The man who has headed up the largest business support organisation in Wales for more than 16 years believes changing the culture of businesses in Wales to be more internationally-focused is the “one big piece of legacy outstanding” from his tenure.
David Russ will step down from the post of managing director of the parent company behind the Centre for Business and South Wales Chamber of Commerce on 31 March 2014 as part of a planned succession.
Heading up the Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce Enterprise and Industry (NGCCEI), Russ has presided over a period of growth that has seen the organisation expand its operations across south, west and mid Wales, widen its business support services and dramatically increase its turnover.
At the same time, Russ has personally become one of the most influential business figures in Wales, serving on a number of key economic and business bodies and helping to shape policies in areas such as entrepreneurship, micro-businesses and international trade.
However, despite all his achievements, Russ believes that getting more businesses to be “internationally savvy” is the one job of work that he would have liked to have overseen during his tenure.
“When I look back at the past 16-plus years, it’s been an exciting and fulfilling journey, and I have achieved many of the goals I set myself. However, the international arena is the final piece of the jigsaw really; it’s the one big piece of the legacy that’s outstanding,” he says.
“Over the past year there have been a number of positive developments that are starting to reverse the trend that has seen Wales fall behind the UK average on a number of economic indicators, such as the establishment of Business Wales as a one-stop shop providing support for our SMEs. We are now also beginning to get our act together with inward investment as well.
“Despite this, we are still behind the rest of the UK in areas such as GDP per capita and GVA, and, if we’re really serious about bridging the gap, we must now look at adopting a similar streamlined approach to helping our businesses be more internationally savvy.
“We need a 10-year commitment to a joined-up business support system offered in partnership between the public and private sector that will help change the culture in Wales so that businesses genuinely think about their international aspirations.”
Last year Russ was instrumental in launching plans for an International Centre of Excellence – or ICE – to bring together the Welsh Government, Chamber and international business support agencies to share information and data which will benefit businesses looking to make their first inroads into the international market.
“Many firms in Wales do not export as they find it difficult to take the critical first steps into new markets, but ICE is a creative solution to this problem. It wouldn’t seek to replace the current services provided by existing international support agencies, rather, it would encourage existing agencies to share information and data to pave the way to creating a more valuable offering to businesses.
“It would also eliminate the need to establish a new organisation to act as a buffer between the Welsh Government and the private sector by creating a virtual framework, or hub, that does not require additional bureaucracy to make it happen.”
The plans for ICE are currently being looked at by Edwina Hart with a view to taking them forward, however, Russ is keen to see movement in international business support happen quickly.
“It’s frustratingly slow to get a commitment, but in the same way Business Wales one-stop shop has improved support, so can ICE.
“One of the first areas we would need to focus on is a renewed impetus in manufacturing so that we can showcase the products we are developing in Wales to the wider world. This is a sector with huge growth potential on an international level, and we should recognise that through a concerted effort in our education and business support systems to prioritise developing skills in this field.”
Russ has been at the heart of efforts to tackle the challenges facing the Welsh business community over the last 16 years and has made a major contribution in a number of areas, including developing the micro fund strategy for Finance Wales and being a member of the Welsh Government’s task and finish group on developing micro businesses and chair of its Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy. He was also a founding member of the Wales Entrepreneurship Action Plan and played a part in drafting Wales’s first Business Birth-rate Strategy.
“Business support services have come a long way over this period,” he says. “In the past they were too fragmented and there was a lot of duplication, but now there’s a much more integrated approach and that’s creating a better platform to increase awareness and access.”
Under Russ’s stewardship, the NGCCEI has grown from a £300,000 turnover and 11 staff to become the largest business support provider in Wales with a projected turn-over of £6 million in the year to March 2014 and 95 staff in 11 offices. It also now manages 300 industrial and serviced office units and delivers business advice across 14 of Wales’s 22 boroughs.
During this period, the Centre for Business and Chamber have expanded their services to include training, business consultancy, IT consultancy, business-to-business support and test trading opportunities. The last two years have seen the organisation, as part of a consortium, win all three south Wales Business Start-Up contracts and the prestigious Business Wales contract for Welsh Government.
“The Centre for Business and the South Wales Chamber, as they are now, are a far cry from the organisation I joined in 1997,” he says. “Newport and Gwent Enterprise was well-respected but it was seen by many as a bit ‘slippers and cardigan’. Today, we’re operating across south, west and mid Wales, supporting and advising thousands of businesses and influencing policy at all levels.
“I am lucky to have been supported throughout by committed, enthusiastic and highly professional staff. We have a robust infrastructure in place, with an excellent team led by a strong senior management group. They will provide continuity and consistency as we enter an exciting new period with our new MD joining us and adding his own fresh ideas that will ensure the organisation continues to grow and deliver the kind of support entrepreneurs need to succeed.”
Russ will be succeeded as managing director of the NGCCEI by Keith Palmer, after which, he will continue to act as a business adviser on a part-time basis.
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