Author: Rhys Gregory

A fast-growing consultancy firm is aiming to kick-start an economic revolution in rural North Wales. Lafan Consulting Group are doubling their workforce to six members of staff to meet the demand for their expertise in using digital technology, facilitating, project management and setting up supply chains. Managing director Geraint Hughes says that far too often the profits from Welsh enterprises end up outside Wales. It was therefore vitally important for farmers, food and drink producers and other businesses to take control of their own destiny and create a “circular economy”. Mr Hughes said: “We have reached the stage where we…

The North Wales chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD) believes the region’s business community can look forward at 2023 with optimism.   Following the organisation’s Christmas lunch at Llandudno’s Bodysgallen Hall, David Roberts hailed the event a success, giving attendees an opportunity to strengthen business connections to start the new year on the right foot.   The festive lunch was the final event of the year for the North Wales branch of the prestigious industry body and was sponsored by engineering, environmental and planning consultancy Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph and Bangor.   The positivity in the…

A north Wales social enterprise has been supporting local food producers to reach new customers by partnering with tourism and hospitality businesses across the region. Through its Neges@Home project Menter Môn has worked with accommodation providers to promote local food and drink products with a focus on the Welsh language and local culture. The aim is to create a sense of place as well as facilitate the link between producers and self-catering guests as a potential new market. The Neges concept is to encourage visitors to order a hamper from their self-catering accommodation rather than getting a supermarket delivery or…

The first Monday of the New Year is legendary amongst divorce lawyers as the day in the year when they receive the most calls from people wanting to start divorce proceedings. In reality, it’s no longer just a day of heightened calls – the increase lasts for more like a month. This is according to Grant Stephens, head of Cardiff-based law firm Grant Stephens Family Law. “I’d say ‘Divorce Day’ is definitely becoming more of a month-long phenomenon,” he says. “During the month of January, the number of family law enquiries can spike substantially, rising to around 150% of the…

With the cost-of-living crisis biting hard, Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, has come up with a guide to its best woodlands for festive – and completely free – winter woodland walks for all the family to enjoy. Coed Cadw site manager said: “Winter woods take on a whole new character. Spectacular, frosty landscapes and bare branches expose elusive wildlife and hidden history. Whether it’s a crisp, frosty morning or a damp, misty afternoon, it’s great to pull on your boots and thermals or waterproofs and head out for an invigorating stroll. The fact that our woods are all free to…

Skybound Therapies, a world-renowned behaviour analysis and therapy centre at Wiston near Haverfordwest, is celebrating two successes: it has reached its 10th anniversary and on November 15 was a finalist for the Award for UK Employer of the Year (2-49 employees): Accredited in the 2022 Investors in People Awards. Skybound Therapies provides tailored support to help improve the quality of life for individuals with learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties. It was founded in 2012 by Risca Solomon, who first discovered behaviour analysis when looking for ways to support her foster brother Dan. Risca first met Dan when she was 18 and…

This Christmas, Dogs Trust, which has rehoming centres in Bridgend and Cardiff, welcomes any support that can be spared, no matter how small, and it has shared three easy ways to support the charity, that won’t break the bank. 1. Sponsor a dog – It couldn’t be easier to sponsor a dog in the charity’s care, or to gift a sponsorship to a friend or loved one this Christmas for as little as £1 a week (£4.34 per month). With around 1600 dogs in Dogs Trust’s care at any one time, sponsoring a dog not only directly helps the chosen pooch but…

Young boxers from North West Wales are getting their careers off on a firm footing thanks to the backing of a Gwynedd-based food wholesaler. Caernarfon Boxing Club have just received a grant of £800 from the Harlech Foodservice 50th Anniversary Charity Fund towards the cost of new flooring for their gym on the town’s Llanberis Road. The club was formed 29 years by local man and head coach Ian Owen after a successful amateur career and its Wall of Fame has an impressive roster of Welsh amateur champions, including Ryan Owen who won five successive national titles. Also up there…

A talented young baritone who has been dubbed a new Bryn Terfel will be returning to North Wales take a starring role in a popular gala concert making a post-Covid comeback. Tickets are now on sale for the musical spectacular where Emyr Lloyd Jones, 25, will share the stage with the award winning NEW Sinfonia orchestra for their New Year Gala at St Giles’ Church in Wrexham on Saturday, January 7. Earlier this year the powerful vocalist clinched the prestigious Pendine International Voice of the Future title at the 75th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod when his “astounding” performance was compared…

Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds would have been blown away by the acting talent when care home staff wrote and produced a festive pantomime – oh yes he would! Senior care practitioners Sophie Smith and Laura Shone who work at Pendine Park’s   Highfield care home in Wrexham  penned a script full of Reynolds-style fun quips and local references, all loosely based on the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Sophie played a modern day Scrooge, haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. She said: “It was an absolute blast. We loved doing it. It’s so good to get…