Author: Rhys Gregory

A Cardiff-based ingredient manufacturer has secured new wholesale customers thanks to technical support delivered through the Welsh Government’s HELIX Programme, previously named Project HELIX. Aromada, which produces a range of mirror glazes, jams and jellies that are supplied to the baking industry, secured SALSA food safety certification following support from ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Founded by Samir Bougaci and Motaz Dadou in 2019, Aromada combines the pair’s experience in ingredient manufacture and luxury patisserie. Motaz previously worked in development for a European ingredient manufacturer whilst Samir is a trained baker who also owns a Cardiff-based celebration…

Construction has started on a major housing development in Abertridwr, Caerphilly. Working in partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Welsh Government, not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh has officially started work on the former Windsor Colliery site. This project will see the development of 152 new homes next to Ysgol Ifor Bach in Abertridwr. The development will include houses and apartments available for social rent, affordable rent and sale. The homes will be entirely off-gas and built to the highest energy efficiency standards, helping to reduce the development’s carbon footprint and providing homes for residents that are cost-effective to heat.…

Towns and villages across Flintshire can benefit from a near £400,000 fund to upgrade their local communities – but they need to act fast. It’s a second helping of the Flintshire Community Key Fund being distributed by Cadwyn Clwyd and the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council and comes hot on the heels of an initial fund worth £775,000. Over 50 community groups and organisations from across the county took advantage of Stage One of the Community Key Fund, and Stage Two takes the total for the county to over £1.1 million, part of a wider suite of projects managed by Flintshire…

Bridgend based environmental management services specialist, GEO Pollution Technologies (UK), is to create new jobs after securing a £350,000 funding deal with NatWest. The firm, which has been in business for more than 20 years, offers a range of services to different industries including flood protection, pollution control and contaminated land treatment as well as dealing with on-land oil spills. Operating from Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle, Bridgend, the business also has a second premises in Exeter and thanks to the funding is soon to be opening a third in the Midlands, creating new positions in many areas of…

A LEADING independent school completed work on a new £150,000 multi-use sports facility. Already generating interest among prospective learners and the local community, the state-of-the-art pitches at St Gerard’s School in Bangor have been completed ahead of the summer. The site includes a ‘next generation’ artificial grass surface which can be used for five-a-side football, netball, hockey, tennis, basketball and more. An access road, parking, running track and landscaping neighbour the development and there are plans to construct a toilet block and changing rooms in the coming months, in addition to floodlighting. The school – ranked eighth in the country…

Creative Wales – the Welsh Government agency that supports and promotes the creative industries in Wales – has announced a new round of its Music Capital Fund, with over £500k allocated to support music businesses across Wales. Open until midday on 26th June, the fund welcomes applications from small and medium-sized music businesses for grants of between £10,000 to £40,000. The aim is for these businesses to identify areas of their establishment and operations in need of capital investment and then put the funding towards improving and increasing the businesses’ commercial outlook and sustainability, in turn benefiting the music industry in Wales.…

Looking for the pawfect place to spend the bank holiday or May half-term with your dog? Wales’ coastline is home to plenty of dog-friendly beaches where your pup can paddle, play, and enjoy the sea breeze – even during the summer months. While some popular spots have now introduced seasonal dog bans (in place from 1st May to 30th September), there are still lots of stunning coastal stretches that welcome dogs all year round. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a longer break, here are seven top beaches to explore Wales by tails over the summer: Cilborth Beach Llandysul,…

A new venture which is pioneering the development of rigid insulation panels made from sheep wool is set to scale up after securing a £300,000 investment boost. Wull Technologies, a joint venture between Manchester-based Vector Labs and Wool Insulation Wales, has received backing from the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s GM Advance fund. Each has invested £150,000 in the business. It is the latest ‘spin-in’ company to gain funding support from the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, following input from university academics into the development of LAMDA, the brand name for its rigid wool fibre…

Rhian Wilkinson has announced a 26-player squad for Cymru’s final two games of the UEFA Women’s Nations League campaign. Cymru will travel to Odense to face Denmark at the Odense Stadium on Friday 30 May (KO 6:15pm) before facing Italy at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday 3 June (KO 6:30pm). Mared Griffiths and Soffia Kelly have both been selected after being involved with the WU19s in their Round 2 League A EURO qualifiers in south Wales in April, where the team finished second in their group. Laura O’Sullivan-Jones is unavailable due to suffering an ACL injury. Rhian Wilkinson’s side faced…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he flipped his vehicle twice when performing a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and then drove off. 20-year-old Danail Angelov, from Townhill, attempted to overtake a vehicle in close proximity to road humps with a taxi passing in the opposite direction at the same time. Angelov’s vehicle collided with both other vehicles, with the impact forcing the car Angelov was overtaking to collide with a garden wall. Angelov pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle-taking, failing to stop after a road accident, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle otherwise…