Author: Rhys Gregory

The Football Association of Wales are delighted to confirm Cymru manager Gemma Grainger has signed a two-year contract extension until 2027, taking the team through the qualifying campaigns for UEFA EURO 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2027. Grainger, who was appointed manager in March 2021, guided Cymru to within touching distance of reaching a major tournament for the first time in her first qualifying campaign in charge. After finishing second in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group, Cymru narrowly missed out on a place in the finals following a last-minute defeat in the play-off final against Switzerland. The…

Almost a thousand people attended Swansea Grand Theatre’s recent relaxed panto performance of Beauty and the Beast, a virtual sell out. From humble beginnings several years ago when less than 200 people attended, the theatre’s relaxed performances have gone from strength to strength, demonstrating the popularity of this type of accessible show. This year theatre staff were assisted by the Swansea branch of the National Autistic Society who were on hand to support attendees and supply essential equipment, such as ear defenders and fidget toys. Collaborative work like this is key to improving our services for all customers, regardless of…

Immersed! 2023 will take place 17-19th February in partnership with Orchard Live and Libertino Records to raise awareness and funds for Music Declares Emergency, the industry’s climate change charity.  The fifth Immersed! Festival returns to Tramshed Cardiff on Saturday 18th February for another year of exciting musical talent, showcasing South Wales’s ever-evolving, diverse music scene over four stages and accompanied by a unique narrative experience and important sustainability message. For the main stage headliner, Immersed! unleashes Lady Leshurr, the MOBO award-winning rapper who brings her explosive live show to Cardiff for the first time in five years.  Well known for…

Work is underway to reopen part of a Rhyl nature reserve to the public Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service staff and volunteers are bringing back to life a forgotten area of Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve. Over the winter work is taking place to an area at the south of the main pond, near the employment park, to open up a hidden space and restore access to the land and improve local biodiversity. Overseen by Countryside Ranger Vitor Evora, the work will include the clearing of an undergrowth area to allow a new path to be built linking to an old…

MHA, the UK’s 13th largest accountancy group has expanded its UK services by merging with Swansea-based firm Gerald Thomas. Gerald Thomas has provided high-quality accountancy services for a variety of clients across South Wales for 100 years including advisory, audit, compliance and professional services. The merger expands MHA’s offering in the UK and enhances the current services offered to Gerald Thomas’ existing clients. The current Gerald Thomas offices have been renamed and all staff moved over to MHA, with the wider MHA team supporting the Swansea office to provide an increased range of specialist services for the region. MHA’s Swansea…

Saecom, one of Wales’ leading telecommunications companies, has been acquired by the Flotek Group as the IT & Comms MSP progresses its ambitious growth strategy. The deal marks Flotek’s fourth acquisition of 2022. The addition of Saecom, founded in 2014, to Flotek significantly enhances the Group’s service offering, providing trusted telecommunications solutions to clients. Furthermore, Saecom’s large client base will have access to Flotek’s IT & Cyber Support technologies. Joint owners of Saecom, father and daughter Stephen Evans and Amy Evans will join the Flotek Group, alongside the whole Saecom team, with Amy moving to the role of Group Billing…

An adventurous hotelier with Parkinson’s has completed an epic charity scooter ride from Tenby to San Sebastian. Joe Sarrionandia, who runs the Strathmore hotel in the Welsh seaside town, and was diagnosed with the condition in June of 2021, has raised over £2,000 for Parkison’s UK Cymru. The 55-year-old father of three feared his riding days were over after he received his diagnosis, but he subsequently found out that his condition hasn’t prevented him from going on his scooter. The former Greenhill School pupil was joined on the journey by friends, Andrew Williams and Ian Thomas, who he has known…

Two Welsh sustainability and outdoors enthusiasts have joined forces to launch Dryad, a sustainable women’s activewear company based in Abergavenny. Matthew Thomas and Joby Barnard design women’s running tops, shorts and leggings made from recycled fabrics that have a fully traceable value chain, ensuring that everyone involved in the production line is treated equitably. In addition, a portion of Dryad’s profits go towards grass roots organisations aimed at increasing access to sports for women and girls. The company has been named on Runner’s World’s list of the top ten most sustainable brands and recently won two Editor’s Choice awards in…

Aspire 2Be, a multi-award-winning learning technology company, this week announced the launch of the ILM Leadership & Management Qualification, offering levels 4 and 5. These qualifications extend the range of Apprenticeships offered by Aspire 2Be, which also includes the Level 3 Diploma for Digital Learning Practitioners. The ILM Leadership & Management qualification is developed by educators for educators, and offers an exciting opportunity for learners to be taught by the industry experts, drawing on the extensive education-focussed knowledge and digital expertise within Aspire 2Be. The recent acquisition of A2B by Educ8 Group has enabled the development of this sector-leading range…

FRAUDSTERS are being warned there’s no hiding place in Swansea for people selling illegal and potentially dangerous tobacco. The message came after a Swansea-based couple were caught with more than 140,000 illicit cigarettes and almost 20kg of rolling tobacco hidden in a shop in Mansel Street. The couple were caught following a series of raids by trading standards officers, police and sniffer dogs who found hiding places for goods of a street value of more than £176,000. Merthyr Crown Court was told on January 6 that Simona Adamova and Jamal Karimi sold illegal tobacco goods from a shop they operated…