Author: Rhys Gregory

The Menai Suspension Bridge will partially reopen to cars, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, only, at 07:00hrs on Friday 10 October, after it was temporarily closed last weekend on safety advice from engineers. The partial reopening traffic enforcement plan, which has been developed by UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd in conjunction with Welsh Government, North Wales Police, the Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd Council, will operate between the hours of 07:00-19:00hrs with a full closure overnight 19:00hrs to 07:00hrs for 7 days a week. Overnight works and further inspections will be taking place during the closures. During the hours of operation,…

Twenty six fantastic social enterprises gathered at Maesteg Town Hall in the south Wales Llynfi valley on Thursday 9 October to highlight their work tackling some of society’s most pressing problems – and eight fantastic social enterprises from across Wales took home the prestigious awards. The annual Social Business Wales awards recognise excellence, innovation, and impact in the social enterprise sector, celebrating social businesses which are improving lives, strengthening communities, and driving inclusive economic growth across Wales. The day-long conference and awards brought together nearly two hundred guests from across Wales’s public, private, and third sectors to hear top social…

Wales is set to host the WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time ever, and the countdown begins with a torch relay celebrating the nation’s rising young talent. The Roadtrip to Excellence torch relay will light the way as it travels the length and breadth of Wales, celebrating the very best of our learners, apprentices, employers and educators. Beginning on Thursday October 9th at the iconic Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay, the torch will journey across Wales, visiting every region, stopping at colleges and training providers whose students are set to compete in the Finals. At each stop, the torch will…

A LAW practice is celebrating its 25th anniversary with fresh talent, expansion, and a surge in clients across multiple sectors. Mackenzie Jones Solicitors – with offices in Chester, St Asaph, and Menai Bridge – now employs 30 staff and has plans for further recruitment in the coming months. The firm, which holds prestigious accreditations including Lexcel, CQS, and the Legal 500, continues to go from strength to strength with rising demand in commercial contracts, clinical negligence, and family and private client work. Among the latest additions to the team are Adam Hazell and Rebekah Woods, both of whom bring enthusiasm,…

Three quarters of the Welsh public believe a lack of education and awareness around severe mental illness (SMI) is a big problem, new research has revealed. A YouGov poll of 1,101 people found 74% think lack of education and awareness around SMI – which includes conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – is a big problem. While 68% think stigmatisation of people with a SMI is a big problem and 72% believe misconceptions is a big problem. Currently, adults in Wales living with an SMI have a life expectancy 15 to 20 years lower than the rest of the…

A Bridgend IT services company which is harnessing the power of AI is expanding and creating jobs with support from the Welsh Government. ITCS will establish a new headquarters in Wales, doubling its current capacity as it pursues ambitious growth opportunities. Welsh Government Economy Future’s Funding of £350,000 will safeguard jobs at the business and create a further 60 positions by 2028. Established in 2004, ITCS uses AI to help organisations drive productivity by automating routine tasks, enhancing decision-making processes, and accelerating digital transformation. Its new HQ will be based at Waterton Industrial Estate and will feature high tech office…

Four environmental improvement projects are to receive grants totalling £12,000 from city centre businesses in the latest round of the City Ambition Fund run by FOR Cardiff, the capital’s Business Improvement District (BID). These are the latest of 35 diverse projects the City Ambition Fund has supported to promote local culture, improve the city centre environment and support independent businesses. Past projects include local illustrator Jack Skivens’ publication of his first children’s book, Night of the Animal Wall , set in Cardiff city centre, and the Cardiff Wine Passport, which has generated over £60,000 of additional revenue for independent city centre bars and restaurants since…

The reception team at Swansea’s number one hotel have scooped a national hotel award after going “above and beyond” to offer an extremely high level of customer service to guests from around the world. Morgans Hotel’s Reception Team, comprising receptionists Laura John, Rhys Morgan and Amy Short, and led by Head of Accommodation Aaron Collier and Duty Manager Hayley Bryant, were named “Team of The Year” at the national Boutique Hotel Awards in London on Monday, 6th October. The Boutique Hotel Awards are recognised as one of the top awards in the UK hotel sector, with hundreds of entrants every…

One of Wales’ best known law firms, JCP Solicitors, has announced three senior promotions for Ben Cresswell, Tomas Davies and Zoe Fletcher, strengthening their teams in Commercial Property, Inheritance and Trust Disputes, and Corporate and Commercial respectively. All three legal experts will take on Senior Associate roles, recognising them as experienced solicitors, providing specialist legal advice to clients while demonstrating excellence across a range of competencies. The promotions represent the award-winning firm’s commitment to people development, promoting from within, and investing in long-term opportunities across all practice areas. Ben Cresswell, based in Swansea, specialises in property matters, having joined JCP…

A Coleg y Cymoedd tutor has achieved a lifelong ambition by becoming a published author, with a debut short story collection inspired by her life in the South Wales Valleys coming out later this month. Lois Roberts, 40, from Nelson, has worked at the college as part of the Welsh language team for nearly a decade. Away from her day job, she has been pursuing her passion for writing, a dream she put aside nearly 20 years ago while raising her family and building her career. Now, after winning the prestigious Emyr Feddyg Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod and receiving…