Author: Rhys Gregory

Five local authorities are set to benefit from an £8m Welsh Government towns programme Climate Change Minister Julie James confirmed today. The Transforming Towns Loans (TTLs) programme supports local authorities with town and city centre regeneration projects and has allocated more than £73m since its launch in 2014 and has brought over 600 units back into use. Caerphilly, Cardiff, Swansea, Gwynedd and Wrexham local authorities will benefit from the latest funding announcement and will use the funds to help revitalise town and city centres and give vacant buildings a new lease of life. Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, said:…

The ban on gatherings of Galliforme birds such as pheasants, chickens and turkeys has been lifted in Wales, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine has announced. In November 2021, in the face of Great Britain’s biggest outbreak of Avian Influenza, a ban on poultry gatherings was introduced to help prevent the spread of the disease and protect flocks. After more than two years of not allowing gatherings, the second part of 2023 brought a change in the disease picture, with fewer Infected Premises and findings in wild birds. There have been no Infected Premises in Wales since April…

Financial trading has undergone immense transformation. A few decades ago, traders had no other option besides open outcry systems, which were less efficient. Then, technology came about with online trading and a new generation of traders who only needed the internet to trade. Today, traders are exposed to next-gen trading systems and solutions thanks to numerous trends and advancements, including blockchain integration. As a trader in this modern era, you must do much more than enrol in free trading courses to succeed. You must also keep abreast of all trends changing trading for the better, including the ones discussed below.…

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business. With the vast majority of consumers turning to the internet to find products and services, your business’s visibility online can make or break your ability to attract and retain customers. This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to enhancing your business’s online visibility, tailored to the UK market. Optimise Your Website for Search Engines Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the cornerstone of improving your online visibility. It involves optimising your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords.…

Two Welsh railways are collaborating on a special hire agreement for the 1864-built steam locomotive ‘Palmerston’. The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) at Aberystwyth has agreed to display and then overhaul “Palmerston” for the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (Ff&WHR), based at Porthmadog. Both railways are members of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’ consortium. “Palmerston” will arrive in Ceredigion in late February and will spend the first half of the 2024 season on static display in the VoR’s brand new Museum, Display and Events building at Aberystwyth station. The locomotive will then enter the VoR workshops in July for…

The Welsh Government’s apprenticeship programme has been integral to the successful growth of Little Inspirations, a multi-award-winning South Wales childcare provider. Since forming 20 years ago, the Pontyclun-based company has grown from one to nine settings and now has a workforce of 123. Childcare facilities are provided for children aged from six weeks to 12 years and more than 400 families daily across Rhondda Cynon Taff, Vale of Glamorgan, Newport and Merthyr Tydfil. The company currently has 20 apprentices, having employed 39 over the past 17 years and staff retention is well above the industry average. Apprenticeships make employees feel…

St David’s Cardiff owner, Landsec, is launching its community consultation to help shape its plans for a new city square to bring more nature and spaces for families and friends to come together in Cardiff’s city centre. As well as providing an open, safe space for children to play, the square has the potential to be a vibrant cultural place and provide a new city centre home for live music, local creatives and Cardiff’s growing street food scene. The proposed open-air square will transform the former Debenhams store to bring new life to St David’s Cardiff and the surrounding area.…

Interim Head Coach Jon Grey has announced his Cymru squad for the upcoming friendly against the Republic of Ireland. Grey has named a 26-player squad for the trip to the Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday 27 February (KO 7:30pm) as preparations continue for the upcoming UEFA Women’s European 2025 qualifying campaign. Five players have received their first call ups to the squad, including Tianna Teisar, Olivia Francis and Mayzee Davies, who will join Grey’s side following their friendly double-header against Scotland with the WU19s. Midfielder Lois Joel and forward Tegan McGowan have also been selected for the first time. Kayleigh Barton,…

Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, announced that it has provided more than £100m worth of funding to business owners aged between 18-24 years old, equating to more than 15,000 loans since the programme launched in 2012. £5m of the funding has been provided to more than 600 businesses founded by 18-24-year-olds in Wales. New data also reveals that the most entrepreneurial constituencies in the region are Newport East (£306,700) followed by Swansea East and Swansea West. Each Swansea constituency received nearly £300,000 to help Gen Z business owners start up or grow their young businesses. These…

Nominations are officially open for the highly anticipated Child of Wales Awards 2024, set to take place at Swansea Arena on September 27, 2024. This prestigious annual event shines a bright light on the remarkable achievements and resilience of the young people of Wales, while raising vital funds for charities dedicated to supporting children across the nation. Following the overwhelming success of the previous years’ events, Child of Wales 2024 is once again poised to recognise the extraordinary accomplishments of children nationwide. Now in its third year, the Awards will be an emotional, inspirational, and unforgettable affair for all involved,…