Author: Rhys Gregory

The New Theatre have announced Ian ‘H’ Watkins from international pop group Steps will lead the cast in this year’s magical family pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as The Man In The Mirror from Saturday 10 December 2022 – Sunday 8 January 2023. As one fifth of the multi award-winning pop band Steps, for the last two decades H and his bandmates released over twenty hit singles, five chart-topping studio albums and toured the nation nine times with their inimitable style of pop and famous dance routines, amassing record sales of over 20 million worldwide. After a brief…

A mental wellbeing training company has taken off – with help from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE. YourNorth Veteran Support CIC won the prestigious Free Office for a Year Competition in 2021 at the Ebbw Vale Innovation Centre.  A year on, and the business is flourishing and looking at wider horizons. It was launched by an ex-RAF couple Kelly and Jamie Farr who say that winning the competition was the perfect start. It meant that they could bring forward their start-date, and that turned out to be the right decision. The business has accessed several sources of funding  – UnLtd, Community…

On Monday 28 March, Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron were victorious in the Cwis Dim Clem 2022 national final – beating schools from across Wales with a very high score of 98%. Cwis Dim Clem is a Welsh language quiz competition coordinated in Ceredigion by Cered on behalf of the Mentrau Iaith network and it sees year 6 pupils answer a broad range of general knowledge questions on Wales. The aim of the competition is to support schools with their Language Charter work and to raise awareness of the work of the Mentrau Iaith. Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron reached the final by winning…

A Cardiff-based brand will pitch its premium skincare range during Thursday’s episode of Dragons’ Den. Entrepreneur Matt Jones, 40, launched MESOA For Men in 2019 after being overwhelmed with male skincare in a leading high street retailer – not knowing which product to use, let alone how and when. Matt, who lives in South Wales with his wife, Sarah, says, “For generations, men have always had to bottle everything up. Opening up about emotions or challenges was seen as a weakness, and likewise, it was seen as too feminine to have skincare routines.” “Unlike with women, talking about your skin…

Aberystwyth University is to hold a year-long programme of events to mark 150 years since it was established. Throughout the year, the University, along with its students and staff, will join a worldwide community of alumni, friends and partners to celebrate their exceptional contribution and academic heritage here in Wales and around the globe. Founded in 1872, following community and national fundraising efforts to establish the first Welsh University, this pioneering educational institution has since helped shape generations of scholars and academics and prides itself on being at the forefront of the development of higher education with its important historical…

A Swansea-based talent solution agency launched on day one of the COVID-19 pandemic is celebrating unprecedented growth as well as marking two years in business as restrictions come to an end. UNIFY Talent provides people centric recruitment and talent acquisition solutions to the IT, Digital and Technology space. Founded by IT recruitment expert Mark Brereton, over the last two years, the talent solution start-up has grown to a headcount of three, with end of year results showing 100% increase in profits when compared with 2020. The business puts its success down to its fresh and compassionate approach at uniting professionals…

Paul Popham Fund, Renal Support Wales, has announced a new ambassador for the charity: TV presenter and chef, Matt Tebbutt. The announcement comes during the charity’s tenth year providing support for kidney patients across Wales. The new partnership aims to increase awareness and exposure of the issues surrounding kidney disease and the support and service the charity provides, as well as increasing awareness of the Children’s Kidney Centre outpatient refurbishment project. The fundraising target for the Children’s Kidney Centre is a grand total of over £130,000. The project aims to provide a calming environment with updated private consultation rooms and…

Spring is here and the green-fingered residents of Rhondda Cynon Taf can head back to Maesnewydd Garden Centre and Coffee Shop for all their ‘garden goodies’ – for the first time in two years. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is delighted that Maesnewydd Garden Centre and Coffee Shop in Aberdare is able to open its doors and welcome the public back after being closed for two years due to the global pandemic. Maesnewydd Garden Centre and Coffee Shop re-opens on Monday, April 11. It will also be open Bank Holidays and on Saturdays from Easter weekend onwards. Tracey Davies, manager at…

The Newport Ship Centre will shortly be opening its doors for 2022. From Friday 8 April, the centre will open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am until 4pm. Visitors will be able to learn about the history of the fifteenth-century ship, its purpose, why it sank, and the project to reassemble it, which has been described as one of the world’s largest 3D puzzles. The centre also offers guided tours, as well as fascinating details about life in and around the time the ship was active. The visitor season is made possible thanks to a partnership between Newport City Council…

As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative the Council has planted an array of trees across the County Borough to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. As we see the end of the official planting season, which runs from October to March, HRH has sent a message of thanks to people all over the United Kingdom who have come together to plant over a million Jubilee trees in her name. Her Majesty’s message marks the halfway point for The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative which spans two official tree planting seasons. Tree planting will re-commence in October 2022,…