Author: Rhys Gregory

Cwmbran, South Wales—RPS Telecom, a leading telecoms firm in South Wales, proudly announces the appointment of its General Manager, Natalie Strange, as Co-Chair of the Comms Council UK’s ‘Women in Telecom’ group. In her new role, Natalie will ensure the group aligns with its core vision and values. Her responsibilities include incorporating member feedback to strategically plan and enhance group support and informing members of the latest industry developments. Natalie Strange said, “I am honoured to take on this role and dedicate myself to ensuring that our group consistently reflects our guiding principles. At RPS, we aim to build positive…

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has teamed up with the town’s heritage railway to turn back time by more than 60 years for scores of eager schoolchildren.  On Tuesday, 2 July, the first day of this year’s Eisteddfod, 160 pupils from three schools in the Dee Valley will board a train to transport them in style between Corwen and Llangollen railway stations to enjoy children’s day which is traditionally held on the first day of the core festival. And that’s something that’s not happened since the summer of 1963 when the last ‘Eisteddfod special’ left Corwen before the line was…

A Specsavers store in Swansea has celebrated 40 years of serving the community with a charity fundraiser for a local hospital. The store was opened in 1984 by Specsavers co-founders, Dame Mary and Doug Perkins. It was the first Welsh Specsavers store to open, and one of only five stores to open in the company’s first year – the others being Guernsey, Bath, Bristol and Plymouth. Since then, Specsavers has grown to become the largest privately-owned optical group, with stores in over 11 countries. Dame Mary worked closely with the store’s team during the early days of its opening, helping…

TV soap stars and ex-Premier League players will be raising money for a crime-fighting organisation at a charity football match. The game in aid of North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) is being organised by the Wrexham Police FC team  who are the second favourite club of Wrexham AFC co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Among those expected to be lining up against the off-duty coppers will be a trio of actors from Emmerdale, James Hooton who plays Sam Dingle, Jay Kontzle who portrays Billy Fletcher and Joe Warren Plant aka Jacob Gallagher. They will be turning out for…

The Development Bank of Wales has published its annual results for 2023/24. 430 different businesses benefitted from 491 investments totalling £125.2 million and generating £50.1 million of private sector co-investment. 4,406 jobs were created or safeguarded against a target of 3,779. The average deal size increased to £254,977 and the Bank recorded its largest ever strategic funding deal in January 2024 as part of a syndicate with co-investor Barclays for Bluestone Resorts. The ESG syndicated facility has enabled Bluestone to continue with a major sustainable investment programme, including the development of a 5-hectare solar farm. The value of exits rose…

Thomas Carroll Group has this week reported a 2% growth in turnover, as well as pre-tax profits of nearly £1million in its FY 2023 results. 2023 was a landmark year for the Thomas Carroll Group – the Caerphilly-headquartered independent insurance, risk, wealth management and insurtech company celebrated its 50th year in business and also transitioned into employee ownership, via an employee ownership trust (EOT). The move into employee ownership was taken to reinforce its continuing independence, as well as creating a clear succession plan for the Group. In delivering the EOT, Thomas Carroll Group incurred a number of one-off additional expenses…

Popham Kidney Support, the Swansea-based kidney charity, has announced the date for its marquee fundraising event of 2024: the Popham Annual Awards Dinner. This anticipated event will be held on Friday, September 13, at Morgans Hotel in Swansea. Following the success of last year’s fundraiser, Popham Kidney Support is calling on businesses to support this year’s Annual Awards Dinner, with the goal of raising substantial funds for children facing kidney disease. Hosted by TV presenter and Popham Kidney Support Ambassador Sian Lloyd, the evening will feature five awards to honour the contributions of supporters, volunteers, and kidney patients to Popham…

Menter a Busnes, which has been supporting businesses and individuals in Wales to start-up and grow for more than three decades, has today (26 June) unveiled a new brand and strategy which aims to propel Welsh businesses onto a global stage.  Under an ambitious new identity — Mentera — revealed its revamped look alongside a new strategic plan to key partners, Government officials and industry leaders at Llanerch Vineyard, an example of a Welsh business that has diversified from farmland to become an internationally-recognised vineyard destination.     Marking its 35th anniversary year, Mentera (previously Menter a Busnes) and its 170-strong staff…

The fisheries research has picked up two separate £250,000 awards after making successful bids to prestigious environmental funding programmes, overseen by Welsh Government. It was named as one of the projects chosen to benefit from the latest round of the Nature Networks Fund. Delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural Resources Wales, the Fund helps Welsh Government work towards the Global Biodiversity Framework 30 by 30 goal, which aims to protect and effectively manage 30 per cent of the planet’s marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments by 2030. The Swansea team, based in the Faculty of Science…

Communities across Ceredigion are being invited to “adopt” streams to improve biodiversity and community connection to their local river, in an initiative led by West Wales Rivers Trust (WWRT). Adopt a Tributary Ceredigion is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by the Levelling Up Campaign and delivered by Ceredigion County Council. The initiative seeks to improve the condition of the rivers of Ceredigion, stretching from the Afon Clarach and Afon Rheidol catchments in the North to the Afon Teifi in the South, by supporting and training communities to become the eyes, ears, and voices…