In this series of ‘Emma Meets', Emma Peterson, Director of Recruit 121 Finance & Accounting Solutions, finds out more about the sponsors of the Finance Awards Wales 2026.
Finance Awards Wales is designed to recognise, attract and invest in the talented finance professionals working in Wales, showcasing the best of the best in the finance industry. In this edition, Emma Meets David Bois, Business Manager at South Wales Trunk Road Agent.
What did winning Public Sector Team of the Year mean to your team and the organisation?
Winning Public Sector Finance Team of the Year meant a lot to the team. So much of the work happens quietly in the background, so having a panel recognise the team’s energy, dedication and standards felt genuinely uplifting. The morning after the awards one of the newer team members messaged the team to say, “I finally feel like what we do really matters.” That just summed it up.
Across South Wales Trunk Road Agency, the award created a real buzz. It reassured people that the improvements being made in finance and collaboration were paying off, and it helped shine a light on the wider positive stories across the organisation. Combined with being shortlisted for ESG, it showed that SWTRA are not just doing things well — but doing them responsibly, thoughtfully, and with the road users firmly in mind.
What inspired SWTRA to sponsor Best Place to Work this year?
After winning last year, sponsoring an award felt like the natural next step — but it was also a chance to raise the profile of SWTRA. A lot of people use our roads every day without realising who SWTRA are or the scale of the work happening behind the scenes. On behalf of the Welsh Government the SWTRA keep South Wales moving, support safe and reliable journeys, and work with an incredible network of partners and contractors to deliver improvements year round.
By sponsoring Best Place to Work, we’re able to bring more people into that story. It helps to showcase the variety of careers here, the impact the teams make, and the culture that keeps people growing and supported. We’re proud of what we do, and this is a great way of helping more people see it.
What makes SWTRA a great place to work, and what are you most proud of in your team?
It’s the blend of purpose and genuine support. People at SWTRA can see the difference their work makes — better journeys, safer roads, smoother day to day life for communities across South Wales. And alongside that, there’s a really strong culture of development: such as apprenticeships, early careers, ACCA support, and loads of learning built into everyday work.
A great example is Jack Evans being named Apprentice of the Year (Higher Apprenticeships) at the Skills Academy Wales Annual Apprenticeship Awards 2026. His hard work got him there, but the whole team was behind him, supporting him. That tells you about the collaborative, supportive and positive culture across SWTRA.
What role do awards like Finance Awards Wales play in raising standards across the public sector?
Awards like FAW really help raise the bar. The submission and interview process pushes teams to step back, think about and show the real impact of their work — not just the day to day effort, but the difference it makes. That naturally drives up standards across the public sector.
But the influence goes beyond the awards night. The stories shared afterwards help people see the range of talented finance professionals across Wales. They highlight different career paths, different backgrounds, and the essential role finance plays in modern public services. That visibility boosts confidence, encourages investment in people and skills, and gives well earned recognition to teams who often work under the radar.
What exciting initiatives or developments should people watch out for at SWTRA this year?
There’s a lot going on, but one of the biggest areas this year is our major framework tenders going out to market. It’s a really important moment because these frameworks shape how we work with our supply chain for years to come. What’s exciting is the chance to build in fresh thinking — especially around social value and net zero — and make those things part of how the frameworks operate, not just something tagged on at the end.
We’re encouraging partners to bring new ideas, think creatively about carbon reduction, and look at practical ways projects can deliver benefits for local communities. Alongside that, we’ve got a busy programme of maintenance and improvement work across the network — delivered in ways that minimise disruption and support the people who rely on our roads every day.
What makes you most proud to be part of SWTRA and the FAW journey this year?
Everything SWTRA does contributes to safer, more reliable journeys for the people of South Wales — and that’s something the team can feel proud of every day.
Seeing the efforts of the team recognised last year, and now being in a position to sponsor an award celebrating great workplaces, feels like a full circle moment. It reinforces that when you invest in people — their wellbeing, their development, their confidence — you not only get better outcomes, you help raise standards across the whole sector. That mix of public impact and personal growth is exciting to see.
