Author: Rhys Gregory

A Neath Port Talbot Council project to refurbish and renew the play area at Port Talbot’s Talbot Memorial Park has been completed. The work, which began in July this year, has involved the removal of ageing equipment, general repairs and the addition of a back-to-back children’s roundabout. The play area has also been equipped with a new ‘Boat Climber’ multi-play unit for toddlers offering 10 activities which encourage imaginative games and play. It also has a new ‘Fireman’s Tower’ with a bannister slide, scramble net, slide hooped climber plus a look-out tower and platforms. The new additions, repairs and refurbishment…

The take up of large industrial property in Wales reached 800,000 sq ft in the third quarter of the year, according to the latest report from global property consultancy Knight Frank. This level of activity for properties over 50,000 sq ft showed a fourfold increase over the take up for Q2 this year, and compares with 1.3 million sq ft for the third quarter last year.  The overall take up for the first nine months of 2023 was 300,000 sq ft down on the same period last year. The Q3 take up comprised six transactions, with three lettings and two…

A Flintshire composer whose song made history at the coronation of King Charles is following in the footsteps of his lifelong hero to take the reins of a globally renowned music festival. Paul Mealor, who was born in St Asaph and raised in Connah’s Quay, has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of the North Wales International Music Festival which was established by his mentor, Professor William Mathias. He will be taking over from the acclaimed mezzo soprano, Ann Atkinson, who is stepping down after 20 successful years at the helm. One of Paul’s big ambitions is for the…

Following the success of council funding to support the tourism sector, further funding is now available to help small tourism accommodation businesses in rural or semi-rural parts of Swansea improve their offer. Businesses can apply for up to £10,000, which is being made available by Swansea Council through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). It’s the third time this type of tourism support funding has been made available. The first two rounds were a result of direct funding that Swansea Council made available as part of its economic recovery strategy to support the tourism sector, post-pandemic. That funding led…

On Thursday 28th September at the British Podcast Awards in London, Truth Be Told: Adoption Stories, a podcast by the National Adoption Service won the Silver Award in the Parenting category.  A young person from South Wales who featured in the series two finale which was hosted by young, adopted people was in attendance to collect the award and celebrate the podcast’s success. Ellie-Rose, 22, represented National Adoption Service for Wales (NAS) at the national awards ceremony, where the Truth Be Told: Adoption Stories podcast, placed higher than parenting podcast powerhouse Dirty Mother Pukka / Anna Whitehouse. The Truth Be…

Hawkstone Commercials Co-director Oliver Lewis has been named as Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2023 South Wales Business Awards. Held at the iconic Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, the awards were celebrating their 15th year, with a gala black-tie ceremony hosted by Sara Edwards. As 2023 draws to a close, this award caps off a fantastic first 15 months of business for Hawkstone Commercials. With a £15 million turnover against a projected £150,000 and staff member number twenty onboarded, Hawkstone is on course to become the UK’s leading commercial car and van leasing businesses within the next 2-3 years.…

Aspire 2Be, part of Educ8 Training Group, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Matt Smith as its new Managing Director, effective October 1st, 2023. Currently serving as the Digital Transformation Director at Aspire 2Be, Matt Smith will succeed Simon Pridham, who founded the organisation, along with Jeremy Stephens a decade ago. Aspire 2Be is a multi-award-winning Learning Technology Specialist in education and business.  The company is based on the SA1 waterfront development in Swansea and is the only UK Professional Development Partner for Apple, Google, and Microsoft. With a strong background in education, Matt Smith joined Aspire 2Be almost…

An engineering, environmental and planning consultancy is celebrating another year of growth after turnover increased by more than £600,000.  Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent, has reported a 20 per cent rise in revenue to £3.86 million.  Celebrating 15 years as a business, the company has 48 employees, who have worked on projects across the UK, including North Wales, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Essex, and Kent, as well as the Isle of Man.   Key schemes have involved supporting the Manx government’s challenge to uncover a strategy for the disposal of 3,000 tones of sediment that settles…

One of Wales’ best-known law firms, JCP Solicitors, has announced the appointment of three new Business Owners: Directors Andrew Meech, Rhys Evans and Thomas Rees. Andrew Meech, Director and Joint Head of Commercial Litigation, Rhys Evans, Director and Head of Rural Practice and Thomas Rees, Director in Medical Negligence, join 11 other Business Owners across the firm’s eight offices in South and West Wales. Since joining JCP Solicitors in 2005, initially as part of the successful undergraduate scheme, Andrew Meech has enjoyed a swift and impressive career trajectory becoming a Director in 2016 when he was just 5 years qualified.…

In the ever-competitive realm of the hospitality industry, standing out is not just a matter of offering a room for the night. Acquiring the keys to success in the hotel industry goes beyond providing basic amenities – it’s about creating memorable experiences, exceptional service, and a sense of belonging that keeps guests coming back. The importance of success in this dynamic sector cannot be understated as it not only results in financial growth for the business but also contributes to building a strong reputation and a loyal customer base.  In the following sections, we will delve into the eight secrets…