JCP Director Named as Finalist in IoD Director of the Year Awards

Richard Howells, Head of Lifetime Planning Disputes at JCP Solicitors has been shortlisted in the IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2017, which honour many of Wales’ most influential and motivational business leaders.

Over 35 directors have been shortlisted across the award’s ten categories, which include three new categories this year –  Finance Director of the Year, Director in Human Resources and Director in a Start-Up Business.

Richard has been shortlisted in the Young Director of the Year category, and said: “I am delighted to have made the shortlist in the IoD Directors of the Year Awards 2017. The IoD Awards recognise excellence in key areas such as innovation, training, business growth, ethical behaviour and community engagement  - all of which are priorities for me, and for the company as a whole. So this is a very pleasing nomination.

“I find myself in good company on this shortlist, with Directors from some of the most impressive companies and social enterprises in Wales, and I am looking forward to the next stage of the judging process.”

Finalists represent a range of businesses from all parts of the country and will now attend the awards final ceremony on Friday, May 19, to celebrate their achievements.

He is up against other finalists Rob Dance, Emma Hill and Anthony Bullick from RockIT Ltd,  Pembrokeshire Falconry Ltd, and Outwrite PR in the same category.

The awards, now in their seventh year, have become an established highlight on the Welsh business calendar and celebrate business achievements and inspirational leaders across Wales while bringing all sectors of the business community together, irrespective of size, geography and longevity.

Winners from the Welsh regional awards - which are once again sponsored by Cardiff Business School - are forwarded for the IoD National awards which culminate in an Awards Lunch in London in the autumn. 

Last year, Welsh winners Elin Wyn, business lecturer and Chair of Chapter; Peter Thomas, MD of Contract Services Group; Jeff Farrar, Chief Constable of Gwent Police and David Gray, Managing Director of TB Davies ladders specialists, represented Wales at the UK finals.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Director of Institute of Directors in Wales said: “The profile of these awards continues to exceed expectations as they attract entries from the very best in Wales.   

“There are thousands of businesses across Wales with good stories to tell and which are making a positive impact in their communities and to the wider Wales economy and this year’s shortlist certainly reflects this. Well done to all finalists and thank you to all who entered – competition was more rigorous than ever again this year. The number and quality of entries excel year on year and we are very much looking forward to the event and look forward to seeing you there.

“My thanks go to our principal sponsor - Cardiff Business School and to all our category sponsors.”

Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School said: “As a School, we are proud to participate in this annual celebration of excellence.

“Each year, I am inspired by the innovation, creativity and ambition of the nominees and eagerly await the awards lunch to recognise the achievements and successes of Welsh businesses.

“Since becoming Dean of Cardiff Business School in October 2012, I have worked to enable and extend our contribution to the local economy, to our students, to the creation and development of knowledge, and to society as a whole.

“Our economic contribution is well documented, with recent analysis showing that we contribute over £200million to the local economy. Our teaching excellence has been recognised with a top 100 placement in the 2016-2017 Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings, and our research output ranked 6th (out of 101 business schools) in the UK.

“We educate almost 3,000 students annually and produce work-ready, diligent and creative graduates who think differently and strive to provoke positive change to business practice and society. This is in line with our distinctive and progressive Public Value strategy, which focuses on promoting economic and social improvement through our teaching, research and governance.”

ITV Wales is media partner for the prestigious event and Effective Communication is PR partner.

Huw Rossiter, Public Affairs Manager at ITV Cymru Wales said:  "ITV Cymru Wales is delighted to once again be media partner to the IoD Director of the Year Awards. Business coverage is an important part of our news mix and we look forward to another successful event celebrating the very best in Welsh business."

There is no shortlist for the Talent & Innovation Award, which is sponsored by ACCA Cymru Wales and awarded at the discretion of the judging panel and sponsor, who announce a winner at the ceremony. 

The annual Director’s Award and Chairman’s Award will also be announced on the day.

Winners of all the categories will be announced at the Awards Lunch on Friday 19th May at The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff.  A booking form for the lunch is available on the IoD website or you can email tracy@marshmarketing.co.uk.

IoD Wales Director of the Year Finalists 2017:

Director of the Year  - Corporate Responsibility – sponsored by Welsh Government

• Patrick Nash                Connect Assist           (Nantgarw, Cardiff)
• Stephen Jones             SANS Institute            (Swansea)
• Marcia Sinfield             Tai Calon Housing        (Blaina)

Director in a Family Business - Sponsored by Retail Merchandising Services Ltd

• Julian Cruttenden           Welsh Hills Bakery Ltd       (Hirwaun, Aberdare) 
• Bradley Cummings         Tiny Rebel Brewery            (Rogerstone, NP) 
• Chris Macnamara           The Brogue Trader,             (Cardiff)
• Miriam Warner                Miracle Workers Agency     (Abergavenny)

Finance Director of the Year

• Steven Ades                   Aerfin Ltd                            (Bedwas, Caerphilly) 
• Andrew Gibbs                 Bridgend College                  (Bridgend)
• Mark Burn                      Henry Howard Finance PLC   (Langstone, Newport)

Director of the Year - Human Resources – sponsored by Acorn Executive Search

• Maxine Wiseman               Trivallis                 (Pontypridd)
• Corinna Lloyd-Jones           Menter a Busnes   (Aberystwyth) 
• Gaynor Morris-Davies         Pobl Group            (Newport) 
• Donna Howells                   United Welsh         (Caerphilly)  

Director of the Year - Medium/Large Business

• Tony Barry                Brakel Airvent                   (Cardiff)
• Scott Liddle              Acorn Recruitment             (Newport)
• Peter Thomas           Contract Services Group    (Port Talbot)

Director of the Year - Public Sector - sponsored by Academi Wales

• Debra Barber                Cardiff Airport                             (Vale of Glamorgan)
• Gareth Chapman           Merthyr Tydfil County Borough     (Merthyr)
• Mark Jones                  Gower College                             (Swansea)

Director of the Year - Small Business - Sponsored by Darwin Gray

• James Smith        DevOpGuys,             (Cardiff)
• Liam Giles            Spindogs                  (Cardiff) 
• Steve Jones         Comparison Creator   (Cwmbran)
• Craig Palfrey         Penguin Wealth LLP  (Cardiff )
• Gareth Williams     Tiny Rebel                (Newport)

Director of the Year - Social Enterprise - sponsored by Legal & General

• Matthew Cole          Gofal Enterprises Limited    (Bridgend)
• Liz Andrews            Cancer Research Wales      (Cardiff) 
• Caroline Phipps       Drugaid Cymru,                   (Newport)

Director of the Year - Start-Up - sponsored by Airvent

• Anita Davies                 Knotweed Support                                    (Llanelli)
• Danni Watts-Jones        DWJ Wealth Management Ltd                    (Baglan, NPT)
• Glyn Jenkins                 Bastleford Engineering and Consultancy     (Pembrokeshire)

Young Director of the Year - Sponsored by Tidal Lagoon

• Rob Dance            RockIT Ltd                                  (Pencoed, Bridgend)
• Emma Hill             Pembrokeshire Falconry LTD        (Llandissilio)
• Anthony Bullick     Outwrite PR                                 (Mold)
• Richard Howells    JCP Solicitors                              (Carmarthen)