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Carmarthen-based accountants Clay Shaw Butler have recruited an expert to help local business owners fight the recession.
Nigel Roberts, the former head of HSBCs commercial banking arm in West Wales, has joined Clay Shaw Butler in the role of finance and bankingspecialist.
Mr Roberts, who has more than 34 years of banking and funding experience, will be based at Clay Shaw Butlers offices in Carmarthen.
His role will see him providing banking and commercial advice to local businesses. He can act as a business adviser for those thatwould like their own Dragons Den type mentor.
Mr Roberts will be able to help local businesses source and get access to funding to help them grow.
In addition to the consultancy service, Mr Roberts will be working with Clay Shaw Butlers dynamic and energetic team of qualifiedaccountants to provide business plans, cashflow forecasts and managementaccounts.
David Butler, Managing Director at Clay Shaw Butler, said: Nigel will help the practice to continue to expand and provide specialist banking advice and support to ourclients. He is also happy to work with non-Clay Shaw Butler clients who dontwant to move from their existing advisor, but are unable to source ad-hocspecialist advice.
Nigel is a great addition to our enthusiastic qualified team, and working with themhe will enable us to further develop our reputation of proactively meeting thedemanding needs of todays businesses.
Mr Roberts is a well-known figure in Carmarthen sporting circles.
He was a keen cricketer. He is currently the secretary to the Carmarthen Wanderers Cricket Club. He is a former secretary to theCarmarthen Athletic Rugby Football Club.
Mr Roberts and the team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500 or through the website at www.clayshawbutler.com
Some people move to the seaside to put their feet up and relax. Chartered Accountants and Business Consultants Clay Shaw Butler havemoved to Porthcawl for very different reasons.
Porthcawl is a magical place with plenty of businesses eager to show it is a vibrant place to live and work 365 days of the year,said Clay Shaw Butler director David Butler.
Porthcawl is a place full of enterprise and get-up-and-go businesspeople. We want to be a part of that enthusiastic atmosphere.
With that in mind, Clay Shaw Butler (already firmly established as one of the leading accountancy and consultancy businesses inWest Wales) opened a new office at The Dunes Business Centre, Porthcawl, in October.
Mr Butler said: We have felt for some time that businesses in Porthcawl were not receiving the proactive and supportive service theydeserve. Hopefully, our new office will enable them to receive the advice andhelp they need to progress and succeed.
The key player in representing Clay Shaw Butler in Porthcawl is Ann Thomas, the leading Consultant at Clay Shaw Butler.
Miss Thomas said: We aim to fill a gap in Porthcawl as we believe our clients accountancy needs are best serviced by a local, personaland professional team.
She added: We are also planning to have something of an open evening at our new Porthcawl office. Getting to know our clients (old andnew) is of great importance to us here at Clay Shaw Butler.
Miss Thomas has been with the firm since November 2001, when she joined as small business supervisor.
She qualified as a Certified Accountant in 2003, gaining her Chartered Accountant status in 2008. While at Clay Shaw Butler, she has beenpromoted through the ranks, achieving the leading Consultant role at the end of2009.
She manages a sizeable portfolio of clients thanks to the excellent support of a team of qualified Relationship Accountants. Her clientsare assured of a dynamic, proactive and efficient service.
She has vast experience in many fields of accountancy, audit, taxation and management consultancy, but the areas she enjoys most arethe provision of Sage services and training and business development.
Our Porthcawl office is a really exciting proposition, said Miss Thomas.
You can contact the Porthcawl office on 01656 783674. Address: The Dunes Business Centre, 267 New Road, Porthcawl, CF36 5BG
The Claw Shaw Butler website is at - http://www.clayshawbutler.com
Leading West Wales chartered accountants and business consultants Clay Shaw Butler have welcomed the start of GlobalEntrepreneurship Week a campaign which puts the focus on job creation.
The slogan, Its time to make a job, not take a job, should make us all sit up and think, said Clay Shaw Butler directorDavid Butler.
It is in hard economic times such as now that our fighting spirit and entrepreneurial flair needs to come to the fore.
Its a time when we can all help each other and one of the ways of doing that is by being innovative and helping to launch theentrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Mr Butler said he was hugely encouraged by the entrepreneurial spirit in West Wales and Wales as a whole.
He said more needed to be done to get young people to focus on the reality If jobs are not readily available, then young peopleneed to have the courage to take their ideas into the world of business andmake them work, he said.
For that to work, it is crucial for the Government to give young businesspeople the fullest support. It is also crucial that theyget excellent support and much-needed advice from firms such as ourselves inthe private sector.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is being backed by Enterprise UK.
New research commissioned to mark the launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week finds that entrepreneurship in the UK suffersfrom:
AN AMBITION GAP - Over 50% of thepopulation want to start a business but only 5.8% are in the actual process ofstarting a business. To put this into global context, the rate of thosestarting a business in the US is 8 percent, Brazil 15 percent and in China 19percent.
A DEMOGRAPHIC GAP - An increase inself-employment rates of just 1% (fewer than 300,000 entrepreneurs), wouldboost the UKs GDP by around 1.5% and add approximately 22bn to the UKeconomy.
A SKILLS GAP - Enterprise educationdoubles your chances of business success but despite the fact four millionlearners are going through further education each year, and many more throughschools and colleges enterprise is still not a staple of the educationsystem.
Additional research commissioned found that entrepreneurs are ready to find solutions to these challenges. A YouGov poll of1,046 entrepreneurs across the UK shows that they believe that a new entrepreneurialculture will lead the nations economic recovery.
TV Dragon Peter Jones, Chairman of Enterprise UK said: It is no good encouraging people to start a business when they have noidea about how to go about it. To makethe UK the leading entrepreneurial nation we need to back our entrepreneurs byinvesting in enterprise education and by celebrating the role thatentrepreneurs play in creating a dynamic and growing economy.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: Global Entrepreneurship Week is a fantastic opportunity for us to inspire theinnovators and entrepreneurs in our country.
The future of our economy depends on a new generation of entrepreneurs coming up with ideas, resolving to make them areality and having the vision to create wealth and jobs. But to make it happenwe need a culture change in Britain an injection of self-belief and dynamismto convince those who are dreaming about making it big to get out there and doit.
Thats why the government is doing everything possible to encourage entrepreneurs who are starting out from simplifyingtaxes to providing access to mentors and thats why I wish GlobalEntrepreneurship Week every success.
You can contact Clay Shaw Butler on 01267 228 500. Address 24 Lammas Street, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 3AL
Email info@clayshawbutler.com
The Claw Shaw Butler website is at - http://www.clayshawbutler.com
Carmarthens new St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre will be the major sponsor for the 30th annual Mayors Fun Run.
The centre signed up to back the race series this week.
Mike Pugh, the manager of the St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre, said he was delighted to team up with the organisers of the Carmarthen Mayors Fun Run and races.
It is always our aim here at the St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre to play as active a role as possible in the community and commercial life of Carmarthen, said Mr Pugh.
The Mayors fun run races have a great reputation and our cash injection as major sponsors should ensure that the 30th annual races are very memorable.
The race date is being moved next year from the traditional Easter weekend to the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday, May 2.
Mr Pugh added: It is in the interests of all traders and businesses in the town, not just St Catherines Walk, that we see as many people as possible visit Carmarthen on race day.
We want people to appreciate that Carmarthen is now a destination town for restaurants, entertainment and shopping with a whole host of different attractions.
The annual Carmarthen Mayors Fun Run helps to put the town on the map and anything we can do as a shopping centre to raise the profile of the town has to be a good thing.
Mr Pugh, who is an enthusiastic road and fell runner, said he was delighted to report that St Catherines Walk was already a huge hit with customers.
Shops and restaurants at the 74 million St Catherine's Walk are among the best performing in the country.
The centre has attracted more than 150,000 visitors every week since it opened
It also hit 180,000 on a number of occasions.
Race organiser Noelwyn Daniel said he was delighted to be able to name St Catherines Walk as the major sponsors for the Mayors Fun Run.
Mr Daniel added: We have been hugely encouraged by the support of the team at St Catherines Walk and we are hopeful that this 30th annual race will be the start of a new era for the event.
Entry forms will be published in the Carmarthen Journal in the new year.
Mr Daniel said changes to the race format and route would be announced over the next few weeks.
The 2010 races raised cash for four Carmarthen charities and organisations - 500 each for Awaydays, Womens Refuge, Bi-Polar Organisation and Towy Salmon Swimming Club.
Details of the 2011 charities will be released in the next few weeks.
Welsh Assembly member Rhodri Glyn Thomas showed his support for British Pub Week by popping into a local pub in his constituency for a swift half.
Mr Thomas, AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, joined Llandeilo brewer Simon Buckley at the White Horse Inn, Llandeilo, to toast British Pub Week.
Mr Thomas said he was delighted to support the initiative.
The pub is very often the hub of the local community and it is a cherished part of our way of life.
In times of recession when many rural pubs are under threat it is good to have an initiative such as British Pub Week to put the spotlight on our local hostelries.
Mr Buckley added: Who doesn't love pubs? They are without doubt the finest and most unique of our great British institutions. No other can match the pub for its historical, cultural and social importance.
We must protect our pubs, celebrate them and ensure they can continue to thrive. This is the sole aim of British Pub Week and I would urge everyone to get behind the initiative by getting behind your local!
Pictured, left to right, Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, White Horse Inn manager Dan Taylor and Simon Buckley, chief executive of the Evan-Evans Brewery.
Picture: Robert Lloyd
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen . . . maroon blazers, more than 60 very careful users and theyre all going for a song!
Cor Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Voice Choir) members are making a massive wardrobe change.
And they are looking for a home for their old blazers.
We are making changes to our uniform, choir secretary Fred Elias said.
The maroon blazers have served us well over the years, but it is time for a change. So they are on their way out of our wardrobe.
The blazers, which bear the choir crest, are still in good condition, however, and it seems a shame to see them going to the bin or recycling centre
So we wondered whether there were any other groups or organisations out there who might be able to make good use of them?
In total, we have more than 60 blazers and they still have plenty of years use left in them.
They do, of course, come in varying sizes from the smallest first tenor to the biggest second bass!
We are quite happy to give them free of charge to a good home, so anyone interested in taking them off our hands should give us a ring.
Mr Elias added, We had thought of putting them on ebay, but we are keen that local organisations get the first chance of picking up the jackets.
Sadly, we cannot guarantee that wearing the blazers will automatically turn you into a top class first tenor, joked Mr Elias.
If you are interested in the blazers, then please contact choir secretary Fred Elias on Llanelli (01554) 741027.
Meanwhile, Mr Elias also made a call for young men to join the choir, which travels throughout the world.
"Don't think a male voice choir is just a bunch of old guys having a sing-song. We thoroughly enjoy our singing. It takes us to places all over UK and the world," he said.
"The social side of the choir is great fun. The sense of friendship and fellowship you get in a male voice choir cannot be beaten anywhere.
"So, our message to the young men of Llanelli is, please don't be shy. Pop along to a rehearsal at Furnace Community Hall (7pm on Mondays and Thursdays) to see what we are all about.
"Being a member of a choir as prestigious as Cr Meibion Llanelli is a great life experience."
Anyone interested in the blazers, or joining the choir, should contact choir secretary Fred Elias on Llanelli 01554 741027.
Former champion boxer Robert Dickie, who won Scottish and British featherweight titles and went on to become a World Super Featherweight champion, suffered a suspected heart attack at his home in Llanelli last week.
He was just 46 years old. The funeral takes place on Monday
Story from Llanelli Star -
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Sad-passing-true-character/article-2827277-detail/article.html
Here is the tribute I gave to the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star -
Former Carmarthen Journal andLlanelli Star editor Robert Lloyd said: I was lucky enough to be the boxing correspondent of the South Wales Evening Post during the latter part of Robert Dickies career.
He was, without a doubt, one of the most talented boxers Wales has produced.
In the Top 10 in the world at his peak, he was a class act in the ring. If he had a flaw, it was that he lacked the ruthless ambition needed to challenge for a world title.
For most Dickie fans, though, that lack of ambition was part of the charm of the man. He had a take it or leave it attitude to boxing.
On one occasion, when Dickie had gone off the radar during training, I was asked by his Swansea-based trainer Colin Breen to search West Wales for the boxer. Dickie was found, but he came back to the training ring in his own time.
In recent years, our meetings were mostly in charity dinners, social events, or shopping in Llanelli town centre.
He was hugely proud of his family, always had a smile and was always keen to recall trips boxing venues such as the Star Leisure Centre in Splott, Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre and the Kings Hall in Stoke.
When I saw him earlier this summer, he was recovering after an eye operation. But he was his usual happy self and firmly focussed on the future. Local hero, a true character, family man, world-class boxer there are many epitaphs to use when referring to the tragic loss of Robert Dickie.
Its been quite a year for Carmarthen Town AFC, with plenty of changes in the backroom to go with a new-look team on the pitch.
The most notable of those changes has seen club stalwart Jeff Thomas retire from his stint as chairman.
Jeff has now also moved off the executive committee, but has pledged to continue some of the fund-raising work which proved so crucial during his 14 years as chairman.
His achievements in the chair are notable
- Welsh Cup: three Welsh Cup Finals, winning once
- League Cup Final twice winning once
- Consistently finishing in top six of League
- 10 European Cup appearances.
- Ground brought up to UEFA European standard with European games held at Richmond Park. Capacity of 2,500 including 1056 seats in their Grandstand
- State of the art Community Centre, completed at a cost of 400K incorporating Social Club, Match Hospitality Suites with conference facilities and meeting rooms available for hire.
- An innovative Carmarthen Town community programme backed by EMC Electrical Services and the ever-supportive Neil Alexander.
- A debt-free club, with a high level of credibility within Welsh football and the local community.
The chairmans role is now held by club secretary Gareth (GO) Jones.
And there will be further changes in the backroom when an extraordinary general meeting is held in the near future.
The purpose of this meeting will be to appoint two new club officials. The two posts are: President and Assistant Secretary.
Carmarthen Town executive committee vice chairman Robert Lloyd explained: Anthony Jenkins, who is well known throughout Carmarthen, has decided to stand down as club president. He has made a huge contribution to the success of Carmarthen Town and he will be greatly missed.
A busy solicitor, former Mayor of Carmarthen and Under Sheriff for Dyfed, Anthony leads a very hectic life and we will be ever-grateful for the contribution he has made in giving up his valuable time to support Carmarthen Town.
We will now seek nominations for a worthy successor to Anthony Jenkins as club president.
As we move into a new era, it is also important to recognise the workload placed on current chairman Gareth Jones and, with that in mind, we are also looking for an assistant secretary.
The date of the extraordinary meeting will be decided at the next Executive Committee.
Nominations should be in writing, with a proposer and seconder, and presented to the Secretary/Chairman. The meeting is open to Gold Members, Vice Presidents and season ticket holders.
If you wish to post your nomination, then please send to Gareth Jones,3 Meysydd y Coleg, Caerfyrddin, SA31 3GR
Carmarthen Town AFC fixtures for November 2010
Saturday, November 6 away at Goytre United, Welsh Cup Round Three, kick-off 2pm
Friday, November 12 - home to Port Talbot Town, 7.30pm.
Saturday, November 20 away at Bangor City, 2.30pm.
Saturday, November 27 home to The New Saints, 2.30pm.
For the match against Goytre, the bus for Glanhafod Park will leave the clubhouse at 11.30am. Contact Anthony Parnell for details 07989448629
The new clubhouse facilities at Richmond Park are proving very popular with community groups in and around Carmarthen.
We already have Slimming World, painting classes and knitting classes making use of the new facilities here at Richmond Park, said executive committee member Jeff Thomas.
The premises are fully air-conditioned and can seat 150 in comfort. There are extra meeting rooms and conference facilities. And a fully licensed bar!
If anyone is interested in hiring the clubhouse or any of the meeting rooms, then can ring the following
Steve Adams, 01646 651367, Mark Hannington, 07929 509539, Jeff Thomas, 07813 697774
