Student entrepreneurs at Aberystwyth have launched a new mobile app that could revolutionise the way people book hair and beauty appointments.

CLIPR which enables users to book appointments on mobile phones or tables has been launched on Google Play.

Developers James Bryan, James Stone and Howun Lam worked closely with hair and beauty salons and barber shops in Aberystwyth to develop the app to enable them to run their businesses from their smartphones.

They are now looking to their fellow students and members of the public to test the app by booking appointments, and provide feedback on their experience.

The team will also produce specially designed posters for businesses to put in shop windows that feature a QR code that makes it easy to download the app.

“CLIPR is Airbnb-meets-Uber for hair and beauty”, said James Bryan, who came up with the idea whilst looking for a hair salon open on a Sunday in Aberystwyth. “Using the app is a very simple, intuitive process which will be familiar to anyone using social media.”

“With graduation only a few weeks away, many students will be looking to book appointments with salons or barbers in Aberystwyth for the big day. We would be delighted if as many people as possible were to download the app, book an appointment and let us know how they get on. Only with this kind of feedback will we be able to improve the app for the users and for the business who are listed with us”, added James.

In March, CLIPR was judged the winner of Aberystwyth University’s annual entrepreneurship competition InvEnterPrize.

Along with the title of InvEnterPrize winners, the team received a £10,000 prize to invest in developing the concept.

With the android version up and running, the team are now working on an iOS version for Apple iPhones and iPads.

They are also recruiting more hair and beauty businesses and barbers onto the app and hope to make Aberystwyth the first town in Europe to have connected its entire hair and beauty market on one app.

CLIPR was the 4^thstudent business idea to win InvEnterPrize.

The £10,000 prize for the winner is provided by alumni via the Aber Fund and enables the winner to invest in equipment, facilities or professional services to turn the invention or business start-up idea into reality.

The Chair of the judges for InvEnterPrize 2018,Professor Donald Davies said: “InvEnterPrize is extremely important and clearly inspires students here at Aberystwyth University to venture and develop ideas that go beyond what they might normally do. It is so important to sow the seed of an idea that students can develop into a business, and this competition, along with the support the teams receive throughout the year from the University’s Careers service, makes this all possible.”

InvEnterPrize organiser Tony Orme from Aberystwyth University’s Careers Service said: “James is an incredibly entrepreneurial student who engaged with the University’s support for student enterprise throughout his three years studying in Aberystwyth. He and his fellow team members gave a great “pitch” at the InvEnterPrize Dragons Den finals and was a very deserved winner of this year’s £10,000 prize”.

Aberystwyth University offers a full programme of events to support entrepreneurial activity amongst students, alumni and staff. To find out more visit AberPreneurs online.

Photo:  InvEnterPrize winners CLIPR receive £10,000 boost: Left to right – Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Pro Vice-Chancellor Aberystwyth University; Professor Donald Davies, Chair of Inventerprize judging panel; CLIPR developers Howun Lam, James Stone and James Bryan; Tony Orme, Careers Service at Aberystwyth University and Louise Jagger, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Aberystwyth University.

Links:

Aberystwyth University Careers Service
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/careers/

AberPreneurs – Turning Business Ideas into Reality
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/careers/enterprise/

Aberystwyth Innovation & Enterprise Campus
https://www.aberinnovation.com/

Carmarthenshire’s ambition to become the ‘cycling hub of Wales’ has stepped up a gear following the approval of a new cycling strategy for the county.

The strategy, approved by executive board this week, sets out the direction to support the council’s aspirations to be a national lead in the provision of cycling infrastructure events and development.

It sets out 11 key objectives for the county that focus around issues of health, education, collaboration, employment and economic activity, under three key themes.

This includes infrastructure, including flagship projects such as the Towy Valley Path, Carmarthen Velodrome redevelopment and the Pembrey Closed Cycle Circuit facility.

Another area of focus is to host and attract major events such as the Tour of Britain, which has recently been announced, with ambitions to attract other major international cycling races such as the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

For everyday travel and cycling, the council will also focus on pathways and initiatives to promote and develop cycling as an everyday activity in Carmarthenshire.

This would support the council’s responsibilities under the Active Travel Act, the Welsh Cycling Strategy and Well-Being of Future Generations Act.

Cllr Emlyn Dole, Leader of the council, said: “We announced three years ago our intention to make Carmarthenshire the cycling hub of Wales. It was great to be at the velodrome in Carmarthen last week to hear the announcement that the Tour of Britain will start here in Carmarthenshire as part of the first stage. The race director was amazed at the resources was have.”

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, added: “We are attracting people into the county – we are leading the way at the moment and are being highly praised for our efforts.”

• Watch the executive board discussion and read the report at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales
• Links to other cycling stories –
• http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/06/06/pembrey-chosen-to-host-tour-of-britain-opening/
• http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/05/26/2018-tour-of-britain-cycle-race-to-begin-in-carmarthenshire/

Age Cymru Sir Gar (the charity for the 50-plus in Carmarthenshire) is looking for support from members of the Nationwide Building Society.

The charity is one of a number of organisations bidding for cash from the Nationwide Community Grants Programme.

(Declaration of interest here as I am a trustee of Age Cymru Sir Gar)

Age Cymru Sir Gar provides flexible, practical volunteer support at home, aiding independent living for people aged over 50.

The charity has an innovative Future Age project.

Carmarthenshire has an aging population, often living in unadapted housing, not claiming the benefits they’re entitled to and with little or no access to transport or their community.

It would like to offer a befriending service which assists day-to-day living in practical ways, linking other support services through the charity’s Information and Advice service, thus extending this to the isolated vulnerable adults.

Each client will automatically be offered a welfare benefits health check to ensure all eligible benefits are claimed including support to complete the forms.

This will enable identification of issues around adaptations and fuel poverty, for example.

You can find out more by visiting the following website link

www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/sirgar/contact-us/

Ann Dymock, chief executive of Age Cymru Sir Gar, said: “Our Future Age project is far-reaching and will benefit a large section of the population. We would be grateful for any support we get from Nationwide members as the public vote for allocating funds from the Nationwide Community Grants Programme is now ‘live’.”

• The voting window is open for all Nationwide Building Society members to vote from now until 20 July.
• Members can vote online at: http://www.nationwide.co.uk/communityfundingvoting
• Only members of Nationwide Building Society can vote, and they can only vote once. You’re a Nationwide member if you have a Nationwide current, mortgage, or savings account.

The Nationwide Community Grants Programme was set up after building society members voted to use one per cent of pre-tax profits towards funding community projects.

Community grants are available up to £50,000.

Social media links –

https://www.facebook.com/NationwideBuildingSociety 

https://twitter.com/AskNationwide 

#NBSCommunityFunding 

A member of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS), Osian Wynn Clarke is the recipient of the St Elli Masonic Lodge 2018 Annual Musical Bursary

Osian was presented with his trophy, certificate and bursary at the Lodge’s Annual Sunday Lunch event at the Stradey Park Hotel.

Osian is an exciting young tenor from Tycroes, a pupil of Ysgol Dyffryn Amman School.

Osian is a member of the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, attending sessions each Saturday.

He hopes to pursue a career in music.

Cerith Owens, the chairman and director of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) said he was grateful to St Elli Masonic Lodge for their continued support for young singers.

Photos:

• Osian with Master of St Elli Masonic Lodge Lawrence C. Murphy and Lodge Secretary Roger W. Robinson
• Osian with Lodge Charity Steward Nigel L. Murphy.

About Osian Clarke:

Osian is 17 and is currently studying Welsh, Music, Drama and English Literature A Levels at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.  He is a member of the Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, attending sessions each Saturday.  He is currently working towards his Grade 5 Piano, Grade 6 Music Theory, Grade 6 Classical Voice and also his Diploma in Musical Theatre.

Osian is a fluent Welsh speaker who regularly performs at local events.  One of the highlights of his experiences so far was being chosen to play the part of Coufeyrac in the Welsh Junior production of Les Miserables.  This was held at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and the cast also performed on the West End stage in London as part of the 30th Anniversary celebration of Les Miserables.

Osian is a member of the Mark Jermin Stage School, and has been involved in a number of youth productions with this group.  He joined LARS in September 2017 and has performed at a number of prestigious LARS events over recent months.  After finishing his studies, Osian would like to pursue a career in music.

Link to Loud Applause Rising Stars website –

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