Newport-based company Retail Merchandising Services is celebrating record growth after receiving free mentoring support from Business Wales, the Welsh Government’s fully-funded flagship business support programme.

With the help of award-winning Business Wales mentor Julian Morgan, RMS has increased the number of its employees from 100 to 500 people and has secured a number of major clients in the last two years.

The company, which has its base at Langstone Business Park, is one of the UK’s leading specialist merchandising solutions firms with a client list including companies such as retail giants John Lewis, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Boots, WH Smith and B&Q.

Recognising the need for experience, CEO Daniel O’Toole turned to Business Wales to seek support to implement significant changes to the company’s business model to ensure its future stability and continued growth, following the tragic passing of Peter O’Toole, his father and founder of RMS.

Receiving dedicated mentoring from adviser Julian Morgan, Daniel has been able to create a new strategic approach on the core offerings of the business, including merchandising, technology and recruitment, and the introduction of a new training programme for RMS employees.

Discussing his experience with Business Wales, Daniel said: “Julian has been a truly brilliant mentor. Not only did he come with a wealth of experience from the industry and life in general, but I felt immediately at ease knowing he shared the same values as me.

“Balancing many challenges in a business that was going through tremendous change with new major client and supplier partnerships, as well as endeavouring to integrate a new senior team, was incredibly difficult.

“Julian listened to my challenges intently and after every mentoring session, I felt like I was able to go back to the business with a clear vision and get through the challenges confident that I was doing the right thing.

“While I am still a CEO with only two years under my belt, I now feel far more experienced having had some guidance from somebody who has been there and done it.”

As testament to the value of his mentoring support to Daniel and RMS with Daniel and RMS, Julian was recently named winner of the Mentor of the Year: Supporting Growing Business award at the National Mentoring Awards.

With a diverse team of business mentors who have experience running their own companies, Business Wales is ensuring that businesses throughout Wales have the support needed to grow and move forward.

If you would like to be supported by an experience Business Wales mentor, or would like to know more about how Business Wales can help start or develop your business, call 03000 6 03000.

Business Wales, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, supports the sustainable growth of small and medium size enterprises across the country by offering access to information, guidance and business support.