Author: Rhys Gregory

Home renovations can breathe new life into your living space, enhancing both its functionality and aesthetics. However, the perception that renovations are costly and labour-intensive often deters homeowners.  Fortunately, with a bit of creativity and strategic planning, you can transform your home on a budget, making significant improvements without breaking the bank. Here are some of the ways. Planning and Budgeting The first step to a successful home renovation is setting a realistic budget and sticking to it. Begin by assessing which areas of your home need the most attention or will offer the most value once upgraded.  For instance,…

New ownership marks an exciting new era for the iconic ‘Great Ales of Wales,’ with a revamped look and beer line-up. Having launched in 1996, Tomos Watkin has long established itself as an iconic figure in the Welsh brewing landscape. A change of ownership in August 2023 marked the beginning of a comprehensive revitalisation that is now ready to be unveiled to hordes of eager fans. New owners and renowned beer entrepreneurs, Joelle and Sarah Drummond have taken on the task of refreshing the brand with the aim of introducing Welsh ales and lagers to a new generation of beer…

A fast-growing Welsh food wholesaler is going green as it builds for the future with a £1 million fleet of six new low-emission delivery trucks. Harlech Foodservice are blazing a trail towards their own net zero landmark of 2050 at the same time as they launch a major expansion of the business into South and West Wales with new depots at Merthyr and Carmarthen. They have already made some major savings by switching to more environmentally-friendly coolant gas for their giant freezer rooms at their headquarters and for their refrigerated transport fleet as part of a major review of their…

Parents and carers are being urged to check their eligibility for help with school costs, as the cost of living continues to put pressure on many families. Children of families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits can get up to £200 to help pay for essentials like school uniform, stationery, sports kit and equipment. Currently, only 88% of those eligible have claimed their free School Essentials Grant. That still leaves thousands of children in Wales whose parents need to claim the money before applications close on 31 May. There’s still time to check eligibility Get help with school costs…

Construction workloads in Wales were broadly flat during the first quarter of 2024 according to the results of the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Monitor. However, respondents expect improvement in the year ahead. A net balance of +2% of Welsh respondents reported that construction workloads rose through Q1 2024, an improvement from -16% in the previous quarter. Public housing was the only subsector were workloads were seen to be rising solidly. However, some of the more negative balances in the previous quarter, such as private housebuilding and private industrial activity, are now seeing broadly flat activity rather…

Business advisory firm Quantuma have completed a pre-pack administration sale of vehicle recovery and maintenance business Lanes Recovery Limited (Lanes). This secures the future of the business and protects all jobs. Quantuma’s managing directors, Andrew Watling and Carl Jackson were appointed as Joint Administrators of Lanes on 16 April 2024 and completed the sale of its business and assets shortly thereafter to Lanes Garage Recovery Services Ltd. All 59 staff were transferred to the purchaser under TUPE. Founded in 2018, with its roots tracing back to a family business established in 1951, Lanes provides vehicle recovery, maintenance and storage services…

A man from Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after he was found guilty of multiple child sex offences. 32-year-old Craig Botterill, from Baglan, was found guilty of sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration and rape of a child. Botterill has been sentenced to 10 years in prison at Swansea Crown Court this week. He will be on the sex offenders register for life. Detective Inspector Sharon Gill-Lewis said: “This investigation, led by Detective Constable Jessica Williams, has resulted in the conviction and sentencing of Craig Botterill – a dangerous individual who has caused an unimaginable level of damage to…

Culture Secretary, Lesley Griffiths has visited to Caerphilly Castle to see how a £10m investment at one of Wales’ finest historic sites is progressing. The project will be key in heightening the experience of visitors and is part of a wider regeneration plan for Caerphilly town centre. The investments at Caerphilly Castle aim to make it a world-class visitor attraction while conserving the monument and preserving its history. Work taking place at the castle includes refurbishing the Great Hall, where medieval banquets would have taken place. As well as this, the project includes a wildflower garden, new interpretation and improvements…

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies recently met with local fishers at Swansea Maritime Quarter. The Cabinet Secretary gained an insight into local fisheries in Swansea Bay and the South Wales Region as he met with Barry Thomas, Swansea and Director of South Wales & West Fishing Communities; Jim Evans, CEO, Welsh Fisherman’s Association (WFA); and Kevin Denman, Director of South Wales and West Communities, and the WFA. It was a chance to discuss a range of topics including the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The newly appointed Cabinet Secretary, said: “As I begin this…

Food stalls, workshops and dance performances on stage will all feature in a celebration of Indian culture that’s soon taking place in Swansea. Organised by the Indian Society of South West Wales, Mela 2024 is being held at the Brangwyn Hall on Saturday May 11. Lasting from 10am to 6pm, the event will also include Indian clothes stalls, jewellery and craft stalls, a henna artist and stalls showcasing a number of local businesses. Cookery, yoga and menopause wellbeing workshops are among those being held on the day. At Swansea’s last Mela event in 2022, over 600 people attended. Sindhu Mahadeven,…