Author: Rhys Gregory

A FLINT travel agents is raising funds for a charity set up in memory of a much-loved teenager who died of cancer. The five-strong team at Hays Travel, in Church Street, have set their sights on raising £1,000 this year for their nominated charity, Giddo’s Gift, which was launched by the family of Jordan Giddins to remember the popular 18 year-old. Jordan, who was from Flint, lost his battle with Ewings Sarcoma – a childhood bone cancer – back in April 2017 having faced relentless chemotherapy, ten hours of surgery and more than two months in America for Proton Beam…

One of the world’s leading eco centres, which is based near Machynlleth, added another award to its collection at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards. The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) won the Best Third Sector Award, supported by Social Business Wales, at a glittering awards ceremony held at The Hafren, Newtown on October 17. Designed to celebrate and showcase the region’s exceptional tourism industry, the biennial awards were organised by MWT Cymru with support from Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum, a public and sector partnership and Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm. A dedicated Tourism Awards Advisory Group…

An award-winning Welsh manufacturer, which was responsible for creating the world’s first-ever powered bath lift to help elderly and disabled people, is anticipating significant business growth through exports, following increasing demand for its products overseas. Powys-based Mangar Health, a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of inflatable moving and handling bathing equipment, is aiming to double its export revenues to £2.5m in the next three years by increasing its international presence, including expanding its provisions in America and entering Japanese markets. The company, which this year achieved record-breaking turnover of > £10m, also saw exports accounting for almost of a fifth…

Top 100 UK law firm Hugh James has announced the appointment of a new partner as it looks to strengthen its private wealth team. Elizabeth Webbe joins the firm bringing with her more than 25 years’ experience specialising in tax planning, wills, trusts and family wealth succession planning. Elizabeth particularly specialises in advising high-net-worth individuals, business owners and landed estates with regard to both on-shore and off-shore assets. Elizabeth will be based in the firm’s award-winning Cardiff headquarters, Two Central Square, but will also spend considerable time in the firm’s London office to continue growing the firm’s national client base.…

Once a year Anglesey Circuit opens its doors to the fastest growing motor sport in the world – Drifting! This coming weekend (26-27th October) will see over 150 cars on track for two days of sideways action, making the Drift Matsuri the biggest Drift event in the UK. T[aoa id=”1″] he drivers, who range from novices to DriftCup, British Drift Championship and Drift Master drivers, are invited to drive on three different track layouts so there is never a dull moment. The hairpin is where some will test their new-found skills, and the bravest of the experienced drifters will try…

With a no-deal Brexit still a strong possibility given the lack of progress in negotiations between UK and European Union (EU) officials, it’s important to ascertain the impact that departing the EU with or without a deal could have on the Welsh economy. According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), no country or region inside the UK would be “left untouched by the “fallout” of leaving the EU without a deal. Wales could be particularly affected by a no-deal Brexit, and indeed any kind of Brexit deal, which we’ll look into in greater detail below. An export deficit with…

There’s no doubt that startups have all kinds of challenges ahead of them, and how they choose to deal with those challenges with undoubtedly determine their future. With that said, it’s only natural that business owners try to plan for and anticipate the many obstacles they will face so that they are prepared, and have a plan in place with how they will proceed. And while these steps will certainly help a business in those perilous first few months, and even first couple of years, there are even more steps that savvy business startup owners could be taking. Business coaching…

Five former Cardiff University students recently took Japan by storm; watching the Rugby World Cup, gaining fans and even appearing on Japanese TV.

Adoption UK Cymru has welcomed experienced communications professional Stuart McCarthy-Thompson into a new community support role, which will focus on developing the volunteer network of adoptive parents and sharing their journeys with other adoptive families. After spending more than 15 years working at a senior level within the communications industry in Wales, including his role at RSPB Cymru as head of public affairs, becoming an adoptive parent in 2016 saw McCarthy-Thompson look to change career direction. There are approximately 6,400 children in care in Wales, with 310 being adopted in the last year. The average age of children currently being…

A significant wine estate with a 19th century country house, 137 acres and considerable potential to build on a successfully established business has come to the market on the edge of Monmouth. The business has evolved from the first plantings in 2006 and 2007, and Ancre Hill Estates has become one of the UK’s prime wine estates with two vineyard sites comprising 30,000 planted vines; a state of the art, modern, fully-equipped winery; and a full range of vineyard operating assets. The vineyards are planted with 90% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with Albarino making up the bulk of the remaining…