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The full-service branding and marketing agency works with a diverse range of clients including Hodge Bank, Swansea University, Kings College London and Ballet Cymru on digital and print campaigns. The business is also creative partner for the UK wide charity, The Westfield Health British Transplant Games.

A sponsor in 2019, Icon Creative Design have confirmed that they are ‘Young Entrepreneur’ category sponsor of the South Wales Argus Business Awards 2020/21.

Androulla said: “We’ve been thrilled this year to be working for clients that have young adults at the heart of their organisations. The energy, passion and resilience during challenging times has been inspirational and we wanted to recognise this by supporting this category.

“This year has seen us develop new school brands for Bassaleg School in Newport and Ffynonne School in Swansea as well as expanding our Higher Education clients to include Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine who have been doing sterling work throughout the year.

Creative Director, Androulla who maintains a hands-on role within the company, said: “When Icon was first established my focus was purely on delivering exceptional graphic design as the nature of the business has grown and customer’s expectations have evolved so too has the company’s repertoire of skills.

“I initially started out on my own working freelance with agencies in Cardiff and progressed to developing my own clients including the WDA, CADW and the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Many of our clients are now looking for a company to be a one stop shop, managing their portfolio of marketing requirements from shaping initial research ideas and creatives, organising photo shoots, digital campaigns, event delivery and evaluative feedback to name but a few. 2020 has seen a huge demand in digital work and we’ve helped clients with new websites, social media campaigns and animations in particular.’

“Starting your own business can be challenging but very rewarding. The South Wales Business Awards are a great way to raise your profile and get your story heard. It is also a fantastic marketing opportunity as the Business Argus reaches a wide audience across south east Wales.

“Taking control of my career has definitely worked for me and I wanted to encourage other entrepreneurs to do the same. I work in a fantastic office surrounded by my best friends, creating amazing work, for inspiring clients, need I say more!”

Icon Creative Design has a client list including Hodge Bank, Cardiff and Vale Music Services, Kingsway Centre, Bassaleg School, Westfield Health British Transplant Games, Kings College London, Swansea University, Newcastle University, Ballet Cymru and Leaderful Action.

The business park says it has not only retained but also managed to grow its varied list of occupiers over the challenging year.

Johnsey Estates operations manager Peter Downes said the company is particularly satisfied to have grown its occupier list over the past months while keeping safety at the forefront of its operations.

He said: “We have been very pleased with the sustained buoyancy of our enquiries. Only recently we have had a local firm of solicitors join and Bron Afon Housing Association has also joined in the last few months.

“The law practice said they were delighted to have joined what they see as a business community at Mamhilad Park Estate. They were impressed with just how easy and straightforward the move to their new office space was made by our on-site management team.

“They are impressed and happy with the fast and reliable internet, so important to their business, with the parkland setting and the fact that they are able to park right outside their new office for free.”

Long term estate occupier Richard Hallaran, owner of Hallaran Health and Safety Compliance, said: “I have continued to work at Mamhilad Park Estate throughout the pandemic. The self-contained nature of my office space, like so many of the other offices on site, means that I can work in a private and quiet environment with no distractions. Remaining socially distant isn’t an issue.”

Peter said: “The team here have been working extremely hard throughout the pandemic. We have worked closely with our occupiers to support them through these unprecedented times, to ensure that they can keep their business home here at Mamhilad and to remain safe.

“Our self-storage business has been extended to more than 100 containers and our caravan storage remains full. We are working on further expansion of both facilities which will be available in early 2021.”

Peter said: “SMEs like the offering here due to the flexibility. There is no minimum term, with a simple tenancy document available rather than a long lease. The estate management team are based on site which is a huge asset.

“We realise that businesses need to be adaptable so that occupiers can alter their space requirements as necessary without financial implications.

“The team is committed to making the park a safe place for all to come to work. We have increased the frequency of the cleaning of the buildings; we ensure social distancing is applied and risk assessments have been carried out. The layout of the offices lends itself for self-isolation, meaning our flexi-offices are socially distant and offer a cost-effective alternative to home working, a practice which doesn’t suit everyone.

“We have ample parking so occupiers can travel alone, find a convenient parking space and walk to their office with little to no contact with anyone else.

“Plans are in place to create more flexi office spaces for SMEs. We are one of Wales’ fastest growing business communities and we plan to keep it growing,” said Peter.

This large plot, at Camely, Old Lane, Abersychan, Pontypool, is a sought after area and currently accommodates a three-bedroom detached dormer bungalow with detached garage and generous gardens to front and rear. The property, which is listed with a guide price of £43,000-plus, is affected by subsidence due to an underground water leak which eroded part of the foundations.

Here is a three-bedroom mid-terrace property at 4 Feering Street, Newport, which comprises of a lounge/dining room, kitchen and ground floor shower room. The property, which has a rear garden and is listed with a guide price of £53,000-plus, requires updating and improvement throughout and would be ideal for buy to let purposes or investment.

Here is an opportunity to acquire, two, two-bedroom self-contained flats in a popular location is at 202 Chepstow Road, Newport. The property, which is listed with a guide price of £127,000-plus, is ideally situated for Newport city centre and the M4. The flats have benefitted from previous upgrading including UPVC double glazing, gas central heating (not tested) and have refitted kitchen with appliances and refitted bathroom suites. The properties are both let at £500 a month to established tenants who have expressed a willingness to remain.

Located in Blaina, Abertillery, on approximately 0.04 acres of land, this secure garage, with a guide price of £13,700-plus, is perfect for investment. The garage provides a total area of approximately 308 sq ft, is of brick construction with a steel sheet roof. Further benefits include a single swinging security door which provides vehicular access. In recent years a number of new homes have been built on the land surrounding the site, and therefore the site would be suitable for residential development subject to relevant planning consent.

Here is an opportunity to acquire two garages in the sought after location of Whitstone Road on the east side of Newport. The garages, which are listed with a guide price of £15,000-plus, benefit from roller doors. One is currently let at £50 a month, the other is vacant.

A prominent commercial development located in one of the most prominent positions in Pontypool is at 20 Commercial Street. This unit is a substantial building which benefits from being situated on the corner of Commercial Street and Market Street, and therefore gains maximum exposure. The building, which has a guide price of £138,000-plus, is currently tenanted and holds a Wales Assembly Funded FRI Lease which generates a rental income of £15,750 pa. The lease ends August 2021. The building comprises a two storey element and a three storey element, and would suit conversion to mixed a mixed development with potential for a two-bedroom flat and a studio. There is also lapsed planning permission to extend the two storey element to create a three story dwelling throughout.

This one-bedroom ground floor apartment located at 5 Meadowhall Court, Caerphilly Road, Senghenydd is listed with a guide price of £42,000-plus. The property, which has one double bedroom, bathroom and open plan kitchen/living area, is currently let at £5,700 a year could make an ideal investment for those looking to buy to let.

A substantial block of five flats, 1-5, 214 Chepstow Road, Newport is offered with a guide price of £230,000-plus. The flats are all let and generate a total annual income £22,200 per annum. The property benefits from UPVC double glazing and each flat has its own electric storage heating (not tested) and fitted kitchens and bathrooms.

A mid-link style three-bedroom property with gardens front and rear at 62 Dibdin Close, Newport, requires upgrading but would be ideal for either an owner occupier or investor. The property, situated to the east side of Newport and which has a guide price of £89,000-plus benefits from UPVC double glazing, and gas central heating (not tested) and offers scope to improve further.

Number one Bridge House, in the village of Llanbadoc, near Usk, is a well-maintained and upgraded cottage situated in a highly sought after location. The two-bedroom property, with a guide price of £210,000-plus, benefits from attractive fitted kitchen and bathroom and has been decorated throughout to a high standard. There is also a stunning rear garden with a former apple shed, which has previously had planning for a further bedroom (now lapsed). The cottage benefits from UPVC double glazing and LPG central heating (not tested) and would be an ideal purchase for a homeowner, for buy to let or an Airbnb.

Director Gary Parker, who has brought Patricia Szczerba into the team as a trainee will writer, said: “Historically we wanted to provide our accountancy clients with wills, Lasting Powers Of Attorney, trusts and other estate planning in order to preserve their inheritance. They need and should have a valid will. Patricia is now experienced in will writing.

“Figures show that as many as two out of every three people do not have a will. We wish to provide the general public with essential and professional advice they need in order to write a valid will.

“Our wills business has been established for a number of years. Our prices are exceptionally competitive. We offer home visits and can be as accommodating as the clients require. Our knowledge is of a high standard as we are members of the Society of Will Writers and continuously use their services to expand our expertise.

“The main reason to have a will is for one’s estate to be distributed accordingly with their wishes, rather than letting the law decide as well as minimising Inheritance Tax and potential care costs. If people die without a will, intestate, their estate could potentially be distributed between relatives who they may otherwise wish to leave out of the will. You could also potentially be left with a huge Inheritance Tax bill.

“In 2014 a shocking £8m worth of estates was paid to the Crown due people passing away intestate, without a will.

“Having a will is critical for parents in order to appoint guardians for their children. If a child loses both parents and there is no will, not only do they have to deal with a heart-breaking bereavement, but the carers or guardians could be decided by the courts.

“If you own a business, who will run the business and who will own it? Very often nowadays people believe that where there is no will the wife or husband will inherit everything– this is not true. People in business need to ensure that the business passes to someone who will ensure its continuity and secure the best possible inheritance for its family.

“We had a client whose wife had been given a short time to live and they had no wills. There was a substantial business, valuable home and step-children – all the ingredients of a catastrophe where there is no will. We acted quickly and wrote relevant wills encompassing the wishes of both parties protecting the business, the home and the rights of the four grown up children. It helped the lady a lot as she was then happy that her estate would be distributed according to her wishes. The lady subsequently passed-away and the business continues to thrive, the house was kept in the family and children’s inheritance protected. There was no Inheritance Tax paid on the estate.

“We are seeing more and more cohabiting relationships where partners are often left with no rights to their home or inheritance. Where there are children from previous relationships, there must be suitable estate planning clauses involved.

“There are certain methods which can be used to protect Inheritance from marriage after death or insolvency for example. Our knowledge covers those situations and we always make sure we ask a client necessary questions in order to make sure that their will covers all potential situations and is as effective as possible. When couples marry any current Wills are automatically revoked. When couples divorce, they should get up to date Wills completed.

“A will should be reviewed every five years at least or when there is a major change in circumstances.

“We often come across clients who wish to write a basic will, however once we discuss their personal circumstances it is apparent that in order to cover all of their wishes, and sometimes worries, we move into more complex estate planning situation. We believe that when writing a will, it is vital to do the job properly from start to finish and leave no stone unturned.

“Bad wills, homemade or online wills, do not accommodate personal circumstances. It is essential to have a consultation to discuss personal circumstances prior to writing a will to ensure that all is covered. A bad will can sometimes be worse than no will. To make them valid they should be properly signed, dated and witnessed.”