Author: Rhys Gregory

Family-owned business Leekes Retail & Leisure Group, which celebrates its 125th year in 2022, has agreed a new bank finance package split equally between HSBC UK and Barclays. The funding is earmarked to support growth plans across the fourth-generation family business’ divisions: Leekes Retail, the Vale Resort, Hensol Castle Distillery, and its property arm. The group continues to invest across all areas of its operations, with short term priorities including the £12m renovation of Leekes Retail’s longest-standing department store in Llantrisant, South Wales which is currently underway. In addition, £5m of the funding will contribute to the development of new…

To support International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, an organisation that represents training providers across Wales is to host three discussions during the month focused on achieving gender balance and diversity in apprenticeships. The National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) discussions will focus on finding sustainable solutions to address gender imbalance in apprenticeship opportunities in sectors including construction and engineering. The Welsh Government has tasked the NTfW with providing more apprenticeship opportunities for females in male dominated sectors and males in female dominated sectors. The global #IWD2022, which has #BreakTheBias as its theme, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and…

Aber Falls Whisky Distillery is expanding internationally and taking its award-winning Welsh whisky from Abergwyngregyn – a rural village between the foothills of the Snowdonian mountains and the Menai Strait – to countries worldwide. The distillery, which launched its Inaugural Release in May 2021, has started a phased expansion plan to make its Single Malt Welsh Whisky available through the on and off-trade in more than ten countries globally including Australia, Germany, Denmark, and Canada. The expansion is a long-term strategy and as part of the roll-out, Aber Falls will also be educating importers and retailers in the new markets…

A national business awards programme is open for entries from Wales ahead of its tenth anniversary, searching for success stories of entrepreneurship and innovation. The Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEA), in partnership with Starling Bank, acknowledges and champions the hard work and uplifting stories of business owners across the UK, with an emphasis on their journey and resilience over financial achievements. Following a hugely successful return to in-person celebrations at the 2021 awards, which saw 1,200 guests gathering at The Grosvenor Hotel in London for the first time for two years, the organisers are appealing for the next cohort of…

Wales rugby fans and bus users in Cardiff are being urged to plan their journeys in advance ahead of the next games in the capital. Bus diversions will be in place on Friday 11 March between 16:15 and the last bus as Wales take on France, and again on Saturday 19 March between 10:15 and 18:15 when Wales play Italy. Customers are also being advised that there will be some changes to normal match day stops, along with route diversions. Services 1 and 2 and 7 will start and end at Canal Street.  Services 1 & 2 will not serve…

The countdown is on to when colourful Snoopy sculptures put their best paw forward and take to the streets of Cardiff, Porthcawl and Caerphilly. The free public art trail, A Dog’s Trail with Snoopy, will see 40 giant Snoopy sculptures on display along with 75 smaller Snoopy sculptures designed by schools across South Wales from 8 April to 5 June. From ‘A Dog’s Dream’ at City Hall and ‘Salty Old Sea Dog’ at Cardiff Bay Barrage Play Area to ‘Bark Side of the Moon’ at Thompson Park, ‘Daffodog’ in Caerphilly town centre and ‘Snoopy Dog Vinci’ in Station Hill, Porthcawl,…

Schools in Ceredigion will be piloting new air purifies that have been developed to purify the air in classrooms to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The purifiers have been developed by Dr Rhys Thomas and pupils at Ysgol Bro Pedr have had the opportunity to work with him to create and pilot them in the school. What is an air purifier? The purifiers devised by Dr Rhys Thomas are called Corsi Rosenthal Thomas (CRT) and are based on the CorsiRosethal Box model. Dr Rhys Thomas is well-known as he co-designed the CPAP respiratory device to treat COVID-19 patients, as well…

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai has this week (7 March) launched a Staff and Learner Wellbeing Strategy to put health and wellbeing at the heart of all aspects of college life. The strategy builds upon the Grŵp’s extensive wellbeing support and services, rated as ‘excellent’ by Estyn. It was developed in close partnership with union representatives, staff and students across college campuses. New staff and learner steering groups have been established to help deliver the Strategy. Using feedback from a range of sources such as the Learner ‘I’m OK’ survey and staff surveys, the steering groups have developed action plans that will…

A former student at Monmouth School for Boys will be coxing the University of Oxford in this year’s Boat Race on the River Thames. Jack Tottem, (pictured, front) is a former Captain of Boats, Deputy Head Boy and 1st VIII cox at Monmouth. Jack, 20, from Devauden, near Chepstow, is now studying History at Brasenose College and will be making his debut for the Dark Blue men’s VIII against the University of Cambridge on Sunday 3rd April, starting at 3.23pm. More than 250,000 spectators, on the banks of the Thames, will watch the crews racing between Putney and Mortlake on…

Our best restaurants in Wales are celebrating success, with some achieving new awards while others retain their existing awards from the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious restaurant guide – the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2022 In total, seven Welsh restaurants were awarded. Already previously a one Michelin star restaurant, Gareth Ward’s Ynyshir in Machynlleth has been promoted to a two Michelin star, boasting the first ever two-star to be awarded in Wales. The restaurant already holds 5 AA rosettes, the highest ranking in Wales in the Harden’s Guide, and the title of best restaurant in Wales in the…