Author: Rhys Gregory

500 students, college leavers and graduates with entrepreneurial ambitions from across Wales took part in a free online Summer Start-Up Week to help get their business ideas off the ground.  The sell-out Summer Start-Up Week took place from 8th – 12th June and offered five days of inspiration, learning and networking to turn ideas into businesses, social enterprises and freelancing careers. The Summer Start-Up Week was launched collaboratively by all Welsh colleges and universities to ensure young people separated by social distancing could join a virtual start-up community and continue to develop their ideas. A group on Facebook formed from…

AN award-winning British cyclist has extended the “biggest thanks” to the Welsh Ambulance Service and Mountain Rescue team who came to her aid after disaster struck on a training ride with her family. Elynor Backstedt, 18, from Pontyclun, is a professional track and road cyclist for the Belgium-based Trek–Segafredo team and was home with her family in South Wales during the Coronavirus lockdown period. Along with her father and sister she was undertaking a mountain bike ride in May in the popular Garth Woods near Cardiff when she took a tumble on a steep downhill approaching the car park. “I…

Work on a multi-million pound project to convert a nine-hole golf course and driving range into a luxury holiday park in Mid Wales is expected to start within the next eight weeks. Holiday home and lodge parks entrepreneur Trevor Bebb plans to complete the £5 million park, sited at the former Mid Wales Golf Centre near Caersws, in two phases, with the first phase scheduled to open in 2022. The 28-acre development will create up to 40 jobs, together with many more during construction and is expected to generate around £700,000 a year for the local economy. The park will…

A brave frontline nurse who has returned to work after spending six days in intensive care with the deadly Corona virus has teamed up with one of the world’s finest patisserie chefs to launch a cake-making competition to honour NHS heroes. Mum-of-two Deanna Paule, from Wrexham, will judge the entries with Anglesey chef Richard Holt who worked in Michelin-starred kitchens, including with the BBC’s Professional Masterchef judge Marcus Wareing. The task is to create cakes on a nursing theme and the duo are urging home bakers of all ages to take part in the competition run by the North Wales…

A vibrant village enterprise delivering food and groceries to isolated and vulnerable people in the west of rural Denbighshire through the Covid-19 pandemic has received over £20,000 to boost its services. Clawddnewydd, between Ruthin and Cerrigydrudion, boasts a shop and a pub, the Glan Llyn, run by local people and they have introduced new outreach services during the current crisis. They are being helped by a grant from the Brenig Wind Community Benefit Fund which distributes £150,000 a year to community projects in the area through Corwen-based rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd. Through lockdown while the pub has been closed…

Researchers from North Wales are studying the DNA of pollen to provide new hope for millions of hay fever sufferers across the UK. It’s that time of year again when hay fever leaves one in five people with red eyes, runny noses and sneezing fits – but scientists at Bangor University could soon have an answer for the UK’s 13 million hay fever sufferers. Their work on tracking the types of pollen in the air at any one time was featured on BBC’s One Show this week as hay fever peaks across the UK. It involves them sifting their cocksfoot…

A Pembrokeshire pet food company is doing its bit to support charities and animal organisations through the Covid-19 pandemic as they struggle to stay afloat during such uncertain times. Burns Pet Nutrition, a natural pet food company that already helps over 40 animal welfare organisations every year, has donated tens of thousands of pounds worth of pet supplies to over 20 rescue centres, charities and community groups across the UK during the outbreak. The family firm, which specialises in producing high quality dog food made up of all-natural ingredients, has supplied thousands of bags of pet food and treats equating…

People with potential symptoms of cancer are being urged to seek medical advice after a huge fall in the number of referrals. Experts at the South West Wales Cancer Centre at Singleton Hospital say there has been a two-thirds reduction in referrals due to the pandemic. Depending on their symptoms, GPs will initially refer patients to one of Swansea Bay’s three main hospitals for investigation. Last April, there were 1,218 referrals across all cancer specialties. By April this year, that had fallen to just 409. Lung cancer referrals, for example, went from 24 to just five. It’s believed people are…

A FORMER RAF instructor who was forced to leave the service after a life-changing accident will be speaking about her mental health struggle to help others as she prepares to be Vice-captain for Team UK at the Invictus Games next year. Kelly Leonard, 42, who lost the use of her foot in the accident, which forced her to leave her position as a Physical Training Instructor, is sharing her story on Facebook Live this Friday (June 19) at 4pm to inspire and motivate those who are struggling with their mental health during the Coronavirus lockdown. She said: “I struggled with…

Pioneering Spanish bar and restaurant group Ultracomida has announced plans to expand its ‘deli home delivery’ service, click and collect, and online tasting events, after a successful trial period. The independent boutique operators – who run two, award-winning deli-restaurants in the coastal towns of Narberth and Aberystwyth, as well as Curado Bar and Vermut in Cardiff – are well known for bringing a casual dining style influenced by Northern Spain to Wales. Their website also offers a huge range of carefully selected Spanish produce for UK-wide delivery. Since lockdown came into effect, the online shop has become a major focus for the group as…