Author: Rhys Gregory

LDC, the leading mid-market private equity firm, invested £437million of equity last year in 23 new deals, a record total for the business, driven by continuing demand for private equity from the UK’s medium-sized businesses. In an annual summary of its performance, LDC – which typically invests between £5million and £100million in a single transaction – said every one of its seven UK regional teams invested last year. The firm is committed to investing £1.2billion in ambitious high-growth firms over the next three years (2019-2021). In Wales, LDC invested in the award-winning outdoor adventure business which features the world’s fastest…

Economy Minister, Ken Skates is calling on the business community to support a new initiative aimed at increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in Wales and providing them with the best possible support. [aoa id=”1″] The Welsh Government’s new Supporting Entrepreneurial Women programme was informed by the work of a panel of experts, convened in 2017 to consider how best to encourage, develop and support female entrepreneurship in Wales. The panel, chaired by Helen Walbey, considered an array of academic evidence and literature on women in entrepreneurship,  spoke to a range of business women, representative groups and partner bodies, and…

AN ESTEEMED clinician plans to change the face of the cosmetic industry with a pure vision for quality skincare treatment. Sara Cheeney’s unblemished approach towards the aesthetic sector has seen her place training and teaching at the top of her priority list, delivering talks and workshops across the UK and in Europe to encourage future generations. [aoa id=”1″] Sara’s first venture was Pinks nail and beauty salon in Rossett, which she opened 10 years ago after leaving her career as a nurse. The 37 year-old later turned her attention to medical skincare and decided to take the business to the…

Welsh business confidence fell to its lowest level in three months in January, dropping 11 points to nine per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. [aoa id=”1″] The decline in confidence was largely due to economic optimism falling sharply for the second successive month. Similarly, a net balance of four per cent of firms were pessimistic about the wider economy this month, compared with a net balance of 14 per cent that were optimistic in December. Businesses’ confidence in their own prospects fell by a more modest six points to 22 per cent. Welsh…

OVER 150 live music fans gathered in Llanelli over the weekend to celebrate the life of one of their own. Three live bands performed at the Thomas Arms on Saturday evening (January 26) to pay tribute to Clive Jones, who played in many bands over the years. Clive, who was 69, lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease in May last year. He is survived by his wife, Heulwen; his two sons, Richard and Greg; and his grandson, Ryan. A guitarist, Clive’s passion for music started in the 1960s, when he was a member of Llanelli bands including The Spartans and…

A ‘STEP’ change has taken place at Cardiff law firm Robertsons, following the accreditation of its head probate solicitor by a prestigious society. [aoa id=”1″] Afonwy Howell-Pryce, Robertsons’ head of wills, probate and trusts, is now a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), an exclusive body of lawyers and accountants specialising in trusts, having completed the diploma in Trust and Estate Administration. There are just 132 members of the STEP branch in Wales, setting Robertsons – one of the city’s oldest legal firms – apart from the crowd. To gain the diploma, Afonwy studied for…

Long-standing dedication to training the next generation of midwives has put Sarah Norris and Swansea University’s midwifery team in the running for a top national award. Sarah has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Midwifery Education category in this year’s Royal College of Midwives (RCM) annual awards Head of Midwifery Education and Lead Midwife for Education at the College of Human and Health Sciences, Sarah is pleased and excited to be shortlisted. “This really is recognition for the whole midwifery team and for midwifery students at Swansea,” she said. A midwife for 25 years, Sarah has involved in education of…

This evening, 30 January, Welsh Lotto players have the chance to join the country’s lucky lottery winners with an incredible estimated £12.9M jackpot up for grabs which MUST BE WON! If no-one banks the jackpot, it will rolldown and boost all the cash wins down the prize tiers. It could help put some of those 2019 goals into action for National Lottery players in Wales! The first Lotto Must Be Won draw of 2019 could see even bigger individual prizes in each cash prize tier – Match 5+Bonus, Match 5, Match 4 and Match 3. For example, that could mean…

What would a no deal mean for your pension?

Wales’ largest music festival, Green Man, has announced the first details of this year’s festival, returning once again in the epic surroundings of the Black Mountains deep in the heart of the Brecon Beacons for its 17th year. [aoa id=”1″] Tickets are on general sale now, with early bird tickets having sold out in record time. Last year’s Green Man sold out quicker than ever. For those looking for the full Green Man experience, the Settler’s Pass is available, which turns the festival into a week-long holiday, allowing early access to the site from Tuesday 13th August, and including workshops, music,…