Business
Food and drink sustainability conference first of its kind in Wales
WALES’ first ever conference focusing on sustainability in the food and drink industry will be held on Wednesday 3 July 2024 at the All Nations Centre, Cardiff and will be open to all food and drink businesses and professionals in Wales.
The Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference, which is being delivered by the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster, in collaboration with the Food & Drink Wales Insight Programme, will help businesses improve their sustainability in areas that matter most to consumers.
Using an interactive mix of activities and networking opportunities, the event aims to increase business knowledge across market insights, consumer trends, and buyer Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The event will also demonstrate how Welsh Government is working to enhance the environmental performance of the food and drink industry and to highlight the successes of businesses in improving their sustainability.
The conference will also offer the opportunity to take part in the Carbon Reduction Plan Pilot Programme, designed to support business baseline their carbon emissions and develop actionable carbon reduction plans.
Mark Grant, Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster Lead, who is organising the conference, said: “We are thrilled to launch the first Sustainability Conference in Wales. We have many great speakers with extensive knowledge and experience in the industry joining us, so it promises to be a beneficial event for all food and drink businesses and professionals in Wales. It will be a great chance for the industry to come together at this unique event to discuss and tackle sustainability.”
Supporting and developing sustainable business practices across Wales’ agri-food industry is at the heart of the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster’s work. Launched in January 2020, it uses the triple helix approach of government, industry and academia working hand in hand to tackle common industry problems.
The Cluster has over 100 producer members, along with 60 government bodies, academic organisations and support organisations including Food Innovation Wales, AMRC Cymru, FareShare, Wrap Cymru, National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) and Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC).
Functioning as a central hub, the Cluster provides intelligence to businesses, becoming the eyes and ears of the industry, developing networks and industry expertise to help Wales become a world leader in sustainability.
The conference is bringing together experts, trade and policymakers to explore the latest consumer insight from Kantar, IGD and The Food People, whilst finding out why sustainability is important to food business and the trade more widely.
Guest speaker Fiona Powell, IGD Head of Sustainability said: “I am delighted to be a part of the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference where I will give an overview of how sustainable packaging is evolving, with some key insights on the current progress of environmental labelling in the UK. This will give the SME delegates insight as to what they can be planning for within their own businesses over the medium term.”
To register for the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainability-conference-2024-cynhadledd-cynaliadwyedd-2024-tickets-918660226467?aff=oddtdtcreator
Business
Bluestone National Park Resort pledges support to armed forces community
BLUESTONE National Park Resort has signed the Armed Forces Covenant to pledge its commitment to the UK Armed Forces as the country commemorates Armistice Day.
Bluestone, which employs several former armed forces personnel, marked Armistice Day on 11, with a commitment to reaching gold status on the covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families are treated fairly.
The Covenant aims to eliminate disadvantage and ensure that no member of the armed forces community faces discrimination in providing public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
Glenn Hewer, Head of Sales at Bluestone, is a former Royal Marine who volunteers with the Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines. He said: “More and more employees recognise the importance and significance that former armed personnel have and play in their communities and workplaces. The covenant is a commitment to them and a recognition of what they and their families have sacrificed for us.
“Additionally, ex-forces personnel make great employees in all walks of life. They are highly trained in a wide range of skills and bring many benefits to businesses. Providing an opportunity that allows them to further their careers outside the military is a great way of supporting them and their families.”
This commitment has also led Bluestone to join the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze award. The ERS encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. It encompasses bronze, silver, and gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate, or advocate support for defence and the armed forces community.
Marten Lewis, Director of Sustainability at Bluestone National Park Resort who is also a veteran of the Royal Engineers, said: “At Bluestone, we deeply value the contribution of the Armed Forces community to our country.
“We are proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrate our commitment to supporting them. We believe it’s important to recognise the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families and ensure they are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve. We are committed to attaining the Gold ERS as we build our relationship with the armed forces community.”
Craig Middle, Regional Employer Engagement Director at the Ministry of Defence, said: “We are delighted that Bluestone National Park Resort has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and is committed to supporting the Armed Forces community. This is a fantastic example of a business recognising the value that serving personnel, veterans and their families bring to the workplace and wider society.”
Marten added: “The Armed Forces Covenant is a living document, and Bluestone is committed to updating its pledge to reflect its ongoing support for the Armed Forces community.”
Business
Small business briefing hosted by Local MS
A BRIEFING event which considered how to best support small businesses in Wales has been hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies hosted the event in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, Economic Intelligence Wales and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. The theme of the event was ‘productivity’, given that Wales has had a persistent productivity gap with the UK as a whole and with other international competitor regions.
Mr Davies said, “It’s always a pleasure to help facilitate discussions on how we can support small businesses across Wales. 99.3% of businesses in Wales are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) and it’s important for us to explore the opportunities there are to boost SME growth.”
“Business-friendly policies are needed to address Wales’s persistent productivity gap, and we heard from the speakers today that more support is needed in areas like skills development, infrastructure enhancements and planning.”
“As I’ve said before, the Welsh Government has some significant economic levers, and it must now use those levers to create conditions for growth in Wales. We know that when small businesses thrive, they create jobs, spread prosperity and keep our communities vibrant and it’s crucial that governments at all levels do more to support our small businesses and enable them to grow.”
Business
Bristol Trader to temporarily serve menu at the Castle Hotel
The team of a popular riverside pub in Pembrokeshire, devastated by a recent fire, will relocate to a new town centre location while repair work is carried out on the original site.
On Wednesday, 6 November, a fire broke out at The Bristol Trader, situated on Haverfordwest’s riverside, causing significant damage to the building. The fire affected two floors of the pub as well as the roof space, forcing its closure. Smoke from the blaze was visible across the town as firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven worked for two hours to extinguish the flames.
Following the incident, the pub’s owners expressed their sadness, describing the team as “absolutely heartbroken” but determined to reopen and come back stronger. They extended their gratitude to the regulars, locals, friends, and family who have offered their support during this difficult time.
In the meantime, The Bristol Trader team will continue operating from an alternative venue. Beginning Monday, 18 November, the pub will relocate to the restaurant of the Castle Hotel, located on Haverfordwest Square, where they’ll serve the same menu.
“While repairs are being made to The Bristol Trader, Team Trader are being temporarily relocated to The Castle Hotel Restaurant from Monday the 18th of November,” announced the team in a social media post. “All our menus are attached to our Facebook page, and the phone lines are being redirected.”
Anyone with a booking at The Bristol Trader who hasn’t been in touch since the fire on 6 November is encouraged to contact the team at 01437 762122.
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