Author: Rhys Gregory

A popular South Wales school uniform supplier has reported a successful trading period this year, despite the uncertainty of school closures during the pandemic, thanks to a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. YC Sports, which supplies school uniforms to 40,000 school children across South Wales, used the HSBC UK funding to purchase stock to ensure there were enough uniforms for the 90 schools it supports. The seasonal business also used the funding to guarantee its three stores in Cathays, Canton and Whitchurch were fully equipped and ready to adhere to social distancing measures. YC Sports was also able to deliver…

Two rural public houses in Ceredigion have been required to improve the measures they take to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus at their premises. The Ffostrasol Arms public house in Ffostrasol, Llandysul and the Vale of Aeron public house in Felinfach, have both been served with an improvement notice after visits by officers from Ceredigion County Council’s Public Protection Team and Dyfed-Powys Police. The Premises Improvement Notice, served under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions)(No. 2)(Wales) Regulations 2020, was issued at both public houses on Wednesday 14 October 2020. The officers during their visit to the Vale of Aeron…

The Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC), which represents over 300 registered supporting cafes, pubs and restaurants across Wales, has sent an urgent letter to Welsh Government Ministers asking for clarity on proposals to impose a ‘circuit breaker’ shutdown of hospitality. The letter is co-signed by Brains Brewery and Castell Howell. The letter highlights that any decision taken by the Welsh Government on whether to enforce the circuit break in Wales will have very direct and profound impacts on thousands of Welsh businesses and jobs, and as such, urgent and immediate support is now essential to their survival. Natalie Issac of…

Awen-Haf and Llion Harding, aged 9 and 7, from Church Village, Pontypridd decided to double the One Million Step Challenge between July and September this year, raising £315 for Diabetes UK Cymru for their efforts. The children’s father, Scott lives with type 1 diabetes and this is the third time the family has taken on the walking challenge. Their mother, Marie Harding, a nursery teacher, said: “As a family, we usually take on similar challenges and take part in annual fundraising activities for a cause close to our hearts to raise funds and awareness. The children have journeyed with their…

Morrisons is to extend the 10% discount that NHS heroes receive on their grocery shop. The discount was first introduced in April and aims to support the 1.5 million NHS staff through the winter. It is a thank you from Morrisons. With hospitals again dealing with an increased number of coronavirus cases, NHS staff are supporting the country through the next stage of the pandemic. Morrisons is therefore to extend the discount. As well as receiving a discount in Morrisons stores, NHS workers are also able to make use of it while ordering a home delivery through Morrisons.com. They simply…

Osian Jones of CRWST was crowned the winner of the Tiptree World Bread Awards Heroes with Brook Food for Wales, in a special online awards evening on Tuesday 13 October 2020. When Osian was forced to close his Crwst’s cafe in Cardigan as the country went into lockdown, he decided to adapt his business; providing door to door delivery so that he could keep his local community supplied with bread. His weekly order consisted of 200 loaves. All of which were hand mixed and hand shaped by Osian himself. To fulfil the orders, on Thursdays and Fridays Osian would start…

All across the world governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the media along with the general public are joining forces this week to celebrate the world’s food heroes and promoting World Food Day (Friday, 16 October).  As it celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), which is responsible for World Food Day, continues to raise awareness for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all. The theme this year is ‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together’ and highlights the need to grow a variety of food to nourish people…

The search is on to identify the UK’s leading Food and Drink Heroes, in a new award programme designed to recognise entrepreneurs within the countries’ growing food and drink industries.   The event is organised by the founders of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, who this year will be working alongside food & drink specialists Visionary Food Solutions.  The new event has launched, with entries now open ahead of the awards celebration scheduled for 2021. . The Food and Drink Heroes awards will aim to shine a spotlight on the growing food and drink industry, the entrepreneurs who make it…

While coronavirus continues to hit charities hard, three generations of the Peters family have bucked the trend by raising thousands of pounds for people with cancer. As part of their latest efforts, Yvonne Peters from Pontyclun, who is both mum and grandmother to the group, contributed to Macmillan’s coffee morning with a Super Sponge September. The event, which saw Yvonne baking a different sponge cake every day for the entire month, has helped raise over £1,300 to support people affected by cancer. Yvonne held the event as an alternative to the traditional Macmillan Coffee Morning, at a time when coronavirus…

An Aberystwyth academic has been recognised as a top talent by the UK’s research and innovation body with support for his sustainable food study. Dr Andrew Lloyd, from Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), has been awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship by the UK Research and Innovation body (UKRI). The prestigious award is designed to expand and retain a strong supply of talented academics in the UK, and supports the next generation of researchers to work on difficult and novel challenges. Dr Lloyd’s sustainable crop production project, involving partners in the UK, US, France and Australia,…