PROFESSOR DYLAN JONES-EVANS

Launched in 2015, the Cardiff Business Awards have recognised outstanding achievement in business and celebrate talent, ambition and innovation from across Wales' capital city. This year’s awards – to be held in Cardiff City Hall on June 23rd 2017 - come at a time when Cardiff is developing an exciting future that will ensure its continued economic growth over the next few years. One of the key influences on this renaissance will the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. Ratified on St David’s Day, this £1.2 bn of public funding will unlock significant amounts of private sector finance to boost jobs and prosperity not only in Cardiff but across the wider region. It includes funding of £734m for the South Wales Metro  - which will transform the transport infrastructure around Cardiff and the surrounding areas - as well as support for innovation, digital infrastructure and business. But before even a penny of this funding is spent, there are already major property investments...

New businesses are the lifeblood of all growing economies, creating innovation, vitality and, most importantly, jobs in local communities. For example, research from the Kauffman Foundation in the USA shows that start-ups are responsible for almost all new net jobs and have created an average of 1.5 million jobs every year in America during the past three decades. However, many of those who spot the opportunity and take the risks to launch a new product or service are often the unsung heroes of the business community. That is why, in partnership with Liz Brookes of Grapevine Events, I launched the Wales Start-Up Awards this week to finally acknowledge the achievements of these entrepreneurial individuals, their new ventures and their contribution to the Welsh economy. Well, having managed the Wales Fast Growth 50 project for the past 18 years, I realised that in addition to supporting fast growing businesses, there was also a need to specifically recognise those new Welsh bu...