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Staff at one of the best known family firms in South Wales have received recognition for their long service.
The Jenkins Bakery rewards staff with more than 10 years service with an annual lunch at Llanelli's Stradey Park Hotel.
This year's lunch saw more than 30 staff (some with more than 20 years' service with the business) attend the lunch, which was hosted by Jenkins Bakery Operations Director Russell Jenkins and Commercial Director David Jenkins.
David Jenkins said: We area third-generation family business and we care passionately about what we do and the people who work in the business. We hold the Investors in People award and we take care in nurturing and developing staff to their full potential. We recognise staff loyalty and long service in a number of ways, including the annual lunch.
Our company history dates back to 1921, but we dont plan on resting on our laurels. We have a proud tradition and reputation as a company, but we always have one eye on the future. In fact, this year, will see us open three new shops in South West Wales."

Jenkins Bakery
The Jenkins bakery employs 280 people, full and part-time, across 27 different stores in South Wales.
The company has the Gold Standard Welsh Food Hygiene Award and the Investors in People award.
The business employs 70 people at its Trostre HQ, while the Jenkins shop network stretches from Carmarthen to Bridgend. There are 13 shops in Carmarthenshire and even one as far afield as Powys.
Weblinks
http://jenkinsbakery.co.uk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jenkinsbakery
Twitter - @JenkinsBakeryLo ng-service staff members -

Staff members are pictured above at the Stradey Park Hotel with David and Russell Jenkins. Not all the long-serving members of staff could make the dinner.
The full 'roll-call' of long-serving staff members is as follows -

10-15 years
Helen Allen
Sian Morgan
Anthea Davies
Sheran Davies
Linda Jones
Barbara Brabant
Samantha Smith
Delyth Davies
Biagio Borrelli
Christine John
Rhian Crisp
Cheryl Phillips
Ann Jones
Gerald Morgan
Susan Williams
Carole Podger
Jason Morris
Iora Bailey
Stewart Hickman
Loraine Charles
Angela Crowton
Janette Carlsen
Christine Evans
Lynette Savory
Sonia Aghazarian
Glenda Jones
Tracy Rogers
Lorraine Davies

15-20 years
Ingrid Howells
Christine O'Brien
Christine Thomas
Johanna Twigg
Janet Jones
Jackie Howells
Gino Disalvo
Sandra Jones
Filippo Difede
Gaynor Lewis
Bethan Howell
Sharon Cox
Susan Jenkins

20 years and more
Rose Dodson
Ann Herbert
Lucy Roderick
Georgina James
Moira Crahart
Vicky Griffin
Fiona Snook
Stuart Treharne
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Social entrepreneur Kevin Green was one of the keynote speakers at a major business conference in Carmarthen.
The Burry Port businessman said he was delighted to get the opportunity to champion the business opportunities in Wales - and West Wales, in particular.
The event was Spotlight West Wales 2013 and it was held at the Halliwell Centre at the University of Wales Trinity St David in Carmarthen.
Spotlight West Wales was a one-day event designed to focus on the regions achievements, identify new opportunities and offer a range of ways to boost business.
This years theme was Creating Opportunities and the event was based on the highly successful Spotlight North Wales and Spotlight Mid Wales conferences.
The aim of the day was to inspire, educate and bring businesses and organisations together to form positive working relationships in order to grow and prosper.
The Welsh Government was the main sponsor and the event was made possible as a result of positive collaboration between a range of key partners wishing to see a bright economic future for West Wales.
Speakers included Dr Paul Thomas, better known as The Business Doctor, Jeff Cuthbert AM, the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, and Jo Fairley, the co-founder of Green and Black's organic chocolate company.
The event was hosted by renowned Welsh broadcaster Sara Edwards.
Mr Green said: "Speaking in my own 'back yard' at a major business event was a real treat. It was great to meet so many businesspeople who care passionately about putting West Wales on the business map. There's a great entrepreneurial spirit in West Wales and we should be very proud at what many businesses are trying to achieve."
The event website is at -
http://www.spotlightwestwales.com/index.php
Photos from the event -
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Inspired to take up the sax after seeing Michael Brecker play at the age of 11, Llandeilo born Oliver Nezhati is a rising star on The London Jazz scene.
It is a delight to welcome Oli back to his home town, where he will be accompanied by The Dave Cottle Trio - Saturday July 6th, 1.30 pm in the Cawdor Hotel
Swansea Jazzlands respected house trio has accompanied most of the UKs leading performers and many international jazz artists over the past 15 years or so.
It's all part of the Llandeilo Jazz Festival - July 5-7.
Website -
http://www.jazzatllandeilo.co.uk/
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The Evan-Evans Brewery flagship pub at The Cricketers in Cathedral Road, Cardiff, has been shortlisted in the National TourismAwards for Wales.
The pub has been picked in the 'Best place to eat (pub)' category.
A record number of Welsh tourism businesses have entered this years National Tourism Awards for Wales, with 59 now shortlisted for the prestigious awards.
More than 420 applications were made for the 19 National Tourism Award categories that will name the Best Place to Eat, the Best Place to Stay, the Best Visitor Experience and the Regional Tourism Awards, among others.
The awards are staged by Visit Wales, in partnership with the Wales Tourism Alliance and in commercial partnership with Quadrant Media and Communications, to recognise and reward the very best in Welsh tourism.
In total, there are 15 businesses short-listed from the Capital Region, which covers South East Wales, 12 from mid Wales, 16 from North Wales and 16 from South West Wales.
The short-listed businesses were officially announced at the launch of the new tourism strategy for Wales by Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart.
The strategy Partnership for Growth has set the vision for the industry and Welsh Government to work in partnership to increase visitor spend to Wales.
The Minister said: Its fantastic to see such a high number of entries for this years National Tourism Awards for Wales. Whats more, the quality of those entries was outstanding. We are very fortunate in Wales to have a tourism sector of such high calibre. The shortlisted businesses are prime examples of quality businesses, helping to drive higher tourism earnings for the Welsh economy. We look forward to unveiling the winners in November.
A panel of independent judges whittled down all entries into the announced shortlist.
The finalists from that shortlist will be unveiled at the National Tourism Awards for Wales awards ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on 21 November 2013, where the overall winners will be crowned.
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The Pembrokeshire branch of Headway, the brain injury association, is getting ready for a busy summer schedule.
Top of the agenda will be a major Headway Wellness Day at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne, near Carmarthen, in September.
We have been doing a lot of work to spreading the word about Headway, particularly since the national Brain Injury Awareness week earlier this year, said Rebecca Proctor, the treasurer of the Pembrokeshire branch of Headway.
The association works as a registered charity and works very hard to raise awareness of what support is available to brain injury victims and their families.
It is estimated that across the UK there are around 500,000 people (aged 16 - 74) living with long term disabilities as a result of traumatic brain injury.
Some of the members of the Pembrokeshire branch of Headway attended the recent South and West Wales brain injury Conference in Swansea.
The event included a number of excellent guest speakers and gave members of Headway the chance to learn more about the effects of brain injury and to listen to some inspirational stories from people who who have experienced head injuries.
Members of Pembrokeshire Headway have recently enjoyed visits from guest speakers to the associations meeting HQ at Haverfordwest Rugby Club.
Speakers have included Dr Tracey Ryan Morgan and Roger Weddell, consultant neuro-psychologists who lead group discussions on living positively with brain injury.
Forthcoming events for the group include the annual summer BBQ and a boat trip.
A West Wales training day is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, with the likely venue being in Carmarthen.
The national Headway association will be running a conference in Nottingham on July 12-14.
New members are warmly welcomed to meetings of the Pembrokeshire branch of Headway. Meetings are the second Thursday of each month at Haverfordwest Rugby Club, 6.30 pm. For further information please call Barbara Moules on 01348875313
Meanwhile, staff at West Wales legal firm QualitySolicitors Redkite and Cardiff legal firm Slater and Gordon have been busy raising funds for Pembrokeshire Headway. A recent fund-raiser saw staff wear silly hats for Hats for Headway Day.
Both QS Redkite and Slater and Gordon (supporters of Pembrokeshire Headway), along with other firms and other South and West Wales branches of Headway, are contributing 250 a piece towards the cost of the Headway Wellness Day which will be held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on September 7.

Weblinks
https://www.facebook.com/headway.pembrokeshire
http://www.qualitysolicitors.com/redkite
http://www.slatergordon.co.uk/contact-us/cardiff/
https://www.headway.org.uk
http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/


Pictured at the South and West Wales brain injury Conference in Swansea are members of Pembrokeshire Headway branch Jo and Kevin Patterson and Andrew Davies, together with Rebecca Proctor of QS Redkite (treasurer) and Bethan Drinkall, specialist neuro-physiotherapist from Equinox rehabilitation.


Staff at QS Redkite wore silly hats for Hats for Headway Day to raise money for Headway.
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The next meeting of theRugby Business Network in Llanelli will be held onTuesday 9th July 2013
The July meeting of Llanelli Rugby Business Network marks the second anniversary of this popular event and will again be held at the Scarlets Heart and Soul Caf, Parc y Scarlets.
The purpose of these meetings is to promote and enhance business in South West Wales and in particular the local area.
The event is friendly and mainly informal and all attendees will be provided with the opportunity of introducing their business, the services they offer and the type of leads and introductions they are seeking, plus there will be ample opportunity for informal networking.
The first speaker will be Amanda Russell (a regular attendee of RBN), who is employed as an accountant, at Clay Shaw Butler, Carmarthen.
Amandas talk is on the theme of Getting the Basics Right.
Her talk will include a summary of basic book keeping, how to interpret figures, vat registration and how to keep accountancy fees to a minimum whilst ensuring that tax and/or penalties arent paid unnecessarily.
The Rugby Business Network team are also currently in discussions regarding inviting a special guest speaker along to mark this landmark occasion.
To celebrate the second anniversary, there will be a couple of additional activities for participants to enjoy, including a free prize draw plus a Summer Secret Santa activity.
There will be a small charge of 10 for attending (which will include the cost of light refreshments) and is payable on the night.
It is important that you register your interest prior to the event so that adequate refreshments can be provided.
Members of other networking groups are welcome to join us at our events for which there are no annual membership fees involved.
The evening starts from 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
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Tickets are now on sale for the second Llandeilo Jazz Festival, which takes place over the weekend of Friday July 5 to Sunday July 7.
The cost of two weekend wristband passes is just 3. To ensure entrance to the festival, those wishing to attend should register online at www.jazzatllandeilo.co.uk
The festival is presented by the award-winning Evan Evans Brewery of Llandeilo, who are donating funds to the music programme at Llandeilos two primary schools, both of which also appear as part of the community/street music entertainment which is open to all.

The 2013 Festival
After a succesful launch year, the festival has doubled in size and has 40 events on four stages across three venuesin the heart of town - The Cawdor Hotel, The Angel and The White Horse Inn.
The upbeat line up has a strong representation of the Welsh Jazz community and covers a wide jazz spectrum including Mainstream, Traditional, Big Band, Ragtime, Jazz Rock, Funk, Gypsy Jazz and Blues.
The Festival includes feature performances by:
Willie Garnett - Big Band Leader and one of the UK's leading sax players
Kent Duchaine - Delta Blues Legend from the USA
Oli Nezhati - Llandeilo born rising star of the London Jazz Scene
The Dave Cottle Trio - Swansea Jazzland's much admired house trio - with special guests
Remi Harris - Young Gypsy Jazz guitar sensation
There is also a special event entitled A Tribute to Derek Watkins, The Sound of James Bond
Derek who passed away in march this year was a leading Trumpeter and much loved Band Leader.
Among many credits, Derek appeared on every James Bond Film from 1962 to 2012.

How to reserve your pass
Register for your 3 weekend wristband as soon as possible at www.llandeilojazz.co.uk
The only cost is a token administration fee of 3 (for two tickets) of which 1 is donated to Llandeilo's two local primary schools to help with the cost of their music activities. There is an option to donate an extra 2 to the schools.
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Burry Port courier company Celtic Couriers Ltd has fought off stiff competition to be crowned South West Depot of the Year 2012.
Part of the APC Overnight network, which consists of 115 depots across the UK, Celtic Couriers Ltd was identified as the best performing company in 2012 - fending off competition from more than 17 contenders throughout the South West.
Accepting the award from Olympic medallist Kriss Akabusi at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham, Depot Principal Gail Skinner said: This is a fantastic result and the perfect way to end a really successful year.
Since founding the business in 1989 and joining the APC Overnight network in 1994, the business has gone from strength to strength.
We have a really strong group of local customers. We know that, for them, our ability to offer next day delivery throughout the UK from our base in Burry Port is a key advantage.
Were now hoping to make 2013 even more successful for the business than last year.
More than 500 people in the APC Overnight network saw the Celtic Couriers team collect the trophy, as part of the companys All Depot Meeting 2013.
Steve Cornwell, the Head of Network at APC Overnight, said: Celtic Couriers Ltd maintained incredibly high customer satisfaction levels and a phenomenal delivery success record throughout 2012.
As an overnight courier company with a reputation for excellence in customer service, we need our depots to reflect these values which is exactly what Celtic Couriers does day in, day out.

About Celtic Couriers:
We've built our reputation through providing innovation and believe in having close contact with our customers to ensure that both our long-term interests are met. Frequent, fast, flexible and efficient, we can take everything from documents through to 1250kg pallets and transport them to local, national and European destinations.
Our delivery times cover next day before 9am, before noon, before 5pm or at a time specified by you. If you want service levels like these that are second to none - talk to Celtic Couriers.
Celtic Couriers was formed in 1989 by Gail and Ivor Skinner who are still the directors of this local company. Celtic Couriers cares passionately about all its customers and is always endeavouring to seek ways to enhance its service levels.
We are shareholders in APC Overnight, the largest next day parcel delivery network with more than 120 depots in the UK.
Celtic Couriers are also licensees for the Fortec Pallet Distribution Network, the premium next-day and economy pallet distribution service.
Contact details
Call: +44 (0) 1554 835490
Email: info@celticcouriers.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0) 1554 835059
Celtic Couriers Limited, Unit 1 Burry Port Industrial Estate, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0NN
Website
http://www.celticcouriers.co.uk
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/celticcouriers
Twitter - @CelticCouriers

About APC Overnight
APC Overnights network is unique. It is owned and run by independent local delivery specialists connected into a strong managed system, so customers will always talk to someone local to them.
APC Overnight is investing 16.5m in a brand new national sortation centre, which is currently under construction. The new centre will more than double the companys current capacity.
APC Overnight was named the Express and Stars Business of the Year in 2012 and 2013, making it the only company to have won the same award twice.
For more information on APC Overnight, visit
http://www.apc-overnight.com/

Photo:
(left to right)
Gary Hall, APC Overnight national network manager, Gareth Jenkins, general manager Celtic Couriers, Gail Skinner, Depot Principal Celtic Couriers, Olympic medallist Kriss Akabusi, Cindy Jenkins, account administrator Celtic Couriers, Liz Thomas, traffic supervisor Celtic Couriers, Sally Milligan, administration Celtic Couriers, Ivor Skinner, Celtic Couriers co-founder and director, and Syed Ziaullah, chief executive APC Overnight. Front, Mark Westacott, driver Celtic Couriers.
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