Neath Port Talbot Council has announced the launch of an “unrivalled” support package for Wales, UK and global business leaders and entrepreneurs to set up in the region.
The council has unveiled its free and confidential ‘Front and Centre for Business’ package as part of a wider effort to encourage Welsh, UK and international companies to establish their operations in Neath Port Talbot.
As part of the support package Neath Port Talbot’s Economic Development Team will help businesses access potential funding streams, locate potential property, and apply for planning permissions and permits. They will also connect them to local business networks, centres of excellence and partner organisations to help with their ongoing business growth.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Steve Hunt, said he was confident the new ‘Front and Centre for Business’ package would encourage companies to consider the area as a lucrative region for business growth.
He said:
“Neath Port Talbot is quickly becoming one of Wales’s fastest growing business areas and is developing an impressive reputation as a place to innovate, create and connect – a place which has attracted over 370 new businesses to open in the area in recent years.
“The Council recognises the unparalleled potential for business growth in this area, thanks to the numerous industry-leading companies we are home to, how well connected we are, and how innovative our businesses are. As such we have launched a support package which we believe is definitely unrivalled in Wales, if not the whole of the UK.
“It offers everything a business could need when setting up or relocating to a new area, and ensures they are fully supported to hit the ground running. On our new website – www.investinneathporttalbot.com – we’ve created a database of all properties and sites that are available for immediate lease or purchase, and we’re offering one-to-one support to assess each business’ property needs so it couldn’t be easier for companies to find out more about how best to establish a business in this thriving region.
“Boasting two railway stations, easy access to the M4 and a strong business network, we also have two award-winning universities, Swansea University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, that provide the area with skilled graduates for a range of different job roles.
“We are also proud to be home to Port Talbot’s deep water harbour, a focal point for our region which is able to accommodate some the world’s largest ocean vessels and is a critical piece of international transport infrastructure.
“And with the mountains, rivers and coastline right on our doorstep, the region is a great place to live too, making it perfectly placed to attract business investment.”
Famed for its heavy industry heritage, Neath Port Talbot is now focused on diversifying its local economy and has placed innovative manufacturing, decarbonisation and renewable energy at the heart of its development strategy. As part of the Swansea Bay City Deal – an unprecedented programme of investment in the South-west Wales region – Neath Port Talbot Council is leading a £58.7 million programme to deliver sustainable jobs and growth in order to support the creation of a decarbonised and innovative economy. The programme will deliver a number of projects including the decarbonisation of the steel and metals industry and the construction of high-quality, innovatively designed, energy positive buildings with office and laboratory space to support the growth of local businesses or new investors to the area.
Several companies have already enjoyed success since putting down roots in Neath Port Talbot, including Paragon Engineered Timber. Based in Resolven Business Park since 2019, the company offers a design, supply and installation service for their roof trusses, spandrel joints and floor joist systems to all sectors of the construction industry, from large-volume UK house builders to local builders.
The company has expanded so rapidly that they have already outgrown their first unit on the business park and have achieved additional capacity by leasing a second.
Director, Ian Ferris, said that the business support his company has received from Neath Port Talbot Council since day one has been the key to their fast growth:
“Without the help of Neath Port Talbot Council, I don’t think we would have got to the stage we are with the business as quickly, it would have taken far longer.”
For more information on the support available to businesses relocating to Neath Port Talbot please visit www.investinneathporttalbot.com or call 01639 686835.
