Author: Rhys Gregory

A young chocolate entrepreneur has enjoyed the sweet taste of success at a glittering ceremony to celebrate a record year in the North Wales tourism industry. Tim Winstanley, 27, was named as the Young Tourism Person of the Year at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards after he set up a new-chocolate based visitor attraction. The Llandudno Chocolate Experience takes visitors on a journey through Mayan jungles before finishing in the golden age of British chocolate. According to organisers North Wales Tourism, young entrepreneurs like Tim, who lives in Colwyn Bay, were the lifeblood of the booming visitor economy. Revenue…

Principality Building Society has received two prestigious national awards for Best Regional Building Society and Corporate Social Responsibility, by the Mortgage Finance Gazette. The Society was awarded the Best Regional Building Society title for their product offering, which was based upon their interest rates and fees on a range of loan-to-value mortgages. Principality was awarded the most points based on the competitive rankings for their products, which was calculated for each provider across each mortgage type. The Society’s commitment to supporting communities in Wales through financial education initiatives was also recognised through the Corporate Social Responsibility –Lender award. Since 2016,…

It’s fair to say the next few weeks will be rather busy for the Lewis family, as they showcase their new meat business at one of the biggest consumer food and drink shows in the UK – and move farm! Earlier this year, Steve and Kara Lewis set up Pembrokeshire Lamb Ltd at their smallholding near Wolfscastle. Their aim is to create a sustainable meat box business with the mantra ‘fresh is best’. And later this week they will take a giant leap, by exhibiting at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in Birmingham (November 28 – December…

Wounded veterans and serving military personnel from across North Wales are being encouraged to attend a community recovery hub in Shotton run by armed forced charity Help for Heroes. The monthly model-making and fellowship group is supported by volunteers from Models for Heroes, who provide all the equipment and support necessary to help men and women affected by their service to enjoy a new hobby while meeting friends in a safe and supportive environment. Taking place at Veterans Care & Repair, Shotton, on the first Monday of the month between 1230 and 1430, the sessions are attended by Help for…

A South Wales Police officer has been dismissed from the force after allegations of gross misconduct were found proven against him. A misconduct hearing at County Hall in Cardiff considered allegations relating to the conduct of PC Christopher Leach, who was based in the force’s Eastern division. The officer faced nine allegations of breaching the professional standards of honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, confidentiality and discreditable conduct. These allegations included inappropriate behaviour whilst on duty. The officer – who had been suspended pending the outcome of the hearing – appeared before an independent panel, consisting of a legally…

Ken Skates AM Minister for Economy and Transport addressed over 120 transport engineers at ICE’s annual Welsh National Transport Conference, which was held at the Novotel in Cardiff on Wednesday 20 November 2019. Speaking about the many transport infrastructure projects both completed and currently underway, Ken Skates AM explained the positive impacts these have made across Wales. He said “We remain resolute in our determination to deliver the ambitious infrastructure plans set out in both the infrastructure Investment Plan and our National Transport Finance Plan updated this Spring”. He added that ”these projects ranged from  the recently completed£26m and the…

A Welsh company changing how sports federations can become more commercially minded and create data from sports, has announced the first of many partnerships within Europe as it expands outside the UK. Sport Exchange, based in Maesteg, is working with the Royal Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) in a deal, which will increase the federations ability to communicate with cyclists across the Netherlands, and providing more access directly to the Dutch cycling fans. KNWU will be using the resources that Sport Exchange offers on its multi-platform webspace, as well as access to bespoke communication products created for the federation through Sport…

LIGNIA Wood Company, the award-winning modified timber specialists, has signed a distribution agreement with Italian timber experts Bellotti Spa, who will be distributing LIGNIA and LIGNIA Yacht products to the Italian and Swiss markets. The agreement was signed in Amsterdam at METSTRADE, the world’s biggest trade yachting show, where both companies were exhibiting their product ranges. There were further celebrations at the show when LIGNIA won a major DAME Design Award for its LIGNIA Yacht wood deck product that is now being used on boats around the world instead of endangered teak. Bellotti was established in 1927 and is a…

Bus passengers heading into Cardiff city centre on Saturday November 30th are getting travel updates ahead of Wales’ match against the Barbarians at the Principality Stadium. In order to keep travel disruption to a minimum, Cardiff Bus is alerting customers to road closures, route diversions and bus stop changes being put in place in the city centre from 11:15am until 6.15pm. Services 1 and 2 will continue to serve Canal Street in the city centre during the road closures. Bus stop changes will see the Baycar (service 6) starting from Customhouse Street and it will not serve the rear of…

Stop It Now!, the UK’s first confidential helpline that supports people to stop viewing sexual images of under 18s, has reported a 97 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of people using the specialist helpline (0808 1000 900) and self-help website during the last 12 months, either for themselves or someone they know. In the 12 months from November 2018, a total of 2,804 callers and web users from Wales contacted the anonymous Stop It Now! UK and Ireland helpline and self-help website. This number compares with 1,421 callers and web users in the year following November 2017. Through…