Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff-based specialist podcast production agency Bengo Media has been shortlisted for South East Business of the Year in The Welsh SME Business Awards. The awards are returning to Wales to celebrate the success of small but mighty businesses over the last year; finalists have been shortlisted after receiving hundreds of nominations and will take part in the award ceremony on Wednesday 30th October at the Exchange Hotel in Cardiff. Bengo Media is an audio production company based in Cardiff, which creates podcasts, radio programmes, audio guides, tours and books; specialising in content which engages listeners from the get-go. Bengo Media’s…

Principality Building Society has launched a range of residential mortgage products which allow parents, step-parents and grandparents to join their child or grandchild on their mortgage. The Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor residential products will accept parents, step-parents and grandparents income in the affordability assessment – without needing to be on the title deeds and jointly owning the property. Available for purchase applications only, the products also offer a loan-to-value of up to 90%, with the lowest interest rate at 2.65%. Up to four applicants can be accepted on the mortgage, utilising all four incomes on the affordability assessment. There isn’t…

On Friday 25th October, rugby commentator, former Wales rugby international and patient Jonathan Davies OBE officially opened the £1.5 million state of the art MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scanner suite at Nuffield Health’s Cardiff Bay hospital. This replacement  1.5 teslar MRI scanner will complement the full range of diagnostic equipment onsite at Cardiff Bay. The new SIGNA Artist MRI Scanner, from GE Healthcare, is welcome news for reducing fears when patients undergo an MRI diagnosis, as it has a large 70cm open ring (bore) through the middle that the patient passes through.  Soft lighting and soothing fans also elevate patient…

The outlook is bright according to the results of the latest quarterly Business Barometer survey from Swansea Bay Business Club. Members of the business community from across the region were surveyed, with responses coming from a total of fourteen different sectors, including finance, retail, manufacturing, construction and hospitality – and the findings were notably upbeat. Over 65 per cent of all those surveyed said their businesses performed somewhat stronger, or much stronger, in the last three months than they did in the previous three months. Adding to the positive outlook, almost 50 per cent of respondents said they were expecting…

A leading Cardiff law has welcomed three new members of staff, one to each of its property departments.  The appointments cement the firm’s commitment to growth through the introduction of a new Specialist Property Department and in delivering first-class services to its clients. Katherine Soliban joins the established Site Department.  Born in the Philippines and raised in Austria, Katherine graduated in Law and Human Rights at Aberyswyth University. Having spent time working in the field of human rights as an intern in Vienna, Katherine relocated to Cardiff five years ago and worked in commercial property before joining Robertsons. Georgia Bedgood…

FORESTRY students were given a bird’s eye view of their woodland workplace during a special demonstration. Learners on the inaugural Tilhill Diploma in Forestry and Woodland Management at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi welcomed speakers from the organisation for a drone display and presentations. Tilhill is the UK’s largest forestry and timber harvesting company, and together with Cambria wants to educate the next generation of workers by way of industrial experience and bespoke training. Tilhill’s Group Learning and Development Manager Tony Lockey says Cambria’s burgeoning position in the agricultural and outdoors arena is what attracted them to North Wales. “This is the…

One of south Wales’ fastest-growing fintech companies has launched its first research report. Cardiff-based company Delio analysed the attitudes of Wealth Managers across the globe to get a more in-depth insight into private markets within the industry. Although High Net Worth investor’s interest in private markets is not a new phenomenon, the company noticed a change in conversation. While five years ago, many shied away from tapping into private markets, the company argues that industry changes have enabled Wealth Managers to embrace private markets. Now, Wealth Managers increasingly understand the role private markets play in attracting and retaining clients. Of…

AN award winning Mold cafe has launched a £20,000 expansion project which will double the popular coffee shop’s seating capacity. [aoa id=”1″] Lot 11 Express, on the corner of Chester Street and High Street, has taken over the former shoe repair shop next door and is currently knocking through to expand the cafe in order to keep up with demand. Part owner and manager, Sarah Baker, has built a loyal, growing customer base since opening in summer 2017 and her focus is on employing local people and using regional suppliers. The breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon snacks bar, which has…

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has leased a former industrial warehouse on Cardiff Business Park in Llanishen. [aoa id=”1″] It has taken the 15,537 sq ft building in Parc Ty Glas, formerly used by TV broadcaster S4C, on a 15 year lease to replace a smaller facility on Ocean Park. S4C was advised in the transaction by property consultancy Knight Frank. Christopher Gould, estates manager for the College, said: “The unit at Llanishen will give us a larger, more flexible working space in which up to 60 students at any time can design and construct large theatrical…

A CHARTERED accountant who completed 18 epic mountaineering expeditions on six continents is headlining a popular business conference. To mark the 10th anniversary of leadership programmes funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through Welsh Government at Bangor University, the ION Leadership and 20Twenty Business Growth programmes are holding a celebratory event on Wednesday November 6. Venue Cymru in Llandudno will host the North Wales Means Business conference and exhibition, with guest speakers including Ricky Munday, the founder of Inspire Alpine. Ricky is an inspirational speaker, international expedition leader, Red Cross delegate and chartered accountant. To overcome redundancy in 2004, he…