Author: Rhys Gregory

A Blackwood based food and drink manufacturer has upskilled a new recruit to their technical team thanks to funded mentoring support from a Welsh Government project. ANR-Probake, a leading manufacturer of nutritionally enriched baked goods, received the support from ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University through the Welsh Government’s HELIX Programme. The company contacted ZERO2FIVE to explore a collaboration when they were looking for support with mentoring Courtney Scott, a technical assistant who had been newly promoted from a quality assurance role. Despite not having a formal background in food technology, Courtney had been identified as a high-potential…

Caerphilly-based van conversion specialists Vantastec have revealed a bold new brand identity as the company looks ahead to the future. The refreshed look has been developed in partnership with Cardiff creative agency Limegreentangerine and features a modernised dragon logo that nods to Vantastec’s Welsh heritage. The design also incorporates a fan-like form, symbolising the business’s position as one of the UK’s leading converters of refrigerated vans. Founded in 2006 by Gareth Edwards and Colin Smith from a spare bedroom, Vantastec has grown into one of the UK’s largest van converters, now operating from a 30,000 sq ft headquarters in Ystrad…

A North Wales bakery is pledging to pay 16 year old school leavers £5 an hour more than they would get for flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant. The Jones Village Bakery in Wrexham says it’s going to give them the full adult rate of the Real Living Wage even though it’s not legally obliged to. That means the teenagers will be earning £12.60 an hour instead of  £7.55 which is the National Minimum Wage rate for their age. Over the course of a year that’s an extra £10,000 a year for 16 year olds working at the Village…

A POWERFUL new photography project is painting a picture of change in Rhyl, with residents’ voices at the heart of a vision for the town’s future. Rhyl-born photographer David Baker has launched an ambitious community project designed to capture the true spirit of his hometown. The initiative aims to shine a light on local lives, challenges, and hopes as the town embarks on a £20 million, 10-year regeneration programme. David suffered life-changing injuries in a 2016 cycling collision, which left him with brain damage, memory loss and balance problems. During rehabilitation he trained in photography at Arts University Bournemouth, specialising…

UKHospitality is projecting that 111,000 jobs will have been lost in hospitality by the Budget on November 26, which will be almost 13 months on from the previous Budget that hit hospitality with £3.4 billion of additional annual cost. The projection, based on the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, is illustrative of the impact these costs have had on jobs. The lowering of the employer NICs threshold has been the most damaging, bringing 774,000 people working part-time and flexible jobs into the tax threshold for the first time. The figures from the ONS reveal that 10,963 hospitality…

A 31-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for a series of drug offences. James O’Connor, of East Parade, Rhyl, was sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court earlier yesterday (Tuesday, 16 September). At a previous hearing, O’Connor had entered guilty pleas to four charges of supplying Class A drugs and one charge of supplying Class B drugs. The charges related to the supply of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis between May and August of this year following a joint investigation with the Merseyside Police County Lines Task Force. Following his arrest on 11 August, investigating officers established that…

AerFin, the aviation asset specialist that buys, sells, leases and repairs aircraft, engines and parts, has further strengthened its position in the aviation aftermarket by continued collaboration with a Middle Eastern investor on the acquisition of an additional Airbus A320neo aircraft. This latest transaction brings the total acquisitions under this initiative to five A320neo aircraft, underscoring AerFin’s commitment to supporting the global demand for high-quality Used Serviceable Material (USM) and extending the operational life of critical aviation components for airlines, lessors and MROs. The aircraft, which is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1100 GTF engines, was acquired from EMP…

Budding and established young entrepreneurs are invited to a special business drop-in event this month. Pembrokeshire County Council’s Business Drop-in event on September 26, will be aimed at young entrepreneurs and start-ups, with a range of organisations attending to offer specialist support. Peter Lord, Principal Development Officer, said: “We will still have our regular business support partners attending to offer general business support, but this month we wanted to highlight the support available to young people aged 16-30 year-olds who have completed education and are considering starting their own business in the county.” Among those attending will be Big Ideas…

Blackwood Miners’ Institute (BMI) is set to undergo a major programme of improvements after securing a £222,000 grant from the Arts Council of Wales, supported by Welsh Government. Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) has also committed 10% match funding, underlining its ongoing support for arts and culture in the borough. The investment will deliver a series of vital upgrades, including internal repairs, upgraded fibre-optic Wi-Fi, refurbished seating, eco-friendly lighting, and a state-of-the-art sound system in the auditorium. Together, these improvements will significantly enhance the audience experience while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the venue. Interim Leader of CCBC, Cllr Jamie…

Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership in the Welsh Government, recently visited Ynys Môn tidal energy scheme to see first-hand how it is helping to inspire the next generation about careers in renewable energy. He was joined at the Morlais substation by David Roberts, Chair of the North Wales Regional Skills Partnership (NWRSP), who emphasised the importance of linking local talent with the growing opportunities in low-carbon industries. The visit followed the Green Horizons: Future Skills, careers event hosted by Menter Môn Morlais at the substation near Holyhead earlier in September. Over 150 Year 11 pupils…