Author: Rhys Gregory

Small and medium enterprise (SME) owners in Wales are feeling more optimistic and are keen to invest in growth but are being frustrated by the mix of financial options open to them, according to a survey from ACCA UK (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and The Corporate Finance Network (CFN). Small businesses in Wales have had a strong return to trading with accountants reporting all clients had found trading levels at or above expected levels, compared to 57% of businesses across the UK. They have also shown a surge in confidence over the last few weeks, with 60% of…

With the delayed 2020 Olympics finally underway and Team GB already securing a wealth of medals in Tokyo, a Welsh family-run business is chomping at the bit to see Britain’s athletes bring home even more honours following their efforts in providing expert training facilities in Tokyo. After an operation two years in the making, a team from Absolute Performance in Cardiff recently flew out to Japan to create three optimum strength & conditioning training spaces for Team GB which cater for a vast array of athletic disciplines. The facilities, at Todoroki Stadium, Keio University and the Performance Lodge at Odaiba, have…

No matter your current career, you might feel that changing jobs is the best way for you to move forward. Perhaps you are no longer interested in the field you are in. Or you might have gotten to know a different field and feel it can better utilize your skills or interests. It can be challenging to change your career, but the good news is that you might not have to completely re-learn skills. You might be able to take some of your soft and hard skills to a new position. Learning New Things Improving your skills will allow you…

Thinking about race horses.  We can all agree that there is one trait that sets a beautiful race horse aside, and it is their ability in speed. There are few things quite as majestic as seeing a racehorse run on a track, with their body and muscles in perfect locomotion.  Not every horse breed is naturally a good racer, same as not all humans are good at everything. Each breed of horse has a certain level of agility, stamina, energy, and flair. Each breed will have a different skill set, some may make for better racehorses, others better at cross-country,…

The practice of shopping has changed beyond all recognition in recent years. With a huge development in online stores and a range of benefits to shopping online rather than in-store. Whether you want to shop from the comfort of your own home, or have no time to fit in going to the shops in your busy schedule, being online allows on the go shopping. With the new convenience, what does this mean for the future of the UK’s shopping habits? The Rise Of The Internet For Retailers Since its early development, who would have thought that the internet would have…

A striking display of expertly crafted flowers within the grounds of Cardiff Castle opened to the public on Saturday (July 24). Launched by leading Cardiff charity City Hospice earlier this year, the Forever Flowers campaign celebrates the lives of loved ones in a special way with unique and lasting tributes. Supporters were invited to pre-order the limited-edition flowers to remember cherished family members, friends and loved ones. The campaign received an incredible response and over a thousand Forever Flowers feature in the display, which is free to visit and runs until Sunday August 8. Forever Flowers supports the work of…

Leading independent accountancy firm, Kilsby Williams, is celebrating its 30th year with significant client gains and exciting recruitment plans. Kilsby Williams, which was launched in 1991, has seen record growth in the past six months with many lucrative client wins including both Newport and Cardiff Bus, Fordthorne, Pensord Press, Poundstretcher and London-based Cutler and Gross. Added to existing gains this has seen the firm’s annual growth rate rise to a record 20%. This success can be attributed to Kilsby Williams’ expert knowledge, technical ability and years of experience advising businesses, all of which mean that the company can attract national…

Two small kestrel chicks are “lucky to be alive” after being rescued from the exhaust of an A320 aircraft at a St Athan aircraft hangar in the Vale of Glamorgan. The A320 has been at the Bro Tathan West aerodrome since last August on the runway – and was brought inside Caerdav’s hangar for repairs when engineers spotted two kestrel chicks nesting inside. Staff sounded the alarm to RSPCA Cymru, and inspector Simon Evans saved the day by carefully securing the chicks and transferring them to Gower Bird Hospital for urgent rehabilitation and care. Engineer Colin Harrison helped the chicks…

The team behind Newtown’s popular escape rooms attraction, Beyond Breakout, has developed a series of adventure games that can be taken to businesses, outdoor venues and schools. The Magic Portal combines the best of escape rooms, scavenger hunts and geocaching over a three kilometre distance. Beyond Breakout has an exclusive license to set up routes and run these games anywhere within 60 minutes’ travelling distance of Newtown. “The Magic Portal is a great way to utilise outdoor space and encourage footfall to a town, area or grounds,” said Lorna Morris, who runs Beyond Breakout with business partner Jo Woodall. “Each…

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth has been gifted three iconic works by the celebrated local artist Mary Lloyd Jones. The Aberystwyth based artist is well known for her vibrant, abstract, dynamic and expressionist Welsh landscapes and is heavily influenced in her works by the cultural and geographic history of Wales. Born in Devil’s Bridge in 1934, she trained at the Cardiff College of Art in the 1950s, after which she returned to her beloved Ceredigion landscape, which has always had a deep influence on her works, as can be seen in the emotive ‘Ponterwyd/Gaia’ work, one of the recently gifted works…