Blaenau Gwent Business Opportunities: Enterprise Zone | Advanced Technology

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Key Competitive Attractions

Invest in Blaenau Gwent...

Business Support

The Blaenau Gwent economic development unit is dedicated to helping business to grow and prosper, and build strong bonds with the community. The Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council team offers close support in relation to premises, general business issues and financial assistance.

Communications

Blaenau Gwent offers excellent access to the rest of the UK, being close to the M4, M50 and M5/6 motorway routes. It is just under an hour’s drive from Cardiff and Bristol Airports, and only 40 minutes from docks at Bristol and Newport. The Borough also offers rail links from Cardiff direct to Ebbw Vale.

Tourism & Quality of Life

As well as offering a superb location and infrastructure from a business perspective, Blaenau Gwent also boasts an amazing landscape, with the Borough falling within the Southern border of the outstanding Brecon Beacons National Park and it is adjacent to a World Heritage Site. Both its beautiful mountain landscape and its wealth of local history make Blaenau Gwent an enviable setting for any business to grow and develop.

Economic Benefits

Blaenau Gwent's economy is diversifying, moving away from its traditional industries to more advanced technology, manufacturing and engineering industries, such as the automotive industry. Blaenau Gwent's automotive industry will see a major boost in coming years as plans to construct an ambitious £200m motor racing circuit in the south Wales valleys come to fruition.

Assistance and Support For New Business Investors

Blaenau Gwent provides a range of support and guidance packages for new businesses, as well as a connection service to the Welsh Assembly Government's business information service.

The Economic Development Team in Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council can help your business with any business establishment matters, including:

Understanding the local economy
Exploring business ideas and developing new business ventures
Finding suitable premises – for more information on financial assistance with premises, see Funding & Support
Recruiting staff
Resolving general business issues
Getting financial support

The Alchemy Suite is available to potential entrepreneurs who want to explore promising business ideas and develop new ventures. Located at Nantyglo near Brynmawr, the Alchemy Suite provides support and facilities that include:

Advice and information
Access to training and seminars
Secure computer access
Use of office equipment and meeting rooms

The council can also advise you on practical matters like:

Business rates
Licensing, legislation and trading standards
Local recycling services and waste disposal
Tendering to sell your products or services to the council

Blaenau Gwent Town Centre Management Support

In addition, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's two Town Centre Managers support businesses in the five town centres of Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar. They offer ongoing advice and assistance to businesses and support the work of the local Business Forums.

Existing Business Base

Blaenau Gwent has a rich and diverse heritage that goes hand in hand with the Industrial Revolution. Ebbw Vale in particular has a strong iron and steel-making heritage going back over 200 years. However, traditional industries have declined in favour of more technology-based manufacturing and engineering industries, such as:

Industries like these create supply chain opportunities for a range of different businesses located in the region.

Other important sectors in the local economy include:

Retail and wholesale
Transport and distribution
Service. (Although less significant than in many other counties of Wales, the service sector as a whole is nevertheless an important local economic contributor.)

Despite its strong industrial base, Blaenau Gwent has a significant tourism industry. Close proximity to the Brecon Beacons National Park provides opportunities for accommodation providers, while the county borough's unique local history and heritage attract visiting enthusiasts from all over the UK.

Invest in Blaenau Gwent: Support for business and inward investment...

The decline of its traditional heavy industries means that Blaenau Gwent currently receives the highest level of funding available within Wales to support regeneration and economic development. As well as being attracted by affordable land prices, a productive workforce and excellent transport links, inward investors can benefit from a substantial package of financial support and assistance.

See what funding and support may be available to you if you invest in Blaenau Gwent...