Author: Rhys Gregory

The winners of the ‘Welsh Innovation of the Year Award’ at the Welsh SME Business Awards 2019, Forth, are set to turnover £1million this year following a £250,000 equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Founded in 2016 by female entrepreneur Sarah Bolt, the Chepstow based business creates personal biomarker profiles using at-home blood testing kits. With over 10,000 users, Forth’s customers are provided with an understanding of their body’s key internal biomarkers for good health using a simple pinprick blood test. The scientific blood testing is undertaken at accredited labs then uploaded to their customer’s personalised results dashboard…

Independent pub group Knife & Fork Food has announced plans to open its sixth location. The new venue is in the coastal village of Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan. Knife & Fork Food have acquired The Boat House, and following a short rebrand period, will be reopening as The Sully Inn on February 28th. This launch marks the latest stage in the popular regional pub group’s expansion programme, which in recent years has seen the launch of The Discovery in Lakeside and Twenty Nine Park Place in Cardiff city centre, accumulating plaudits from the likes of Michelin’s Eating Out…

Lidl GB has confirmed the purchase of land adjacent to its warehouse in Bridgend.   The land will enable the supermarket to extend its distribution centre to over 36,000 sqm, which will significantly increase its capacity. Simon Hedderman, Regional Director at Lidl GB, said: “We first opened our warehouse here in Bridgend in 2004, servicing Lidl stores across Wales. In this time we have experienced considerable growth, with more customers shopping in our stores than ever before. In addition to providing new state-of-the-art facilities for our colleagues, the extension will enable us to expand and strengthen our operations across Wales,…

Five Tonypany neighbours are each £30k better off thanks to winning with People’s Postcode Lottery this weekend. The Turberville Street residents scooped the cash when CF40 2TH was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Sunday 9th February 2020. Offering his congratulations, People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson, said: “I’m delighted for all five of our winners in Tonypandy! I’m sure they’ll enjoy the cash and I hope they treat themselves to something nice.” A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have helped raise more than £500 million…

The freehold of the UPG Wales warehouse and offices at Cwm Cynon Industrial Estate, Mountain Ash has been sold by property consultancy Knight Frank for £2.51 million. Acting on behalf of vendor Topland Group Knight Frank sold the 62,125 sq ft unit on a 5.53 acre site to a private investor, represented by Inprio, in a transaction representing a Net Initial Yield (NIY) of 6.93%. Gareth Lloyd, from Knight Frank’s Capital Markets team in Cardiff, said: “This is a well specified industrial unit located three miles north west of the A470 and with a very strong occupational story. “The level…

Progress is being made as Swansea Council continues its work to bring new life to the city centre’s historic Palace Theatre building. Specialist designers have been shown around the 132-year-old structure’s distressed interior with a view to them bidding to expertly and sensitively transform the building. Potential business partners are being encouraged to submit ideas on how they – as lead tenant – would run or manage the Palace. In the past few months the council completed the acquisition of the building from its private owners. It wants to redevelop the wedge-shaped Grade 2 listed building as modern office space.…

The money will be used to support the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales Delivery Plan 2020-22, which the Minister launched during a visit to see a healthy eating project at a playgroup in Cardiff.  Mr Gething said: Obesity ranks among the biggest public health challenge we face and I want Wales to be one of the first countries in the world to see a decline in obesity rates. To achieve this we need to see change in every part of our society and I want us to shape an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice. We will work…

THE £21million redevelopment of Coleg Cambria Yale will transform education in Wrexham. The Grove Park Road site is due to be finished in July and open this September in time for the 2020/21 academic year. Improved facilities include a new-look kitchen and restaurant, a sports complex, cutting-edge study spaces, IT suites and a 200-seat conference hall. Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction is ahead of schedule and much of the 96,000 sq ft building has been completed already, including the concrete flooring. Vertical insulation cladding is in the process of being covered with rain-screen cladding to finish and water-proof external walls, all classroom…

Six rising stars of Cardiff’s music scene have been picked to battle it out at the Big Gig final, in front of a panel of influential industry judges. On Saturday 15th February Clwb Ifor Bach on Womanby Street will host a night of music showcasing the diverse range of talent in the city, ranging from high-energy punk, to R&B and experimental pop. With the winner getting a coveted spot on the bill at Sŵn Festival 2020 and recording time at Music Box Studios with legendary producer Charlie Francis, and the runner up taking home a £100 voucher for music shop…

A student, inspired to pursue a career in healthcare following the death of his father and grandad to brain tumours, is starring in a campaign to help find a cure for the disease. Swansea undergraduate Christopher Grey, 19, is taking centre stage and sharing his story during Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Christopher was just 11 years old when his dad Jeffrey Grey, of Swansea, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite enduring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jeffrey died just eight months later, aged 54. Tragically, Christopher’s granddad, Wyndham Grey, also died of a brain tumour ten years ago. Christopher, from Swansea,…