County leads the way in electronic commerce (From Western Telegraph)

County leads the way in electronic commerce

PEMBROKESHIRES small business sector is set to pick up trade from across the globe, thanks to a multi-million pound e-commerce initiative. Hundreds of businesses disadvantaged by the countys remote location will get the opportunity to gain financial support and expert advice on e-commerce trading at a new Opportunity Wales Centre of Excellence in Milford Haven.

Mondays official launch of the centre - one of only four satellite centres in Wales - is part of a £21 million initiative aimed soley at Objective One areas.

It was possibly the first project to be launched via an internet link by an Assembly Minister addressing his audience on the other side of the country.

Andrew Davies AM, Minister for Economic Development, was at Caerphilly Castle, but delegates gathered at the Cleddau Reach ecommerce training centre, Pembroke Dock, were able to watch the launch via a web-cam.

Pembrokeshires Centre of Excellence is based at the offices of the Pembrokeshire Business Initiative, a partner in the project, at the Havens Head Business Park, Milford Haven.

PBI managing director Richard Packman hailed the initiative as a lifeline for the countys small and medium business sector.

It removes our peripherality and puts us on a level playing field. It enables our businesses to trade externally and expand their markets, he told an audience at Mondays launch.

If you stand still you are falling behind and this is particularly true in terms of e-commerce, it is vital that we stay ahead of the game.

Businesses which have already benefited from the Opportunity Wales initiative include the Wolfe Inn, Wolfscastle.

Owner Phil Williams was prompted to access Opportunity Wales after an Australian couple turned up on his doorstep in the depths of winter - seeking directions to a rival business.

They had picked up details on a guest house in the village from the net. I suddenly realised we had a problem. How were they able to get business and we couldnt? We needed bums on seats in our restaurant and people staying in our double rooms, he recalled.

He approached the Pembrokeshire Business Initiative and, through Opportunity Wales, the Wolfe Inn was given a massive ecommerce review which led to the creation of its own website.

It is early days but we are getting increased bookings for our restaurant and our accommodation, said Phil Williams. During the month of April we have had 1,000 hits from 50 addresses.

A business portal, described as an electronic gateway allowing an exchange of information between businesses and advisers, was also launched on Monday.

Opportunity Wales application forms are available from the PBI on 01646 695300.

CAPTION

Leading the way to electronic commerce in Pembrokeshire: Pictured, from the left, are: Geoff Szarun (electronic-Commerce Innovation Centre manager); Anna Prytherch (Business Connect); Richard Packman (managing director of PBI); Alan Eardley (PBI business development unit); and Dafydd Ladd (Carmarthenshire Enterprises). PICTURE: Western Telegraph.