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

Robin Hall, managing director of Kymin Financial Services, Newport:

South Wales Argus:

Newport is a good base for us, we are in the heart of the city centre and it is easy for our clients to visit our offices. The majority of our team live in Newport, so it is easy for them to commute to work. Although we originated in Monmouth, we have many clients in the Newport area and I hope we can continue to serve the locality for many years to come.

Newport has certainly progressed over the past few years with developments like Friars Walk, the City Campus, the new railway station and the Admiral office development. There is still much to be done but Newport is certainly on the up. More encouragement is needed to attract small start-up companies and local businesses.

Events like the Newport Food Festival show what Newport has to offer and we should encourage the use of historic buildings such as Newport Indoor Market, the arcades and the former Westgate Hotel.

With attractions such as Tredegar House, the Transporter Bridge, the Celtic Manor Resort, the Fourteen Locks and Newport Wetlands Reserve to name but a few, Newport has plenty to offer, but perhaps we should make more of an effort in marketing these fantastic assets.

Zep Bellavia, managing partner at HardingEvans Solicitors:

South Wales Argus:

WE are one of the largest law firms in Wales. The firm has been in Newport since 1871 and I’ve been with HardingEvans since 1992.

Newport is a city on the rise, and is very conveniently located between Cardiff and Bristol, making it easily accessible to our clients and staff. The location also means that costs are lower than Cardiff and Bristol.

The development of Newport city centre is a subject which is very close to my heart. Over the last decade there has been a lot of investment in and around Newport, such as the Velodrome and other sports facilities, the Celtic Manor and the Riverfront. Apart from Friars Walk, I feel that there hasn’t been enough investment in the high street and city centre itself. The city has been successful in attracting and retaining high profile employers like Admiral and the university, which have brought more people and, as a result, more money to the city centre. It’s time to concentrate on revitalising the city centre to complete Newport’s transformation into a modern and vibrant city.

Haydn Thomas, director, Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors:

South Wales Argus:

WE are based in Gold Tops, a well-established office location in the heart of the city.

Newport has always been a good location for our business as it is a strong commercial city with an excellent location, both in terms of our local instruction/client base and also road and rail communications being on the London Paddington mainline rail link and M4. Our position allows us access into the English markets as well as the whole of Wales.

Since the economic downturn of 2008, the city has experienced mixed fortunes. In recent times, however, the city has turned a corner with the catalyst of Friars Walk being an excellent example of the “build it and they will come” principle.

This, bolstered by the Admiral development in the city centre and the upturn in manufacturing in the city, has led to a renewed optimism and confidence, which is now being felt in all sectors. We would like to see more speculative development, especially grade A, city centre office space as well as improved parking facilities. Also a solution to the M4 bottleneck at the Brynglas tunnels.

Ashley Harkus managing partner, Everett Tomlin Lloyd and Pratt Solicitors:

South Wales Argus:

Lloyd and Pratt solicitors first opened a Newport office in 1885, and we have been in the city ever since. We moved from Stow Hill to larger offices in Gold Tops five years ago as it allowed us to expand.

THE overall improvement of the city, in particular the riverside developments and the new shopping centre, has brought substantial amounts of inward investment to Newport and our commercial property department has been able to help a number of businesses lease or buy new premises as a result.

There are still large areas of the city which badly need help and improvement but hopefully the success of Friars Walk will attract further investment to continue the much welcomed regeneration.

South Wales Argus: