Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea born West End director, Sean Mathias, returns to the city to direct one of his early plays for the 50th anniversary. A Prayer for Wings, set in Swansea, is making its debut city appearance at Volcano Theatre from 9 – 13 July in a co-production with Swansea Grand Theatre. [aoa id=”1″]Under the direction of Joan Plowright, the play won a Fringe First Award for its debut in Edinburgh in 1985 and earned Mathias a nomination for Most Promising Playwright. Sean has since gone on to become an award winning director of international repute and has recently directed Sir Ian…

Specialist personal injury law firm Novum Law has opened a brand-new office in Cardiff, a sign of the firm’s strong growth and plans for expansion in the coming years. [aoa id=”1″]Growing demand for its serious personal injury compensation claim services and asbestos-related disease expertise in the South of England and Wales has prompted the business’ strategic move to the Welsh capital. Unlike the numerous general law firms in the area, Novum Law is a specialist personal injury law firm.[/aoa] Located at Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, the city centre office will be led by Associate Legal Director Phill Gower, who…

The app-based bank raised £113m from a group of investors led by Y Combinator, a US-based investment firm best known for backing Airbnb, Dropbox and Reddit, and is now the second most valuable fintech startup in the UK. [aoa id=”1″]Monzo announced in January that it will create over 300 jobs during the next four years in the heart of the Welsh capital with Welsh Government support, the first challenger bank to nearshore to Wales from London. Almost 200 staff are currently based in Monzo’s Cardiff office. [/aoa] Granted a banking license in 2017, Monzo has started to deliver on its marketplace…

Former Executive Director of Operations of Horizon Nuclear Power, Greg Evans, has been appointed as new Operations Director to strengthen the management team and take the business to the next level. [aoa id=”1″] Evans brings more than 39 years’ experience in the nuclear industry at the highest level to his new role at the fast-growing Welsh adventure tourism business. A former US Navy Petty Officer and Centrica Energy Director of Nuclear and Renewables, he is recognised as a thorough leader in safety leadership in both nuclear and renewable power generation. [/aoa] His work in renewables saw him leading major infrastructure…

A Swansea man whose life was turned around by The Prince’s Trust Cymru will meet The Prince of Wales this week. [aoa id=”1″] Hanif Miah set up his business after training delivered by The Trust helped transform his life. Youth charity The Prince’s Trust Cymru helps young people in Wales to develop the confidence and skills they need to realise their ambitions, so that they can live, learn and earn. [/aoa] Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. This Wednesday, 26-year-old…

The Mercure Hotel, which is due to open in early 2020, is looking to recruit the full complement of staff with roles covering front of house, housekeeping, kitchen staff, management and sales. [aoa id=”1″] The 15-floor luxury hotel includes 150 bedrooms, a restaurant with 65 covers and a fitness suite. Located in Newport’s tallest building, Chartist Tower, the hotel is part of a massive £12m transformation by owners Garrison Barclay Estates. [/aoa] The regeneration of the 1960s former office building, which is part funded by the Welsh Government and Coutts bank, also includes 30,000sq ft of office space and 18,000sq…

An organisation that represents work-based learning providers across Wales is calling on the Welsh Government to increase its apprenticeship budget over the next two years to meet future demand. [aoa id=”1″] Chair Sarah John made the call at the National Training Federation for Wales’ (NTfW’s) annual conference at Cardiff City Stadium where she explained that the investment was needed to sustain existing provision and to fund more technical and professional apprenticeship programmes. The new programmes in health and social care, construction and ICT are being created as a result of work carried out by Qualifications Wales. [/aoa] “If we are…

Tom Cave’s hard work behind the wheel of his Hyundai i20 R5, coupled with Dale Bowen’s efforts beside him on the notes, rewarded the Welsh pair with an impressive second place in the British Rally Championship standings and an overall result of seventh in the weekend’s Renties Ypres Rally. The outcome hots-up the race for the British title and with two wins, a second place and a DNF apiece, the scores put Cave on exactly same number of points as defending champion Matt Edwards with two of the six rounds remaining. [aoa id=”1″]The Ypres Rally is the longest and fastest…

Police were called 5.40pm yesterday to reports of a young person in the river near Fernhill. A male youth has been confirmed dead at the scene. An extensive search was carried out involving specialist police teams, the helicopter and the fire and rescue service. The A4059 between Mountain Ash Comprehensive School and Cwmbach roundabout has re-opened after being closed during the search.

A son is organising a Snowdon challenge for Macmillan in memory of his father journalist and historian Gwyn Griffiths to thank the charity for supporting his family. Author, award-winning translator and historian Gwyn, who lived in Pontypridd, died in April last year aged 77 just months after being diagnosed with incurable cancer. In his memory, one of Gwyn’s four children, Gildas, is organising a Snowdon By Night challenge in April 2020, and a ball at Cardiff’s Copthorne Hotel on 19 June 2020. Both events will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Gildas, a manager at the NHS Wales Shared Services…