With the turn of a new year many people decide to set themsevles a goal for the year ahead - whether it be jumping out of an aeroplane of walking the Wales Coastal Path.

Business Argus has been asking local businesses and organisations if they have any such plans for the year ahead...

Andrew Lewis, chief executive, Monmouthshire Building Society

A special vow the society has taken for 2015 is to continue to support the communities in which we operate. This year we have named Wales Air Ambulance our charity of the year, with fundraising activities scheduled right up until December, kicking off events with a £10,000 donation for an events trailer. We’re soon to fund an IT suite with the Wallich in Cardiff to support homeless and vulnerable people, and we’re also donating over £7,000 to Noah’s Ark Appeal to celebrate reaching the billion pounds asset milestone. Add to this the ongoing work of our Charitable Foundation and a number of our members taking part in the Taff Trail Cycle Challenge and various marathons/half marathons across the UK and you’ll see we’ve set ourselves one considerable vow indeed.

Clive Thomas, managing partner at Watkins & Gunn Solicitors

We are starting a firm-wide fitness and well-being programme in January. We want as many people from our team to complete the George Thomas Hospice Charity 5k run on Sunday March 8 at Bute Park in Cardiff, which we are delighted to be sponsoring. After that, we hope that some of the them will get the bug and may even give the Newport Half Marathon a try! We think that promoting healthy group activities will help well-being within the company and this will be reflected in the energy we bring to our work.

Dan Smith, M4 Property Consultants, Newport

M4 Property Consultants is planning to undertake the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge on behalf of Cancer Research Wales later this year. The challenge consists of climbing Snowdon in the north, Cadair Idris in mid-Wales, and Pen y Fan in the south. In addition to raising money for Cancer Research Wales we are hoping to raise awareness of their shop on Caerleon Road in Newport. The event will hopefully be something that the whole team can get involved in and enjoy, helping to develop team spirit and also assisting on shifting some of those extra pounds put on over the Christmas period.

Lauren Watkins, associate, HardingEvans Solicitors, Newport

Three members of staff at HardingEvans, including myself, are taking part in the London Marathon in April. Taking part in events such as the London Marathon helps support parts of the HardingEvans CSR policy, which includes supporting a local charity each year. We have committed to raise at least £4,000 for our chosen Charity of the Year – Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales - for the amazing work they do for children with cerebral palsy, providing specialist Bobath therapy to children from all over Wales. I have been able to see first-hand the benefit the children and families receive from the money raised. HardingEvans not only raise monies for the charity, but have noticed improved staff motivation that the various team activities associated with funding raising brings.

Troy Wilson, clinical director of physiotherapy, St Joseph’s Hospital, Newport

St Joseph’s Hospital is the official physiotherapy partner for this year’s City of Newport Half Marathon on March 1. We’re thrilled to be part of this event, which grows in popularity every year. This partnership will see our team providing advice on recovery and injury management and offering all runners a well-earned post-race massage at the Newport Leisure Centre. We know that the hard work has already started, so to help runners prepare we’ll be sharing valuable training advice and tips for preventing injuries in the run up to the event aswell. We’ll also be supporting one of our physios, Beth Wakley who is in training and running on the day to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care. As a Newport business, we believe it’s important to get involved with local events – both professionally, and of course to support fundraising activities that are organised in the area. A key objective for this particular involvement is to raise awareness of our state-of-the-art facilities and the specialist knowledge of our highly-skilled physio team in front of a specific audience. This partnership is a great way to engage and also to add value to the event, and we are offering discounts to participants and competition prizes on the day. Getting in front of a half marathon running crowd and demonstrating the services we provide at St Joseph’s for those likely to at some point need treatment for specific injuries – or advice as to how to give yourself the best chance of preventing them - was an opportunity not to miss.