Author: Rhys Gregory

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething recently addressed a construction summit in Cardiff which brought together Welsh construction sector leaders during a period of economic pressures and challenges. With around one in 20 of all jobs in Wales being in the construction sector, the summit was an opportunity for leaders to discuss the opportunities available in Wales and how best to lever those opportunities to grow the economy, create prosperity and provide the skills and training necessary for the workforce in a rapidly changing environment. The summit also marks the start of a new relationship between Welsh Government and Constructing Excellence in…

Residents can now find out more and have their say on draft proposals for Phase Three of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route, which would create an additional walking and cycling link in Maerdy to further improve connectivity. The overall Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route will create a 10km shared pedestrian and cycle path between Maerdy and Tylorstown, with its delivery split into five main phases of work. The Council has currently secured Welsh Government funding to construct the first two phases, and to progress the design and development of the remaining three phases for future delivery. Phase One was…

New plans are underway to make Swansea Market yet more welcoming to shoppers and traders. Swansea Council, which manages the large city centre facility, has started a process to update and improve the on-street public entrances. Last week, the venue was crowned Britain’s best large indoor market in a national awards scheme run by trade body the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA). Market traders are being kept up to date on the proposed £240,000 improvements to the entrances. They’ll mean an improved look and better security. Council joint deputy leader David Hopkins said: “As the council continues to deliver…

From the dawn of mobile games in the 2000s to the explosion of games that came after the first smartphones, mobile games have become a truly significant part of the gaming industry. Today, there are hundreds of games available across Android and IOS that give you access to hours of endless entertainment at your fingertips. But which have had the biggest impact over the years? In this article, we’ll share the five most popular mobile games. Online casino games Casino games have always been popular due to their fast-paced and exciting nature. But thanks to technology, they’re becoming more popular…

This week Finboot reports its key clients in the vital chemical sector, far from being in terminal decline, are investing for the future to modernise and streamline their supply chains and production processes and starting to see a return on this investment. The global chemical sector is currently facing a range of challenges.  These challenges include: Market volatility: The COVID pandemic, the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Gaza-Israel situation and the energy crisis have disrupted the supply and demand for chemicals, leading to price fluctuations, inflation, and recession risks. Decarbonisation and sustainability: The chemical industry is under pressure to…

Runners planning on taking part in the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon need to act fast if they haven’t yet entered, as general entries are near to selling out. The 2024 Cardiff Half on Sunday 6 October has almost reached capacity, with over 80% of spaces taken within just three months of going on sale and only 3,000 general entries remaining. The race is extremely popular among those looking to run their first half, chase a PB or fundraise for charity. And with spectacular landmarks, live entertainment and supporter cheer points throughout the course, it is a race to remember, with…

Business confidence in Wales rose eight points during January to 32%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking While companies in Wales reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down three points at 37%, their optimism in the economy climbed 18 points to 27%. Taken together, this gives a headline confidence reading of 32% (vs. 24% in December). Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as introducing new technology (42%), evolving their products and services (40%), and investing in sustainability (29%). A net balance of 31% of…

Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW) has this week announced a total injection of £1.1 million to develop a new masterplan for decarbonising the North East Wales industrial region. The project will kick-start in 2024 with thanks to £711k in newly awarded funding from Innovate UK which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) — supporting an existing investment of £389k through industry in the region. The UKRI funding has been awarded under the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Local Industrial Decarbonisation plan (LIDP) competition — which supports the development of decarbonisation plans for local industrial clusters.…

A team of two young Mid Wales apprentices has won a new competition launched by the Culinary Association of Wales to find the best green chef. Commis chefs Gabbi Wilson and Rosie Koffer, workmates at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes, are the first winners of the Green Chef Challenge sponsored by Compass Cymru. “I have only been a commis chef for six months and winning this competition is very exciting,” said Gabbi, 18, from Rhayader. The pair both won gold medals for Gabbi’s three-course vegetarian menu with judges scoring their dishes at 90 per cent or over. The dishes…

A new project which will support over 200 artists and organisations to explore the creative potential of virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies, has been announced – with a major Welsh arts centre as a key partner. Wales Millennium Centre will act as one of the four producing partners for the Immersive Arts project, building on its own existing work with its dedicated extended reality venue, Bocs – the first of its kind in a UK arts centre – and its own award-winning virtual reality experiences. The term ‘immersive technology’ encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and technologies, including the…