Author: Rhys Gregory

Brewing ‘with attitude’ is reaping rewards – and awards – for specialist alcohol-free craft brewer, The Drop Bear Beer Co., with recent weeks seeing no fewer than five major plaudits and its first export orders. Swansea-based Drop Bear Beer, burst on to the scene in 2019 promising to ‘disrupt’ the traditional view of the non-alcoholic beer market. Founded by newbie brewers Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena, the company lives by the mantra ‘Dropping the alcohol, perfecting the craft’. Their award-winning streak began in July with a gold award for their Tropical IPA at the inaugural ‘Imbibe No & Low Taste…

From today, start-ups and entrepreneurs in Wales can apply for one of 1,000 bursaries being offered by BT across the UK as part of its Small Business Support Scheme. With the UK home to the biggest and most vibrant start-up community in Europe, BT is pledging its support for start-ups by giving it a financial head start through free superfast fibre broadband, digital phone line and mobile bundles, including its Halo for business product. The bundles will be provided completely free of charge for the first six months on a 24-month contract. BT recently launched its Small Business Support Scheme…

Self Assessment customers can apply online for additional support to help spread the cost of their tax bill into monthly payments from 1 October, without the need to call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The online payment plan service can already be used to set up instalment arrangements for paying tax liabilities up to £10,000. From 1 October 2020, HMRC has increased the threshold to £30,000 for Self Assessment customers, to help ease any potential financial burden they may be experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic. The increased self-serve Time to Pay limit of £30,000 follows the Chancellor of the…

THE loyalty of long-standing customers has helped many local businesses through the Coronavirus pandemic. Among them is Afonwen Craft Centre and its popular Edenshine Restaurant, based near Caerwys, Flintshire. Owners Janet Monshin Dallolio and Adrian Dallolio were forced to shut down the attraction in March for the first time in more than 28 years of business, when the UK went into lockdown for the first time. It was a challenging period, but the couple – both accomplished chef/bakers – expanded their takeout service and made home deliveries of delicious chilled and frozen items prepared fresh onsite using local produce. “We…

Detailed plans for a new housing development on the former Clariant site in Church Village, Llantwit Fardre, have been drawn up. Bellway Wales has submitted a reserved matters planning application to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, for 95 homes to be built on the 7.5-acre site, which lies surrounded by woodland to the south-west of Church Village. The derelict site, off Llantrisant Road, was used by Clariant for producing chemicals for care products until 2012 but has been vacant since, with all the buildings on the site now demolished. Bellway’s plans include two, three and four-bedroom houses for private…

This Hypo Awareness Week (5 -11 Oct 2020), Diabetes UK want to shine a spotlight on hypos. Hypos (short for hypoglycaemia) affect nearly everyone with type 1 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes, who use insulin or certain other diabetes medications. A hypo is when the blood sugars drop too low, below 4mmol/l – this can be dangerous if not treated immediately, as it means the brain does not have enough energy to work properly. This can happen for various reasons, including taking too much insulin or other diabetes medications, missing a meal or miss calculating carbs, unplanned…

The lights have been turned back on at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli for the first time since March ahead of the theatre’s debut into the world of digital performances. And first up to take the stage as part of the Live from the Ffwrnes series is a local soul band with a big sound, Gimme Some Lovin’. Recorded live from the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli, then streamed to audiences at home online, the Live from the Ffwrnes series of aims to re-create the magic of a live music gig while Carmarthenshire Theatres remain closed in line with Welsh Government…

A scheme to encourage children and young people to take up cycling and promote Active Travel, will see 660 bikes delivered to schools across the city by the end of the month. The School’s Bike Fleet scheme provides schools with a fleet of bikes for pupils to use in school for the delivery of cycle training. Funded by Welsh Government, the scheme is a partnership project between Cardiff Council, Welsh Cycling and British Cycling. Cllr Caro Wild, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “The Schools Bike Scheme will aim to increase the number of children taking part in…

St Cenydd Community School and leisure centre has received a brand new 3G – multiuse sporting pitch as a part of a number of pitch upgrades currently ongoing across Caerphilly. The pitch has been converted from the previous Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP) to the new 3G style pitch that is more user friendly and will provide a key strategic facility for the community. The £5m Place for Sport fund was allocated by Welsh Government to Sport Wales in 2019 to award grants that could improve, protect or create new sports facilities in Wales. Funding was awarded to over 150 projects…

As part of its response to Covid-19, the Welsh Government is ramping up its support for people affected by redundancy, Economy Minister Ken Skates has said. A new campaign, launched today through Working Wales, will promote the tailored support available to people who have lost their job or are at risk of doing so, and will help them seek new opportunities. The coronavirus pandemic has placed incredible challenges and pressures on businesses and workers, not just in Wales, but across the world. In August, the Welsh Government announced a £40m jobs and skills package which will provide help for anyone…