A long-established Welsh training provider is embarking on a significant new phase of growth, having secured crucial funding to open a second centre.
Funding Fuels Strategic Expansion
Heads of the Valleys Training has opened a new site on the Pen y Fan Industrial Estate in Crumlin, Caerphilly. This strategic move was made possible by a £70,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales, accessed through its Wales Flexible Investment Fund.
The family-run business, which was originally established in 1969 and acquired by Paul and Alexandra Dunstall in 2002, had been operating from a single centre in Gilwern, near Abergavenny. There, it provides essential HGV, plant machinery, industrial, and safety training to clients across sectors like logistics and construction.
Meeting Growing Demand for Skills
With demand for its services increasing steadily in recent years, the company found its original premises were becoming too constrained. The need for more space to run multiple training courses simultaneously became clear.
Owner Ollie Dunstall, who joined the family business in 2013, explained the challenge. "The training we offer is hugely varied, and as we’ve taken on more accreditation we’ve been able to provide more types of training over the years," he said. "That’s been fantastic for our business, but it’s also meant that the capacity we’ve got at the training centre near Abergavenny has got tighter."
The new bespoke indoor training centre in Caerphilly will specifically allow the firm to expand its offering of safety and industrial courses, such as forklift and machinery training. Meanwhile, its established HGV and driver training operations will remain at the Gilwern site.
Investment Provides Control and Capacity
Ollie Dunstall highlighted the value of the Development Bank of Wales support, stating: "The loan meant we could have more control over how we grow as a business, and it gave us the space we needed to plan for our future. Taking on this new site at Caerphilly frees us up in terms of capacity."
Chris Stork, an investment executive at the Development Bank of Wales, commented on the deal. "This investment is a great example of how we can support established businesses with funding that supports growth," he said. "Expanding to the Caerphilly site was a natural next step for Heads of the Valleys Training, and we’re pleased that we were able to support them with the strategic investment they needed to grow."
The Development Bank offers micro loans from £1,000 to £100,000 to Welsh businesses, featuring fixed interest rates, flexible terms, and a fast-track application process to facilitate growth and expansion.
