Author: Rhys Gregory

The centenary of the birth of much-loved Welsh comedian, actor, singer and television presenter Harry Secombe will be celebrated at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth on Wednesday (September 8). In a live online question and answer session, two of Secombe’s children, David and Katy, will discuss the life and career of their father, along with items from his archive, with Nia Mai Daniel, of The Welsh Music Archive. The online event Remembering Harry Secombe (1921-2001) will be held on at 7pm. For more information or to book a ticket visit the library’s website https://www.library.wales/events . Secombe was born in Swansea on September 8, 1921 and his…

The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Regency Restoration project has been shortlisted in the 2021 Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) People’s Choice Award an international competition showcasing the best of civil engineering. The competition recognises projects that have a positive impact on the local economy and communities whilst at the same time, highlighting the positive benefits civil engineering has on society as a whole. The award also aims to highlight the positive benefits civil engineering has on people’s everyday lives. This year, six projects have been shortlisted in the ICE People’s Choice Award including the Regency Restoration project at the…

BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor, has completed a multi-million-pound investment to acquire a 23% stake in Swansea-based Character.com, the market leading online retailer of children’s licensed apparel and accessories. Founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife team Stephen and Karen Hewitt, Character.com is a dynamic character clothing retailer with a focus on children’s products which has featured on the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 for four consecutive years. Revenue has grown from less than £10 million in FYE Jul-17 to over £50 million in FYE Jul-21. From its South Wales base, Character.com services customers across the UK,…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to take precautions ahead of the autumn heatwave forecast for this week. Temperatures in Wales are set to hit 28°C tomorrow with a warm spell likely to last at least through the early part of the week. Warm weather generates an increase in calls to people with breathing difficulties, so the Trust is asking the public to take extra precautions to prevent falling ill. Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We had 4,316 calls to 999 over the weekend, which is roughly one call every 40 seconds. “Extremely high levels…

The Peer to Peer network will bring like-minded business figures together to develop confidence, knowledge and invaluable connections amongst the business community across the Valleys. It is an initiative set up by Tech Valleys, the Welsh Government’s 10-year, £100m programme with Blaenau Gwent at its heart that supports high value, sustainable jobs, attracts investment and creates opportunities. Faced with the challenge of scaling up a high potential company, this group of carefully selected business leaders will have the opportunity to learn from each other, both best practise and what not to do, in a private, peer to peer environment. The…

A bakery firm from North Wales has been hailed as a “role model” for other companies for the way it recruits people who are struggling to find jobs. The fast-growing Jones Village Bakery that’s recently launched a new 140,000 sq ft super bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate is looking to take on another 115 staff. As well as placing the usual job adverts, they are working with Remploy which provides employment placement services for disabled people and HMP Berwyn that’s also located on the industrial estate. According to the bakery, it’s a policy that’s paying dividends for all concerned. From…

As temperatures heat up in time for the end of summer Brits could be breaking multiple driving laws and some even when the car isn’t moving. As we take advantage of those late summer staycations and day trips out before the kids return to school, motorists are being warned that there are a host of driving laws they could be breaking this August. Young driver insurers, Marmalade has looked into the most common driving laws we break whilst on the roads in summer, which could leave you with a nasty fine or points on your licence: Delayering at the wheel…

Welsh alcohol-free brewery Drop Bear Beer Co. has launched a range of cans, as it converts from bottles as part of its commitment to the environment. The switch from bottles to cans further increases the award-winning brand’s drive to sustainable beer production and takes the brewery a step closer to achieving key environmental accreditation. Already sustainability-focused, Swansea-based Drop Bear’s move to 330ml cans is central to becoming Wales’ first ‘B Corp’ brewery (and one of less than ten in the UK) an essential goal for Drop Bear’s business ethos. Attaining ‘B Corporation’ status is a natural transition for the company and…

Wales’ largest housing association is investing millions of pounds in affordable city centre living as part of ambitious plans for the future of Swansea. As well as signing-up to manage 33 affordable apartments being constructed as part of the emerging £135 million Copr Bay development, Pobl Group is also behind several other major schemes in the city centre. These schemes include the transformation of Orchard House into a mixed-used apartment, office and commercial premises, building on Swansea Council’s £12m improvement of The Kingsway into a far greener, more pedestrian-friendly environment. Pobl Group will also be the residential partner for the…

Abertillery is the latest site in Wales to benefit from a new free to use ATM as part of a commitment to support communities who need access to cash. In recent years, Abertillery has seen several bank branches close and with many local residents reliant on cash, LINK visited the town following contact from residents and the local MS, Alun Davies (Labour) to see if it could help. While there are a couple of free to use ATMs in Abertillery, the town is very hilly meaning travelling a short distance for elderly or disabled residents is particularly tricky, especially those…