Community and Support Centre Partners helping Neath Port Talbot businesses

Ever since it opened last October, Community’s Support Centre in Aberafan Shopping Centre has helped hundreds of local people and businesses affected by Tata’s decarbonisation plans. 

In a guest blog, Robert Morgan of FWS Services outlines how the support he has received from Community and our partners at the Support Centre have helped him and his business.

My name is Robert Morgan, and my career began at Corus in 2006, initially working in Works Protection before transitioning to the Fire Department in 2010. Throughout my career, I have been an active member of the Community Union, benefiting from their Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) £250 training course contribution.

As a Fire Officer, I undertook various training courses, including fire extinguisher maintenance. Advancing within the department required me to qualify as a Fire Risk Assessor, exposing me to a diverse range of buildings and risks—far beyond what I would have encountered in a purely commercial fire safety role. Due to my experience and training gained in the fire and rescue department I have help a number of businesses needing confined space management, this along with the shut down in site buildings during the Covid pandemic led me to have an interest in how the risk of legionellosis was managed and controlled so I started to do some courses so I could further enhance my skillset.

For several years, I considered starting my own business, but the stability of working for Tata Steel UK, just minutes from home, made it feel like too great a risk—both financially and personally. However, in November 2023, Tata Steel announced plans to close its Fire Department, prompting me to take action.

While I had industry knowledge in both fire and water safety, running a business and generating work required a different skill set. To bridge this gap, I partnered with Richard Hibbard, Daniel Morgan, and Dale Bowen—experienced entrepreneurs behind successful businesses such as SW Water, The Front, and Noir Bear. Their expertise, combined with my industry background, laid the foundation for FWS Services, established in September 2024.

FWS Services – Fire & Water Safety Specialists

FWS Services (Fire, Water, Safety) offers comprehensive fire and water safety solutions, including:

• Fire Risk Assessments
• Fire Extinguisher Supply & Maintenance
• Fire Alarm & CCTV Installation and Servicing
• Legionella Risk Assessments
• Water System & Pipework Cleaning and Disinfection
• Water Quality Monitoring & Microbiological Sampling

Business Growth & Support

Throughout the setup process, I sought guidance from various organisations via the Community Union Support Centre (CUSC) such as Business Wales (BW), and UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE). The centre introduced me to multiple grant opportunities, including ReAct+, the Neath Port Talbot Shared Prosperity Fund (offering up to £2,000 in full grants and up to £6,000 in 50% matched funding), and UKSE, which provides a £7,500 grant/loan package.

At CUSC, I had face-to-face meetings with Michelle Noble from UKSE, who assisted with cash flow forecasting and business planning—critical for securing funding. While I initially expected FWS Services to be operational quickly, much of the past few months has been dedicated to policy development, training, and accreditation. These efforts have earned us Constructionline Gold Membership and Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) affiliation, positioning us to deliver high-quality services.

I am now working with Business Wales again in anticipation of the Tata Steel Transition Board Funding, which, if secured, will help cover equipment costs, ease cash flow pressures, and potentially support new hires.

Without the guidance and financial support from my business partners, CUSC, BW, UKSE, and Neath Port Talbot Council, I would not have had the confidence or resources to launch FWS Services. Now, we are ready to provide first-class fire and water safety solutions to businesses across the region.

Website is www.fwsservices.co.uk

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Click here for more information on the services available at our Support Centre in Port Talbot.