A recent Barclays Digital Breakfast at Rodney Parade was made up of businesses, mostly traditional, who were either taking their first step in to the world of digital or had done, and wanted to review their results.

There were some great traditional businesses there including a milliner, a courier company and a personal travel agent.

However, a common theme seemed to be that digital was being seen as separate, stand alone and not an integrated part of their strategy.

A number of those businesses could look to a local start up as an example of how digital can accelerate growth.

Red Storm Fashion Agency is a new Newport-based fashion agent acting on behalf of a rapidly increasing number of brands.

Its founder, Jennifer Drury, moved in to the fashion industry after a successful career in recruitment.

She had owned a mid-range fashion boutique, The Doll House, in Cwmbran but could see a bigger picture of similar outlets throughout the UK struggling to access up-and-coming brands and before long had established a traditional relationship with in excess of 400 independent boutiques across the UK.

However, she knew that this traditional approach was not only labour intensive, but inefficient and not embracing what technology could deliver.

So after extensive research she used her ideas and the contacts of both her non-exec director Dan O’Connell and chairman and investor, ex Peacocks director Anton Woodhouse, to rewrite her business plan using a unique digital offering not previously seen in Europe as the centre of their plan, underpinned by the traditional relationships.

Within weeks, even before the technology started development, rumours had started and brands were calling them; in the last month 12 new brands have joined up including companies from South Africa and Dubai.

Jen said: “We were pleased with how the market had taken to the original Red Storm concept, but once we outlined how we intended to exploit technology to revolutionise the market the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”

Red Storm hope to have the first release of their platform available to the customers by quarter one next year.

With the UK seeing the highest growth rate of FinTech Investment in Europe, and several financial technology businesses setting up shop in Wales, it’s no surprise that the industry is being heavily backed by private investment and government.

Taking place at Barclays’ recently refurbished branch in Newport, next month’s Digital Tuesday takes a closer look at the emerging FinTech sector - examining how the application of technology in financial services is disrupting traditional business models and creating significant opportunities within the sector.

Matthew Bateman, regional digital lead at Barclays, will be talking about RISE: its global community for open innovation, designed to help shape, grow and revolutionise financial services.

Book your place now to gain valuable insights into how digital technologies are disrupting financial services and the opportunities that brings, as well as networking with industry peers from across the region.

Catering will be supplied by The Ruperra Arms, recently awarded ‘Best Restaurant in Wales’.