Author: Rhys Gregory

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) in Wales is for the first time sponsoring a category in the National Start Up Awards. This award is open to any start-up whose founder has completed a DofE Award in Wales. The StartUp Awards National Series recognises the achievements of individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service. Already established and thriving in Wales, the StartUp Awards National Series is now taking the passion and drive to celebrate new business and extending across the whole of the UK. Stephanie Price, Director, DofE Wales…

CROWDS flocked to the opening of a vibrant retail unit breathing life into Aberystwyth town centre. The new Trading Space on Great Darkgate Street forms part of the innovative New Skills New Start programme, a UK Government initiative funded via the UK Community Renewal Fund, led by Ceredigion Council, and delivered by Antur Cymru Enterprise. The shop will give independent entrepreneurs and sustainable, ethical start-ups a place to sell their wares, from arts and crafts to gifts, food and drink and more. They will also have access to free training, business advice and resources including IT equipment and marketing support. Among…

March will see Theatr Felinfach’s first professional show in two years. The Consortiwm Cymraeg’s inaugural production will be a new translation of Willy Russell’s hit comedy Shirley Valentine, and will be staged at Theatr Felinfach on Friday, 11 March at 7:30 pm. A heart-warming comedy by the author of ‘Blood Brothers’ and ‘Educating Rita’, the film version that starred Pauline Collins and Tom Conti was nominated for an Oscar in 1989. It became an overnight classic with its contrast between the unhurried atmosphere of urban suburbs and the glittering glamour of Greece pervading the imagination of a whole generation of…

A leading North Wales law firm has been selected for inclusion in a prestigious global legal guide. Gamlins Law is the only law firm in the region to have made it into the Chambers & Partners directory for 2022. Each year, the Chambers & Partners team carries out detailed research to enable it to identify the “most outstanding” firms across almost 200 jurisdictions throughout the world. The research includes interviews with businesses and other legal professionals. Gamlins Law’s Crime Department and Head of Criminal Law Dafydd Roberts have been chosen for inclusion. The Chambers & Partners guide, which was first…

A chance to channel your inner Bear Grylls with activities like breadmaking over an open fire is part of a Wellbeing Week designed to help people in the Dee Valley chill out after the trials and tribulations of the pandemic. The free six-day event features everything from bushcraft to knitting with sessions to boost mental wellbeing as well as countryside skills, cookery and crafts and is being staged in Corwen and Llangollen from Monday, February 28. The packed programme has been put together by South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) and will be based at venues in Corwen and Llangollen. Alongside…

Ten new jobs are going to be created in Troedyrhiw when a new convenience store opens on Bridge Street in June 2022. Local shop owners Rej Singh Sohanpal and his wife Daisy Sohanpal already run the popular Londis store and Post Office on Merthyr Road in the village. Work is now underway on their latest venture which will provide the local community with a modern convenience store and off-license selling groceries and fresh bakery products. Finance has been provided by the Development Bank of Wales with a loan from the Wales Business Fund. Rej and Daisy said:  “We have worked…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has warned that proposals contained within the recent Welsh Government Refreshed TB Eradication Programme consultation could cause significant declines in the mental health of the rural community. Alongside proposals to significantly reduce the compensation paid for cattle compulsorily slaughtered due to bovine TB, the latest plans, if taken forward, would significantly increase the number of cattle tests being conducted and lengthen the breakdown movement restriction duration by at least two months. FUW Animal Health and Welfare Committee chairman Ian Lloyd said: “Irrespective of farm TB history, the stress and anxiety endured during TB testing, and…

Cardiff and the Vale’s popular OVO Bikes scheme is back with a bang with more than 26,000 rentals being made since it was relaunched a month ago in the city. Scheme operator nextbike said customers had welcomed the fleet back with open arms, with more than 1,000 rentals a day being made most days from February 8 – 12, despite the cold and dreary February weather. The scheme was temporarily withdrawn from service in November after months of vandalism and thefts, but was relaunched last month with over 350 bicycles – much to the relief of OVO Bike customers. More…

A book written by Welsh entrepreneur Lucy Cohen has defied the odds and become a surprise hit; out-ranking business heavyweights like Tony Robbins (motivational speaker), Anne Boden (CEO of Starling Bank), and even international bestseller Eric Ries, author of the famous book The Lean Startup. It seems that Cohen’s book, Forget the First Million, has resonated with small businesses across the world, bagging the number 1 Amazon bestseller status in five different categories on 18th February 2022. Cohen, Co-Founder of Accounting firm Mazuma Money, released her book in January 2022 and wanted to shine the light on building a business…

The half term fun will go on at Fonmon Castle this week despite its large tipi being blown away in storm Eunice. Staff at the castle in the Vale of Glamorgan struggled to salvage what they could after the supersized tipi, which was home to Fonmon’s food offering, was destroyed on Friday. Nathan Evans, who runs Real Pride of Wales, Fonmon’s catering company, worked around the clock with staff to move catering equipment from the tipi into the castle’s kitchens in time for the half term activities. “Fonmon’s kitchen had not been used as a commercial kitchen for a long…