Author: Rhys Gregory

An award-winning Swansea franchise business has announced plans to create 4,000 new jobs as it embarks on growth plans thanks to a £10million support package from HSBC UK. The Magic Bean Co., which was established in 2014, has unveiled ambitious expansion plans to expand its 24 Starbucks sites to 200 in the next five years. The plans could see the creation of over 4,000 new jobs as multiple new Starbucks drive-thru stores open throughout the UK. The business, which reported a £17m turnover in 2021, intends to launch nine new Starbucks sites this year, with locations to be announced. The…

An international festival is to become the first major event in Wales to provide a special safe chill-out space for people with special and additional needs. This year’s four-day Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is back live again to celebrate its 75th anniversary, starting on Thursday, July 7, and will include a dedicated quiet zone at the heart of the Eisteddfod field. The innovation has come about thanks to the event’s marketing manager, Davina Carey-Evans, who founded PIWS – Welsh for purple –which aims to encourage businesses and events to improve accessibility for families with hidden disabilities. Davina, who is also High…

Coleg Gwent is celebrating a successful launch event for the new state of the art Cyber Hub at it’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone campus in Ebbw Vale. The Cyber Hub has been launched as part of Cyber College Cymru; a programme designed to help students prepare for a career in cyber security. With demand for trained individuals in this sector growing and fears over a local future skills gap, Cyber College Cymru has seen a number of founding partners collaborate to define a world-class cyber security skills programme to support further education colleges and students in Wales. The new high-tech…

The Celtic Collection and In the Welsh Wind were both double winners at the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by one of Wales’ top training companies. Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells on June 14. The Celtic Collection, which  includes the flagship Celtic Manor Resort, International Convention Centre Wales, Coldra Court Hotel, Tŷ Hotel Magor, Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront and The Parkgate Hotel Cardiff, won the Large Employer of the Year award. There…

The landlord of two Newport properties has been found guilty of 21 offences relating to fire safety in the conclusion of a week-long jury trial at Cardiff Crown Court on 10 June 2022. Mr Lewis Marshall stood accused of offences under the Fire Safety Order dating back several years in relation to two neighbouring properties on Chepstow Road in Newport. The offences included the failure to maintain working fire alarm and emergency lighting systems. These measures are essential if occupants are to escape safely in the event of a fire. Further offences included the failure to keep escape routes clear…

Electric motorcycles and an all-terrain, 4×4 electric delivery truck designed for emerging markets are among the projects benefiting from more than £43 million of government and industry funding to help develop the latest green automotive technology. £43.7 million joint industry and government funding to support the development of the latest green auto tech, including electric motorbikes and off-road vehicles Projects could secure more than 550 jobs, spur growth across the country and save nearly 27.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions Further 19 studies receiving funding could one day secure UK lithium production, fast charging technology and a UK-based battery recycling facility…

Internet Sensation Gaz Oakley has been wowing millions of followers with his innovative dishes for years, releasing multiple cookbooks and collaborating with some of the most famous restaurants in the world. Now he’s making a stir in the Cardiff restaurant scene with his very own vegan pop-up restaurant at Neighbourhood Cardiff. Open from June 23rd to July 3rd, fans and foodies will finally have the opportunity to taste Gaz Oakley’s acclaimed dishes cooked by the man himself. Gaz first stepped into a professional kitchen 14 years ago and has been impressing the public with his talent ever since, publishing 3…

University Hospital of Wales has scooped a national award for its commitment to patients living with incurable blood cancer for the second time. The hospital’s haematology team was today (Thursday, June 16) presented with the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) Award in recognition of its outstanding care and unflagging dedication to patients with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer which claims the lives of 3,000 people in the UK each year. This is the second time UHW has received the award, which is only handed to a select few hospitals every four years. UHW was praised by Myeloma UK…

A trainee schoolteacher, a Costa Short Story Prize finalist, and an author whose work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, are among the 12 authors shortlisted for the 2022 Rhys Davies Short Story Competition. The competition recognises the very best unpublished short stories in English in any style and on any subject up to a maximum of 5,000 words by writers aged 18 or over who were born in Wales, have lived in Wales for two years or more, or are currently living in Wales Originally established in 1991, there have been nine Rhys Davies Short Story Competition contests…

NEW technical director Chris Brady will lead a new-look technical department at Anwyl Homes’ Cheshire and North Wales region, which has been bolstered by the appointment of four experienced employees. Based at Anwyl’s Flintshire headquarters at St David’s Park, Ewloe, the other new recruits – engineering manager Lorna Carlisle, senior development engineer Ryan Dodd and development engineer Simon Maxwell – will strengthen the existing technical team. Having worked for a variety of engineering consultants for almost 30 years, including Atkins, WSP and more recently CampbellReith Consulting Engineers for 14 years, Chris brings a wealth of design and consultancy experience to…