Author: Rhys Gregory

Musculoskeletal conditions are the biggest cause of working days lost across Britain, and Wales carries more than its share. With NHS physio waits exceeding a year in some health boards, the real cost is no longer just clinical. It is economic, and it is rising. A Waiting List Is Not the Whole Story Back pain. A shoulder that will not settle. A knee has been quietly getting worse for six months. These are not headline conditions, but they account for more lost working days in Wales than almost anything else. They also rarely resolve on their own, and the longer…

A year of fundraising for bigmoose has ended on a high for the Development Bank of Wales, with its 280‑strong team raising more than £88,000 for the Wales‑based mental health charity. Colleagues from across the Development Bank of Wales Group, including its subsidiary FW Capital, took part in a wide range of activities throughout the year. Together, they helped to fund fast and effective access to therapy and counselling for more than 170 people experiencing mental health challenges across the UK. The partnership with bigmoose builds on a strong track record of charity fundraising at the Development Bank. It has…

As the UK Government is expected to make a final decision on a screening programme for prostate cancer this month, Prostate Cymru is calling for men to be routinely tested. Last year, the National Screening Committee (NSC) opened a public consultation following its draft decision to advise government against screening for all men. That’s despite the fact that one in eight men get prostate cancer. Nor did it back a screening programme for black men, who have double the risk of developing the disease, or for those with a family history. It is anticipated that the Government will discuss the…

FinTech Wales has today announced Vodafone Business, the enterprise division of the newly merged VodafoneThree, and a leading provider of connectivity and digital solutions for businesses and public sector organisations across the UK, as the headline partner of the first Wales Fintech Festival. The event will take place on June 3rd, 2026 at the Swansea Building Society Arena. Vodafone Business has a long‑standing commitment to Wales, investing in the connectivity that supports economic growth, inclusion and sustainability for public services and businesses alike. Following the VodafoneThree merger, the company is investing £605 million in network infrastructure across Wales to strengthen coverage and accelerate the rollout of 5G. This investment will deliver near‑universal population coverage and improved rural connectivity, helping public…

Cardiff is set to host an international street art festival this summer as more than 100 artists from around the world descend on the city for the first ever Meeting of Styles Cymru. Taking place from July 2 to 5, the international ‘paint jam’ will see artists creating large-scale artwork across Grangetown, Butetown and central Cardiff. The festival is being led by Welsh artist Amelia Thomas, also known as ‘Unity’, on behalf of Cathays Central Youth and Community Project. She said: “We want this festival to raise awareness of graffiti as an art form, changing the often negative narrative behind…

The new Welsh Government will ultimately be judged on whether it chose short-term fixes or long-term action to secure a better future for coming generations, according to Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker. As a new Senedd term begins, the commissioner is urging ministers and politicians across all parties to focus on decisions that will protect people from future crises in food, energy, nature and public health. Mr Walker is warning that short-term fixes that ignore the future are one of the reasons people are suffering now and that Wales must plan “not just for the next 100 days, but for the next…

Daniel, 27, from Cardiff has won a prestigious national award at a King’s Trust Celebration, in partnership with TK Maxx.  He scooped the NatWest Enterprise award which recognises a young person who has overcome barriers to create their own sustainable business or social enterprise. Dan was honoured last week at the event, which was an extraordinary, one-night-only event, celebrating the work of youth charity The King’s Trust and showcasing the limitless potential of young people as The Trust turns 50 years young. Held at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, and hosted by Ant and Dec, this special evening saw performances from an all-star…

Welsh mid-market businesses could generate around £252m in additional annual economic output if key decisions were made more quickly, according to new research from advisory firm FRP. The findings suggest there is significant further growth potential for the Welsh mid-market, with faster decision-making able to support stronger revenue growth, improved efficiency and greater resilience in response to changing market conditions. The findings form part of FRP’s new Decision Economy report, a major new study delivered in partnership with research firm Development Economics to assess the importance of mid-sized businesses – those with between 50 and 499 employees – to the…

The Met Office says unsettled weather across Wales and the UK is set to give way to warmer conditions later this week, with forecasters predicting the warmest day of the year so far ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. After a mixed start to the week featuring heavy showers, strong winds and the chance of thunder, temperatures are expected to climb steadily from Thursday onwards, bringing brighter and warmer weather for many parts of the country. Tuesday is expected to bring a mix of sunshine and heavy, blustery showers across Wales, with some thunderstorms possible before conditions ease later in…

Newport City Council has revealed the next list of roads set to be resurfaced over the next two years as part of its ongoing Fixing Our Roads programme. The announcement follows increased investment in road repairs and maintenance as part of the council’s 2026/27 budget, with the authority saying it is responding directly to concerns raised by residents. So far, resurfacing work has already been completed on more than 30 major roads across the city, including Chepstow Road, Cardiff Road, the A467 Risca bypass and Malpas Road. Councillor Rhian Howells, cabinet member for infrastructure and assets, said: “When setting our…