Author: Rhys Gregory

he UK and the United States have reached a commitment in principle to establish the UK Extension to the Data Privacy Framework, which would see the creation of a new ‘data bridge’ between the two countries. US companies who are approved to join the framework, would be able to receive UK personal data under the new data bridge. International data transfers are central to modern day business transactions, and the United States is one of the UK’s leading trading partners in data-enabled exports. In 2021, 93% of the UK’s services exports were data-enabled, and the UK exported more than £79…

Peter Lynn, commercial lawyer and founder of one of Swansea’s largest law firms, Peter Lynn and Partners Solicitors, has been appointed as the new Chair of Swansea Business Improvement District. Swansea BID, a democratically elected organisation that represents over 800 businesses in the city centre, were the first BID in Wales and since 2006, they have helped make Swansea City Centre a better place to shop, study, stay, visit and do business. Governed by a board of voluntary directors, made up of private, public and third-sector representatives from the BID area, Peter Lynn takes over from outgoing chair, Juliet Luporini,…

The National Lottery Community Fund has pledged to double the amount of funding available to grassroots projects in the biggest change in National Lottery funding for a generation. In unveiling its new 2030 strategy, the UK’s largest community funder has revealed plans for investment coming as soon as this year to meet its ambition to tackle some of the UK’s biggest social issues. Key to today’s announcement is its commitment to ‘turbo charging’ support for grassroots projects through its flagship small grants programme, National Lottery Awards for All. It will be doubling the amount groups can apply for from £10,000…

Thomas and Thomas Solicitors, a leading law firm in South Wales, has opened a new office in Bridgend after celebrating 15 years of providing legal services to individuals, families and businesses in the region and beyond.   The firm first opened its doors in 2008 with its first office in Maestag followed by premises in Port Talbot. Having had a presence in Bridgend for over five years, the solicitors has relocated into larger premises in Dunraven Place in the town centre to accommodate its rapidly expanding workforce and client base.   Now with a 32-strong team across three offices, and solicitors who…

The only surviving narrow-gauge Sentinel steam locomotive from Stonehenge Works on the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire will be taking part in Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway’s celebration of 60 years of preservation. The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn has announced that the locomotive, nicknamed Nutty, will remain on long-term loan at Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. The four-wheeled, vertical-boilered, chain-driven locomotive was one of three built in 1927 for London Brick Company at Peterborough. Originally 2ft 11in gauge, it was named after “Nutty” Rowell, the driver/fitter who kept the locomotive in service for 30 years. In 1964, Nutty…

South Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service have been successful in securing a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against a Barry man for making unnecessary and nuisance calls to the emergency services over a 12-month period. Vincent Enos has been made a subject of a two-year CBO by Cardiff Magistrates’ Court to protect the members of the emergency services from these unnecessary calls. He was made the subject of the CBO after being convicted on 17th May 2023 of persistently making use of public communication network to cause annoyance / inconvenience / anxiety. Enos has made more than 250 calls…

As companies settle into a new routine of hybrid and flexible working arrangements post-COVID and reimagine their workplaces with this in mind, one company that specialises in office design solutions is also seeing a sharp uptick in clients wanting to utilise their outdoor spaces. Ministry of Furniture, one of the most forward-thinking suppliers of loose and fitted furniture in Wales, had already seen a change in the way in which clients use premises. A shift to hybrid and flexible working prompted many firms to reconsider the nature of their office environment – and how much space they need. Hotdesking and…

Whilst many places will be largely dry, thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail are likely to develop in some places on Saturday afternoon. High temperatures developing across parts of England and Wales on Saturday are expected to trigger a scattering of showers across this area, some of which are likely to be torrential and thundery, bringing 30-40mm in an hour. The odd place affected by multiple showers could see more than this, perhaps in excess of 60mm. As well as rain, hail, strong gusts of wind, and lightning will be additional hazards. Despite all of this, many places in the…

The government spent nearly £40 billion protecting households and businesses from spiralling energy bills over the colder months, new figures today show. Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine led to unprecedented turmoil in global energy markets and made a huge impact on the energy bills of households around the world. In the UK, without government intervention households would have seen bills peak at almost £4,300 per year. In response the government covered around half a typical household bill over the winter – and today, the sheer scale of that financial support is revealed for the first time. £39.3billion was spent between…

Place Informatics, the leading provider of footfall and location visitor behaviour data has seen a surprising new trend across Wales as changing working patterns are causing a surge in footfall activity on Tuesdays – with more than twice as many workers in cities and town centres – an increase of 131% in March 2023, compared to the same time last year. This data has highlighted how a huge shift in hybrid working patterns in the last 12 months is impacting town centre footfall with millions opting to work in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays rather than spending the…