Author: Rhys Gregory

More than 300 PR professionals gathered at Cardiff’s City Hall on Friday (12th October) for the 2018 CIPR Cymru Wales PRide Awards – the nation’s annual public relations showpiece.  [aoa id=”1″]Creative communications agency jamjar bagged a hat-trick of Gold Awards with wins in the Healthcare Campaign, Low Budget Campaign and Best Use of Digital categories. Equinox and BrandContent picked up two Gold Awards each, with the latter named Outstanding Small Public Relations Consultancy.Homeless charity, The Wallich, struck gold in the Not-for-Profit category for a campaign supporting homeless and vulnerable people across Wales. Judges praised the charity for its “clever use…

A former Cardiff clothes shop has been transformed into a cinema, club and events space for the duration of this year’s Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, the capital’s annual six-day celebration of LGBT+ stories and filmmaking. [aoa id=”1″]The former H&M shop, situated upstairs in the Capitol Shopping Centre, has been vacant for some time, but the festival will bring it back to life with a series of events, including film screenings, workshops and drinks receptions. The main part of the Festival takes place in Cineworld, Mary Ann Street and anyone with an full festival pass, day pass or – from…

Students from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s colleges have put their seafood dishes to the test at a special Seafood Week event hosted by Coleg Llandrillo, with young chef, Jack Airey, scooping first prize. Spearheaded by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry, the annual, inter-college, ‘Seafood Chef of the Year’ competition was followed by a special seafood dinner last week (10 October 2018). [aoa id=”1″]Jack Airey, a work-based student currently working at popular restaurant Dylan’s in Llandudno came first place with his starter of plaice paupiette, sun blushed tomatoes, buttered leeks, fried oyster and sauce Choron followed by a…

A Wales-based mum of three has taken the war on plastic into her own hands after launching one of the UK’s first ever sustainable party supply businesses. [aoa id=”1″] Laura Lowe launched ‘Make It Pop’ after a party held at her Vale of Glamorgan home for around 100 guests left her ‘freaking out’ at the amount of waste involved. Disturbed at the level of landfill left over, Laura set about sourcing her own range of melamine tableware, decorations, plastic-free party bags and other eco-friendly alternatives which are now available to hire or buy online, UK-wide. [/aoa] Laura, 34, said: “Like…

Following a gruelling 510-mile charity bike ride Prestatyn business man Richard Addison has raised £50,000 for the Dreams Come True charity – doubling an initial target of £25,000. [aoa id=”1″] In June, Richard, a Rhyl Cash Converters UK franchisee owner, braved a notoriously tough cycle route from Mizen Head to Malin Head in Ireland to raise money for the good cause. He was joined by fellow Cash Converters UK franchisees and cycling enthusiasts, Carl Murray and Paul Graham. [/aoa] To support the cycling team in their fund-raising efforts, Cash Converters UK stores from around the country ran a raffle, selling…

David Thomas, 49, has learnt Welsh to support his bilingual business in Talog, north west Carmarthenshire. [aoa id=”1″] Originally from Cardiff, David lived in London for almost 30 years before returning to Wales with his husband, Anthony, to run Jin Talog gin distillery. David didn’t have an opportunity to learn Welsh at school, but enjoyed Welsh language ‘taster’ sessions in London and a few online courses, and upon his return to Wales, was determined to pick up the language. [/aoa] David enrolled on a Welsh course with Learn Welsh Carmarthenshire, run by Carmarthenshire County Council on behalf of the National…

This year’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair, taking place on 26 and 27 November 2018 at the showground in Llanelwedd, will host a unique ‘Start-up Farmers Market’ for 10 newly established food and drink businesses. Being made possible due to a partnership between the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Agora project, the initiative aims to give these small businesses the opportunity to build confidence and key retail skills through a programme of training and support. [aoa id=”1″]The 10 businesses selected to take part in the new Start-up Farmers Market at this year’s Winter Fair consist of enterprising individuals who have…

Rhug Estate is delighted its Organic Salt Marsh Lamb is the only Lamb to have won an award in this year’s Great British Food Awards. Rhug Salt Marsh Lamb has been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the fresh meat section of the Great British Food Awards 2018. Michelin-starred restaurant owner and chef, Glynn Purnell, chose the ultimate winners in the fresh meat section of the Great British Food Awards. Rhug Estate Organic Salt Marsh Lamb, Red Ruby Short Ribs, Welsh Wagu Sirloin Steak, herb-fed free range turkey made it into the top four of the section with Red Ruby Short Ribs…

Snowdonia National Park Authority are providing two sessions to learn a craft that has been part of Snowdonia’s landscape for centuries. [aoa id=”1″] During October and November there will be an opportunity for individuals to dry stone wall on Yr Ysgwrn’s historic farm under the supervision of two experienced local craftsmen. Dry stone walls are very common in Snowdonia’s highlands and is a craft that dates back centuries. The same basic techniques are used today that were used centuries ago and the craft of choosing and placing the stones is a very special skill. [/aoa] Snowdonia National Park Authority (“SNPA”),…

The lost communities of Cardiff’s docklands are to feature in a new four-part tv series on ITV Cymru Wales. ‘Dock of the Bay’ examines the transformation of the city’s waterfront from Tiger Bay to Cardiff Bay. [aoa id=”1″] It also chronicles the history and demolition of Newtown, nick-named ‘Little Ireland’ and Lower Splott, a community that was built in the shadow of the giant East Moors steelworks. The series celebrates the present day diversity of the Bay and goes behind the scenes of some of the area’s most beautiful buildings as well as capturing the daily life of the docks…