August brought welcome news in the fields of Innovation, Sustainability, Inclusivity and Connectivity – with the world-leading Games company Rocket Science opening their European HQ in our Region, The Royal Mint launching its own Local Energy Centre, Admiral being named as a top 3 Best UK Workplace for Women, and a new transport collaboration creating an integrated link between Cardiff Central and Cardiff International Airport ….
INNOVATION
Rocket Science chooses CCR as home for European innovation
August saw the US Games company Rocket Science choose the Cardiff Capital Region as home for its new European headquarters – creating 50 highly-paid skilled jobs for games industry graduates and experienced professionals.
This new HQ and studio will see the Cardiff-based team working on complex technical projects, developing some of the world’s biggest and most popular video games played by millions of people every day – while also building and supporting AAA clients to create the market-leading games of tomorrow.
Rocket Science’s presence in our Region is planned to mirror its boundary-breaking operations in New York and Texas – through an inward investment project that followed the successful Welsh Government-led trade mission to the 2022 Games Developers Conference in San Francisco, where Rocket Science’s Welsh co-founder, Tom Daniel (who is originally from Bridgend), connected with Creative Wales (the Welsh Government’s creative agency) to discuss his company’s ambitious plans for growth.
Rocket Science’s move into our Region represents a significant step-change for the games sector in Wales, as the country aims to take a larger slice of the global games market, which is projected to grow to over $200bn by 2025.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Royal Mint powers towards net zero with Local Energy Centre
The Royal Mint has launched its very own local energy centre to help power the historic 38-acre manufacturing site in Llantrisant with greener electricity.
The UK’s oldest company has brought together a new solar farm, additional wind turbine and a combined heat and power plant with battery storage, to establish The Royal Mint’s Local Energy Centre.
With a goal to become Net Zero by 2050, The Royal Mint is aiming to generate 70% of the power used on site – reducing its reliance on the national grid and using the power generated by the LEC to power operations that include currency production, commemorative coins and its precious metals business that produces gold and silver bullion coins as well as investment bars.
INCLUSIVITY
Admiral named as a top 3 Best UK Workplace for Women
Admiral has been named 3rd in the 2023 UK’s Best Workplaces for Women – the prestigious awards run by the Great Place to Work global institute.
The CCR-headquartered financial services company is the only FTSE 100 company with its HQ in Wales – and champions a number of inclusive initiatives and programmes for female colleagues.
Pioneering initiatives include the Get Discovered Programme that empowers women to put themselves forward for future leadership opportunities; and the Admiral 5-9 Club which works in collaboration with WelshICE to help budding female entrepreneurs to learn the practical principles of running a successful business.
This latest award follows Admiral’s success in scooping 14th place as the Best Workplace for Wellbeing in February this year – testimony to the inclusive best practices that sit at the heart of the working culture of one of the UK’s top employers.
CONNECTIVITY
Adventure Travel and TfW deliver new integrated link to Cardiff International Airport
A new integrated rail and bus ticket partnership between Transport for Wales (TfW) and Adventure Travel will make the journey to Cardiff International Airport much easier and more accessible.
Passengers looking to travel to the airport can now catch a rail service to Rhoose (Cardiff International Airport) and connect with the 905 bus service from the station, direct to the airport – all on one ticket.
The new fares have been integrated with the rail and bus timetables, with single tickets costing just £7.20, for a total journey time of 43 minutes from Cardiff Central Station.
Customers who use the route regularly can also benefit from a seven day, monthly or annual season ticket linking the rail and bus services.
To find out how our Region is rebuilding on the four key pillars of innovation, sustainability, inclusivity and connectivity, go to www.cardiffcapitalregion.wales
