Author: Rhys Gregory

Business confidence in Wales fell two points during September to 34%, but remains above the year-to-date average of 27%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Wales reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 10 points at 34%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up seven points to 34%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 34%. Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as investing in their teams 39%, investing in new technology 29% and evolving their offer 27%. The Business Barometer,…

Joint effort between University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), Cerebra charity and staff from two Swansea home improvement stores led to garden upgrade for local primary school.   Dr Ross Head is Associate Professor of Product Design at UWTSD and leads the University’s Cerebra Innovation Centre, which designs and makes products to improve the lives of young people with special needs. Cerebra Innovation Centre is a collaboration between UWTSD and national charity Cerebra. The project at Dunvant Primary School came about when UWTSD’s Cerebra Innovation Centre applied for a £1000 grant from the B&Q Foundation to work on a…

A £750,000 investment in maternity services including the recruitment of 35 extra staff will see the reopening of a birth centre and the reinstatement of home births in Swansea Bay over the next few months. This comes two years after the midwife-led Neath Port Talbot Birth Centre was closed and the home birthing service suspended – both due to staffing shortages and pressures. All available resources were focused on Singleton Hospital to ensure safe care could continue to be provided, in line with professional guidance from the royal colleges. The health board reluctantly entered into this arrangement and recognised that…

A police operation has been running since a serious assault was reported in Llanedeyrn earlier this month. Police were called to Glenwood at around 2pm on Sunday, September 17. A 19-year-old man from Cardiff, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with stab wounds, but has since been discharged. Five people have now been arrested in connection with this incident. Of the five, three have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and robbery. Three other males have been arrested in connection with a separate incident in Pentwyn on Sunday, September 19. On this occasion, police received a…

Major improvement work has been completed on three sets of tennis courts in a joint project between the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), supported by Tennis Wales. Facilities at Penarth Athletic Fields, Wenvoe, and Millwood parks have all been comprehensively upgraded, providing users with high-quality tennis facilities.It comes as part of a £121,000 investment secured by the Council and delivered by the LTA through the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation funded Park Tennis Project. This follows a Council and Sports Wales investment of £130,000 to transform the Romilly Park tennis courts last year. The…

Standardising discounts given to vulnerable customers on essential products – like water, broadband and energy – can help eliminate postcode lottery in social tariffs. The Social Market Foundation – a cross-party think tank – has recommended that companies providing essentials are made to offer social tariffs to vulnerable customers in a consistent manner in order to ensure all eligible consumers can benefit. In a report out today – commissioned by Citizens Advice – the SMF presents a new roadmap for social tariffs that addresses other major issues, such as low take-up and poor targeting. The report calls for support to…

A major event is being held in Swansea next month to showcase the city’s business community. The Swansea and West Wales Introbiz Expo 2023 event – taking place in the Brangwyn Hall on Thursday October 26 – is being organised by Introbiz Swansea and West Wales in partnership with Swansea Council. Projects in the local area will also be highlighted as part of the event, which will run from 10am to 5pm. The event will include space for about 70 exhibitors, a zone for start-up businesses, seminars and keynote speakers. Google will also be on hand to exhibit and present…

Efforts to tackle homelessness in Swansea are continuing, following the completion of a new set of council-owned flats. Swansea Council has transformed an ageing former district housing office in the Penlan community into six modern one and two bedroomed accommodation. The latest work is part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to increase its housing stock for single people and families as well as make use of former council-owned buildings that are no longer in use. The site of the former Penlan DHO now boasts five two-bedroom flats and a one-bedroom flat, over three floors. They all benefit from modern features…

Neath Port Talbot Council has teamed up with a local charity in Neath to offer a helping hand to families and individuals facing challenges during the ongoing cost of living crisis. Known as the ‘Gathering Place’, the charity is a community-driven initiative that provides essential items where people can take or swap items for free. People can select up to five free items per week, which includes children’s school uniform, adult clothing, toys, books, clothing, nappies, and other essential items. Neath Port Talbot Council has helped to support this scheme with its dedicated Team Around the Family and practice support…

RCT Council has provided a progress update for the significant ongoing scheme to repair and refurbish Imperial Bridge in Porth – with the work now progressing towards its conclusion later this autumn. The structure, which carries a section of Pontypridd Road, has required two large phases of repair work to rectify damage and install future protections. Phase One took place in 2022, completing significant steelwork and parapet repairs, paintwork, and the replacement of the southern-side bridge bearings. Phase Two started in April 2023, to replace the northern-side bridge bearings, carry out remedial works to a wingwall, install waterproofing, and undertake…