Centre for Enterprise opens

WELSH Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Edwina Hart has officially opened Carmarthenshire’s Beacon Centre for Enterprise in Dafen.

The centre, a former Technium, is now managed and being developed by Carmarthenshire County Council as a hub for innovative and enterprising businesses.

The Minister told the audience of businesspeople at the opening that the Welsh Government and local authorities needed to work together to engineer economic recovery in Wales. Growth and sustainable jobs was the future.

She said there was a need to build a more enterprising private sector and to increase the number of small firms being created in Wales, highlighting a number of recent initiatives to support entrepreneurs, new start ups and micro businesses.

She said the Beacon Centre for Enterprise would provide Carmarthenshire County Council with an opportunity to develop a vibrant and sustainable business hub for South West Wales.

Carmarthenshire County Council leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said she was delighted that the Welsh Government had agreed to lease the building to the local authority which had a partnership with Coleg Sir Gar and the University of Wales Trinity St David.

She said there were exciting developments coming such as a single phone number for young people looking for help and advice, and Beacon Bursaries would soon be launched.

She said: “We have managed to fill the Beacon nearly to capacity and I want to thank our officers for all the work the work they have done to bring businesses in here. I want to thank Coleg Sir Gâr Principal Barry Liles and University of Wales Trinity St David Vice Chancellor Professor Medwin Hughes for working closely with us in a true partnership for educating young people.

“Between us and our partnership in the Local Service Board we have over 700 young people with some kind of apprenticeship. That to me is absolutely fantastic.”

Caption 4: Opening of The Beacon Centre for Enterprise. Carmarthenshire County Council leader Cllr Meryl Gravell (left) and Welsh Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Edwina Hart.

Pic Jeff Connell