Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

One of the UK’s finest young opera singers will be taking centre stage with North Wales’ flagship orchestra for a magical new year celebration. Talented young soprano Erin Rossington will be headlining at two concerts organised by the Wrexham-based NEW Sinfonia orchestra in St Asaph Cathedral at 7pm on Friday, January 3, and at 3pm at St Giles’ Church in Wrexham the following day. Erin, 24, triumphed over competitors from all around the globe in the Pendine International Voice of the Future contest at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019. The prestigious competition was sponsored by the Wrexham-based Pendine Park care…

The Christmas season in Cardiff has well and truly begun, and St David’s has seen a magical transformation with show stopping new Christmas decorations themed around Driving Home for Christmas, with suspended displays of cars packed with presents and Christmas trees. The new decorations and illuminations feature an incredible 1,490m of Christmas garland, over 2,000 pinecones, a whopping 66,000 LED lights and most impressively of all, one real Mini Cooper located in the central part of the centre that hangs 12m metres in the air. The bespoke commissioned decorations also include a 26 ft Christmas tree adorned with 40 mini,…

Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain has revealed the most bizarre requests that some of its 19 million customers have asked whilst staying in one of its 570 UK hotels during the last 12 months.  Across the company’s 27 Wales based Travelodge hotels, the teams receive thousands of strange requests throughout the year. Some of the oddities during the last 12 months include: Can you arrange for us to see a real welsh dragon? Where can we see wild Welsh rarebit? Can you fill my room with a 500 daffodils as a surprise for mum on Mother’s Day Do…

Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) recently held its 9th Annual Making a Difference Awards at the St. Pierre Marriot Hotel in Chepstow. The awards were an excellent opportunity to showcase the amazing voluntary work undertaken by MHA tenants throughout our Monmouthshire communities. The event was also a chance for tenants to be recognised for their personal achievements, with several overcoming major challenges in their lives. Many of the stories that were shared at the awards were truly inspirational and showcased real determination and dedication, with some stories even bringing a tear to many guests’ eyes. The awards were a huge success…

Family run SME housebuilding company, Llanmoor Homes, is celebrating what has been another successful year. As one of Wales’ only remaining privately-owned housebuilders, Llanmoor have built an excess of 5000 homes since the company was established in 1966. In 2019 alone, the company and its management have received multiple ‘Pride in the Job’ awards from the National House Building Council (NHBC). Known as the “Oscars of the housebuilding industry”, the Pride in the Job Quality awards recognise the best-run building sites in the country and are the highest accolade a site manager can achieve. Dave Hodges, Site Manager at Llanmoor…