Author: Rhys Gregory

Launched during the Coronavirus pandemic, Be Social is driving the digital marketing, social media and brand strategies of leading companies across Wales and the North West. Among those to have joined forces with the Flintshire-based firm are PetPlace, Taste North East Wales, Colwyn Bay Hearing Practice, Awyr Las (Blue Sky) NHS charity, and iVapps. Director Jayne Unalkat, previously Head of Marketing and Admissions at Coleg Cambria, is thrilled with their progress over the last 12 months. “Launching the business at the height of the pandemic was a bold move but I saw a demand for creative digital marketing in this…

Flapjacks with a Welsh twist made by North Wales bakery, Siwgr a Sbeis are now available to buy across the country after being listed by the Co-op. Siwgr a Sbeis’ six-pack of Bara Brith Flapjacks can be found in 33 of the Co-op stores throughout Wales – the first time the bakery has been listed year-round by a multiple retailer. Owners Rhian Owen and Rhian Williams met at school in the Vale of Clwyd and have turned their shared passion for cooking into an award-winning bakery business. Rhian Owen said, “We are thrilled that our Bara Brith Flapjacks are available…

Visitors to Swansea’s Glynn Vivian Art Gallery have produced a colourful new artwork offering a welcome to all. Members of the venue’s Welcome Group worked together to produce two 230cm x 150cm banners to celebrate Swansea’s ongoing City of Sanctuary status. City of Sanctuary is a national movement committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. The banner – through embroidery and needlework – expresses what Swansea’s commitment to the movement means to members of the group. The Welcome Group is one of the regular creative workshops run by the…

Leisure Escapes, one of West Wales’ leading holiday park operators, has purchased its third park supported by a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The deal sees the family-run business acquire the Caerfelin Holiday Park, in Aberporth. The purchase of the 11-acre park, which is home to 100 caravans, is an important step in Leisure Escapes’ long-term strategic growth plan, which is supported by HSBC UK. Tomas Davies, Director of Leisure Escapes, explained: “The last year has been extremely turbulent for the hospitality and tourism industry so acquiring our third park, with the support of HSBC UK led by our…

Ambitious plans to develop the football club in Corwen were unveiled at the emotional official opening of the clubhouse named after local legend Huw ‘Chick’ Jones. With the Dee Park ground bathed in early evening sunshine, the ceremonial ribbon was cut by Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes, who said he was humbled and honoured to be asked to perform the task. The aim is to amalgamate the men’s, women’s and junior clubs to create a Community Interest Organisation that will become Corwen Community Football Club. Alongside the footballing activities, the plan is for the club to work with another local…

A mum-of-two who worked on the coronavirus frontline after fulfilling her ambition of qualifying as a nurse is spearheading a drive to attract new recruits from across North Wales to the profession. At the height of the pandemic earlier this year, Lynda Williams found herself in full PPE working on a Covid-19 ward at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor just days after graduating as a nurse. She was part of the first group to take a part-time nursing degree through Bangor University aimed at support workers already working in the NHS in North Wales. Covid-19 nursing was, she said, one of…

The conference will be held virtually on Friday,  25th June, when a range of guest speakers will discuss how to reach an audience in Wales and beyond through marketing and communication with the main focus on digital and online elements. It is an event for professionals working within the marketing and communications world, and an opportunity for them to develop, discuss and hear innovative ideas relating to reaching audiences. The event will also appeal to business owners from a variety of fields who are permanently looking for audience development and customer discovery  as well as benefiting people new to the marketing…

Online learning for school pupils has taken off in Lockdown – and a North Wales business is aiming to become a leader in the rapidly growing field following a £700,000 investment.  Development Bank of Wales and Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE have invested £490,000 and £210,000 respectively in Wrexham-based GLUU, which is aiming to create up to 20 jobs in the next three years. The investments are part equity and part loan.  The trend towards online education in the schools sector is both irreversible and desirable, according to GLUU Managing Director Sean Gardner. “Online learning was already important in schools before…

Newport based office furniture designer and manufacturer, Bisley, has collaborated with iconic lighting brand, Anglepoise, to develop a new office furniture collection, known as Quarters, designed to meet the needs of the post-Covid workplace. Both British interiors brands were founded in the 1930s and to this day remain under the stewardship of the families that established them. Furniture enthusiasts will be familiar with the award winning Bisley MultiDrawer, a classic in office furniture design first created in 1958, and the Anglepoise adjustable table lamp, with its classic form that can be found on desks the world over. The new collaboration…

Ogmore Valley Dragons Boxing Club has been thrown a lifeline after a final donation of more than £6,000 has allowed the Club to reach its £45,000 fundraising target, allowing the purchase of the building it operates from. The Club, which has been operating from its home in Bethania Row for over ten years – paying just a small ‘peppercorn’ rent to the owner throughout, was dealt the worrying news that the owner of the building wanted to sell up for personal reasons. After years of support from the owner, Club members were determined to do all they could to reach…