Author: Rhys Gregory

SOFA so good for the innovative partnership between one of the UK’s top furniture makers and a leading college. [aoa id=”1″] Coleg Cambria has supplied Westbridge Furniture with six apprentices since joining forces with the Deeside-based company and is encouraging more youngsters aged 16-18 to enrol on their popular traineeship scheme before moving on to a full apprenticeship. In collaboration with North Lancs Training Group, the Level 2 Upholstery Apprenticeship programme runs for two years. Participants are given the opportunity to put the finishing touches to chairs, sofas and beds for global customers including IKEA, M&S and John Lewis. [/aoa]…

Elfair Grug, 29, swapped the prestigious Albert Hall in London for Pendine Park’s Bryn Bella Care Home in Wrexham where she put on an hour-long concert. Her repertoire included classical music, some Irish, Scottish and Welsh folk tunes and some pop songs from the likes of Elton John and the Beatles as well as numbers from musicals such as the Sound of Music. The concert came about as the result of a partnership between the Pendine Arts and Community Trust and Arts and Business Cymru who provided additional funding via their Culture Step programme and the music teaching centre, Canolfan…

A HOLIDAY park will boost tourism and the economy in one of the most picturesque and unspoilt areas of North Wales. The much-anticipated Maes Mynan development in Afonwen, near Caerwys, is to open this September after receiving planning permission from Flintshire County Council. Acorn Leisure – which also owns holiday parks in nearby Lloc and Cilcain – has approval for 47 luxury lodges and more than 130 static and touring caravans on the old quarry site, which has lain empty for more than 20 years. Recently named one of the top 10 ‘biggest property stories in Wales’, the Denbigh Road…

The nine nominees are among a range of individuals and companies announced on the shortlist for the 21st Welsh Contact Centre Awards, ahead of March’s event in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. The Welsh Contact Centre Forum-led awards, headline sponsored by RW Learning, celebrate outstanding contributions to a sector which has grown to contribute £650m annually to the Welsh economy. With figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that 85,000 retail jobs disappeared in the first nine months of 2018, and recruitment in many other sectors stalling due to uncertainty around Brexit, managing director of the Welsh Contact Centre…

Bangor University Psychology PhD student Kohinoor Darda has entered an international competition which allows her to explain what her PhD is about. Kohinoor said: “In the last couple of years, a lot of people have asked me what my PhD is all about. It’s always a challenge explaining my PhD to those outside the discipline of social/cognitive neuroscience. But I found the perfect way to avoid jargon and tell people what I work on when I came across the “Dance your PhD” contest jointly organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Science Magazine.” The…

An award winning series of apps to help families learn Welsh is now inspiring the next generation of Cornish speakers get off to a flying start. The National Lottery funded Magi Ann Welsh Language apps were launched in 2016 with the aim of helping young children and their families learn Welsh. The apps, which are the brainchild of Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam in north east Wales, is the inspiration behind a new Cornish equivalent being launched in Truro, Cornwall today. A direct result of a partnership they forged with Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam at the 2017 National Lottery…

The two events, sponsored by Hodge Bank, were held at the Cardiff Marriott in December, and attracted more than 500 guests. The guests included former British Lion John Taylor and former cricketer Alan Wilkins who both supported the Christmas lunches as auctioneers for the charity auctions. Both lunches were compered by comedian Rod Woodward who starred in the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in December. Ed Meggitt, Chairman of the Lord’s Taverners Wales, said: “We’re proud to see the success of our annual Christmas lunches. It’s great to see how the hard work of everyone involved ensures a…

Travelodge has received over 500 applications for 25 positions it advertised, to help create a new team at its forthcoming hotel opening at Rhyl seafront – which is scheduled to open this spring. [aoa id=”1″] Sophie Owen, Hotel Manager at Rhyl Seafront Travelodge was overwhelmed by the high calibre of candidates that applied and recruited her strong team of 25 team members in just one day. This includes six Receptionists, nine Bar Café team members and 10 housekeeping team members. Travelodge is dedicated to helping unemployed parents return to work by offering flexible working hours; they can come to work,…

Rhug Estate Owner, Lord Newborough, has started work on his latest venture – an organic and natural face and body care range of creams. The newly formed company Rhug Organic & Natural Ltd has been set up this week. [aoa id=”1″] The skincare business will be an extension of Rhug’s present activities which have been built on the reputation of producing the highest quality, healthy and organic meat supplied into the best restaurants and hotels in London, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and various countries in the middle east. Lord Newborough said, “I am extremely excited by the prospect of this…

Applications are now open for April’s intake at the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] Entrepreneurs from across Wales are being encouraged to take part in the programme, which helps them scale and grow their businesses. Fully funded by NatWest, participants do not have to bank with them to take part in the programme or give-up any equity in their business. The six month programme is open to entrepreneurs of any age and at any stage of their business, including larger companies with higher turnovers. It provides successful applicants with coaching and support and office facilities at its One…