Author: Rhys Gregory

A much-loved North Wales hospice has been adopted as a charity by a high flying precision engineering company after staff voted to support it. St Kentigern Hospice, which serves Denbighshire, eastern Conwy and western Flintshire, was chosen by Continental Diamond Tool Ltd (CDT) because of the “wonderful care” it has shown for relatives of team members, including both parents of engraver and dispatch officer Helen Turberville. The company,  which supplies sophisticated parts for production machinery for Rolls-Royce and other aerospace companies, has made its first donation to the charity with Helen handing over a cheque for £1,000 at the hospice…

A Swansea duo are preparing for a second season of business SUP-cess, having launched a popular water sport rental company with the support of Big Ideas Wales. Gower Waves is a mobile stand up paddleboard (SUP) rental company that delivers equipment across all 26 of the Gower’s beaches, from Langland and Swansea Bay to Caswell and Oxwich Bay. Behind the business are best friends Evan Richards, 20, and Lewis Morgan, 19 from Swansea. The pair launched Gower Waves in early 2023 during a gap year and spent the summer driving from beach to beach delivering customised paddle boards to holiday…

37 aspiring young business people from all corners of Wales have come together to hone their business ideas, expand their networks and develop their self-confidence at an immersive residential bootcamp. Hosted at The Summit Centre, Treharris, this year’s Big Ideas Wales residential ‘Bootcamp to Business’ event marked the eleventh annual event since it first launched in 2013. Targeted at individuals aged 18-25 with an entrepreneurial spark, Bootcamp to Business aims to strengthen the support framework available for aspiring startups by inviting leaders to collectively develop the skills needed within the first year of trading, from branding and social media to…

Bellway Wales has released the first images of the new homes it is building at its latest development on the former Llanwern Steelworks in Newport. Alder Grove will be the third housing development to be delivered by Bellway at Glan Llyn, a major regeneration scheme which is transforming 600 acres of land on the eastern edge of the city. There will be 191 properties for private sale, featuring a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses, and 25 affordable homes for low-cost rent or shared ownership, ranging from one and two-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses. Situated on a 12-acre site…

A trade association, which campaigned for a review of the 20mph speed limit in Wales, has welcomed moves to change the policy, as announced by Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport. The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, will outline his transport priorities, including plans for 20 mph, in the Senedd today (April 23). Listening is the immediate priority for the Cabinet Secretary on 20mph. He will say the Welsh Government will listen to the people of Wales and work in partnership with councils to deliver targeted change to the 20mph implementation. The…

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Cllr David Simpson has confirmed his intention to stand down next month. Cllr Simpson, who has been Leader since May 2017, will not seek re-election as Leader of the Council at the Annual General Meeting in May. Chairing his final Cabinet meeting as Leader on Monday, Cllr Simpson said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family. Cllr Simpson said: “I would like to thank my fellow Cabinet Members for their commitment to their roles and their support to me personally over the last seven years. “I also want to put on record…

A pioneering housing initiative co-ordinated by Caerphilly County Borough Council is continuing to transform lives and prevent homelessness. The Caerphilly Keys project helps private landlords find long term tenants for their properties, whilst preventing homelessness.  There are currently 41 landlords signed up to Caerphilly Keys, offering 97 properties throughout the borough. Since it launched in August 2018, Caerphilly Keys has successfully rehoused 271 people.  One of the tenants housed through the project has seen their life transformed.  Michelle* had spent time in prison, followed by several months in temporary accommodation and then, because of deteriorating mental health, admission to hospital…

Following discussions between Torfaen Council, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council the Welsh Local Government Association, discussions are ongoing regarding the appointment of a joint Chief Executive (CEO) responsible for Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. Conversations between the councils have been ongoing to explore opportunities that could arise from working more closely together which now includes a proposal for a single CEO to work across both councils, initially for a defined period, with a mandate to: seek efficiencies by optimising resources that can work at scale; increase innovation and creativity; and share best practice. Damien McCann, Blaenau Gwent’s current CEO is due…

Brand new trains have been launched on the Ebbw Vale line from this week (Monday 22 April) offering customers a more comfortable and reliable experience. Built in Newport, the Class 197 trains have started to enter service on mainline routes around Wales and the Borders. They will run between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff Central, as well as Newport, following the introduction of brand-new services on the line earlier this year. The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates said: “This is great news. These trains are modern and comfortable and provide a much-improved experience for passengers. This is another positive step…

A South Wales Heating engineer has been fined £2,000, made to pay compensation to a Merthyr customer and costs to Merthyr Tydfil CBC after pleading guilty to Unfair trading in a case brought by Merthyr Tydfil CBC Trading Standards. Mr Dafydd Emery appeared before the Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on 17th April 2024 for 3 offences under the Consumer Protections for Unfair Trading Regulations including misleading the consumer in relation to his HETAS registration, Emery who is a director of Woodland Fuels Ltd and Stoves World Ltd, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. Emery, of Tonypandy, was ordered…