logo
Tech Company Backs £1bn Regeneration Programme

Tech Company Backs £1bn Regeneration Programme

Elaine and TJ Amas, of Swansea-based DocFlite. Pic: DocFlite
A Swansea-based tech company has backed the city's ongoing £1 billion regeneration programme.
TJ Amas, co-founder of DocFlite, says schemes like 71/72 Kingsway and the Princess Quarter development are positives for Swansea's business community.
Set up in 2019 and based in the Uplands part of the city, DocFlite helps streamline the process of document management. The company's goal is to make it easy for businesses to create, edit and share documents online – from internal staff documentation and contracts to quotes and tenders for work.
The company now has close to 90 clients throughout the UK – many of which are businesses in the cleaning sector. They include several Swansea and Welsh-based businesses like Mrs Buckét, The Ready Maids and FSG.
TJ, who runs DocFlite with his wife, Elaine, said:
'Swansea is a great city to be in the tech sector. Matt Warren at Veeqo has shown what's possible here by growing from a small team to a major business.
'Swansea is also a small city where everything is in close proximity. This means businesses – including those in the tech sector – can benefit from the closeness of the universities, which is ideal if you need support, expertise or collaboration.
'The ongoing regeneration of the city is another big positive, with Swansea Council, other organisations and the private sector investing so much.
'The 71/72 Kingsway development looks like a state-of-the-art facility, along with the Innovation Matrix in SA1. These facilities have the potential to be fantastic opportunities for businesses and real catalysts for growth, along with schemes like the Princess Quarter development which is bringing a touch of London to Swansea.
'Start-up businesses like these environments and it's also fantastic that Tramshed Tech have opened in the Palace Theatre building.'
Father-of-two TJ, who's originally from Nigeria, first arrived in Swansea over 20 years ago to study A Levels at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.
He says businesses are still attracted to co-working spaces and office environments, despite the impact of the pandemic.
TJ said:
'If you're in a co-working space and there's another start-up or business next to you, it helps drive competition and growth. You only get that when you see what others are doing on a day-to-day basis.'
Both the 71/72 Kingsway development and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David's Innovation Matrix scheme are part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal.
The Princess Quarter offices scheme in Swansea city centre is led by Kartay Investments.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FedEx founder Fred Smith, a Marine Corps veteran who revolutionized package delivery, dies at 80
FedEx founder Fred Smith, a Marine Corps veteran who revolutionized package delivery, dies at 80

NBC News

time2 hours ago

  • NBC News

FedEx founder Fred Smith, a Marine Corps veteran who revolutionized package delivery, dies at 80

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred Smith, the FedEx Corp. founder who revolutionized the express delivery industry, has died, the company said. He was 80. FedEx started operating in 1973, delivering small parcels and documents more quickly than the postal service. Over the next half-century, Smith, a Marine Corps veteran, oversaw the growth of a company that became something of an economic bellwether because so many other companies rely on it. Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx became a global transportation and logistics company that averages 17 million shipments per business day. Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained executive chairman. Smith, a 1966 graduate of Yale University, used a business theory he came up with in college to create a delivery system based on coordinated air cargo flights centered on a main hub, a 'hub and spokes' system, as it became known. The company also played a major role in the shift by American business and industry to a greater use of time-sensitive deliveries and less dependence on large inventories and warehouses. Smith once told The Associated Press that he came up with the name Federal Express because he wanted the company to sound big and important when in fact it was a start-up operation with a future far from assured. At the time, Smith was trying to land a major shipping contract with the Federal Reserve Bank that didn't work out. In the beginning, Federal Express had 14 small aircraft operating out of the Memphis International Airport flying packages to 25 U.S. cities. Smith's father, also named Frederick, built a small fortune in Memphis with a regional bus line and other business ventures. Following college, Smith joined the U.S. Marines and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He left the military as a captain in 1969 after two tours in Vietnam where he was decorated for bravery and wounds received in combat. He told The Associated Press in a 2023 interview that everything he did running FedEx came from his experience in the Marines, not what he learned at Yale. Getting Federal Express started was no easy task. Overnight shipments were new to American business and the company had to have a fleet of planes and a system of interconnecting air routes in place from the get-go. Though one of Memphis' best-known and most prominent citizens, Smith generally avoided the public spotlight, devoting his energies to work and family. Despite his low profile, Smith made a cameo appearance in the 2000 movie 'Castaway' starring Tom Hanks. The movie was about a FedEx employee stranded on an island. 'Memphis has lost its most important citizen, Fred Smith,' said U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, citing Smith's support for everything from the University of Memphis to the city's zoo. 'FedEx is the engine of our economy, and Fred Smith was its visionary founder. But more than that, he was a dedicated citizen who cared deeply about our city.' Smith rarely publicized the donations he and his family made, but he agreed to speak with AP in 2023 about a gift to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation to endow a new scholarship fund for the children of Navy service members pursuing studies in STEM. 'The thing that's interested me are the institutions and the causes not the naming or the recognition,' Smith said at the time. Asked what it means to contribute to the public good, he replied: 'America is the most generous country in the world. It's amazing the charitable contributions that Americans make every year. Everything from the smallest things to these massive health care initiatives and the Gates Foundation and everything in between,' he said. 'I think if you've done well in this country, it's pretty churlish for you not to at least be willing to give a pretty good portion of that back to the public interest. And all this is in the great tradition of American philanthropy.'

The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come
The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come

Wales Online

time2 hours ago

  • Wales Online

The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come

The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come We've compiled a list of developments across Swansea that have already been delivered, and what comes next Swansea will look very different in the future, and some of it has already begun to take shape (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The figure £1bn is one that has found its place in news, in the council, on the roads, and several promises by the Swansea Council Leader, Rob Stewart. But what is it actually about? According to the Swansea Council this is the total amount of money that is being invested in the city as the part of a massive 'regeneration' drive by the local authority aimed to transform it. Over the years, we have seen several projects by Swansea Council that have already begun to reshape Swansea into something different. ‌ Some of this sum has already been spent and though there have been some delays in some projects, there are several that have already been completed and several more currently being undertaken. ‌ So where is this money being spent, and who is funding it? We asked Swansea Council exactly this, and have compiled a list of key projects that have been completed, and others that are currently ongoing. Although this is not an exhaustive list, and does not cover some of the projects still being planned, we hope it paints a picture of what has changed in Swansea over the years and what is still to come. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Copr Bay district The Swansea Arena was opened with full pomp and show in 2022 (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below The Swansea Arena was built as part of the £135m Copr Bay District project, and opened in March 2022 after five long years of hard work. The arena was built by the Swansea Council and forms part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project which is partly funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal. The Copr Bay District project gave birth to adjacent coastal park, car park below, the golden pedestrian bridge across Oystermouth Road, and flats and commercial units opposite. ‌ The £135m cost of the project necessitated £96m of council borrowing that was done a low interest rate. This is supposed to be paid back over the course of 40 years, with total borrowing costs amounting to just under £175m. For the project, part of the funding is also coming from the sale of the flats, a Welsh Government loan, and a contribution via the city deal for the Swansea Bay City Region. Since its opening in 2022, the Swansea Arena has attracted more than 750,000 visitors to events like graduations, conferences and creative learning events. It has also attracted major stars like Johnny Depp, and Alice Cooper with The Hollywood Vampires, Gladys Knight and Michael McIntyre. ‌ The unfinished multi-storey car park remains a blot on the project (Image: Richard Youle ) Now, the not so good part. Though a major part of the Copr Bay District project has been built, the multi storey car park for the Swansea Arena that was supposed to open close around the same time as the arena, has not opened for years. Initially, the Buckingham Group was selected as the contractor for the project. However, the car park's completion was already being delayed due to problems with the paintwork coating system , and this was further complicated when the Buckingham Group went into administration . ‌ Though there is hope. With a new firm being appointed to complete the car park in 2024, the council has recently said that it expects the work to be completed by the end of this year. The Palace theatre building Though it doesn't look much different from the outside, the interior has been completely transformed (Image: Richard Youle ) The rejuvenation of the Palace Theatre, a Grade II listed building located on the Prince of Wales Road in Swansea was one of the flagship projects in the £1bn regeneration program for Swansea. ‌ The regeneration project was led and funded by the Swansea council with an investment of over £6.9m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns initiative. The palace was left to its fate until Swansea Council acquired it and began its extensive transformation process. The improved exterior does not look much different, as it stays true to its original 1888 roots. However, its interior, which spans over six floors and a basement, has now been revamped. While the council is still the owner of the building, it is now operated by Tramshed Tech which offers flexible work space, business growth programmes, and skills and training for the creative, digital and technology sectors. ‌ Restoration of Albert Hall The restored Albert Hall was opened in September last year (Image: Richard Youle ) In September last year, another Grade II listed, the Albert Hall located between The Kingsway and De-La-Beche Street was opened after an extensive restoration project. The hall was originally opened as a public assembly hall and concert venue in 1864. After it closed its doors in 2007 as a cinema and bingo hall — its future looked pretty bleak, not much different than the Palace Theatre before its restoration. ‌ Then came the company, LoftCo who not only secured a planning permission from the city council, but also a £5.6m Welsh Government grant, so it could buy and restore the site. In total, the project is expected to have cost close to £9m. The current layout can house 450 people on its ground floor and an additional 100 people on its private entertainment areas above it. The venue boasts of four storeys with a ground-floor food hall and bar, with private entertainment space, offices, studios, visitor accommodation, a gym, and a rooftop garden above. ‌ The Princess Quarter The glass fronted building is hard to miss (Image: Gareth Danks Photography ) Kartay has recently completed the construction of a a multi-million pound office and commercial project called Princess Quarter, on Princess Way at the site of the former Mamma Mia restaurant. The building is a three storey glass fronted monument that boasts of a 15,000 square feet of office space and offers adaptable retail units on the ground floor. ‌ It features a ground-floor reception which has 'luxury communal seating' , alongside concierge service, shower, changing facilities, vanity areas, and secure cycle storage to the rear. Kartay is a development, investment and asset management company, that was set up in 2019. It has since purchased nine 'key buildings" in Swansea's main redevelopment zones. Apart from the Princess Quarter project, the company is also leading the development of Princess House, which is a 10-storey office building in city centre at 1 Oxford Street, a five-storey commercial building that is currently home to McDonalds. ‌ It also plans to offer high quality apartments on the upper floors, and retail units at 256 to 260 Oxford Street. Regeneration of Wind Street The changes made in the city are part of a regeneration scheme worth over £1bn (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The Swansea Council has led a £3m project to improve the city's iconic Wind Street. This included new paving, seating, seating, greenery, and dedicated outdoor spaces for the hospitality dining areas. ‌ The Amy Dillwyn Park This was the first park in the city centre over several generations, and features a one of the largest green roofs in Wales. Developed by Swansea Council, it was renamed after the Victorian novelist and philanthropist, Amy Dillwyn in March 2024 to mark the International Women's Day. Upgrade to Kingsway to improve its look and feel A sum of £12m was put in by the Swansea Council to improve the 'look and feel' for the city's Kingsway, and its neighbouring streets. The council has expected that the new improvements will bring footfall to encourage new business while supporting existing traders. Council leader Rob Stewart has said that the local authority aims to turn Swansea into one of UK's greenest cities and that this project reflects the council's commitment to do so. ‌ Bollards along the Mumbles promenade More than 300 'energy efficient LED lighting bollards' have been installed along the length of the bay. The route is popular among walkers and cyclists who use it frequently in the evenings. Coming through an £400,000 Swansea Council investment, the low-level bollards have been installed every 14 metres along the length of the promenade and are expected to cost just £15 per year to light up. The Innovation Matrix Based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) SA1 campus, this project is now open, and offers 'opportunities for established businesses and dynamic start-ups to accelerate new product development, access specialist technical support, hire graduate talent and create knowledge exchange partnerships with the university.' ‌ The centre is funded through a partnership between the UWTSD and the Swansea Bay City deal. It was built by Kier Construction which has secured £6m worth of contracts with Wales-based businesses during the construction process. Following are some of the ongoing projects in Swansea: 71/72 Kingsway Scheme The posh new office development already has two tenants (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) ‌ The council bought the former Oceana building which was located at 71/72 Kingsway in 2015. This purchase was meant to deliver the employment hub proposal that were put forth in Swansea Central Area Regeneration Framework (SCARF). The project was submitted as a part of the wider Digital Programme to Swansea Bay City Deal, and was successful in obtaining £13.71m in City Deal Funding. The revamped building has now been handed over to Swansea Council, and is set to open this summer. First tenants have already been announced for building, with Travel company TUI and workspace provider IWG Ltd set to occupy just over a quarter of the building. ‌ The Biophillic Building The building is slated to be constructed later this year (Image: Hacer Developments ) This project aims to give birth to a 13-storey-high building between the city's The Kingsway and Oxford Street. The construction of the tower is being led by the Swansea-based firm, Hacer Devopments. To be powered by solar energy and said to use a 'air source heat system', the building is touted to use five times less energy than a building which is powered by gas boilers. ‌ The funding for this scheme is coming from a mixture of private sector funding with money from Welsh Government's Innovative Housing Programme, Pobl and the Development Bank of Wales footing part of the bill. It will include an urban-style greenhouse set over four floors, an education facility featuring an aquaponic system, rooftop gardens, wildflower borders and green spaces, nine floors of apartments to be managed by Pobl, close to 32,000 square feet of commercial floor space for businesses, retail spaces, a landscaped courtyard, and a bio-solar roof with ambient loop heating, and sustainable drainage systems. Swansea Council has said that this building will have the capacity to accommodate more than 500 people once complete, and expects the development to create jobs and home. ‌ The project is due to be completed later this year, and latest pictures show the mammoth tower to have spectacular views at the top. Y Storfa community services hub Progress continues to be made at the new community hub (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) This project will be built on the former BHS units on Oxford Street, and aims to provide a multi-purpose hub for the people of Swansea. ‌ The Welsh government provided a £2m grant towards the project and an additional £3.5m was also made available to Swansea Council to develop this project into a public focal point. Though the council had hoped that the project could be completed as soon as 2023, the scheme is due for completion this year. Council-run services like Swansea Library, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options, lifelong learning, and the Contact Centre will calling the new community hub their home. ‌ Non-council tenants are set to include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice and Swansea University's South Wales Miners' Library. Redevelopment of the former JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way The project is being given funding support by the Welsh Government (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Under the initiative led by Elysium Gallery, the vacant JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way - which has been unoccupied since 2008 - is set to become a hub for 53 creative entrepreneurs. The space will provide studios for painters, illustrators, sculptors, designers, printmakers, photographers, actors and video editors. ‌ The project will also feature a gallery, a function suite, a dedicated education centre and a quiet room. Funding coming from the Swansea Council via the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund is contributing towards the internal works and strip out, as well as enhancements to the roof structure. The project has also received financial support from the Welsh Government through its Transforming Towns scheme. Additional funding has been secured from the Arts Council of Wales, the Architectural Heritage Fund and a community shares initiative. ‌ The first phase of work is anticipated to be completed this summer. Restoration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks How the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses could look like in the future (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Swansea Council has approved the plans restore two engine houses at the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site. The project would see a new mezzanine and first floor being built at the Vivian engine house which is expected to be by occupied by tenants. ‌ The Musgrave engine house, which is next to Vivian engine house, will be turned into a exhibition area that will display the original engine. Additionally, a new building joining both the engine houses will also be built. The council, and the people behind the planning application say the new buildings will be available for a number uses like restaurants, cafe, exhibition space and retail. The funding for this project is being done through a mixture of Swansea Council funding, and Welsh Government funding via the levelling-up scheme. The council has successfully bid for £20m of UK Government funding for this project. ‌ Restoration of Castle Cinema How the Castle Square development could look like (Image: Swansea Council ) Council says work to restore the city's historic Castle Cinema building is going to start soon. The project is being spearheaded by local non-profit Beacon Cymru and contractors Easy Living Ltd. Plans for the project includes 30 new flats and fresh commercial spaces. ‌ The commercial units will occupy the lower part of the building facing the Strand, designed to house small-scale office operations. A two-storey commercial unit is planned on the main elevation overlooking Worcester Place and the castle, intended for café or restaurant use. A proposed glazed box, forming part of this unit, will offer views of the castle and open space. The project is being supported by the Swansea Council, via Welsh Government funding. The Castle Square revamp Work has now started on the council's plan to transform the Castle Square in Swansea. ‌ The transformation will see the addition of two pavilion buildings for food, drink or retail businesses; an increase in greenery including new lawns, ornamental and biodiverse planting to provide an area with 40% green space. A new interactive water feature will also be included, along with new outdoor seating areas and a giant TV screen above a bandstand-style facility. Preparatory work has already been undertaken at the site, including the re-laying of high-voltage cables to accommodate the square's future design, a project that has seen significant public engagement. ‌ The Leaf Boat sculpture, a distinguishing sight the Castle Square is also being removed in the next phase of the project. This piece will be safely stored while the council, in consultation with various parties including the sculptor, determines a new location for the artwork within Swansea. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year, is being funded by Swansea Council with support from the Welsh Government. The Mumbles Coastal Defence Project It is due for completion this summer (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) ‌ This ambitious, multi-million pound project aims to replace the existing worn down seawall which was atleast over a hundred years old and had been showing cracks from years of wear and tear. This expansive civil engineering project is being undertaken with the objective of protecting businesses, organisations, attractions, events, and several homes against rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Welsh Government's claim is that the new seawall will protect the Mumbles coast for the next 100 years. ‌ The £26.5m project is primarily funded by the Welsh Government, managed by Swansea Council, and is being delivered by Knights Brown as the main contractor. However, Swansea Council is footing the bill for nearly 15% of the project, with the Welsh government also providing the local authority with the development costs associated with this scheme, amounting to £1.9m. It began in early 2023 and nearly 110 workers from Knights Brown have been working tirelessly on the project since. It is expected to be completed by summer this year. ‌ Digital infrastructure project In an effort to alleviate network congestion, small cell sites have been deployed to enhance network capacity as required, with the objective that people will be able to use their mobiles for calls, messaging or internet access during peak times in the city centre, such as during the Christmas parade and the Wales Airshow. This initiative, a collaboration between Swansea Council, Freshwave, and Virgin Media O2, is part of a larger regional digital infrastructure project costing £55m, which is partly being funded by the Swansea Bay City deal. Council says that the project has been spearheaded by the its digital champions, who have worked in close coordination with Freshwave, Virgin Media O2, and other council departments to minimise disruption for businesses and visitors to the city centre during the implementation phase. Article continues below Other Developments Student accommodation projects, such as the £22m Coppergate scheme on The Kingsway and the £65m Seren scheme on Mariner Street. A new market garden is in the works, courtesy of a £500,000 council investment in the market that will also enhance its entrances. An £11.4m placemaking grants investment is set to create new homes and boost commercial premises in the city centre. This funding comprises private contributions and £7m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns scheme.

Gang thugs torch scaffolding firm with links to caged kingpin Mark Richardson in latest firebomb attack
Gang thugs torch scaffolding firm with links to caged kingpin Mark Richardson in latest firebomb attack

Scottish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Gang thugs torch scaffolding firm with links to caged kingpin Mark Richardson in latest firebomb attack

The business is said to be owned by a relative of one of the dealers blamed for using fake notes in a £500,000 cocaine deal 'WAR WON'T STOP' Gang thugs torch scaffolding firm with links to caged kingpin Mark Richardson in latest firebomb attack Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCAFFOLDING firm has been torched in the latest sinister firebomb attack linked to Scotland's raging gang war. RTR in Loanhead, near Edinburgh, was set alight by marauding maniacs in another late night blitz as the months-long chaos shows no sign of stopping. 4 A scaffolding firm was firebombed in another attack linked to Scotland's raging gang war Credit: The Scottish Sun 4 Forensics at the scene in Loanhead, Edinburgh Credit: The Scottish Sun 4 The business is said to be owned by a relative of one of the dealers McGill blames for using fake notes in a £500,000 cocaine deal Credit: The Scottish Sun 4 It is the latest in a series of attacks in the months-long feud Credit: The Scottish Sun Sources say the blaze is the latest assault by thugs working for Dubai-based hood Ross 'Miami' McGill who launched a revenge campaign on rivals over claims of a drug deal gone wrong. The business is said to be owned by a relative of one of the dealers McGill blames for using fake notes in a £500,000 cocaine deal. It sparked a wave of attacks on associates of caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson and the notorious Daniel clan in Glasgow. It's also claimed the latest target is a pal of a hood who was slashed in Thailand over his alleged involvement in the rip off. A source said: 'This war isn't going to stop. The business is connected to one of the guys McGill blames for ripping him off. 'He is an associate of the guy who got attacked in Thailand and they are both being blamed for the fake notes scam that kicked off this whole war. 'Lots of innocent people's lives are being affected by this madness. "It's being going on for months and who knows what will happen next.' Earlier today cops were standing guard at the site and a forensic officer was seen taking pictures of the scene. A charred container could be seen from the street. Spanish cops insist hitman who executed Ross Monaghan & Eddie Lyons Jr killer WAS member of rival Daniel clan Detectives were also spotted at the industrial estate carrying out their investigation. It's understood the company employs many local people who will now be worried about their jobs. One nearby neighbour told how 'billowing smoke' could be seen out across the small town. The man, who declined to be named, said: 'I was heading home after a night out and I could smell the smoke in the taxi. 'As we got closer you could see billowing smoke right across the area. 'We arrived in town and the police were diverting traffic away from the street. 'When I got home I could smell the smoke in my home. 'RTR employs lots of local people so I hate to think what that means for these guys' jobs.' The attack comes days after we told of a video threat by a group known as Tamo Junto who are said to be acting for McGill who is calling the shots from his desert bolthole. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Police received a report of a fire at a premises on Engine Road in Loanhead around 11.50pm on Saturday, 21 June, 2025. 'Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. No-one was injured. 'The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store