Following successful events in Caerphilly, Bridgend, and Torfaen, Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) hosted its fourth Regionally Unleashed working breakfast in Newport on Thursday 7th November at the Celtic Manor.
The event brings local businesses and entrepreneurs together to learn about CCR’s investment and funding opportunities designed to boost innovation, business growth, and drive premises development.
Attendees heard expert insights on CCR’s investment programmes from George Richards, Senior Director of CBRE which manages the £50m Strategic Premises Fund and Phil Sampson, Director of Deals Wales, PwC, which manages the £50m Innovation Investment Capital fund. Both funds aim to enable innovative businesses to scale up through the development of new sites and funding entrepreneurial ambitions.
Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, Leader of Newport City Council, said:
“Newport is Wales’ fastest growing city. We can become a future economic powerhouse with the support of the private sector believing and investing in this region. Businesses and entrepreneurs are the drivers of growth – the public sector are your allies and partners to support you every step of the way.”
Lucy Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Mazuma, discussed the impact of receiving IIC funding and how the investment has supported the firm’s growth. She said:
“Taking a risk and reaching out to secure investment is critical to unlocking business growth. In a relatively short space of time, we have almost doubled the size of the company in both revenue and staff, creating good, high-quality jobs locally in Bridgend, enabling us to fulfil our growth strategy.
“We are continuing to grow, expand, build revenue, and we are looking forward to an exciting future of innovation within the business.”
Matt Barnby, Regional Operations Director at The Celtic Collection, spoke about CCR’s Strategic Premises Fund investment which financed the completion of the Ty Newport Hotel. He said:
“Cardiff Capital Region’s flexibility and ability to see our vision for Ty Newport was critical to enable the project to move forward – I’m not sure if it would be open without CCR and the Strategic Premises Fund.
“The build has been huge for the community by creating over seventy jobs and engaging with education services including University of South Wales to run a hospitality degree programme, developing future leaders in the hospitality industry.”
Visit Regionally Unleashed – Cardiff Capital Region to learn more about future events.
