Author: Rhys Gregory

A social enterprise in Flintshire, which supports the physical and mental wellbeing of its local community, continues to go from strength to strength with over 1.5 million visits to its leisure centres and libraries across the county during the last 12 months. [aoa id=”1″] Aura Leisure and Libraries is a charitable organisation that runs many of the leisure centres, libraries and heritage services previously operated by Flintshire County Council. The social enterprise was established in September 2017 as a way to keep all libraries and leisure centres open for the community following an extended period of public sector austerity and…

Honest Burgers are set to bring their homemade Honest butcher’s burgers to Cardiff this summer at Street Food Circus in Canton. [aoa id=”1″] Pitching up for three weekends in August alongside a host of other street food traders at The Old School Yard, the pop-up is a prelude to Honest Burgers’ official opening on Church Street this September. Honest are known for their Great British burgers, which they make in their own butchery. Using just British chuck steak and rib cap, Honest chops the meat rather than mincing it (which keeps the flavour in and the texture more natural and…

A Merthyr-based farm equipment dealer is counting their lucky stars after they avoided a very dodgy export deal thanks to international trade experts Business West. [aoa id=”1″] Dumelow International, which formed in 1996 to supply reconditioned used Massey Ferguson farm tractors and agricultural machinery to Africa, were poised to ship six Range Rovers worth £250,000 to a buyer in Nigeria before Phil Geddes, Senior International Trade Services Assistant, raised the alarm. The scammers attempted to fleece Dumelow by forging documents which guarantee that a business gets paid when sending their goods abroad. Standby Letters of Credit are issued by banks…

Sir Steve Webb recently appeared at a Quantum Advisory seminar at the Celtic Manor providing plenty of anecdotal insights into his time behind the scenes of David Cameron’s government and giving his thoughts on a variety of pensions issues.

If you’ve been swept up in this summer’s shopping craze – Little Shop by M&S Food – and need to top up your collection with the must-have miniatures, then look no further as M&S stores in Cardiff will be hosting Little Shop swap events on August 15th from 3pm – 5pm to give enthusiasts the chance to add coveted items to their collections. [aoa id=”1″] Those attending the event will receive a free collectable upon their arrival (which is normally redeemable when spending £20 in M&S Food), a Little Shop Apron or collectors’ case, as well as the chance to add…

Bricklaying apprentice, Danny Hodges, has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at this year’s Monmouthshire Business Awards. [aoa id=”1″]Danny, a bricklaying apprentice from Caldicot, has been with Y Prentis since October 2018. Prior to this, Danny was studying towards his Level 1 Diploma in Brickwork at Coleg Gwent and used as a lot of his free time to gain practical experience, labouring for Rob Moore ltd and Saysell Construction. Following successful completion of his college course, he enrolled onto a Level 2 Diploma and NVQ in Brickwork and successfully secured an apprenticeship with Y Prentis.[/aoa] Speaking about his shortlist…

Self-storage giants Lock Stock are to open their newest site in Flint next week, taking their total of storage parks to 20. [aoa id=”1″] The Denbigh-based company, the UK’s largest container-based storage business, will be opening the gates at their new Coleshill, Flint, site on Friday, August 16. It follows the recent opening of a new Sandycroft site on the Glendale Trading Estate with a third Deeside site, their 21st, due soon at River Lane, adjoining Go Outdoors. The Coleshill site, alongside the A548 North Wales Coast road, is in addition to the nearby Aber Park site and Lock Stock…

BUDDING young engineers at an innovative Carmarthenshire school have made a tricycle for a fellow pupil with balance, mobility and learning difficulties. Kind-hearted pupils from year six at Ysgol Gynradd Nantgaredig spent months putting the tricycle together from an Infento kit for seven-year-old Ellie Meaden, who goes to the school’s specialist speech and language unit. From the seat to the handles and the wheels to the frame, the children made the tricycle during their breaks and in-between lessons. Rhydian Evans, year six teacher at Ysgol Gynradd Nantgaredig, said: “The children who assembled the tricycle for Ellie deserve enormous credit because…

House prices in Wales continued to edge upwards according to the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Residential Market Survey for July, and expectations are for prices and activity to increase over the next three months. [aoa id=”1″] A net a balance of 38 percent of Welsh respondents to the latest survey said that house prices had risen since May. Surveyors are also increasingly optimistic about the short-term outlook. A net balance of 18 percent of Welsh respondents expect prices to rise in the next three months, whilst a net balance of 21 percent expects sales activity to increase. This…

The RSPCA has revealed there were 8,098 calls coming through to its cruelty line in Wales last year with concerns for the welfare of cats – which is almost one every HOUR. [aoa id=”1″] Across England and Wales the charity received more than 100,000 calls and rescues more cats than any other animal whether this is moggies stuck in tight spots, to cats that have been abandoned or neglected and abused. In Wales, Cardiff, Swansea and Rhondda Cynon Taff received the most calls. This International Cat Day (8 August) the RSPCA is shining a light on the plight of cats…