Tag Archives: Welsh Government

ActiveQuote has achieved significant growth over the past three years and is one of the leading suppliers of online health insurance products. This latest investment will allow ActiveQuote to develop an enhanced online comparison experience using artificial intelligence to help customers through the quote process.

The investment, backed by around  £400,000 from the Welsh Government Growth and Prosperity Fund, ensures the expansion takes place in Wales and will create up to 70 jobs, taking the ActiveQuote headcount to around 190.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“Three of the most prominent UK FinTech companies – GoCompare, Confused.com & MoneySupermarket.com – are indigenous companies headquartered in Wales, and ActiveQuote is a long-term partner of these Welsh business success stories. 

“Wales has a growing reputation as a prime location for the FinTech sector and on a pan-European level, Wales is a key player and recognised as an exemplar for financial aggregator site technology.

“ActiveQuote is a strategically important and valued member of our FinTech cluster and has seen significant growth through continually investing and innovating. I am pleased that Welsh Government support will ensure ActiveQuote continues to grow here in Wales.”

Rob Saunders, Managing Director of ActiveQuote, said: 

“We are very grateful to the Welsh Government for its continued support in what we are aiming to achieve at ActiveQuote.

“This is a very exciting time in the world of FinTech, and ActiveQuote aims to be at the forefront of these developments. I joined the company two months ago and have been really impressed with the ambition and drive that our team has in leading the way for digital innovation in the insurance market. This investment means we can make our exciting plans of creating the next-generation of insurance comparison a reality.”  

The company began as a team of two and since its inception in 2009, ActiveQuote has been at the cutting edge of online insurance broking for consumers, evolving its service for the digital world.

It pioneered one of the first price comparison solutions for health insurance, providing accurate comparisons of policies and benefits that help customers find the cover that most closely meets their needs and budget.

It is now one of the UK’s leading comparison sites, and brokers mainstream insurance products including health, income protection, life insurance and critical illness, whilst its technology powers some of the UK’s leading price comparison websites.

ActiveQuote is developing a new advisory system using cutting edge technology for its online insurance products, which will provide easier access, quicker comparison and more choice for customers. 

In 2014, Welsh Government supported ActiveQuote by providing £600,000 of business finance to create 74 jobs at its Cardiff Bay headquarters.

The Farm Business Grant (FBG) helps farmers to improve the economic and environmental performance of their holdings by providing a 40% contribution towards capital investments in 70 items of equipment and machinery. These items, pre-identified with the input of the industry, offer clear and quantifiable benefits to farm enterprises. A full list of items is available on the Farm Business Grant page on the Welsh Government’s website.

The second application window for the FBG recently opened and will remain open until 29 September. It follows the success of the first window, which attracted over 500 applications, requesting a total of £3.4m of grant support.

To be eligible for a one-off grant of between £3,000 and £12,000, farmers must attend a Farming Connect ‘Farming for the future’ roadshow, held in locations across Wales. These evening events are targeted at all farm businesses eligible to benefit from Farming Connect services. The roadshows aim to prepare farm businesses for the future and provide information on the many ways Farming Connect can offer advice and support. 

This includes the Farming Connect Advisory Service, which can provide eligible businesses with up to four instances of business or technical advice over a four year period.  

The first series of regional roadshows attracted more than 4,000 farmers and the next round of events will get under way from the beginning of September.  Presentations during each event will concentrate on sustainable business development aimed at improving economic and environmental performance.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“The funding we are making available through the FBG will enable our farmers to invest in their business so they can operate in a more efficient, competitive and environmentally-friendly way.  This, in turn, will improve their resilience as we prepare for an uncertain future outside the EU.

“Regardless of whether or not they intend to apply for FBG funding, I would encourage farmers across Wales to attend a ‘Farming for the Future’ roadshow and find out more information on the wide range of advice and support available to them.”

For information on dates and locations for the roadshows and to reserve a place, visit Farming Connect or call the Farming Connect Service Centre on 08456 000 813.

This year’s funding primarily focuses on improving bus reliability and reducing journey times by improving accessibility, congestion and integration between modes of transport.

Economy and Infrastructure Secretary, Ken Skates said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support these schemes, which will see improvements to bus journeys on strategic Welsh Government and local authority routes across Wales.

“Today’s announcement includes funding for a range of proposed interventions including bus priority measures, junction improvements and technical based solutions to further support the bus industry and widen the appeal of buses as an attractive, reliable mode of transport.

“I look forward to seeing these projects underway at the earliest possible opportunity, with communities able to soon feel the benefits of the improvements.”

The projects which will receive 2017-18 Local Transport Network Fund

• £100,000 for Developments for Passenger Growth on the B5129 strategic bus corridor
• £617,000 for an Integrated Transport Package in Neath Port Talbot£425,000 for TrawsCymru Corridor Passenger Enhancements through improved Accessibility in Powys
• £600,000 for A4119 & A4059 Bus Corridor Improvements in Rhondda Cynon Taf
• £1,000,000 for Strategic Bus Corridors & Public Transport Hubs in Swansea
• £15,500 for junction improvements at Union Street / Broad Street, Abersychan.

The funds will be made available immediately to the local authorities.

Releasing the Welsh Government’s response to the UK Industrial Strategy,  the Economy Secretary said there were a host of world class projects for the UK Government to get behind and called for the Welsh Government to receive its rightful share of UK Government funding for industrial support.

The Economy Secretary also set out a number of areas where the UK Government could work with the Welsh Government to make early progress but expressed continued disappointment over the UK Government’s recent decision to renege on its promise of electrification of the mainline to Swansea. He stressed that  a fair share of funding was crucial if Welsh industry was to maximise its potential.

Ken Skates said:

“I’ve always been a huge champion of Welsh industry and the fantastic potential that it has to drive economic growth in Wales.  

“From world class aerospace manufacturing on Deeside, to the international nuclear expertise on Anglesey and the fantastic potential of the new semiconductor cluster in South East Wales, there is cutting edge industry, technology and skills in Wales that could be the powerhouse of UK growth going forward.  

“But maximising that opportunity requires investment and support – and whilst the Welsh Government has done its part by helping to support 150,000 jobs in the last Assembly term, too often Wales has been marginalised and forgotten by  the UK Government.  The recent cancellation of rail electrification to Swansea was one of the most short sighted and damaging decisions we have seen in recent times.

“As we have made clear in the detail of our response, the UK Industrial Strategy, with fair shares of the funding associated with it, provides an opportunity for the UK Government to begin to undo that damage and work with us to support some of our truly world class projects and people.

“From a decision on Swansea Tidal Lagoon to devolution of Air Passenger Duty, there are a range of immediate measures that the UK Government could take to support growth in Wales.

“There are also other measures UK Government could take to support our key strategic industries to modernise and thrive.  On steel for example, jobs have been protected through fast action by the Welsh Government, but the UK Government needs to do its bit too.  Their support for lower energy prices and backing for a National Steel Innovation Centre located in Wales would put the industry on a stronger footing for the future.

“And on automotive, UK Government support for next generation low-emission and connected vehicles or investment in R&D for new battery technology located in Wales could open up huge opportunities for new, productive growth.”

“Our response clearly shows that we are keen to work productively with the UK Government on this Industrial Strategy but for our part we need a  UK partner that can bring its weight to the table, while respecting the devolution settlement and providing the fair share of funding we need.”