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Local Salon in Good Spirit after yet another Award
A local hair salon has recently added another award to its already bulging trophy cabinet. Set up in 2005 by Donna Friend and her business partner Janine O’Callaghan, Spirit Hair Team on Commercial Street in Ystrad Mynach has won a variety of awards for the staff’s creative skills and customer care, including a “Good Salon Guide 5 Star Award”. Indeed, Donna herself was recently awarded the “Master Craftsman Diploma in Hairdressing”. Spirit‘s latest accolade came when an apprentice at the salon – Josh Griffiths – won an award for the blow dry he completed during his first ever entry into a competition. Josh‘s weeks of practising and hard work in preparation clearly paid off! Donna said: We are really proud of our team and our Academy, everyone works so hard and that’s why they get the results.
Yankee Candles Comes to Bargoed
Sweet Essence in Bargoed town centre has become an approved stockist for the famous Yankee Candle brand. The shop, which is located in Under Cardiff Road, is the second to be opened by Stewart Green who has over 20 years experience working in the retail sector. Sweet Essence stocks a range of 80 Yankee Candles as well as bath bombs made by the Bomb Cosmetics brand. Stewart said: At Sweet Essence customer service is a vital part of our business model. We offer a free gift wrapping service and our staff have a great product knowledge to help our customers choose the right candle or bath bomb.
West Sussex business woman relocates to Caerphilly
When Tina Topham relocated to Wales from West Sussex she sold her successful letting business. Once settled it wasn’t long before Tina decided to start a new business in Caerphilly town centre and she saw an opportunity to be part of the emerging market selling vaping products. The Vape Place Café opened in 2014 and is located in Pentrebane Street’s café quarter which situated off Cardiff Road by Specsavers. Tina said: I wanted to make the move into retail and this seemed to be an area of the market that we could bring something different to at The Vape Place Café we not only sell products but also offer space for people to socialise, our next idea is to serve cream teas in the cafe.
Crafty Creatives and local businesses get involved in Arts Week 2016!
Cwm a Mynydd Creatives Arts Week 2016 will be kicking off from the 9th of July until the 15th of July for a week-long festival which celebrates the area’s finest creative talent! Potters, artists, carvers, glass artists and animators will be popping up at a number of locations throughout the valleys during the week, with local businesses keen to show their support by offering their premises as popup galleries including Ystrad Mynach Dentist Phillip Davies, M and R Barbers and St David’s Hospice. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Ty Penallta building will also host an exhibition in the atrium, while Parc Penallta will host a local artist painting in the wild. Further afield, The Living Room in New Tredegar will open its doors for members of the public to view their exhibitions while Argoed Chapel will host open workshops on the 11th July, where the public can see the artists at work while they demonstrate a range of techniques and styles. As part of the week, a number of the Cwm a Mynydd Creatives will be opening their workshop doors to allow visitors to see the creative magic as it happens. This event is supported by Cwm a Mynydd, a project funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: I am delighted that Arts Week is back for 2016. The week-long event provides members of the public with a fantastic…
NoFit State – new outdoor show – BLOCK – Acrobatic Stunts & Parkour skills
NoFit State Circus have teamed up with United Welsh and Communities First to bring some special performances to our communities. As part of the national tour of their new outdoor show, BLOCK, NoFit State will bring the production to the centre of the communities of Bryn Aber, Lansbury Park, Aberbargoed and Tredegar where United Welsh homes are located. NoFit State will also be hosting weekly circus and parkour workshops in these areas over the summer holidays and anyone who takes part in the workshops has the chance perform for their community as part of the BLOCK performances in August. Open Evenings A fun evening for all ages to meet the company, watch some spectacular circus and dance, join in and learn about this amazing free summer project. Open Evenings have now past already – but Workshops and the show are still to come. Workshops Come and learn skills from the the show right on your doorstep – from parkour to acrobatics. Bryn Aber, Abertridwr, Caerphilly Wednesday 11am – 1pm on 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August, 17th August Lansbury Park Wednesday 3pm – 5pm on 20th July, 27th July, 3rd August, 10th August, 17th August Aberbargoed Thursday 11am – 1pm on 21st July, 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August Tredegar Thursday 3pm – 5pm on 21st July, 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August The Show Come and have your mind blown by BLOCK, NoFit State‘s brand new Jenga-like show that mixes amazing acrobatic stunts and risky parkour skills with circus and dance. BLOCK performance dates and times: Bryn Aber,…
Graig Y Rhacca Gets Thrifty
Graig Y Rhacca Resource Centre Ltd a trading Social Enterprise has just opened its first “Thrift Shop”. The American idea was spotted by Gareth Mitchell Centre Manager as an excellent business model for generating income and recycling nearly new clothes, toys and various other items. The project has already been looked at by other Social Enterprises in neighbouring local authorities with a view to franchising the project in their areas. Gareth explained: We initially trialled our new concept by converting an office space into a make shift shop and from there we saw just what we could achieve. We accept nearly new, good quality clothing, toys and other unloved items which we then sell on behalf of our customers. All profits generated are then reinvested back into the community in the form of projects and activities for all of the residents of Graig Y Rhacca. With the support of the Communities First we were able to open our first Thrift shop and are looking to grow the business. Soon, we will be able to offer work placements and volunteers a place where they will have the chance to learn all about retail industry, all about employment and all about community projects, whilst building their confidence. Stephanie Mitchell project lead of Thrift Shop said: The first day was a great success and once customers saw the great quality clothing and items we have here, we were kept really busy. This project is still new and still small but I think it has a great future as we have had masses of…
Social Business Wales Awards 2016 – spread the word!
Apply for the Social Business Wales Awards for your chance to win £1000 and be crowned a Wales social business champion. Open to Social Enterprise Businesses. The Social Business Wales Awards (previously branded as the Social Enterprise Awards Wales) celebrate the success and achievements of social enterprises and co-operatives in Wales. Now in their sixth year, the Awards recognise the most dynamic, entrepreneurial and ambitious social businesses in Wales – those which are expanding, diversifying, transforming and collaborating, and which are taking the sector forward through business growth. There two headline categories – Social Enterprise of the Year and One to Watch. For the first time, social enterprises can also enter five categories which are specific to the business sector they are trading in. The winners of all categories will be announced at an awards ceremony being held at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea on Wednesday 28th September. The winners of each category will then go on to compete against winners from Scotland, Northern Ireland and in the UK finals. The Awards application deadline is midnight on 8 July. For more information and to register for an application pack, just visit http://wales.coop/social-business-wales/awards/
Retailer Choose Blackwood over Newport
A seasoned retailer Gary Reynolds has decided to close his shop in Newport so that he can concentrate on his business in Blackwood town centre. The business called Mr Mobile sells a large range of phone accessories as well as pre-owned phones, it also undertakes repair work. Known locally as ‘The Irish One’ the shop is located in Gravel Lane, which links the High Street and The Market Place Shopping Centre. Gary originally began the business working from a stall in markets before opening shops on South Wales high streets. He has been trading in Blackwood for the last 12 years. Gary said: I needed to focus on just one shop so I choose Blackwood and closed in Newport. I like the town and the people here are really nice and very friendly which makes a difference to how you spend your day. Mr Mobile supports the Armed Forces & Emergency Services by offering serving personnel a discount.
Funding boost for Business Start-up Grant Scheme
Caerphilly County Borough Council has recently received funding to support their Business Start-up Grant Scheme, which is used to fund a variety of businesses starting out within Caerphilly County Borough. Tata Subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise has given £5,000 to partly fund the scheme, which is jointly funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: Thank you to UK Steel Enterprise for their continued commitment to the Business Start-Up Grant Scheme. As a result of this, we are able to provide up to £500 of funding to brand new businesses within Caerphilly County Borough. I am looking forward to continuing to provide support to new businesses within the area, as we have done for many years. Andy Morris, Manager in Wales, UK Steel Enterprise said: We are delighted to be supporting the scheme and working with Caerphilly County Borough Council for a fourth year. In that period, 58 new businesses have been launched and 74 new jobs created. He continued: The quality of applicants has been very high and we are confident that the scheme has made an important contribution to the economic life of the area. This flexible scheme is designed to help residents of Caerphilly County Borough set up a full-time business for the first time, who are not able to access any other source of funding. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500. Business start-ups from all business sectors may be…