Author: Rhys Gregory

Lorica Insurance, a leading regional insurance firm has rebranded to PIB Insurance Brokers. The move is part of a nationwide programme that will see a number of businesses under the parent company, PIB Group, rebrand to simplify the business offering. The commercial and leisure insurance specialist was established more than 40 years ago and has a branch in Ystrad Mynach which employs 4 people. The organisation has grown to employ more than 100 people across seven sites in the UK. Lorica Insurance was acquired by PIB Group in 2016 which has experienced a period of rapid growth since it formed…

Morrisons has removed glitter entirely from its own-brand ranges of greetings cards, gift wrap, seasonal items and horticulture in stores. This means all Morrisons cards, crackers, wrapping paper, present bags, flowers, plants and wreaths are now 100 per cent glitter-free. Glitter is made from tiny particles of plastic and is an ecological hazard if it becomes dispersed on land, rivers and oceans – where it takes hundreds of years to degrade. The move extends to non-seasonal as well as seasonal lines meaning Morrisons shoppers can shop more sustainably all year round. Soluble inks, foil and paper reliefs will instead be…

A fast-growing North Wales builder is bucking any construction slowdown with an order book bulging with £14 million of new work including a trio of exciting low energy housing contracts. Brenig Construction actually gained £6 million in orders and have taken on seven staff since lockdown, and they have continued to attract new contracts since their return to work. The projects involving ultra-low energy passive housing, among the first of their kind in Wales, are in Old Colwyn, Llanrwst and in Denbigh where they are due to put shovels in the ground later this month on a 22-property development on…

The best site managers in the Welsh house building industry have gathered to celebrate their achievements at NHBC’s Pride in the Job 2020 Awards virtual ceremony. Organised by NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, the awards are the most highly regarded in the house-building industry.  They recognise and reward a site manager’s dedication to achieving the highest standards in house building, and their commitment to building homes of outstanding quality. Due to Covid-19 restrictions a series of online events are taking place throughout October and November, providing the opportunity to celebrate the Quality Award winners…

North Wales Fire & Rescue Service is upgrading its finance systems to a new state-of-the-art Software as a Service solution from leading enterprise software provider TechnologyOne. The fire and rescue service, which protects hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists across 2,400 square miles of picturesque North Wales, is switching to the new software to help improve real-time financial decision making and business reporting. By upgrading to TechnologyOne’s SaaS enterprise software, employees at the fire and rescue service will be able to access and use new general ledger, accounts, budgeting, forecasting and asset management systems at any time, using any…

Improving care for patients in Wales living with heart failure should be a priority according to a new report from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Disjointed and unequal care, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, is leading to more people dying with heart failure. The report reveals that prior to lockdown, UK hospital admissions for heart failure had risen by nearly a third (29 per cent) over the last five years to more than 100,000 per year (1). This could be in part due to missed opportunities to diagnose and treat people with the condition before they become more unwell and…

Mrs Buckét, the specialist cleaning operation based in Wales and the South West, today celebrates its 15th anniversary.   Since its inception in 2005, the company has gone from strength to strength; its projected turnover for the end of the year currently stands at £2.9m, with ambitions to grow to a £12m business in the next five years. The business’ expansion plans include: Opening a new Bristol division, creating 100 jobs in the area Growing its current team by 50 per cent Continuing to invest in new technologies and innovation that will push the company into a more advanced era of commercial cleaning To mark the occasion, Mrs Buckét has unveiled a new brand identity and core purpose, which sees the business focus…

The UK’s main cycle museum, based in Llandrindod Wells in Mid Wales, will be welcoming families with discounted entry during school half term fortnight later, starting next week. The National Cycle Museum charts the history of the bicycle, with more than 260 cycles – many rare unusual – of all ages on display, ranging from an 1818 Hobby Horse and Victorian solid-tyred machines to classic lightweights and the latest carbon-fibre designs. The museum, which has received various donated items since it reopened in August, is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm,…

Swansea Council is to offer a new round of grants to help freelance workers in the cultural and creative sectors through the pandemic. The funding – in the form of one-off £2,500 payments – will support applicants facing financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. The fund will be managed by the council’s cultural, economic development and external funding teams and will offer grants on a first come first served business. The application portal will close when all grants are committed. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “We first offered around £200,000…

AN AMBULANCE technician from Newport is hoping to spread some festive cheer among the homeless community – and is calling on local people and businesses to help. Rhys Tucker, an Emergency Medical Technician at the Welsh Ambulance Service, is making gift-filled shoeboxes for people on the city’s streets to brighten up their Christmas. The surprise parcels will be filled with much-needed essentials like toiletries, as well as sweet treats and a handwritten card. The 35-year-old, who is based in Cwmbran, will gift wrap the boxes and deliver them over the Christmas period. Rhys said: “Christmas is seen as a time…