Author: Rhys Gregory

61-year-old, Michael Garner, from Gorseinon has won £500, towards his Christmas shopping, thanks to the Quadrant Shopping Centre in Swansea. The Big £500 Giveaway asked the people of Swansea to nominate who they thought would be most deserving of the prize. Over a period of two weeks, the Centre received 195 nominations, with Michael’s story being chosen as winner.  Chosen by a panel of judges made up of Quadrant staff, Michael’s nomination by his wife, Susan, stood out as it detailed a difficult period they’ve faced over the last few years, with Michael fighting neck and throat cancer that has…

BAFTA Cymru winner and fire-chef extraordinaire, Chris ‘Flamebaster’ Roberts, takes his fiery passion on the road across his beloved Cymru.  Along the way he’ll be hooking up with renowned chefs, producers and local characters; showcasing top foodie destinations.  Whether it’s “next-level” restaurants, or local kebab houses – he’s all about celebrating Welsh food, Welsh producers and Welsh communities.   He doesn’t have to travel far for the first stop on his culinary journey, as it starts in his hometown of Caernarfon. Nestled between mountains and the sea, Caernarfon is ideally situated to reap all sorts of tasty riches.   In the first…

A family business has started work on the refurbishment of derelict offices on Abernant Road in Aberdare following a £200,000 investment by the Investment Fund for Wales. NTJ Plasterers is run by Velda and Neil Edwards along with their two sons Tom and Jake. The company purchased the two-storey building in 2018 and is now undertaking a major refurbishment programme that has been part-funded by a £200,000 debt finance loan from the Investment Fund for Wales, which was launched by the British Business Bank in late 2023. Once complete, the new offices will be the headquarters for NTJ Plasterers which…

A former nightclub in Llandrindod Wells is enjoying a new lease of life as a food bank and advice centre, thanks to funding secured by Powys County Council. The council awarded £146,000 towards the cost of the second phase of the building work to refurbish the Oasis site behind the Commodore Hotel, on Spa Road, which has previously been known as The Venue and V Nightclub and Bar. The funding was provided in the form of a Welsh Government Placemaking Grant, through its Transforming Towns Programme, and has been used to help create: Office space for use by the food…

A ROUTINE eye test at Specsavers Colwyn Bay has led to life-saving treatment for a local 10-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. When Rhea Hamlet-Jolley visited the Bay View Shopping Centre store on 4 August with her dad, Anthony, optometrist Rhian Porter identified abnormalities in her optic discs. She immediately referred Rhea for an emergency appointment at Glan Clwyd Hospital, from where she was transferred to the ophthalmology department at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool the following day. Just days later, on 8 August, Rhea underwent her first brain surgery after specialists discovered a tumour. Following a…

The three directors of Pontardawe-based Westward Energy Services have completed a management buy-out enabling the former owners to retire after 25 years in a deal that has been part-funded by a £775,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Jonathan Garland, Stuart Thomas and Dai Atkins have acquired the heating and electrical services business that was first established 40 years ago. It has been operated by Andrew and Joanne Robinson alongside co-founders Anthony and Andrea Slattery since 2001. SME Finance Partners have been supporting the management buy-out and Capital Law advised on legal matters. Providing domestic, commercial and industrial heating…

As thousands of people visit the seafront to enjoy the holiday season, construction teams installing a new sea defence system have ensured access to panoramic sea views. Final work, including widening the prom to a consistent 6m, laying a hard-wearing top surface, creating landscaped beds and play areas and installing smart new energy-efficient lights, is due to be carried out by around Easter time. Project work is around 70% complete. The prom areas open this Christmas, with new wave-return wall and elegant stainless steel safety rails, will include the spans from the George pub-restaurant to Southend Slip and from Oyster…

Having a newborn baby in the house always makes Christmas all the more magical – but for one Swansea couple it so nearly didn’t happen. Aimee Arran and partner Seb Mallows have enjoyed countless cuddles with son Archie since he was born almost two months ago. Yet their happy story could have had a very different outcome were it not for the “exceptional” care provided at the city’s Singleton Hospital. Aimee had to undergo an emergency procedure to try to prevent a late miscarriage, with only a 50 per cent chance of success. But fortunately it worked, and Archie arrived…

Axiom Manufacturing Services has been honoured as one of the UK’s top manufacturers at the prestigious Elektra European Electronics Industry Awards. Competing against leading electronics manufacturers across Europe, including global multinationals, Axiom earned a Highly Commended distinction from Elektra’s panel of judges. This recognition celebrates the company’s significant investments, robust sales growth, and partner acquisitions. Organised by Electronics Weekly magazine, the Elektra Awards highlight achievements in the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of electronics products within the EU and beyond. Commenting on the success, Managing Director Chris Nye, said: “Elektra’s recognition, and the achievements over the past year that led…

Business confidence in Wales fell six points during December to 26%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. While Welsh companies reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up three points at 37%, their optimism in the economy fell 15 points to 15%. Taken together, this gives a headline confidence reading of 26% (vs. 32% in November). A net balance of 32% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 11 points on last month. Looking ahead to the next six months, Welsh businesses identified their top target areas…