Author: Rhys Gregory

The NatWest Accelerator has empowered hundreds of business owners from across Wales to scale their businesses to the next level. Now, as the bank launches a specialist Wales Food and Drink Accelerator, NatWest Cymru Ecosystem Manager Gemma Casey outlines why now is the time to offer the sector this tailored support. Covid and climate –two very real crises facing the Welsh economy, not least the food and drink sector. No-one would deny that these global forces have, and will continue to, exert extreme pressure on the sector. Yet along with the inevitable challenges – closures, staffing, supply chain issues, skills…

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Cymru has announced that Jane Reakes-Davies, Managing Director at First Bus Cymru, and Paul Dyer, Managing Director at Cardiff Bus, have been appointed as Chair and Vice-Chair of CPT Cymru’s Bus Commission. Jane and Paul will take up their positions on Bus Commission in December and they will play a vital role in bringing together bus operators to help shape bus policy in Wales. Jane Reakes-Davies will be the first female to occupy the role of Chair. Jane has spent the past 8 years in leadership roles at First Bus Cymru, and her background…

Two professional pastry chefs who were crowned the winners of a hit TV baking show, have returned to their former college to share their culinary expertise. Michael Coggan and Andrew Minto, who both worked as pastry chefs for Cardiff Bay’s Gin and Bake, beat some of the country’s top professionals in the industry to win Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals. After being announced the best patisserie team in the country, both chefs have chosen to come back to the college where they started their impressive careers to pass on their skills and knowledge to budding chefs at Coleg y…

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend welcomes Devon-born brand Saltrock. The new store recently opened and offers a broad range of casual womenswear and menswear for those looking to surf in the nearby areas including Porthcawl and Swansea Bay.  The surf-inspired brand was founded in 1988 by brothers, Angus and Ross Thomson using a homemade printing screen to create their range with a focus on induvial graphics and tie-dye techniques. With over 30 years’ experience within the apparel industry, Saltrock’s passion and focus has remained around unique design, functionality, and quality.  Passionate about their surf heritage, the new store is expected to bring the Devon free-loving spirit to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.   Richard Garratt, Centre Manager commented: “We are excited to welcome Saltrock to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend family. Saltrock has…

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Cllr David Simpson has welcomed the announcement that the planned closure of Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy, will be delayed until 2028. The Barracks, home to 14 Signal Regiment, had originally been due to close in 2024. The extension announcement was made by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday, November 25. Cllr Simpson said: “Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire County Council is rightly proud of its long and close working relationship with the Armed Forces and especially proud to be home to 14 Signal Regiment at Cawdor Barracks. “The soldiers of 14 Signal Regiment are very much part of the…

Swansea Arena has been sparkling in recent days as early lighting tests continue at the venue. Over 1,600 gold-coloured panels have now been installed around the outside of the development, complete with 95,000 LED lights. Many thousands of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will have noticed the most recent tests, with thousands of sparkling white lights giving the arena a festive look in the early evenings in the build-up to Christmas. Further preparatory tests will take place in coming weeks and months. The tests will help determine what works best on the arena’s façade to better understand how it can be…

Swimming pools in both Pyle and Pencoed are celebrating 40 years of service this November by offering discounted memberships. The pools, now run by Halo Leisure, both opened in 1981 at a time when no one had ever heard of Zumba, Aqua Aerobics or Boxercise. They have even been used as training facilities for Olympians with one of Britain’s most celebrated triathletes, Helen Jenkins, using the pools on her way to two Triathlon World Championship wins as well as three Olympic Games representing Team GB. Now, both facilities are vital to ensuring more local people get active more often and…

Monmouthshire’s towns and villages are gearing up for festivities this Christmas with a reminder to shop local. This on-going, successful campaign to ‘bring the magic back’ to Monmouthshire’s high streets is being delivered in collaboration with local businesses, town councils, chambers of commerce, schools, Monmouthshire County Council and Visit Monmouthshire. Celebrations begin in Usk, where residents can enjoy a special late night shopping evening on Thursday 2nd December, pop along to find unique gift ideas from independent retailers. Caldicot’s Christmas celebrations begin on Saturday 4th December when locals can enjoy the Christmas market, festive pantomime, and the official light switch-on…

Community groups in the Caerphilly county borough benefitted from £10,633 in grants between July and September this year. Caerphilly County Borough Council administered these grants though its Voluntary Sector Grants budget and the Welsh Church Acts Fund scheme.  The council’s Grants to the Voluntary Sector Panel were updated on this spend during a recent remote meeting. Grants allocated through the council’s General Criteria Awards included support for a range of community groups including Penuel Baptist Church, Blackwood Musical Society and Tredomen Allotment Association. The Welsh Church Acts Fund provided £5,000 of funding to enable the Friends of the Cefn Fforest…

A Blackwood man has been sentenced in relation to charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Companies Act 2006. Local Builder, David Hughes (aged 50) of Pen-y-Cwarel Road, Wyllie, was found guilty of 5 charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Newport Magistrates Court on November 11th. Hughes, who traded as DH Builders, had previously pleaded guilty to 5 charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and 2 charges under the Companies Act 2006 however, no further penalty was imposed for the Companies Act Offences. Hughes was sentenced…