Author: Rhys Gregory

Fifteen social businesses – including a Rhondda-based company helping the next generation of Welsh talent to break into the music industry – will be recognised at the Social Business Wales Awards this October.  The annual Social Business Wales Awards celebrate social enterprises across Wales making a difference locally, nationally and globally in areas such as housing regeneration, mental health and wellbeing, the transition to a net-zero economy, and employability skills training.   Other nominees include the only non-profit in the UK providing court of protection deputyship by qualified and regulated solicitors; an organisation providing employability skills training to young people in…

A “destination” adventure playground attraction made partly of recycled ocean waste and featuring an 8.9m high play tower with climbing walls and a thrilling tube slide is coming to Aberavon Beach. Also boasting a zip wire, swings, an overhead ladder, a carousel and other play equipment,  the new adventure playground is being paid for by the £4.25m ‘green up and clean up’ fund established by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet. The fund is designed to improve the look of Neath Port Talbot’s towns, valleys and villages. The new adventure playground has been designed by and will be built by Kompan…

Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/4, which first came to Pembrey Circuit in 1988 and dominated that year’s Formula 1 World Championship, will be the centrepiece of a Senna tribute at the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival. The festival takes place on Sunday 22 September, exactly 31 years to the day since the Brazilian F1 driver set the fastest lap around the home of Welsh motorsport. Pembrey will open its doors like never before at the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival, with visitors able to get up close to a collection of historic F1 cars and modern rally cars in the pit…

An emerging biotech start-up from St Asaph is turning the tide on plastic pollution, having successfully closed a significant funding round totalling over £800,000. The pre-seed round includes an equity investment of £220,000 from the Development Bank of Wales, alongside Innovate UK Investor Partnerships funding, Sustainable Ventures and SFC Capital. Using sustainably sourced seaweed from Scotland, PlantSea has developed a unique bio-refining technology to produce a ground-breaking water-soluble seaweed-based flexible film that holds both liquids and dry products such as laundry detergents. It mimics the key characteristics of plastic yet is fully biodegradable. The investment by the Development Bank will…

The 4-star independent Vale Resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a significant investment of £100,000 to update and refurbish the Vale Spa. The renovation is expected to be completed by Spring 2025 and will see all treatment rooms completely refurbished, new relaxation spaces created and the inception of a fire and ice experience. Phase One has transformed eight of the spa’s treatment rooms, with a totally new and relaxing look and feel, using neutral tones and gold accents to achieve a peaceful and contemporary environment in which guests can totally unwind. Upcoming phases include the refurbishment of the remaining…

Specialist ice cream manufacturer gg’s is set to provide even more customers with a taste of Italy after purchasing state-of-the-art machinery to slash production times and boost output. Local business owner Keith Jones opened the original gg’s parlour in 2019 from a pub they had recently purchased in Penclawdd after spotting a gap in the market for ice cream shops in the idyllic seaside peninsula of Gower. gg’s subsequent success pushed the team to grow their operations, moving to an off-site production unit. From here, the business decided it needed to progress to a continuous production model and bought four…

A Denbighshire-based construction company has strengthened its environmental credentials through further investment in its journey towards net zero.   Wynne Construction has introduced a new hybrid van to its fleet and installed additional solar panels as part of its wider commitment to achieve net zero by 2040.   The extra 16 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels at its headquarters boosts the system’s output to produce up to 31kW.    The PV panels, fitted by Welsh solar equipment energy supplier JM Renewables, will ensure the van is charged on site by sustainable clean energy.   In addition, the hybrid vehicle will produce…

The RSPCA is appealing for witnesses and information after a gull was thrown and kicked in Swansea city centre. The incident took place near Castle Square at the top of Oxford Street on Saturday 24 August at around 6pm. The gull was reportedly grabbed by its wing, thrown to the floor and kicked. The gull – which looked to have a broken wing following the incident – was confined to a box and taken for an examination. Sadly due to the severity of its injuries the bird was put to sleep to prevent further suffering. RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said:…

Olivia Jones, a third-year apprentice at Newbridge-based Axiom Manufacturing Services, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2024. Competing against top talent across the Welsh manufacturing sector, Olivia has been recognised in the Engineering Apprentice of the Year: Rising Star category. Olivia, 25, from Trealaw, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is one of the select few in the UK to be acknowledged in this category, which honours apprentices who have excelled in seizing training and development opportunities to launch their careers. Her nomination underscores her significant contributions to Axiom’s operations and her exceptional potential as she continues her apprenticeship.…

The investigation to establish the cause of yesterday’s tragic fatal road traffic collision in Beaumaris is underway. Shortly after 2:45pm (Wednesday, August 28) officers responded to reports of a road traffic collision on Alma Street involving a grey coloured Audi A8 and two pedestrians. Members of the public and the emergency services responded, however, despite the best efforts of all involved the male driver of the Audi, and the male and female pedestrian were sadly, pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Audi was aged in his 80’s and was local to the North Wales area. The male…