A former derelict workshop in Ammanford has been turned into a centre of excellence for coffee roasting and training, creating 13 jobs.
Coaltown Coffee has moved into the building on Foundry Road following a Carmarthenshire County Council grant given to property developers Dolawen Cyf.
The council approved the grant as part of its Transformational Commercial Property Development Fund, which is aimed at supporting economic regeneration across the county.
Coaltown Coffee owner and founder, Scott James, began roasting specialty coffee as a garage enterprise in 2014.
Currently it supplies over 200 cafes including London stores Selfridges and House of Fraser, and The Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
Earlier this year it was named one of the UK’s best roasteries and cafes by travel guide Lonely Planet.
Carmarthenshire County Council leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “I am very happy that we were able to provide funding support to Dolawen Cyf to develop new premises and employment space for new jobs in Carmarthenshire. As a council we remain committed to supporting and transforming Ammanford and this is another part of the jigsaw which we’re hoping to complete through our five-year plan.”
As the political debate surrounding the UK’s exit from the European Union rages on, the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society Annual Public Lecture will discuss citizenship in the age of Brexit.
‘Citizenship, ‘Race’ and Class: Hannah Arendt and Raymond Williams in the age of Brexit’ will be delivered by Professor Daniel G Williams, Director of the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales at Swansea University.
Open to everyone, the lecture takes place on Friday 23 November 2018 at the Main Hall, International Politics Building, Aberystwyth University at 7:00pm, and follows a reception at 6.30pm.
Professor Williams, who is originally from Aberystwyth, will seek to understand Brexit by reflecting on the work of an unlikely pairing, Raymond Williams and Hannah Arendt.
Williams was a Welsh cultural thinker, while Arendt, who escaped Nazi Germany, was an influential analyst of totalitarianism and the fate of refugees.
Professor Williams will explore the connections between them, and reflect on what their thinking might reveal about citizenship, ‘race’ and nation-statehood as we face the looming possibility of Brexit.
Professor Michael Woods, Co-Director of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society said: “With continuing uncertainty around Brexit and what it means for Wales, Professor William’s lecture will be a timely and thought-provoking talk on how we think about citizenship.”
Tickets for the lecture ‘Citizenship, ‘Race’ and Class: Hannah Arendt and Raymond Williams in the age of Brexit’ can be booked online here.
The Centre for Welsh Politics and Society (CWPS) is an interdisciplinary research centre at Aberystwyth University, which brings together academics from departments across the humanities and social sciences.
It is also the Aberystwyth arm of WISERD, providing links with social scientists at Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea universities.
CWPS holds a range of events, many of them open to the public. Further information is available online here, where it is possible to sign up for regular e-mail updates.
Professor Williams will also be speaking at the ‘Writing Welsh Identities’ conference on Saturday 24 November between 1:30 and 5:00pm at Aberystwyth University’s Old College.
Sportswear retailer Intersport has extended its sponsorship of Scarlets, committing to another two seasons as one of the region’s kit sponsors.
As well as extending their sponsorship Intersport, in conjunction with Macron, will become the first third party supplier of Scarlets merchandise.
The groundbreaking partnership will see Intersport UK stock Scarlets’ home and away kit for the forthcoming season and beyond.
As part of Scarlets’ commercial strategy, Three Counties Three Years, the principle aim is to extend the Scarlets brand message and ensure a more cohesive approach to grassroots activity and cooperation right across the region.
As stockists of Scarlets merchandise, in stores right across Wales and online at Intersport’s specialised online rugby offering rugbystore.co.uk, supporters of the region far and wide will be able to purchase and wear their colours with pride wherever they may be.
With over 220 stores across the UK, Intersport is a community based sports retailer with local customers at the heart of the group. Each store is independently owned and run, understanding their local customers and sports clubs like no other. The online store was launched in 2016 further expanding Intersport’s offering to customers.
Nathan Brew, Head of Commercial at Scarlets, said; “We are delighted to see Intersport not only extend their sponsorship for another two seasons but also become our first third party retailer.
“Intersport offer performance sports clothing and equipment for men, women and children and are committed to offering the best products by the best brands to their customers.
“The new partnership, which will see Intersport stock Scarlets merchandise in its stores in Wales, is something that we’re particularly excited about and is another example of how our commercial offering is continuing to grow and evolve.”
Intersport reaches across the globe with over 5500 stores making it the world’s leading sports performance retailer.
“As a member of the Intersport family, rugbystore is proud to support the Scarlets and bringing grassroots rugby to a wider audience,” said a Rugbystore spokesperson.
Scarlets merchandise stockists;
Macron Store, Parc y Scarlets Macron Store, Neath Rugbystore.co.uk Interpsort stores – locations to be confirmed DW stores – locations to be confirmed
The Business Network International (BNI) Annual Awards Dinner at the Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli, was a big hit.
For the third year in a row, the event was well supported by West Wales businesses and community leaders.
The evening was hosted by comedian and newspaper columnist Phil Evans.
It featured the singing talents of Jimi Webb, the Welsh King of Swing.
Worthy members of the Llanelli BNI Group (The Endeavour Chapter) were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the team’s success.
BNI in Llanelli has been established for more than 12 years.
The very worthy winners were:
Graeme Fox, of Davies Craddock Insurance Brokers, Llanelli.
John Dray, of Cloud Genius, Llanelli.
Steffan Thomas, of Property Maintenance, Llangennech.
The awards were presented by Nick Romanello.
Business makes the world go round and the BNI members do their best to keep business ‘local’ and keep the West Wales economy moving and growing.
The event was supported by Llanelli councillors and other VIPs, including Ms Suzy Curry (Deputy Mayor of Llanelli), Miss Molly Curry and Mr John Prosser.
There was an emotional start to the Advent Christmas period with the annual Festival of Light at St Elli Shopping Centre, Llanelli.
The evening is organised as a fundraiser for the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice Appeal – and it also serves as an opportunity for people to remember relatives and friends.
The service was led by the Rev Euryl Howells and the Rev David Jones.
There was a reading from the Leader of Carmarthenshire Council, Cllr Emlyn Dole.
The lights were officially turned on by Mrs Linda Williams, former county director of the Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir anchored the evening with an emotional rendition of Anfonaf Angel (soloist Anthony Bowen) and Can You Feel The Love Tonight (from the musical The Lion King).
The ‘stars’ of the evening were the children of Ysgol y Felin Primary School in Felinfoel, who sang a rousing This Is Me, from the musical The Greatest Showman.
The Phil Harmonics ladies choir from Llanelli also performed, along with the Salvation Army Band.
The congregational hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda added to the emotion of the evening.
There was also a touch of drama with the lights being switched on during the anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
