Author: Rhys Gregory

An increase in demand, new client wins and expansion into new sectors has resulted in a 43% increase in revenue over the past 12 months at online booking and scheduling specialist, thinkBooker. [aoa id=”1″] The innovative brand is a product of Cardiff-based web development and technology company UpriseVSI, a two-time award winner at the Wales Online Digital Awards, thinkBooker has become a key channel for the overall business; growing from 10% of the UpriseVSI total revenue in 2016-17 to 30% in 2017-18. Originally developed for the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and Fulham FC Foundation’s soccer schools, the system is…

Clubetter, a fully bilingual club membership portal which allows grassroots clubs, societies, community, professional and business groups to communicate and work efficiently, is being officially launched this week (September 19th). Powered by data engineering company Datris (Welsh for solution), Clubetter was created when Datris’ three directors, all whom have actively participated in local clubs, social enterprises and community groups over many years, were frustrated at the lack of innovation to make life easier for those volunteers and staff running local clubs. Dave Taylor, Founding Director at Datris, said: “Clubetter was created out of sheer frustration! In work people can often…

The number of Welsh pupils learning “fundamental” coding skills at a Pencoed manufacturing facility has soared to over 2,000 in just four years, figures show. [aoa id=”1″] Sony UK Technology Centre has seen a significant increase in the number of schoolchildren taking part in coding sessions through its educational programmes in the past four years. The manufacturing facility, which produces thousands of high-specification broadcast cameras for worldwide distribution, revealed that it welcomed 827 pupils when it launched its Digital Competency Programme between 2015/16. This jumped to 1,012 pupils between 2016/17, and further increased to 1,596 children in the 2017/18 period,…

Chris Jones, Chief Executive of Welsh Water, will be guest speaker at Swansea Bay Business Club’s September networking lunch at the Liberty Stadium, sponsored by Lloyds Bank. The lunch will be held on Friday September 28 as businessmen and women from across the Swansea Bay City Region come together for the first major club event after their annual summer break. Paul Gardner, President of Swansea Bay Business Club, commented: “As our first networking lunch since July we are expecting a sell out crowd at what is always one of our most popular events of the year. In securing Chris as…

A film written and directed by the internationally acclaimed Welsh film director Medeni Griffiths, which also involved staff, students and graduates from UWTSD Swansea College of Art’s BA Film & TV and BA General Illustration during its production, has been nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award. [aoa id=”1″] The 27th ceremony will take place on October 14, 2018 at St David’s Hall, Cardiff and will be presented by Huw Stephens for a fourth year. The film Beddgelert, was premiered on S4C on November 2, last year, as part of the S4C Chwedlau – Legends season. It has been nominated for…

Radio Cardiff is flying the flag for South Wales in the community radio sector, with four shows shortlisted for prestigious UK awards. DJs and presenters Rhys Phillips, Ella West, Chris O’Brien and Louise Schofield have all had programming shortlisted for accolades at the 2018 Community Radio Awards. The four Radio Cardiff programmes included on the shortlist are: Louise Schofield – Female Presenter of the Year Cardiff This Week – Speech & Journalism of the Year OB’s Saturday Sport Show – Sports Show of the Year Birdland – Specialist Music Show of the Year Winners will be announced at a glitzy…

Swansea University Medical School’s work in diabetes is gaining international recognition. [aoa id=”1″] The work by Swansea University’s Professor David Raymond Owens has been rewarded at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Patient Care Awards 2018 in London. The annual awards promote and reward the work physicians are undertaking to improve patient care. Professor Owens picked up the International Award for Outstanding Clinical Activity which contributes to excellence in patient care overseas. [/aoa] Professor Owens received the award for his continued commitment to diabetes care abroad. His work includes the establishment and implementation of a 10-year action plan for diabetes…

When the Delicious Ideas Food Group (DIFG) team went on a treasure hunt to find vegan bakery products that would send their taste buds to cloud ten, they headed off to The Harrogate Fine Food Show, albeit with with low expectations. [aoa id=”1″] ‘Speaking as a vegan, and with my consumer hat on, it’s a struggle to even find bakery products, let alone good ones,’ says Chris White, DIFG’s food service controller. ‘So when I tasted The Bakeshed’s vegan offerings, I was ecstatic. They weren’t just gluten-free, they weren’t just vegan, they also tasted incredible. ‘There was no doubt that…

sk:n, the UK’s leading medical skincare clinic group, has announced it will be opening a new clinic on Charles Street in Cardiff. The new sk:n clinic is a merger between its existing operation at the David Lloyd Health Club on Ipswich Road, which will close on 16th November 2018, and Cellite, an already established aesthetic clinic situated around the corner from Cardiff’s central shopping hub St David’s Dewi Sant. Cellite was originally opened in 1998 by dermatologist Dr Harryono Judodihardjo and his wife as the first of its kind in Wales and, indeed, one of the first in the UK.…

Rhug Estate is delighted to have been announced as a finalist in two categories of the Rural Business Awards in the Wales & Northern Ireland Region 2018/19. Rhug Estate is a finalist in the Outstanding Rural Diversification Project category and Farm Manager, Gareth Jones, is a finalist in the Rural Employee of the Year category. The Rural Business Awards were established in 2014. Their aim is to give recognition to businesses operating right across the rural sector, to acknowledge the breadth and depth of opportunity presented by the Great British countryside, as well as to celebrate the achievements of rural…