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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
What is the Oldest Shop in Caerphilly?
A shoe repairer in Caerphilly town centre may be the oldest independent business still trading in the town. PH Gay & Sons was first established in 1905 by Pearson Henry Gay in a small shop on Cardiff Road, it then moved into St Fagan’s Street before passing to Pearson’s son Hubert in 1926. The business has remained a family concern continuing to be handed down from father to son. In the 1960’s Hubert‘s son Desmond took over and in 1989 he handed it on to his son David. There was more change in 2005 when David moved PH Gay & Sons to the new Pavilions development, which was part of the old post office. When The Pavilions was demolished in 2013 to make way for the new library, the business again returned to Cardiff Road where it is today. PH Gay & Sons still carries out a range of traditional shoe repairs as well as selling a range of leather goods and offering a key cutting service.Interestingly, when the cobblers first started in 1905 the family also owned another shop on The Square in Senghenydd. This shop had electricity from the colliery’s pit winder, whilst the Caerphilly shop only had gas because the town had no colliery. David said: In my father’s day he was known as a time served crafts man and I hope that is what I would be considered today. The business has changed, although we don’t make shoes anymore there is huge satisfaction in using my skill to mend shoes that people think are beyond repair.
Small Business Saturday returns on December 3rd 2016
Small Business Saturday returns on Saturday December 3rd and the Council’s Town Centre Management team are asking people to show their support for independent retailers in the County Borough’s town centres. Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year with the aim of having a lasting impact on small businesses. Within the County Borough people can show their support in a number of different ways. The Council has once again produced a ‘Choose the High Street’ Christmas Voucher Booklet which this year contains 112 offers from local retailers. The offers give shoppers an added incentive to venture into their town centres in the lead up to Christmas and especially on Small Business Saturday. The booklets are free and available at the following locations: Blackwood – ASDA, Maxime Cinema, Tidal Stores, Chinkles, Blackwood Miners Institute and the library Caerphilly – Morrisons, Weatherspoon’s ‘The Malcom Uphill’, Visitor Centre and the library Bargoed – Morrisons, Poundworld and the library Risca – Tesco and the library Ystrad Mynach – Tesco and the library Throughout the year the ‘Choose the High Street’ Stories initiative has being telling the story of the people behind the shop fascia. You can read over 60 different stories featuring retailers in town centres across the County Borough by following the link to the GO 2 My Town web site. View ‘Choose The High Street’ Stories List In the…
Ystrad Mynach Town Centre Gazette – November 2016
Latest news for Ystrad Mynach Town Centre, local community and Council offices.