Author: Rhys Gregory

BARGAIN-LOVING shoppers in Wales say they will spend an average of £405 on Black Friday, with a third planning to take some time off. [aoa id=”1″] And those who do turn up for work will spend 16 minutes of company time hunting for deals. Thirty-three per cent of those who plan to shop on Black Friday in Wales say they will take some time off work, with 11% opting for a long weekend and 14% booking a day off. Employees plan to spend an average of 16 minutes of work time browsing for deals – and 18% spending up to…

Teenagers filming themselves doing stunts in the hope of becoming social media stars are ending up in hospital with burns instead. Specialist staff at Morriston Hospital have reported seeing a rise in the number of young people who have been burnt as a result of the so-called YouTube Challenge craze. Morriston Hospital plastic surgeon Jeremy Yarrow said: “I can understand there is pressure on young people to gain acceptance or boost their online profiles by doing such risky things as these challenges. “But from the patients I see, the results can be very different, with some requiring life support treatment…

CRICKHOWELL HIGH STREET has been crowned the UK’s best high street in the Government’s Great British High Street Awards 2018, sponsored by Visa. The town demonstrated a strong community-based approach to revitalising its high street, winning £15,000 for the local community. Located in a bustling rural town to the east of the Brecon Beacons, Crickhowell High Street has been crowned both Wales’ best high street and the overall UK winner of the prestigious Great British High Street Awards 2018. Meanwhile, Cowbridge High Street, the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan market town, a has been announced as Wales’ Rising Star…

Fairyhill, an exclusive wedding and events venue based in Gower, has unveiled their new ‘space age’ inspired, luxury hotel rooms as part of the final phase of their £1 million development project this week. The new bedrooms are situated on the ground floor of the K Room, a 184 square metre glass extension that opened earlier this year. The luxury bedrooms offer mod-cons such as Sonos and Alexa music systems, LED lighting and Nespresso coffee machines. [aoa id=”1″] [/aoa] The K Room’s unusual name was coined due to its stunning panoramic window design, which reflects light to create a kaleidoscope…

Pupils have been given a guided tour of a major homes regeneration development under way by Newport City Homes and taking shape on the doorstep of their school in Ringland, Newport. [aoa id=”1″] Partnership homes developer Lovell, which is carrying out the work, invited five- to seven-year-olds from Milton Primary School to visit as diggers got demolition under way on flats at Hendre Farm Drive at the Cot Farm Estate. The demolition will prepare the way for the start of a large-scale regeneration programme. Later this year, the Lovell team will begin construction of 56 new homes and apartments for…

With December just around the corner, many businesses are looking forward to a month of annual leave, Secret Santa gifts, and the highly anticipated Christmas party. However, the aftermath of the annual festive bash can cause more than a Prosecco-fuelled headache for employers, and can even create issues that can plague businesses long after the new year. Local award-winning law firm Watkins & Gunn is urging employers to consider potential problems ahead of Christmas party season. Lisa Guscott, Partner and Head of Employment & HR Services at Watkins & Gunn advises employers to approach Christmas parties with “a positive but…

Leading education charity Into Film Cymru has again joined forces with Bait Studio, the award-winning Cardiff-based motion design and VFX company, to offer careers advice to students from Maesteg High School interested in getting into the film industry.  [aoa id=”1″] This was a highly anticipated VFX workshop for young filmmakers, with Peter Rogers, Creative Director of Bait Studio, based in GloWorks in Cardiff Bay, leading the VFX session at Chapter Arts Centre, and adding some extra sparkle to a film brought along by students. Christian Lett, VFX supervisor also led the session. Known for its work on feature films such as The Machine, The Call Up, and Don’t Knock Twice, Bait Studio is increasingly using the popular Into…

Colleagues from Principality Building Society have gone back to school to provide financial education lessons to more than 1,500 Welsh primary school children across the country. [aoa id=”1″] More than 40 classes of children, including Ysgol Clawdd Offa in Prestatyn, received lessons as part of the Money Advice Service’s Talk Money Week (12-18 November), which aims to improve financial education for people of all ages across the UK. Lessons at schools aimed to encourage children to think and discuss issues such as where money comes from, how to look after money and what money can be used for. The lesson…

One of Wales’ leading aluminium fabricators, Dudley’s Aluminium, is ending 2018 on a high after securing two new projects with a combined worth of close to £4million. It’s been a strong year for Dudley’s Aluminium, which has secured a number of major projects, including Cambridge University’s R&D Campus, the £4million Central Square contract in Cardiff and student accommodation in Exeter. The Welsh fabricator has been awarded both new projects by Willmott Dixon Construction Limited in Pontypridd and Exeter. The first project is part of the £38m Taff Vale redevelopment programme that will deliver a three-building office-led regeneration scheme at the…

This Trustees’ Week (12-16 November), Towergate Account Executive and third sector specialist, Adrian Bonas, looks at why it’s important for Trustees to protect themselves, as well as their organisations. Have you thought about what protection you have as a Trustee of a Charity/Not for Profit Organisation? Trustees are vital to the Third Sector and take on considerable responsibility for their actions and that of their organisation. Unintentional errors can and do occur and these can put Trustees at personal risk of legal action, claims for compensation and investigations by the likes of the Charity Commission, H&S Executive and other official…