Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea-based Business Butler is helping businesses to connect and grow by launching a free membership tier. Businesses joining the thriving community as Associate Members will be able to enjoy virtual and face-to-face networking, weekly LinkedIn engagement pods, event invitations, and be able to earn rewards for contributing to the community. They will also be able to access Business Butler’s unique Members Dashboard where they can manage their account and sign-up to a host of other discounted services to help their business. These include accessing the members directory or enjoying the benefits that a bespoke telecoms package delivers. Business Butler Founder…

An increase in the overall volume and value of deals coupled with high levels of co-investment in Welsh businesses has resulted in a strong performance by the Development Bank of Wales in 2021/22 according to the latest figures that have been published today. 519 investments with an average deal value of £210,276 were made in more than 460 Welsh businesses during the year ending 31 March 2022, with just over half of investments (51%) awarded to existing customers. Total investment was £109.1 million, an increase of £3.6 million compared to business as usual in 2020/21. At formation in 2017, the…

A growing family business that’s now one of Wales’s top food wholesalers with a turnover of more than £30 million is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Harlech Foodservice was founded in 1972 by Shropshire couple Colin and Gill Foskett who took over a failing frozen food company and began its transformation into a business supplying restaurants, pubs, schools and hospitals across Wales and into England. Colin’s brothers, Fred and Stephen, joined the business and the founders’ three children, Jonathan, Andrew and Laura, took over from their parents and still sit on the board and the third generation of the family are…

Business leaders have launched a major campaign to help North Wales reach net zero status. The driving force behind the crusade is the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council who say an environmentally-responsible approach also makes sound commercial sense. The group has brought together the region’s most forward thinking entrepreneurs working collectively to achieve a greener future. Among their aims is to jointly lobby governments, local authorities and key figures in industry urging them to further invest in the development of carbon-neutral technologies. Around 30 local enterprises contributed to the inaugural Net Zero North Wales meeting at the Conwy Business…

A group of young musicians who give a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music will be among the star attractions at a top music festival. Calan will bring their award-winning contemporary and lively approach to the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Sunday, September 18. The group breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies and foot tapping tunes along with spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. The concert is part of an exciting and varied programme at this year’s festival which is celebrating its 50th anniversary and runs…

Castell Howell Foods is collaborating with Wales’ largest independent contract caterer, Just Perfect Catering Ltd, to devise a lower carbon menu – and create a sustainability blueprint for suppliers and customers. Working with Castell Howell suppliers – Authentic Curry, Llaeth Y Llan, Radnor Hills and Celtic Pride Premium Beef – the initiatve will also focus on other elements of sustainability in the supply chain, such as biodiversity and nature stewardship, community engagement and reduction of plastics. The need to rise to these challenges has been recognised by the Welsh Government, which in 2020 launched the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability…

The Willow Globe Company is taking a production of William Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy ‘As You Like It’ on tour to the fantastic setting of Gregynog Hall at Tregynon, near Newtown on Saturday, July 2. The company, which has its base at Llanwrthwl, near Llandrindod Wells, will be welcoming the audience to the Forest of Arden with “love, laughter, music and philosophy under the greenwood tree”. The outdoor production, from 7pm to 10pm with interval, is the climax of a day of activities at Gregynog Hall, former home of famous art-loving sisters Margaret and Gwendoline Davies. In the event of rain,…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that unilaterally changing the Northern Ireland Protocol risks adding to the extreme economic pressures already being felt by UK businesses and consumers. In a letter to Mr Johnson, FUW President Glyn Roberts said that while it is accepted that there is scope to improve the protocol,  it was extremely concerning that the UK Government appeared to have shown a reluctance to negotiate changes on the basis of the numerous improvements proposed by the EU in October 2021. “…given the international dismay in response to the UK Government’s publication…

Two veteran cyclists are proving that age is just a number by cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Sisters Sue Gotley, aged 78, and Pam Mann, who will turn 80 in July, took on the iconic challenge to help fund the charity’s lifesaving science into heart and circulatory diseases. Former Abergavenny head teacher Sue, and her sister Pam, set off on 20 May and completed the 1,074 mile trip from the bottom of South-West England all the way to the tip of Scotland on 8 June, covering more than 50…

Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed to explore ambitious new plans for how household waste and recycling could be collected and dealt with in future. Among the various options under consideration are increasing the types of different materials that households can recycle, improving methods of collection, introducing a new fleet of cleaner, greener ultra-low emission collection vehicles and more. The authority will also explore issues such as whether the new service should be outsourced, provided in-house or possibly provided as part of a partnership with neighbouring local authorities. The service, which is currently contracted to Kier Services Limited, has been…