The Cardiff Business Awards 2024 celebrated the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals who are shaping the future of Cardiff’s economy. In this series of interviews we spotlight the winners, sharing their stories and celebrating their contributions. Among this year’s winners is Cardiff Cycle Workshop, which was honoured with the Green Business of the Year Award. We spoke with the company’s representative, Andrew Burn, to learn more.
How does your business contribute to Cardiff’s community, and what impact do you hope to have on the local economy or society?
We like to think our business provides people with a cheap, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport on which to travel in and around Cardiff . As such, you could say we connect people and places within the city – people getting to/from work, children getting to/from school, people exploring the city and its surroundings , people traveling to see friends, attending events, business meetings ,
or perhaps just cycling to be fitter and healthier.
Are there any emerging trends or innovations in your field that you believe will transform business in Cardiff?
Cardiff’s population growth should be a source of optimism for any business based in the city. Cardiff is increasingly becoming a very international capital city – and this means an influx of new talent and new ideas – which is really exciting. I really love Cardiff’s small business scene and I am very optimistic that this area of the economy will continue to grow and become more vibrant each and every year.
What keeps you motivated during tough times? Are there any lessons you’d share about resilience and adaptability?
Quite simply – our staff and volunteers. There is always an upbeat mood here at our workshop, lots of humour, music playing and plenty of mutual support. Having already been through several ups and downs we know we can face anything and still keep smiles on our faces. There will always be tough times – very few businesses can always be on an upward trajectory. During the difficult times – the hardest bit
can be ‘switching off’ at the end of the day so you can go and enjoy life outside work. I think any business that went through Covid learnt how to ‘pivot’ their business and adapt their services/products at very short notice
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs or professionals in Cardiff who are inspired by your journey?
Don’t be too fixated on your first idea, be ready to adjust your direction of travel and goals, invest in staff and I know it sounds boring but -keep an eye on those overheads!
