Author: Rhys Gregory

More people will die needlessly as a result of the UK Government’s decision to rule out the introduction special facilities where drug addicts can inject themselves safely and hygienically. That’s the view of North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones who says the refusal to even contemplate setting up a pilot project for a Drug Consumption Room (DCR) flies in the face of all the evidence. According to Mr Jones, he was bitterly disappointed but not surprised by the ruling by Victoria Atkins, the Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, at a time when drug deaths are at an…

Apprentice chef Thomas Martin is a young man with a passion for cooking who has already sampled work in some of London’s top fine dining restaurants. [aoa id=”1″] At the age of 22, he is following a career path that he hopes will lead him to achieving his ambition of opening his own restaurant in Cardiff to champion the very best Welsh ingredients. Having achieved a Foundation Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery with training provider Cambrian Training Company, he plans to progress to an Apprenticeship next year. [/aoa] Earlier this year, he was rewarded for his passion and dedication to learning…

BBC Gardeners’ World magazine have announced the shortlist for the People’s Choice Award 2018 – which includes a garden in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. [aoa id=”1″] Launched earlier this year, BBC Gardeners’ World magazine’s Garden of the Year competition, sponsored by Flight Centre, asked readers to nominate their private gardens to win the coveted accolade. Nearly 500 entries were whittled down to a shortlist of 11, from which Wayne Amiel’s Jamaican inspired South London garden was named the Judge’s Choice. Now, all 11 shortlisted gardens are open to the public vote for the People’s Choice Award including Gulrukh Saleem’s garden in Penarth, Vale of…

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Brexit negotiations is taking its toll on the commercial property market in Wales, according to the Q3 2018 RICS Commercial Property Market survey.  [aoa id=”1″] The quarterly survey results point to occupier demand falling in Wales at the headline level for the first time since early 2013. Falling demand from potential occupiers in the retail sector is the key factor in the overall drop in occupier demand, though a slowdown regarding office space is also evident. The picture for the industrial sector is more positive. [/aoa] Surveyors point to the uncertainty being caused by the…

THEY cooked up a storm at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and now one of the UK’s leading street food caterers will be hitting all the right notes with up-and-coming North Wales culinary businesses. [aoa id=”1″] Jabberwocky Street Food – run by husband and wife team Flic and Barny Luxmoore – dish up award-winning toasties at festivals, events, and weddings up and down the country. But there’s more to this couple than their catering vans, which they nickname Betty and Balu. Both gave up full-time careers to turn toasties into a thriving business. The couple, who have served more than 50,000…

Awarding winning Cardiff-based accountancy firm Lewis Ballard is expanding its business with the acquisition of family-run accountancy specialists, Harris & Co. [aoa id=”1″] The purchase has been supported by a £250,000 funding package from NatWest, and marks the next phase in the company’s ambitious growth plan. Lewis Ballard is nationally recognised as an innovative and proactive practice, and their professionally qualified, dynamic team, lead the way in providing digital solutions for businesses. Already offering a full range of accountancy and business advisory services, the practice is broadening its scope thanks to Harris & Co’s experience in specialist tax and a…

The shortlist for the 17th annual Caerphilly Business Forum Awards has been released with businesses across the county borough region and from all sectors of the local economy being recognised for their achievement over the last 12 months. The standard of entries received for this year’s awards once again exceeded all expectations and the judges are delighted to announce the following shortlisted companies. Denise Lovering, Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum, said: “Congratulations to all businesses and individuals who made the shortlist this year and also to all of those who entered. “The judging process proved to be a challenging, yet an…

A vision for the future of community healthcare unveiled in a part of Swansea could become the blueprint for the rest of Wales. [aoa id=”1″] GPs and other primary care healthworkers in the Clydach, Morriston and Llansamlet areas of the city have become one of the first in Wales to receive £1.7 million transformation funding from Welsh Government. As the NHS moves into its next 70 years, the way services are provided is changing, with more of an emphasis of working with the communities it serves, and keeping people well – not just treating them when they are unwell. The…

A record number of healthcare workers and employers who are going the extra mile have been shortlisted at the third annual Our Health Heroes awards.  [aoa id=”1″] Organised by Skills for Health, National Skills Academy for Health and headline sponsor Health Education England, the awards celebrate the unsung healthcare heroes from across the UK, including those working in the NHS, who go above and beyond in their roles every day. Healthcare professionals submitted almost 500 nominations in the following categories: Integrated Team of the Year; Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year; Workforce Planning Team of the Year; Apprentice…

AWARD-WINNING chef Bryn Williams says teaming up with Coleg Cambria to create a ground-breaking food academy is a recipe for success. [aoa id=”1″] Bryn is giving students the opportunity to work and train in his celebrated restaurants, where they will gain invaluable experience alongside the best cooks and kitchen staff in the country. Launched this week at Cambria’s Y Celstryn restaurant in Deeside, the Bryn Williams Academy is the first initiative of its kind in Wales and gives the Denbigh native the opportunity to help plug the ever-growing skills gap in hospitality and catering. [/aoa]A passionate advocate for…