Author: Rhys Gregory

Powys residents who have received an email from the county council asking them to return a duplicate Fuel Support Scheme payment, are being advised that these are not a scam. Unfortunately, 842 people had their payment transferred to their bank account twice last month, resulting in them receiving £400 instead of £200 through the Welsh Government’s Fuel Support Scheme 2022/23. Those who have received more than they are entitled to are being asked to return the overpayment and many of them will have already received an email about this from the council. “We are really sorry this error has occurred…

A new 20mph default speed limit in communities across Wales could save £100m as deaths and injuries are reduced, according to new research. New research showing a reduction in deaths and injuries as traffic slows down is being published today alongside new survey results showing continued public support for the national roll out of the lower 20mph speed limit next year – a UK first. The Welsh Government will introduce a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales in September 2023. Restricted roads include those with street-lights and are usually located in residential and built-up areas with high…

A year on from COP26 in Glasgow and a year after the Welsh Government published its Net Zero plan, a wide range of climate policies have been introduced in Wales, such as the plans for a renewable public energy developer to provide long-term energy security which sees profits reinvested to benefit the people of Wales. Speaking at a Welsh Government press conference, the Minister will say responding to the climate change emergency can bring many benefits, including healthier communities and new job opportunities. The Minister is also expected to congratulate the Football Association Wales for its sustainability strategy which launches…

Siemens Healthineers will launch a healthcare centre of excellence in Llanberis, bringing with it a multi-million-pound investment in research and development (R&D) and securing high quality, long-term jobs with support from the Welsh Government. Siemens Healthineers is to consolidate its global operations for the manufacture of IMMULITE® blood analysis technology, used worldwide to aid the diagnosis of medical conditions, at its site in Gwynedd. This investment will transform the site into an R&D facility for laboratory diagnostics enabling the development of enhanced diagnostic precision products for use in optimising patient care. This significant investment by the Welsh Government and Siemens…

First Minister Mark Drakeford is asking budding young artists to put their creative hats on and enter this year’s Christmas card competition. The First Minister will choose a winning design, which will be used as his official Christmas card this year. The First Minister sends his Christmas card to thousands of people around the world, including to His Majesty the King, to the President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The competition is open to children in years five and six of primary schools across Wales. The theme for this year’s competition is ‘A Christmas…

A magical evening of classic Christmas carols and festivities will be held at St Giles Parish Church, Wrexham in aid of Nightingale House Hospice. Sponsored by DTCC, the event on Saturday 3rd December will feature Aled Wyn Davies, Rhos Male Voice Choir and The Wrexham Salvation Army Band. Tickets cost £18 (no concessions) and include a glass of fizz, or soft drink and a mince pie. Hot drinks will also be on sale during the interval together with a small selection of Hospice Christmas merchandise. A raffle will also be held to raise extra funds for patient care and family support services,…

A Welsh language adaptation of Lee Newbery’s blazing debut novel, The Last Firefox (Y Llwynog Tân Olaf), leads a quartet of titles published this Autumn in a major new move by award-winning Welsh independent publishers Firefly Press. The others are adaptations of Firefly titles The Clockwork Crow (Y Frân Glocwaith) by former Wales Young People’s Laureate Catherine Fisher and non-fiction titles Fantastic Football (Pêl-Droed Penigamp) and Rampaging Rugby (Rygbi Rhempus) by Robin Bennett. Publisher Penny Thomas said: ‘Following ten years of introducing young readers to quality fiction in English we are now at an exciting stage in our journey in…

Do you have a business idea but need some inspiration to get started? Would you like to hear successful businesswoman talk about their journey to success? Focus Newtown Enterprise Hub is bringing you the fourth edition of She Can Start on Friday 11th November from 10:00 – 16:00, in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Following on from the successes of previous She Can Start conferences, this year it’s bigger and better than ever with some of the world’s leading speakers joining the Hub. Aimed at empowering women to take charge of their future and start-up, the Hub has an exciting…

Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (CSSF) today announces the return of the world’s largest annual youth drama festival, that sees thousands of children performing Shakespeare plays live in professional theatres across the UK. The 2022-23 Festival launches on 31 October and will be bigger than ever before, taking place over two school terms for the first time, thereby giving even more children and young people from all backgrounds and communities vital access to the arts. The first school performances take place at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, followed by more than 49 performances across the country throughout November including the Greenwich…

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid has welcomed TSW Training as its newest Corporate Partner. Based in Bridgend, TSW Training is a learning and development provider with over 50 years’ experience in delivering professional qualifications and in-company training to organisations in Wales and across the United Kingdom. The company specialises in management development and provides leaders and their teams with the skills and knowledge to improve productivity, safety and performance through its bespoke solutions and off-the-shelf qualifications. As a Corporate Partner, TSW Training will work closely with the Chamber and connect with its members to support Welsh businesses…