Category Archives: Cardiff News

Cardiff, Cardiff News, News, Retail, Retail News

Paralympic legend opens Llandaff SPAR following £500k Refurbishment

The new-look SPAR Market opened its doors on Friday 3 May, showcasing Cardiff’s first Philpotts concession with a FREE celebratory barista coffee for all customers.

Sporting legend and Paralympian Aled Sion Davies was joined by Llandaff Primary School children on Friday morning (03/05) to declare the new Llandaff flagship SPAR store open.

The SPAR Market store reopened to the public following a £500k refurbishment, boasting Cardiff’s first Philpotts concession and County Bridge Kitchen food-to-go offering.

Aled Sion Davies – who joined in recognition of SPAR’s Disability Sport Wales Insport Series partnership – greeted the school children and members of the public before tucking into a Philpotts sandwich and cutting the ribbon.

Speaking at the opening, Aled Sion Davies said:

“It was great to come down and meet the people of Llandaff and celebrate this wonderful new store. It’s great to see a store that’s so state of the art. Great food really brings people together and it is wonderful to see Welsh products celebrated throughout the SPAR flagship.”

 

The grand reopening showcased a ‘Spinner Winner Wheel’ for those who attended to win prizes and money off vouchers.

The redevelopment hosts a new concept Philpotts sandwich concession selling meticulously crafted sandwiches and salads made from quality ingredients – a little taste of the Philpotts legacy for the first time in Cardiff.

Customers can also enjoy freshly ground, ethically traded and deliciously roasted Philpotts coffee – and for one week only SPAR is giving a free coffee to new customers.

The new flagship store has County Bridge Kitchen, great tasting tonight’s tea solutions  prepared on site for shoppers to cook at home later.  And the store has teamed up with producers from across Wales and local to Llandaff, from Wrexham Lager, Samosa & Co to Lodge Farm Kitchen meals and Welsh Lady Jams.

 

SPAR Market Llandaff store manager, Mike Bircham said:

“It was wonderful to open the doors of our Llandaff flagship store and celebrate with our community of all ages.  We will be offering one free Philpotts coffee, until next Friday, to customers who come down and check out the new store. Llandaff SPAR is a new space, with a fantastic food offering that people can get excited about.”

 

The plush new flagship is the first fully digital SPAR store in Wales – committing to reducing cardboard by using screens and tech throughout.

SPAR will also be offering community groups, schools and universities discounts in the first week of opening, look out for flyers to get your hands on goodies.

 

 

Business, Business Expansion, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Insurance, Investment

New Cardiff office for insurance group Howden

Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced the opening of a new office in Cardiff, to support businesses with tailored insurance solutions.

Located at Regus House, Malthouse Avenue, in Cardiff Gate Business Park, the new office will build on the success of the recently inaugurated office in Swansea last month and Howden’s acquisition of Watkin Davies in 2020. The addition of a new Cardiff office underscores Howden’s dedication to becoming a prominent force in the commercial broking sector in South and West Wales. The expansion will be spearheaded by Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director, who has outlined ambitious plans to position Howden as the foremost competitor in the region.

Gary expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating: “I am very pleased to lead the opening of yet another office in Wales. An office in Cardiff was the natural choice for our expansion, and we are confident that by increasing our presence in South Wales by growing our team of advisors to 20+ enabling us to continuing to provide exceptional services to our clients.”

Under Gary’s leadership, the new Cardiff office is set to accommodate a team of six highly skilled brokers, who will work to uphold Howden’s commitment to excellence in risk advisory services, with more brokers set to join in the coming months. The team will play a pivotal role in driving the growth of Howden’s UK Corporate & Commercial pillar throughout 2024.

Gary added: “We’ve already made great headway in attracting a team of highly skilled brokers, and we anticipate significant growth throughout 2024. Our new Cardiff office, working closely with our Swansea operation, will play a key role in cementing our position as a leader in the South and West Wales commercial broking sector.

“We are very excited about our South Wales presence, and also becoming a Principal Partner of The British & Irish Lions for their forthcoming tour of Australia in 2025.”

Appointments, Business News, Cardiff, Cardiff News

Dudley’s Aluminium appoints new Finance Director to continue successful growth

WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has appointed Pablo Shorney as Finance Director to support its growth plans.

 

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Pablo has a wealth of experience, having spent a decade supporting SMEs across south Wales and south-west England. He joins the firm from Lexington Corporate Finance, where he has spent the last five years advising SMEs on financial and commercial strategies for growth.

 

On his appointment, Pablo said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Dudley’s as Finance Director at an exciting time in its growth strategy. Dudley’s has an exceptional reputation in its industry, built over thirty years, for delivering on prestigious projects across the UK. I’m looking forward to being part of the team and contributing to Dudley’s continued success.”

 

Steve Muir, Commercial Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are delighted to have Pablo join the business as our new Finance Director and a key member of our leadership team. Pablo brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as enthusiasm to support Dudley’s in our growth plans.”

 

Pablo takes over from retiring Finance Director, Russell Cope, who has been at Dudley’s for the last 11 years.

 

On his retirement, Russell said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve as Dudley’s Aluminium’s Finance Director for the past 11 years. I’m proud of the success we’ve achieved as a team, and I’m confident that the company is well-positioned for an exciting future.”

 

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

 

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.

Cardiff News, Investment, Investment News

£50 million investment programme launched to help transform the Northern Valleys of South East Wales

A new investment programme aimed at catalysing economic growth and social impact in the Northern Valleys was unveiled today (11 April 2024). The Northern Valleys Initiative aims to play a long-term levelling-up role in tackling some of the intra-regional disparities that exist within the Cardiff Capital Region.

 

The Initiative, totalling £50m, has been set up by Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and supported by Local Authority Delivery Teams from Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen. This will support businesses and projects that have the ability to increase prosperity in the region.

 

Investments will be focused on businesses that offer high-growth potential and the ability to help transform the regional economy.

 

Operating over a five-year period, the programme will act as a financial catalyst to support businesses that are either based in the Region or that wish to relocate for the long term. Typical grants and investments available for successful applicants will range from (but are not limited to), £100k to £2m.

 

The programme will concentrate on infrastructure, digital connectivity and tourism sectors delivering a wide range of outcomes including jobs, ecological regeneration and decarbonisation.

 

The Northern Valleys Initiative aligns with CCR’s strategic ambitions to:

 

–  tackle economic disparities and boost growth

–  enhance innovation capability and capacity

–  decarbonise our environment by 2050

–  improve our physical and digital infrastructure

 

Cllr Anthony Hunt, Chair of CCR Committee, said:

“Building on previous work in the region, the Northern Valleys Initiative will deliver an exciting opportunity to stimulate both the private and public sector investment required to generate additional jobs, boost prosperity, foster community resilience and help drive the circular economy in six local authority areas: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen”.

 

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:

“It’s fantastic news that this fund, backed by the UK Government, is going to help transform businesses in this area.

 

“We are focused on growing the economy of Wales, creating jobs and spreading prosperity, and investments like this are invaluable in making this aim a reality.”

Beauty, Business, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Education, Employee Motivation, Hair and Beauty, Job Opportunities, Jobs

Cardiff teen lands her dream job through Jobs Growth Wales+

A 17-year-old apprentice from Cardiff is flying to Budapest after support from the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales+ programme to land her dream role as a Hairdresser.

Darla Wathen recently completed her Level 1 NVQ qualification in Hairdressing and is currently working at Henderson & Co. as a Junior Stylist.

When discussing her route to employment, Darla said: “I wasn’t very academic at school, but I’ve always been a creative person. I decided to meet with Working Wales to scope out my options and Jobs Growth Wales+ appealed to me because of the work placements and hands-on training that were incorporated into your learning.

“Back then I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future, so I attended a few taster days to explore different career pathways. The courses on offer varied from childcare to beauty to construction and animal care, but it was hairdressing that I discovered I had a passion for.”

Having found her feet, Darla excelled on the programme and quickly proved to her tutors that she was a talented and dedicated learner.

Darla said: “My tutor, Charlotte, played a huge role in how comfortable and at ease I felt on Jobs Growth Wales+. I was nervous when I first started the programme, but she spent a lot of time helping me build on my essential skills before looking for employment.

“As well as working with me to improve my CV, Charlotte would act out interview scenarios with me to get me used to a real-life environment. This massively helped with my confidence and was a huge turning point for me.

“My Jobs Growth Wales+ tutors saw my potential. Everyone treated me like an adult, and I could tell the programme wanted me to succeed.”

With the support she received, Darla soon secured her job at Henderson & Co. in Cardiff and is currently thriving as a Junior Stylist.

Darla continued: “Working at Henderson & Co. has been amazing. I really appreciate the advice the other stylists give me, and I’ve already learnt so much in such a short space of time. When I’m not with clients, I’m either on reception, tidying or doing stock take – I love going to work because no day is the same!”

“I’m really keen to specialise in colour and I’ve been lucky enough to practice different techniques – from block colour, balayage, foils and highlights. I even dyed a customer’s hair red the other day.”

This year, Darla will be flying to Budapest with Henderson & Co. to attend a fashion show workshop.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be going with the team to a Kevin Murphy fashion show. It’s another new adventure and an opportunity for me to be taught by the very best influencers and experts in the industry.”

Darla has also got her sights set on gaining more work experience in Australia before returning to Wales to set up her own salon.

Darla said: “I’m hoping to progress with Henderson & Co, and maybe in a few years even live and work in Australia to learn new techniques again. At the moment I’m taking every day as it comes but it would be amazing to set up my own salon eventually.

“My one piece of advice for people who don’t know what they want to do when they’re at school is to talk to others about your options. I felt incredibly listened to and was lucky enough to find a career because of the training and funding provided through Jobs Growth Wales+.”

To learn more about Jobs Growth Wales+ visit workingwales.gov.wales/jobs-growth-wales-plus or call Working Wales on 0800 028 4844.

Business News, Cardiff News, Health, Research, Science

Genesis Biosciences joins consortium to tackle antimicrobial resistance

Genesis Biosciences has joined the COMBAT AMR consortium which aims to understand and control the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in complex drain biofilms.

Under the leadership of Professor Jean-Yves Maillard of Cardiff University, Genesis Biosciences will collaborate with the university and other European educational institutions on the research project.

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global challenge and is listed on the UK government’s National Risk Register as a chronic risk that poses continuous challenges. The government’s vision is for antimicrobial resistance to be contained and controlled by 2040 and it is publishing five-year national action plans to achieve this.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when organisms that cause disease evolve and are no longer affected by antimicrobials including antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral medicines. It is a natural phenomenon but is rapidly accelerating due to factors including misuse or overuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals, environmental contamination and poor infection control practices.

Biofilms, communities of microorganisms living on surfaces, are the most common mode of bacterial growth and harbour pathogens, particularly antimicrobial and multidrug resistant pathogens. Due to their ubiquitous nature, biofilms are recognised as a major cause of antimicrobial resistance.

The COMBAT AMR consortium is studying drain biofilms from farms, healthcare settings and homes to understand the complexity of biofilms in different environments and the persistence of antimicrobial genes and multidrug resistant organisms within those biofilms.

The consortium is using a new multi-species biofilm model based on research by Dr Kate Ledwoch, Laboratory Manager at Genesis Biosciences, and fellow scientists which was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection in 2020.

The innovative model will be used during the project to measure the efficacy of several interventions to control the biofilms, explore the phenotypic characterisations of the key pathogens and establish an impact intervention to control antimicrobial resistant organisms on their resistance genes within the biofilms.

Dr Emma Saunders, General Manager at Genesis Biosciences, said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to both human and animal health, impacting the ability to treat infections and ensure food security. As biofilms act as a reservoir for harmful, resistant pathogens, it is important to improve our understanding of antimicrobial genes and the impact of disinfection on complex biofilms.

“We are looking forward to working with Cardiff University and the other members of the consortium to help tackle this global challenge.”

Cardiff, Cardiff News, Events

Kick off The Year of the Dragon at The Red Dragon Centre

CARDIFF Bay’s leading entertainment venue is celebrating Chinese New Year with free workshops, activities and offers throughout half term.

 

To mark the Year of the Dragon, visitors will be greeted by the iconic Chinese Lion on 11 February, who will weave its way through the festivities and interact with at 12.30pm, 2pm, and 3.30pm.

 

The Centre will also be visited by the Cardiff Confucius Institute who will host free interactive workshops in lantern making and calligraphy from 12-4pm.

 

Throughout the week, visitors can become immersed in the celebration with pop-up workshop activities, a calligraphy showcase, and decorations by Dr Bob Balloons that will take over the Centre.

 

Experimental Science are hosting a sold-out workshop on 12 February to fuse curiosity and tradition with dragon-themed experiments.

 

Teaming up with The Makers Guild Craft in the Bay and Explore Learning Cardiff, the celebrations will continue throughout half-term with free workshops for children of all ages. On 14 February from 12-4pm, children can make their own Lunar New Year dreamcatcher and on 15 February from 11am-4pm, they can embark on a quest to free the dragon in a colour-by-numbers challenge.

 

All-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant, Volcano, and Pan-Asian restaurant, Everytime, will have exclusive offers, while Grosvenor Casino will be showing their spirit with exciting prize draws including the chance to win a 5-star trip to Macau, and are hosting a dragon dance and buffet on 29 February.

 

Dr Catherine Chabert, Executive Director of the Cardiff Confucius Institute, said: “We cannot wait to return to The Red Dragon Centre to mark the Year of the Dragon. After celebrating here in the past, we jumped at the chance to return and share the wondrous celebration with as many as possible.

 

“The Year of the Dragon symbolises power, nobility, honor, luck, and success, and we can’t wait to spread the word and welcome the New Year alongside the Centre’s visitors.”

 

Emma Constantinou, Marketing Manager at The Red Dragon Centre, said: “After such fabulous celebrations in the past, The Year of the Dragon is set to be one of our best yet. Chinese New Year is a special event that we all look forward to and I’m delighted to be welcoming back the Cardiff Confucius Institute.

 

“Being located in the Welsh capital, and the Red Dragon being at the heart of Wales, this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate such an importance symbol in the Chinese New Year and share this celebration with as many guests as possible.”

 

For further information about the event, visit https://thereddragoncentre.co.uk/chinese-new-year/ or follow the Centre on Facebook.

Business, Business Investment, Business News, Business Reports, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Industry News, Industry Press Releases, Investment, Investment News, News

GS Verde Group admitted to secondary market platform JP Jenkins

GS Verde Group Limited shares now trading at JP Jenkins.

9th January 2024 – Shares in the GS Verde Group (www.gsverde.group) have been admitted to trade on JP Jenkins share dealing platform. The GS Verde Group is headquartered at The Maltings, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff, with additional offices in Bristol and Dublin, and is registered as a company in England and Wales under Companies House, company number 15101725.

The completion of the seven-figure raise gives the Group a £9m post-money valuation on the JP Jenkins platform, which is the UK’s oldest secondary market and has provided a marketplace for share trading for established household brands such as Dyson and Weetabix as well as football clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester City.

The GS Verde Group is a multi-discipline M&A advisory business advising businesses on corporate transactions such as business sales (including Trade Sale, Management Buy-Out and Employee Ownership structures), acquisitions, investment raises and corporate re-organisations.

Through its multi-discipline structure, the business combines Law, Finance, Tax and Communications to provide a ‘one team’ advisory support to businesses.

The award-winning business has experienced fast growth through both strategic acquisitions and organic demand.   With offices in Cardiff, Bristol and Dublin, the Group employs c.90 staff across a range of professional and support disciplines.

Having won accolades as leading Dealmakers in 2022 and 2023, the business has proven demand for the ‘one team’ offering, and is looking to accelerate its growth nationally and internationally, through further strategic acquisitions, as well as investment in technology by further developing its proprietary software platform AR:Deals.

JP Jenkins is a liquidity venue for unlisted or unquoted assets in companies, enabling shareholders and prospective investors to buy and sell equity on a matched bargain basis. JP Jenkins is a trading name of InfinitX Limited an Appointed Representative of Prosper Capital LLP (FRN950991).

Shareholders wishing to trade these securities can do so through their stockbroker. Trades will be conducted at a level that JP Jenkins is able to match a willing seller and a willing buyer. Trades can be conducted, and limits can be accepted, during normal business hours. Shareholders or potential investors can place limits via their existing UK-regulated stockbroker.

The indicative pricing for the ordinary shares (ISIN: GB00BNTZFL29), as well as the transaction history, will be available on the JP Jenkins website at https://jpjenkins.com/company/gs-verde-group/

Veronika Oswald, Commercial Director of J P Jenkins said: “At JP Jenkins corporate advisors are a core part of our ecosystem in supporting private companies in liquidity and secondary market solutions. GS Verde’s admission demonstrates how our platform can not only support growth companies, but in turn support a multi-discipline M&A advisory business such as GS Verde in their own growth ambitions too. We are delighted to be able to support GS Verde with their own liquidity solution from today.”

Nigel Greenaway, Co-Founder and CEO of GS Verde Group said: “We are delighted to be trading on the prestigious JP Jenkins platform, joining such a wealth of household names in doing so.   

 

There has been overwhelming interest in our business, and this step to join the secondary market, allowing private investment into our business is a milestone step in our journey.  The investment will allow us to grow through strategic acquisition in certain areas of the UK, as well as to add firepower to our dealmaking teams in Wales, the Southwest of England and Ireland.   We can also accelerate our investment into AR:Deals, GS Verde’s own proprietary technology.”

For further information, please contact:

J P Jenkins Ltd.          

Veronika Oswald

Director           +44 (0)20 7469 0937

GS Verde Group Limited

Matthew Sutton

Company Secretary / Director       +44 (0)3330 107 8498

Cardiff, Cardiff News, Food & Drink, News

Croeso Pubs takes over lease of The Discovery in Lakeside

Croeso Pubs Ltd, the South Wales pub chain which already runs six venues including The Philharmonic and Brewhouse in the Welsh capital, has added The Discovery in Lakeside to its portfolio.

The pub, formerly run by Knife and Fork Food Ltd, will undergo a £400,000 major refurbishment in January and will be run by the team behind The Philharmonic, Brewhouse, Retro, Blue Bell, Daffodil, and The Dock in Cardiff Bay.

The Discovery is the first ‘community pub’ that will be run by Croeso Pubs.

 

Craig Davies, Director of Croeso Pubs, said it’s an exciting acquisition: “When we heard the lease was up for sale in June we didn’t hesitate. It’s always been a popular gastropub for the locals and we look forward to welcoming visitors to sample some of the best locally-sourced food and drink.

“The Discovery will be opening seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will also show live sport. We can’t wait to welcome former regulars and new customers through the doors.”

Croeso Pubs Ltd has a great track history in breathing new life into venues. It took over the lease for The Philharmonic and reopened it in 2017 after a £1million refurbishment and turned it into Cardiff’s most popular nightspot. Croeso also took over former Brains pub 33 Windsor Place in December 2022 and reopened it as Daffodil, a food-led venue, that has gone from strength to strength, and whose Sunday roasts regularly sell out.

In January 2023, Croeso also added former Marston’s Brains pub The Dock in Cardiff Bay to its portfolio and in March, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of Cardiff’s best loved sport and live music venue, Brewhouse.

 

Fellow Croeso Director Simon Little added: “We are enjoying huge success at our establishments in central Cardiff and Cardiff Bay. The Discovery has huge potential to be a bustling community pub and it’s fantastic to add it to the Croeso pubs family.”

 

The bar will also be showing all major sports events with full Sky, Amazon, BT and Viaplay packages.

 

Business & Property News, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Cardiff News, IT Services

Flotek Completes Tenth Successful Acquisition Branching into the Hospitality Sector

Prolific IT and Managed Service Provider, Flotek Group, has acquired IT & telecommunications company Orbiss in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. The acquisition marks the tenth successful acquisition for fast-growing Flotek.

The strategic acquisition of Truro-based Orbiss has enabled Flotek to expand its presence in the Southwest, to grow its team to 72 employees, and increase its revenue to £8.5m. The acquisition unlocks new areas of growth for Flotek, as Orbiss specialises in providing IT & telecommunication solutions to the hospitality industry (notably working with large clients such as Best Western and Holiday Inn).

Orbiss marks the first stage of Flotek’s growth into the hospitality sector, and the Cornish business will form a key part of Flotek’s offering in Southwest England, bolstering the Plymouth team to serve more clients in that area. Flotek has already dedicated resources to support the Orbiss team and its customers’ integration, retaining the expertise that Orbiss has established over the years.

Jay Ball, Flotek CEO, has known Orbiss owners, Karen McGowan and Karen Patterson for over 16 years, making Flotek Group well-placed to take Orbiss into the future.

Speaking on the acquisition, Jay said: “We are so pleased that Orbiss has joined the Flotek Group. I have worked with Karen McGowan and Karren Patterson for a long time, assisting them with engineers on the ground, and their 35-year experience in the sector is invaluable to us. The culture and passion at Orbiss align with the culture and values of Flotek, making it a perfect fit for the Group. The acquisition will enable us to accelerate our foothold in the hospitality market across the UK and continue to grow our services as a Managed IT & Communications solutions provider in the South West.”

Karen McGowan, co-owner of Orbiss, commented: “Working with Jay for over 16 years has allowed us to build a great amount of trust in his service, and we’re excited for our team and customers to be part of Flotek Group’s ambitious plans for the future.”

Karen Patterson added: “We are very much looking forward to being part of Flotek’s phenomenal growth and are delighted to continue serving our nationwide customers alongside our team that has helped us make the business what it is, now with Flotek’s service offering of nationwide IT & Cyber Security Support and client base behind us.”

GS Verde was delighted to have assisted Flotek on their landmark 10th acquisition in 18 months. Their multidiscipline team consisting of law, finance, tax, and communications expertise has advised on each Flotek acquisition from deal structuring through to completion.