Entrepreneur adds a brace to his Powys Business Awards collection
Entrepreneur Richard Glover-Davies has added another brace of Powys Business Awards to his growing collection
He won the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, with his companies gloversure and Montgomeryshire Homes Ltd, Welshpool at the annual awards ceremony held at Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday night.
Montgomeryshire Homes then added the Small Business Award, sponsored by WR Partners.
Showcasing the diverse range of successful enterprises in the county, Powys Business Awards are organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG) with support from sponsors.
“I wasn’t expecting to win these awards against competition from such amazing businesses across Powys,” said Richard. “I genuinely think that out of all the awards I enter, the Powys Business Awards are the best because the judges actually come out to see the businesses and judge them properly.
“I have a brilliant team around me and without them, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
Richard established gloversure in 2004 after graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Software Engineering from the University of Wales Aberystwyth. He soon won local and national projects for web design, development and text message services.
Business turnover and profit have grown every year, except for the year following the Brexit vote, which resulted in customers cancelling many projects. By refocussing on its most profitable work and niche projects, the business was rewarded with record profits.
To keep his company in Welshpool, he purchased a building on Severn Farm Enterprise Park and converted it into a business centre with 11 serviced offices and built a 7,500 square foot unit in Welshpool which is let to Natural Resources Wales.
He then bought a further office for gloversure in Chester in 2020 with additional commercial property which he rents out.
A true entrepreneur, Richard is always looking for new opportunities, not just in the web sector but also building and agriculture. Eight years ago, he established Montgomeryshire Homes Ltd and has successfully built and sold many houses in the area.
This year, the company will sell 23 houses, is acquiring a further 50 plots and has started the next development of 23 homes in Castle Caereinon.
Almost all houses have been sold via social media and the company’s website, as Richard handles all viewings himself to provide a personal touch.
The main objective over the next five years is to grow both companies, whilst maintaining customer satisfaction. The operations director of gloversure has recently been promoted to managing director to free up Richard to grow both businesses, which are expected to achieve record profits this year.
Both companies are continually innovating. A new software portal developed by Richard for house builders to reduce paperwork and management time is to be sold to the industry as part of a complete web and marketing package.
Powys Business Awards judges said: “Richard talks passionately about his businesses and his vision to develop future opportunities. He is driven by the buzz of creating solutions and seizing opportunities to challenge himself and invest in his own community.
“Montgomeryshire Homes has seen very strong growth since its conception and benefits from strong leadership. Richard has developed an innovative app to streamline the sales process and are passionate about providing quality homes for the region which they offer to local people in the first instance.”
Picture captions:
Richard Glover-Davies receives the Entrepreneurship Award from Ann Watkin, head of strategy for Mid Wales region for the Welsh Government, sponsor.
