Author: Rhys Gregory

From chauffeurs to candle makers, the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t diminished entrepreneurial spirit in Wales with the new way of living having inspired record numbers to start their own lifestyle business in 2020. Figures released by the Development Bank of Wales today, 5 March 2021, show that micro loans of up to £50,000 totalling nearly £1.8 million were awarded to business start-ups in 2020 compared to £1.1 million in 2019. Representing an increase of 60%, the average deal value was £23,000 across 77 investments seeing many entrepreneurs taking the opportunity to pursue long held dreams, take control or lead a different…

A 21 year old studying at Bangor University has built on her love of public speaking to launch a business which helps children to develop confidence skills from a young age. Olaitan Olawande, who is completing her Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis, set up Practice What You Speak, to provide public speaking workshops to young people across the UK. The workshops are targeted at three age ranges, 7-11 years, 12-17 years and ages 18-24, with Olaitan having already run workshops for over 30 young people. Practice What you Speak is aimed at children who are already comfortable with speaking in…

A North Wales tech company has launched an innovative new e-learning portal. The portal, developed by Deeside-based Fusion, provides employers with access to a wealth of online courses to help improve the knowledge and skills of their employees. The e-learning capability is the latest extension of Fusion’s employees’ digital platform. The Fusion directors have so far invested over £200,000 in creating their technology. Demand is particularly high because of the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing need for businesses to offer remote working and adhere to social distancing measures. The e-learning platform contains six core learning collections –…

AST Plastic Containers, a leading manufacturer of high-quality plastic containers based in North Wales, has purchased a second site on Wrexham’s industrial estate. The additional 70,000 sq ft site will be used for the company’s new plastic recycling scheme, which is due to begin in April. Over the first three years, AST Plastic Containers aims to recycle 6,000 tonnes of plastic that it uses for its HDPE containers. Initially, four new jobs will be available on the site, with more to follow. The company has purchased state-of-the art machinery in order to help recycle as much material as possible, with…

Having mobilised to assist UK Government efforts to combat Covid-19, a Port Talbot company specialising in the manufacture and global distribution of precision instrumentation, has now become the UK’s first safety goggle manufacturer. British Rototherm Group’s expansion into the production of personal protective equipment saw nearly two centuries of manufacturing heritage and expertise applied to the creation of face shields and face masks that were desperately needed by the nation’s front line healthcare workers. The result has been over 1 million visors and 10 million face masks created per month and a company headquartered in Wales, with further operations across…

Swansea Building Society posted its best-ever set of results in 2020 as it benefitted from supporting local communities by keeping its growing network of local branches across South Wales open through the pandemic while reaping the rewards of a five-year investment programme it started in 2015. Its total assets, mortgage balances, savings, capital and profits all reached record highs last year despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This planned increase was the result of a comprehensive investment plan kickstarted in 2015, which has seen it open three new branches, upgrade back-office systems and hire new talent across the business.…

A new study launched by the UK’s largest online learning provider, The Skills Network, has found that significant career changes for those in Wales are most likely to happen at age 30.5, but 2 in 5 won’t go after their dream job, due to the daunting prospect of having to retrain. The research analysed answers from 1,000 people across the UK who have made a significant career change, during their working life, and had to retrain as a result. In Wales, people are likely to make six job changes during their working career, suggesting that you don’t have to have…

Triton Construction has secured a contract to deliver a new 80-bed Premier Inn hotel in Porthmadog, North Wales. The £5.4 million instruction through Liberty Properties includes the design and build of the hotel on the former site of Ty Moelwyn Tax Office, as well as external services, roads, yards and car parking. The Porthmadog contract follows an instruction with Swangate Developments to deliver a new 63-bed Premier Inn hotel in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, which is now under construction.  Triton has also recently completed a 14-bed refurbishment with new reception area for Premier Inn at Telford. Premier Inn is the UK’s…

Bilingual communications agency, Equinox, is celebrating its 25th year with a campaign of promises — which will include providing free support to Welsh businesses in need. Launched today (18 March), the 25 Peth campaign will see Equinox deliver 25 things to benefit the local economy, environment, culture, its people, and the wider comms industry, in 2021. From providing in-kind business support and innovative initiatives that will create opportunities for aspiring talent, to participating in hands-on environmental activities and establishing new partnerships that will improve the use of the Welsh language — the campaign will go beyond standard corporate commitments by…

Many dog owners are surprised to learn that their pet is diabetic. A majority go without knowing until it is too late. After learning this confounding new, one is usually at a loss on how to deal with a diabetic dog. Is nutrition like in humans? What is too sugary for a dog? What diet is lean enough to manage the pet’s weight? This pet health issue is problematic, but you can manage with the right nutrition plans. Diabetes in Dogs  Dog diabetes is the same metabolism disorder that is observed in humans. It occurs when a dog is not…