Author: Rhys Gregory

Hodge, the independent financial services group announces the appointment of independent brand-led digital experience agency Rufus Leonard as Brand Experience agency partner. Cardiff based Hodge specialises in niche mortgage lending, commercial lending and retail savings. Founded by the late Sir Julian Hodge, the business can trace its origins as far back as 1965. First to market with Equity Release, first to market with Retirement Interest Only Mortgages, the business has decades of innovation in response to changing customer needs across its entire portfolio. With the appointment of Steve Pateman as CEO in 2019 the business has begun an ambitious growth…

Two leading businesswomen have helped launch a major new plan aimed at equipping Welsh workplaces with the skilled staff they’ll need to thrive in future. West Wales-based Kathryn Austin, a senior owner of Pizza Hut in the UK, and Catrin Jones, a co-director the award-winning Crwst café and bakery in Cardigan, were both keynote speakers at the launch of the Regional Employment and Skills Plan for South West and Mid Wales. Hundreds of businesses attended the launch event, which was held at the Ffos Las Racecourse in Carmarthenshire. Developed by the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership (RLSP) for South West…

The third biennial Cardiff Dance Festival brings acclaimed artists and companies from across Wales, the UK and internationally to Cardiff for a celebration of contemporary dance. During this year’s festival (CDF19), taking place between 8th and 24th of November, there will be performances of eleven dance productions, a scratch night for young dance artists and new work, a residency led by Annie Hanauer with University of South Wales students and two open studios with Daina Ashbee and Siriol Joyner. Alongside the variety of ticketed and free performances, the festival has placed a significant emphasis on artistic development and enriching the…

A Cardiff-based sports radio show has been shortlisted for a prestigious UK radio award for the third year in a row. The Terrace Radio Show, presented and produced by Chris O’Brien on Radio Cardiff 98.7FM, is in contention for the Sports Show of the Year accolade at the UK Community Radio Awards – to be presented on Saturday evening (October 26). O’Brien’s show hit the airwaves in July 2016 – then known as OB’s Saturday Sport Show. It has since switched to a Thursday evening slot, and can be heard on the station between 8pm and 9pm. It has been…

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales has called on the leaders of the world to step aside to allow young leaders the opportunity to lead   Sophie Howe made the call as she addressed the 1,500 delegates on the last day of the One Young World Summit (a global forum for young leaders) in London.   Other speakers include business leader and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson, Mary Robinson (Former President of Ireland and Chair of the Elders*), Edward Enniful (Editor in Chief of British Vogue) and Ellie Goulding (Singer/Songwriter and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador).   The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales said:…

The whole of Gorseinon Hospital, ward B (trauma and orthopaedic) at Morriston and ward C at Neath Port Talbot Hospital are closed to new admissions. At least part of the outbreak has been traced back to a person who visited one of the hospitals. It is understood they were caring for someone with norovirus at home and then came onto a ward where they interacted with several patients. Staff will now be reinforcing the rules around visiting which are: No more than two visitors per bed No children Wash your hands Do not interact with or offer food to any…

Today, land-based casinos are no rival for iGambling sites. Millions of players from all countries and continents may now access slots and poker tables 24/7. If you decide to harness the profit-generating power of virtual casinos, there are a few essential things to know. To set up an efficient iGaming site, you need to start with the software. Read about solutions for online gaming poker at https://evenbetgaming.com to understand the main features of top-class products. The market is being entered by more and more operators, but with the right provider, you will find your competitive edge. Here are five essential…

A young fox trapped in a snare near Fishguard has been rescued and released by RSPCA Cymru. The animal welfare charity was contacted after a member of the public found the fox trapped in a snare on a public footpath in the Gwaun Valley, near Llanychaer, on 6 October. The snare had been set at the base of a tree – which is not compliant with the Welsh Government’s voluntary code of best practice on the use of snares. By law snares must be inspected at least once every day, however the Welsh Government’s Code recommends that snares are inspected…

The introduction of a minimum price for alcohol is unlikely to result in people switching to other substances, a new study has shown. Research, commissioned by Welsh Government, has been carried out by a consortium of experts at the University of South Wales (USW), Glyndwr University in Wrexham, and Figure 8 Consultancy in Dundee, and looked at the likelihood of people switching to other drugs as a result of plans to introduce a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol next March. The research looked at the potential impact on individuals, including their knowledge and understanding of the plan and how…

When the bells fell silent ahead of bride-to-be Helen Hutchins’s big day in a pretty Gwynedd village church engineers from a local fire and security company came to the rescue. Wear and tear and plenty of Welsh rain had caused the steel bell–pull at St Garmon’s Church in Betws Garmon to give up the ghost just a week before Helen was due to be married to fiancé Andrew Hutchins But Sion Greasley and Sion Lewis, of Snowdonia Fire and Security, took a break from fitting sprinkler systems to new houses to hurry round to the church and carry out repairs.…