Author: Rhys Gregory

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language has today announced additional funding of half a million pounds for the National Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod, to make this year’s festivals accessible to lower income families. £350,000 will be provided to the National Eisteddfod and £150,000 to the Urdd as one-off funding to enable families and individuals from lower income households to attend the national festivals in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Montgomery this summer. This means that free admission tickets and food vouchers will be available for up to 18,400 eligible local people to attend the National Eisteddfod in Pontytpridd in…

Climate Change Minister Julie James has this week (Tuesday, March 12) delivered a statement on the Welsh Government’s approach to tackling issues caused by second home ownership that she described as being ‘unparalleled in a UK context’. Addressing the large number of second homes and short-term lets in many communities is one of the commitments outlined in the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government and the Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru. To achieve this, a range of action has been taken to help manage future numbers of second homes and short-term lets. From April 2023, local authorities have had the powers…

Cardiff-based digital transformation agency, Spindogs, has announced a new two-year deal with the largest UK-owned motorcycle manufacturer, Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. The two-year contract will see Spindogs continue to develop digital solutions and data systems for the motorcycle giant. Spindogs has previously worked with Triumph on a range of digital tools for the brand, first partnering in 2017, and has been responsible for the development of a global first in the two-wheel automotive industry in an online service booking tool. The relationship has also already seen a cutting-edge cloud-based platform being developed and deployed for the Triumph brand across 800 dealers…

Divorces can be a messy business, even if they are handled on good terms from both sides of the divorce. Between working out settlements and dividing property and assets, it can easily become too much for just one person to handle, especially if a marriage is being dissolved with a great deal of money involved. A financial settlement solicitor is an expert who can make this part of the process significantly smoother, taking care of most of the finer details to ensure that each party gets what is rightfully theirs. More importantly, their work allows both parties to avoid a…

If you are looking to sell popular products in Wales or just want to know what items are seen to be the most desirable at the moment within this area, then this will take research. It is a rapidly evolving area, as online trends can make one product a must-have item one minute and completely undesirable the next. There are, however, some product areas that are longer lasting, so these are the ones that bear closer inspection. They cover different aspects of the Welsh lifestyle and having a greater knowledge about these can help you find the answers you are…

AN ESTEEMED financial planning business is targeting the North West after further growth in past months. Celtic Financial Planning, based in Mold, St Asaph, and London, has enjoyed a strong start to 2024. In addition to a raft of new clients and having sold all the tickets to its upcoming charity event with Wales RFU coach Warren Gatland, the company welcomed respected Independent Financial Adviser and Chartered Financial Planner, Chris Lloyd. With more than two decades experience in finance – including 15 years with one of the biggest names in the sector, AFH Wealth Management – he is proud to…

This week, Finboot has announced the completion of the first close of its latest funding round to accelerate the next phase of its growth strategy – with a particular focus on enabling companies and their net-zero transition through technology. This latest funding round has been led by a strategic investor together with Wealth Club.   Finboot helps its customers and partners accelerate their digital transformation, and by doing so helps them realise value and build trust through leading edge blockchain technology.   Finboot’s solution, MARCO, enables companies to incorporate blockchain within their value and supply chains, bringing traceability, transparency and compliance which, in…

A book loving five year schoolboy who reads his favourite stories to care home residents “melted the hearts” of millions of TV viewers watching The One Show. Local hero Harri Shone, a pupil of Ysgol Penrhyn, New Broughton, near Wrexham, had a starring role on the prime time BBC One programme as part of a package about World Book Day. He was filmed reading one of his stories to 90-year-old Coral Pickard, a resident at Pendine Park’s Highfield care home on the outskirts of the town. According to Harri, he loves to read to his older friends at Pendine “because…

Royal Harpist Alis Huws who performed at the King’s Coronation will be a star attraction at a music festival in North Wales. Alis, from  the Banw Valley, near Welshpool, in Powys, will perform at the Wales Harp Festival that’s being staged at Galeri in Caernarfon on March 26 and 27. As part of the Coronation Orchestra specially formed for the occasion, she had an unrivalled bird’s eye view from her seat in the organ loft of Westminster Abbey. This summer she will end her five-year tenure as Royal Harpist, coming away with a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime memories. According to Alis…

A unique prize draw has been launched to give a lucky member of the public the opportunity to bring down the landmark chimney stack at Prosperity Parc in Holyhead – whilst raising funds for the RNLI. The prize draw winner, along with their friend or family member, will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the team at Stena and press the button to signal the demolition of the iconic chimney stack, witnessing the historic moment behind the scenes in real time. Tickets will be on sale from today until next Monday (18 March), with all proceeds going towards the RNLI…