Author: Rhys Gregory

WHEN vegetarian and development chef Eddie Shepherd went underground to launch his first venture little did he know it would bring him worldwide recognition. Eddie’s cooking has brought a new twist to dining and reservations for his Manchester-based The Walled Gardens underground restaurant book up months in advance. The Walled Gardens is run from a floor of Eddie’s home and gives up to 10 diners a night chance to savour dishes created by the self-taught food scientist. [aoa id=”1″] A modern tasting menu is cooked by Eddie in his open kitchen with diners able to chat to the talented chef…

One of Swansea’s most popular beaches is to become even more welcoming to visitors with severely limited mobility. Caswell Bay will soon benefit from new facilities to give more people access to its natural attractions. [aoa id=”1″] Its new Changing Places facilities will be the first of their kind on Gower. They are specifically designed for people with profound physical or learning disabilities as well as other disabilities that severely limit mobility. The innovation – from Swansea Council – builds on other recent good news as Caswell, Langland and Port Eynon beaches were all recently awarded Blue Flag status for…

Walters Group have been announced as the Principal Contractor for the development of the Brocastle Highway and Infrastructure works, near Bridgend The Economy Minister, Ken Skates, confirmed that the Welsh Government had awarded the contract for the construction of key roads and services on the 116-acre strategic site to Walters. [aoa id=”1″]Work to prepare the site in Bridgend for employment space covering more than 70,000 sq m began in May and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2020. The construction work to prepare the site is being funded by £10m from Welsh Government including £6m of EU funding.[/aoa] The site…

Rehearsals have started for a stage show that will help Swansea residents and visitors celebrate 50 years of city status. Performers have been gathering at the city’s Grand Theatre to begin run-throughs for Calon Lân The Musical. [aoa id=”1″] Directed by Olivier Awards nominee Maxine Evans, it is set to run at the Grand for nine days from June 28, with words and music by Swansea’s Mal Pope. It tells the epic true story of Evan Roberts, a young Swansea miner who led a worldwide Christian revival in the early years of the last century. [/aoa] It stars Swansea West…

CIPD Wales, the professional body for HR and people development, has announced entries for its 2019 awards are open. To be held at Cardiff City Hall on 15th November, the third annual awards will celebrate the outstanding people development work that takes place across Wales. [aoa id=”1″]Thousands of people work in the people profession across Wales, with HR and leadership development spanning every industry with last year’s awards recognising some of Wales’ top businesses and organisations including: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, National Assembly for Wales, Companies House, Office for National Statistics, Circle IT Solutions and Conduit Global.[/aoa] Lesley Richards, head…

Principality Commercial has taken steps in supporting the green agenda by financing a carbon negative housing development in Aberdare. The bungalow, constructed by Rosey Developments, has made use of a variety of sustainable materials to reduce carbon footprint. [aoa id=”1″]The three bedroom residential development has a variety of environmentally friendly features, including carbon negative hempcrete walls, a roof made from recycled rubber as well as making minimal use of concrete throughout the development. The property, which has been built to a high standard is set to go to market this summer.[/aoa] The initiative is against a backdrop of the Welsh…

Business to business (b2b) telecoms provider Challenger Mobile Communications is targeting growth after a management buyout service supported by a £1.4m loan from the Development Bank of Wales. The communications specialist has been supplying mobile phone solutions to businesses since it was established by co-founders Jeff Eamens and Wayne Skellon in 1991. This latest development sees Jeff buy out his former business partner to take on sole ownership of the company. Jeff has been working in telecoms since the mid-1980s, initially running a network of shops. When the market changed and Pay As You Go phones took off in the…

A second-year product design student, adventure athlete and Christian from Bangor University has been selected to participate in the bi-annual British Universities Kayak Expedition (BUKE). Elliot Goddard, 20, from Nelson, Caerphilly along with six of the best white-water student kayakers from across the UK, will kayak remote rivers in the Russian Far East in this self-supported expedition in June. The expedition will explore rivers surrounding Lake Baikal, with the aim of discovering rivers that have never been kayaked before. [aoa id=”1″]Elliot said: “I’m really excited and a little nervous about what’s ahead. In the case of some of the rivers,…

A scientist is on a mission to create the perfect gin after setting up his new solar-powered distillery in time for a top food festival this autumn. Former university lecturer Kevin Flower will be unveiling the special edition gin at the popular Llangollen Food Festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20. Kevin, 53, who taught chemistry at the University of Manchester, has developed an eco-friendly distillery in the garage at his home in Conwy. Three years ago he threw caution to the wind, alongside university pals Andy Whiting and Euan Noble, to develop a unique brand of gin…

After a lifetime helping patients in the NHS, Anne Smith is running a growing print business and creating jobs for young people. Innovative Anne, and her photographer husband Eric, set up their business in Cardiff’s busy Crwys Road in 2011, within just weeks taking on their first employee. [aoa id=”1″] Fast forward eight years and Amyas Trading is undergoing a major expansion, taking over a unit in St Catherine’s Park off Newport Road, setting up new divisions and planning to add more staff to the payroll. Welsh ethical lender Robert Owen Community Banking Fund  (ROCBF) of Newtown in Powys, which…