Author: Rhys Gregory

Umar Hussain MBE, Chief Financial Officer at South Wales Police, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff Metropolitan University. With 15 years at South Wales Police, following Finance Director roles in Lincolnshire Police and Gwent Police, Umar provides strategic direction, control and advice on all financial matters within the force. Speaking on receiving an Honorary Fellowship, Umar said: “I am surprised but delighted to have been nominated to receive an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff Metropolitan University. It has taken me right back to the days of my secondary school, where leaving school with some A Levels was the exception.…

On Monday, 24th of July at the Royal Welsh Show, Growing Mid Wales partners attended a reception to reflect on the progress that has been achieved to date and to look ahead at the next stages of development across all the region’s work. Among the attendees were businesses across Ceredigion and Powys, senior political representatives and key stakeholders from a range of partner organisations. The event heard of the progress being made since the Growing Mid Wales partnership was formed back in 2015, which included: The programmes and projects being supported across different funding streams – from EU funds, UK…

AN ACCLAIMED accountancy practice is powering ahead with its net zero vision. Salisbury’s Chartered Accountants has installed 24 solar panels, an energy storage system and electric charging points at its St Asaph headquarters and unveiled plans to continue lowering the carbon footprint at its other offices in Ruthin, Beaumaris, Tywyn, and Menai Bridge. In partnership with Carbon Zero Renewables – part of Carbon Zero Group based in Old Colwyn, St Asaph, Mochdre, Llandudno and Deeside – a state-of-the-art system was fitted earlier this year and is already having an effect, saving the company more than 1,114kg of CO2, the equivalent…

Fonmon Castle near Barry is known for its dinosaur park, Medieval village, beautiful gardens and wildlife walks – but over the summer it offers much more besides, with exciting activities taking place every weekend. On July 29 and 30, a Medieval Weekend will feature a one-of-a-kind foot combat display full of smashing heads and clashing armour. There will also be living history displays with swords and weapons and skills on show from the medieval period. The Fonmon Pirate Weekend, on August 5 and 6, is a swashbuckling adventure with opportunities to walk the plank, test your skills with ropes and…

Approximately 404 million sq ft of UK warehouse space, or 60 per cent of all units above 50,000 sq ft, will fail to meet the EPC Grade B energy performance requirement set as a minimum from 2030 and risk becoming unlettable, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank. And in Wales just 24 per cent of warehouses over 50,000 sq ft currently meet the EPC B grade. Neil Francis, head of the Knight Frank Industrial and Logistics team in Cardiff, said: “A large proportion of warehouse units in Wales risk becoming unlettable by 2030 unless investors and landlords accelerate the…

The Senior Open’s return to Porthcawl is moving ever closer (27-30 July) and the much-anticipated major golf tournament is set to offer a boost to the economy right across Bridgend County Borough and Wales as a whole. The tournament, which is being sponsored by Rolex, is being held at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club for the third time after previously attracting visitors and media coverage from all over the world during its previous hosting duties in 2014 and 2017. Over 43,000 spectators attended the event in 2014 which generated an estimated economic impact of £2.16m. Then in 2017, the comprehensive television…

Teams across Cardiff Council, along with partner organisations and community groups throughout the city, are joining forces to help families facing financial difficulties during the school summer holiday period. A range of support is available at a time when there is increased financial pressures and parents and families can be guided towards ways in which youngsters can stay active and entertained, as well as how free and low-cost ways to feed families can be accessed. The ‘Food and Fun’ programme, now in its eighth year, is delivered through 27 of the city’s schools. The multi-award-winning school holiday enrichment programme provides…

Swansea’s historic Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site is set for further major improvements, following-on from Penderyn opening a new operational distillery and visitor attraction there. Thanks to a successful Swansea Council bid to the UK Government as part of its levelling-up programme, structures at the copperworks including the former laboratory building and Musgrave and Vivian engine houses are among those next due to be restored. A restaurant and food and drink spaces are planned for the former laboratory building on site, while investment in the engine houses will see a new enclosure built to create a heritage visitor attraction and cafe. Other…

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council have adopted a revised Welsh Language Promotion Strategy to ensure that by 2028 Welsh is much more audible and visible in local communities and used by more people in their daily lives. According to the 2021 Census, around 13.5% of people over the age of three in Neath Port Talbot can speak Welsh – a decrease from the 2011 census when the percentage was 15.3% (a picture reflected across most of Wales). The upper Swansea Valley and Amman Valley, with wards such as GwaunCae-Gurwen and Lower Brynamman and Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera, continue to be…

From 20th July 2023, new sanctions came into force which will mean businesses and individuals selling illicit tobacco can receive a penalty of up to £10,000. Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Trading Standards Officers will now have the power to refer cases to HMRC for further investigation where businesses or individuals have been found to sell illicit tobacco. HMRC, where appropriate, will administer the penalties and ensure the appropriate sanction is applied and enforced. Depending on the severity of the breach, rule-breaking businesses could: Receive a penalty of between £2,500 and £10,000 for the supply of products which contravene Tobacco…