Pembrokeshire cottage industry receives UK’s most prestigious business accolade

Published

19 hours ago

November 12, 2024

When Ferrari stormed the Formula 1 World Championships in 2000 before downforcing the title yet again in 2004, little did a family-run Pembrokeshire company think that it, too, was on the cusp of international recognition.

But thanks to the custom-designed cooling jackets worn by Schumaker and his Ferrari teammates Rubens Barrickello and Jenson Button, Treffgarne’s ‘Frio UK Ltd’ began its own incredible journey to success.

This week the company received the highly prestigious business accolade – The King’s Award for International Trade – at a ceremony held on its site at Little Treffgarne, near Haverfordwest.

“This is something we never thought would happen to a small company here in West Wales,” said Frio’s managing director, Chris Wolsey.

The company was established by Chris’s parents, the late Garnet and Althea Worsley, who were dairy farmers at Whiteleys in Little Treffgarne.

“My father was always very innovative, coming up with all sorts of ideas, some of which were crazy and some of which were good,” explains Chris.

“My father had been researching his family tree with the result that some of our family members living in Canada came over for a visit. While they were here, they explained that they were making cooling bands to help keep people cool.”

Garnet was intrigued by the idea, and wasted no time in networking the UK market to see whether there was sufficient interest to make the idea work.

Chris’s sister, Helen, used the band when she competed in the 1991 World Powerlifting Championships in New Delhi and seven years later they were used by the British Olympic and Paralympic teams in Atlanta.

But it was when a family friend mentioned the problems she was having keeping her insulin cool during long journeys abroad that the Worsleys realised they were definitely onto a winner.

“The best inventions are often the simplest, and this is certainly the case with Frio as it requires no batteries and depends only on water,” explained Chris.

The Frio wallets work through evaporation, ensuring the contents are kept cool and safe. Each pouch consists of an inner wallet which contains crystals that activate when immersed in water, expanding into a gel. When the gel begins to evaporate it immediately emits a cooling effect on the medication that’s housed in the wallet. It is reactivated by placing it in water again.

Frio – which is the Spanish word for ‘cool’ – will keep in-use insulin and other temperature sensitive medications within safe temperatures of between 18 and 26 degrees centigrade for a minimum of 45 hours.

“When my parents first started the business there was a lot of experimental work being carried out on the kitchen table with scissors flashing all over the place and lots of material being cut and sewn,” said Chris.

“We must have gone through hundreds of versions before deciding on the wallet which is the one that we know today.”

It was during a visit to Lloyd’s Pharmacy that Frio picked up a massive order for 24,000 units, with fulfilment required in just eight weeks. So the family went into full-scale operation, installing 40-foot Portakabins on the farm and employing a team of local machinists to meet the order.

The company continued to grow as more and more people with diabetes learned how important Frio is in hot weather, while exports continued to increase to mainland Europe, with strong markets in Germany, Holland and Switzerland. Since then, the company has spread into the United States of America, Canada and the Middle East. Today the company exports to a total of 72 countries worldwide.

“Innovation has always been at the forefront of everything we’ve done, and we really try to keep on top of what’s needed,” concluded Chris. “Over the last 30 years we’ve helped millions and millions of people all over the world, and to achieve this from this small farm in west Wales is something that our entire team should feel very proud of.”

His comments were endorsed by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards, who presented Chris with the award on Tuesday afternoon, on behalf of King Charles.

“This is the most prestigious award that can be awarded in the UK and I know His Majesty will feel extremely proud to learn that you are achieving so much here in the heart of deepest Pembrokeshire,” she said.

News

Milford Haven School celebrates U14 Pembrokeshire Hockey Championship victory

Published

12 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL’S Under-14 girls’ hockey team has been crowned Pembrokeshire Champions, delivering an outstanding performance and securing their title after a series of intense matches.

The team, consisting of 14 talented players, demonstrated impressive skill, resilience, and teamwork throughout the competition. Under the guidance of Miss Griffiths, they evolved their strategy and showcased their capabilities with each game.

A Day of Victories

The team’s first game against YBP was a close battle, with Milford Haven securing a narrow 1-0 win.

Goal Scorer: Lola P
Players’ Player: Annabelle G
Coaches’ Player: Lilly J

In their second match, they faced Haverfordwest High and dominated with a strong midfield play and clinical finishes, achieving a 6-0 victory.

Goals Scored: Olivia D (3), Ruby D, Lola P, Ameila C
Players’ Player: Olivia D
Coaches’ Player: Ruby D

After a brief interval, Milford Haven went on to face YHT, focusing on using the field’s width, which led them to a 4-0 win.

Goals Scored: Lola P (2), Annabelle G, Olivia D
Players’ Player: Annabelle G
Coaches’ Players: Lola P and Macy B

In their final game of the day, the team played YGB, finishing with a decisive 7-0 win and showing relentless energy.

Goals Scored: Ellie M (2), Olivia D (2), Annabelle G, Lilly J, Ruby D
Players’ Player: Annabelle G
Coaches’ Players: Lacey N and Ellie M

Miss Griffiths expressed her pride in the team’s achievements and her excitement for their future development: “It’s been fantastic to watch the team grow today, and I can’t wait to see how they progress.”

Thanks were also extended to Evans Coaches for sponsoring the team’s kit and ensuring safe travel throughout the competition.

Community

Bishop Joins Street Pastors on Pembroke Outreach

Published

13 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE’S Street Pastors received a visit from Bishop Dorrien over the weekend as he joined their outreach efforts to witness their work within the local community.

The Street Pastors, active in both Pembroke and Haverfordwest, provide pastoral and practical support to people using the town’s pubs and clubs. Their assistance ranges from offering water to the dehydrated, tissues to those in distress, and even flat shoes to help patrons make a safe journey home. Most importantly, they offer a compassionate ear, comfort, and prayers to those in need.

Supported by a dedicated prayer team, the Street Pastors take breaks to pray and gather strength, reflecting on their encounters with the community. Bishop Dorrien praised their work, describing it as a witness to Christ’s command to love our neighbours.

The Bishop noted the warm reception the team received during their rounds and the affection the community holds for their ministry. He blessed their ongoing service, acknowledging its positive impact on the lives of many.

News

Visitor levy and accommodation register proposals to boost tourism

Published

19 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Welsh Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation to support the tourism industry and local communities across Wales. Two proposed Bills aim to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy and create a national register for visitor accommodation.

The announcement, made by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, outlines a Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill set to be introduced to the Senedd on 25 November, pending approval.

Under the new proposal, local councils would have the authority to introduce a small levy for overnight stays in visitor accommodations, generating additional funds to support sustainable tourism initiatives. Each local authority would decide on the levy based on local needs, potentially easing the burden on resources in popular tourist areas.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said that the levy would be “a small charge,” intended to help councils manage the impacts of tourism and invest in community infrastructure. “This will support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he added, emphasising that the approach is in line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to collaborative tax development.

Consultations led by the Welsh Revenue Authority highlighted the importance of a registration system to support the proposed levy. Feedback from stakeholders led to the decision to include a national register of all visitor accommodation providers in Wales as part of the Bill, aimed at ensuring quality standards across the sector.

In addition to the visitor levy, the Welsh Government previously consulted on a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation to create a fair playing field for providers and ensure visitors receive high-standard services. The proposed registration scheme within the Bill marks a first step toward this broader licensing framework.

The second phase of the initiative will involve a separate Bill aimed at establishing a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodations. This would allow providers to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, enhancing transparency and standards. Welsh Government representatives confirmed they would continue discussions with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers, and local authorities as the proposals progress.

If approved, the Bills will mark a significant shift in how Wales manages its tourism sector, balancing visitor demand with community needs and sustainable practices.