Author: Rhys Gregory

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has written to ASDA regarding the supermarket’s decision to step away from its pledge to source 100% fresh British beef just weeks after implementing the pledge. The letter comes after farmers from across Wales contacted the union to express their anger and disappointment. The FUW has met with representatives from ASDA on a number of occasions throughout the pandemic to discuss the importance of supporting Welsh and UK producers at a time when global food supply chains were most volatile. Therefore, the commitment to source 100% British dairy, potatoes and fresh beef following the…

COLEG CAMBRIA served up career opportunities for two talented former students. Owain Jones and Bradley Wilford have joined the team at Cambria’s popular Ial Restaurant in Wrexham. Owain, 21, is now working as a sous chef having completed the Level 3 Hospitality and Catering course at Yale. Chef de Partie Bradley, 20, is a graduate of the same diploma. Both hit the ground running having gained valuable experience with head chef Barry Langston at the Wimbledon tennis championships last summer. “I was here as a student when the restaurant opened, so to now be employed here is fantastic, it’s a…

Further funding is available for businesses impacted by the latest restrictions arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Denbighshire County Council is helping to administer the Welsh Government’s Emergency Business Fund – January 2022. Under the latest package of support, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses who pay Non Domestic Rates will be entitled to a payment of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 depending on their rateable value. Applications for this element of the fund open from January 13. A discretionary portion of the fund is also available to sole traders, freelancers and taxi drivers who are able to apply for £500 and…

The FinTech Wales Foundry, the flagship accelerator program by FinTech Wales, has today announced the nine FinTech startups accepted into its 2022 Accelerator. The 12-week, no equity programme, titled The Foundry: Validate Raise & Scale, is the only accelerator of its kind in Wales, with an explicit focus on helping founders overcome the challenges of validating, fundraising, and scaling a new venture successfully. After a rigorous interview process, the Foundry and its sponsors Principality Building Society, Admiral Financial Services (AFSL), and Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, extended offers to nine startups from across the UK and Europe, who will begin…

HUNDREDS of graduates from an esteemed leadership programme are to form an exclusive networking club sharing advice and best practice in business. Plans for the group – made up of 20Twenty Business Growth Programme alumni – include access to free ‘Wisdom Labs’ and training focused on topics such as sustainability and employee wellbeing. The sessions will feature key speakers and representatives from different sectors, beginning with a wellbeing workshop series at Xplore Science Discovery Centre in Wrexham this month. Other workshops include Goals and Purpose, New Mindset – Emotional Control, and Your Individual Wellbeing Plan. Business Development Manager Jackie Whittaker…

Insurance broker Gallagher has donated £2,000 to Wrexham-based Nightingale House Hospice, as part of the firm’s community support programme. The donation, by the Gallagher team based in Chester, was made through the firm’s Gallagher Community Fund scheme, a nationwide initiative which invites colleagues to nominate charities to receive funding. Founded in 1986, Nightingale House Hospice provides respite and palliative care for patients living within North East Wales and the border areas, who suffer from life-limiting conditions. The hospice operates a 12- bed inpatient ward, a patient day care unit and an outpatient clinic, as well as providing a range of…

From engineering and decorating to flooring and landscaping, new figures show businesses in the Swansea Bay City Region have benefitted from over £34.6 million worth of work thanks to the construction of Copr Bay phase one. As well as Swansea Arena, the Copr Bay phase one development also includes a 1.1-acre coastal park, the new bridge over Oystermouth Road, new apartments and new spaces for leisure and hospitality businesses. The figures also show Swansea-based businesses benefitted from £17.9m of the £34.6m spend. Businesses elsewhere in Wales outside the Swansea Bay City Region benefitted from a further spend of £18.7m. Copr…

Swansea is set to have its first installation of environmentally friendly bus shelters along main public transport routes in the city. Swansea Council is in the process of replacing more than 100 ageing bus shelters across the city, with many having been installed 30 years ago. The new shelters are being provided by Bus Shelters Ltd. Part of the city-wide upgrade will include 10 new ‘green roof’ bus shelters, featuring natural plants on top, which can help filter out dust particles and contribute to better air quality. The ‘green’ bus shelters will be installed along the roadside at Mumbles Road,…

Bridgend County Borough Council has welcomed a Welsh Government decision to award £2.65m of funding to carry out essential remedial work to properties in the Caerau ward. Awarded by the Minister for Climate Change, the funding will redress the failure of wall insulation work installed in 2012 and 2013 which utilised the Community Energy Saving Programme and Arbed schemes. The award is subject to the submission by the local authority, and assessment by Welsh Government, of a satisfactory and detailed business case and project proposal by the end of February 2022. This is very welcome news for those residents in…

As part of its Active Travel programme, the Council is considering plans to improve the footbridge linking Merthyr Leisure Village, Rhydycar to the town centre. The current footbridge is a well-used route across the River Taff to Avenue de Clichy, but has height restrictions and is too narrow for people and cyclist to pass one another. The Council has an opportunity to bid for Active Travel funding from Welsh Government and is seeking the opinions of residents. “We’re taking advantage of Welsh Government support to deliver improvements for pedestrians and cyclists across the town centre,” said Cabinet Member for Regeneration,…