Author: Rhys Gregory

Private UK housing developer Dandara is launching a new headquarters to help meet the growing demand for new homes in Wales. The award-winning independent housebuilder has agreed terms with Cooke & Arkwright to take out a long term lease at Unit 2, Fairway Court in Treforest. The 12,530 sq ft office building was recently fully refurbished for the landlord, in a programme managed by Cooke & Arkwright’s Building Consultancy, and will be the operational centre for Dandara’s new developments in Newport, Cardiff and Carmarthenshire. Further sites are in the pipeline with new opportunities being explored. Fifty jobs are expected to…

A new look X-Ray will return to BBC One Wales for a new series on May 30th at 8pm and will be travelling around the country for six weeks from today. For nearly two years – through the height of the pandemic – X-Ray was filmed inside BBC Wales’ Central Square building in Cardiff. Now, with restrictions easing, the programme is going back out on the streets of Wales to meet the public. And with the current cost of living crisis, X-Ray has never been more important. The X-Ray team, including presenter Lucy Owen, will be hitting the road, bringing…

A talented young Welsh chef is preparing for a memorable year of competitions on the global stage. Harry Paynter-Roberts, 24, sous chef at Carden Park Hotel and Spa, near Chester, will be competing against seven of the world’s best young chefs in the Global Young Chefs Challenge Final at the Worldchefs Congress and Expo in Abu Dhabi from May 30 to June 2. Then, in November, he will join the Junior Culinary Team Wales at the Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg. He will be representing the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) in both competitions. Harry, who lives…

Colleagues from Co-op Funeralcare in Cardiff are reflecting on a decade of fundraising for the Sully-based children’s hospice, Ty Hafan, as they look to the next ten years of raising money for the much-loved paediatric palliative care charity. Activity over the last ten years, which has raised an impressive £26,000, has been spearheaded by funeral service operative Andrew Evans, of James Summers Funeralcare in Roath Court, whose young son Oscar passed away at Ty Hafan in 2012 having spent time in the children’s palliative care centre. Andrew’s colleagues have tirelessly supported his quest to raise money for the charity having…

This summer, a popular Netflix series is shooting in South Wales – and Ffilm Cymru’s Foot in the Door programme has opportunities for local people to be a part of production. Newport residents with skills in carpentry, admin, hairdressing, make-up, construction and more are invited to apply for a trainee placement which offers three days of free ‘set ready’ training provided by Sgil Cymru, four weeks of work experience on set, bursaries to help with transport, childcare and other costs and pay at least at a living wage. There may be some opportunities to be taken on as a full-time…

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is pleased to announce that Aled Rhys Jones has been appointed as the next Chief Executive, to succeed Steve Hughson upon his retirement later this year. Aled will take up the role on the 1st of September 2022 prior to Steve’s departure at the end of that month. Aled, who lives in Llandeilo with his wife and daughter, is a well-known figure in Welsh agriculture. Aled grew up on the family’s hill farm near Cwrt-y-Cadno in North Carmarthenshire and played an active role in the Young Farmers movement, which culminated in him being named National…

Aberystwyth University has been voted best in the UK for its first class student hall facilities at the 2022 national Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCA),  the UK’s leading student-led university awards.   BAFTA-winning actor and comedian Richard Ayoade hosted the glittering event held in Canary Wharf, London.   Cardiff University’s Student’s Union was voted  best in Wales, just pipped to the post for best in the UK by the University of Sheffield. In a good night for Wales’ institutions, Bangor University had a strong night being nominated in an impressive seven categories – including best overall University, best Student Support and best…

If you hate your job, you’re not alone as new research has discovered that almost half of young Brits (45 percent) feel trapped in a job they can’t stand. According to the research, over a third (36 percent) of 20- to 35-year-olds admit they’re desperate to quit their job but can’t afford to, while 38 percent say they have no hope of getting a promotion or moving sideways to a more interesting position at their current company. 43 percent spend the whole day clock watching, while 29 percent admit the end of the weekend is ruined with “Sunday night blues”…

The inaugural Wellbeing Mini Festival will be held at the Naylor Leyland Centre in Ruthin – home to Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) – on Wednesday June 29. Among the speakers are The Empowered Parent Coach and Mentor, Polly O’Leary, Sian Golding, who launched Elysian Coaching gym in Rhyl during the pandemic, and Jamie Sheridan, an entrepreneur and founder of Straits Line, exploring proactive healthcare and how it can prolong working life. A former primary school teacher, Polly will discuss how her outlook and career transformed dramatically following the birth of daughter, Mila. Struggling with her own mental health, imposter…

The Royal Mint has produced it largest ever coin in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – a unique 15-kilogram gold masterpiece commissioned by a private UK collector in recognition of Her Majesty’s historic 70-year reign. The coin, with a diameter of 220mm, is made of fine gold and has been hand-crafted to the highest standard, featuring a special-edition commemorative design on both sides that have been personally approved by The Queen. The Royal Mint’s special release was designed by esteemed coinage artist John Bergdahl featuring a regal design befitting the longest-reigning monarch in British history. The reverse…