Business Connect Neath Port Talbot blog

Business Surgeries in Rural Areas

busconnect — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:41:55 +0000

Our Business Surgeries across the County are now underway with our team of Advisors meeting up with new and established businesses in a variety of locations. For example Alan Doyle is one of our experienced Advisors and he attends weekly Business Surgeries in Seven Sisters. Any local business or anyone who is considering self employment is encouraged to make an appointment for a Thursday afternoon to see Alan for free, confidential advice.

: Alan Doyle, Business Advisor

The Surgeries are held in the Dulais Valley Partnership centre in the Old Telephone Exchange in Brynhyfryd Terrace. Other Surgeries are being held across the region include in Margam, Ystalyfera and Glynneath. Other venues will be announced shortly. If you would prefer to see an Advisor at one of these local venues then please ask. For an appointment please ring our main office in Llandarcy on 01792 817575 or visit www.bcnpt.co.uk

Andrew Nisbet leaves Business Connect

busconnect — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:40:15 +0000

After 7 years Andrew Nisbet left Business Connect today to work for Energy & Power who are an independent technical management consultancy with offices around the world. Andrew has worked as an IT Advisor helping hundreds of local firms across Neath Port Talbot with computer issues. He has also undertaken many other responsibilites for Business Connect including ensuring that we meet the stringent requirements for Investors In People and ISO900. In addition he has presented IT talks on our monthly Start Up Course for many years.

Greg Kaminaris of Business Connect said,
“Andrew will be sorely missed and we thank him for all his help and support over the years. He has helped us all with a lot more than just our computer problems and we are very grateful to him.”

: Some of Business Connect’s team

(l-r) Jayne Lewis, Sarah Jones, Greg Kaminaris, Andrew Nisbet,
Bill Cuttiford, Joan Richards, Alan Doyle and Eryl Evans

Business Connect bids farewell to one of the team

busconnect — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:54:48 +0000

A lunch was held today for Amanda Morris Hughes who is leaving Business Connect. Amanda has worked as Administration Officer for over 8 years. She will be starting a new job next week as an IT Lecturer for Neath Port Talbot College.

Amanda with Greg Kaminaris of Business Connect

We would like to thank Amanda for all her work for Business Connect and wish her every success in her new role.

Wales Air Ambulance Charity Campaign

busconnect — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:45:41 +0000

Business Connect are support the Wales Air Ambulance’s “The £ Campaign” to help raise the funds to upgrade their helicopters. This upgrade is required by law and they need to upgrade 3 helicopters and to keep the service running at a cost of £4 million per year. Our Chairman Bob Palmer is also the Chairman of Wales Air Ambulance and he explained,
“This appeal is of vital importance if we are to sustain the excellent service we currently provide to the people of Wales. “

Swansea Air Ambulance

From Sept 22nd the charity is promoting a Bring a Pound to Work day. Business Connect’s three offices will be supporting this worthwhile campaign. We hope other companies will also get involved.

Port Talbot Office on the move

busconnect — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:07:14 +0000

Our Port Talbot office moved today from the Addison Road Workshops in Aberavon to Sandfields Young Business Centre in Purcell Avenue.

The Youth Enterprise team (Joan Richards and Eryl Evans) are now located in offices within the Centre near the main entrance. The Centre provides office and workshop accommodation for young people in the County who wish to set up in business. It is an ideal location for new businesses. Our Youth Enterprise team specialise in helping youngsters to start up in business and they also help them to grow and prosper. This service is provided free of charge and is available to anyone in Neath Port Talbot under the age of 31 years who is considering self employment or already self employed. For more information please ring Joan or Eryl on 01639 895173 or email Eryl on eevans@bcnpt.co.uk

For more information about Sandfields Young Business Centre please visit the Council’s website

Sandfields Young Business Centre

Farewell to one of the team

busconnect — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:16:15 +0000

Business Connect held a farewell lunch today for Leanne Daniel who has worked as a Business Advisor for nearly 8 years. Leanne has helped many companies over the years by writing business plans to secure funding. Earlier this year Leanne succeeded in passing her ACCA accountancy exams and she has now secured a new position with the Wales Audit Office in Swansea.

Greg Kaminaris with Leanne Daniel

Business Connect would like to thank Leanne for all her hard work over the years and to wish her every success in her new job. We would also like to congratulate her on her forthcoming wedding too!

Meetings rooms for hire

busconnect — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:05:49 +0000

We are now able to hire our meeting and conference rooms to local businesses and organisations for training, seminars, presentations and talks. The largest room is the Conference Room which is a refurbished former cinema. It has a large screen with seating for up to 30 in a horse-shoe arrangement as shown below. Other seating arrangements may be available.

Available for hire

The smaller room is our Board Room which seats up to 10 people. Both rooms have the latest audio visual projection equipment and flipcharts are also available. Tea and coffee is available at additional cost. Both rooms are located in our headoffice in Llandarcy which is situated close to the M4 at Neath. There is free car parking.

For details of room hire costs and availability please ring Business Connect on 01792 817575

Business Connect bids farewell to Advisor

busconnect — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:23:07 +0000

Yesterday Business Connect hosted a leaving lunch to bid farewell to David Edenborough who has worked for the organisation for six years as a Business Advisor. David joined Business Connect as a new graduate from Cardiff University in 2002. His work involved the preparation of business plans and he was also responsible for helping individuals who are starting up in business. Dave will shortly be starting work for Finance Wales who provide funding to Welsh businesses. Business Connect wish him every success in his future career.

Photo: Greg Kaminaris (left), General Manager at Business Connect with David Edenborough (right)

Assembly announces new Flexible Support for Businesses

busconnect — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:29:18 +0000

Today marks the start of the Welsh Assembly’s new programme of support for businesses in Wales. This programme is called Flexible Support for Businesses. A key part of this support is a single investment fund which will replace existing capital funding such as Regional Selective Assistance. This fund will have an initial pot of £92 million for investment into new and established companies in Wales. For more information regarding funding for Welsh businesses please ring Business Connect in Llandarcy on 01792 817575

More funding for Neath Port Talbot start ups

busconnect — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:51:45 +0000

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have announced further funding for new local start up businesses. There is now a £500 Start up grant available and there is also a Capital Grant available. If you are thinking of becoming self employed then you could be eligible for this funding to help you get started. Your new business would need to be based within the County of Neath Port Talbot or if you intend to work from home then you need to be a resident of the Borough. Business Connect can help you to apply for the funding.

Funding is very limited so if you are interested please contact Business Connect as soon as possible on 01792 817575 or 01639 895173.

Business Connect also offer a wide range of business support to anyone who is thinking of starting in business. You can have confidential 1-2-1 support with Advisors on matters such as writing a business plan, sourcing funding, cash flows, employing staff, finding customers and contracts, sourcing suppliers, marketing, using computers & IT, websites and retailing. We also run a popular 4 day Start Up course for anyone who is interested in self employment and wants to find out more about what is involved. All of our services are free of charge and completely confidential with no obligation to proceed if you decide that self employment is not for you. Visit www.bcnpt.co.uk for details.