Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff-based second charge mortgage lender, Optimum Credit, is celebrating a joint achievement with its parent company, Pepper Money, with the announcement of more than £1bn worth of first and second charge mortgages across the two brands in 2019. In the first charge market, Pepper Money grew its specialist mortgage business following a number of enhancements to its proposition, while Optimum Credit maintained its position as a leader in the second charge market with another strong year of growth. Pepper Money purchased Optimum Credit in October 2018 as part of its ambitious growth plans. Since the acquisition, there has been significant…

Folly Farm has been named Wales’ Venue of the Year by disabled access charity Euan’s Guide for the second year in a row. The family friendly attraction has taken steps to make the experience as accessible as possible.  Both the Big Wheel and Land Train can accommodate a wheelchair user and they also have a Changing Places facility on site.  A Changing Places toilet includes a hoist, an adult sized changing table, a privacy screen, and space for a wheelchair user and up to two carers in addition to the facilities found in an accessible toilet.  Changing Places toilets are used by more than 250,000…

A partially sighted South Wales woman is campaigning to get street advertising boards banned across Wales. Angharad Padget-Jones, 26, from Port Talbot, is registered as severely sight impaired and says that advertising A-boards severely impact blind and partially sighted people, making it harder for them to maintain their independence. Angharad is campaigning for a nationwide ban with support from RNIB Cymru and has submitted a petition to the National Assembly for Wales which received over 80 signatures. The petition will be reviewed by the Petitions Committee this year. A-boards are commonly found on pavements outside shops and cafes. They can…

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…