Author: Rhys Gregory

A street food piazza, a farmers’ market, and a producers’ fair, served up with a side of live music, will all be on the menu in Cardiff Bay this summer as the Cardiff Food and Drink Festival returns. One of the most popular events in Cardiff’s events calendar and the biggest free food and drink festival in Wales, the festival opens at midday on Friday July 7thand runs throughout the weekend. More than one hundred stallholders will offer a spectacular spread of foodie delights, including: artisanal ice-creams, cheeses, meats, brewed and distilled beverages at the Producers Fair; preserves, sweet treats,…

The Welsh Government is making a £566,000 investment to support specialist fishing line manufacturer Airflo to grow and ensure the future viability of the plant in Brecon, creating 21 and safeguarding a further 44 jobs, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced today. Airflo manufactures the world’s only range of 100% PVC-free fly-fishing lines and is a leading innovator in the sector. Based out of a factory on the Ffrwdgrech Industrial Estate in Brecon and owned by US-based Mayfly Group, Airflo has become a leading Welsh exporting success story, with pre-season orders forecasting a quadrupling of business to North America. The…

The Welsh Government’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Andrew Goodall, has today announced that Judith Paget has been appointed on a permanent basis to the role of Director General of Health and Social Services and Chief Executive of NHS Wales. Judith has been in the post on an interim basis since November 2021, and has been appointed permanently following a rigorous international recruitment exercise chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner. Commenting on being appointed to the role, Judith said: “I am honoured to be appointed to this important role and look forward to continuing to work with Ministers and NHS Wales…

A new £1 million project will research new varieties of peas to reduce the UK’s reliance on soya imports, it has been announced today (Thursday 1 June). The ‘Pea Protein’ project, which involves academics from Aberystwyth University, is being spearheaded by grass and forage seed specialists and breeders, Germinal. In 2022, the UK imported three million tonnes of soya for use in human and animal feeds.  Soya is also a crop associated with deforestation in South America, which contributes to the acceleration of climate change. Demand for plant-based proteins is increasing.  Soya forms the basis of most plant-based protein options,…

A third (36%) of UK businesses plan to adapt their strategies to navigate financial challenges over the next six months, new research from HSBC UK reveals. The findings demonstrate how resilient UK businesses are with 29% stating that they had to adapt their business strategy over the past five years to survive – and 12% said this adaptation enabled them to increase their profits. One in five (20%) businesses feel optimistic that business will get better, despite a similar figure (22%) reporting that the current challenges were having a worse impact on their business than the COVID-19 pandemic. The research…

Money is pouring into the Welsh business sector but, according to recent statistics, workers aren’t. More specifically, job opportunities aren’t running in step with the increased support for local businesses. The latest unemployment figures for Wales[1]show an increase of 1.1% from 3.5% to 4.6% in the three months to March 2023. That’s a far cry from the highs of the nineties and mid-noughties. However, what the increase does suggest is that current economic conditions are causing problems within the business sector. What’s also interesting though, as we’ve said, is that money is available. Indeed, when you read about companies such…

What should a contemporary kitchen look like? Ideally, it’s supposed to be comfortable, multifunctional, and spacious. It must, however, be trendy.  Creating the ideal kitchen will take time, careful space planning, and creative design choices on the part of the homeowner. And today on our blog, we’ll look at one of the most important aspects of the modern kitchen: the worktop. Also included are the advantages of thin, solid laminate kitchen worktops. What makes a kitchen worktop so important? Whether you like it or not, the worktop will be the main focal point when you walk into the kitchen. Units,…

Cryptocurrency markets are thriving and increasingly volatile. It has become a lucrative investment option, and people are attracted to higher returns and infinite possibilities. Nonetheless, navigating the crypto market is complicated due to its lack of transparency and idiosyncratic characteristics. Investing in the crypto market can be a game-changer for you if you know the right strategies. This article is for the buff who would like to make profitable and informed decisions in the crypto world. Educate Yourself If you’re considering investing in cryptocurrencies, keep yourself informed about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Learn everything about digital currencies, the key terms,…

A jazz legend who played with Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra will be teaming up with the voice of Strictly Come Dancing for a night to remember in North Wales. Strictly singer Tommy Blaize will be joining Guy Barker and his Big Band for a “powerhouse performance” in a star-studded concert at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at 8pm on Friday, July 7. It’s a return to the festival for Guy who has also shared the stage with other superstars including George Michael, Sting, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Phil Collins, Sammy Davis Jr and Liza Minnelli among many others. The first…

RSPCA Cymru has launched an appeal for information after a Shih Tzu was found abandoned on a driveway in Shotton near Deeside. The female dog – estimated to be around a year old – was found on Shotton Lane, in a pet carrier and with heavily matted fur. Luckily she was found by the homeowners who took her to a vet, who subsequently called the RSPCA. The incident took place at around 6.45pm on 22 May and was captured on CCTV, but unfortunately the footage has not been able to assist with RSPCA enquiries. She also wasn’t microchipped – leading…