Author: Rhys Gregory

A new Welsh-based engineering collaboration, Celtico, has been launched to strengthen Wales’ role in delivering the UK’s next generation of renewable energy and low-carbon infrastructure projects. Celtico brings together 12 established engineering and manufacturing companies from across South Wales to form a coordinated delivery ecosystem capable of supporting large-scale offshore wind, tidal range and wider energy transition projects. Collectively, the founding partners employ more than 1,400 skilled people and generate over £250 million in annual turnover, spanning capabilities including fabrication, machining, marine engineering, coating, assembly and advanced manufacturing. Rather than operating as a single company, Celtico has been created as…

An Abergavenny dad and former Royal Navy serviceman has turned personal tragedy into motivation, launching a new business in honour of his beloved late pet. Following the sudden loss of his four-year-old cocker spaniel Monty in a tragic accident during a storm in 2024, 31-year-old Ed Woolcott has founded Monty’s XI in his memory – a brand that brings together two of Ed’s greatest loves: dogs and sport. A £20,000 Start Up Loan, secured with support from the Start Up Loans programme specialist ex-forces partner, X-Forces Enterprise, helped the company start. Monty XI offers a range of dog walking accessories…

Newport Cricket Club has received £25,000 in funding from Principality Building Society’s Retrofit for the Future Fund to deliver essential sustainability improvements. Based in Newport International Sports Village in Lliswerry, the club offers cricket opportunities for all ages and skill levels, with two cricket pitches, a clubhouse, and the Newport Cricket Club Museum. The club delivers high-quality cricket coaching programmes for both young people and adults, building strong partnerships with local schools and community teams, including multi-cultural clubs such as the Newport Asians, Maindee and Newport Tigers. By supporting pathways into organised leagues and competitive play, the club engages around 200…

Families and fundraisers came together to launch a special half term activity in Cardiff to support a leading end of life charity’s 40th annual Great Daffodil Appeal campaign. To help highlight Marie Curie’s annual flagship fundraiser, which takes place throughout February and March, people across South Wales are invited to join the Daffodil Trail at Morgan Quarter in the city until February 21, in exchange for a donation.  The trail launched on Monday, with those taking part collecting jigsaw pieces across the site to create a daffodil image made by local artist Bethan Richards. Leaflets and stickers are available from…

The new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) will host the UK’s first Construction Disability Inclusion Academy to encourage people who are out of work due to a disability into a career in the industry. Sacyr UK, the main contractor building the nVCC, is partnering with the National Diversity Employment and Advisory Service (NDEAS) to create the Academy that will introduce up to twelve people, who have been out of work due to disability, to the fundamentals of the sector and the work, as well as pathways to start a career in construction. The new Velindre Cancer Centre will deliver better outcomes…

£10,000 is available for Powys community projects, as the Green Man Trust, the independent charitable arm of the festival, opens applications for its 2026 Community Grants. The funding is available for projects that encourage inclusiveness and wellbeing, tackle social inequalities and establish resilient communities in Powys. In the three years since the Green Man Trust established its Community Grants, it has donated almost £90,000  through the grants. In 2025, the funding was awarded to 17 projects, supporting local community causes across Crickhowell, Glangrwyney, Talgarth, Llangorse and Llangattock as well as a Powys-wide theatre group and workshops for students at the Little Brecon Theatre. Other recipients of the grants included schemes such the launch of a community kitchen, a touring theatre outreach…

Wales is set for a spell of wet and unsettled weather, with heavy rain, blustery showers and the risk of thunder over the coming days. According to the Met Office, today will begin cloudy with outbreaks of rain, particularly heavy over higher ground before clearing eastwards through the morning. Showers will then turn heavy and more widespread, with the chance of hail and thunder in places. Despite the unsettled conditions, it will feel milder than recent days, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 12°C. Tonight, heavy showers are expected to ease during the evening before cloud thickens again, bringing further…

A groundbreaking concept which has helped the University of South Wales (USW) become a leader in cyber education is marking its 10th anniversary. The National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA), which operates out of USW’s Newport Campus, reaches the milestone in March 2026. Having already established an international reputation in the areas of network security, computer forensics, and threat analysis, the NCSA was established in collaboration with a number of partners, including the Welsh Government. The Academy’s model gave students the chance to work on real-world projects set by the partners, identifying new challenges in the cyber security environment, and directly…

Three burglars who entered a house in Ely and threatened children inside with a knife before making off with their games console and mobile phones have been jailed. Anthony Edmunds, Ben Emmott and Craig Smith entered their victims’ house on Jackson Road in the early hours of Wednesday, August 20. They threatened the children with knives before making off with mobile phones and a games console, leaving the occupants terrified. But they were arrested shortly after in a nearby street. Despite being frightened, one of the victims, having realised her phone had been taken, contacted South Wales Police and used…

A man from Porth has been jailed after pleading guilty to one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. 26-year-old Himanshu Himanshu, from Porth, committed the offence when the victim was 14 years-old. The offence took place in August 2025. Himanshu changed his plea from not to guilty to guilty to the offence of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to one year in prison when sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday February 18. Detective Constable Sarah Jenkins said“Himanshu’s offences were completely unacceptable. We commend the bravery of the victim in…