Author: Rhys Gregory

Based in Swansea, the social enterprise Phoenix Subscriptions aims to help tackle the funding problem that small charities often face by enabling students to set up a monthly donation through the site to the organisations they connect with. Students that use the site then gain access to discounts and deals from local businesses and online. The platform comes just at the right time when charities are facing funding cuts and trying to secure more consistent as well as sustainable sources of income and regular volunteers. Brexit also raises questions on how this will impact the third sector and the amount…

Hawarden-based Cokebusters is a manufacturing and service provider that specialises in the maintenance of furnace and fired heaters tubes at oil refineries across the world. [aoa id=”1″] The company, a world leader in decoking and inspection operations, has seen its sales rise by 41% in the last two years to over £6 million, thanks to export sales, which make up 95% of the firm’s trade. The company currently exports to over 20 countries including the USA, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Greece, Kuwait, Italy and Spain, with its skilled engineers travelling to oil refineries across the world. This new…

Among the highlights of 2018 were two events headlined by Welsh rugby legend Sam Warburton, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the NSPCC and marking the achievements of students and staff at the north east Wales college. Cambria also launched a unique food academy with esteemed chef Bryn Williams, to train the next generation of hospitality workers, and revealed collaborations with top organisations including the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union), Horseradish catering company, Wrexham AFC AGCO farm machinery, LEAF Education, Jones Bros civil engineers and Tilhill Forestry. Worldskills was again a source of pride, with a 10-strong Wales shortlist for the…

A leading Cardiff legal specialist with two decades’ experience of supporting families across Wales is “extremely proud” to have been promoted to the board of one of the nation’s top law firms. [aoa id=”1″] Jodi Winter, the head of the Family and Children Law department at CJCH Solicitors, has been promoted to senior partner and member of the executive board at the prestigious firm. Ms Winter joined the team in 2013 as partner in charge of the firm’s Barry office overseeingthe family, matrimonial and childcare law division. She brought with her 14 years’ of extensive experience within the public sector,…

Two new dates for paranormal investigations at a Victorian silver-lead mine in the mountains of Mid Wales have been announced to kick off 2019. [aoa id=”1″] Previous investigations at The Silver Mountain Experience at Ponterwyd, near Aberystwyth have sold out, so the popular visitor attraction is advising those interested in a spooky night out to book their place quickly to avoid disappointment. Tickets for the first events on February 2 and March 9 are selling fast and numbers are limited to 16 per night. Tickets are available from www.silvermountainexperience.co.uk/paranormal/ for £24.95 per person. Running from 8pm-2am, the investigation by Ethereal…

A Wrexham finance firm worker has fulfilled a lifelong ambition to walk along the Great Wall of China raising a whopping £2,500 for a Wrexham hospice. Steph Edwards, who is a paraplanner for Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Ltd, based at the former Wrexham Lager brewery building, took part in a 20-mile charity trek in aid of Nightingale House Hospice during her recent visit to the longest wall in the world. The 27-year-old had been looking to combine her desire to travel the world with an eagerness to challenge herself, and when Hadlow Edwards director Medwyn Edwards alerted her to the…

Spirits, cider, bottled water, and low alcohol and alcohol-free beer are some of the key areas of growth across the Welsh drinks sector. That’s according to the voice of Wales’ food and drink sector, the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board (FDWIB), who last month announced the launch of the Drinks Strategy for Wales. [aoa id=”1″] The Growing the Drinks Industry in Wales Strategy was unveiled at an event held by the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board to celebrate the collective work of drinks companies across Wales, led by the Drinks Cluster, as well as the FDWIB and Welsh…

South Wales Police are appealing for information to help find missing person Amanda O’Connell. Ms O’Connell, aged 48, from Bettws, Bridgend, was reported missing yesterday afternoon (January 8) and concern is growing for her welfare. Ms O’Connell is 5ft5 and has long blonde hair.  She was sighted in Queens Arcade, Cardiff, yesterday morning, wearing a purple bobble hat, grey trousers, black UGG like boots and a dark coloured coat with a hood.   She was also carrying a large purple/pink flowery design holdall with wheels at the bottom.Anyone with any information on her whereabouts can call 101 quoting ref number 1900009232.

The week-long #NeedMore campaign, championed by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), launched this week and will run in conjunction with SWFRS’ successful ongoing recruitment campaign #BeMore. Highlighting opportunities in the Fire and Rescue Service, while busting myths about what it takes to be a firefighter, the campaign will be supported by national website – www.oncallfire.uk- which encourages people to get in touch with their local Fire and Rescue Service for details of how to apply. The role of an On-Call firefighter is a challenging and rewarding job, responding to emergency calls, supporting a range of activity to benefit the…

Norovirus – the so-called winter vomiting bug – has arrived in Wales and ABMU is urging people to protect themselves and others. It’s a deeply unpleasant virus that causes sickness and diarrhoea, and spreads very easily from one person to another. Although upsetting for anyone, it can be particularly distressing for small children, elderly people and those with an existing illness. Those in hospital may be especially vulnerable and it’s sometimes necessary to stop admitting patients to wards and stop visiting when cases of Norovirus are suspected or diagnosed. The incubation period is anything from 24 hours to three days, and…