One-stop shop for business help

Everwhite factory received support to bring it out of administration

A day after the opening of Amazon's massive distribution centre in Swansea Bay, a shake-up in how Wales helps businesses is being announced.

The assembly government is hoping to reproduce its success in securing a speedy agreement with the web retailer.

Its business support operations are to be streamlined, with help for both indigenous businesses and incoming companies under one roof.

A central single investment fund will eventually reach £200m.

There will now be a dedicated one-stop shop for business support under the new Flexible Support for Business strategy.

Companies of any size can ring one number and be passed on to a dedicated team who can manage everything from site selection to recruitment, skills and finance.

Model

Amazon's distribution centre in Jersey Marine, Neath Port Talbot, its fourth and largest UK base, will create 1,200 full-time jobs and a further 1,500 seasonal ones.

The project has been hailed as a model of how the quick reaction system will work for inward investment.

Within a day of the government becoming aware that Amazon was seeking a new site, a team of officials got on a plane to meet company officials face-to-face.

Amazon's Swansea Bay warehouse was agreed and built quickly

The deal was signed off in 96 days from start to finish.

The assembly government says the new system will make it much faster in gaining an advantage over their competitors.

One company which has benefited from government support recently is Everwhite, a building products supplier based in Aberaman Industrial Estate.

The company was Britain's 10th largest biggest supplier of high-quality uPVC products before going into administration earlier this year.

The assembly government supported a £1.6m management buy-out, also backed by a private equity investor.

One hundred jobs have been safeguarded at the plant and the company is looking to the US market through a partnership with an American firm.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Everwhite has a portfolio of high quality products and the business potential to become a very successful company.

"I am delighted that we have been able to support the buy-out, which will enable the company to realise that potential."