Author: Rhys Gregory

Ahead of World First Aid Day on Saturday 8 September the British Red Cross is empowering the nation to learn five simple skills that could save a life. These include how to help someone who is: choking, bleeding heavily, unresponsive and breathing, unresponsive and not breathing and having a seizure. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] During a life-threatening emergency it is the actions of the first person on the scene that can mean the difference between life and death. Doing something is always better than nothing. When Joanna Mitchell’s husband suffered the first of two cardiac arrests on New Year’s Day, he became…

Alarming new research released by the British Red Cross shows that there is just a 50:50 chance that someone would be confident enough to help you in a first aid emergency. Research conducted for World First Aid Day, with a sample of 2,004 UK adults, found there was a worrying lack in confidence amongst the British public when it comes to stepping in to help in a first aid emergency: Whilst most of us (88%) would want someone to come to our aid, only half (50%) of UK adults would actually feel confident about helping. The majority of those asked…

Cardiff and Vale College Electrical Installation apprentice Tom Lewis will be joining the best of the UK’s young learners as he heads off to Budapest for the EuroSkills finals later this month. [aoa id=”1″] Tom and the rest of Team UK were urged to “Do your country proud” at a rousing Parliamentary reception attended by Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills Anne Milton MP. Team UK – 22 of the UK’s elite apprentices and students working in the engineering, digital, construction and professional industries – are facing the stiffest competition imaginable when they face the best from across the…

ACCOUNTANCY and tax experts Kilsby Williams have taken on three new recruits to strengthen its rapidly expanding team. Sandy Gaywood joins the team as a tax senior, while Sarah-Jane Johnston and Jana Hepton join as payroll assistants. Sandy has joined the Newport – based chartered accountants with over three years’ experience of working as a personal tax advisor. In her new role Sandy will look after a client portfolio primarily of individuals and partnerships. Sandy said: “The passion and enthusiasm of the partners at Kilsby Williams really appealed to me and made me realise that I would like to join…

A Llanelli based start-up that specialises in providing live music for corporate events has set a turnover target of £555,111 following a successful second year of business, which has seen its acts perform for clients including Google, Sony, and Coca Cola in locations as far as Abu Dhabi and South Korea. Music HQ, which creates and manages its own portfolio of professional bands and musicians, has achieved a turnover to the tune of £180,000 in two years.  The company, which has six full time employees and has provided live music for more than 1,000 events around the world, is aiming…

One of North Wales’ most well-known three-star hotels has completed work costing £1 million. Upgrades to all 104 bedrooms and improvements to the reception and dining areas follows an ambitious five-year programme to breathe new life into The Royal Victoria hotel in Llanberis. Affectionately known to many residents of the area and under advice from Focus Hotel Management, completion of the work has already had the desired effect, with turnover almost doubling since it began in 2013. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Standing at the foothills of Snowdon, the popular venue was originally built in the 1830s to offer hospitality to travellers who…

The Felin Fach Griffin near Brecon has been named Dining Pub of the Year for Wales in the 37th edition of the Good Pub Guide which is published on today.  [aoa id=”1″] The dining pub with rooms retains its crown from the 2018 edition of the guide. The Griffin, hosted by Julie Bell, is a seven bedroom inn at the foot of the Brecon Beacons, owned since 2000 by brothers Charles and Edmund Inkin through their company EATDRINKSLEEP. It has a thriving restaurant and bar that is a base for the community, supporting local producers, brewers and growers, as well…

Ever wondered what it would be like to handpick wine grapes? Kerry Vale Vineyard, on the Powys-Shropshire border near Churchstoke, is looking for volunteers next week to help it pick what owners Geoff and June Ferguson say will be a bumper crop. The fine weather has led to good growing conditions for British vineyards and the eight-year-old vineyard is optimistic about its harvest and expects to pull approximately 10 tons of grapes from 6,000 vines. “It’s an incredibly busy but exciting time at Kerry Vale at the moment,” said Geoff. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The vineyard has three grape varieties; Rondo, Phoenix…

Montgomery entrepreneur Fran Louise has her mum to thank for her passion for nature and the great outdoors. She finds the natural environment keeps her mentally and physically fit and delights in the wonderful landscapes of the Welsh borders. Fran, 28, always knew she was not destined to work indoors and with her new venture, the Woodland Pack company, she’s found a way to marry her love of nature, her experience as a teaching assistant and her skills as a Montgomery Walking Group walk leader together. Fran got the idea for developing Woodland Pack through her involvement with Shropshire Wildlife…

Children had plenty of fun on their plates and picked up healthy tips at Bridgend County Borough Council’s first ever ‘Food and Fun’ programme. [aoa id=”1″]Held over three weeks at Afon Y Felin Primary School, the programme saw some of the school’s pupils joined by youngsters from the nearby Corneli Primary School, Pil Primary School, Mynydd Cynffig Primary School and Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger to enjoy a summer of activities and healthy eating. The food-based fun included cooking and nutrition sessions, while the menu of activities also included rugby with Ospreys in the Community, pond dipping, yoga, Parkour (stunts),…