Staff shortages, cyber threats and rising demand highlight urgent need for action

CARE providers in Pembrokeshire are being urged to strengthen their risk management practices as they face increasing operational and financial pressures.

Ansvar Insurance, a leading specialist in the care sector, has warned that without proactive steps, services across the county could struggle to cope with a combination of rising demand, regulatory complexity and evolving risks.

The call comes as new data from the Welsh Government reveals that 2,226 adults in Pembrokeshire were receiving care and support at the end of March 2024 — a 3.5% rise compared to the same time the previous year.

Meanwhile, the sector continues to grapple with a shortage of staff. Although vacancy rates in Wales have slightly improved — dropping from 9% in 2022 to around 6% in early 2025 — providers are bracing for further recruitment challenges as UK immigration changes restrict the hiring of overseas care workers.

David Eccles, Head of Distribution at Ansvar, said: “The care sector is facing both operational and financial challenges. While the new Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025 may bring benefits in the long term, care providers in Pembrokeshire need to take action now to manage the growing risks.”

Alongside staffing pressures, cyber security has become a major concern. With increasing reliance on digital systems, providers are more exposed to data breaches, which can carry significant financial and reputational damage. Across the UK, care providers who reported at least one cyber incident in the past three years faced average costs of £9,528 per breach.

Health and safety obligations, personal accident risk, public liability exposure, and complex compliance requirements also continue to stretch provider capacity.

Eccles added: “There’s no doubt that care providers across Pembrokeshire deliver vital support to the most vulnerable. But in today’s climate, they must review their risk management strategies, invest in staff development, enhance cyber protection, and ensure they have the right insurance cover in place to meet the specific needs of the sector.”

TWO of the UK’s leading finance professionals have been appointed as Non-Executive Directors of the Development Bank of Wales.

Annie Ropar, Chief Financial Officer of the UK’s National Wealth Fund, and Paul Oldham, a senior figure at equity investment firm BGF, will now help guide the bank’s future strategy.

The announcement comes as the Development Bank continues to expand its reach, with more than £2 billion in funds under management and over 3,600 Welsh businesses in its investment portfolio.

Broad experience in public and private sectors

Annie Ropar was among the founding staff of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, where she served as its first CFO and Chief Administrative Officer. Her earlier roles included senior finance positions at Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc. (now CBOE Canada), and a nine-year stint in capital markets at RBC, covering corporate finance, private equity, and institutional equity trading.

Paul Oldham, who joined BGF in 2011, helped establish and lead the company’s offices in Bristol, Cardiff and Reading. His career spans 16 years in private equity with 3i and LDC, and six years as a Partner at Grant Thornton, where he led the corporate finance advisory team in the South West and South Wales. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG.

Chair welcomes new appointments

The bank’s Chair, the Hon. Group Captain Sally Bridgeland, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Annie and Paul to the Board at such an exciting time for the Development Bank of Wales. With a growing influence across Welsh communities and a portfolio now exceeding £2 billion, our role has never been more important.

“We are a vital bridge between institutional investors and local enterprises, unlocking opportunities and driving public-private partnerships. Collaboration is at the heart of sustainable growth, and these appointments further strengthen our position as a trusted partner for businesses, investors, and communities.”

Supporting ambitious Welsh firms

Paul Oldham praised the bank’s reputation for delivering sustainable funding:
“The Development Bank is widely respected as the leading provider of effective finance for Welsh businesses. It uses taxpayer money responsibly, while enabling early-stage support for high-potential firms like Coincover and Space Forge to thrive globally.

“I look forward to helping shape funding decisions that support start-ups, expanding businesses and the communities they serve.”

Annie Ropar added: “The bank is a catalyst for local innovation, job creation, and regional economic balance. I saw the impact of this approach in Canada, and it’s now core to what we do at the UK’s National Wealth Fund.

“I’m excited to bring that experience to Wales and help increase the impact of private investment alongside public funding for the benefit of people across the country.”

Delivering for Wales

Owned by the Welsh Government, the Development Bank provides loans and equity to Welsh businesses, people, and communities. Since its creation in 2017, it has invested £959 million in SMEs and property developers, supporting wider government goals such as transitioning to a low-carbon economy and building new homes and commercial spaces.

In the 2024/25 financial year, £152 million in debt and equity was invested in 502 businesses, helping to create and safeguard 6,185 jobs across Wales.

A GLASS manufacturer based in Boncath, Pembrokeshire, is future-proofing its operations by purchasing new state-of-the-art machinery to boost productivity and efficiency, as it aims to double turnover in the next 12 months.

Derw Glass has invested in a new spacer machine which produces energy-efficient double-glazed windows by placing a special non-metal spacer between two panes of glass. The technology is helping the manufacturer deliver a product that offers customers better insulation for heat and noise. It is 950 times less conductive than a standard aluminium spacer, meaning around 80% less energy is lost through windows once installed in customers’ homes. It also significantly cuts down condensation.

Funded by a seven-figure investment from Lloyds, the machine is set to make the business’ production process faster and simpler, decreasing energy consumption by 10% a month. It will also reduce the need for human input, meaning staff can be upskilled in other areas of the company, such as in computer-aided manufacturing and in the business’ specials department – which produces bespoke products for customers.

The purchase is the latest in Derw Glass’ determined drive to upgrade machinery for maximum efficiency. For instance, the business recently bought a new tempering furnace for glass production, the most energy efficient glass furnace on the market, which uses intelligent technology to optimise results. And, just last year, the firm secured a £680,000 asset finance package from Lloyds to buy a glass and lam laser cutting machine that increased its production capability by more than 30%. 

The family-owned company was founded by husband-and-wife team Julian and Noela Palmer in 1991 and has since grown into one of the largest employers in the local Pembrokeshire manufacturing sector. During the past few years, the duo has continued to expand Derw Glass’ glass processing, decorative and double-glazing product offering across Wales and England.

Noela Palmer, director at Derw Glass, said: “Investment in Derw Glass’ manufacturing line has been non-stop over the past three years, but ultimately, we’re very proud to now be in a position where we’ve built a business that is primed for the future. And our full stock of cutting-edge machinery doesn’t just stand our production line in good stead for the next 20-years, it means our customers are getting products that are top-of-the range and allow them to make green improvements at home – a demand we’re increasingly seeing.

“This new machinery makes the spacing process much more efficient, which frees up resource so we can train our staff in a wide range of skills across the business, making their day-to-day work even more enriching.”

Adam Russell, Associate Director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Derw Glass is a brilliant example of a business that’s not only scaling up but doing so with a clear focus on sustainability and workforce development. This latest investment in cutting-edge machinery will help the team boost productivity, reduce energy use, and create opportunities to upskill staff – laying strong foundations for long-term growth. We’re proud to support their journey.”