Author: Rhys Gregory

An amazing 29 year-old volunteer from Swansea, Ify Iwobi, who inspires young people from diverse-ethnic backgrounds through music and culture, has been nominated for the prestigious Coronation Champions Awards, being held to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. With the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, a passionate advocate of volunteering and President of Royal Voluntary Service, the Coronation Champions awards are set to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history.   Ify who volunteers part time through Race Council Cymru, the African Community Centre, and also previously Swansea YMCA, and is now in the running to become one of a…

RVU,  owner of Confused.com, Uswitch, Tempcover and Money.co.uk, is pleased to announce that Steve Dukes has been appointed CEO of Confused.com. Steve joined Confused.com as the company’s first Chief Operating Officer in 2019, bringing together product, commercial and data operations and signalling a period of significant growth for the business. Before joining Confused.com, Steve served in product leadership and general management roles in high growth companies within the financial services and eCommerce sectors. This included serving as CEO at Commuter Club, where he oversaw a period of key transformation within the company. Steve takes over from Louise O’Shea, who has…

A Gwynedd music business that has provided pianos for musical maestros from song-writing legend Burt Bacharach to slapstick comedian Norman Wisdom is celebrating over 50 years in business. Pianos Cymru, based in Porthmadog, has also set up its instruments for Bryn Terfel, Shirley Bassey and Michael Ball and every year provides up to 20 pianos for the National Eisteddfod. The business that began with a van and two pianos in the early 1970s has now swapped its 4,000 square foot warehouse for a unit on the Penamser trading estate and a 40-foot unit on the nearby new Lock Stock Self…

A North Wales food wholesaler is on course for record sales this year after investing £500,000 in an ingenious hack to increase storage capacity. Harlech Foodservice – which has premises in Cricieth and Chester – has increased the capacity of its giant freezer by 25% after reconfiguring the racking with narrower aisles and adding an extra row. As part of the plan the company also bought “bendy” forklift trucks that can navigate the tighter spaces. As a result, the capacity of the freezer has been increased by 270 pallets to a total of 1,100. The package of measures includes installing…

A teenager groomed by a vicious county lines gang to become a drugs supplier has been sentenced to 18 months in youth custody. Magistrates heard the 16-year-old called Darren was forced to sell illegal drugs after he started taking drugs himself and fell into debt. He was caught when he was seen passing drugs to another person at a party and was arrested. Police officers found him to be in possession of MDMA or Ecstasy, a Class A controlled drug. When he appeared before Wrexham Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing drugs with intent to supply.…

A care organisation has come to the aid of one of North Wales’ longest running music events that will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year. Every Good Friday since 1964 the Tremeirchion Bach Choir and Orchestra have performed a special production of Bach’s masterpiece, The St Matthew’s Passion, only missing one year due to Covid. Singers travel from all over the world to take part in the well-known community occasion, which for decades was held in the Corpus Christ Church in Tremeirchion, attracting crowds of people each year. But when the pandemic hit, the legendary event had to be…

Love Trails has announced this year’s headliners – legendary Drum ‘n’ Bass DJ, High Contrast, and Alt-pop sensation, Biig Piig. Also taking to the stage across the weekend, will be soulful reggae star, Hollie Cook, Dance DJ and producer, Barry Can’t Swim, Dynamite MC and a host of other talent. Set in the stunning Gower Peninsula, Love Trails is excited to welcome homegrown talent as a headline act for the very first time. Hailing from Penarth, South Wales, High Contrast has taken the Drum ‘n’ Bass world by storm. Now one of the UK’s leading producers and DJs, he’s celebrated…

An insurance management company has kicked off a new era on Cardiff’s Capital Retail Park following its acquisition by The County Group, one of the country’s largest brokers.  Archenfield, long-standing Community Partners with Cardiff City FC, was acquired by The County Group last April as part of a strategy to increase footprint in Wales and demonstrate strong commitment to Welsh people.  It joins the Group’s long-established taxi insurance business insureTAXI as well as PG Insurance, which was acquired last spring, in one large office on the retail park office while maintaining a base on Church Street, Monmouth.  Meanwhile Archenfield has…

Pencoed Library has undergone a major transformation in the largest investment the building has seen since it opened 50 years ago. The library was closed for a short period to undergo refurbishment works to transform it into a more inviting and modern space for local people to enjoy. Funded by the Welsh Government’s Transformation Capital Grant Programme, the makeover included updated furniture with extra mobility to allow for a multi-purpose space to hold various events and activities; new work pods for those who need quiet areas to concentrate on their school or studies; and a new community meeting room on…

Spring has sprung and it means a number of Swansea attractions are preparing to open for a fun-packed Easter. The council’s popular outdoor and indoor attractions – including the pedalos and crazy golf at Singleton Park, the crazy golf at Southend Gardens and the Swansea Bay Rider Land Train – are set to reopen on March 31 in time for the holidays. Oystermouth Castle opens on April 1. Cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “With the days becoming longer and warmer our attractions are ready for another great season. “Whether it’s a cultural trail, an outdoor trail or a heritage trail, there’s…