An enterprise centre which aims to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their business has opened its doors.
The Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (ICE), based at the former offices of National Britannia at Caerphilly Business Park, provides shared office space for start-ups and also provides access to business advice from a team of advisors.
Co-founder and entrepreneur Gareth Jones, who goes by the title ‘Captain of Innovation’, said: “About a year ago we started talking about what ICE could be. We wanted to set up a centre for sustainable industries and sustainable technologies.
“I come from the start-up scene in Cardiff and was shocked by the level of support in Cardiff and also what support shouldn’t be.
“The true support was coming from the start-up community itself and the people surrounding you. We started looking at it and I had this feeling that in order for a business to grow it needed role models to follow. So Welsh ICE was born.
“It’s a shared workspace but that’s the tip of the iceberg, underneath that is what we really are.”
From a starter membership of £99 a month, businesses can use ICE for 20 hours a month and use it as their registered office. Higher levels of membership offers businesses more services – such as one-to-one advice sessions and telephone answering services.
Since opening in July, Welsh ICE has attracted seven businesses.
Many of the companies involved in providing services to ICE are start-ups themselves, from the admins (known as Ice Angels) to the staff canteen – an important element according to 28-year-old Gareth.
Wize Consulting provides all of the admin support services and is itself a start-up.
Director Mandy Weston decided to branch out on her own and is now also a non executive director with Welsh Ice.
She said: “I’m committed to being here to help Gareth run the business.”
The venture is being backed by Anthony Record MBE, co-founder and former chairman of National Britannia. Also involved is his son Will Record – another accomplished entrepreneur.
For more information on Welsh ICE, visit www.welshice.org or you can attend its free Local Traders evening on Thursday September 20 from 6pm until 8.30pm.
Businesses from any industry or sector are welcome to attend. Please email iceangels@welshice.org or call 02920 140040 for more information.
Yeah, that's all great unless you need a start up loan. CCBC have a funny way of helping. If you need a loan to start your own business, CCBC MIGHT give you 50% of £2000 after you have spent the money, by then you are told that if you can afford the £2000 in the first place, then you do not need the loan.
If you are unemployed and thinking of setting up on your own in Caerphilly, you are better off staying unemployed, because unless you want help working out your books, there is nothing else they seem to be able to help with.
Could this be ` another` person "who complains about everyone" and everything in Caerphilly, as a contributor mentioned in other comments on these pages.
Clearly not everyone is happy to sycophantically support the unsustainable simply through political dogma.
For the sake of clarity, Welsh ICE is not affiliated with Caerphilly County Borough Council and is an independent project.
We believe that to have something like Welsh ICE in Caerphilly needs to be celebrated and encouraged.
Also, I believe the loans referred to in the first comment are in fact business development grants.
For more info on these visit: http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/site.aspx?s=vCA+wNyW…
Many thanks
Richard Gurner