Author: Rhys Gregory

A west Wales honey farm is celebrating after winning a top regional accolade at this year’s Great Taste Golden Fork awards. [aoa id=”1″] From the ten Welsh products that received the top honour of 3 gold stars in the Great Taste awards 2019, the Golden Fork from Wales was awarded to Afon Mêl, New Quay Honey Farm for their Welsh Heather Mead. Afon Mêl is a traditional family-run honey farm based in New Quay, Ceredigion, which was established in 1995 and was inspired by the family’s love and passion for beekeeping. This year, Afon Mêl is also celebrating 20 years…

IT and communications firm SA1 Solutions has been appointed by Autism Wessex to provide a fully managed communications service to the organisation. [aoa id=”1″] The Swansea-based company began work for Autism Wessex during May this year (2019), providing services including cloud back-up, server support, desktop support and Office 365 packages. The charity, based in Christchurch, Bournemouth, chose SA1 Solutions for its competitive price offering and ability to offer access to helpdesk and server support teams. Autism Wessex provides support to anyone affected by autism. This includes the running of Portfield School, which supports children and young people with autism and…

Staff at Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) came together for a day of sporting activities recently, taking part in its annual Mini Olympics. [aoa id=”1″] This year marks the fifth year that the event has been held as part of the Pencoed manufacturing giant’s wellbeing commitments. This year saw staff teams take part in a host of activities including: Sack Race Relay, Tug of War, 4x 100m Relay, Football Dribble Relay, 100m Race, Balloon Wobble Relay, and Three-legged Race. The day was a huge success with the ‘Most Valuable Team’ accolade going to The Apprentices, the overall winners of…

An innovative building product developed by Wales largest specialist timber frame manufacturer based in Neath, has been given the green light to be used in six-storey buildings – an important landmark as it widens the potential market for its use. [aoa id=”1″] The Triso-Warm structurally insulated panel modular build system, developed by Sevenoaks Modular, has been given the seal of approval by the BBA, the UK’s leading construction certification body. The Triso-Warm system is at the forefront of innovative and creative solutions within the construction industry. It allows developers to boost efficiency, sustainability and cost-effectiveness across a diverse range of…

One hundred suspected drug dealers have been arrested in the five months since a new, dedicated team was formed to tackle drug supply in Cardiff. Since Op Crater launched at the beginning of April, the team – made up of officers from the Priority Policing Team and the Organised Crime Team – have been relentless in pursuing, and bringing to justice, those who cause such misery to the communities in the capital city. With drug supply so intrinsically linked to violence and knife crime, the Op Crater team is also an integral part of the local implementation of Operation Sceptre,…

An Oculus staircase, the first of its kind in the UK, is being installed at Cardiff University’s cutting-edge Innovation Campus. Bouygues UK, the construction company building Innovation Campus, is working with Taunton Fabrications to design and install the staircase, which is a sculptural, open staircase travelling through a slanting void. Its name is taken from the oculus design, which depicts an eye that allows light to flood into a space. [aoa id=”1″] Designed by architects Hawkins\Brown, the aim of the Oculus staircase is to drive engagement and collaboration between the varying departments and uses of the building. It starts…

A woman from Senghenydd with Type 2 diabetes is line dancing her way to one million steps this summer to support Diabetes UK Cymru. Lynn Matthews, 70, is taking part in the charity’s One Million Steps Challenge. She will have to walk – or dance – more than 10,000 steps a day in order to reach a total of one million by 30 September, getting sponsored for every stride. Lynn was diagnosed with the condition in 2001. She said, “I had to go to the doctor for some routine tests. While I was there, a nurse checked my results and…

Expanding property development and investment company Garrison Barclay Estates has welcomed the Welsh Rugby Union and Bay Shipping into its newly refurbished offices at Cardiff Edge Business Park. [aoa id=”1″] The Cardiff-based firm, founded by Andrew McCarthy, purchased the 27-acre site in March 2018. Previous owners GE Healthcare retain 111,000 sq. ft under a 10-year lease agreement, with Garrison Barclay Estates bringing to market the remaining 70,000 sq. ft of vacant buildings. Over the last year, Garrison Barclay Estates has invested in creating modern, high-specification office suites and top of the range laboratory space. The Welsh Rugby Union has…

Two Swansea University students have tapped into the growing demand for retro and second-hand clothing with the opening of their vintage clothes store in Swansea. [aoa id=”1″] The Retro and Vintage Store – otherwise known as RAVS – opened earlier this year in Picton Arcade in the city centre and sells quality vintage and second-hand clothing in store, as well as many items through their online Depop shop. RAVS was the brainchild of students Sion Williams, 20, and Caitlin Leatham, 21, who both study Business Management. The idea came about after observing a remarkable demand for retro and vintage…

Following a magical opening night in the courtyard of Chirk Castle, the LADS theatre group is taking its production of Richard III to the Willow Globe in Llanwrthwl, near Rhayader this weekend (September 7 and 8). [aoa id=”1″] It’s the final show of the summer at the Willow Globe, an enchanting open air venue where living willow has been planted and entwined to create a scaled down version of the Globe Theatre in London. The LADS (Llanymynech Amateur Dramatic Society) has been bringing theatre to their local area since 1992 and is now spreading its wings to theatres around the…