Author: Rhys Gregory

A Swansea-based designer who launched her sustainable fashion label during lockdown upcycling old wetsuits destined for landfill is already making waves in the industry with multiple accolades. 23-year-old Ffion McCormick Edwards founded Barefoot Tech with the support of Big Ideas Wales in a bid to tackle the volume of old, unused wetsuits that are adding to the environmental impact caused by landfill. A fond water skier who comes from a family of water sport enthusiasts, Ffion has built a business that centres around her love for the sea and puts sustainability at the heart of the business ethos, reclaiming unwanted…

Cardiff-based software company Method4 is sponsoring the Best Tech Workplace award at the Wales Technology Awards on October 20. The awards, which take place in Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, celebrate the most talented and innovative people in the tech industry in Wales. At the forefront of technological excellence in Cardiff’s vibrant tech scene, Method4 provides innovative software and consultancy services with specialised knowledge of cloud web applications and information systems. Now in its 18th year, the company’s public sector clients include Senedd/Welsh Parliament, Welsh Government, the WJEC, and Education Scotland. It also works for clients such as VocaLink, Mastercard,…

Popular chocolate schools, workshops and tasting experiences have been relaunched by Coco Live at the company’s new premises in Llanidloes. Groups of up to 30 people are welcomed to the Coco Live workshops at Parc Derwen Fawr. The company can cater for families, schools, community groups and organisations as well as for the more serious and ambitious chocolate makers. Chocolate schools were halted for two years during the pandemic, but founder Lori Whinn has relaunched them with plans for a couple of charity workshops, with the proceeds going to Village by Village. The Ghana charity, which works to reduce child…

Welshpool-based manufacturer Trailhead Fine Foods aims to reach more customers by listing five of its range of award-winning Get Jerky snacks with Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler. Castell Howell Foods, which supplies customers across Wales, the border counties and the South West of England, is providing a new route to market for the premium PGI Welsh Beef jerky snacks, which are high in protein and gluten free. The wholesaler is stocking the Original, BBQ, Spicy Chilli, Black Pepper and  Hot Smoked Chipotle Get Jerky flavours. “We’re always keen to add to our range of Welsh produced foods and Get…

Nearly 50,000 servings of pet food have been distributed across Wales via RSPCA branches since June. The Wales Pet Food Bank involves securing dog and cat food donations from suppliers and then distributing these via RSPCA branches to food banks and organisations across Wales. Recently RSPCA Carmarthenshire Branch have taken part in drop offs to food banks in order for them to distribute donations  amongst pet owners struggling to feed their pets due to the current cost of living crisis. Carmarthenshire branch trustee Tracey Clarke (pictured with rescue poodle Dylan) said they were delighted to be part of the scheme…

Groundworks are now well underway for the new operating theatres at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, which is set to become the health board’s Centre of Excellence for Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery. This artist’s illustration shows what the impressive entrance to the £6.1m new theatres will look like. They are being erected on land alongside the Minor Injury Unit. Through the summer work was carried out re-routing underground cables and pipework, and engineering work is now underway preparing the foundations, which is expected to last into October. We apologise for the additional noise during this time, but difficult ground conditions have…

Irene Hicks and team reach £200,000 fundraising target for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity’s Breast Centre Appeal!  Back in 2019, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity celebrated the success of Irene Hicks and team, a fabulous group of people, for raising just over £100,000 for our Breast Centre Appeal. Fast forward three years, and a global pandemic, the team were not to be outdone.  They modified how they carried out their sales, took payments, and organised collections, while safely following COVID-19 restriction guidelines. Amazingly, in August this year (2022), they reached their goal of £200,000 raised for the Breast Centre Appeal…

President of the Culinary Association of Wales has praised all hotels, restaurants, chefs and staff who have either won or been shortlisted for prestigious awards this autumn. Arwyn Watkins, OBE, who’s also managing director of Cambrian Training Company, Wales’ leading provider of hospitality apprenticeships in Wales, congratulated the five Welsh winners at the coveted AA Hospitality Awards 2022 last week. He also welcomed the recognition of Welsh businesses and chefs in the shortlists for The Staff Canteen Awards 2022 and 2022 Boutique Hotelier Awards. Mr Watkins said: “It’s fantastic to see so many Welsh hotels, restaurants, chefs and staff recognised…

Time is running out for you to cast your vote to help a quartet of Welsh projects win the coveted ‘UK Project of the Year’ trophy at the National Lottery Awards 2022. The annual National Lottery Awards celebrate the people and projects across the UK who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding. Since voting for The National Lottery Project of the Year category opened on 7 September, thousands of votes have been cast from across the UK for the 17 finalists to help decide this year’s winner. But with the 12 October deadline for voting fast…

Since the start of the new school term, whole classes of Reception aged children have been enjoying free school meals as part of the Welsh Government Universal Free School Meal scheme. Over 1900 families have taken up the offer so far, with many more families able to so. To ensure Reception children do not miss out on their free school meals, families should log onto their ParentPay account to pre order. More information is available here – parentpay.com The Universal Free School Meal scheme is available to the youngest children in primary schools initially. Further year groups are to be provided…