Author: Rhys Gregory

After four very successful years supporting start ups in Carmarthen and Newtown, we are sad to announce that we are pausing operations at Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub and Focus Newtown Enterprise Hub. Launched in 2019 as part of the Business Wales programme, the Enterprise Hub programme has been at the heart of entrepreneurial activity in the local communities, creating over 200 jobs and investing over £500,000 in local enterprise. More recently and thanks to remote working, our Enterprise Hubs opened additional space to create strong co-working, networking and room hire facilities so that those without an office space, in need…

A fast-growing Flintshire office seating company is using storage units to help it expand its operations across the UK. Hood Seating, founded on the Deeside Industrial Estate by Trudy Gabriel-Rutt and Paul Rutt, from Dyserth, is now in its sixth year and has weathered the challenges posed by the pandemic. Their ergonomically-designed seats are growing in popularity across the UK and Ireland and to meet the increasing demand, Hood Seating has recently acquired additional storage space at Lock Stock Self Storage’s Saltney storage park. Two giant 40-foot units, each with over 2,500 cubic feet of space, have been used to…

The launch of an archeological survey at Parc Cybi this week marks a significant milestone for the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub. A key part of meeting planning conditions, the survey will be carried out before construction starts on site. The Hub which is a Menter Môn project, supported by the Isle of Anglesey County Council, will be the first of its kind in Wales. It is seen as an important step as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions as well as a catalyst to boost the local economy. Green hydrogen will be produced at the site and distributed as fuel…

Experienced banker Rob Barber has joined the UKSE investment team in Wales. He has been appointed Area Manager with a brief to grow UKSE’s investment portfolio in Wales. He brings a thorough understanding of helping Welsh businesses expand and thrive after 33 years with Lloyds Bank where he was Area Director Commercial Banking South East Wales. He also recently worked for Development Bank of Wales as a Senior Manager within the Portfolio Monitoring Team looking after a range of their clients. Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE provides strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1 million to firms to unlock…

A 22-year-old videographer from Rhyl has gone from strength to strength since giving up his day job and turning his hobby into a fast-growing business. Sam Beavan founded his videography company Bevovisuals in 2021, which works with businesses and organisations on brand building and campaigns by creating slick promotional video content. Sam, who has been filmmaking since the age of 13 when he developed a passion for making and editing videos at home, was working in a mobile phone shop in Rhyl when he decided to take the plunge and turn his hobby into a business venture. Since then, Bevovisuals…

Thomas Carroll Group has reported an 11% growth in its turnover in the financial year ending 31 December 2022. The Caerphilly-headquartered independent insurance, risk, wealth management and insurtech Group saw its turnover increase to £14.3million in 2022, up from £12.9million at the end of 2021, with its pre-tax profits coming in at £1.7million. It was a year of major investment for the Group, with an increase in expenditure on IT infrastructure and recruitment. The Group also awarded its staff three pay rises during the financial year to help with the increasing cost-of-living. The employee-owned business also saw significant expansion as…

Ten local authorities have indicated their commitment to older workers by becoming the first councils in England and Wales to sign the Age-friendly Employer Pledge.     Councils including those serving Leeds, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight and the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have committed to taking action to improve the recruitment, retention and training of older employers by joining the free nationwide programme.     In total, the ten authorities have more than 40,000 employees between them.   Established late last year by the Centre for Ageing Better, the Age-friendly Employer Pledge is a programme for employers…

Two members of an Organised Crime Group have been sent to prison for conspiracy to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine. Juniad Khan, 32 and Calum Mason, 24, both from Cardiff, were arrested by detectives from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales, following an intelligence led operation in August 2022 when a combined total of 27 kilograms of cocaine was seized, with an estimated street value of £2.7 million and 2.7 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated street value of £27,560.00, was also seized from Mason’s home address. As a result of messages recovered…

A major visitor resort at the heart of West Wales has plans for expansion thanks to help from the Development Bank of Wales. Set in the Ceredigion village of Llanon with sea views across Cardigan Bay and stretching up to the Llyn Peninsula, Seven Springs allows customers to buy or let lodges in an idyllic coastal setting, giving visitors an all-year-round foothold in a stunning part of Wales. Following the granting of planning approval, the lodge park has started work on developing new land for 38 new luxury lodges. The purchase of the additional land for development of the new…

Children are having to wait almost a year to find out who they will be living with long term, according to the latest family court data. Private children’s law cases – where families apply for child arrangements such as where a child will live or who they will spend time with – are taking on average 47 weeks to conclude between January to March 2023, up almost four weeks on the same period in 2022. This continues the upward trend seen since the middle of 2016, where the number of new cases overtook the number of closed cases. There were…