Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh public want government to prioritise addressing the cost-of-living crisis, reducing NHS waiting lists and improving affordable housing provision above other challenges in the coming years, according to a new report published by Deloitte. The State of the State 2024 is an annual report on attitudes to government and public services, published by Deloitte and the independent think tank Reform. The research includes a survey by Ipsos UK of 5,815 UK adults aged 16-75, including 713 from Wales, as well as in depth interviews with leaders from across the public sector. For the second year running, the cost of living crisis…

An exhibition exploring the power of unarmed action by civilians in areas of violent conflict is going on display in Aberystwyth. Through objects, images, and voices, ‘Creating Safer Space’ depicts the experiences of civilians who are harnessing the power of nonviolence to protect themselves from the harms of war, create safer spaces and work towards alternative presents and futures. It draws on unarmed civilian protection experiences from Cameroon, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, South Sudan, and Thailand. The featured items come from research projects that explore how nonviolent civilian protection works, and how it can help to…

COLEG CAMBRIA students have secured new jobs after completing a prestigious forestry programme. Tilhill, the UK’s leading woodland creation, forest management and timber harvesting company, and Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company Plc announced the completion of their Foresight Sustainable Forestry Skills Training Programme in Wales and Scotland. Launched in 2022, the programme aimed to help young people in rural Wales gain employment opportunities in forestry by providing training, health and safety equipment and mentoring. Due to its success, it was extended into Scotland for the following year’s candidate intake. The UK is experiencing a critical forestry skills shortage as it strives to…

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Bablin Molik, believes it is essential that small business leaders in Wales are given “opportunities to connect with others and take a step back to see the bigger picture”. The comments were made as she addressed founders, CEOs and senior managers from some of Wales’ most ambitious small and medium-sized enterprises at an event organised for alumni of the Help to Grow: Management Course.  Business leaders gathered at the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub Cardiff, to hear advice from leading experts, including SME coach, leadership expert and lecturer on the Help to Grow: Management Course,…

Two pioneering Swansea women from different centuries are being celebrated as International Women’s Day is marked in the city. On Wednesday councillors are being asked to formally name the new coastal park next to Swansea Arena in honour of the accomplished Victorian novelist, businesswomen and philanthropist Amy Dillwyn. Born in Sketty in 1845 to the prominent Dillwyn family, she wrote six novels on themes including feminism and social reform and following her father’s death she personally managed the family’s spelter works in Llansamlet. Subject to approval it will mean the park will be officially called the Amy Dillwyn Park in…

A pioneering food system development initiative in Carmarthenshire is teaming up with Farming Connect to learn how different varieties of legumes and grains can be grown in the county and processed for local consumption. Under the umbrella of a Farming Connect focus farm project, field-scale legume production is being trialled at Bremenda Isaf Farm, a 40-hectare County Council-owned holding at Llanarthne. Here, the Bwyd Sir Gâr Food partnership is growing food for public sector procurement, including supply to schools and care homes. The local food partnership’s Food Systems Development Project, led by Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC), is driven by a…

A leading civil engineering firm has helped North Kyle Wind Farm reach a significant construction milestone with the first pouring of concrete on turbine foundations. North Wales-headquartered Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is the principal contractor for the £300 million 49-turbine scheme near Dalmellington, Scotland, which will have the capacity to power more than 160,000 households. The contractor completed the 400m3 pour in approximately nine hours by utilising its two on-site concrete batching plants. Jones Bros has since finished a further six turbine bases on the Brockwell Energy-led development, which will be capable of generating 220.5 megawatts of renewable energy. Jonathan…

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Dragon Chat, Wrexham Football Supporters’ mental health peer support group, are among those featuring at a men’s mental health support session, which has been coordinated by helpu., the mental health hub for men in Wales. Helpu. was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day in September by father and son Ian and Jake Smith, who are passionate about de-stigmatising discussions around male suicide. They launched the volunteer-run helpu. hub as a one-stop, comprehensive space offering stories, support and valuable resources for men, or those identifying as men, who are in need or are grappling…

Heritage furniture manufacturer Bisley, has made a significant investment in MARK Product, a sustainably-led furniture brand based in Cornwall. MARK, which stands for Made And Realised in Kernow (‘Cornwall’ in the Cornish language), is led by designers and founders, Anna Hart and John Miller, and the brand has become a favourite among specialised high-end and sustainable office furniture project providers. Having launched to great acclaim in 2008, the MARK portfolio contains furniture from leading UK designers, Tomoko Azumi, Dylan Freeth, Sam Johnson, Sarah Kay, Andrea Stemmer and Gala Wright, as well as by founders, Anna and John. The MARK brand…

At the beginning of the 2024/2025 season, Cardiff City Ladies will evolve into Gwalia United marking a new chapter for the only Welsh club in the English Football system. Taking on the name Gwalia United, an ancient Welsh term for Wales, celebrates their cultural and historical identity alongside their commitment to the future of women’s football. Alongside aims to become the club side for Wales, they have ambitions to reach the Women’s Super League. This new era for Gwalia United, will see them sponsored by comparison site Go.Compare in a three-year partnership which will begin at the start of the…