Author: Rhys Gregory

A budding fashion designer from Rogiet in Monmouthshire has turned lockdown stress into business success, setting up a clothing and accessories brand during the pandemic and selling hundreds of face masks already. 21-year-old Ruby Harry graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University with a First in Fashion Design, and started her own business, Ruby Harry Design, just one month after graduating. Selling face masks, tote bags, hair accessories and make up bags, Ruby set up her own venture to be able to put her degree to good use. Ruby started her business with the help of Big Ideas Wales, part of Business…

High street traders across the Vale of Glamorgan say they “need shoppers now more than ever” after local lockdown measures were imposed. Owners of businesses across the Vale are urging people to support the high street following restrictions which have been reintroduced this month. In a bid to support pandemic-hit shops, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has launched its Vale Town Centres campaign, calling on people to continue supporting independent businesses which have seen trade seriously affected since the outbreak. As part of the major campaign, which has been joint funded through the Welsh Government’s, Transforming Towns initiative, Covid Recovery…

Colleagues Keisha and Rebecca at housing, care and support organisation, Hafod, are two of the first Welsh social housing cohort to recently qualify as carbon literacy trainers as part of the sector-wide Carbon Literacy Project.  Hafod is one of 27 Welsh registered social landlords who form the Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru(CCLC) consortium and are working in partnership to give their colleagues and customers the opportunity to improve their understanding of climate change and global warming. The aim of increasing carbon literacy among their workforce and customers is to raise awareness and encourage communities and organisations to take action to reduce their carbon footprint in…

A major employer in Wrexham is celebrating the success of its apprenticeship programme in employing young people into the medicines sector. Wrexham based Wockhardt UK specialises in the supply of generic medicines and is one of the leading suppliers to the NHS.  It currently employees 400 people at its Wrexham Industrial Estate facility and has been awarded the Investors in People Silver award, as well as the Corporate Heath Standard (CHS) Silver Award. The firm introduced its apprenticeship scheme back in 2016, partnering with Glyndwr University to deliver the degree qualifications.  Apprentice Sioned Bryden, aged 22 from Wrexham was one…

Flawsome! Drinks have every reason to celebrate after securing a business deal with a multinational premium supermarket retailer in the Middle East. Cardiff based drinks producer, Flawsome!, which makes cold-pressed juices from imperfect fruit and vegetables, will see its products available to buy in the well known Spinneys stores in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This latest news is a great boost to the company at such a challenging and uncertain time for all food and drink producers. Next month, around 28 stores will initially stock Flawsome! lightly sparkling range which includes Apple & Rhubarb, Sweet and Sour Apple, and…

With the festive trading season beginning, Amanda Dorel, regional director for Wales at Lloyds Bank, considers the outlook for the nation’s retailers as they approach their first ‘Covid Christmas’. October often feels a little too soon to be talking about Christmas. I, for one, am among those who might roll my eyes at seeing festive products lining the shelves before Halloween. However, for Wales’ independent retailers, Christmas will have been under consideration for months – even against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ‘Golden Quarter’ of October to December has never been more important to the hopes of businesses…

Swansea Building Society has added key workers from a number of sectors, all of whom have played a critical role in helping the UK through the COVID-19 pandemic, to the list of professions that are eligible for enhanced terms. The Society’s ‘Professional’ Mortgage product offers a lower interest rate to individuals in a range of professions ranging from accountants to engineers to solicitors to architects. Now, in recognition of the critical role keyworkers from many professions played in the country’s battle with COVID-19, the Society has added 11 additional professions to its list of those eligible for the product. Bank…

Five Transport for Wales stations are nominated to take part in a competition to find Britain’s favourite railway station. Voting began at 09:00 on Monday 12 October in the World Cup of Stations, a series of Twitter polls organised by the Rail Delivery Group. 48 stations across Britain have been entered in the first round, including five stations in Wales. In the Wales group, Cardiff Central, Newport, Swansea and Pontypridd will compete for one place in the semi-finals, while Chirk is part of the group made up of stations that won the Best Station awards at the recent National Rail…

Bangor University and Coleg Cambria have today announced a new commitment to working together more closely in North East Wales.  The University is the largest HE provider in North Wales and uniquely placed in its research, innovation and education and training capabilities at the HE level.  Coleg Cambria has a highly successful track record in delivering Further and Higher Education programmes with particular success in working with employers in North East Wales. The two organisations have signed a Joint Statement of Intent which sets out aspirations to work together across the skills levels and to link the skills agenda in…

Building firm J.G. Hale Construction has been joined by members of Powys Council at a topping out ceremony, placing the final tile on the last roof of a 32-unit development on the council’s land north of Heol-Y-Ffynnon in Brecon.  J.G. Hale Construction’s contracts manager, Andrew Collins, was joined by Powys County councillors Rosemary Harries, Matthew Dorrance and James Evans, along with Nina Davies, head of housing and community at Powys County Council, to ceremonially mark the important milestone at the Brecon site. The £5.1m development is Powys County Council’s first affordable housing development for social rent in over 40 years, and provides a mix of…