BACKING NEWPORT: Vibrant city centre still has ‘a long way to go’

NEWPORT small businesses are backing the city by basing themselves here, employing local people and helping other local businesses thrive by using them.

Dan Smith, managing director, M4 Commercial Property Consultants

I AM Newport born and bred and eight years ago I set up my business in the city.

Newport has improved considerably over the last few years. However, there is still plenty of work to be done. We have been saying for some time that an action plan for the remainder of city centre core retail is required. Otherwise Friars Walk and the Kingsway could prosper, while Commercial Street, Skinner Street and High Street all suffer.

We believe Newport needs to be unique and provide shops and outlets that cannot be found in Cardiff or Cwmbran. Encouraging local retailers is essential. The likes of Crafted, Tiny Rebel and Hi Coffee are all examples of good, local Newport businesses, but we need more. It’s also a two-way street. If we want to encourage these businesses, we must support them by shopping and visiting them.

Finally, it is also important to get more people working and living in the city centre. There is a considerable shortage of good quality office accommodation, which, if provided, could attract many more working people with money to spend in the city.

John Newell, managing director of Kingston Newell Estate Agents

I WAS born and raised in Newport and have spent the majority of my career working here both as a business owner and in various roles with companies based in the city.

Newport is an excellent base for my business. The transformation over the last decade has brought significant benefits to the city and for my business. What was once seen as a place to avoid is now a sought-after location to live and work and the demand for houses here has reflected this.

When I took over Kingston Newell our client base was almost entirely made up of locals moving to and from different parts of the city. We are now receiving daily inquiries from individuals and investors from further afield who want to relocate here to take advantage of the improved infrastructure Newport now offers, the considerably cheaper house prices and employment opportunities.

More still needs to be done. We now have the beginnings of a vibrant city centre, more employers are being encouraged to relocate here but we still have a long way to go to truly achieve our full potential and compete with Cardiff and Bristol. A decision has to be made about the M4. This isn’t just affecting our city but the whole of South Wales.

Our city centre is busy by day but still almost a no-go area at night. This needs to be addressed and more done to make people feel safe visiting here during both the day and night.

Jakko Brouwers, managing director, Morrello Clinic, Newport

I OPENED the Morrello Clinic four years ago. I previously worked for the NHS in Wales for more than 10 years before making the decision to start a private clinic providing specialist neuro physiotherapy services for people with brain and spinal injuries.

I live with my family in Chepstow and had previously driven past Newport on my daily commute to work in Cardiff. I didn’t know much about the city as I had no need to visit. When I began planning my business I researched suitable locations and decided on Newport because of the easy access to the M4 (we are based in Langstone Business Park) and the availability of suitable, affordable accommodation.

Newport has proven to be a very good location for us. We have been able to expand the clinic due to the demand for our services and although we could have moved to Cardiff to be closer to the private hospitals and specialist support groups and organisations we chose to stay in Newport.

Public transport could be significantly improved with more consideration given to wheelchair users and others with disabilities. The M4 around Newport is also a constant source of irritation to those of us who use it during rush hour, the sooner a decision is made about this the better.

Leanne Fieldhouse, Practice Manager, Budget Vets, Newport

BUDGET Vets opened its first surgery in Newport on Malpas Road more than 10 years ago. Our founder, Peter Heathcote developed a business model which proved very popular with the residents of the city and resulted in us quickly moving to larger premises further up Malpas Road and opening six other surgeries across South Wales.

Newport has provided us with an excellent base for the company. When we first opened, recruiting qualified personnel was a minor problem because not that many from outside of the area knew much about the city and those who did had negative perceptions of the area. This has changed significantly over the last decade and events such as the Ryder Cup, Nato summit and redevelopment of the city centre has helped to dispel these and place Newport on the map as an up and coming city.

Steven Adams, director of Simply Factoring Brokers

We’ve been based in Newport since 2015. We also have offices in Eastbourne and Manchester. Newport is ideally placed to be able to access major transport links. Also, the local business community in Newport has really benefitted us since we located from Bedwas.

With the general redevelopments going on across the city, Newport epitomises the investment which is being made in South Wales’ infrastructure.

I’ve spoken with some of our customers in the construction industry and learnt that they are awaiting announcements of both the M4 relief road and the proposed metro system. Both of which will create jobs and will require investment on their part to cover long tender-processes as is the norm for large-scale projects. We need reassurance and decisiveness.