Author: Rhys Gregory

A Cardiff-based manufacturer of specialist life-saving equipment has invested in a new production site in the area with support from Lloyds Bank. BCB International specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of protective, medical and survival equipment for defence forces, marine and outdoor markets. It has used a seven-figure loan from Lloyds Bank to purchase a new manufacturing operation in Cardiff, which is twice as large as its previous site. The funds will also be used to invest in new state-of-the-art machinery, enabling the firm to increase outputs by as much as 300% across some product lines. This will help…

Aberystwyth Arts Centre has secured additional funding of £605,365 following a successful bid to the second round of the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund. A rescue and recovery package supporting arts organisations and institutions in Wales, the Cultural Recovery Fund’s aim is to help the arts sector in Wales to survive the COVID-19 crisis and to remain vibrant, financially viable and sustainable. In an announcement on 7 June 2021, the Arts Council of Wales, which managed the element of the fund for eligible arts organisations, detailed which organisations had been successful in their applications for recovery funding to cover the…

Aberystwyth University will offer nursing qualifications for the first time, after new healthcare investment plans were given the go-ahead. Health Education and Improvement Wales has awarded a contract to Aberystwyth University to educate both adult and mental health nurses until the end of this decade. The first nursing students will arrive for their studies at Aberystwyth University in September 2022. The decision has been hailed as a major boost for the health service, especially in mid Wales. The new degree courses will also offer students the opportunity to study up to half of their course through the medium of Welsh.…

Facebook creative agency, Aura Ads, has secured a significant six-figure investment from an angel investment group as the company continues to expand. Investing in the Cardiff-based firm is business angel Jim Lewcock, who founded the digital marketing and investment group, BLUE14. The group aims to invest in high growth performance media agencies who service DTC brands, providing strategic support and immediate growth opportunities. Aura Ads is an e-commerce Facebook creative agency that produces beautiful direct response ads that are designed to convert on paid social. Previous clients include Huel, Wild Cosmetics, Pact Coffee, Abbot Lyon and Freddie’s Flowers. Since launching…

Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, has promoted Ashley Bryan to Director within the Accounts and Business Advisory Services team, from 1st July 2021. Formerly Associate Director, Ashley has been with the company since 2007 when he joined as a trainee accountant. He has over 15 years of experience and during this time, has been working with a broad spectrum of organisations in different sectors. Based in Azets’ Cardiff office, Ashley’s client portfolio encompasses owner-managed operations to large corporates. He will form part of the leadership team. The promotion is significant, falling in-line with Azets’…

Jonathan Geldart, Director General of the Institute of Directors, has announced that Robert Lloyd Griffiths has decided to step down from his position as National Director for Wales, after 12 years in the role. Robert first joined the IoD in 2009, and in the role has become a key figure in representing the interests of Welsh business to both the Welsh and UK governments. He was awarded an OBE for services to the economy and for voluntary services in Wales in 2014, and he chaired the Welsh Government’s review into the micro business sector. Robert has been a leading advocate…

Motorists parking in Swansea city centre can continue to benefit from cheaper parking charges. Swansea Council is extending a parking offer which was first introduced in November 2020 and allows motorists the chance to park all day for just £2. On top of the all-day charge, car owners coming into Swansea for two hours or less will only need to pay £1 for parking in any one of the city centre multi-storey car parks or one of the many pay & display car parks. Further offers have been extended to car parks in Mumbles as well with the charge for…

Swansea Council is set to invest a massive £50m undertaking a range of building repairs, maintenance and improvements to hundreds of homes across the city over the coming year. Millions of pounds are being earmarked to insulate and weatherproof hundreds of existing homes making them warm and efficient as well as environmental improvements in tenants’ communities. The Council will also be trialling the introduction of renewable technologies to selected properties as part of its ambitions to make homes more efficient, reduce household costs and reduce carbon emissions. This will be an opportunity to further develop local skills and expertise in renewable low…

Fundraising initiative Crowdfund Swansea has launched a new drive that will see community-led ideas help the city become more vibrant, resilient and connected. It’s led by Swansea Council working in partnership with Spacehive, the UK’s leading civic crowdfunding platform. Crowdfund Swansea gives local residents with an idea to improve their community the chance to secure financial support through Spacehive’s online platform. The council has allocated £55,000 to the Swansea programme for the next year – with donations of up to £5,000 available for individual projects. The council and Spacehive invite those with ideas to attend free-entry crowdfunding workshops this month;…

As the first phase of work to repair, restore and extend Maesteg Town Hall nears completion, contractors Knox and Wells are preparing to start on the building’s new atrium extension. A footpath closure is in place to ensure that necessary groundworks can be set up safely in preparation for the work, and visitors to the adjacent market are likely to see increased activity in the courtyard area. Council Leader Huw David and members of the Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council made a recent site visit to the town hall to see for themselves how the £7.9m project is making…