Author: Rhys Gregory

As reported by SMMT last month (August 2025), 1 in 10 used car transactions were electrified, with a record level of battery electric vehicles changing hands at 68,721  indicating a growing used electric car market after a period of inaccessible purchase costs. Delving into real-life customer data, Zuto car finance also reports a 21% increase in the number of electric vehicles they are providing car finance for YoY. As more Brits look towards their eco-friendly alternatives, drivers will be looking for the most reliable options currently in the market. Looking into this, Zuto carried out an FOI (Freedom of Information)…

A group of youngsters braved driving rain and strong winds to help clean up one of Gwynedd’s most treasured beaches. Armed with orange bags and sheer determination, pupils from Ysgol Cymerau joined forces with Harlech Foodservice staff and members of South Caernarfonshire Soroptomists to tackle rubbish left strewn across Pwllheli’s West Beach. The nine and 10 year olds scoured the sands for bottles, plastic and even a packet of discarded wedding balloons as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s UK-wide Beachwatch survey. The beach, normally busy during high summer, is part of the Pen Llŷn and Sarnau Special Area of…

COLEG CAMBRIA is flexing a new way to learn – designed for busy professionals who need training that fits around their working lives. Northop Business School has launched its innovative HNC Flex programme, giving employers and employees the freedom to pick, mix, and ‘flex’ the modules they study. Learners can take bitesize courses, stack them up, and build credits toward the full qualification – a first for Coleg Cambria in partnership with education provider Pearson. “This approach is brilliant for CPD,” said Jane Keys, Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement. “It allows flexibility for people who are already in work, busy,…

North Wales business leaders are being invited to future-proof their organisations by exploring the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence (AI) could present across different sectors. Attendees will hear how emerging AI platforms and tools are reshaping leadership and strategy in both practical application and policy, at the event run by The Institute of Directors (IoD) North Wales. Keynote speaker Dr Erin Young, head of innovation and technology policy at the IoD, will be providing attendees with in-depth, expert insight on the potential advantages and hurdles AI brings to firms. The lunch takes place on Wednesday 8 October between 12pm and…

AI property firm, Planna, has announced the opening of its new office in Cardiff, marking the start of an ambitious growth phase beyond its London base. Since launching in 2023, Planna is transforming the way homeowners, insurers, lenders and partners understand and care for properties. Its proprietary AI technology delivers unique, property-level insights that support smarter decisions. Cardiff will serve as a centre for Planna’s long-term growth, with the company actively building a local team and creating new roles across multiple departments. It sees Wales’ thriving insurtech and fintech sectors as key drivers to its development. Alain Hanash, CEO of…

SEREN HARRIS is celebrating a string of outstanding achievements on the live stage — and she already has her sights set firmly on next year’s All-Ireland Fleadh in Belfast. A pupil at St Gerard’s School in Bangor, the 14 year-old first picked up an instrument at the age of three, when she was gifted a classical violin. By five, Seren had joined her local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (a worldwide movement preserving Irish music and culture), where she discovered her love of the fiddle. By seven, she was competing in county competitions — and she has never looked back.…

A personal financial planning business which has advised households for more than 20 years is looking ahead to future growth, following a £100,000 investment from the British Business Bank-backed Investment Fund for Wales. FW Capital is one of the fund’s three delivery partners, with this being the first investment made by FW Capital into a business based in Mid Wales. Knighton-based Personal Asset Management Wealth was set up in 1999 by director Mike Evans and has since gone on to help hundreds of clients across Mid Wales, by providing advice on mortgages, investments, pensions and tax liabilities. The British Business…

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide, regarded as the definitive handbook to pubs serving quality cask beer, has been published today (Thursday 25 September). Compiled through an independent, volunteer-led process involving pubgoers and beer drinkers across Wales and the UK, the Guide is now in its 53rd year. Sponsored by Midland Snacks Traditional Pork Scratchings and endorsed by Cask Marque, it remains a trusted reference point for beer enthusiasts. This year’s edition introduces 51 new pubs in Wales, despite a difficult 12 months which saw several independent breweries close their doors for good. The Guide is perfect for…

UEFA Grassroots Week is an annual celebration of community football across Europe. It shines a spotlight on the millions of people who bring the game to life every week, from children taking their first steps in football to the clubs, coaches, and volunteers who keep their communities connected and active. The week highlights the power of grassroots football to inspire, include, and unite. It celebrates participation, promotes opportunities to get involved in playing, coaching, and refereeing, and showcases programmes that ensure football is open to everyone. In 2025, UEFA Grassroots Week takes place from 22–29 September, in partnership with EA…

A man from Powys has been jailed after almost a decade of sexual abuse against a child victim. 53-year-old Kerry Price, from Ystradgynlais, conducted a campaign against the victim spanning most of their childhood, from the age of around five until they were a teenager. Price was found guilty of five counts of a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of sexual assault of a female, two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, and one count each of taking an indecent photograph of…