The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is being developed as a major rail research, testing and innovation facility in South Wales, with the potential to support re-industrialisation in the Western Valleys and strengthen the UK’s infrastructure and industrial capabilities.

In this episode of the Economy and Infrastructure Wales podcast series, Simon Jones, Chief Executive of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, and Camilla Born, Chief Executive of Electrify Britain, discuss how GCRE could support rail electrification, drive economic growth and help establish Wales as an international centre for rail innovation, research, testing and certification.

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is set to develop a major new rail research, testing and innovation facility in South West Wales.

Host Gemma Casey is joined by GCRE Chief Executive Simon Jones, Noel Travers, Chief Executive Officer of Buckland Rail, and Noel Dolphin, Managing Director of Furrer+Frey to discuss who will use the site, how they will benefit and what it would mean for Wales to be an international leader in rail innovation.

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South West Wales is set to become Europe’s leading site for rail research, testing and innovation - a place where new net zero technologies can be developed, proven and brought to market faster. Host Gemma Casey is joined by Simon Jones, CEO at GCRE and Mark John, Co-Founder, Tramshed Tech, to discuss its potential to put Wales on the map alongside creating opportunities for economic development and regional collaboration.

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Ben Cottam of the Federation of Small Businesses, Tom Sawyer of the Port of Milford Haven and James Price of Transport for Wales to discuss how new technologies, green energy and infrastructure investment can boost growth and enable Wales to remain competitive.

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Dr. Sarah Louisa Birchley of GlobalWelsh; Paul Brooks, Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade; and Kevin Gardiner of Cardiff Capital Region's Regional Growth Board to discuss the economic climate and business confidence in Wales. They consider how flagship activities such as Wales and Japan 2025 and Wales Week London impact the Welsh economy, and ask how Wales could benefit from AI innovations.

What's likely to shape the economic and infrastructure landscape in Wales in 2025? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Robert Lloyd-Griffiths, Director for Wales at ICAEW; Professor Melanie Jones of Cardiff Business School; and Ben Cottam, Head of Wales at the FSB, to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing Wales and to consider how economic and geopolitical conditions may develop. 

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Ben Cottam, Head of Wales at the Federation of Small Businesses; Dr Edward Jones, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor University; and John Cullen, Partner, Menzies LLP and Member of R3, the UK’s trade body for insolvency and restructuring professionals, to discuss the UK Government Budget and look ahead to the Welsh Government's Draft Budget. What could the measures contained in each mean for the Welsh economy over the months ahead?

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Llŷr Roberts, Chief Executive of Mentera; Martin Williams, Partnerships Director for Wales at Openreach; Sara Jones, Head of Public Affairs at Delineate; and Jonathon Holder, owner of Welsh Vernacular Furniture, for a discussion on the strengths and challenges of the rural economy, including the importance of broadband connectivity, business diversification, recruitment and the ‘brain drain’, and the need for a clear, long-term plan for rural development and investment.   

In the inaugural episode of Economy and Infrastructure Wales, host Carwyn Jones examines the impact of a new UK Government on Wales' economic prosperity. The episode features insightful discussions with Ben Cottam (Head of Wales, FSB), Brian Morgan (Professor of Entrepreneurship at Cardiff Metropolitan University), and SME investor Tegid Roberts.

A teaser for our inaugural episode of the Economy & Infrastructure Wales podcast.