More than 200 business leaders and students gather at Bluestone to discuss growth, skills and collaboration
MORE than 200 business leaders and students gathered at Bluestone National Park Resort on Friday for Partners in Progress: Give to Gain, a flagship event marking International Women’s Day.
The event, delivered by Institute of Directors Wales with support from Bluestone and the Welsh Government’s Trade & Invest Wales team, focused on inclusive leadership, collaboration and regional economic growth.
Now in its third year, the event continues to grow in popularity, attracting strong interest from businesses keen to take part in discussions around leadership, ambition and skills development across West Wales.
The event was hosted by Nicola John, Regional Chair of IoD South West Wales and managing director of FDM by UAP Ltd.
Students join discussion with business leaders
Students studying business management at local sixth forms, colleges and universities were among those attending, giving them the opportunity to question experienced leaders and learn from real-world business experiences.
The panel discussion was chaired by Geoff Hancock, Regional Chair of IoD Wales in South East Wales and founder of Dragon Executive Management.
Speakers included Belinda Houghton-Jones, Assistant Director at RBC Brewin Dolphin, industrial leader Alex Shufflebottom Jones, Dr Owain James, founder of Darogan, and Jane Wallace-Jones, founder and chief executive of Something Different.
Throughout the discussion, speakers shared insights into their leadership journeys, exporting from Wales, building resilient businesses and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Businesses interested in developing international markets were also encouraged to connect with representatives from the Welsh Government’s trade team, who were present to provide guidance on exporting.
Showcasing success in West Wales
Following the panel discussion, attendees were invited to take part in guided tours of Bluestone National Park Resort to see first-hand how the organisation has developed a successful tourism and hospitality business in West Wales.
The event concluded with reflections on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”, encouraging leaders to support and invest in the next generation of talent.
Jo Price, Nations Manager for Wales at IoD Wales, said: “When leaders give time, insight and opportunity, the whole region benefits. This is what our Partners in Progress event is all about, highlighting what can be achieved in West Wales when we come together.”
Rebecca Rigby, Director of Operations at Bluestone National Park Resort, added: “This event is a powerful reminder that you do not need to leave West Wales to have global impact. Businesses can build here, grow here and export from here, creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders.”
Speakers also highlighted the strength of Wales’ close-knit business communities and the importance of inclusive leadership built on curiosity, resilience and collaboration.
While skills shortages remain a challenge for Welsh businesses, the panel stressed that stronger partnerships between education, industry and government could help create clearer career pathways and encourage more young people to build their futures in Wales.
The discussion reflects priorities set out by IoD Wales ahead of the next Senedd Cymru elections, with calls for closer collaboration between government and business to address skills gaps, provide greater policy certainty and support long-term economic growth across Wales.
