Author: Rhys Gregory

Two former directors of a not-for-profit business in Aberystwyth have been found in “breach of their duties” and to have acted “unreasonably” by transferring ownership of the store’s grant-funded premises into a pension scheme to benefit themselves. The CRAFT premises at Aberystwyth Railway Station was transformed in 2006 using funding from public bodies, such as the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) and the local authority. The shop sells second-hand furniture and other domestic items and donates goods to charities to help furnish homes for vulnerable people. A court heard how, in 2012, the two sole directors at the time, Derek…

One of the most celebrated craft gin producers in the UK, the Dyfi Distillery in Mid Wales, has secured a prestigious export contract to the USA. The multi award winning distillery, based at Corris, near Machynlleth, has partnered with and created a Dyfi Gin blend especially for Broadbent Selections, one of the finest American wine and spirits importers. Much like the distillery’s iconic Pollination bottling, the new Dovey Native Botanical Gin is based on a complex formulation of indigenous flowers, leaves, berries and conifers. Like Pollination Gin, it is being celebrated immediately after release, having just been awarded gold at…

MESOA for Men, the new venture of decorated entrepreneur Matt Jones, announces successful completion of first investment round. MESOA for Men, a fast-growth male grooming business, has announced the successful completion of its first investment raise, a six-figure deal which was advised on by corporate finance led deal-making business, the GS Verde Group. After launching MESOA for Men in 2019, Founder & CEO, Matt Jones has harnessed his experience in growing successful brands, most notably multi-million-pound agency, S3 Advertising, which he successfully sold in 2019, in a high-profile Management Buy Out (MBO). The investment, raised from private investors, will see…

Demand for industrial and logistics space over 50,000 sq ft continued to grow in Wales in the second quarter of 2021 (Q2), according to new research by global property consultancy Knight Frank. Its research shows take up in Q2 was circa 720,000 sq ft in 9 separate deals – almost 450,000 sq ft more space and four times more deals than in the same period last year. Neil Francis, head of Logistics & Industrial at Knight Frank in Cardiff, said: “The take up was also 230,000 sq ft up on the first quarter of 2021, which saw five deals transacted.…

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…