Author: Rhys Gregory

Leading price comparison website Go.Compare is the latest blue-chip company to move its head office to the refurbished Hodge House office building in central Cardiff. Legal General Investment Management (LGIM), on behalf of its Legal & General Property Fund, recently invested £20 million to refurbish and transform the 110,000 sq ft eight-storey office building in St Mary Street. Earlier this year, the L&G UK Property Fund successfully passed an investor resolution to adopt a hybrid strategy combining direct UK property with an indirect global exposure via listed REITs. This offers investors a market-leading solution via an open-ended vehicle; allowing for…

A food distribution company that’s aiming to create 150 new jobs as part of a £6 million expansion has clinched two major schools contracts worth over £2 million – including a first ever education deal in South Wales. Harlech Foodservice has a new £1.5 million contract to provide schools in Gwynedd with a range of products including Welsh beef – following up it’s first Gwynedd contract which was signed in 2022 – as well as landing a £700,000, 12-month agreement to supply schools and care homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Harlech, which has its headquarters near Criccieth, in Gwynedd, and…

Students are invited to sweep up at St David’s Cardiff to kick off the new academic year in style. Supermarket Sweep-inspired dashes will be given away as prizes to students at the city shopping destination as part of a one-day in-mall game. Winners will receive a 10-minute £100 shopping dash at their choice of amazing participating brands, with their spree followed by cameras to broadcast their experience on the centre’s social channels. The Student Shopper Sweep event will be held between 11am-6pm on Thursday 26th September, located on the upper level of the Grand Arcade – between Victoria’s Secret and…

Records tumbled as the owners of one of Wales’ leading country house hotels invested nearly £100,000 to start a flock of rare breed Valais Blacknose sheep. Anthony and Donna Cooper-Barney, owners of the five-star Palé Hall, Llandderfel, Bala, bought five top quality sheep at the ‘Blacknose Beauties’ national show and sale at Carlisle. Included in their purchases was female champion, Ayrshire Ingrid, which set a breed record as she sold for 30,000 guineas. In fact, the breed record was broken four times in 12 minutes before the hammer finally fell. Sold by Tom Blackwood of Stewarton, the ewe, in-lamb to…

Life Sciences Hub Wales is excited to announce the appointment of Dr Meinir Jones to its Board of Directors, following a public appointments process completed in June 2024, approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. Dr Meinir Jones’ appointment represents a significant enhancement in Life Sciences Hub Wales’ capacity to drive innovation and excellence in healthcare. A Welsh-speaking GP from Swansea, Meinir boasts over 25 years of system-wide clinical experience. Her global career includes nearly five years in Australia, four years in rural and remote practices in the Republic of Ireland, and numerous senior roles across the…

There’s a spectrum of different designs and materials for internal doors, and it’s always exceptionally surprising to see new innovations that have been made. With that said, though, there are four main materials that doors are made from, and they each have their individual strengths and weaknesses. Here, let’s talk about these main kinds of doors, and how they can boost your home in more ways than just aesthetic! Hardwood and Solid Wood This won’t be terribly surprising, but sometimes it’s important to state the obvious to ensure that everyone is on the same page: both hardwood doors and solid…

The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Elliot Penn, recently opened a new exhibition by local artist and photographer Malcolm Downes at Art Central Gallery. Cllr Penn welcomed the artist and guests to the Council’s art gallery as the exhibition was unveiled. A keen photographer for many years, Malcolm is an active member of Barry Camera Club. He began working with 35mm film camera equipment to produce monochromatic prints in black and white. The artist’s new collection draws upon his creative photographic draws upon his creative photographic styles. Using Macro photography, he has produced detailed refraction droplet images…

Money seized from criminals is helping to develop the next batch of young rugby union stars in North Wales. Summer training camps run by Caernarfon Rugby Club  for youngsters across the region have been supported financially by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). More than 300 players aged between five and 16 years have attended the sessions at the clubs Morfa ground, honing their rugby skills and enjoying refreshments supplied by PACT while the town’s Tesco store chipped in with water, crisps and fruit. Police officers visited regularly and the youngsters were able to clamber into their vehicles,…

TB experts will gather in Aberystwyth this month to discuss how local, regional and national collaboration can help to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis. At a conference held by the Sêr Cymru Centre of Excellence for Bovine TB at Aberystwyth University groups representing vets, farmers, government, conservationists and academia will gather to discuss the social dimensions of managing bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Among the speakers at the conference on 18 September will be Dr Damien Barrett from the Irish Government’s Department of Agriculture, Dr Ruth Little from the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Prof Gareth…

A new South Wales homecare business emphasising the personal touch is planning to take on 23 staff in the near future. Cardiff Care, run by highly experienced Carly Davies and Juan Goncalves has been supported by a £40,000 Fast Track loan from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE giving the firm a platform for growth. The company is offering high quality homecare packages through Cardiff City and Vale of Glamorgan Councils, as well as private arrangements for individuals. Carly, Manager of the new business, has 17 years’ experience in the sector and was for ten years in charge of a 51-bed care…