Author: Rhys Gregory

Co-op has served-up its newest food store in North Wales in Penmaenmawr, following a £650,000 investment which has created 13 local jobs. Penmaenmawr’s new 2,500 sq ft Co-op store is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and has also incorporated a ‘living wall’ into its exterior design as part of its commitment to the environment. The Co-op also includes a recycle unit for ‘soft plastics’ which ensures all of Co-op’s own food packing is easy-to-recycle either via kerbside collection at home, or through this accessible disposal route for materials which are unlikely to be collected by UK councils – including: crisp packets,…

TWO new ‘Breather Bubbles’ have launched in Cardiff – for those people needing a moment of calm amidst the Christmas chaos. A new UK-wide survey conducted by FOR Cardiff revealed that 41 per cent of people feel anxious at the thought of crowds of Christmas shoppers, while 52 per cent said they would benefit from having somewhere to relax and reflect while visiting a city centre over the festive period. To help provide a safe haven for those who need it, two unique ‘Breather Bubbles’ will open on weekends in John Lewis and the Morgan Quarter between the 4th and…

SmallSpark Space Systems, the award-winning rocket propulsion innovation company, is set to reach new heights as they announce a £500,000 scale-up investment from Deepbridge Capital, in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. With their new generation of safer engines and propulsion systems, SmallSpark are redefining the UK space sector by making cost-effective and environmentally friendly access to space more readily available and lowering the barriers to space entry for UK groups seeking space access. This latest capital raise from Deepbridge Capital’s Technology Growth EIS fund will enable SmallSpark to continue their commercialisation journey and take advantage of…

A globe-trotting executive who has managed olive oil shipments across the Mediterranean, tuna canning in the Indian Ocean and food purchasing in the Netherlands, is taking on a new challenge to help an ambitious Welsh food wholesaler expand. Matt Flynn has taken charge of Criccieth-based Harlech Foodservice’s growth into the North West and Midlands from a new base in Chester. The 41-year-old is Harlech’s new Head of Purchasing and Marketing and leads a ten-strong team spearheading the company’s ambitious growth plans. Matt, originally from Barrow, in Cumbria, comes with an impressive CV having worked for global mining colossus Anglo America…

The first third of the on-shore high voltage cables that will connect the world’s largest offshore wind farm to the UK’s National Grid have now been installed. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is delivering the land-based infrastructure for the first two phases of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will connect to the National Grid near Beverley, East Riding. The North Wales-headquartered company is installing an approximate total of 80 miles of underground cabling in ducts on the site across two routes, using a combination of trenching and horizontal directional drilling, where trenches are not suitable such as through water…

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd are excited to announce that they will be hosting Santa and his Elves this December at Ninja TAG Rhyl to spread Christmas cheer this festive season. Ninja TAG Rhyl will be transformed into a festive wonderland, complete with an authentic grotto, where Santa will welcome children for a magical meet and greet experience where they can tell the man himself what’s on their wish list this Christmas. Santa and his Elves will be at Ninja TAG every Saturday and Sunday in December as well as Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd to meet and greet children with a…

Dragon Taxis has donated £1000 to The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity to support their Jungle Ward appeal. The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity supports the only children’s hospital for Wales, helping to ensure world class care and the best outcome and experience possible for the young patients who receive treatment there. Operating entirely thanks to public donations, the charity raises money to fund capital projects and has previously funded a new neonatal intensive care unit. The charity is looking to raise £1 million through its latest appeal to transform their Jungle Ward into a patient-centred space, designed to deliver…

People who are curious to hear previously undocumented tales from Aberystwyth’s past can now visit Ceredigion Museum’s website to access the free ‘It Happened in Aber’ guided history walk. The audio tour consists of a map and a series of stories relating to five Aberystwyth locations, and it begins and ends at the Museum. The tour is perfect for passing the time over the festive period. It will be of interest both to residents of Aberystwyth, and to visitors who wish to learn more about the town’s colourful history, and the characters, events and stories that have shaped it. Carrie…

Newport-based HSJ Accountants has acquired Ashby’s Business Advisers & Chartered Accountants. The deal will see all staff retained with the new combined business’ turnover exceeding £2.5M. Ashby’s, based in Cwmbran, will remain in its current offices until early 2022 and will retain its brand under the HSJ umbrella. Director Brian Hogg will remain with the business and work with colleagues over a period of time to ensure a smooth transition for clients and staff alike. Speaking of the deal, HSJ Partner Natalie Staples-Vvind said: “This has been a fantastic deal to get over the line. We have been aware of…

TWELVE businesses are celebrating their first Christmas in one of the country’s most vibrant town centres. And as more retailers look set to open in Mold – with others expanding and employing extra workers – this holiday season looks like being their happiest on record. The town centre was already celebrating a vacancy rate of just 5.8%, having welcomed more than 50 shops in the last two years. The success of events including NovemberFest, the Frost Fair and festive light switch-on proved popular with residents and visitors, and despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, the community is preparing for…