Author: Rhys Gregory

Pontypool’s Richard Selby is the first Welsh resident to be named on The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Fellowship list. [aoa id=”1″] The Pro Steel Engineering director has joined business leaders from companies including easyJet, Pret A Manger and Dixons Carphone & Talk Talk. This collective of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs work to enable The Prince’s Trust to reach more young people by passing on their experience and expertise – and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Richard co-founded Pro Steel Engineering back in 2012. Since then, he has built up a multi-million-pound international company and is committed to giving back to local communities.…

CatSci, a fast growing, adaptable and award-winning process research and development contract research organisation (CRO), is furthering its global growth strategy to support innovator pharma in meeting their Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) demands. [aoa id=”1″] As part of this approach, CatSci has hired a Head of Business Development for North America and has completed the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme. CatSci has hired Dr Jas Douville as the Head of Business Development for North America. Jas is permanently based in this region to focus on further establishing long-term relationships with prospective and current customers. The overall aim…

Burlais Primary School has received a £1,000 donation from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea. The school used the donation to purchase a range of bikes and scooters for the pupils. To celebrate the donation, members of Swansea’s Amazon team made a visit to the school. Chris Law, Site Leader at Amazon in Swansea, said: “Burlais Primary School is a great school and the team had a brilliant time during the visit. It’s wonderful that we can support the school with this donation, and we hope the pupils enjoy their new bikes and scooters.” Senior teacher, Mr David Webster from…

Transport for Wales has taken delivery of the first Class 170 Turbostar from Greater Anglia. [aoa id=”1″] Unit 170207 pulled into the Canton depot on Sunday 1 September. The three-car train has 186 seats and will shortly be joined by a further seven three car-units and four two-car units that each provide seating for 110 passengers. Driver training is scheduled to begin on 16 September with the units expected in to service on the Cheltenham to Maesteg line in December 2019. Subject to route clearance, Transport for Wales are also exploring future options to run the trains on the Ebbw…

Leading discount chain Home Bargains is doubling the size of one of its Swansea stores after completing a new letting, development and investment company Barberry Developments announced this week. [aoa id=”1″] Home Bargains has agreed to take an additional 10,000 sq ft next to its existing store at Phoenix Retail Park, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet. Martyn Cartwright, director of West Midlands-based Barberry, said: “We are very pleased to announce that Home Bargains has extended its existing store on Phoenix Retail Park to take an additional 10,000 sq ft. “The company has also restructured its existing lease to provide a new 15-year term on…

One of Swansea’s most popular beaches has become even more welcoming to visitors with severely limited mobility. Caswell Bay now benefits from new facilities to give more people access to its natural attractions. Its new Changing Places facility is the first of its kind on Gower. It is specifically designed for people with profound physical or learning disabilities as well as other disabilities that severely limit mobility. The innovation – from Swansea Council with support from the Welsh Government Tourism Amenity Investment Scheme (TAIS) – builds on other recent good news as Caswell, Langland and Port Eynon beaches were all…

A hedgehog has been rescued from a prickly predicament after becoming stuck down a drainpipe. The hedgehog was found at Islawen Meadows in Pencoed on 29 August with the RSPCA being called for assistance. RSPCA inspector Nic de Celis said: “Using a grapser and poles I was able to release this hedgehog which understandably was very stressed. “He came out with a bloodied face and has now been taken to Gower Bird Hospital for an assessment and rehabilitation. We’re not quite sure how long he had been down the drainpipe, but must have been very frightened. “Luckily he was spotted…

National law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has announced a series of internal promotions including the promotion of Charlotte Lord in the Cardiff office. [aoa id=”1″] Charlotte has been promoted to Associate within the commercial property team specialising in secured lending and social housing finance. Charlotte joined Clarke Willmott in 2017. She qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and spent five years specialising in commercial property. Returning to law after a career break during which she created and ran a Christmas tree farm and holiday accommodation business, Charlotte has spent the last two years gaining further experience and building her…

Ceredigion County Council has been nominated for the Local Authority Award 2019 in the Community Sponsorship Awards 2019, an award ceremony organised by Sponsor Refugees. Ceredigion is one of only five local authorities across the UK who have been nominated for this prestigious award for working in partnership with local community groups who want to help families fleeing from war, hunger and homelessness. Community Sponsorship was launched in 2016 by the Home Office and gives power to local volunteer groups to resettle a refugee family in their community. Each scheme has to be vetted by the council before it can…

A Holyhead-based community group, Holyhead Hawks Junior Rugby Club, has received a £4,000 donation thanks to Tesco’s Bags of Help Scheme and the generosity of the town’s shoppers. [aoa id=”1″] The funding for the sports group, which caters for children aged between 6 and 16, has gone towards providing a new volunteer development course, new equipment and overall improvements for the benefit of local children. The club, which is consistently growing, aims to give everyone in the local area the opportunity to play and enjoy rugby irrespective of their background. Terry Pendlebury, Holyhead Junior Rugby Chairman, said: “The grant from…