Author: Rhys Gregory

Welsh food and drink businesses are in Singapore to promote their first-class products. Organised by the Welsh Government, the Trade Development Visit to Singapore provides a platform to engage with potential partners, distributors, and buyers in the region. The visit aims to highlight Wales’ diverse range of high-quality products, including dairy, bakery and alcohol products. Importing about 90% of its food and drinks consumption, Singapore is a country with great potential for Welsh food and drinks exports, as the sector sets its sights on further growth. Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, said: “This…

Leading global consultancy Arcadis is the latest company to move to the refurbished Hodge House office building in central Cardiff. Legal General Investment Management (LGIM), on behalf of its Legal & General UK Property Fund, recently invested £20 million to refurbish and transform the 110,000 sq ft eight-storey office building in St Mary Street. Arcadis has taken a 10-year lease on the 6,631 sq ft Suite 4D on the fourth floor. Legal & General was represented in the transaction by Fletcher Morgan and Knight Frank while Cushman & Wakefield acted for Arcadis. Arcadis specialises in delivering solutions in the built…

The Development Bank of Wales and a syndicate of nine business angels are backing a Cardiff start-up with an equity investment of £370,000 that will help transform workplace training. Lead investor Andrew Diplock has led the fundraise which includes £185,000 from business angels and £185,000 match-funding from the Development Bank’s Wales Angel Co-investment Fund for eLearning company Academii. Based at Tramshed Tech, Academii is led by Adrian Coles and Steve Lanigan. It was Steve Lanigan who led the management buy-out of Caerphilly-based ALS People with the backing of the Development Bank. He grew the run rate from £13 million in…

Around 10% fewer elderly people who fall in nursing homes across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot are being taken to hospital by ambulance, thanks to better staff education. The unique training rolled out by Morriston Hospital clinicians to 177 nursing home staff has also dramatically reduced the number of people who have fallen having to stay where they fell because staff were afraid to move them. Now, because of the training, there has been a 99% reduction in fallers staying on the floor until an ambulance arrives. Instead, staff feel confident to move many people who have taken a tumble…

AN AWARD-WINNING recruitment agency celebrating a decade in business is planning for expansion and targeting new industries. A busy year has seen Rhyl-based QiStaff Solutions experience a surge in demand for candidates to fill clerical and administrative vacancies. And building on the company’s strong connections in manufacturing and construction, directors Evette Easton and Julie Lloyd are planning to open a second office in north east Wales, to service customers in Flintshire, Wrexham and Cheshire. Employing five consultants at its Russell Road headquarters, QiStaff is one of the most respected names in the sector – Evette and Julie have more than…

The more strictly people complied with Covid restrictions during the pandemic, the worse their mental health today, new research has found. The analysis by researchers from Bangor University looked at the behaviour of around 1700 people during the Covid restrictions in relation to their personality traits and their post-pandemic recovery. The study aimed to answer three broad questions: who follows health advice, what can be done to improve compliance; and what are the costs for those who comply? The team found that those who were more sensitive to the needs of others were more likely to have complied with lockdown…

Commercial law firm Darwin Gray is experiencing a significant period of success, having grown in numbers by 30% in the past 12 months alone, and welcoming new members to all levels and parts of the firm, including senior solicitors, trainees and support staff. The firm’s recent successes signify considerable positive change for Darwin Gray, including the opening of its north Wales office in Bangor, multiple award wins, and being named amongst the top law firms of 2023 by The Times. Managing Partner, Fflur Jones, said: “We are proud of the talent we retain and attract to Darwin Gray. The success…

Cardiff-based Lexington Corporate Finance has bolstered its specialist advisory credentials with the appointment of HSBC’s former head of corporate banking as a senior advisor to its team. Warren Lewis, 54, retired from HSBC in September, after a 35-year career where he gained invaluable experience across a range of disciplines, from credit and risk management to retail, commercial and global banking. He spent the last eight years as Head of Corporate Banking for Wales, where he supported clients with major restructures, international mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and MBOs. Mr Lewis joins Lexington in a move that further bolsters the…

A Welsh film maker has made broadcasting history with a James Bond-themed global television blockbuster. Father-of-two Julian Jones, 51, who was brought up in Llanrwst and Newtown, is the director of the new big budget Prime Video series 007: Road to a Million that was given glittering launches in London and New York. The show, that’s available in more than 240 countries, features an epic adventure with nine pairs of everyday people being given a shot at winning a life-changing £1 million prize by completing a series of spectacular Bond-inspired challenges. Julian teamed up with Golden Globe winning actor Brian…

The growth of a specialist engineering company that keeps the world’s airlines flying is being jet-propelled by a £1.6 million investment package. According to Jeff Wirth, the managing director of Continental Diamond Tool, on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate in Kinmel Bay, in Conwy, the rapid expansion is down to a perfect combination of the Welsh work ethic and American backing. As part of the company’s expansion plans,  it has opened a second production unit across the road to house its new electro-plating operation which has received support from the Welsh Government. The niche outfit – one of only two…