Business

BT boosts Welsh economy ‘by £575m’

Published

9 years ago

November 19, 2015

Tom Sinclair

BT Employee: One of 2950 BT employs in Wales

BT generated a massive £575 m for the Welsh economy in the past year – a £35 m increase on just two years ago, according to an independent report published on Wednesday (Nov 4).

The report, by Regeneris Consulting, also shows that the communications company supports 7,520 jobs in Wales through direct employment, it’s spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of employees.

In employment terms, BT’s impact in 2014-15 was larger than the country’s creative and media sector. Around £213 m was spent with local suppliers.

The overall beneficial financial impact of BT activities is expressed as a “Gross Value Added” (GVA)* contribution. For Wales the BT GVA totalled £575million – equivalent to £1 in every £90 of the total GVA for Wales.

Tim Fanning, associate director at Regeneris Consulting, said: “Our analysis confirms the sheer scale and reach of BT’s ongoing economic contribution to Wales and the UK as a whole.

“BT makes a contribution to every community across the UK. At the UK level, £1 in £80 of wealth created is attributable to BT – this is one of the single largest contributions to the UK economy by any firm.”

Alwen Williams, BT’s regional director for Wales, said: “There are few organisations in Wales that have a larger impact on the day-to-day life and future prospects of the country than BT.

“We are one of the largest private sector employers and investors in Wales – our investment in fibre broadband in Wales alone amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds – and the services that we provide are a vital part of every community.

“The facts and figures shown in this report highlight the full extent of BT’s contribution to the local economy as we go about the daily business of keeping people connected and introducing new technologies, which are creating fresh opportunities and transforming lives.

“Aside from the company’s activities, the report also draws attention to the positive ways BT people are contributing to the communities where they live and work, whether they are a volunteer for a worthy cause or a local shopper.”

‘Social Study 2015 – The Economic Impact of BT in the United Kingdom’ analyses the key role BT and its employees play in economic, business and community life across the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It highlights the positive contributions made by BT through the salaries and wages of employees and contractors, and the beneficial impact of its procurement and overall expenditure around the UK.

The report highlights that BT in Wales:

Is responsible for the employment of 2,950 people – 2,790 direct employees and 164 contractors – with a total employment income of £94 m;
Provides work for a further 4,570 people through BT’s spending with businesses that supply its equipment and services, and the spending of employees;
Committed more than £1 m to community, charity and voluntary programmes, spread around many regional communities in 2014/15;
Has enabled more than three-quarters – 77 % – of its employees to work flexibly.

BT is investing more than £3 billion in the roll-out of fibre broadband in the UK through its own commercial programme and by working with the Government and local authorities in broadband partnerships to extend next generation broadband even more widely – especially to more rural and remote communities.

In Wales, BT is the major private sector partner in Superfast Cymru. Through this partnership and the company’s commercial roll-out, BT has already made fibre broadband available to more than 1.2 million Welsh homes and businesses – and this number is continuing to grow rapidly.

The report also highlights how BT is consistently one of the country’s leading investors in innovation with spending on research and development in the 2014/15 financial year reaching £50 m. Among the latest developments, the company has started trials in Swansea of ultrafast G.fast broadband, which is already delivering download speeds up to 330 megabits per second (Mbps).

This new technology will be rolled out to 10 million UK homes and businesses by the end of 2020 and the majority of premises within a decade.

Volunteering is also a core element of BT’s strategy. Last year, BT people in Wales contributed 2,416 volunteering days to worthy causes, amounting to in-kind support of nearly £750,000. Across the UK, the figure is 50,500 days, worth more than £15 m.

In addition, MyDonate – BT’s commission-free online fund-raising service – has helped to raise more than £1m for charities across Wales.

Alwen Williams added: “It’s evident BT people throughout Wales really want to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work. Every day BT employees help millions of people to communicate, do business, be entertained and stay informed.”

UK-wide, BT’s total GVA contribution is assessed at £18 billion. The company supports 217,000 jobs directly and indirectly and last year spent £6.5 billion with UK-based suppliers. As a result of the full economic impact of BT, the firm supports £1 in every £80 of GVA in the UK economy and one in every 110 UK employees.

Business

Calls for urgent sale of Oakwood site amid trespasser fears

Published

19 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CONCERNS have been raised about trespassers entering the closed Oakwood theme park, prompting calls for a swift sale of the site.

The once-popular attraction near Narberth has become a hotspot for urban explorers and thrill-seekers, with social media videos emerging of people wandering around the abandoned rides and infrastructure.

Since Oakwood shut its gates last month, following a decision by Spanish owners Aspro Parks to cease operations due to falling visitor numbers, locals have raised concerns about safety and the risk of vandalism.

Sam Kurtz MS, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, said a speedy sale was now vital to prevent further deterioration and potential criminal activity.

“The longer it remains empty, the greater the risk of problems – from trespassing to the site falling into disrepair,” said Mr Kurtz. “There’s also a real risk to health and safety if people are entering unsupervised.”

Mr Kurtz called on Aspro to actively work with the Welsh Government, local businesses, and other stakeholders to secure a new future for the site.

“This is a valuable asset,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest from businesses already, and I urge Aspro to engage with us so we can get the ball rolling.”

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed they have received multiple reports of trespassing and possible criminal offences at the site since its closure.

The BBC have reported that Economics expert Professor Calvin Jones, of Cardiff University, was less optimistic about Oakwood’s chances of reopening as a theme park.

“If the existing operator – who’s invested tens of millions – can’t make it viable, it’s unlikely a new operator would be able to,” he said.

Instead, Prof Jones suggested the land might lend itself better to other recreational activities, such as adventure tourism, mountain biking, or zipline attractions, depending on what planning authorities allow.

“Ultimately, the future use of the site will come down to planning permission,” he said. “It may become something entirely different.”

Bluestone National Park Resort, which neighbours Oakwood and employs around 700 people, declined to comment on whether it would consider buying the land. Prof Jones noted that Bluestone has historically expanded cautiously and would likely only consider purchasing the site if the price was low.

The Welsh Government said that it “continues to engage” with Aspro Parks and recognised the former theme park’s importance to the local economy.

A spokesperson said: “We are hopeful a buyer will come forward to ensure this site can continue contributing to tourism in the area.”

Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed it has not yet held any discussions with Aspro.

Business

Pubs to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

Published

20 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extended hours to help nation mark milestone in Second World War history

PUBS across England and Wales will be allowed to serve until 1:00am to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the Prime Minister has announced.

The extension applies to the evening of Wednesday, May 8, allowing revellers to continue their celebrations into the early hours of Thursday, May 9.

A series of national events are planned to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe, including a military parade through central London, an RAF flypast, and the lighting of more than 2,500 beacons across the UK.

Late opening hours for pubs have previously been granted during major national occasions, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and England’s matches during the Euro 2024 semi-finals and final.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all.

“Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.”

The commemorations will begin on Monday, May 5, with Union Flags flying at the Cenotaph in London. A military procession will march from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, followed by an aerial display by the Royal Air Force. On May 8, the BBC will broadcast a celebratory event live from Horse Guards Parade.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, welcomed the decision. He said: “At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.”

Business

Greenlink energy link goes live, connecting Pembrokeshire to Ireland

Published

4 days ago

April 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Interconnector brings power boost and green energy potential to Wales and Ireland

A MAJOR new electricity interconnector linking Pembrokeshire and Ireland has gone live, with power now flowing between the two countries for the first time via the Greenlink project.

The 504-megawatt (MW) Greenlink Interconnector connects National Grid’s 400kV substation at Pembroke with EirGrid’s Great Island substation in County Wexford. The link spans 200km, including 160km of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable laid beneath the Irish Sea.

The interconnector is expected to improve energy security, increase grid resilience, and support the growth of renewable energy by allowing surplus electricity to be shared between Wales and Ireland.

Greenlink is one of the first privately funded energy infrastructure projects of its kind in Europe. It is owned by Greenlink Interconnector Limited and operated by EirGrid.

At the Welsh end of the link, National Grid carried out a series of upgrades to its Pembroke substation, including the installation of a new gas-insulated switchgear bay inside the existing air-insulated facility. The hybrid solution was designed to be space- and cost-efficient, and it uses a greener insulating gas instead of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), in line with National Grid’s target to halve SF6 emissions by 2030.

James O’Reilly, CEO of Greenlink Interconnector Limited, described the go-live as a “significant milestone.”

He said: “This is one of the first privately developed and funded energy projects between the UK and Ireland. By enabling the transfer of green energy across borders, Greenlink strengthens energy security, enhances sustainability, and fosters greater connectivity with the wider European market.”

John Twomey, Director of Customer Connections at National Grid, said connecting Greenlink to the network at Pembroke allows both countries to “benefit from that boost in capacity and resilience.”

He said: “As demands on our electricity grids evolve, interconnectors provide immense value by strengthening the security of electricity supplies and improving our collective ability to exploit renewable power produced across borders.”

The converter stations at each end of the interconnector transform electricity between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) for use on the respective national grids.

Michael Kelly, interim Chief Operations and Asset Management Officer at EirGrid, said the project was “a vital step forward in strengthening our shared commitment to energy resilience and security.”

He added: “EirGrid is leading the transition to a low carbon future by making Ireland’s grid renewable ready. This latest connection was made possible through collaboration with our UK colleagues and the Greenlink team.”

The interconnector is now fully operational, with electricity flowing across the Irish Sea in both directions.