Energetic and
WALES has a wealth of innovative and ambitious companies with great potential for growth.
So many are there that the problem when compiling a list like this is not so much how to find them, as how to choose which ones to feature.
We’ve chosen just eight – and although half are technology companies, we’ve also tried to feature some from other sectors as well.
Together they represent something of the vibrancy, energy and creativity to be found in Wales’ business community.
YARD
Yard is a technical marketing agency with an impressive national and international bluechip client base, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, British Gas and Deloitte.
It recently announced it is expanding its Cardiff office and doubling staff numbers, creating 37 new jobs over the next three years.
Incorporated in 2006 by cofounders Paul Newbury (CTO) and Stephan Briggs (CEO), Yard provides a range of digital services such as analytics, data and insight, search engine optimisation, web design and build.
Web analytics is its key specialism and the company has provided analytical solutions to over 100 companies across the UK and Europe, and created web products for Legal & General, British Gas and Sainsbury’s Bank among others.
WALES INTERACTIVE
Wales Interactive is a multiaward-winning indie video games developer.
As well as creating its own titles, it has evolved into an indie game publisher, collaborating with some of the most talented games developers across the globe to help bring their original creations to new platforms.
The Pencoed-based games developer and publisher secured the Most Innovative Product Award at the Wales Technology Awards for its internationally popular live-action video game, The Bunker.
Available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Mac, The Bunker amassed over 100,000 sales in its first months, making it one of the most popular independent games of 2016.
HILLTOP HONEY
Beekeeper Scott Davies started Newtown-based Hilltop Honey in his parents’ kitchen with a £5,000 overdraft in 2011.
Six years later, he is supplying honey, comb honey and bee pollen to major high street, online and international customers.
Hilltop Honey already exports honey products to China, Hong Kong, the United States of America, Pakistan, South Africa, Japan and across Europe, and recently won a trial order to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
However, its main customers are based in the UK, including supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
The fast-growing company, which expects to double turnover again this year, won a Golden Fork Award for its thyme honey, judged the best ambient food product at last year’s Great Taste Awards, the Oscars of the food world.
BOSS BREWING
One of the few female-led brewers in the UK, Swanseabased Boss Brewing recently won a contract to supply its craft beer to 40 Asda stores in England and Wales.