Author: Rhys Gregory

The winners of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards have been announced at a ceremony in Cardiff. Presented by journalist and presenter Andrea Byrne at voco St. David’s Cardiff Hotel, the ceremony saw awards collected by small businesses from across Wales for 12 categories. Platts Agriculture Ltd went above and beyond, winning both the Environmental and Sustainability Business of the Year, and Family Business of the Year, after their operations impressed the judges. The Environmental and Sustainability award recognises the most ethical, socially responsible or green business, and was open to small business owners who have…

North Wales adventure company Zip World are pleased to announce that the building of their 19th adventure is underway. Zip World Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, will be opening another world-first this summer, with the introduction of ‘Underground Golf’, a subterranean adventure golfing course set in an old slate mining cavern. With 4 Welsh adventure sites under their belt, Zip World is best known for the world’s fastest zip line, Velocity 2, which is based at Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda, North Wales. However, the company which prides itself on creating extraordinary experiences offers much more than just zipping. Underground Golf will join…

A unique Good Friday event will again take place on Talyllyn Railway in Mid Wales this year. Called ‘Stations at Stations’, a special train will stop at each station along the line for readings and prayers telling the Good Friday story of the crucifixion. The event, which is supported by the churches and chapels in Tywyn and the surrounding area, started in 2009 and continued every year until the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. The railway is delighted that, with the relaxing of restrictions, this event may now take place again, starting provisionally at 4.30pm in the Narrow-Gauge Museum at…

An NHS worker from Bridgend who is based in the cardiology catheter theatres at the University Hospital of Wales is taking on an epic challenge to help raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru. Elizabeth Sim is training hard for the South Wales Wild Horse 200 Ultra Marathon, a footrace set in the heartlands of Wales over 5 days, starting on 13th April. Elizabeth says, “This is a challenge harder than anything I have physically experienced before. I have 120 hours (5 days) to complete the 200-mile course. The route has 30,187 feet of climbing. No repetition…

It was the first event of the year for the team at Wales’ largest independent mass participant running organisation and what an event it was! With near perfect running conditions on the day, it was hailed a great success, with both male records smashed in the marathon and half marathon events by Cardiff Triathlete, Oliver Webb and Swansea Harrier, Dewi Griffiths. On Sunday 10 April, it was the first time the event has been held since 2019, and after a 1092-day absence. Organisers were delighted to be able to stage it today at the incredible Pembrey Country Park. Tash Smith,…

Pembrokeshire County Council is once again preparing for the annual Tenby Pedestrianisation scheme. The scheme is due to start on Monday 4th July and finish on Friday 9th September and run between 11am – 5.30pm each day. The scheme will again see the Walled Town divided into three ‘zones,’ each of which will have varying degrees of vehicle access. Full details of the scheme and the on-line application form will be available from Monday 9th May and can be found on the Council’s website. Residents and business within the Walled Town are encouraged to complete the process as soon as…

County Hall in Haverfordwest will be lit in blue on the evening of Monday, April 11th to mark World Parkinson’s Day and spread awareness of the condition. County Hall joins other Welsh landmarks turning blue to show their support for the 145,000 people in the UK who live with the condition, including more than 7,600 in Wales. Poems for Parkinson’s also invites people to share their personal stories to help more people understand the reality of living with the condition. Pembrokeshire County Council CEO Will Bramble, said: “We are pleased to light County Hall in blue to help raise awareness of…

The first winner of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Mash for Cash campaign has been announced. The borough’s Mash for Cash campaign launched on the 7th March and will run throughout 2022 will see houses monitored with one food recycling participant chosen at random each month, with each winner receiving £500. The campaign aims to increase the number of residents currently recycling their food waste, with current participation levels currently around 40% throughout the borough. In turn, the Local Authority hopes that the increase in food waste recycling would lead to a decline in the amounts of refuse disposal, boosting the…

Merthyr Tydfil’s tourism sector is bouncing back from the pandemic after being named one of the top 10 trending UK destinations this Easter for Airbnb stays. The online marketplace for homestays and holiday rentals has revealed that the county borough is listed alongside Prestatyn and Carmarthen for Wales’s most booked holiday properties by British people searching the platform. Merthyr Tydfil is ranked number eight on the Airbnb list, which also features Aintree in Merseyside; Balloch in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland; and Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire. Local accommodation providers have thanked the County Borough Council for the support it offered them in…

Unpaid carers of all ages in Wales are set to benefit from a short breaks fund after a £9m investment from the Welsh Government. The scheme, which will benefit from funding for the next three years, will increase opportunities for unpaid carers to take a break from their caring role. It will support unpaid carers in Wales to enjoy regular periods away from their caring responsibilities, in an effort to prevent burnout and boost their mental and physical wellbeing. It will help them to take part in hobbies or activities, including a chance to visit the gym, learn a new…