BusinessIn Wales

Technology & Innovation

FOR Cardiff: AI and the future of the City

FOR Cardiff: AI and the future of the City FOR Cardiff: AI and the future of the City Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Artificial intelligence is no longer something happening somewhere else. It is already shaping how organisations operate, how decisions are made and, increasingly, how cities are understood by the outside world. For places like Cardiff, that presents both opportunity and risk. Much of the public conversation around AI focuses on productivity, automation and efficiency. Those matter, but they only tell part of the story. Increasingly, AI tools are influencing perception. They are answering questions about where to visit, where to invest and where to do business. In many cases, they are doing so without people ever visiting an official website or reading a carefully crafted strategy document. That shift is subtle, but significant. For the first time, places are being interpreted not primarily through their own voice, but through algorithms trained on everything that has ever been written about them. Some of that content is accurate and positive. Some of it is outdated, partial or misleading. The challenge for cities is not whether this is happening, but whether we choose to engage with it. At FOR Cardiff, we have been exploring what this means in practice. Like many organisations, we are already using AI tools in small but meaningful ways. They have helped us summarise large volumes of consultation responses quickly, freeing up staff time to focus on analysis and engagement.  In other areas, they have been far less reliable. Large language models are impressive at language, but poor at tasks requiring numerical precision. Anyone who has seen them struggle with simple counting exercises will recognise that these tools are not a substitute for judgement or expertise. That distinction matters. Innovation is not about replacing understanding. It is about augmenting it. Used well, AI can support better decision making. Used carelessly, it can undermine confidence, accuracy and trust. The governance questions are just as important. We have clear policies in place about what AI can and cannot be used for. There are tasks where automation is helpful, and others where human oversight is essential, particularly where legal, financial or ethical consequences are involved. There are also growing questions around energy use, creative authenticity and inclusion. Innovation without ethics is not progress. It is acceleration without direction. One of the most striking insights from recent discussions has been how quickly AI is becoming a source of information for businesses themselves. As we approach our third term ballot this June (head to our website for more info), it is entirely reasonable to assume that some of our members will turn to chatbots to understand what they are voting on. That prompted us to test what those tools currently say about FOR Cardiff. The results were largely balanced and factual, but they were also revealing. They highlighted how easily misunderstandings can arise, and how important it is that accurate, up to date information is publicly available and easy for both people and machines to access. In a world where fewer people read long documents, clarity and transparency are not just good practice. They are essential. This has wider implications for the city. Anecdotally, destination organisations are already seeing a reduction in direct website traffic as visitors ask AI tools where to go and what to do. That changes the rules of place marketing. It reduces control over narrative, but it also creates opportunities for a broader and more authentic picture of a city to emerge. The question is whether cities are ready to engage at that level. Do we understand what information is being surfaced? Are we correcting inaccuracies? Are we collaborating across organisations to ensure that the story being told about our place reflects reality rather than assumption? Cities that approach AI thoughtfully have an opportunity to strengthen trust, competitiveness and reputation. Those that ignore it risk being defined by others.  The future of the city will not be shaped by technology alone, but by how we choose to govern and apply it. Innovation, in that sense, is not about tools. It is about intent. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

Food & Drink

Backing hospitality in Wales

Backing hospitality in Wales Backing hospitality in Wales Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Food and drink businesses are not peripheral to the economy. They are central to how communities function, how people connect, and how places come alive. From city centres to market towns and rural villages, they underpin local economies, support employment at scale, and provide the shared spaces that give places their character. They are also one of the most important gateways into work. Food and drink businesses offer accessible, flexible employment and rapid skills development, particularly for younger people and those entering the workforce for the first time. That matters acutely in cities like Cardiff. According to the 2021 Census, more than a quarter of the city’s residents aged five and over are schoolchildren or students in full time education, the highest proportion of any local authority in Wales. The 20 to 24 age group is now the largest five year age bracket in the city. Hospitality businesses are not just places students enjoy, they are where many earn, gain experience and begin their working lives. That is why decisions affecting the sector deserve careful and joined up consideration. The recent decision to introduce additional business rates relief for hospitality and live music venues in Wales was welcomed by many operators after sustained pressure from across the sector. It demonstrated that engagement and evidence can influence policy. Listening matters. But so does understanding how decisions land in practice. For many businesses, what is described as relief still results in higher costs than before. Revaluation, rising wage costs, supply chain inflation, energy pressures and compliance requirements are all hitting at once. Hospitality operates on long horizons. Kitchens, venues and teams are built over years, not months. Short term support does not provide the certainty needed to invest in people, premises or innovation. Instead, businesses retreat into survival mode. Training budgets shrink. Refurbishments are paused. New ideas are put on hold. This matters not just for individual operators, but for communities. Across the UK, pubs continue to close at an alarming rate, with around one closing every day over the past year. Since 2020, more than 2,000 pubs have disappeared altogether. In many rural areas, the local pub is one of the last remaining shared spaces. Its loss is not simply commercial.  It removes a meeting place, a support network and a sense of belonging. Research consistently shows that pubs and similar venues play a vital role in tackling loneliness and social isolation. When they disappear, communities feel the impact. Against that backdrop, there has been recent commentary from the First Minister about encouraging people to spend less time at home and more time in shared social spaces. That aspiration only works if those spaces are viable and sustainable. Encouraging social behaviour without supporting the places that enable it is a contradiction. There is also a growing competitiveness issue between Wales and England. In England, hospitality businesses benefit from greater clarity and longer-term certainty around support.  In Wales, relief remains more limited and short term. That difference feeds directly into investment decisions. When operators begin to question whether opening or expanding a venue would be cheaper just across the border, that should concern anyone focused on economic growth and place making. Food and drink businesses employ people at scale, particularly younger workers and those seeking flexible entry points into employment. They absorb risk when the wider economy tightens. Undermining their stability risks fewer jobs, reduced opportunity and weaker town and city centres. None of this is about dismissing progress where it has been made. It is about recognising that the underlying challenge has not been resolved. If Wales wants a thriving food and drink sector, policy must reflect how these businesses operate in reality and how investment decisions are made. Business rates are part of that conversation, but so is how we value the sector itself. These businesses are not simply occupiers of property. They are employers, trainers, community anchors and drivers of footfall. Treating them as civic infrastructure rather than a discretionary sector would be a meaningful step forward. The recent decision shows that listening is possible. The task now is to build on that and ensure Wales remains a place where food and drink businesses can thrive, bringing people together, creating jobs and strengthening communities across the country. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

Construction, Public Sector & Government, Residential Property

Getting the balance right in Cardiff’s property market

Getting the balance right in Cardiff’s property market Getting the balance right in Cardiff’s property market Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Property is once again at the centre of debate about the future of Cardiff city centre. Empty units, changes of use, student accommodation and the rise of Build to Rent are often discussed in isolation, but they are all symptoms of a single challenge: how we balance competing demands to create a city that works economically, socially and over the long term. City centres are no longer defined by a single dominant use. Retail has contracted, offices have evolved, and residential living has moved into the heart of urban areas. Many people who work in the city choose to live in nearby neighbourhoods. Recently, Pontcanna was recognised nationally as one of the best places to live in the UK, reflecting the strength of Cardiff’s wider residential offer beyond the city centre. This shift has been accelerated by hybrid working, changing consumer behaviour and sustained population growth. These trends are not unique to us, but how we respond to them will shape our competitiveness for decades to come. The growth of purpose-built student accommodation in Cardiff is a good example. The challenge here is not students, but seasonality. Large volumes of under occupied accommodation can affect footfall, local businesses and the perception of activity in parts of the city centre at certain times of year. As a result, many developers are exploring alternative uses for these buildings, including conversion to accommodation aimed at professionals and young families. This is where care is needed. Student housing and Build to Rent are fundamentally different products. Student schemes are typically designed for short term, high turnover living, while Build to Rent is about long-term residency, quality management and amenity. Where change of use happens without clear standards, there is a risk of creating housing that is not well suited to either market. That risks undermining confidence in city centre living and weakening the emerging Build to Rent sector that has the potential to bring stability and year-round occupation. Build to Rent has an important role to play in Cardiff’s future, particularly for young professionals and key workers who want flexibility and proximity to work. When done well, it supports local services, retail and culture throughout the week and across the year. But it is not a silver bullet, and it must sit within a wider housing strategy that includes a range of tenures and price points. Crucially, property strategy in Cardiff cannot focus on housing alone. If the city is serious about attracting major employers and senior roles, it also needs sufficient, high quality office stock. Businesses looking to locate or expand along the M4 corridor consider not only talent pipelines, but whether senior staff can work effectively and live well in the same city. Office contraction without replacement, or residential growth without employment space, risks weakening Cardiff’s offer. This matters because Cardiff competes differently. Average salaries here are lower than in parts of the corridor closer to London, but our quality of life is a genuine strength. Shorter commutes, access to culture, green space and a compact city centre are real advantages. To convert that into inward investment, we need the right balance of offices, homes and amenities so that people can build careers and lives here with confidence. Getting that balance right is not about choosing between students and professionals, or homes and offices. It is about recognising that cities function as systems. Property decisions affect workforce retention, business confidence, footfall and economic resilience. Cardiff has the opportunity to mature into a city centre that works all day, every day, for residents, workers, students and visitors alike. That will only happen if property strategy is treated not as a series of planning decisions, but as a core part of our economic strategy. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

Recruitment

Recruitment, costs and the case for inclusive leadership

Recruitment, costs and the case for inclusive leadership Recruitment, costs and the case for inclusive leadership Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Recruitment continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing businesses across Cardiff and Wales.  While headline employment figures can suggest stability, the lived experience for employers tells a more complex story.  Rising operating costs, skills shortages and increasing regulatory demands are reshaping how businesses recruit, retain and support their workforce. The cost of doing business has risen sharply in recent years. Energy prices, rent, business rates, wage pressures and supply chain costs now place sustained strain on many organisations, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.  For sectors such as retail, hospitality and the visitor economy, these pressures leave little room to invest in recruitment, training or progression. Instead, businesses are often forced into short-term decisions, prioritising survival over long-term workforce development. At the same time, recent changes introduced through the Employment Act have created additional challenges.  While the principle of strengthening worker protections is widely supported, the pace and complexity of implementation have proved difficult for many employers to navigate.  Increased administrative requirements, uncertainty around compliance and the fear of unintended consequences are leading some businesses to delay recruitment altogether.  In a tight labour market, that caution has implications for productivity, service quality and growth. These challenges do not affect everyone equally. Evidence from the CBI Wales report on women in leadership highlights how economic pressure and structural barriers continue to disproportionately impact women.  Women are more likely to work in sectors most exposed to rising costs, more likely to take on unpaid caring responsibilities, and more likely to be affected when flexibility is reduced.  When recruitment slows and progression opportunities narrow, it is often women whose careers stall first. The CBI report is clear that removing barriers to women’s leadership is not just a matter of fairness, but of economic necessity.  Businesses that fail to draw on the full talent pool limit their own resilience and competitiveness.  In Cardiff, where large parts of the economy rely on sectors with high female employment, recruitment challenges risk reinforcing inequality unless deliberate action is taken. There is, however, cause for optimism. FOR Cardiff’s recent report, The City We Have. The City We Want., sets out a vision for a more inclusive and resilient city economy.  It recognises that Cardiff’s future success depends on better-quality jobs, stronger progression routes and a city centre that works for the people who sustain it as much as those who visit.  Recruitment, in this context, is not just about filling vacancies but about creating an environment where people can build sustainable careers. That thinking is reflected in practical initiatives already underway. FOR Cardiff’s Equality City Development Programme is designed to support people from underrepresented groups to build leadership skills, confidence and professional networks.  Alongside this, our internship scheme, delivered in partnership with Cardiff University, is now in its fourth year, supporting graduates and early-career talent to gain meaningful experience within the city centre economy.  Many participants have gone on to secure permanent roles following their internships, demonstrating the value of creating structured pathways into employment rather than relying on ad hoc recruitment. These programmes recognise that talent exists across our city, but opportunity does not always follow.  By investing in inclusive leadership development and early career routes, businesses can begin to address some of the structural challenges highlighted in the CBI report, while also strengthening their own future workforce. Recruitment is often framed as a problem to be solved. In reality, it is a signal.  It tells us where systems are under strain, where policy and practice are misaligned, and where intervention is needed.  If Cardiff is to thrive in the years ahead, we must respond to that signal with clarity and ambition, ensuring that rising costs and regulatory change do not entrench inequality, but instead drive smarter, more inclusive approaches to work and leadership. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts No Posts Found!

HR & Culture

Christmas in Cardiff: More Than Just a Celebration

Christmas in Cardiff: More Than Just a Celebration Christmas in Cardiff: More Than Just a Celebration Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  As Wales prepares to welcome investors from across the world to the ICC this December for its biggest ever business event, the message is clear: we are a nation with ambition.  From semiconductors to space technology, Wales is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation and sustainable growth.  It is an exciting time, but also important to remember that the foundations of our economy matter just as much as our ambitions for the future. The weeks ahead are among the busiest of the year for the sectors that form those foundations. In every city, retail, hospitality and culture provide the heartbeat that keeps people connected and communities resilient. These sectors employ thousands, offer first jobs and create the welcoming and distinctive places that investors want to be part of. Yet they are often taken for granted, seen as background activity rather than a vital economic driver. At FOR Cardiff, we see every day how this foundation economy powers our city. This Christmas we are working in partnership with Visit Cardiff to promote the city’s vibrant retail and hospitality offer, aligning our messaging to present Cardiff as one unified Christmas destination.  Our campaign celebrates the full festive experience, from shopping and dining to cultural highlights such as the return of the popular light projection at Cardiff Central Station and a new installation at Cardiff Market. Created by Illuminos, the Market projection features a robin flying among the stalls, while the Central Station display draws inspiration from Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Running from 13 November, these installations add atmosphere and pride to the city centre. To make visiting Cardiff easier, FOR Cardiff is also running a weekend Park and Ride service from 15 November to 21 December from the Q Park in the Bay.  Operating every Saturday and Sunday, it will help reduce the road and car park pressures seen in previous years while encouraging more people to enjoy the city’s festive offer.  Together, these initiatives show how collaboration and imagination can strengthen the city centre experience, building confidence and connection at a time when businesses need it most. Retail and hospitality are not only central to Cardiff’s character but to its economic strength. Tourism already supports around one in ten jobs in the city, equivalent to roughly 22,000 people, and this rises to around one in five when retail, leisure and cultural roles are included.  The visitor economy contributes an estimated £1.6 billion annually, with nearly half of that spending coming from food, drink and shopping. These are not peripheral industries; they are central to Cardiff’s prosperity, its sense of identity and its appeal to investors and visitors alike. Yet while Cardiff prepares to sparkle, many hospitality and retail businesses remain under real strain. The Welsh Government’s decision to extend business rate relief for retail but not for hospitality has left many operators feeling exposed and unsupported.  For restaurants, bars and venues, this time of year may bring full tables, but rising costs, wages and energy bills mean profit margins remain narrow.  Once the decorations come down in January, the realities of a difficult trading environment will quickly return, and for many, 2026 looks set to be an especially challenging year without government intervention. The Welsh Government’s Investment Summit is rightly focused on attracting high value sectors and international capital, but the foundation economy cannot be left behind. Investment is not only about infrastructure; it is about environment.  When investors visit Cardiff, they experience the buzz of the city centre, the warmth of our hospitality and the vibrancy of our cultural scene.  Those impressions shape confidence and influence decisions about where to invest and grow. With a vital Senedd election coming up FOR Cardiff are calling on the next welsh Government to support our high streets with specific revenue funding.  So often the focus in our places is on building the next shiny new thing but each new thing eventually becomes old – it’s the day to day operation of a place that really matters. The festive season is more than a celebration. It is a stress test for the health of our economy, revealing whether our city centres are thriving and whether our local businesses feel supported.  The foundation economy might not feature in investment brochures, but it underpins everything else. As global delegates arrive in Wales this December, their experience of our illuminated streets, restaurants and markets will say as much about our future as any speech or strategy.  The strongest economies are those built from the ground up, supporting ambition and the everyday in equal measure. Want more from Businessin Wales? 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Construction

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Building Town Centres That Last

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Building Town Centres That Last Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Building Town Centres That Last Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  The construction impulse is seductive. In town centres across Wales, the promise of visible change, a new quarter, a revived façade, is often the first thing politicians reach for.  But as the Audit Wales review of town centre regeneration bluntly put it, “funding is heavily focused on capital and physical regeneration but often the challenge for local authorities is insufficient revenue to fund posts, especially town-centre management, marketing, data analysis, land assembly, and legal services.” That mismatch is not mere bureaucratic niggle. It is a structural fault line in how we invest in places. Because once the scaffolding comes down and the ribbon is cut, the real work begins. Without people, systems, and budgets to sustain what has been built, the shiny new infrastructure can all too quickly start to fray. In Wales, schemes like the Transforming Towns fund are laudably trying to shift the dial. The Pride in Place scheme promises revenue support, but only to a select number of towns, implicitly acknowledging that many others also need help simply to keep the lights on and the programmes running. This is where BIDs, Business Improvement Districts, and equivalent revenue-led vehicles could play a critical role. Their strength lies in running the day-to-day: place marketing, events, business engagement, data capture, cleaning, small grants, and branding. These are not glamorous line items in a capital grant application, but they are the connective tissue that keeps regeneration alive. Cardiff provides some telling lessons. On Queen Street, cracked paving slabs have required temporary tarmac patches that may be practical but send an unmistakable signal of underinvestment in maintenance.  And at Central Square, while the redevelopment has delivered modern transport infrastructure, it has often been criticized for lacking personality and focusing too heavily on crowd control and queuing for events.  For what should be the primary gateway to Wales’ capital, it feels like a missed opportunity to create a welcoming civic heart that celebrates the city rather than a space defined by functionality alone.  Together these examples show how the absence of long-term stewardship and creative thinking can undermine otherwise ambitious investments. By contrast, many international examples show what can be achieved when long-term stewardship is prioritized. In Bilbao, investment went beyond the iconic Guggenheim to include well-maintained squares and streets designed for residents as much as visitors.  This culture of continuous upkeep reinforces civic pride and ensures that regeneration does not just deliver eye-catching projects but spaces people genuinely want to use. Beyond that, projects often require complementary soft infrastructure: property enforcement, dealing with problem landowners, leasing advice, small grants for shopfront improvements, and permit regimes.  These are the legal, administrative and relationship-building costs that underpin any successful regeneration. Audit Wales found that local authorities across Wales often lack the capacity, skills and multi-year certainty to deliver these. Drawing lessons from both the UK and abroad, the High Streets Task Force has repeatedly urged that to revive town centres you must build with people, not just for them. That means stronger governance, active engagement, continuous programming, monitoring and flexibility. The built fabric is essential, but insufficient on its own. In short, we cannot build our way to sustainable town centres. The shiny new quarter or retail block might attract attention, but without investment in people, programming, data, maintenance and organizational longevity, they risk becoming underused or deteriorating.  As 2028 approaches and the wave of projects accelerates in Cardiff and beyond, the danger is that we double down on what is visible and neglect what is invisible yet vital. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify No Posts Found!

HR & Culture

Belonging Through Culture, Why the Third Sector Matters

Belonging Through Culture, Why the Third Sector Matters Belonging Through Culture, Why the Third Sector Matters Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  What makes a place feel like home is rarely the bricks and mortar. It is the people, the stories we tell, and the spaces where those stories are shared. Across the UK, and especially in Cardiff, it is the third sector that keeps this cultural life breathing. Charities, community groups, and social enterprises shape identity in ways that commercial venues cannot, because their purpose is participation, not profit. A Welsh icon of architecture and arts, the Wales Millennium Centre is a registered charity that welcomes world-class acts and performances while nurturing local talent. Chapter Arts Centre sustains a year-round programme that supports artists and audiences from every neighbourhood. The Sherman Theatre is a registered charity that champions new Welsh writing, develops talent, and brings young people and communities into the heart of its work. Alongside fellow FOR Cardiff members, the National Museum Cardiff and the Museum of Cardiff, these organisations show how cultural charities are woven into the fabric of the city centre and the Bay, and how business and the third sector can pull together for a stronger place. The charitable model matters because it gives space for risk and discovery. Charitable venues nurture new voices and innovative ideas. They offer rehearsal rooms for grassroots groups and platforms for work that might never make it onto a commercial stage. Accountability and measures of “success” rest with communities and their funders rather than shareholders, so decisions are guided by public or social value. That is why these places carry such trust: they are held for all of us, and they exist to widen who gets to take part. Accessibility for all sits at the core of this mission. Free-entry museums in the city centre and pay-what-you-can performances remove simple financial barriers. Open workshops, after-school clubs, and neighbourhood exhibitions extend the welcome further. Access also means representation, whether you are a seasoned culture vulture or simply curious to explore. When a child sees their language or family heritage reflected on a gallery wall, or when a new resident finds their traditions celebrated at a festival, the signal is simple and powerful: you belong here. In a diverse and changing city, that feeling is not a luxury—it is essential civic infrastructure. This work delivers both social and economic dividends. Cultural charities bring people into the city centre throughout the week and into the evenings, growing the foundation economy of cafés, restaurants, and shops. They generate skilled jobs, create apprenticeships, and offer volunteering routes that give people the experience and confidence to shape their careers. Culture is also a powerful magnet for talent. Cardiff University may be the only Russell Group institution in Wales, but what persuades a student to choose Cardiff over other excellent universities across the UK? The answer is often the city itself. Arts and culture define the atmosphere and personality of a place, showing prospective students not just where they might study, but why they would want to live their lives here. None of this can be taken for granted. Public funding is tight, particularly in Wales, and costs are rising. Cultural charities need audiences, donors, volunteers, and advocates. They also need practical support from partners across sectors and stakeholders to make access real for the people who will benefit most. A thriving city is one where people recognise themselves in the culture around them. Thanks to its cultural charities and third sector organisations, Cardiff offers more than just an excellent retail and hospitality experience. It offers places where we can see ourselves and each other, where newcomers feel welcome and long-term residents feel proud, and where the next generation can imagine their future here. That is the quiet power of the third sector, and it is a strength we all have the responsibility to protect and celebrate. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Uncategorised Robertson Geo targets new international markets after global growth surge Sustainability & Environment, Technology & Innovation, Uncategorised Template Uncategorised

Food & Drink, HR & Culture

How Cardiff can keep the music playing

How Cardiff can keep the music playing How Cardiff can keep the music playing Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Cardiff is having an unforgettable year for live music, and we’re not done yet. From kicking off the Oasis reunion at the Principality Stadium to Stevie Wonder headlining at the new Blackweir site, this summer has placed Cardiff shoulder to shoulder with Europe’s biggest cultural capitals. There’s an undeniable buzz in the city – and if you work in hospitality, run a retail unit, or manage a city centre venue, you’ll have felt the impact too. At FOR Cardiff – as the Business Improvement District (BID) for the Welsh capital – we represent over 800 city centre businesses – and from our members, the message is clear: when the city hosts major events, everyone wins. Hotels fill up, restaurant bookings soar, and footfall on the high street increases markedly. These events are more than just entertainment, they’re catalysts for economic activity and cultural pride.  This impact isn’t just anecdotal, it’s measurable. According to July 2025 data from Beauclair, monthly sales in Cardiff city centre hit £44.1 million, up 15.6% on the previous year. This was driven by a 17.5% increase in customer numbers, with entertainment sales seeing an extraordinary 231% year-on-year surge. Hospitality benefited enormously, with Food & Drink sales rising by over 20% to reach £18 million for the month. We saw this even more acutely during the Oasis gigs at the Principality Stadium, when many venues reported their busiest trading weekend of the year. Some operators even described sales rising to three or four times their usual levels. Crucially, these aren’t just local audiences spending money either. Beauclair’s customer catchment analysis shows that only 32.8% of sales in July 2025 came from the Cardiff region. That means well over two-thirds of city centre spending came from visitors, including the Rest of GB (19.8%), Rest of Wales (11.7%), and the M4 Corridor (2.4%) – all of which saw an increase in their share of spend compared to the same time last year. But the real question is: how do we keep the momentum going? The opening of Blackweir Fields as a new large-scale concert site has unlocked huge potential, offering a central, greenfield venue. It joins Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium, and the Utilita Arena in creating a full ecosystem of live performance spaces in the city. But firstly, infrastructure must keep pace. The city needs consistent investment in public transport and night-time travel to ensure gig-goers can move around safely and easily – particularly as we attract more visitors from outside the region. Second, we need to continue investing in public spaces, amenities, and the visitor experience so that Cardiff not only hosts great gigs but becomes a place people want to return to again and again. Looking ahead, the arrival of the new arena in Cardiff Bay presents an exciting opportunity to reimagine the city’s music offering for the next generation. But that doesn’t mean the smaller city centre venues no longer matter. Mid-sized venues remain essential to the industry’s ecosystem, providing space for comedy, sport, and artists on the rise. They complement, rather than compete with, the larger stages. Crucially, keeping the momentum alive isn’t just about bookings, it’s about legacy. That means working together as a city to train talent, support local creatives, and make sure that as Cardiff grows its reputation as a music city, it also grows its benefits to the people who live and work here every day. We’ve proven this summer that Cardiff can deliver at the highest level. The challenge now is to build on that success to ensure the music never stops. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Audible Uncategorised Ffeibr delivers first commercial fibre contract for Cloud Centres Networks Technology & Innovation, Tourism & Travel, Transport & Infrastructure, Uncategorised Welsh Government boosts regeneration budget with extra £17m for town and city centres Uncategorised

Food & Drink, Tourism & Travel

Beyond the applause: Why events matter more than ever

Beyond the applause: Why events matter more than ever Beyond the applause: Why events matter more than ever Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Events are no longer just celebrations or headline moments. For cities like Cardiff, they are vital infrastructure, powering local economies, shaping civic identity and supporting jobs. From global sports tournaments and concerts to academic conferences and grassroots festivals, Wales’s diverse events offering is one of its greatest economic assets. Business events are especially valuable, drawing high-spend, high-value visitors who stay overnight, explore the city and often return, contributing to productivity gains, commercial collaboration and Cardiff’s reputation within the knowledge economy. In 2023, Cardiff hosted over 10,000 meetings and conferences, generating £103.4 million in direct delegate spend and supporting 830 full-time jobs. International interest is growing, particularly from the US. Since President Trump came to power again, some organisers are actively seeking European alternatives due to concerns around safety and inclusivity in certain US states. UK cities like Cardiff benefit from this shift, offering stability, accessible safe spaces with a strong track record in hosting inclusive events. This gives us a competitive edge with delegates who prioritise equality and community. Yet Cardiff still faces structural challenges, primarily the absence of a purpose-built, high-spec conference venue. The city offers a mix of flexible spaces, city centre hotels and iconic sites like the Utilita Arena and the Principality Stadium but lacks a dedicated facility to host major business events. Cardiff’s hotels are an important part of the business events offering, providing versatile meeting spaces and hosting a wide range of corporate events.  The ICC Wales was positioned at the Celtic Manor in Newport, but we know there is clear demand from both the public and private sectors for such a venue to exist within Cardiff itself. Without it, our ability to compete for international conferences and high-value bookings remains limited. Since the pandemic, the business events landscape has changed. Organisers are booking smaller events with shorter lead times. Flexibility, speed and local support now matter more than ever. That shift plays to Cardiff’s strengths: our compact city centre, walkability and strong hospitality base. But without the right infrastructure, even agile cities struggle to meet demand. To grow, we need joined-up planning. Investment in transport, digital infrastructure and the public realm is vital. So too is support for the small businesses that power events, from production teams to caterers, logistics providers and security staff. Business events are catalysts for knowledge exchange, inward investment and economic resilience. They attract global networks, drive innovation and support key growth sectors in Wales such as fintech, creative industries and life sciences. As city and national priorities evolve, they must be recognised not simply as operational logistics, but as strategic tools for economic development. For Cardiff to fulfil its role as Wales’s business capital, we must ensure that business events are not overshadowed by entertainment-led activity. Business leaders have a vital role to play, both in advocating for investment in core infrastructure and in actively promoting Cardiff as a world-class destination for professional gatherings. As we look ahead, events must be seen as strategic assets, not just moments of excitement or a day of professional insight. They bring people together, boost local economies and tell the story of a confident, welcoming Wales. But to unlock their full potential, we must plan for growth, invest with intention and collaborate across sectors. Cardiff has the brand, creativity and ambition to lead. Now it needs the infrastructure and coordination to match. Diverse, well-managed events and first-class venues create lasting value, economic, cultural and civic. It is time we treat them accordingly. Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials Linkedin X Instagram TikTok Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Audible Uncategorised Welsh Government boosts regeneration budget with extra £17m for town and city centres Uncategorised

Tourism & Travel, Transport & Infrastructure

From Cardiff to Copenhagen: What our capital can learn from leading cities

From Cardiff to Copenhagen: What our capital can learn from leading cities From Cardiff to Copenhagen: What our capital can learn from leading cities Carolyn Brownell – Executive Director, FOR Cardiff Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.  Cardiff is increasingly recognised as a great place to live, work and do business. With a highly educated workforce, strong quality of life rankings and major infrastructure investment such as the South Wales Metro, the capital has clear strengths. But in today’s competitive landscape, those strengths must be matched by supportive policy, targeted investment and effective governance if Cardiff is to realise its full potential. Across the UK and Europe, cities are positioning themselves as global hubs for innovation, culture and inclusive growth. Cardiff must be empowered to do the same. European cities like Dublin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam show what’s possible when local ambition is matched by the right tools. Dublin’s focus on digital infrastructure and global talent, Copenhagen’s integration of sustainability and quality of life into economic strategy, and Amsterdam’s open regulatory environment have helped them thrive. Closer to home, the 2024 ING Media report shows how UK cities are using culture as an engine of growth. Manchester saw a 12% rise in digital visibility last year thanks to major cultural and sporting events. Bradford, next year’s UK City of Culture, recorded the fastest growth in visibility of any UK city. These cities are attracting attention and investment by turning their soft power into economic power. Cardiff has similar assets: world-class venues, major sporting events, vibrant creative sectors. Yet it ranks just 14th for digital visibility and captures less than 1% of the UK’s total inward investment conversation online. The city has the ingredients, it’s the tools and amplification that are missing. ING’s research shows a direct link between a city’s cultural capital and its ability to attract inward investment. Cities that dominate the conversation around culture, sustainability and talent are also those seen as attractive destinations for business and growth. Cardiff already has an enviable portfolio of cultural and sporting events. From international rugby and football at the Principality Stadium to global music acts, creative festivals and a thriving grassroots scene, the city knows how to deliver memorable moments on the big stage. These events bring people, profile and pride – but too often, their long-term economic potential is left underdeveloped. We need to move from event hosting to legacy building. That means embedding these moments into a wider economic strategy: driving footfall beyond the event day, supporting local creative supply chains, and using the spotlight to amplify Cardiff’s offer to investors, visitors and talent alike. Cardiff has the cultural assets, what’s needed now is a more strategic approach to making them work harder and smarter for the city’s future. Cardiff already contributes significantly to jobs, productivity and cultural capital in Wales. But its role is not always recognised in policy or funding decisions. The capital remains overly reliant on the public sector and lacks the levers to fully shape its economic future. Outdated frameworks like the business rates system are holding back the sectors that make Cardiff visible, vibrant and investable. Retail, hospitality and creative industries are vital to the capital’s city centre economy and cultural identity – yet they face disproportionate costs and policy headwinds. Reforming business rates isn’t just a financial fix. It’s a chance to invest in the places and experiences that define Cardiff’s offer to residents, visitors and investors alike. If we want Cardiff to compete with cities like Manchester or Copenhagen, we must be honest about what’s holding it back. That means: Recognising Cardiff’s unique role and funding it fairly, both at Welsh and UK levels Reforming economic levers like business rates to support culture-led growth Giving the capital more autonomy to shape its economic strategy Proactively investing in Cardiff’s visibility – amplifying its cultural assets and telling its story on the global stage This isn’t about special pleading. It’s about equipping the capital city of Wales with the same tools other ambitious cities use to thrive. Cardiff has the talent, assets and ambition to be one of Europe’s leading small capital cities. But potential alone is not enough. To unlock it, the city must be empowered to lead, not just symbolically, but economically. If Wales is to thrive, its capital must be able to stand tall, tell its story, and drive the nation forward. Want more from Businessin Wales? 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