Author: Rhys Gregory

Caerphilly’s Innovation Centre for Enterprise (ICE), has created 213 job placements as the campus becomes the largest Kickstart gateway in the County Borough. ICE has enabled over 70 local businesses to access the UK Government scheme which is designed to support organisations with funded six-month work placements, as well as giving young people who are not in education or training, paid employment experience. Placements range from admin and care-worker support to social media and marketing positions. All placements are also supported with further training to help them with future employment opportunities. Employers originally had to be able to take on…

An award winning manufacturer of kids’ bikes is gearing up production to meet record global demand from their site at Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool. Frog Bikes was first established in 2013 by husband wife team Jerry and Shelley Lawson after a fruitless bike hunt for their own two children inspired them to leave their corporate careers and begin creating quality, lightweight and affordable kids’ bikes. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge issued a photograph of their youngest son Prince Louis on a Frog Bike to mark his 3rd birthday last week. The company now sells to over 1800 retailers and…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB has extended its COVID-19 vaccination reserve list to include people aged 25 and over. Until today, only people aged 35 and over could apply (35-49), but as the Health Board continues to vaccinate 40-49 year olds with their first dose, it can now invite others to be on standby should an appointment become available. The reserve list means that Cwm Taf Morgannwg can manage ‘no shows’ by offering appointments to those who can take them up at short notice, and ensure no vaccine goes to waste. You can apply online to be on the reserve list…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Engineering Projects Group are pleased to announce that the works to remediate Full moon footbridge’s damaged abutment has commenced on site this week. The works will be undertaken in two stages: Steel support structure to be installed to support the bridge  during the construction works. Construction of the abutment. The footpath and Cycle Route 47 will remain closed for the duration of the works. The works are expected to last approximately 13 weeks, completion circa mid July 2021. Pedestrians and cyclists should refrain using this route until the abutment has been repaired. Please accept our apologies for…

Neath Port Talbot Council is introducing an enhanced recycling service for businesses and larger complexes of flats. The service is part of the council’s strategy to increase recycling and will introduce wheeled bins for the collection of recycling to offer a better service for businesses and larger multiple occupancy properties. Up to now, businesses have had to make do with smaller receptacles used on domestic collections and may for instance have had to use a large number of household food bins to separate food waste.  The service change will also bring business recycling in Neath Port Talbot into line with…

Communities and businesses in Swansea now have the chance to benefit from a £3m funding scheme. The funding opportunity forms part of the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund, which is aimed at supporting people and communities across the country. Bids are being invited for Swansea project proposals that either support people into employment or invest in skills, local businesses or communities. Other properly constituted organisations that can bid include community and town councils, universities, colleges and third sector groups. All project proposal bids, which have to be received by 5pm on Friday May 21, will be assessed and shortlisted by…

Leading representatives from the hospitality industry have shared their expertise to inspire Welsh businesses to recover, rebuild and revitalise as the sector begins to reopen. Alistair Darby, Non-Executive Director at S.A.Brain Ltd; Ian Edwards, CEO of Celtic Manor Resort and ICC Wales; Shauna Guinn, Co-owner of Hang Fire Southern Kitchen; Kathryn Jones, Sales and Marketing Manager at Castell Howell; and Graham Randall, Managing Director of Quantuma Corporate Advisory Firm took part in a lively conversation, sharing insights from different facets of the sector including pubs, accommodation, independent restaurants and wholesalers. Sponsored by Sword Security and organised by Chambers Wales, the…

Group CEO of Aviva Plc, Amanda Blanc, has addressed a record number of guests at the latest Cardiff Business Club webinar, speaking about her 32-year career in insurance, working in a post-Covid world and Aviva’s Net Zero ambitions. Amanda has been CEO of the UK’s leading insurer Aviva since July 2020 and was recently named as HM Treasury’s new Women in Finance Champion. Other impressive accolades include featuring on the 2020 Forbes Power Women list and on the 2019 list of the HERoes Top 100 Role Model Women Executives from Yahoo Finance. Amanda was also named Woman of Achievement by…

The expansion of the internet and globalization have opened unprecedented investment opportunities for just about everyone. While investing used to be reserved for rich people who had excess money, we are now seeing high school students and children start investment portfolios and succeed. We talked to investor and tech savant Lucas Mollberg on the topic of investing in 2021. We seek to discover what the best investments are in 2021 and how you could get involved with investing without having millions in your bank account or extensive professional training. Hello Lucas and thank you for joining us today. We wanted…

West Wales Business Awards has extended the deadline for entrance till Tuesday, 27 April 2021. While no one might have expected a troublesome year that was, it has allowed small and local businesses to flourish and step up to the challenge. With boatloads of development and assurance, our economy had the option to accomplish something beyond endurance, and it was able to thrive. However, West Wales Business Awards 2021 is all about celebrating the local legends that have worked hard to deserve such awards. The resourcefulness that appeared by individuals from our local area deserves acknowledgment, particularly when they have…