Inaugural Powys Business Week

Welsh economy guru Alun Powell is one of several experts being lined up to give advice during Powys' first ever business week.

The Powys Business Week 2010 begins on September 20, and will feature a series of seminars and networking events for business people and their employees. The events are part of the run-up to the 2010 Powys Business Awards.

Several venues in the county will be staging seminars on subjects such as the economy and credit markets, business development and marketing, and tapping into social networking opportunities.

Starting off the week's events will be a seminar by Alun Powell, senior economist at HSBC, who will be doing a presentation on the outlook for the global and UK economies. Alun joined Midland, as an economist, in 1972 upon leaving University College of Wales, Aberystwyth with an MSc (Econ) in Economics and Statistics. He has spent his career in various economics roles within Midland/HSBC.

Alun is now a senior economist within HSBC’s Business Economics Unit, which specialises in industrial, regional and market analyses to support credit, marketing and planning policies. His principal area of activity is to monitor trends in the key business segments of personal sector savings, the mortgage and consumer credit markets and business lending. In addition he tracks developments in financial services as well as giving presentations to Bank training courses and to customers.

The seminar is being held at Maesmawr Hall, Caersws on September 20. Refreshments are served from 11.30am, with a noon start, to be followed by a networking buffet. To book a place at the free seminar or to find out more information, register on-line at www.powysbusinessawards.co.uk or telephone 01686 628778.

The 2010 business awards are bigger than last year – with three extra awards categories added and more sponsors getting involved. The awards are organised by MWMG (Mid Wales Manufacturing Group), Powys County Council and the Cambrian News. The business awards and business week culminate in a black-tie dinner in Llandrindod Wells, this year at The Metropole Hotel on September 28.