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Top story
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Assembly call for contractors
The Welsh Assembly this morning called for tenders for a series of multi-million pound contracts to provide architectural, engineering, construction, legal and accounting services. The work, which concerns buildings and property, will be divided into lots, which will be split into three regions to cover South, Mid, and North Wales. Each of the regions will have two types of agreement, one covering single disciplinary areas of expertise, and one covering multi disciplinary areas. Further details are available from John Barbato at the Assemblys Department for the Economy & Transport.
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Dhais sounds out flotation
A Welsh hearing aid company is to float on the junior Plus Market. Dhais, based in Cardiff, is expected to start trading on 16 June. The company is chaired by entrepreneur Mark Moss, who was previously marketing director of Hidden Hearing, which floated in 1998. Dhais generates sales leads for digital hearing aid retailers, manufacturers and distributors. The company hopes floating will raise its profile among potential investors and customers, provide access to funding for acquisitions, and allow shareholders to realise the value of their investments. 
Helicopter buyout takes off
Aviation entrepreneur Julian Verity has led a buyout of Cardiff Heliport and the helicopter service company Veritair with backing from Barclays. The deal gives Verity control of Veritair which he founded in the early 1980s and includes the acquisition of three helicopters and use of an additional helicopter from non-executive director Jeremy Stone. Veritair provides helicopter and pilot services to customers such as the BBC and defence technology group QinetiQ for offshore missile retrieval and digital calibration services. Advisers included Gambit Corporate Finance, Capital Law and Broomfield & Alexander.
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Hotels fill up
Welsh hoteliers recorded robust levels of growth in April, with occupancy high across the country according to figures released by PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. In contrast to March, where the early Easter break meant a year-on-year decline in business travellers, the later 2007 Easter break will have contributed to the buoyant figures for April 2008. Across Wales, occupancy rates jumped from 65 per cent in April 2007 to 76 per cent in April 2008, an increase of 16 per cent. Cardiff saw an increase of 18.4 per cent, and may have benefited from the Millennium stadium hosting high-profile sporting events.
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Property and construction
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"Slum" warning for Bay
Cardiff Bay is a potential slum of the future because of the large number of unsold flats in the area, a senior academic has warned. John Punter, urban design professor at Cardiff University, estimated that between a third and a half of residential flats in the redeveloped area were unoccupied. The lack of occupiers eroded community feeling and was made worse by poor of local facilities. Punters comments were backed by local Welsh Assembly member Lorraine Barrett.
New base for Atkins
The new Cardiff office of engineering and consultancy company Atkins has been opened by Assembly first minister Rhodri Morgan. The building on Newport Road has undergone an extensive refurbishment. It will incorporate Atkins staff from a number of satellite offices across South Wales, who will relocate. Atkins has taken a new 10-year lease on two floors of Longcross Court, which will accommodate more than 200 employees.
Wales Audit Office takes space
Wales Audit Office has acquired a lease for a newly refurbished 24,000 sq ft headquarters in Cardiffs Cathedral Road. The new office, formerly occupied by The Open University, has undergone a nine month refurbishment. As a result, the Wales Audit Office has been able to relocate all of its Cardiff-based staff, formerly located in two separate buildings where leases were coming to an end, under one roof. The building was identified by King Sturge, while Fletcher Morgan advised the landlords.
Swansea lets for LSH
Lambert Smith Hampton has let three properties at the Axis Court office development in Swansea Vale. Finance Wales has taken the first floor of Building 3 and Impact Data & Learning Communications and Swedish bank Handlesbanken have each taken space in Building 14. Impact Data & Learning Communications' lease is for a term of six years, while Handlesbankens spans ten years.
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Search for top PA
Insider is looking for the best PA in Wales to feature in the PA awards, backed by the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff. A shortlist will be unveiled in the July/August edition of Insider and will be judged by a panel including Communications Direct chief executive Matt Burge and City PA managing director Deborah Meredith. Nominations should be sent to csims@parkplazahotels.co.uk by 20 June.
Two new at Milford
Milford Haven Port Authority has beefed up its management team by appointing Joe Besch as commercial director. Besch, who was previously at consultancy MDS Transmodal, hopes to develop opportunities arising from recent land acquisitions at the port. In addition, Tom Kovar, general manager for Chevrons Pembroke refinery, has been appointed as a non-executive director to the port authority board.
Jones steps up at HLM
Jonathan Jones, who founded architecture firm HLMs Cardiff office, has been promoted from associate to regional director. Jones has taken the practice up to 15 staff over the past 18 months. HLM is working on a projects including the redevelopment of St Athan air base and Bettws school in Newport.
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