Author: Rhys Gregory

The headline NatWest Wales 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 – registered 45.0 at the start of the fourth quarter, down from 48.4 in September, signalling the strongest downturn in output at Welsh firms since February 2021. The rate of decline accelerated amid reports of worsening demand conditions and a faster fall in new orders. With the exception of the North East, Welsh companies registered the steepest drop in activity of the 12 monitored UK areas. Welsh private sector firms signalled a…

Abergavenny based Miller Research, which undertakes research, consultancy, and evaluation work across a range of sectors for clients in Wales and across the UK has transitioned into Employee Ownership (EO). Managing Director and founder, Nick Miller, has sold his majority interest in the company to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which owns the shares on behalf of all 24 employees. This step has given employees ownership of the business and a huge say in its future direction, building on the 19 years of growth overseen by Nick. The move means they will join a list of businesses making the transition…

GRAMMY-Award winning US indie rockers The National are set to headline Cardiff Castle next summer. The American quintet, who have enjoyed more than 20 years success both sides of the Atlantic, will head to the iconic venue on Wednesday July 3. They will be joined by special guests New Zealand psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra.  Formed in New York in 1999, The National is made up of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards) and Bryce Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Their last five albums have…

A new and exclusive Cardiff-themed board game is launching this City of Arcades Day, showcasing the city’s wonderful shopping arcades. On Saturday, November 18, visitors to the city centre can play on a life-sized board and will be in with a chance of winning a limited-edition, custom-made City of Arcades: The Game. The board is full of famous landmarks and, of course, the unique shops that make the arcades such a brilliant shopping experience all make an appearance. It has been produced as part of a limited run, celebrating everything great about Cardiff’s famous arcades and some lucky shoppers could…

A Llanelli-based football club have secured a £6,000 grant from a local developer. Persimmon Homes West Wales donated the funds to Calsonic Kansei Swiss Valley AFC as part of their Community Champions scheme. The amateur football club’s first team play in the West Wales Premier League and have boys and girls teams of various ages. Persimmon is currently building at its Awel y Mynydd and Parc Cerrig sites, less than a dozen miles away in Burry Port and Cross Hands, respectively. Three and four-bed homes are still available at both sites from £239,995 at Awel y Mynydd and £249,995 at…

Communities across Wales are being urged to apply for a free lifesaving defibrillator from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), supported by fundraising from BHF’s charity partner Royal Mail. There are 220 defibrillator packages available to communities across the UK as part of the charity’s Community Defibrillator Fund. The heart charity has said areas with greatest need will be prioritised – those with high deprivation and limited access to defibrillators. There are around 2800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in Wales, with only one in twenty people surviving. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation after a cardiac arrest can reduce the…

The seven-year-old lurcher has been sadly waiting for her forever home for more than 800 days. Staff at RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre had hoped she had found her perfect match just over a year ago, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be. As Christmas draws near, the branch is now issuing a special appeal to find her the perfect owner in time for the festive season. Pepper is a friendly and loving dog with bags full of character. At her previous home she had been left tied up outside – while another loose dog was constantly pestering her. Staff…

Storm Debi is expected to develop and move across Ireland and northern England on Monday. Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the exact track and depth of this low, there is a chance of very strong westerly winds developing along Irish Sea coasts of Wales and northwest England on Monday morning before extending inland during day, slowly easing later. There is a chance of 60-65 mph gusts developing inland and 70-80 mph around coasts, and over some higher ground, such as the Pennines. What to expect Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible Some damage to…

Port Talbot based social enterprise A2B Active Sport CIC recently partnered with Aberavon Fighting Irish Rugby League Football Club and Trefelin Boys and Girls Club (BGC) to stage the Autumn League Festival of Rugby League in the steel town. Supported by Neath Port Talbot Counckl through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and hosted by Trefelin BGC, the festival was a concerted community effort and included a schools’ programme, Wales’s first ever Mixed-Ability Rugby League fixture, and the Wales Dragonhearts vs England Community Lions Amateur Rugby League International. Originally scheduled to take place on the same day at Trefelin BCG’s picturesque…

The Minister for Economy Vaughan Gething MS joined the team from GE Aerospace Wales to mark the official opening of the new Training Academy at the site in Nantgarw, north of Cardiff. The Training Academy will be the dedicated to the induction of new recruits as well as provide first-class facilities for the important ongoing training that is required by the more than 1,000 highly skilled aircraft engineers who work on aircraft engines from around the world. The Academy, which has been converted over several months from an operational space, is home to a purpose-built classroom to embed engineering theory…