Author: Rhys Gregory

Good GCSE and A Level results open doors for your child. For instance, students with good GCSE results will have high predicted grades and therefore be more likely to get offers from top universities. Additionally, getting good grades at A Level is essential for students with university offers. Unfortunately, some parents leave the task of getting good grades at GCSE or A Level to the child and their teachers. As parents, you can also play your part in ensuring your child is successful and passes their GCSEs. Here are some ways you can help your child pass their exams:  Find…

Accountancy body the Association for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has called for improved reporting on poor payment practices and an extension of the power of the Small Business Commissioner, as part of action to tackle the crippling effect of late payment on small businesses. In its response to government consultations reviewing late payment measures ACCA pointed out that late payment remains a persistent problem across the UK economy. Poor payment practices have a domino effect on cashflow across supply chains, with devastating consequences for small businesses. The accountancy body, whose members work in finance across the economy, including as advisors…

A Cardiff family-run estate agent says a surge in property rents in the private rented sector combined with a decrease in rental properties available was inevitable following the introduction of new legislation over recent years. According to the Office for National Statistics, property rents in Wales have risen by 4.4% in the past year, the highest annual percentage change since 2010. Demand for properties now outweighs supply which is pushing prices even higher. Thomas H Wood, which has showrooms in Whitchurch and Radyr, says this situation has been forthcoming for some time. John Wood, Director of Thomas H Wood, said:…

Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are trapped in contracts that mean their latest bills are at last summer’s peak market rate for energy – even though wholesale prices have fallen since last winter, new research shows. The Federation of Small Businesses is urging energy suppliers to allow small firms locked into fixed tariffs from last year to renegotiate contracts to better reflect the significantly lower wholesale energy prices we see today. This comes a month after massive cuts to government support on energy bills for businesses. Since 1 April 2023, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been downgraded to…

Ceredigion County Council’s staff and staff of social care providers in Ceredigion will benefit from a new learning experience through Virtual Reality training. The Council’s Learning and Development Team are delivering training on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Trauma using Virtual Reality. Using Virtual Reality headsets provides an immersive learning experience and allows participants to experience the impact of adverse childhood experiences from a child’s perspective. Adverse childhood experiences can include trauma, neglect and abuse all of which can impact upon a child’s behaviour and their future. Councillor Bryan Davies is the Leader of Ceredigion County Council and Cabinet member…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has broken ground at the location of Ffos Caerffili Market, marking the start of the regeneration work in Caerphilly – thanks to a financial partnership between Caerphilly County Borough Council and Welsh Government’s  Transforming Towns initiative. The progress marks the beginning of the wider Caerphilly 2035 Placemaking plan. To mark the occasion, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Cllr Sean Morgan, Hamish Munro of Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Lancer Scott team got together to officially put the first spade in the ground. Cllr Sean Morgan, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Cllr Jamie Pritchard have both…

A NEW health, exercise and wellbeing complex will breathe life into a seaside town centre and give the economy a welcome lift. Sion Pritchard and Rich Blake, directors of LVL5 Gyms Ltd, are awaiting a decision on plans to transform empty units at the former Tudno Castle hotel site in Llandudno into a high-quality gym, coffee, and smoothie bar, changing rooms, sauna, spin zones and more. The 6,000 square metre two-floor facility will employ up to 10 people and both Sion and Rich – who hail from Conwy county – are hopeful their proposals for the coastal resort will be…

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has launched new postgraduate scholarships for students from Ukraine. Ukrainian students can apply to study a Masters in Global Citizenship and Sustainable Leadership on the University’s Lampeter Campus. All costs for postgraduate tuition, accommodation and pre-sessional language classes will be covered by UWTSD for 16 successful applicants. The Masters course is broadly built around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and will prepare students to critically engage with the key global challenges of the 21st century, to become global citizens and leaders of tomorrow. Kath Griffiths, UWTSD’s International Regional Manager says: “Student scholarships…

A local school has helped to mark the launch of a trailblazing community-led initiative that aims to recycle, recreate, and retail single-use plastics in the Rhondda Valley. Treorchy Primary School has partnered with social enterprise, Soaring Supersaurus based in Penrhys, but working across the valley, to create a currency for recycled plastic within the local community. The innovative new pilot will see children and young people educated on the recycling process, whilst getting them involved in designing and creating their own products for market. Soaring Supersaurus collects and reuses local plastic waste to generate unique and sustainable everyday household items…

An actress, singer and storyteller who switched from a career in the theatre to become one of the youngest care home owners in Wales has won a top award. Bethan Mascarenhas, now 33, was chosen by the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers to receive its City and Guilds Livery Company Prize for 2023 for her outstanding commitment. The honour came hot on the heels of what Bethan described as a ‘baptism of fire’ after she took on the Old Vicarage Care Home at Llangollen with her brother Richard just a few months before the Covid pandemic struck. She had to…