Town named as one of four hubs for business support
CARMARTHEN has been named as one of four hubs as part of the Welsh Government’s £4 million drive to support business entrepreneurs across Wales.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates has announced the town will join three other hubs in Newtown, Gaerwen on Anglesey and Caerphilly.
Business in Focus are contracted to deliver the hubs in Carmarthen and Newtown.
The social enterprise, which has been helping Welsh businesses to start and grow for more than three decades, brings together an exciting range of partners in each area to deliver an inspiring new support opportunity for entrepreneurs across both the Mid and South West Wales regions.
The hubs are funded by the Welsh Government with the support of European Regional Development Programme, and form part of the multi-millon pound investment across Wales.
The Carmarthen hub will be based in the Canolfan S4C Yr Egin building on the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) campus and will link in with Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke, The Beacon in Llanelli and Coleg Sir Gar.
The hub will provide individuals and companies with room to start and grow their businesses in a stimulating, welcoming community.
The Newtown hub will be based in the historic Pryce Jones building in Newtown town centre, enable participants from as far afield as Lampeter and Aberystwyth to benefit from it.
Jill Walters, business contracts manager at Business in Focus said: “It’s fantastic news for us to have secured this three year opportunity and adds further proof to our ability to deliver outstanding results in helping businesses on their journeys to grow and prosper.
“Securing these contracts was a collaborative effort with all of our partners In Mid Wales and South West Wales and we are very much looking forward to working closely with them.”
Gwilym Dyfri Jones, associate pro vice-chancellor at UWTSD said: “UWTSD is delighted to host one of the Welsh Government’s Enterprise Hubs at Yr Egin. It will enable the university to work closely with key partners to provide students and members of the community with the knowledge, skills and motivation to encourage entrepreneurial success. It will also allow the university to further its links with both the local and regional business communities.”
Tramshed Tech will be working with Business in Focus in both hubs providing technical and digital expertise. They will bring a vibrant tech edge to the new hubs and ensure that business support is innovative and agile, providing current and relevant advice to entrepreneurs and businesses in the community.
Mark John, chief operating officer of Tramshed Tech said: “We are looking forward to extending our reach into West Wales and Mid Wales and ensuring businesses are supported in both rural Wales and in the city centres. We are keen to engage with the community, cementing our partnership with Business in Focus and the hub partner teams.”
While the hubs in Carmarthen and Newtown will provide a central focus, the hub programme will engage with individuals and businesses in the counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys.
Satellite locations will host events and activities and enable local people to join the Hubs’ community.
Furthermore, Business in Focus is looking forward to engaging with the north and south east hubs to contribute to the visible and connected entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wales.