Author: Rhys Gregory

After ten years’ service, PR and Communications specialist, Sophie Harris, has been appointed Associate Director at Cardiff-based communications agency, Equinox.  Equinox revealed Sophie’s promotion ahead of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Cymru Wales Awards last month (23 November) — where the team received a total of four awards in recognition of their achievements over the last 12 months.  Alongside Silver for ‘Agency of the Year’, the event saw Equinox pick up two Gold Awards for ‘Best Long-term Client Care’, and ‘Best Long-term Campaign’ with international stationery brand, STAEDTLER — a client account directed by Sophie since 2018. …

LITTLE donkeys will carry the spirits of walkers on a Christmas charity challenge. Moel Famau Donkeys are to be joined by dozens of participants dressed as Santa Claus for a hike up and down the Flintshire destination, one of the highest hills in the Clwydian Range. They are aiming to raise thousands of pounds for Cherish Wrecsam, a parent support group linked to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Mathew Davies, owner of the family-run business, which launched in the pandemic and offers experiences for visitors – including the opportunity to share one-to-one walks and care…

Wynne Construction has ensured all electricity consumed at its company office in Kinmel Park is renewably sourced, furthering its carbon-cutting commitments. The Bodelwyddan firm has updated the electric tariff at its head office to run on 100 per cent clean energy generated from wind and hydro plants, which will save 3.5 tonnes of CO2 every year. The supply, which has been confirmed by SSE Renewables and verified by international climate consultancy EcoAct, is also expected to reduce Wynne’s electricity bill by 75 per cent annually. As part of Wynne’s wider goals of removing carbon from all business activity and reaching…

A £6 million expansion at a fast-growing food distribution company will create 150 new jobs in a major boost to the economy of rural Gwynedd. News of the investment was revealed during a visit to Harlech Foodservice by Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and her Senedd counterpart, Mabon ap Gwynfor. They were given a briefing and a guided tour of the firm’s headquarters site near Cricieth by Managing Director David Cattrall and Joint Chairman Andrew Foskett. Over the past three year sales have increased from £32 million to a record turnover of around £50 million, with profit at…

A new exhibition created in partnership with Principality Building Society, The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre and the people of Newport, has now opened in the gallery space at The Riverfront Theatre. The exhibition, titled ‘Roots and Roofs’, features a variety of model homes that have been created by local Primary and Secondary schools, charities including Tŷ Hafan, and proud recipients of the Principality Building Society Future Generations Fund, Sparkle. The models reflect the diverse and vibrant cultures, values and lifestyles of the Newport community, and were created through a series of workshops where participants were asked to show what…

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds has announced four huge outdoor shows for summer 2024 including Wigan’s Robin Park (Thursday 18th July), London’s Alexandra Palace Park (Saturday 20th July), as well as returning to Cardiff Castle (Wednesday 17th July) and Halifax’s The Piece Hall (Thursday 1st August) following sell out shows at these venues in 2022. Fans can look forward to a set of songs including a wide selection of Oasis classics, as well as a cross section of material from the past dozen years of Noel Gallagher’s highly successful career as a solo artist with his band, the High Flying…

CONWY Employment Hub secured up to £300,000 to deliver vital jobs and education training academies across the county for the next 12 months. The Pathways to Employment project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is administered and managed on a regional basis. Together they will be targeting industries with a labour shortage locally, including Energy and Environment, Construction, Advanced Manufacturing, Creative and Digital, Tourism and Hospitality, Health, and Food and Farming. Conwy Employment Hub’s grant was for £292,510 and in past weeks training has begun, led by key organisations in each sector. Among…

Wales’ first ever Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, has joined the Football Association of Wales (FAW) as a sustainability advisor. Sophie will work with the association on the implementation of the FAW’s Sustainability Strategy 2030, ‘Cymru, well-being and the world’, in addition to chairing the newly formed Sustainability Advisory Panel. The FAW’s ‘Cymru, well-being and the world’ strategy was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Future Generations of Wales Commissioner while Sophie was at the helm, using the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act as its cornerstone. The FAW adopted the act’s pioneering spirit with its ambition tobecome…

Cardiff-headquartered Drink and Food Group has acquired the lease on the Old Inn in Somerset which is the second pub in the south west in its portfolio. The acquisition is part of its two-year expansion plan as the business looks to reach a forecasted turnover of £1 million. Speaking of the acquisition, Phil Kent, Head of Operations said: “This is a fantastic acquisition for us as part of our national growth strategy. “The Old Inn is reasonably close to another one of our pubs, The Old Bear Inn in Wiltshire; with both being selected for their rural setting with high-quality…

The British Business Bank today announces changes to the future delivery of its Start Up Loans programme for businesses in Wales. From 24 February 2024, working in partnership with Business in Focus as an affiliate of the Start Up Loans programme, the Bank will be providing pre-loan support directly to Welsh businesses. This initiative brings together Business in Focus’ extensive experience and networks with the Bank’s direct partnerships within the Welsh business support ecosystem. The initiative will combine these relationships with an internal British Business Bank team of Business Advisors who will be dedicated to furthering Wales’ dynamic business economy…