Author: Rhys Gregory

June data signalled a renewed fall in output across the Welsh private sector, according to the NatWest Wales Growth Tracker. The headline Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – posted at 49.7 midway through the year, down from 52.0 in May. The decline in output was the first in four months, albeit only fractional overall. Panellists reported weak client demand and hesitancy among customers to place orders, as new business fell at a solid pace. Welsh businesses signalled a return to contraction…

Fonmon Castle near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan is offering a host of summer activities, running from July 20 until September 7. They include family fun weekends packed with shows and opportunities to meet superheroes and fairy-tale characters, plus a classic car show and a tribute music festival dedicated to the rock band Queen – a UK first. Fonmon Castle is a picturesque castle dating from Norman times. Its extensive grounds, open throughout the summer holidays, include nature trails, a dinosaur park, a medieval village, adventure playgrounds, romantic gardens, and a Welsh folklore trail. Archery, axe throwing, and disc…

Leading partnerships developer Lovell has raised a total of £12,600, which will be split equally between three local charities, at its 29th annual charity golf day in Cardiff. The event was held at Whitchurch Golf Club, near the developer’s regional head office, and saw 24 teams compete. Lovell employees, subcontractors, partners and consultants teed off in the morning, before taking part in a charity auction at the end of the day. The auction was hosted by Sean Holley, Rugby Union coach and broadcaster, and consisted of prizes donated by Lovell clients and its supply chain. Over the past 28 years,…

The Growth Guarantee Scheme is designed to support access to finance for UK smaller businesses as they look to invest and grow and is expected to support around 11,000 smaller businesses between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2026. The British Business Bank has so far accredited 41 lenders for the Growth Guarantee Scheme. Following their accreditation, each lender needs to put in place the operations required to start lending under the scheme, and they will be listed on the British Business Bank website once they are ready to start receiving applications. 20 lenders have so far confirmed they are…

GS Verde Group, the award-winning corporate advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Linzi Lumbley as Associate Director at GS Verde Tax & Accountants. Linzi brings extensive industry and practice experience, with fresh perspective to the team.  In line with a continuous period of growth for GS Verde Group, this appointment sees Linzi return to the company as a senior hire within the Tax & Accounting discipline – focusing on the team’s delivery of high-quality financial management and advice to entrepreneurs and management teams who are looking to scale, acquire or lead towards an exit across the UK…

Local housebuilder, Barratt Homes South Wales, has today (08 July) announced its plans to bring 70 energy efficient new-build homes and over 300 jobs to Cwmbran — with new development, Holly View. Located in St Dials, the development will be built on the site of the former Gwent Police college — which was the first purpose-built police academy of its kind in the UK when it opened in July 1974. Hundreds of trainee constables from across Wales were drilled there before its closure in 2005 — with a range of stylish three and four-bedroom homes now set to be built…

South Wales Police have issued a Section 60 Notice, which gives them the power to stop and search anyone in this area of Butetown in Cardiff. The notice took effect from 16.16pm yesterday (Monday, July 8 ) and will remain until 16.16pm tomorrow (Tuesday, July 9). The Notice authorises any Constable in uniform, within that locality to exercise the powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994: to stop and search any pedestrian, or anything carried by them for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments without good reason, or to stop and search any vehicle, its…

School pupils now benefitting from game changing sport and community facilities at their school have welcomed partners who funded the £7.5m scheme. Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart officially opened the new indoor sports barn, refurbished leisure centre and community rooms at Cefn Hengoed Community School and Leisure Centre this week. Pupils joined in and proudly showed guests around the transformation that has taken place, the latest in a long-list of investments in school and community sporting facilities made by the council. As well as the sports barn with indoor 3G pitch at Cefn Hengoed, there is a brand new state-of-the-art…

These exciting new images give a first look at a major office development that’s being planned for Swansea city centre. The proposed office development will be home to the new public sector hub, which is being considered for a site in the area of the former St David’s Shopping Centre. Crucially, the public sector hub will also enable the redevelopment of the Civic Centre. The plan is for hundreds of council staff to be located at the public sector hub, as well as workers from other public sector organisations. The development will follow on from the delivery of other major…

An eight-week public consultation on plans to protect 11 parks in Cardiff and ensure they remain publicly accessible green spaces, has been launched. Subject to the results of the consultation,Cardiff Council is proposing to enter into a legal agreement known as ‘deed of dedication’ with Fields In Trust- an independent UK-wide charity dedicated to the protection of parks and green spaces. Under the terms of the agreement, the Council would have to maintain the land for the purposesof outdoor leisure and recreation only – meaning it could not be sold for development or developed by the Council. Council Leader, Cllr…