Author: Rhys Gregory

Hodge Bank has appointed Graeme Hughes as Senior Independent Director of Julian Hodge Bank Limited and Hodge Life Assurance Company Limited and David Gulland to the Board of Hodge Life Assurance Company. Both will join the Board of Hodge Limited. Graeme and David bring with them a wealth of executive experience in the financial services sector and will play a significant role in broadening the perspective of the Board as it navigates the years ahead. Graeme Hughes spent the vast majority of his career with the Nationwide Building Society, most recently becoming Group Distribution Director in 2013. David Gulland was…

The British Racing & Sports Car Club makes its final visit if the year to Anglesey Circuit next weekend to deliver another superb Winter Race Day to round off the 2019 season in style. Headlining the event will be the final rounds of the Avon Tyres Northern Formula Ford Championship, one of the most competitive regional single seater championships in British club motorsport today. With titles in the P and Super Classic classes up for grabs, it’s certain to be a fierce final few races to decide their fate. In what has become an annual staple on this event’s timetable,…

Creams, the UK’s leading dessert restaurant brand with more than 80 stores nationwide, has reopened its café in Cardiff. Now under new management, customers can head down to the café, on St Mary’s Street, to get their cravings fix. Taking desserts to a whole new level, Creams offers an unrivalled range of delicious, freshly prepared treats, including gelato ice cream, cookie dough, crêpes, and waffles.  Diners at Cardiff can indulge in sensational, Instagram-friendly, rainbow-coloured sundaes and show-stopping cakes and puddings. Eve Davis, Manager at Creams Café Cardiff, said: “I’m thrilled that we’re able to welcome customers through the doors of…

Housing market activity slowed significantly in Wales last month, driven by factors including Brexit uncertainty, seasonality, and the upcoming General Election, according to the monthly RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Residential Market Survey. Fewer new sales were agreed in October compared to September, according to the net balance of respondents in Wales. Indeed, at -43%, the October net balance for newly agreed sales was at its second lowest level since 2008. There were also a smaller number of potential buyers evident in the market, with 28% more respondents reporting falling rather than rising numbers of new buyer enquiries during…

Celebrations are taking place in one street in Sirhowy after five people scooped a cash prize of £30,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode. The Hartford Street neighbours landed the lump sum when NP22 4QF was announced as a winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Sunday 10th November 2019. Among the winners was thirty-year-old teaching assistant Rhiannon Fryatt. Rhiannon netted the cash after playing for just two months. She said: “This is surreal – I was not expecting that at all. My husband, Steven, doesn’t know I play so it will be an even bigger surprise for him!” “I’d love…

One of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers has expanded its Swansea team with a key new appointment.  Towergate Insurance Brokers has welcomed Jeff Partridge as a Commercial Development Executive, whose focus will be providing insurance solutions to an array of clients across the South and West Wales region. Jeff brings over 25 years of experience with him, working with some of the South Wales’ premier businesses. He developed his skills firstly as an underwriter with AXA Insurance and latterly as a Director in the business insurance team at Thomas Carroll. His clients range from large construction, manufacturing and distribution…

If current trends persist, 64% of adults in Wales will be overweight or obese by the year 2030 and 11.5% will be living with diabetes. On World Diabetes Day, Diabetes UK Cymru is calling for ambitious, sustained action by Welsh Government to tackle this growing health crisis, which is fuelling the rise in type 2 diabetes in Wales. Information from Public Health Wales shows that 600,000 adults in Wales, or one in four, are now obese. This number increases to one in three amongst 45-64 year olds. Although it’s not the only factor, obesity is the most significant risk factor…

Airbus has launched a Human-Centric Cyber Security Accelerator Programme, with a dedicated team of Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology experts set to work in collaboration with the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and a range of other partners. As part of this programme, the first of its kind within a commercial organisation, working within the broader Cyber Wales ecosystem, Airbus is seeking corporate partners to collaborate on research projects and share datasets, helping to make the UK one of the safest places to do business in cyberspace. The launch follows the opening of the Airbus Cyber Innovation Hub, located…

Wales curry restaurants, Empire Restaurant, 157-159 Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3NT; Rasoi Indian Kitchen, Bryntirion Road, Pontlliw, Swansea, SA4 9DY; Rasoi Waterfront, Unit 3-4 J Shed Kings Road, Swansea Marina, Swansea, SA1 8PL; The Grand Sultan, Water Street, Margam, Port Talbot, SA13 2PA; Third Place, 130 Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8JX, have been shortlisted for the Best Restaurant Wales award at the trailblazing British Curry Awards in association with Just Eat. Additionally, Spirit ‘n’ Spice, Blue Bell Hotel, Neath, 16-18 The Parade, Neath, SA11 1RA has been shortlisted for the Best Newcomer award. The Wales restaurants will be among the…

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones criticised deploying the controversial surveillance technique in the wake of the recent football match between Cardiff City and Swansea City. Use of the technology outraged supporters, with some even wearing Halloween masks to the match in protest. According to South Wales Police, it was part of a “robust policing plan” for the match at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. Mr Jones spoke out after Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham also raised “serious concerns” about the way facial recognition technology had been used by police forces around the country. She said: “Moving too quickly…