Category Archives: North Wales

News, North Wales, Recruitment, Social Housing

North Wales Housing Association Invests £1million To Create 40 New Jobs Following Significant Business Growth

Leading North Wales housing association, ClwydAlyn, has experienced significant business growth and has committed to investing over £1million to recruit 40 new job roles which will include vacancies in the housing, finance, maintenance, IT, and procurement teams, as well as Pathway positions which will be new trainee opportunities to help people in the community with limited work experience, such as school and college leavers to kickstart their careers.

As part of ClwydAlyn’s commitment to investing in the growth and development of a diverse range of talent, the paid Pathway roles will build skills and experience in a working environment with tailored progression plans.

Clwyd Alyn St Asaph HQ . Picture Mandy Jones

The number of homes currently managed by ClwydAlyn sits at 6,300 across Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, Wrexham, Powys and Isle of Anglesey, and there are plans for a further 1,000 new homes to be built over the next three years. To ensure a consistently high level of service for residents and support for staff members continues, the organisation has identified the need to strengthen its workforce significantly.

The new recruits will work with the existing teams to help build more affordable housing across North Wales, while expanding the service offer in support of its core mission to end poverty. Once the 40 new roles are successfully filled, the workforce headcount will increase to a total of 810.

Clare Budden, Group CEO at ClwydAlyn Housing Association said:

“As we continue to grow and expand our services to meet the needs of our communities, we know that it’s only through investing in our teams that we can continue to deliver the highest standard of support and care to our customers.

“This recruitment campaign is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to join us in our mission to beat poverty and make a real difference in North Wales.

“We’re looking for passionate and dedicated individuals who share our values of trust, kindness, and hope and who ultimately want to create a positive, lasting impact on communities.”

For the full list of vacancies, job descriptions, and application process, please visit https://www.clwydalyn.co.uk/work-for-us/

News, North Wales, Telecoms, Telecoms News, USA

Moneypenny Acquires Sunshine Communications Services to Further Strengthen It’s Position in the US Market

Moneypenny, a leading innovator in outsourced communication services has further extended its services in the US with the acquisition of Sunshine Communication Services.

Sunshine is an award-winning provider of bilingual (English and Spanish) call management solutions to businesses of all sizes ensuring they run smoothly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Based in Florida and founded in 1975 by the Gross family, the company is dedicated to representing clients’ business in providing customised services across a variety of industries.

The Moneypenny Group is a market leader, with its US HQ in Atlanta. The company employs over 1,000 people globally and delivers virtual receptionist and phone answering services, Live Chat, switchboard, fully outsourced customer service teams and a host of AI and technology-enabled services handling over 20 million calls and chats annually for thousands of businesses, from sole traders to multi-national corporations.

The company has ambitious growth plans, and this acquisition will take the US business to almost a third of the Moneypenny Group turnover. Demand for its services is growing at a significant rate as businesses continue to look at ways to improve how they interact with their customers, by blending technology solutions with highly skilled personal assistants to maximize operational efficiencies.

 

Joanna Swash, Group CEO commented, “We are delighted to welcome Sunshine Communication Services to The Moneypenny Group. This is our fourth acquisition in the US following Alphapage in 2022. Sunshine Communication Services is a successful brand and its acquisition will further complement the services we can offer to our clients in the US. Our aim is to be the number one provider in the US for outsourced communications, supporting businesses of all sizes to deliver a great customer experience with every interaction, regardless of channel.”

 

Brothers, Andrew Gross and Peter Gross from Sunshine Communication Services added, “We are excited about the opportunities this next phase presents for our business, and more importantly, for our team and customers. From the moment we met Moneypenny, it was clear our companies have a great fit, not just with our products and services, but also more importantly, with our strong culture and ethos. Looking after our people and putting the needs of the customer front and center are at the core of both of our companies.”

Awards, News, North Wales

Moneypenny CEO Honoured with OBE for Services to the Economy

Joanna Swash, Group CEO of Moneypenny was recently appointed an OBE in the King’s Honours List for her services to the economy. The award recognises her contribution to Moneypenny’s international growth, the strong culture originally created by the founders, the brilliant work by the management team and the jobs created in Wrexham, London and the US.  It also recognises her commitment to the local community in Chairing the City of Culture bids for Wrexham and uniting the collective goodwill of cross party politicians, local authorities and so many local business leaders to drive the Investment Zone for Wrexham and Flintshire.

Moneypenny supports businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK and US with call answering, live chat and bespoke and proactive customer communication services. The company which employs over 1,000 people has been listed in the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ seven times and recognised as a Great Place To Work (GPTW).

Joanna Swash comments: “I am honoured and humbled to have received an OBE in the King’s Honours list for my contribution to the local economy. It is a privilege to have been part of the strong growth story at Moneypenny and I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of business leaders. I am extremely grateful to have been able to make a positive contribution locally both by Chairing the City of Culture bids for Wrexham and helping to drive the Investment Zone for Wrexham and Flintshire, illustrating the impact of collaborative efforts.”

 

 

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News, North of England, North Wales

Hydes Brewery To Invest Millions In Its Pub Estate Throughout The Year

Salford-based brewer and pub retailer Hydes has committed to a multi-million, seven-figure investment programme across its pub estate throughout the remainder of 2024.

The family-owned independent business, which marked its 160th anniversary last year, will begin the investment programme with a refurbishment of its award-winning pub and boutique hotel, The Abel Heywood, based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter.

Acquired by Hydes in 2015, The Abel Heywood will close on 25th February for a full interior refurbishment including new booth seating, modernisation of existing Victorian-style decor, new external signage, lighting and a revitalisation of the bar areas.

Hydes is committing £200k investment to the project and will re-open the characterful pub to customers on 9th March. The on-site boutique hotel, which is popular with visitors to Manchester, has a 99% occupancy rate and will remain open throughout the renovations.

The investment forms part of a wider multi-million-pound programme planned for other key sites in Hydes’ portfolio including significant investments at The Boat House at Parkgate on the Wirral, The Nursery Inn at Heaton Norris, Stockport and The Mount Inn at Chester. The investment total will run into seven figures for the year including smaller-scale refurbishments at a number of additional Hydes pubs.

Last year Hydes committed over £4 million worth of investment in its estate. The Jolly Thresher in Lymm and The John Millington in Cheadle Hulme both underwent extensive refurbishments. Further investments were made at various other sites including The Sam Brooks in Sale, The Golden Lion in Rossett and Alfreds in Macclesfield.

In October 2022, Hydes completed its first freehold acquisition since 2015, purchasing the former police station in Heswall. Named after the architect of the original building, The Harry Beswick, cost over £3.6m and opened its doors as Hydes’ newest premium pub and dining venue in November 2023.

Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes commented: “The Abel Heywood is a key venue and kicks off a series of investments that will see us continuing to commit to the ongoing refurbishments of all pubs in our estate. This follows significant investment programmes for the previous two years, resulting in the revitalisation of multiple sites. The Abel Heywood, with its adjoined 15 room boutique hotel, is a firm favourite in the city’s Northern Quarter and this investment will enable it to build on the success and reputation it has established since we first acquired it nearly a decade ago.

“Starting with The Abel Heywood, our ongoing investment in the estate not only highlights the commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience, products and services but also underpins the integral role in the communities it serves. Investment in our pubs and our people is top priority at Hydes and this will continue throughout the coming year, strengthening our offering and enhancing the overall experience for all our customers and guests.”

Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs.

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Pictured: The Abel Heywood pub and boutique hotel, Manchester

News, North Wales, North-West England

Hydes introduce new beer ranges for 2024

North west based brewer Hydes has unveiled its new product range for 2024.

The 18-strong range includes six ‘Vintage’ cask ales as part of its bi-monthly offering and 12 seasonal ales.

The Vintage range comprises historic bottled brews recreated from the original Hydes Anvil range from the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s. The range sees the return of Anvil Brand Brown Stout (4.1% ABV), Anvil Brand Pale Ale (4.0% ABV), Anvil Brand Light Ale (3.9% ABV), Anvil Best (4.8%), Oatmeal Stout (4.5% ABV) and Nut Brown Ale (3.8% ABV).

Previously all part of a bottled range dating back between 1895 to 1941 this is the first time the range has been re-introduced on cask. Hydes has also recreated the original bottle designs featuring the Hydes Queens Brewery branding to feature on the bar pump clips and beer mats.

The seasonal range includes a range of 12 ales themed around classic British TV shows including Bulls Eye, Dad’s Army, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Phoenix Nights, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses.

The first themed ales to be introduced are Bulls Hydes, a 4.2% ABV premium bitter, available throughout January and Flying Circus, a 4.5% ABV dark ale, for February.

 

Hydes managing director, Adam Mayers said: “We’re very proud to introduce our 2024 range which combines our rich brewing heritage in the North West through our Vintage range with an innovative, contemporary range of a dozen ales playfully themed around British TV classics.

“The reintroduction for the first time of some of Hydes’ bottled beers from the early days of the brewery’s origins up to and including the war years is an exciting addition to the existing core range and we can’t wait for drinkers to sample these brews, all based on the original recipes, for the first time in over 100 years in some cases. Anvil Best was first introduced as a bottled bitter in 1924 so it’s great to see it make a historic return exactly a century later for today’s drinkers to enjoy fresh from the cask.”

 

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of over 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

To find out more about Hydes Brewery visit https://www.hydesbrewery.com/.

Drink, News, North Wales

Aber Falls Distillery releases Rye Distillery Exclusive whisky

Aber Falls Distillery in Abergwyngregyn has today released a brand new ‘Rye Distillery Exclusive’ Welsh Whisky, with just 579 bottles being made available from its Visitor Centre.

With a combination of 51% malted rye and 49% Welsh malted barley, this Rye Whisky has been matured in a Virgin Oak cask for just over 3 years. This whisky is natural in colour & non-chill filtered – produces notes of Christmas cake candied fruits, marzipan, chocolate, and vanilla, whilst the palate delivers a taste of rye bread with hints of apple and malt, with a long-lasting, with a long delicately spiced finish reminiscent of spiced, ginger biscuits.

Jill Boyd, Master Blender at Aber Falls, said: “One of the great advantages of being a Welsh distillery is our ability to be able to experiment with different wood types and barrels. In turn, we can create unique whiskies and our rye release is a great example of this.”

Aber Falls Single Malt whiskies are distilled, matured, and bottled in North Wales, between the foothills of the Carneddau mountains in Eryri and the Menai straits. They are crafted using 100% Welsh malted barley and rock-filtered water taken from the Aber Falls Waterfall and are crafted by a team of local people. This very special whisky release is a combination of Welsh malt, and Rye creating a truly exceptional limited whisky release.

The Aber Falls ‘Rye Distillery Exclusive’ Whisky is bottled at 52% ABV and available to purchase from the distillery’s shop at an RRP of £85.

Food & Drink, News, North Wales, Wrexham

Popular Wrexham Pub Reopens it’s Doors Following Extensive Refurbishment

Hydes Brewery has reopened The Stanton House in Chirk, Wrexham, following a complete interior refurbishment.

The transformation of the popular village pub, part of the Hydes tenanted estate, includes a complete interior redecoration with new furniture throughout and a newly configured bar areas, together with a full refresh of the exterior. 

The refurb, is sympathetic to Stanton House’s existing features, retaining all the character which has made it a popular destination pub with drinkers and a main focus of community activity in Chirk.   

This latest refurbishment forms part of an ongoing multi-million pound investment programme in the Hydes estate over the next few years. Throughout 2022 Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate and it intends to increase that investment substantially throughout 2023.

Mark and Chelly Jones, who have over 20 years of successful tenancy experience with Hydes and have managed Stanton House since 2001, have established it as a real community hub for the people of Chirk and surrounding areas and are thrilled that Hydes has invested in the pub.

Popular with locals and visitors to Chirk, The Stanton House is located within a designated conservation area and in walking distance of the Castle and the narrow boat basin. A broad selection of beers and other popular drinks are complemented by an enticing homemade food range which is served throughout the week.

Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “It’s great to see The Stanton House reopen again with a refreshed look and feel, just in time for the busy summer holiday season. Mark and Chelly are one of our longest-standing tenants at Hydes and are committed to providing a first class customer experience. Together we make a great team and look forward to seeing what the future brings.

“We’re happy to support our tenanted pubs and a complete refurb represents a positive investment that will help them to drive the business. As a very popular pub that plays an important role in the local community, we’re confident that customers old and new are going to enjoy this newly refurbished venue.

“Hydes is fully committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this latest round of investment is part of an ongoing programme of multiple redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a first-class experience is a key priority at our pubs such as The Stanton House.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

To find out more about Hydes Brewery visit https://www.hydesbrewery.com/.

News, North Wales, Tourism

Zip World Makes Strides In ‘Responsible Adventure’ Thanks To New Government Growth Deal

  • The outdoor activity giant has been allocated over £6m worth of matched funding, as part of the North Wales Growth Deal, to help lead the way in responsible adventure in the UK.
  • Zip World will use the funding to create jobs for locals during off-peak seasons and provide sustainable transports links between its sites and local rural communities.

Wales-based adventure company, Zip World, has announced exciting growth plans following an announcement from North Wales Ambition Board that it is to receive Growth Deal Funding.

Zip World has been allocated £6.2million worth of matched funding, subject to approval of a business case, as part of the North Wales Growth Deal to help them lead the way as a leading responsible tourism destination.

The North Wales Growth Deal is a £1billion investment to the region, £240million of which has been funded by both Welsh and UK Governments.

The outdoor activity giant, which provides visitors with unique and exhilarating experiences across its 29 attractions at seven UK sites, plans to use the funding as part of its ambitious ‘Responsible Adventure’ growth project over the next two years.

In addition to a new cable car experience that will improve the experiences of those visiting North Wales, the funding will provide sustainable transport links between its sites and rural communities through a new electric bus network.

 

Andrew Hudson, Zip World’s Chief Commercial Officer who led the strategy behind the bid, said:

“This funding will play a crucial role in transforming and widening our offering to tourists visiting North Wales all year round to help strengthen the region’s sustainable and thriving economy.

“Among the exciting new projects on the horizon is the creation of a cable car experience that will enable people of all abilities to enjoy the stunning North Wales landscape from an easily accessible view point.

“The project will also benefit local communities by creating more year-round job opportunities that reduces the dependency on peak holiday periods, and the new eBus network will help ease seasonality congestion in the area.”

Zip World estimates the funding will allow them to boost the North Wales economy by an additional £6.8 million per year.

An Economic Impact Assessment carried out by North Wales Tourism found that Zip World had already helped contribute an estimated £251million economic boost to the local region between 2013 to 2018.

A new economic study, due to be carried out this summer, is expected to show significant growth in its economic impact on the local area, having almost doubled its visitor numbers since the last report.

This has been helped by recent launches including the world’s first underground adventure golf course and its newest gravity-powered adventure, Aero Explorer, in Llechwedd and Penrhyn Quarry respectively.

 

Rhodri Owen, Zip World’s Head of Projects for the North Wales Growth Bid, added:

“We are extremely honoured and excited that our new ‘Responsible Adventure project’ is one of five to join the North Wales Growth Deal.

“The funding from the bid is an extremely positive next step towards us becoming a B Corp company, as well as helping us to build a more vibrant, sustainable, and resilient local economy.”

Food & Drink, News, North Wales

South Caernarfon Creameries sweeps up at the International Cheese Awards

South Caernarfon Creameries (SCC) has had its best year at the International Cheese Awards (ICDA) claiming five golds, one silver and four bronze awards for its wide range of Cheddar cheeses, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Caerphilly cheese.

Attracting over 5,500 entries every year, the ICDA is the world’s biggest platform championing world class producers of cheese and dairy products and success brings high profile recognition not only with UK retailers but on the international stage.

After recently winning the prestigious ‘Food Producer of the Year’ award at the 2023 Wales Food and Drink Awards, the farmer owned dairy co-operative is going from strength to strength. To date this year, SCC has also secured 11 awards at the Devon County Show, seven at the Cheshire Show and a bronze at the Highland show.

The string of awards follows a busy first half of the year for the creamery, with the launch of its TV advert for its flagship brand Dragon, its new and improved Dragon website and breaking into the lucrative US dairy market.

SCC Managing Director, Alan Wyn Jones said, “We’ve had an incredibly successful year at the ICDA awards, the best ever. This is a testament to all the hard work put in by the SCC team, from the farmers producing the high quality milk, to our highly skilled cheese production team.

“Winning one of these renowned awards means being part of an elite group and a 125 year old tradition of the very best in class, but claiming 10 awards overall is outstanding.

“This year we smashed last years’ hat-trick of gold awards and won five, a true reflection of the exceptional quality of cheese we produce here at South Caernarfon Creameries.”

For more information and to order Dragon cheese online go to https://dragonwales.co.uk/.

Business & Property News, News, North Wales, Wales News, Wrexham

Ipsen Wrexham investment unveiled as Wrexham mayor joins 50th birthday celebration

Ipsen today announced a £75 million investment in its Wrexham site, a world-renowned “neuroscience centre of excellence.” The announcement coincides with the site’s 50th birthday, which was celebrated with a tree-planting ceremony attended by the newly appointed Wrexham Mayor, members of the community, and Ipsen employees, including the company’s Chief Executive Officer, David Loew.

The event commemorated half a century of researching, developing and manufacturing innovative treatments for patients in over 90 countries across the world, with the tree-planting ceremony serving as a symbol of the company’s strong roots in North Wales, sustainable work practices, commitment to the environment, and future growth.

Wrexham’s new Mayor, Councillor Andy Williams, who took part in the tree-planting ceremony, said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Ipsen as a company, and for the Wrexham community. Through the creation of numerous jobs over five decades, Ipsen’s Wrexham site has contributed significantly to the growth of the local economy while working sustainably and ethically, making it a shining example to businesses locally and globally. From driving global health to ‘going green’ and helping local students pursue careers in the life sciences sector, Ipsen Wrexham has much to be proud of as a community partner and global innovator.”

Ipsen Wrexham, which is the largest of Ipsen’s UK sites, uses 100% renewable energy across its production and research units. Earlier in the year, the Wrexham-based global manufacturing site was awarded a grant by the government in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the life sciences ecosystem.

“The 50th anniversary of Ipsen’s Wrexham site marks a proud moment for our company,” said David Loew. “We have seen huge growth in demand at this important site, and we are pleased to continue our investment in the area and contribute positively to the local economy.”

Ipsen Wrexham is a global site, producing products that are exported to more than 90 countries around the world. It currently houses approximately 500 Ipsen employees, including scientists focused on developing a range of scientifically advanced, high-quality processes and methodologies required for the manufacture and supply of clinical products across the Ipsen Biologics portfolio. It was recently named as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ (2023) in the category of large organisations, by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.