Author: Rhys Gregory

A TRANSFORMATIVE enterprise hub outperforming its peers “by some margin” will enter its sixth year with a raft of new services for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The pioneering Menter Môn Enterprise Hub (Hwb Menter), based with project partners M-SParc in Gaerwen and at Hwb Arloesi, Porthmadog, has unveiled a series of benefits and incentives in addition to its co-working spaces and popular Miwtini start-up programme. Businesses in Gwynedd and Anglesey can apply for a £2,500 ‘support package’ that includes access to guidance and free information, financial backing and more. A recent Welsh Government evaluation revealed the north west Wales Enterprise Hub…

Hope Macy, the FCA authorised UK Fintech, has obtained £1.5m in seed investment from the Development Bank of Wales, and a supportive angel network, to extend the development and roll-out of its regulated Open Banking and AI platform across the UK to counter the growing problem of financial vulnerability. More consumers are falling into debt, unable to obtain credit, and others are falling victim to scams. To make it worse, many of those with financial vulnerability have mental health problems. According to FairForAll finance, 17.5 million consumers are in financially vulnerable circumstances, some at a point of no return. The…

Scientists’ work to develop a new rapid diagnostic kit to detect lung cancer has received a £1 million grant boost. Lung cancer affects almost 50,000 people a year in the UK, kills more people than any other cancer and costs the NHS more than £2.4bn a year. Diagnosis of the disease in the early stages is challenging, since clinical symptoms only occur if the tumour is very large or has spread outside the lung. Surgery is only possible in about one in eight people, with the vast majority offered treatments to alleviate their incurable disease. The scientists aim to develop…

Wrexham football heroine Lili Jones has secured a host of new fans after switching on the annual Christmas lights show at a care home. Lili, 18, was delighted to  officially launch the festive season celebrations at Pendine Park’s Hillbury House care home in Wrexham. The top midfielder helped last year’s Wrexham AFC women’s team win promotion to the Genero Adran Premier league. But she said she was more nervous about turning on the yule tide illuminations than she’d ever been playing before huge crowds at Wrexham’s famous STōK Cae Ras. She laughed: “I just didn’t want to break anything. I’ve…

A man and a woman from Barry have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after they caused their bulldog to suffer through physical and mental abuse. Michael Cross of Barry and Paige Ryan of  Barry, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 November after both pleading guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. This offence was that between 1 July 2022 and 31 August 2022 at Porthkerry Road, Barry, they caused unnecessary suffering to a female bulldog called Luna by the infliction of physical and/or emotional abuse. At the sentencing hearing they were disqualified…

Prolific IT and Managed Service Provider, Flotek Group, has acquired IT & telecommunications company Orbiss in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. The acquisition marks the tenth successful acquisition for fast-growing Flotek.  The strategic acquisition of Truro-based Orbiss has enabled Flotek to expand its presence in the Southwest, to grow its team to 72 employees, and increase its revenue to £8.5m. The acquisition unlocks new areas of growth for Flotek, as Orbiss specialises in providing IT & telecommunication solutions to the hospitality industry (notably working with large clients such as Best Western and Holiday Inn). Orbiss marks…

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued a serious warning to parents this Christmas around unauthorised ingredients contained in imported American sweets and fizzy drinks with known links to hyperactivity and cancer in children that are readily accessible across UK highstreets. American Candy has grown in popularity over the last few years due to its promotion on social media channels. London alone has seen stores pop up in their hundreds across it’s highstreets. Smaller convenience stores across the UK are stocking these popular items on their shelves, and with an estimated 50,000 convenience stores this is a national concern.…

Drovers Way play area in Radyr has re-opened to the public following an extensive ‘water-themed’ refurbishment. Suitable for toddlers, juniors, and accessible play, the play area features a range of newly installed equipment, including: swings; a bouncing mat; an accessible carousel; spinners; a multi-unit with slide; spring toys; and imaginative play elements. The design also features new rubber safety surfacing, patterned with ‘water ripples and puddles.’ New paving and seating has also been installed. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “The Drovers Way play area is an important facility for the local community, so it’s…

A couple who have been foster carers for almost 40 years are retiring having provided a loving and supportive home for around 1,000 young people in Swansea during their career. This year Christmas will be a little quieter than usual for Wendy and Steve Taylor MBE. Over this extraordinary period, the Foster Wales Swansea carers, have not only provided a home, but an excellent standard of care for some of the city’s most vulnerable young people. The couple, from Winch Wen, started fostering after they had their daughter, Becky, in 1984. Steve always wanted to be part of a bigger…

Even more traders are showing their backing for a campaign to support Swansea city centre this Christmas and far beyond. Led by Swansea Council and ongoing since September, the #EnjoyYourCityCentre campaign is aimed at helping raise awareness of all the shops, restaurants, pubs, activity providers, cultural venues and other businesses in the city centre. A number of posts are being included on the council’s Facebook and Instagram pages every week, with city centre traders, products and services at their heart. Businesses to have recently backed the campaign include The Cwtch Café on Caer Street, Occult Botanica in the High Street…