1. I’m A Celebrity, Get Me…to Abergele
With I’m A Celebrity fever sweeping the UK, the Mirror newspaper headed back to gothic Gwrych Castle, for a throwback tour of the cursed castle.
The 20th and 21st series were set here in 2020 and 2021, when international travel to far flung, exotic jungle encampments, was restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic
We’ve created Croesawu’r Gaeaf, Welcoming Winter, a tourism campaign for Visit Conwy and this was the third in a trilogy of features we secured with the Mirror, focusing on creepy Conwy.
The review of the ancient, magnificent backdrop once dubbed one of the seven wonders of Wales, captured the thrills and chills of the dark and dank setting and retraced the footsteps of Giovanna Fletcher and Danny Miller, who were crowned the series’ king and queen of Gwrych Castle.
2. The Investment Fund for Wales turns one!
This time last year we were busy prepping for, and celebrating, the launch of the British Business Bank’s £130m Investment Fund for Wales (IFW). And so a year on, we were pleased to commemorate the anniversary of the fund’s launch with news of its first major milestone, after hitting £10m in investment and lending into Welsh smaller businesses. On Wednesday the news was first published in the Western Mail and business-live following an exclusive interview we organised between business editor, Sion Barry and the Bank’s Nations & Regions Investment Director, Mark Sterritt. Sion and Mark discussed the performance of the IFW to date, and the plans and expectations for the next few years. Subsequent coverage regarding the Fund’s one year anniversary also appeared in Business News Wales and Insider Media.
3. Hot to trot with Start Up Loan
An animal behaviour therapist from North Wales has successfully expanded her business following funding from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme. Rachel Phillips founded her Colwyn Bay-based animal behaviour consultancy, Rachel Phillips Behaviour, earlier this year. Specialising in positive reinforcement techniques to address behavioural challenges in both dogs and horses, Rachel applied for a £13,000 Start Up Loan with the British Business Bank earlier this year. The loan has enabled her to invest in essential equipment, including ground mats to combat adverse weather conditions, ensuring her outdoor training sessions can continue throughout the year. Read more about the story on Business News Wales, Wales Business Insider, North Wales Pioneer and more.
4. Making headlines for Wales’ rising star
Olivia Jones, a third-year apprentice at Axiom Manufacturing Services, has been named Engineering Apprentice Rising Star at the Make UK Manufacturing Awards’ Welsh finals. The 25-year-old from Rhondda Cynon Taf will now represent Wales at the national finals in London. The award celebrates her dedication, contributions to Axiom’s operations, and potential within its award-winning apprenticeship programme. We’ve shared Olivia’s inspiring story to the media, highlighting her achievements and the opportunities within Welsh manufacturing as Axiom continues to deliver a record order book that is set to deliver double-digit growth. You can read more on Business News Wales and Skills Wales.
5. Kate Humble walks Glyndŵr’s Way
Author, broadcaster and well-known advocate for the great outdoors, Kate Humble, has recently walked Glyndŵr’s Way, a 135-mile National Trail through the heart of Wales, retracing the steps of Welsh hero Owain Glyndŵr. Following her adventure we asked Kate to write an exclusive blog post for the National Trails website, charting her journey from Knighton, through the rolling Radnorshire hills, past the Clywedog Reservoir, onwards to Hafren Forest and onto Welshpool. Read all about Kate’s adventure here.
