Author: Rhys Gregory

A Swansea-based accountancy firm, Lee Coombes Accountancy, has been instrumental in helping leading fin-tech company, Coconut, in the development of a cutting-edge digital accounting application aimed at sole traders. The app is designed to help sole traders streamline and simplify their accounts ahead of a new legal requirement to keep digital records and use software to submit online self-employment tax returns. It follows the mandate for VAT registered businesses to submit online through third-party software this year. The collaboration between Lee Coombes and Coconut to develop the app has come about due to new plans which have been put forward…

Redrow has unveiled its latest development in Newport with the launch of 75 high quality new homes. Nestled in a peaceful residential area, Parc Elisabeth has been named after the late Queen Elizabeth II who began her first official visit to Wales in Newport following her coronation in June 1953. Work on the development is now underway with an assortment of three, four and five bedroom homes due to be built over the next two year period. All are being sold from Redrow’s new sales hub at Great Milton Park in Newport. Andrew Williams is Area Sales Manager for Redrow.…

PureGym, the UK’s largest gym operator, is delighted to announce the opening of a brand new gym in Bangor, North Wales! The opening of the state-of-the-art gym marks the latest step in PureGym’s ambitious expansion plans across the UK and will extend its current provision of flexible, affordable fitness in Wales. Located near to the Menai Centre on Garth Road, PureGym Bangor Wales will open its doors at 12pm on 18th of November. Members will have access to the c. 12,700 sq. ft. gym 24 hours a day, seven days a week through their low-cost, zero-contract memberships that cater for…

Zip World’s three gravity-defying North Wales adventure sites now offer bilingual Key Stage 2 and 3 educational programmes for schools. Designed to support the physics, geography, Welsh and English curriculums, the programmes help pupils understand forces at work in caves, forests, quarries and real-life scenarios. Zip World is Wales’ leading adventure tourism company. Attractions included in the Zip World Schools programme include Quarry Flyer – a tandem ziplining experience for mini adventurers, covering 200m of zip line against the backdrop of the Penrhyn Quarry lake; Bounce Below cavern trampoline park; the Deep Mine Tour – a historical mine walking tour…

Specialist merger and acquisition advisory business GS Verde Group has appointed Gavin Johns as its new Chairman, as the Group embarks on the next phase of its acquisition and growth strategy. A technology entrepreneur with global expertise in fintech, mergers and acquisitions, finance and business scale-up projects, honed through almost three decades in industry, Mr Johns’ skill and experience in scaling disruptive business models, global markets and fast-growing business will be a real asset for the GS Verde Group and its clients. He succeeds Peter Wright, who is stepping down after more than eight years as Chairman of the GS…

After extensive environmental studies and a review of the feedback collected during the early engagement carried out in late 2021, Pennant Walters has announced the launch of its statutory consultation on detailed proposals for Mynydd y Glyn wind farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This is the second statutory consultation exercise that Pennant Walters has undertaken in the space of 5 months – the first being that for its wind farm proposals at Mynydd Carn-y-Cefn in Blaenau Gwent, which was held during the summer. The RCT site is located three kilometres to the west of Pontypridd, adjacent to Pre-Assessed Area 9…

Tailoring bespoke training models to plug the widening skills gap in the construction industry has led to one Swansea-based company creating its own careers pathway. Through its ‘Persimmon Way’ philosophy, around 150 new job opportunities have been created both for apprentices starting out on their careers and also for those looking to retrain and enter the construction sector. In partnership with Bridgend College, Persimmon Homes West Wales believes that the organic growth of in-house resource and career progression opportunities is helping the company to recruit and retain the very best local talent and to ensure a sustainable business model. In…

The Azets South West and Wales specialist corporate finance team has seen growth in 2022, despite economic uncertainty. The team, led by Katherine Broadhurst, completed 19 deals in the last 12 months with a total value of £130m and an average value of £6.8m. The average deal value has increased from 2021 by £1.7m. As well as this, the team followed up the appointment of Claire Marshall as Director and the promotion of Eloise Davies to Assistant Manager with the recruitment of Adam Dix as Corporate Finance Executive and Rhydian Griffiths as Associate. After completing work experience with the team…

Plans for a Hydrogen Hub on Anglesey have been approved paving the way for the first development of its kind in Wales. The project will see the Hub built at Parc Cybi, Holyhead by social enterprise, Menter Môn, working alongside the Isle of Anglesey County Council. Green hydrogen will be produced at the site and distributed as fuel for zero emission hydrogen-powered vehicles. Having received consent, construction can begin, subject to the release of additional funding with the Hub expected to be in operation by 2025. Dafydd Gruffydd, Managing Director of Menter Môn said: “This is excellent news and it…

Primary pupils are boosting their own local biodiversity to tackle climate change. Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team has given a helping hand to green fingered pupils wanting to make a difference for their own local environment. The team recently supported pupils at Ysgol Trefnant and Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog in increasing the biodiversity of wildflower meadows set up at each school. Since 2020 Denbighshire County Council’s own Wildflower Meadows Project has recorded 340 different plant species at sites across the county. This year’s season includes over a 100 managed meadows that have contributed to improved species richness across the county. These…