappi Cycle
Nappi cycle works with all 22 local authorities in Wales recovering and recycling nappies via collection services - so diverting 41 million nappies a year from ending up in landfill sites.
The Ammanford-based firm, set up in 2008, is an exemplar of innovation for the region and has recently partnered in a trial where fibres from nappies are being added to bitumen glueing together asphalt road services.
The Welsh Government is backing the project with £180,000 funding, and a stretch of the A487 between Aberystwyth and Cardigan in Ceredigion has already been replaced with the nappy formula.
@ Work Wales
@ Work Wales was founded in 2008 with the aim of making recruitment more efficient and effective.
Providing permanent and temporary staff to organisations across Wales, it strives to build meaningful relationships between clients and candidates, and ensure that each role is filled by the best person for the job.
@ Work Wales also endeavours to ensure that its own working environment is enthusiastic and inclusive.
Cutting Edge Mechanics
Cutting Edge Mechanics is a business that supplies and repairs arboricultural equipment - alongside grass cutting and forestry services. Founded by an engineer, it works to put the customer’s needs first - dedicated to providing excellent service and quality equipment to those who need it.
Originally started in a garage, Cutting Edge has since moved to a business unit in Carmarthen - and plans to grow even further in the coming years.
DWJ Wealth Management
Based in Port Talbot, DWJ Wealth Management provides clients with informed and personalised financial advice. The business works to build strong, long-term relationships with clients - building a meaningful understanding of their finances to provide the best service possible. DWJ extends this duty of care to its employees as well - striving to build a working environment that is truly inclusive, and in which members of the team feel encouraged and supported.
Tech Company of the Year, sponsor by Morgan LaRoche
Veeqo
Swansea- based Veeqo, established by Matt Warren in 2013 has a global client base for its e-commerce tech platform that helps retailers, including Amazon, sync their inventory and fulfil customer orders. Its technology provides for the shipment of around 28 million orders a year with a value of more than £1bn..
Earlier this year the business was acquired by Amazon, which remains committed to maintaining the Swansea operation and in fact growing the operation.
Hexigone Inhibitors
Hexigone’s technology not only delivers superior protection of metal surfaces but offers a unique and sustainable way of tackling corrosion.
The inhibitors are available ‘on demand’ and respond to a corrosive attack when it occurs– allowing the coating to protect the metal underneath in a more intelligent way.
Last year the Port Talbot-based firm secured a six-figure investment to support its growth plans that included investors in the Development Bank of Wales and the UK Government’s Future Fund - which recently saw its debt converted into a small minority stake.
The Charging Hub
The Charging Hub is a Swansea-based business providing power on demand. The start-up is focused on becoming the leading provider of fast, portable, and efficient battery power to those who need it the most.
It works with public services and organisations to ensure they have the equipment they require to help those in need. Fast, portable charging facilities can offer a lifeline to the most vulnerable
Set up entrepreneur Robert Shannon the firm is looking at UK-wide expansion over the next 12 months.
Vortex IoT
Neath-based Vortex IoT is a business that develops and builds environmental sensors - designed to provide clients with detailed and comprehensive data.
With a particular focus on fighting air pollution, Vortex aims to help make cities greener and safer - and has expanded significantly in recent years. In particular, the business recently opened a new office space and moved to a new industrial facility - and is now capable of producing 100 air sensors per week.
Women in Construction, sponsored by Pennant Homes
Charlotte Hale
Charlotte Hale is the operations director of Neath-based SO Modular, a rapidly expanding timber frame manufacturer. The firm designs and manufactures innovative timber frame components for national homebuilders, contractors and housing associations across the UK. In 2019, it invested £6.5m in creating a sustainable and energy efficient 250,000sq ft facility by regenerating the iconic The Old Metal Box Factory in Neath.
Gemma Mineur
Gemma Mineur runs the Swansea Bay Construction Support Group, a collaboration of diverse contractors committed to providing cost-effective training and development opportunities. Every year, Gemma organises an awards evening to celebrate the achievements of apprentices in the industry and showcase the benefits of a career in the sector. Her event not only recognised hard work, but also raised more than £2,000 for local charity, Hands Up for Downs.
Kate Griffiths
Kate Griffiths is named the ‘wonder woman’ of Gavin Griffiths Group, showing dedication, determination and drive to support the growth of the business.
Her fantastic management style helps to support not only employees, but customers too. She will always find a solution, working around the clock to do so. Kate is also at the heart of many community projects but never chases glory for her incredible yet unseen work.
Young Business Person of the Year, sponsored by Gower College Swansea
Jack Lear
Jack is founder of Pembroke Dock-based Bodysocks, which has become one of the UK’s leading fancy dress supply ventures.
However, with the business hit by the pandemic, he demonstrated first class business initiative by diversifying his business interests with online ventures BargainFox.com, Jobalots.com and JLI Fulfilment under the umbrella of JLI Trading.
Jobalots.com focuses on the business-to-business sale of customer returned and liquidated goods, and JLI Fulfilment provides opportunities “to accelerate growth with a streamlined fulfilment solution”.
Lucy Hole
Lucy is a successful and ambitious cafe-restaurant entrepreneur based in Swansea.
Alongside her brother Ryan she is behind some of the city’s best eateries including The Secret Beach Bar & Kitchen on Swansea Bay’s seafront and The Optimist Bar & Kitchen in Uplands. She has also orchestrated a number of recent acquisitions.
Alex Coldea
Alex is chief executive and founder of Dill (trading name).
Romanian-born Alex is a computer science graduate of Swansea University, turned tech entrepreneur.
Dill’s tech allows students and staff to skip queues at university canteens. However, the start-up continues to build new software markets around catering automation - including a food safety, allergen and food labelling product in partnership with Brother, the hardware company. The Dill print platform enables clients to print product and allergen labels on-demand.
It has also started working with restaurants in London, bakeries, supermarkets and we’re about to launch now in a few major British chains.
Women in Tech/Digital, sponsored by Vortex IoT
Ruth Bowley
Ruth is scale-up and manufacturing manager with Port Talbot technology firm Hexigone Inhibitors.
Originally from Yorkshire she moved to Wales to study at Swansea University, before joining Hexigone in 2019.
Initially managing manufacturing and quality control, following a series of promotions she is now the firm’s scale-up and manufacturing manager.
She is responsible for managing the manufacturing process, making sure Hexigone is producing the right amount of its corrosion inhibitors. She then takes samples and runs quality control tests. Ruth is also responsible for R&D, corrosion tests using saltspray machine. She is currently working on a project to qualify new recycled raw materials.
Jade Lundie
Jade is head of design at Swansea tech firm Veeqo and was the first employee of the e-commerce selling platform venture nearly a decade ago - after graduating from University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
She is now a key part of Veeqo’s senior management running an effective team as head of design. She has been closely involved with the business, product strategy and processes as the company has scaled and gone through multiple funding rounds.
Her achievements include: Leading the end-to-end design process for the vast majority of product launches as the sole-designer for a number of years; acted as product manager/designer for a number of projects when resources were limited - and creating the first design system, Veeqo Kit
Stephanie Jones
Stephanie joined Llandeilo headquartered independent financial advisory firm Red Dot two years ago to fulfil a goal of the firm to create a bespoke education programme to help pupils and the wider community learn about all things financial.
Having enrolled for her masters and upskilled, Red Dot describe the learning education hub created by Stephanie as unique in its marketplace.
Start Up Company of the Year
Bayview Aluminium
Bayview Aluminium is a grassroots, family-run business which coordinates all aspects of aluminium glazing projects.
A conscientious specialist, the Swansea firm is constantly innovating and investing to add new ranges which can be tailored to specific customer needs. Launched four months before the pandemic, Bayview Aluminium has four full-time employees and has supported three apprentices, while growing a large 500-plus customer base which has high retention rates.
Diod
Diod is a coffee and wine shop based in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, providing a relaxing, quality food and wine experience. The renovated venue provides a spot to enjoy a meal which celebrates local produce and suppliers, as well as hosting themed evenings which bring people together.
The business complements the town’s heritage and culture, looking for ways to enhance Llandeilo businesses and provide customers a different experience for a social gathering.
The Charging Hub
The Charging Hub is an independent, Swansea-based business with the aim of providing power on demand. Entrepreneur Robert Shannon has developed several tech products which provide fast, portable and efficient battery power at any time.The products are integrated with innovative technology to stand out from competitors. Not only useful, The Charging Hub has been praised for its ‘Power Me Home’ campaign and providing vital safety to many.
The Swansea Bay Business Awards are also being supported by Bernie Davies Global, drinks sponsor and Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub, event sponsor.
For tickets and event information click here.
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