Author: Rhys Gregory

A DEESIDE-BASED business owner, who first launched her hairdressing and beauty salon in 1999, has opened a new, larger premises thanks to a local government grant. Sara King, from Rhuddlan, who owns Kings (formerly Oasis Hair & Beauty), has moved into new 1,894sqft premises following a period of rapid growth for the business. In 2019, Sara also launched The Kings Academy, which offers alternative school provisions for students across North Wales and has gone from strength to strength helping over 100 young people find a career path. The academy, which works alongside several high schools in the local area, will…

Seedable Studio, a Cardiff-based digital solutions company, has officially launched with £100,000 in seed funding from investors David Jones (the originator of Grand Theft Auto) and Stuart Little, a net-zero entrepreneur. The investment will fuel the company’s main focus: developing sustainable digital products with gamification elements. Led by Lowri Humberstone-Hill, Melin Edomwonyi and Perry Rylance, the company was born out of a commitment to making technology more sustainable, inclusive, and human-centric. The team’s 20 years of experience in software, app, and web development position them to enable their changemaker clients’ innovation and proprietary R&D technology. Melin Edomwonyi, UX Director, said:…

After winning several high-profile contracts and sustainability awards, a young graduate designer from Swansea is making waves with her fashion collection. With the support of Big Ideas Wales, Ffion McCormick Edwards founded Barefoot.Tech three years ago during lockdown, in a bid to tackle the volume of old, unused wetsuits being sent to landfill. Ffion comes from a family of lifelong water-skiers, meaning there have always been a selection of wetsuits on hand. As she and family members outgrew various wetsuits, Ffion’s thinking turned to a sustainable solution to reusing and repurposing the fabric. She reworked wetsuits and life jackets into…

Secondary school pupils will hear the stories of Holocaust survivors and refugees who made Wales their home, thanks to a new educational resource created by Aberystwyth University and the Jewish History Association of Wales. The series of podcasts will mean that older pupils as well as the general public can listen to those who fled from Nazi tyranny to build better lives for themselves and their families. They can also learn how refugees who settled in Wales after the Second World War have contributed to Welsh life – culturally, economically and politically. The podcasts have been produced as part of…

A 43-year-old man has been imprisoned after admitting domestic violence and stalking offences. Simon Peter Murphy, of Brynmor Avenue, Rhyl, was sentenced to 43 months at Mold Crown Court last week (Friday, 28 February). At an earlier court appearance, Murphy had pleaded guilty to stalking his female victim over a period of several months. Murphy, who was in breach of a non-molestation order at the time, admitted strangling the woman and to repeatedly calling from a withheld telephone number to make threats towards her. His stalking behaviour included the placing of a tracking device on the victim’s vehicle to monitor…

Transport for Wales is launching a public consultation on proposals for a potential new express coach service that would transform connectivity between North and South Wales. The proposed service would run between Bangor and Carmarthen, cutting journey times by 90 minutes compared to current public transport options. The express-stop service would call at key town centres and railway stations along Wales’ western coast, including Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Dolgellau, Machynlleth, and Aberystwyth. With an expected journey time of 4 hours 45 minutes, the service is being proposed to provide a faster, more convenient travel option for tourists and university students, while improving…

Llangollen’s historic Plas Newydd has once again been transformed into a stunning sea of purple and white as thousands of crocuses burst into bloom across its lawns. Visitors to the picturesque site are being treated to a spectacular display of colour, marking the arrival of spring in the heart of North Wales. Crocuses are among the first flowers to bloom in late winter to early spring, often appearing as early as February. The vibrant flowers provide a crucial source of nectar and pollen for early-emerging bees and other pollinators. The gardens at Plas Newydd are renowned for their romantic setting…

Residents and businesses are being asked whether they’d support the potential for the introduction of a zero-emission fast ferry service between Swansea and the South West of England. The feasibility of the idea is being explored by a specialist maritime company called Ocean, thanks to funding from Swansea Council through the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. At this stage, people are simply being encouraged to head here to find out more, leave comments and cast a yes, no or maybe vote. Subject to feedback and the level of public support and demand, further work could then take place to…

As any rugby union fan will tell you, the Six Nations is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the rugby calendar – and Welsh fans, in particular, are gearing up for what they hope to be a barnstorming return to form. The Six Nations 2025 kicks off at the end of January and carries on all the way through to the middle of March. It’s a nice little pick-me-up for any sports fans who are bristling with the winter cold and want to warm up with some world-class rugby action! After a disappointing run during last year’s tournament, Wales…

Businesses across Wales are being encouraged by Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid to submit their entries for the highly anticipated Wales Business Awards 2025 as the deadline approaches. The Wales Business Awards celebrate the best of business in Wales and firms now have less one week to go until the entry deadline (Friday 7 March). The awards are free to enter for both Chamber members and non-members and entries can be submitted by completing an online application form. Gus Williams, interim CEO of Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “The Wales Business Awards annually…