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Start-up grant gives new Caerphilly business a boost
A new business in Caerphilly county borough has recently received start-up support thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Specialist recruitment business Profession Direct Ltd has been awarded a start-up grant, as well as business support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise, allowing the new business to purchase IT equipment and marketing materials. Profession Direct Ltd is a specialist recruitment business which offers recruitment, training and consultancy services. Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Profession Direct said: Profession Direct Ltd was formed out of the wish to capitalise on the demand for professional recruitment services in the specialist professions of financial services, medical, education, legal and estate agents, as well as utilities and energy. Thank you to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise for the start-up support that they have provided, which has given our new business a firm foundation to build on. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: I am thrilled that Caerphilly County Borough Council has been able to assist in the start-up of yet another business within Caerphilly county borough. The grant and support received by Profession Direct Ltd from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise will enable the new business to grow to its full potential. The business start-up grant enables residents of Caerphilly county borough who are not able to access any other source of funding, to set up a full-time business for the first time. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible…
New Ladies Boutique Opens
A new ladies boutique has opened on Blackwood High Street directly opposite the Maxime Cinema. So whilst the boys can enjoy watching a film in the cinema, the girls can shop in Betty’s Boutique which is the latest addition to Blackwood’s growing list of fashion retailers. The boutique is run by mother and daughter Nicola & Molly Page and is named after Nicola‘s mother. Nicola has been in business for over 30 years, previously running Creative Homes and Bojangles Boutique. Molly is in her second year in University in Cardiff studying for a fashion degree. Nicola said: At Betty’s Boutique we offer the latest ladies fashions as well as classic styles to suit all ages from 17 to 87! With our wide range of clothes, bags, shoes, jewellery and gifts we’ve got something for everyone. Molly said: My degree work keeps me up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry and it’s great to use that knowledge to help choose the designs that we stock.
Caerphilly is a Cut Above
Another new business has opened in Caerphilly town centre. Aspros Barbers is located on Cardiff Road and is run by Theo Aspros who has been a barber for the past last 16 years working in Cardiff. After years spent renting a chair in someone else’s salon, Theo decided it was time to start his own business. A chance drive through Caerphilly town centre convinced him that he had found the perfect place to begin a new chapter of his career. As well as cutting gents hair the barbers has installed a special chair with a television to enable children to watch their favourite program whilst they have their hair cut. The fit out of the barbers includes sofas and a coffee machine to keep customers happy whilst they wait. Theo comes from a long line of hairdressers and is particularly proud to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and proudly displays his grandfather’s original hair clippers on the wall. Theo said: When I drove through Caerphilly with my wife Georgina and son Nicholas she thought what a lovely little town it was and the perfect place for us to open our first shop. I look forward to welcoming people to Aspros Barbers and getting to know them. Image: One of his grandfather’s original hair clippers
New Name Same Great Service
It’s all change for the team who run Superdrug in Bargoed town centre as it changes over to the parent companies other brand Savers.Over the last month the team lead by manager Steven Gravett has been hard at work transforming the retail unit on Royale Square into a brand new Savers store with a totally new shop fit out. As a brand, value retailer Savers sells a wide range of: pharmaceuticals, fragrance, household products and cosmetics including Rimmel and Maybelline. For manager Steven the considerable logistical challenge involved was something he took in his stride having served with the Armed Forces around the world before changing to a career in retail. Steven said: The team have done a great job and worked really hard. Since we have changed over to Savers we have seen a big increase in customers so its been very busy serving more people and stocking the displays with new product lines
Bargoed Cuts Back to the 1960’s
Bargoed town centre welcomes a new hair salon with a difference. Retro Hair Studio, situated next to the Hanbury Chapel Library, offers its customers a chance to step into the 1960’s and 70’s. Immediately you enter the salon you are immersed in a different world where everything is retro, from the 1960’s style telephone on the counter and the record player in the window, to the sound of the music that shaped a generation. Retro Hair Studio is owned by Jeff Vernon who has worked in hairdressing for over 32 years in a host of different places including Blackwood, Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Cardiff. Jeff said: I wanted to open a gent’s barbers and ladies hair salon that was a bit different. I love everything about the 1960’s and 70’s so when people visit Retro Hair Studio they will not only get a great hair cut but also experience a little piece of the nostalgia.
Time Please!
It’s time to welcome another new business to Bargoed town centre. The Square Royale pub/restaurant was officially opened this month by the mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Mrs Dianne Price.The new venue, which is run by Russell and Adele Sorrell, is situated in Royale Square in the heart of Bargoed. Russell who lives in Gilfach, has 25 years experience in the licensing trade, 17 years of those were with national pub chain J D Wetherspoon. The Square Royale offers a full range of food including: breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. The naming of the Square Royale was inspired by the renaming of Royale Square as part of the Bargoed regeneration scheme. The venue is also part of the Pubwatch scheme which is run by Gwent Police in partnership with the Council and local licensees. Russell said: We are delighted that after a lot of hard work The Square Royale is finally open. I know from my experience what it takes to run a successful family pub/restaurant so we have created a relaxed friendly atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. We are keen to promote our evenings of live music with local bands and will also be screening BT Sport. The Square Royale is run by Russell and Adele Sorrell.
Working Women’s Network follow in Jacquie’s footsteps
The Caerphilly Working Women’s network met earlier this month and were somewhat blessed with the weather for an evening of walking, talking and networking in the shadow of Britain’s second largest castle and in the footsteps of one of Wales most inspiring women. The ladies from local businesses large and small met outside Caerphilly Castle to hear about the myths and legends surrounding the historic castle in Caerphilly. Our Trusty guide Kevin Eadon-Davies, from Cwm a Mynydd Rural Development Programme who support the Working Women Network through the Welsh Governments Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, regaled the story of the famous Green lady who is said to roam the ramparts of the castle. Onto the Tyfu Café based in Caerphilly our hosts for the evening where we heard from Jacquie Williams whose treks have spanned the word, from Kilimanjaro to the Sahara Desert. Jacquie is the MD of SCS Aftercare Smoke Vent Maintenance & President of the Welsh Women Walking Group. Jacquie was an inspiring speaker and told her remarkable story of her business and personal achievements including tekking the Sahara Desert with Julien Macdonald whilst raising money for Cancer Research Wales. Denise Lovering Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum said: It was great to hear from such an inspiring speaker and we are looking forward to our new calendar of events. The Women’s Networking events are open to both employer and employee, our events give you the opportunity to meet and work with like-minded women in an informal and fun setting. There is no charge for membership. The next event…
Ocean Colour Scene light up Caerphilly Castle with sell out gig
It’s late afternoon and the dull, grey clouds that have occupied the sky throughout the morning are reluctantly pushed aside by the ever persistent rays of the warm mid-September Sunshine. Seductively, creeping up behind the 13th century walls of the second biggest castle in Europe, the sun warmly welcomes the crowds to the historic town of Caerphilly. A wide variety of fans, both old and new have travelled from near and far; all intent on reminiscing the soundtrack that filled the care-free days of the glorious 1990’s. Tonight they are privileged to be enjoying the live music of Brit pop legends, “Ocean Colour Scene” as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their most successful album, “Mosley Shoals”. Released in 1996, the name of the album is a fond dedication to the band’s original hometown of Mosley in Birmingham. Although the album didn’t quite make #1 in the charts, it has proved itself to be one of the most well-loved albums of that era; encapsulating the raw excitement and magic of the original Brit pop movement that took place over two decades ago. The suspense builds heavily throughout the castle courtyard as the lights dim down and the crowd cheer as they welcome Ocean Colour Scene to the stage. The band open with an impressive cover of the Beatles classic, “Day Tripper”; a track which was originally recorded as a live B-side to “The Circle”. The famous opening rifts send the crowd into a frenzy and it’s not long before everyone is singing along. The song is perhaps a fond reminiscent of the times the band performed on stage with the Gallagher brothers during the peak of their success in 1994. After listening to the band’s demo, Noel Gallagher proceeded to invite Ocean Colour Scene to join Oasis as their opening act at…
New Welsh Language Book Shop Opens
A new book shop in Caerphilly town centre is helping young people discover the joy of reading books, particularly those written in the Welsh language. Llyfrau’r Enfys which translated means ‘Rainbow Books’ is located in Caerphilly Indoor Market, Pentrebane Street. The book shop is run by Vikki Alexander who having previously worked in event promotion has turned her love of the Welsh Language and books into a new business venture. The shop stocks a range of titles in both Welsh and English as well as some bilingual books. The books and other learning resources cater for all ages, with the large majority aimed at children. Each week Vikki has a story corner where she reads to children from her favourite book. In the future it’s hoped that the shop will begin to run homework clubs, mums clubs and Welsh language learners groups. Vikki said: As someone who has learned Welsh I am keen to share my love of the language with others. We have 11 Welsh Primary schools in the locality and I hope that the books and resource’s we have at Llyfrau’r Enfys will support children in their education and also help parents who want to learn the Welsh language