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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…
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.
Bees give pupils a buzz at Ynysddu Primary School
Pupils at Ynysddu Primary School have been given a sneak peek at a new bee keeping project based within their school grounds. Officially launching next month the project will provide pupils at Ynysddu and surrounding schools the opportunity to learn about the importance of pollinators and become bee keepers, learning all about the wonderful world of bees whilst doing so. Working with Lorne East from Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company, a social enterprise based in Wylie, pupils will follow the lives of the bees throughout the year as they pollinate plants and make honey, all under the watch of their queen bee. Cllr. Derek Havard, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning said: The new bee keeping project at Ynysddu Primary School is a great example of Caerphilly County Borough Council working in partnership to deliver environmental and ecological educational opportunities to pupils. I am sure that pupils will learn so much from their experiences, both about the importance of bees to our Eco-system and the need to respect nature and wildlife. Cllr. Ken James, Cabinet Member for Member for Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Sustainable Development said: This is a brilliant environmental project, supporting the protection of nature and wildlife is hugely important to Caerphilly County Borough Council and I’m pleased to see so many partner organisations coming together for the good of the environment. I am sure the pupils will have a brilliant time learning all about bees and why they’re so important. The project is funded by Keep Wales Tidy ‘All Wales Grant’ Scheme, CCBC Greener Caerphilly…
Cwmcarn Forest recognised for top class TripAdvisor feedback!
Cwmcarn Forest has been awarded the 2016 Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor. Now in its sixth year, the award celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include attractions and tourist destinations located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience. The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality and quantity of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Cllr. Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Sustainable Development said: This is a much deserved award for Cwmcarn Forest. The staff all work hard to ensure that visitors receive great customer service, and I’m pleased to see that this has been recognised by the visitors themselves who leave positive feedback on TripAdvisor. Original Article
Next Generation Takes Over Family Business
Tidal’s Store is a family run business located on High Street in Blackwood town centre specialising in home furnishing. The business has been run for five generations by the “The Edwards Family” and is currently managed by Huw Edwards who has taken over following the retirement of his parents Ian & Beverly. Over the years shops have opened and closed but since 1939 Tidal’s has remained a constant on Blackwood’s High Street. Huw said: As a respected family business it’s important that our prices are honest and a true reflection of the value of the goods. The philosophy that underpins what we choose to sell is that our customers should buy once and buy well.
Strictly Amazing Result
Kelly Whitefoot represented ITaSK CIC at the New Cottage Dance Centre in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly and helped raise an amazing £9,000. Strictly Top Dancer 2016 was a fun yet very competitive night and saw eight staff members from local companies in Caerphilly paired with professional dancers and challenged one and other in the name of charity. Kelly had to learn three dances for the competition, and gave up her time over a number of months in preparation for the dance event. Kelly helped raise funding for The Breast Centre in Llandough Hospital, a charity which helps patients through holistic therapy and fitness studios. The money was raised through sponsorship, donations, raffles and ticket sales, with the event attracting nearly 400 people across the weekend it was a brilliant event. Kelly and her dance partner finished a very respectable second and ITaSK are so very proud. ITaSKCIC work within Caerphilly community to identify needs, implement solutions, and measure impact over time. ITaSKCIC believe when communities work together to improve lives, the result is a permanent strengthening. Kelly Whitefoot said: This was an experience I will cherish and raising money for such a worthwhile charity was a pleasure
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.
New Ladies Fashion Retailer Opens
A new independent ladies clothes boutique called Miss Label has opened on High Street in Blackwood town centre. The shop is the fourth to be launched in South Wales as part of a new independent chain developed by entrepreneurs Gary Bailey and Andrew Owen. Miss Label is managed by experienced retail manager Jayne Williams. Jayne said: We are really excited about showing the people of Blackwood our range of elegant ladies fashion at great prices and we aim to combine this with fantastic customer service.
“Kiss Me Quick”
We were invited to something a little different, a provocative cocktail of feathers, sequins, dancers and tassels; an evening with the unforgettable burlesque performers of kiss me quick. It’s a warm and sunny Saturday evening in Newbridge, South Wales. Walking into the nostalgic 19th century memorial hall of Newbridge Memo proves to be an enriching and relaxing haven; free from the chaotic madness of the M4 traffic. The memorial hall was built in memory of the 75 residents of Newbridge who lost their lives during World War 1. Originally it was intended to be a reception in loving memory and celebration of what would have been their homecoming. Today however, we are here for an entirely different occasion, a celebration of the theatrical 1840s art form of striptease with the fabulous seaside burlesque show, “Kiss Me Quick”. Tonight, whilst still maintaining it’s endearing character, the historic memorial hall is a provocative cocktail of feathers, sequins, dancers and tassels. Excitement fills the air as the crowd begin to fill the theatre and take their seats. The lights soon go down and the show is about to begin. First on stage (or attempting to climb up on it) is the beautiful and ever so tipsy Kheski Kobler. Kheski is both hilarious and seductive as she struggles to undress in front of a very amused yet encouraging crowd. She is warmly received and sets the scene perfectly with her staggeringly quirky performance. The charming host, FooFoo Labelle entertains the crowd throughout the evening as she warmly welcomes each performer to the stage.…