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Pizza Hut Arrives in Blackwood
A new Pizza Hut take away has opened in Blackwood town centre. The famous brand is located on High Street at its junction with Pentwyn Road and is close to the Blackwood Miners’ Institute. The store is operated as a franchise by Khorum Amin who was a Civil Engineer before deciding it was time to swap building bridges for making pizza. Prior to being accepted to run a Pizza Hut as a franchise applicants are put through a stringent vetting and selection process. Khorum said: I decided it was time to run my own business and so I applied to Pizza Hut to operate a franchise. The whole process to get accepted was really tough because the Pizza Hut name means that people expect a high standard of quality and service and your store needs to meet those expectations.
Winter is on its Way
Over the next few days the weather forecasts are predicting a sharp fall in temperature, bringing with it the increased risk of snow and ice. Caerphilly County Borough Council is ready to respond to these types of adverse weather conditions and we will be paying particular attention to our town centres if there is heavy snow. We recognise the importance of keeping town centres ‘open for businesses’, particularly as they are key focal points for the community during periods of inclement weather. Each of our principal town centres have a number of yellow grit bins placed throughout the core retail areas and these are for use by local businesses to assist them in keeping the area outside their shops clear of ice and snow. If you notice that the grit level in any of the bins is low please contact the Council’s Customers Service Team on 01443 815588 / 01495 226622 and they will arranged for more grit to be delivered. The council has a detailed Winter Maintenance Plan in place which aims to keep the area’s main highway network open, as well as minimising disruption to key frontline services and protecting the vulnerable. Our fleet of gritters will pre-salt key strategic routes with priority given to the main ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads. The Council also tries to ensure, where possible, that access is maintained to residential accommodation for older people, education establishments, hospitals, doctors surgeries, town centres & major bus stations. Salt/grit box photo by Lee Haywood . True grit photo by Mary Hutchison .
The Great Bargoed Bake Off
There is good news for fans of the hit TV show ‘The Great British Bake Off’, Bargoed town centre is going cupcake mad with the opening of a new business in High street. The new shop called Cupcake Heaven is run by Sian Hurley and is the culmination of a journey which has seen her turn her hobby of baking cupcakes into a full time business venture. Sian‘s Mum Alice had always encouraged her daughter to pursue her dreams and when Alice passed away a few years ago, Sian decided that the time was right to leave her office job and start baking full time. With the support of her husband David and children Brent, Matthew and Kelcie, Sian opened Cupcake Heaven in December. She now spends her days making and selling different flavoured cupcakes, as well as baking cakes for specials occasion which she hand decorates to create a totally unique design. Sian said: This has been an amazing journey and I can’t believe I now run a business doing what I love – baking!. At Cupcake Heaven we offer our customers the chance to try different cupcake flavor’s and if you want a special cake designed come and talk to me
Bargoed Ice Rinks Perfect Partnership
The popular festive Ice Rink was once again hosted in the underground car park of the Morrisons store in Bargoed Town Centre this Christmas. The event, is a unique partnership between Caerphilly Council, Morrisons and Bargoed Town Council. During the first few years that the ice rink was staged in the town centre, it was sited in the St Gwladys car park. However, the event was always vulnerable to adverse weather conditions. Following the opening of the new Morrisons supermarket an agreement was reached with the national retailers to stage the event using part of their underground car park. This year for the first time the ice rink size has been increased and Bargoed Town Council have installed a Santa’s Grotto to further enhance to the visitor experience. Store Manger Richard Taylor said: Morrisons are delighted to support this local event, community engagement is very important to us as a business and it’s our chance to give something back to the people of Bargoed and thank them for their support. The Mayor of Bargoed Cllr Tudor Davies said: Once again Bargoed Town Council has worked with the local authority to bring this fantastic event to the town. We are particularity grateful to Morrisons for hosting the ice rink and for showing their support for the community of Bargoed and very much hope it continues in the future. Cllr Ken James Cabinet Member of Regeneration Planning and Sustainable Development said: The council organises a number of festive events across the whole county borough, but this is our only ice rink…
Retailers Window Display in Aid of Local Charity
This Christmas, a retailer in Blackwood town centre is lending their support to a local charity. Kismet, which is situated in Hall Street, has specially dressed its Christmas window in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/. The charity supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). Sue Jenkins the owner of Kismet showed the window to Betty Thomas whose grandson Jack Thomas died suddenly when he was 15 years old. Jack‘s parents June & Grant have already raised money through ‘Jacks Appeal/Welsh Hearts‘ to provide defibrillators to all comprehensive schools in the County Borough and through a memorial fund set up through CRY they are funding twice yearly cardiac screening sessions at Oakdale Medical Centre. Each session screens 111 people between the ages of 14-35 and takes place on the Saturday closest to Jack‘s birthday on 6th June and on the anniversary of his death on 12th February. Sue said: We are delighted to help raise money for CRY in memory of Jack. I hope people will take time to stop and enjoy the window and make a donation to the charity in appreciation. Betty Thomas said: The work that CRY are doing is so important and it really does save lives. Please support the funding of the screening program in Oakdale that Jacks parents have set up. Kismet and Betty’s Boutique in Blackwood town centre are both donating proceeds from their carrier bag sales over Christmas towards CRY in memory of Jack…
Working Women Shaken not Stirred
The Caerphilly Working Women Forum met for their last event of 2016 in Bryn Meadows Golf Club and what a great night it was too. Our Master Cocktail shaker Tom showed the ladies how to prepare a Mojito and a Cosmo overseen by Katrina Roham from Bryn Meadows Golf and Hotel. A competition was held to find the fastest cocktail shaker and the winners were treated to vouchers for a spa session in the fusion spa in Bryn Meadows Spa. Cocktail making competition from last night's @ww_wales networking event @BrynMeadows pic.twitter.com/Mfyn18Q0QN — Caerphilly Business (@CCBCBusiness) December 8, 2016 Phil Loveless Rural Development Officer and Katrina Roham from Bryn Meadows Golf and Hotel show the ladies how its done. Working Women Forum is an informal organisation and joint partnership between Caerphilly Business Forum and Caerphilly Rural Development Programme, working women will give you the opportunity to meet and work with like-minded women, promote your business and make new friends. For further information on forthcoming events call Sharon Peters on 01443 866397 and look out for our brand new series of events in 2017. Photo sources: Cocktail networking event with @ww_wales @cbforum @Welsh_ICE @BrynMeadows pic.twitter.com/2KKERa1Zak — Caerphilly Business (@CCBCBusiness) December 7, 2016 Fantastic evening with the @cbforum @ww_wales for cocktails & networking!Thank you to the 15 ladies who learnt how to make mojitos &cosmo's pic.twitter.com/r3xBkCfBsg — Bryn Meadows (@BrynMeadows) December 7, 2016
Sports Direct’s Biggest Fan
David White is the manager of the Sports Direct store in Caerphilly town centre and it’s not surprising that he is a big supporter of the value sports retailer. What is surprising is where his journey working with the company has taken him. David, or Dai as he likes to be known, started out working in the retailers Cardiff city centre store for a few hours on a Wednesday afternoon. Over the next 12 years through hard work, commitment and dedication Dai worked his way up the retail ladder to become a store manager. Along the way he has visited almost every Sports Direct store in Wales as well as many in England, he has even gone to Austria and Germany to help train staff in the retailers European acquisitions. The Caerphilly store that Dai manages is located in Cardiff Road in the former Tesco building overlooking the castle; it occupies 7,700 sq. ft. of retail space and employs 18 staff. Dai said: Sports Direct is a great company to work for, they treat their staff really well and it’s like being part of a family. If you are prepared to work hard it doesn’t matter where you have come from or what qualifications you’ve got, you can have a great career with them.
Florist Grows from Small Beginnings
A florist in Bargoed town centre is a growing success. Laurel’s Florist, which is situated on High Street, is run by Laura Roberts who has over 22 years of experience as a florist and has taught floristry across the UK & Ireland. The business grew out of work that Laura took on whilst running a fruit & veg shop in Bargoed. The demand for Laura‘s work became so high that she decided to focus purely on floristry and open her own shop – Laurel’s Florist. The florist specialises in weddings and funerals, but also sells accessories including scented candles and gifts. Laura said: Running a business is hard work but I really enjoy it. Each morning I travel to Cardiff to the market in Bessemer Road to make sure that the flowers in my shop are fresh. Even though I aim to keep the prices at Laurel’s cheap, I won’t compromise on quality. Pictured right: Laura Roberts
Welsh ICE wins Coworking Space of the Year Boost Award at the 2016 Great British Entrepreneur Awards
This year recognising the entrepreneurs behind the spaces that are actively supporting entrepreneurship across the country a list of the top 100 co-working spaces in the UK was drawn up for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Welsh ICE has been presented with the Coworking Space of the Year Boost Award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Welsh ICE has posted their announcement and more details here: Welsh ICE wins Coworking Space of the Year Boost Award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards