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Case Studies

Driving change: How FSEW became a UK leader in freight decarbonisation with Accelerated Growth Programme support

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"The Accelerated Growth Programme helped us turn our environmental ambition into a commercial advantage. Their expert support gave us the clarity and confidence to lead the freight sector’s decarbonisation journey."

Geoff Tomlinson founded FSEW (Freight Systems Express Wales) in 2002 after being made redundant by a European freight firm. Spotting a gap in the market for a more responsive, customer-focused freight forwarding service, Geoff launched FSEW with just a handful of contacts and a bold vision. Fast-forward two decades, and FSEW now operates from its base at Wentloog, Cardiff. With a workforce of over 100 people and an annual turnover of £19 million, the company...
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Final call for applications to join the Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator

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Applications to the fully-funded programme for business founders in Wales close on 15th September 2025

Applications are open for the next Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator, a fully online, ten-week programme that runs from Tuesday 30th September 2025 to Friday 12th December 2025. The application deadline is Monday 15th September 2025. The accelerator is designed exclusively for Wales-based entrepreneurs with high-growth business ideas, supporting their journey from securing a first customer to preparing for investment. Participants will benefit from personalised support from experienced coaches, with a strong focus on building a...
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Inclusive workplaces: How they help you recruit, retain and grow

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By Lesley Rossiter, AGP Equality & Fair Work Champion

Creating a diverse, accessible workplace isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a proven growth strategy. Inclusive businesses recruit from a wider talent pool, keep hold of great staff, and build a stronger reputation with customers, investors and partners. Why inclusive growth makes business sense As your business grows, you’ll need great people to help you scale. If your recruitment or workplace unintentionally excludes certain groups, you’re limiting your reach and missing out on...
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Meet your Relationship Manager: Howard Jones, from entrepreneur to growth adviser

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In this new series, we’re introducing you to our expert Relationship Managers. First up, meet Howard Jones, a seasoned adviser who blends deep commercial know-how with a passion for helping businesses unlock growth.

Howard is an experienced coach, consultant and business leader with a specialism in organisational development and high-growth strategy. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, he began his career at NatWest before moving into senior roles at the International Thomson Organisation. There, he launched a publishing venture and later co-founded a business in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects. As an Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) Relationship Manager, he supports ambitious Welsh companies to scale...
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Make your entry count: 12 tips for writing winning award entries

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Written by Sara Robinson, AGP PR and Communications Coach

Want to raise your profile, attract investment or boost team morale? Winning awards can help you do all that and more. But if you want to get on the shortlist, you need to craft a compelling story that stands out, connects with judges, and shows exactly why your business deserves the spotlight. I’ve judged several awards and written many winning entries for my own business and others. Here are my top tips on what works...
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7 ways to stay visible in AI search

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AI is changing how customers find you. Here's how to stay ahead. 

Written by Lee Woodman, AGP Digital Strategy Coach

Search behaviour is shifting. Here’s how growth-focused businesses can stay competitive in a digital world powered by AI tools and conversational search. Search engines are no longer just showing links in response to user queries. Google’s AI Overviews, Bing’s Copilot, and ChatGPT with real-time browsing are all designed to give users instant, conversational answers. This means users often get what they need without visiting a website. What this means for growing businesses For growing businesses...
Ty Dol
Case Studies

Changing the Narrative: The Welsh start-up giving dementia care a creative, cultural heart

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"The Start-Up Accelerator gave me the structure, support and belief to turn a deeply personal idea into a sustainable business. It’s helped me lead with purpose and a clear plan."
– Donna Chappell, Founder, Ty Dol

After 17 years working in the NHS and community services, Donna Chappell saw a gap in dementia care, especially in rural Wales. She felt frustrated that people are often treated as passive recipients of support, not individuals with rich identities, skills and stories. That led Donna to create Ty Dol, a Montessori-inspired activity club for people with dementia and long-term health conditions. Grounded in Welsh culture and community, Ty Dol offers hands-on, meaningful experiences —...
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Six innovative founders recognised in Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator Awards

Marking a significant milestone for Welsh entrepreneurship, six entrepreneurs from across Wales have been recognised for their creativity, impact and progress after completing the Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator – an intensive programme designed to help high-potential start-ups fast-track their growth. Delivered through the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP), the Start-Up Accelerator equips early-stage founders with the essential tools, expert support and valuable networks needed to grow and scale their businesses. To date, AGP has...
Câr-y-Môr.
Case Studies

Câr-y-Môr: Regenerating Wales’ coastline through community-owned innovation

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"The Accelerated Growth Programme gave us the confidence, guidance and strategic support to believe in our vision, scale responsibly, and pioneer a new marine industry for Wales."

Câr-y-Môr – For the Love of the Sea in Welsh – is Wales’ first community-owned regenerative seaweed and shellfish farm. Based in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, it has a bold vision for coastal regeneration, restoring marine ecosystems and creating sustainable livelihoods. Operating as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), Câr-y-Môr is a multi-generational movement to reconnect people with the sea, the land, and each other. Every pound made is reinvested into the community, and every member has...
Hair Syrup
Case Studies

From side hustle to a £6.5 million beauty sensation: How the Accelerated Growth Programme supported Hair Syrup’s meteoric rise

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"The Accelerated Growth Programme’s strategic guidance helped me shift from daily troubleshooting to driving the brand’s growth and innovation."

Hair Syrup, founded by Pembrokeshire-born Lucie Macleod while she was still at university in 2020, has quickly evolved from a student passion project into one of Wales’s hottest start-ups. What began as a homemade hair oil brand, fuelled by Lucie's own experiences and viral success on TikTok, rapidly transformed into a multimillion-pound beauty phenomenon. Despite leaving BBC’s Dragons’ Den without investment, the appearance catapulted Hair Syrup into the spotlight, igniting a strategic rebranding and a...

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