Merthyr Tydfil Business Club Launch
NETWORK AIMS TO BOOST LOCAL ECONOMY
Companies throughout Merthyr Tydfil have joined forces to establish a dynamic new business club with the aim of boosting the local economy and bringing direct benefits to the town.
Set up with the support of the local authority, the Merthyr Tydfil Business Club will create an organisational network for local businesses, ensure the business community is involved with development opportunities in the town and support and promote local businesses, local procurement and supply chain opportunities.
Approximately fifty representatives from a range of sectors attended the launch event – which included digital media companies, tourism businesses, social enterprises, retail owners, construction companies, accountants and civil engineers.
Launching the new club today (Thursday June 25) Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration, said he was pleased to see so many local businesses united in their desire to help develop the Merthyr offer.
He said that government and business needed to work together and emphasised that the local authority, Merthyr Partnership and the Heads of the Valleys (HoV) programme wanted to hear from business of any opportunities they may identify that could benefit the town and take it to the next level.
The Assembly Government is already working with Merthyr Partnership to support town centre businesses develop a Business Improvement District he said and added that business support in the region had been transformed by the introduction of the Single Investment Fund for Business.
Since the launch of the Single Investment Fund in April last year he said nineteen offers of support – worth £15.6million - had been made to companies based in the Heads of the Valleys. The projects are expected to create 663 jobs and safeguard 580 jobs and lever in some £46.4million of capital investment.
He told businessmen that over the next five years around £17.5m would be invested in the regeneration of Merthyr Tydfil and Taff Bargoed through funding from the HoV and the European convergence programmes which would create a range of new opportunities.
Speaking on behalf of the Business Club, Robert Taylor of BTP Associates, said the new organisation was interested in working along the lines of Continental Trade Centres
These encourage businesses to work together, trade together and promoted local supply chains. The Club would also foster business development with a programme of speakers to benefit companies, particularly SMEs.
He said:“Working together can bring success where appropriate, if businesses share best practice and good ideas rather than compete against each other. It is particularly important in the current economic climate that we buy and supply locally so the benefits remain in the local economy.”
He said the Club would be keen to welcome businesses from other areas of the Heads of the Valleys.
Councillor Jeff Edwards MBE, Leader of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council said “It was good to see such a great and growing business representation at the official launch of the Merthyr Tydfil Business Club. The business club can provide a strong voice for local businesses and an invaluable networking opportunity, helping businesses collaborate to encourage a brighter economic future for the borough.”
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