Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government is making progress in ensuring that those employed in the retail sector are fairly and properly paid and treated. Marking the progress seen during the first year of the Welsh Government’s Retail Action Plan, the Minister for Social Partnership outlined the actions being taken – from enabling the wider implementation of a real living wage to ongoing financial support with nondomestic rates bills and future proofing. She also committed to working with Police and Crime commissioners to tackle the physical and verbal abuse which remains too common in the sector. The Minister for Social Partnerships, Sarah Murphy,…

The Royal Welsh Show is renowned for its livestock competitions, but there’s a lot more to enjoy around the showground.The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar, the Royal Welsh Show takes place at the showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells from July 22-25.The show attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the heart of Mid Wales to celebrate the very best of Welsh and British agriculture. The action-packed four-day event features exciting competitions, livestock, horticulture, forestry, crafts, countryside sports, shopping, food and drink, a 12-hour programme of non-stop entertainment, attractions, displays and much more.Here are 11 fun things you can…

A Business in the Community Award is a new category in this year’s Powys Business Awards which were launched on Friday. “This new award recognises the many Powys businesses who put something back into their local communities,” said Ceri Stephens, group manager of Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, awards organiser. “All of the awards have been designed to encompass the nature of business and social enterprises in the county, so there really is something for everyone, no matter what size or sector.” Judges will be seeking evidence of business relationships with residents, schools and community groups, donations to or sponsorship of local…

Hon. Group Captain Sally Bridgeland FIA has been announced as the new Non-Executive Chair of the Development Bank of Wales. She will take up the role in September 2024 when the current Chair, Gareth Bullock OBE completes his nine-year term. Sally’s current non-executive roles include Chair at Impax Asset Management Group plc and BelleVie Care Ltd, Deputy Chair of the Brunel Pension Partnership and non-executive director at insurers Pension Insurance Corporation and Royal & Sun Alliance. She won the Non-Executive Director Awards 2023 – FTSE AIM for her role at Impax which comes to an end in July 2024. She…

Anthony Collier and Phil Reynolds of specialist business advisory firm FRP, were appointed as Joint Administrators of Mona Island Dairy Limited on 7 June 2024. Mona Dairy is a cheese plant based in Anglesey and uses a supply chain of more than 30 local farms, and employed around 50 members of experienced staff. Administrator and partner at FRP, Anthony Collier , said: “Mona Island Dairy has a compelling proposition with its modern, sustainable facilities. Unfortunately, it’s not been able to raise the funding needed to continue operating and so sadly 24 employees have been made redundant and we are helping them to access…

A fast-growing food wholesaler has taken over a rival company as part of its expansion in South West Wales. Harlech Foodservice has acquired Celtic Foodservices and says the firm  which is based in Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire is a “perfect fit”. The move is  part of an overall £6 million plan to create 150 new jobs and comes a few months after Harlech opened a new depot in Carmarthen where 15 sales staff and drivers have already been recruited. It was spurred by the company’s growth over the past three years which has seen sales increase from £32 million to…

A Flintshire-based housebuilder is upping its land acquisition as it seeks increase the number of homes it builds by 50%. Anwyl Group has been in business for almost a century and is run by the fourth generation of the Anwyl family, building family homes across North Wales, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire. To support it ambitious plans to build 1,200 homes a year, Anwyl is looking to acquire land in areas where it has existing developments, as well as branching out across the North West region and south into Shropshire and Staffordshire. The housebuilder’s growth plans will be supported by an…

Wales’ biggest building society will boost access to cash provision in Caerphilly, an area that has been affected by bank closures, with a cash kiosk in partnership with shared-banking innovator OneBanx. The cash kiosk will be hosted in Principality’s Caerphilly branch, becoming the second available in Wales after launching in the Cowbridge branch last year to fulfil the society’s ongoing commitment to the high street. The kiosk enables individuals and business customers of major banks and building societies to deposit and withdraw cash without needing to use a card. There is no charge for the service and the money is…

Baglan-based firm Hexigone Inhibitors, who specialise in patented micro-reservoir technology that is added to paints and protective coatings to prevent corrosion, have signed a string of international deals in India, Mexico, USA and across south and central America. Hexigone are addressing a multi-trillion-pound global problem with its patented products. Their corrosion inhibitors help to reduce corrosion damage on boats, vessels, cars, planes, oil tanks and buildings and have applications across a wide range of industries including construction, renewables, marine and aerospace. The company launched its export strategy three years ago after being spun out of Swansea University. Founded by Dr…

Last year Ireland was the third expert market for Welsh goods (by value) accounting for £2.5 billion. To support this vital trading relationship, Cardiff based road freight experts Europa Road have launched a first of its kind service on all of its daily routes between the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, designed to remove post Brexit challenges. Europa Road provides market leading European road freight services, its Cardiff site is at Cardiff Gate Business Park, Regus, Malthouse Ave, Pontprennau, and is home to a team of 7, and was first opened in May 2022. Europa Road is part of…