Search results for : in category Local Business
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…
Manic’s Star Chooses Blackwood High Street
When the Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield is in Blackwood and needs some new guitar strings he goes to see his friend Simon Fowler who runs Rusty’s Guitars & Retro Store. Previously, Simon and his wife Trish ran Must Have Music for over 12 years and now they have relocated to Emily’s Indoor Market situated above Wilko’s on Blackwood High Street. Rusty’s Guitars & Retro Store sells a wide range of guitars and accessories including strings, sheet music & amplifiers as well as diversifying into pre-owned computer games and film merchandise. Simon said: At Rusty’s Guitars & Retro Store our aim is to get people to ‘Rock ‘n’ Shop local’. When someone wants to buy a guitar from us we spend time making sure they choose the right one for them. Selling someone a guitar is the just the start of a long-term relationship with our customers as we help them enjoy their music.
Here Come the Girls
Working in retail has given four women in Caerphilly more than a just job; it has also provided them with the opportunity to make lifelong friends with the people they work with. Dawn Shaddick, Kerry Ball, Sandra Mills and Zorka Honeyball are all employed by Boots in its Caerphilly store which is located in Castle Court Shopping Centre. Dawn and Kerry have been with the health & beauty retailer for over 30 years, originally working for the company when it had a shop in Pentrebane Street. Whilst Sandra and Zorka have worked for Boots for 16 years joining when the retailer relocated to the new Castle Court Shopping Centre in 1995. Dawn said: Boots is an excellent company to work for and treat their staff really well, which is why we’ve all stayed so long. Working together the four of us have become really good friends and we take care of each other.
Success on the Menu for Family Fish & Chip Shop
When brothers Stephen and Paul Clarke took over a well established Fish & Chip shop in Caerphilly town centre in 2012, they knew they would have to prove to residents that the new business was just as good as the old one. After 4 years the bothers have established their own place in the hearts of local people and Clarkes Family Fish & Chip shop in Pentrebane Street is a thriving business. The café not only offers takeaway fish and chips, but also an inside dinning area as well as outside seating which is part of the town’s Café Quarter. Stephen said: When you take over a business you have to respect the tradition and history, but you also want to put your own stamp on it. Over the last few years as a family we have worked hard to maintain the existing trade but also attract new customers.
New Website Keeps Retailer in Pole Position
In 1974 John Walbyoff took the unusual step of taking over a garage which was situated at the heart of Bargoed town centre. Today, Fairview Trade Sales is still located on Cardiff Road and is run by John’s son Carl and his son Nicky. The showroom displays up to 15 cars with the business holding a stock of around 25 cars at any one time. Far from standing still, Fairview Trade Sales have just invested in a new website www.fairviewtradesales.co.uk which is designed to showcase their speciality for selling low mileage vehicles. Carl said: People trust us as a business which means that we get a lot of repeat custom. Fairview Trade Sales is a family business and I believe that still matters to customers when they decide to buy a car for us.
Caerphilly Entrepreneur Opens New Shop
A Caerphilly entrepreneur Peggy Parish has opened her latest shop in Caerphilly town centre. The new shop, located in Cardiff Road, is called 50+ Later Life Planning and specialises in providing funeral plans and advice for people who are over 50. The shop is the latest in a chain of 9 outlets across South Wales. Peggy started the business in 2011 initially working in local markets and shopping malls before opening the first shop in Cwmbran later that same year. Peggy said: I am a Caerphilly girl so this new shop is really special to me. At 50+ Later Life Planning we help families by providing a funeral plan which gives people peace of mind and helps their loved ones in the future.
Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience – Kickstarter Campaign
“Two men, in a shed, in Risca” have launched a crowd funding campaign to get their BAFTA award winning BBC TV series Rhod Gilbert series out on DVD. In an “it won’t happen without you” venture the local video production team Rhys Waters and Nathan Mackintosh from Zipline Creative are hoping to join with fans and release the DVD box set complete with exclusive extras & limited edition backer rewards. You can check out the project and what’s on offer here. Rhys said: It’s a bit of a valleys underdog story, since we are two men, in a shed, in Risca, trying to compete with the likes of Universal and 20th Century Fox. From their Kickstarter campaign: Without your help there is a very good chance Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience will never be available to fans to own at home in any format. Some of the episodes include Series 4, Episode 2: Scout Leader If anyone’s a role model for children, it’s not Rhod Gilbert. Using a total lack of navigation skills, non-existent wilderness awareness and general ignorance of anything outdoors, Rhod puts on his woggle and leads a scout camp. Series 3, Episode 1: Primary School Teacher (*Producers Series 3 Favourite!) Rhod takes charge as a primary school’s newest teacher. Featuring arts, crafts, English, maths, and desperately funny kid based chaos. Check out their Get Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience on DVD + bonus features Kickstarter project to see the full episode listings.