Author: Rhys Gregory

A BUSINESSMAN and star of TV’s Secret Millionaire is to run the London Marathon for a national disability charity. Rob Lloyd is in full training for the challenge in aid of Sense and has organised a major fundraising event to be held at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on April 11. Former Manchester United and England footballer Lee Sharpe is set to headline alongside award-winning comedian John Gillan and MC Paul Booth, who will host a memorabilia auction, dinner and raffle on the night. Among the top prizes are signed gloves and photos of unbeaten heavyweight superstars Tyson Fury and…

An historic treasure of Swansea’s industrial past has a new lease of life – thanks to a Swiss artist. Zurich-born Andreas Rüthi has produced new works inspired by items from early 19th Century Swansea china. The renowned tableware, with brightly coloured designs, enjoyed its heyday under business owner Lewis Weston Dillwyn. In 1810 he took sole ownership of a business founded as The Cambrian Pottery in the 1760s. Now Rüthi, age 62, is exhibiting some of his Swansea-inspired paintings at the city’s Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. He said: “I enjoyed a residency at the gallery in 2017 and, with it,…

Lufkin Coffee Roasters have launched a Kickstarter campaign to support expansion plans in Canton and Grangetown, Cardiff. Lufkin Coffee Roasters established themselves in King’s Road Yard, Pontcanna in 2015 and have since become the top place to stop and enjoy a speciality coffee in the area. The Cardiff-based company now plan to open two new sites in Canton and Grangetown this spring. Husband and wife team, Dan and Frances Lukins, are hoping that their new ventures will allow the people of Cardiff further opportunity to stop, relax and enjoy the meditative experience of their special approach to coffee. Opening in…

Nine hair and beauty apprentices are heading for some special work experience – in Spain. [aoa id=”1″] The group of hairdressing, barbering and beauty apprentices are heading for Spain (March 17 – April 1) as part of their apprenticeship with Welsh training provider, ISA Training. They will spend two weeks working in salons in Tarragona in Catalonia learning a variety of hair and beauty skills. The work experience placement scheme has been organised by ISA Training and L’Institut Cal·lípolis – the host organisation for the visit – and with funding support from the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme for education, training,…

Genmed, a specialist provider of vendor neutral managed services to the NHS, today announces the appointment of Ruth Billen as finance director. She will be responsible for ensuring that Genmed’s financial controls are robust, the business is ready to scale and the appropriate internal and IT systems are in place to support this growth.  Based at the company’s Welsh office in Cwmbran, she will also manage a finance team of four overseeing all accounting, budgeting,  financial reporting and investment functions. Since 2014, Genmed’s revenues have increased 275% – a reflection of  the popularity and adoption of managed services in the…

Jacqueline Whiteley from Machynlleth in Powys is set to turn daredevil to raise £500 for the charity Parkinson’s UK.  Jacqueline, who is in her 50’s and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in September 2018, is taking part in the Holyhead Breakwater Park Abseil on 9 June.   She will face her fears to descend a 150ft near-vertical rock-face and is now calling for others to sign-up and take part. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure and it affects 145,000 people in the UK including 7,692 in Wales. Parkinson’s UK estimate that there are more than…

More than 60 companies and organisations were represented at the Denbighshire County Council March for Business event, held at the OpTIC Technology Centre in St Asaph. Chaired by Ashley Rogers, the forum was an opportunity for firms of all sizes to discover how they can benefit from the imminent Growth Deal, which is being driven by North Wales Economic Ambition Board. Mr Rogers, a member of the Ambition Board and chair of North Wales Mersey Dee (NWMD) Business Council, said the projects earmarked for development would have a major impact on the region’s economy. Those words were echoed by Iwan…

Henry Howard Finance Group (HHF) has appointed a new Head of Credit to help support the independent funder’s continued growth. Matt Conibear, originally from Bristol, will train new underwriters within the Group, write credit policies and underwrite transactions. Matt joins the business from BNP Paribas, prior to which he held a similar role at GE Capital for 15 years. Speaking of his appointment Matt says, “I am delighted to join Henry Howard Finance. The company is dynamic, and flexible, and it is really exciting to be part of their journey during this time of significant growth.” Commenting on the role,…

The South Wales Crucible – led by Swansea University – has published its Science and Innovation report to the UK Government that outlines how the consortium can make positive and lasting steps to help unlock the region’s innovation-led growth potential. The consortium brings together Swansea, Cardiff, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities, research centres of excellence and internationally significant firms, and is backed by the Welsh Government. The report – commissioned by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – confirms that South Wales has nationally and internationally significant capabilities, as well as a strong portfolio of globally competitive science…

Cardiff and Vale College played host to some of the best young culinary talent in the country who battled it out in a series of Skills Competition Wales Hospitality and Catering finals. Economy Minister, Ken Skates also called in to see the budding chefs compete. The Skills Competition Wales contests were held in CAVC’s The Classroom restaurant, managed by the Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project and co-ordinated by Cambrian Training. The College also hosted Hospitality demonstrations for by WorldSkills UK squad members and ‘Have a Go’ sessions to engage with other College students. The Minister was taken around the…