TWO Carmarthenshire senior councillors recently visited a Capel Iwan business to see how public investment is helping it to serve the rural community.

New executive board member for rural affairs Cllr Jim Jones and executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell visited Beacon Stoves in Parc Gwair.

The family firm has been helped by the South West Wales Flexible Business Finance Scheme (LIF), which delivered by the council’s Business Services section.

Beacon Stoves were approved twice, and received just under £4,500 in total. The grants were approved for ICT, one off marketing costs, website and e-commerce development, telephone system, audio visual network and equipment to enhance their business systems and marketing.

Beacon Stoves, established for over 28 years, advises, designs, supplies and installs wood burning stoves.

It has increased its activity in the biomass sector of the renewable energy market and is currently engaged in the Micro Generation Certification Scheme accreditation to deliver the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.

Beacon Stoves also received an RDP Sir Gâr Rural Conversion Grant of £96,905 in the first round of RDP funding to convert a redundant building into a brand new base for their energy business. The building, originally used to house pigs, was converted to include a new modern showroom, training room, store rooms and entrance lobby. The project safeguarded four jobs and created another three, as well as providing a workshop for training in the installation of environmentally friendly heating systems.

Ben Graham of Beacon Stoves said: “We have had grants and in the last couple of years we have been able to extend the range of products that we show. This new build has allowed us to display contemporary designed appliances and to introduce people to biomass heating systems.”