Lisa Johnston – HRD Co-ordinator for South West Wales and Carmarthenshire Facilitator.

 

Hello and welcome to this our 6th Newsletter, we do hope you have had the best possible start for 2006!

 

Whilst you are preparing your buildings and stocking up your supplies bear the Gallu project in mind and tell us how we can prepare you and your staff with the skills you will need for the coming summer season.

 

I am delighted to tell you that we have successfully applied for an extension to the project and we are here ready willing and able to help you up until March 2007!

 

We have a few topics to focus on over the coming months one of which is Human Resources we hope that we can work with Job Centre Plus, Careers Wales West and members of the trade to identify areas of concern that we can assist with. 

 

We have been focussed recently on a top secret event which we piloted on the 17th of March in Llandeilo, this is completely different style of training to anything that we have done before and are just about to make some final adjustments and we shall be ready to go. There is a big difference though this is invite only and you are sworn to secrecy before you leave, so keep you eyes open for you invitation!

I am pleased to welcome our new Swansea Bay and Southern Carmarthenshire Facilitator Karleigh Corcoran. Karleigh will be here holding the fort for Michelle, don’t panic though Michelle is not gone for ever just a couple of months when she gives birth to the first ever Gallu baby!! Congratulations to Michelle and James for this fantastic news.

 

New Member of Staff

 

Karleigh’ s home town is Port Talbot and since graduating from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff with a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Tourism Management, Karleigh has completed a PGCE in Further Education and lectured on the Tourism Degree and HND courses at UWIC. Karleigh’s most recent industry experience includes employment as an Exhibition Helper and briefly as a Research Assistant in Techniquest Cardiff Bay. Karleigh is looking forward to representing Gallu and working with tourism businesses in Swansea Bay

 

Courses/Seminars to come ………………… Customer Care, HR Seminar and Workshops, Photography courses, Breakfast and Packed Lunch Show, Trade Days

 

 

 

Get your Business Ready for the Eisteddfod

 

From 5th – 12th August this year, the National Eisteddfod will be taking place on the site of the old steelworks at Velindre, Swansea. With the Eisteddfod attracting some 20,000 – 25,000 daily visitors each year, it is crucial that we make the most of this fantastic opportunity that the City has.

 

To help with this Gallu, in conjunction with Tourism Swansea Bay have put together a fantastic seminar along with some workshops, to make sure that you and your business get the most from the Eisteddfod.

 

Find out more about the National Eisteddfod 2006 and how it will affect your business from the Eisteddfod organisers. The Wales Tourist Board ‘Sense of Place’ advisor will be on hand to give you some great ideas on how to give your guests a warm Welsh welcome during their stay and Mentar Ieith will be running a workshop on the History of the Eisteddfod in Swansea and the Welsh Language Board will also be running a workshop where you can learn some useful Welsh phrases and there will also be an opportunity to get your menus and booking forms etc translated.

 

The seminar has been arranged on the 20th of March 2006 at the Marriott Hotel, Swansea Maritime Quarter, Swansea from 13.30 – 16.30.

 

Registration Fee:- £5.00 Tourist Association Member

 

£10.00 Non Tourist Association Member

 

 

 

To make sure you don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity, book your place today on www.gallu.org.uk.

 

 

Welsh is good for business – Cymraeg Iaith Busnes

 

There are 600,000 Welsh speaking consumers in Wales – all on the look out for a bilingual service in their mother tongue. The 2001 census also showed that another ¾ million people on top of that can understand the language in Wales. That is to say the least a hefty junk of the population who has the ability to either speak or read the language. Due to the general growth in standards of education throughout many of our neighbouring European countries more and more visitors arrive in Wales looking for a more cultured experience during their stay. It therefore makes excellent business sense for you to cater for your consumers needs. Offering a bilingual service will set yourself apart from any competition and draw added positive attention to your business. It shows that you’re proud to be in business in Wales and that you respect the language and culture of the country where you’re in business. At the end of the day offering a language choice is seen as an excellent level of customer care.

 

How do you go about it? If you’ve ever need to produce bilingual booklets, leaflets, menus, packaging/labels, posters, banners, websites, business cards, letter heads or any other sort of bilingual material then you could be eligible for grant aid of up to £700 through the Welsh Language Board’s Business Grant. On the other hand if you need any new internal or external bilingual signage then you could potentially draw up to £1,000 of grant aid form the Sense of Place Scheme.

 

The Welsh Language Board can also offer a free of charge translation service. The Link Line to Welsh service will translate up to 30 words at one time or proof read up to 75 words. You can translate your menus free of charge whenever the need arises therefore pick up the phone today and dial 0845 6076070 to put Welsh on your menus. Alternatively if you wish to learn more about the above grant aid available or you need any other guidance regarding using Welsh in your business then please contact Aled Davies, Private Sector Unit, Welsh Language Board on 029 20 878 000, aled.davies@welsh-language-board.org.uk or go to www.welshinbusiness.com

 

WTB Roadshow

 

It’s not too late to book your place at the Tourism Roadshow on Thursday 9th of March at Halliwell Centre, Trinity College, Carmarthen.

 

What’s in it for you?

This is an ideal opportunity for you to get the most out of the wide range of business support available from the Wales Tourist Board and our partners. It’s also a fantastic networking opportunity and a chance to get up-to-date with developments taking place within the tourism industry. Find out how the new tourism department within the Welsh Assembly Government will function, following the merger on April 1 2006, and what this means for your business.

 

What’s involved?

The roadshows will consist of interactive workshops, one to one sessions with our business advisers, exhibitions and plenty of networking opportunities!

 

Workshops

There are six workshops options available, and you can choose three. For details of all workshops taking place at each location, visit www.wtbonline.gov.uk/roadshows.

 

How to book

You can book your tickets online, or call us on 029 2047 5378. Please be aware that there are only a few places left so you'll need to act quickly.