Author: Rhys Gregory

If you’ve been swept up in this summer’s shopping craze – Little Shop by M&S Food – and need to top up your collection with the must-have miniatures, then look no further as M&S stores in Cardiff will be hosting Little Shop swap events on August 15th from 3pm – 5pm to give enthusiasts the chance to add coveted items to their collections. [aoa id=”1″] Those attending the event will receive a free collectable upon their arrival (which is normally redeemable when spending £20 in M&S Food), a Little Shop Apron or collectors’ case, as well as the chance to add…

Bricklaying apprentice, Danny Hodges, has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at this year’s Monmouthshire Business Awards. [aoa id=”1″]Danny, a bricklaying apprentice from Caldicot, has been with Y Prentis since October 2018. Prior to this, Danny was studying towards his Level 1 Diploma in Brickwork at Coleg Gwent and used as a lot of his free time to gain practical experience, labouring for Rob Moore ltd and Saysell Construction. Following successful completion of his college course, he enrolled onto a Level 2 Diploma and NVQ in Brickwork and successfully secured an apprenticeship with Y Prentis.[/aoa] Speaking about his shortlist…

Self-storage giants Lock Stock are to open their newest site in Flint next week, taking their total of storage parks to 20. [aoa id=”1″] The Denbigh-based company, the UK’s largest container-based storage business, will be opening the gates at their new Coleshill, Flint, site on Friday, August 16. It follows the recent opening of a new Sandycroft site on the Glendale Trading Estate with a third Deeside site, their 21st, due soon at River Lane, adjoining Go Outdoors. The Coleshill site, alongside the A548 North Wales Coast road, is in addition to the nearby Aber Park site and Lock Stock…

BUDDING young engineers at an innovative Carmarthenshire school have made a tricycle for a fellow pupil with balance, mobility and learning difficulties. Kind-hearted pupils from year six at Ysgol Gynradd Nantgaredig spent months putting the tricycle together from an Infento kit for seven-year-old Ellie Meaden, who goes to the school’s specialist speech and language unit. From the seat to the handles and the wheels to the frame, the children made the tricycle during their breaks and in-between lessons. Rhydian Evans, year six teacher at Ysgol Gynradd Nantgaredig, said: “The children who assembled the tricycle for Ellie deserve enormous credit because…

House prices in Wales continued to edge upwards according to the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Residential Market Survey for July, and expectations are for prices and activity to increase over the next three months. [aoa id=”1″] A net a balance of 38 percent of Welsh respondents to the latest survey said that house prices had risen since May. Surveyors are also increasingly optimistic about the short-term outlook. A net balance of 18 percent of Welsh respondents expect prices to rise in the next three months, whilst a net balance of 21 percent expects sales activity to increase. This…

The RSPCA has revealed there were 8,098 calls coming through to its cruelty line in Wales last year with concerns for the welfare of cats – which is almost one every HOUR. [aoa id=”1″] Across England and Wales the charity received more than 100,000 calls and rescues more cats than any other animal whether this is moggies stuck in tight spots, to cats that have been abandoned or neglected and abused. In Wales, Cardiff, Swansea and Rhondda Cynon Taff received the most calls. This International Cat Day (8 August) the RSPCA is shining a light on the plight of cats…

A FINANCE director whose early career involved deploying troops to global conflict zones is on a new mission with a Wrexham copy firm. [aoa id=”1″] Gary Ryan has been appointed Finance Director and General Manager for Rawson Digital and has worked in the copy industry for 16 years. The former civil servant who worked for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at RAF Sealand, Flintshire, and the former army base at Queen’s Park in Chester gained his management accountancy qualifications while working for the UK’s defence department. On leaving the civil service in 2003 with his accountancy qualifications in hand, he…

Families across Monmouthshire are being encouraged to embrace the expected rainfall this week and take advantage of the many activities available across the county. Whether it be splashing in muddy puddles or heading back in time at one of the many museums, there’s plenty on offer for families looking for something to do as the heavens open. So here’s Monmouthshire Council’s top ten things to do on a rainy day… 1. Tea, treats and trains Enjoy a cup of tea and cake while enjoying all the sights and sounds of Tintern Old Station. 2. Make a splash Slip on your…

Sponsored by Valleys to Coast Ltd and supported by Bridgend County Borough Council, the 2019 awards will take place on Friday 13 September at the Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel, Bridgend. The ceremony will be hosted by BBC TV presenter and journalist Sian Lloyd. [aoa id=”1″] Following a rigorous judging process, the panel – consisting of the 2019 sponsors and Bridgend Business Forum representatives – selected finalists from across a range of sectors. The all-important shortlisted businesses and individuals include: Business Student of the Year, sponsored by Graham Paul Chartered Accountants:- Daniel Ralph, Blue Bench Media – nominated by Bridgend College [/aoa] Start-up Business…

Footfall figures in Tonypandy have continued to rise following a major highways scheme to grow passing trade for businesses. There were more than 133,000 visitors to the Town Centre from April to June 2019 – representing a quarterly increase of 19,600 visitors. [aoa id=”1″] Earlier this year, the Council announced a significant increase of around 16,000 visitors to the Town Centre in January-March 2019, in comparison to the 98,462 visitors in the last quarter of 2018 (October-December). In November 2018, the Council completed work at Dunraven Street to remove the 200-metre pedestrian-only zone, which was in place since the 1990s.…