From 12th November, the new name at the head of Antur Teifi will be Bronwen Raine – only the fourth MD to lead the west Wales based company established as a social enterprise almost 40 years ago.

Rhondda born Bronwen will take over from Dewi Williams who has overseen Antur Teifi’s Wales-wide expansion from its Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire roots over the past 12 years.

Moving to Cardiff as a child, Bronwen was educated at Whitchurch High School and went on to study law at the London School of Economics. After graduation, Bronwen turned her back on a promising law career. Instead, she became an entrepreneur establishing, with her husband, Nick, a courier business in the UK capital. Following 12 successful and enlightening years, the pair made the decision to head back, with their three children, to Wales.

Here, she quickly established a reputation for expertise in Equality and Diversity within the Voluntary sector. This led to what she describes as exciting consultancy opportunities first, within the Welsh Development Agency and latterly as a project manager with the Ceredigion Health Board.

It was this expertise that brought her to Antur Teifi in 2009 before being appointed Manager of the New Business Starts contract for Ceredigion and Powys in 2012. Her role prior to this appointment was Manager of Business Wales for the mid-Wales region.

As Managing Director, Mrs. Raine has a clear vision as to how to shape the company’s growth plans. “Strengthening Antur Teifi’s commercial arm is a prime priority” she says.

2019 will mark an important milestone in the Antur Teifi story and the new MD is looking to take full advantage of the celebrations. Says Bronwen:

“Entering our 40th year places us in a very privileged position. We have much in common with the businesses that we have supported over the years. Having grown from a small but committed base ourselves we have an inherent understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing rural businesses and enterprises. That experience comes from our strong local roots in the Teifi Valley – a wealth of experience and knowledge that is proving to be relevant and inspirational to businesses across Wales.”

 

As part of her personal investment in Antur Teifi’s continued development Mrs Raine is in the process of building on her learner’s familiarity with the Welsh language. ‘The previous MD’s of Antur Teifi have been fully bilingual and I’m anxious to gain full access to the creative and vibrant dynamic of community that the language provides’ she said.
Says Chris Hewitt, Chair of Antur Teifi: “With the company entering its 40th year, Bronwen takes over at a critical juncture. I have no doubt that she has the vision, ability and energy to enable Antur Teifi to look forward, with confidence, towards the next 40 years.”