Author: Rhys Gregory

On Saturday 4th August, Visit Swansea Bay, Swansea Council’s tourism team began their four week Surfari Bus tour of Wales and Ireland to promote the area as a key visitor destination during Wales’ ‘Year of the Sea’.  First stop on the Surfari Bus tour was Oxwich Bay, Gower at which the star of the Surfari show – a branded Visit Swansea Bay vintage VW campervan – packed full of exclusive Swansea Bay competitions and offers – made its debut in the summer sunshine. Oxwich beachgoers were encouraged to take a ‘surfie’ (selfie!) in the giant #SeaSwanseaBay deckchair, or try a…

KPMG in the UK has opened applications for its 2019 graduate programmes for the Audit and Tax, Pensions and Legal Services practices. Roles are available in Cardiff as well as across the UK, and graduates from all subjects are invited to apply. Michelle Hinchliffe, head of audit for KPMG in the UK, said of the launch:“We are extremely excited to be opening our graduate programmes for 2019, and we look forward to welcoming more talented young people into our firm.  Being an auditor requires a specific set of skills, but not all of these may be what you might typically…

Thousands are expected to line the streets of Cardiff on Thursday to welcome home Wales’ cycling superstar and Tour De France winner Geraint Thomas. The Cardiff-born cyclist will be given a hero’s welcome at an event staged along St Mary Street and outside Cardiff Castle from 5pm until 5.30pm on August 9th. [aoa id=”1″] The Tour de France winner and Olympic Gold medallist will lead a peloton of young riders from Welsh Cycling accredited go-ride clubs up St Mary Street to Castle Street before taking to a stage in the castle moat where he will speak to the crowds. The…

A railway worker from Dowlais has scooped an incredible £70,000 on a National Lottery Scratchcard and is now on track to change his life with a new car, a family holiday and investing some cash in property renovation. Jordon Morgan, 27, was feeling lucky when he popped into his local store to buy a scratchcard on Sunday 29 July. When his first scratchcard revealed he’d won £2 he decided to see if it really was his lucky day and bought a second one – a £2 Red Hot 7s Doubler scratchcard. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] At first Jordon was stunned thinking he’d…

Nestled away in Narberth in Pembrokeshire, you’ll find one of Wales’ biggest family attractions – Oakwood Theme Park. Popular with holidaymakers and schoolchildren, no doubt you’ll remember your summer holidays spent in West Wales, and if you were lucky (and good, of course!), you would be treated to a visit to Oakwood Theme Park. Until now, we hadn’t yet taken my daughter, who recently turned four to a theme park. However, she is now at that age when kids seek thrill and adventure. It also helps that she has had a growth spurt, making her big enough to make the…

I generally feel that forewarned is forearmed and try to plan ahead wherever possible, as do most business people who I come into contact with.  Therefore, like many of those I speak to who have acknowledged the potential of the country’s ‘no deal’ stance; I am becoming increasingly frustrated by the government’s reticence to speed up publication of what its ‘no deal’ will actually mean.  An IoD survey of 800 business leaders reveals that less than a third have conducted any Brexit contingency planning, because we remain in the dark on how to go about it and the full implications…

The last few months have been busy ones at West Glamorgan House as the top floor was transformed into a sparkling new not-for-profit coworking space. [aoa id=”1″] For those new to it, coworking is a business model that involves individuals working independently or collaboratively in shared office space. The owner of the space provides a work environment and all the usual office equipment and amenities you’d find in a typical office. Coworking is an increasingly popular phenomenon with spaces cropping up in cities across the UK. There are many reasons why coworking is so popular, particularly for those working from home with all the distractions that…

A Cwmbran accountancy firm is capitalising on impressive growth by appointing nine new members of staff. Green & Co, Accountants and Tax Advisors, are welcoming the new additions after consistent increases in client numbers and the development of new areas of practice. Joining the team are Charlie-Louise Preece, Bradie Hern, Deana Davies, Tracy Whittaker, Jessica Price, Michelle Pearce, Rhianna Parry, Tim Beckinsale and Victoria Fowler. Ed Gooderham, Partner at Green & Co, said: “The last few years have seen really encouraging signs of growth. Our traditional practice areas of general business and farming clients continue to thrive whilst we have…

A leading independent car supermarket has marked its 50th anniversary by revealing plans to more than double its network of showrooms, with the support of a £5 million funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. [aoa id=”1″] Ron Skinner and Sons, announced that it will be launching eight new purpose-built car sales sites in the next two years, which will more than double its capacity and establish the company as Wales’ largest independent car sales firm. The first two new showrooms are set to launch in Cardiff and Neyland in August, with plans to open a further five satellite locations…

Lawyers at international legal practice Osborne Clarke have advised Chepstow-based Creo Medical Group plc – a medical device company focused on the emerging field of surgical endoscopy – to raise up to £48.5 million through a share placing. [aoa id=”1″] The proceeds will be used for extending the company’s clinical education programme, increasing the number of distribution agreements with third parties and partners worldwide, accelerating the roll-out of its products, growing manufacturing capability and product range, looking to establish a presence in the United States, and exploring potential strategic mergers and acquisitions. Creo Medical’s flagship product, called Speedboat, allows doctors…