News Page

Sleeperz Hotels secures £7m investment thanks to Cardiff success
Innovative budget hotels business Sleeperz has secured a major £7m investment to fund future growth in the UK – thanks to the success of its first hotel built in Cardiff. Just 18 months after opening the first in a new generation of compact lifestyle hotels – in the Welsh capital – Sleeperz has succeeded in raising funding to build a second hotel, in Newcastle, and earmarked five further sites for development.

Cardiff Airport up for top industry award
Cardiff Airport has been nominated for one of the travel industry’s most prestigious awards. The airport has been shortlisted for the Airport of the Year prize in the TTG Travel Awards, run by the industry’s leading trade newspaper, Travel Trade Gazette.

Jana Bennett says “we will see more of the UK’s nations and regions on the BBC”
Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision, today outlined plans to see more of the UK’s communities, cultures, and landscapes on the BBC’s network programmes.

Cardiff - A Viable Alternative to London
Cardiff featured prominently in July’s edition of the Financial Times’ Banker Magazine which looked at financial centres in the UK that were positioning themselves as viable alternatives to London.

Cardiff Corporate Champions merge to make a big splash!
Two of Cardiff and Co’s Corporate Champions are to merge to create a £3.5m plus organisation that will offer a unique and comprehensive range of bilingual creative communications services to Wales and the world.

Stem Cell Research amongst greatest discoveries by UK academics
Professor Sir Martin Evans’ identification of embryonic stem cells has been listed in a poll of the most important scientific discoveries made at UK universities.

Property Awards Success for city firms
A number of Cardiff & Co’s investors and Ambassadors swept the board at the Insider Wales Property Awards in Cardiff last night. Leading the way was John Smart of property developers JR Smart who won Property Personality of the Year after he speculatively built and let his Capital Link property to Peacocks.

FTs Banker Magazine to focus on Cardiff
Cardiff & Co recently convened a roundtable discussion in partnership with the Financial Times’ Banker Magazine for a forthcoming feature on the success of the city’s financial services sector.

Cardiff University commitment to beating Wales’ big problems
Cardiff University is launching three new Research Institutes to tackle issues which present a growing threat to Wales’ society and economy - cancer, sustainability, and mental illness. Each problem, if left unchecked, will do increasing damage to Welsh quality of life and put further strain on public spending.

KPMG signs on the line at 3 Assembly Square
KPMG has signed on the line to move its Cardiff office to Cardiff Waterside’s flagship 3 Assembly Square building. The professional advisory firm is taking circa 9,500 sq ft on a fifteen year lease in the Aviva Investor owned building on Cardiff Bay’s Britannia Quay. The firm’s 100 employees will move into the 66,215 sq ft waterfront building from their current location in Fitzalan Court off Newport Road in August.

DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION APPOINTED FOR CARDIFF'S MEDICAL INCUBATOR - CARDIFF MEDICENTRE
Dr Mark Bowman has been appointed as the new Director of Innovation for Cardiff Medicentre. Located on the University of Wales Hospital site, Cardiff Medicentre is a bio-medical business incubator that aims to develop businesses which benefit from the hospital location.

Experts line-up for World Cup
Wales is set play an important role at every match in the World Cup after an innovative product devised by experts from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) has been selected to take to the pitch at the tournament.

Cardiff University achieves Carbon Trust Standard
Cardiff University has become the first higher education institution in Wales to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, in recognition of its work, results and ongoing commitment to reduce its carbon emissions.

London Welsh RFC Launches Business Club on ‘Home Soil’
London Welsh RFC, together with 10 Welsh-based businesses, launched its official Business Club at the Village Hotel in Cardiff(18 May)in a bid to raise the club’s profile amongst the business community in Wales.

UWIC tops the table in Wales as best new uni
THE University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) has featured strongly in an essential national rankings guide, being named as one of the UK’s top new universities whilst managing to retain its position as top new university in Wales.

Cardiff Waterside sign up as Corporate Champions
Cardiff Waterside has become the latest organisation to sign up with Cardiff & Co as Corporate Champions – recognising the benefits of working in partnership with the organisation charged with promoting the city.

UK Competitive Index predicts a bright future for Cardiff
Cardiff will remain one of the stronger performing cities in the UK over the next decade according to the bi-annual UK Competitive Index produced by Professor Robert Huggins and Dr Piers Thompson, Cardiff School of Management, UWIC.

Bill Savage reappointed to lead city marketing body
Cardiff & Co has confirmed the re-appointment of Bill Savage as its Chairman for a further 2 years, effective from 5 March. The appointment was approved by the company’s board following consultation with the company’s shareholders, including the core investor,Cardiff Council.

Wyndham Hotels to open flagship hotel in Wales
Wyndham Hotel Group and Bayscape Ltd, a development company based in Cardiff, have announced the signing of a 25‐year hotel management agreement for the new ‘Wyndham Cardiff’ ‐ a £60 million upscale hotel project that will be built on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay.

Chocks away to the USA
Cardiff and Wales become even more connected to the US this weekend as seats become available on the new Aer Lingus flights from Cardiff to Dublin with faster, easier onward connections to the USA including New York (JFK), Boston, Chicago and Orlando.

Standard bearer calls for greater exploitation of Cardiff economic zone
Cardiff is a tremendous success story that should be exploited much more by the wider city-region according to the former head of Standard Chartered, Lord Davies of Abersoch.

Celebrating St David’s Day in London
Cardiff & Co were the proud sponsors of the reception at the annual St David’s Day Dinner in London at the Guildhall. Distinguished speakers included, The Mayor of London, The Right Honourable Boris Johnson, Lord Elystan Morgan, Andrew Gulliford, President Helical Bar and Mike Slade, CEO Helical Bar.

Specialist Models take one giant step for Cardiff
A successful Cardiff firm best known for creating giant models has teamed up with Cardiff & Co to promote the city. The company, Specialist Models anticipate that the partnership will also help to further increase their profile both in the UK and further afield.

Admiral exceeds £1 billion turnover
Admiral Group, the FTSE 100 company - headquartered in Cardiff, has exceeded a £1 billion turnover for the first time in its history delivering yet another set of record profits and paying record dividends

French fans flock through the airport
Cardiff Airport is gearing up to welcome approximately 6,500 French rugby fans through its doors from Thursday to Sunday in preparation for the big game on Friday, 26 February.

Admiral Group plc launches a price comparison website in Italy
Admiral Group is pleased to announce that its price comparison website in Italy trading as Chiarezza.it (meaning ‘clarity’) has launched from its offices, based in Milan.

What the Papers say
Positive developments in Cardiff certainly caught the attention of the UK’s broadsheets in 2009, with the Guardian bringing the year to a close with a feature on the city’s rising status as a filming location.

Cardiff University student in Wales 6 nations starting line-up
A Cardiff University medical student will play centre for Wales in rugby’s RBS Six Nations tournament. Jamie Roberts is in the fourth year of his medicine degree at the School of Medicine but has put his studies on hold after being named in the Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland's starting line up.

Cardiff Whitewater centre - corporate team building with a difference!
Cardiff International White Water at the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay, is surrounded by a series of other sports facilities, such as the International Pool and Ice Rink. Conveniently positioned on the Bay walkway, you will be able to visit the site during opening times and see the action before you try!

Fly Cardiff to New York and save over four hours
A new connection aimed at the South Wales market will make travelling from Cardiff Airport to New York’s JFK Airport 4 ½ hours quicker than doing so from Heathrow.

Fusion IP reveals new Cardiff University spin-out
Intellectual Property commercialisation specialist Fusion IP (AIM: FIP) has announced a new start-up medical devices company, Asalus Medical Instruments Ltd. Asalus is a new spin-out company, resulting from Fusion's partnership with Cardiff University. Asalus is developing three devices that will improve the safety and efficiency of laparoscopic surgery, the company said.

The President’s Research Scholarships at Cardiff University
A new multi-million pound package of postgraduate scholarships designed to tackle some of the key climate, engineering, social and medical research challenges and attract the most talented postgraduate research students to the University have been unveiled. The President's Research Scholarship fund is a new £4M investment set up to coincide with the inauguration of Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans as the University’s new President.

Cardiff airport announces £5m re-design plans for terminal
Cardiff Airport has revealed plans to develop its terminal building. The £5m redesign, part of the airport's wider £15m investment strategy, has reached the planning stage and work could start later this year. Plans have been drawn up to extend the front of the terminal, link the arrivals and departures halls, and provide new food and retail services.

BBC Drama Centre - new home for Dr Who and Casualty in the heart of Cardiff Bay
Plans have been unveiled by BBC Wales to build a new TV production centre to house dramas such as Doctor Who and Casualty. The broadcaster said work at a site in Roath Basin in Cardiff Bay could start within the next six months. Its director Menna Richards said the centre would bring together a range of different dramas. The BBC confirmed last year that the filming of Casualty would switch from Bristol to Cardiff. The drama centre plan is part of the BBC's commitment to double television network production from Wales by 2016.

CENTRE FOR CITIES RANKS CARDIFF AS 5TH OUT OF 64 CITIES FOR HIGH LEVEL SKILLS & 4TH FOR PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS GROWTH
Cardiff has scored well in important categories in the the Centre for Cities ‘Outlook 2010’. ‘Cities Outlook’ - the annual economic index - ranks the economic performance of 64 of the UK's largest cities and towns for the survey.

New Campus Proposal for Cardiff University
The University has lodged plans for its proposed new campus development to give academics the space and facilities to tackle some of the world’s most important research issues. The masterplan application, outlining the proposed development of University-owned land next to Maindy Road, has just been submitted to Cardiff Council for determination.

£190k Investment in Cardiff University spin-out Medaphor
Fusion IP (AIM: FIP), the Cardiff university commercialisation company which turns university research into business, is pleased to announce that Medaphor, which has developed an advanced ultrasound training tool, has raised £190,000, including £75,000 each from Fusion and Finance Wales. Medaphor is developing a “virtual reality” ultrasound training device, called ScanTrainerTM, which combines high quality ultrasound images with world-class computer-based feedback and training. The product, which eliminates the current ultrasound training constraints of limited equipment, trainers and volunteers, can be applied to a number of different therapeutic areas.

Investment in Computing Excellence
A new £44m High Performance Computing (HPC) institute for Wales has been announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). HPC Wales, which will be delivered by Cardiff and Swansea Universities, will be funded by £10m from BIS’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), together with contributions from European funds, Higher Education in Wales and the private sector. The HPC institute will be based in two hubs at Cardiff and Swansea Universities, with additional centres at Aberystwyth, Bangor and Glamorgan universities. It will provide companies with access to supercomputing resources, and is expected to create more than 400 new jobs.

Cardiff digital incubator is first to get international award
A technology-based incubator in Cardiff has won an international award. The @Wales innovation centre for digital companies has been awarded the best science-based incubator 2009 award by Science Alliance at its conference in Sweden.

MSS GROUP ENTERS SUNDAY TIMES VIRGIN FAST TRACK 100
Cardiff based MSS Group has achieved a place in the 2009 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100. The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain's 100 fastest-growing private companies, based on sales growth over 3 years. MSS Group was founded by directors Bill Mayne (chief executive), Jonathan Jones, Jamie Davies and Robert Little in 2005, with its services ranging from industrial cleaning to asbestos testing in school and hospitals. For its financial year to the end of March, it posted sales of £7.36m – having grown on average 63% from 2006 when it reported revenues of £1.7m.

Cardiff Rises to 6th in Retail Centre Rankings
Cardiff has moved up from 10th to 6th position in the UK’s Retail Centre Rankings in the latest report published by Experian.

Cardiff University participate in Climate Change Research
Experts from across Cardiff University are part of a Wales-wide consortium to study the impact of climate change and considerably enhance the climate science profile of Wales.

City marketing company welcomes new partnership
The establishment of a new body as the voice of major employers in Cardiff was welcomed today by Cardiff & Co, the company tasked with promoting Wales’ capital city-region to the world. The company believes that a strong voice for major employers in the city will help shape the city’s development over the coming 20 years which, in turn, will help ensure that the city is more marketable to potential investors.

Is the world really flat? Lecture by Professor Rob Huggins, UWIC School of Management, Cardiff
Every company and individual, it is argued, can be a global economic player no matter where on earth they are located. In a flat world, the argument goes, ‘you can innovate without having to emigrate’. So, has the world really become that flat?

Conduit UK doubles its Welsh workforce over the past 12 months
High performers can defy recession says fast-growing outsource operator. One of Britain’s leading outsource call centre operators which has recruited around 1,000 workers in Wales since the start of the economic downturn, says it believes high-performing firms can defy the recession and continue growing by making a major difference to their clients’ businesses.

M&A Solicitors to lay down the law as first tenant at 3 Assembly Square
M&A Solicitors has become the first tenant at Cardiff Waterside’s flagship 3 Assembly Square office building.

Cardiff University in drive to cut Wales’ carbon emissions
Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture will lead a new £34M European funding drive designed to help Welsh businesses develop innovative carbon reduction projects and meet strict carbon emission targets.

Admiral goes global with Elephant
Admiral Group plc is delighted to announce that it has today launched its new car insurance operation in the USA.

Capital Cardiff fund launched
A fund to help businesses in Cardiff safeguard and create new jobs has been officially launched by the Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Rodney Berman and Deputy Leader for Cardiff Council and Executive Member for Economic Development, Cllr Neil McEvoy.

City in safe hands as Devils join Team Cardiff
The Cardiff Devils have signed up with Cardiff & Co, the organisation charged with promoting Cardiff as part of their ambitious plans to take ice hockey in the capital to another level.

See BT Superfast Broadband for yourself as Whitchurch trial gathers pace
Whitchurch residents and business owners are being given the chance to see for themselves what super-fast broadband can do for them by visiting one of the first shops of its kind in the UK.

Best new university in Wales in all four major UK league tables
The University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) has been ranked as ‘Wales’ top new university’ by an essential national guide – a title which it has now succeeded in being awarded by all four major university guides this year.

Business access Cardiff University expertise
Wales’ ability to protect its environment and manage long-term water supplies against the threat of climate change has been boosted by a new link-up between Cardiff University and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

Rolling road boost for green technology sector
The most advanced rolling road system of its kind in the UK is being built in Wales. The facility at the University of Glamorgan will form the centrepiece of a new Centre for Alternative Powertrain Engineering that opens next year.

New Corporate Champions Push4 Cardiff
The communications specialists, Push4 group has signed up with Cardiff & Co as Cardiff Corporate Champions. The initiative is aimed at businesses in the city-region that recognise that the success of efforts to raise the capital’s profile will, in turn, increase the opportunities available to them.

Welsh scientist uncovers new Alzheimer’s genes
The discovery of two new genes associated with Alzheimer's disease could provide valuable new leads in the race to find treatments and possibly cures for the devastating condition, according to a leading Cardiff University scientist.

Admiral Group plc Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2009
Admiral achieves another record half year profit coupled with continued good growth. Profit before tax at £105.3 million was 5% ahead of H1 2008, whilst turnover rose 17% to £540.1 million. The Board is declaring a record interim dividend payment of 27.7p per share.

Trothwy sets up home at Fountain House
Social care provider Trothwy Cyf, part of the Gwalia Group has taken offices at the Fountain Court office scheme on Cardiff’s outskirts to locate its new south east Wales offices.

Cardiff’s commercial property sector gets on its bike for charity
Members of Cardiff’s commercial property sector will be displaying their pedal power when they take part in the annual Hayride on 20 September to raise money for charities local charities.

£500,000 to cut carbon in the Welsh construction industry
Ensuring the Welsh construction industry makes the most of the latest academic research into the design and delivery of low or zero carbon buildings has received a £500,000 funding boost.

Einstein accolade for Nobel prize-winning Professor at Cardiff University
Cardiff University’s Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS has been awarded one of the world’s oldest prizes for scientific achievement by the Royal Society joining an eminent list of previous recipients including Albert Einstein.

Major investment in new radiochemicals facility to be located in Cardiff
Quotient Bioresearch Limited(“Quotient”), a leading provider of drug development services, announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire Amersham Radiolabelling Services (“Amersham Radiolabelling Services”), the radiochemical custom synthesis operations of GE Healthcare.

Financial Times focuses on Doing Business in Cardiff and Wales
Ashes week in Cardiff sees Cardiff & Co and International Business Wales (IBW) join forces with the Financial Times to sell the benefits of doing business in Cardiff and Wales.

BT recruits first Super-Fast Broadband Triallists in Whitchurch
BT today announced that it was beginning the search in Whitchurch for the first households and businesses in the UK to 'test drive' its new super-fast broadband.

Capitals Compelling Proposition for Investors
An evaluation of Cardiff’s proposition as an investment location, containing key statistics on every aspect of life in the capital has been compressed into a lean reference guide illustrating the many advantages of doing business in the city.

JR Smart named top Wales & West developer as Capital Link opened by First Minister
JR Smart, one of Wales’ most successful developers during the last 30 years, has been named Wales and the South West of England’s top developer for 2009 in the influential Estates Gazette annual awards.

New £150m fund to create up to 15,000 jobs in Wales
A new £150m fund which will support the expansion of more than 800 businesses and create up to 15,000 jobs across Wales will be launched today using £75m funding from the European Investment Bank.

Landmark MEPC Scheme approved in Cardiff
MEPC Ltd has secured outline planning permission for a 500,000sqft office proposal as the next phase of the prestigious Callaghan Sq scheme which they have been developing over the last 10 years.