Author: Rhys Gregory

Responding to the latest government figures on R&D Tax Credits for Year 2021 to 2022, Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said: “Today’s figures show a huge increase in SME expenditure on R&D was driven by the R&D Tax Credit Scheme, prior to cuts made by the Government that came into effect in April this year. “The figures align with our latest research on innovation, with 46% of small firms telling us that extra tax relief would encourage them to innovate. “Our own research also shows 64% of small firms which applied for R&D tax…

Betting on sports is a lot of fun and many people do it. Every day, new people are drawn to the world of sports from the point of view of betting, guessing and predicting the outcomes of matches, and sports events.  When it comes to football, this is even more the case due to the popularity of this sport and the big following it has, both in Wales and worldwide. In this article, we propose some of the best winning strategies to use when betting on football to help you navigate the world of football and game prediction like never…

Spectacular musical returns to Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre from Thursday 24 October 2024.   WICKED, “one of the most successful musicals of all time” (BBC News), will fly back into Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre from Thursday 24 October 2024 – Saturday 23 November 2024 and producers today announce that Sarah O’Connor (Glinda), Donna Berlin (Madame Morrible), Jed Berry (Boq), Megan Gardiner (Nessarose), and Casey Al-Shaqsy (Standby for Elphaba) will join the previously announced Laura Pick (Elphaba), Carl Man (Fiyero), and Simeon Truby (The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond). The cast is confirmed as Laura Pick (Elphaba), Sarah O’Connor…

South Wales is the region benefiting most from an innovative partnership between the RSPCA and petcare company Purina, funding vital veterinary treatments for pet owners in need. More than £75,000 of vet treatments have already been provided to owners – including £7,313.47 of vouchers in South Wales, placing it highest among all regions in England and Wales benefitting from the scheme. The charity’s frontline inspectorate and Purina have teamed up to help struggling owners through the cost of living crisis. The ‘Better Together Fund’ – which formally launched in October last year – enables RSPCA officers to issue pet care…

Business confidence in Wales fell two points during September to 34%, but remains above the year-to-date average of 27%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Wales reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 10 points at 34%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up seven points to 34%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 34%. Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as investing in their teams 39%, investing in new technology 29% and evolving their offer 27%. The Business Barometer,…

Joint effort between University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), Cerebra charity and staff from two Swansea home improvement stores led to garden upgrade for local primary school.   Dr Ross Head is Associate Professor of Product Design at UWTSD and leads the University’s Cerebra Innovation Centre, which designs and makes products to improve the lives of young people with special needs. Cerebra Innovation Centre is a collaboration between UWTSD and national charity Cerebra. The project at Dunvant Primary School came about when UWTSD’s Cerebra Innovation Centre applied for a £1000 grant from the B&Q Foundation to work on a…

A £750,000 investment in maternity services including the recruitment of 35 extra staff will see the reopening of a birth centre and the reinstatement of home births in Swansea Bay over the next few months. This comes two years after the midwife-led Neath Port Talbot Birth Centre was closed and the home birthing service suspended – both due to staffing shortages and pressures. All available resources were focused on Singleton Hospital to ensure safe care could continue to be provided, in line with professional guidance from the royal colleges. The health board reluctantly entered into this arrangement and recognised that…

A police operation has been running since a serious assault was reported in Llanedeyrn earlier this month. Police were called to Glenwood at around 2pm on Sunday, September 17. A 19-year-old man from Cardiff, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with stab wounds, but has since been discharged. Five people have now been arrested in connection with this incident. Of the five, three have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and robbery. Three other males have been arrested in connection with a separate incident in Pentwyn on Sunday, September 19. On this occasion, police received a…

Major improvement work has been completed on three sets of tennis courts in a joint project between the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), supported by Tennis Wales. Facilities at Penarth Athletic Fields, Wenvoe, and Millwood parks have all been comprehensively upgraded, providing users with high-quality tennis facilities.It comes as part of a £121,000 investment secured by the Council and delivered by the LTA through the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation funded Park Tennis Project. This follows a Council and Sports Wales investment of £130,000 to transform the Romilly Park tennis courts last year. The…

Standardising discounts given to vulnerable customers on essential products – like water, broadband and energy – can help eliminate postcode lottery in social tariffs. The Social Market Foundation – a cross-party think tank – has recommended that companies providing essentials are made to offer social tariffs to vulnerable customers in a consistent manner in order to ensure all eligible consumers can benefit. In a report out today – commissioned by Citizens Advice – the SMF presents a new roadmap for social tariffs that addresses other major issues, such as low take-up and poor targeting. The report calls for support to…