Author: Rhys Gregory

With the World Cup just around the corner, and with Wales set to be part of the action, we decided to take a look at how most people are intending to tune in to the tournament. It was once the case where your only option was the one TV channel that had the rights to show a match, but now more and more sports fans are turning to streaming. When you look at this infographic done by ExpressVPN on UK sports streaming trends, it’s clear that interest instreaming sports is only growing in popularity and this is something that’s likely…

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing trend of businesses “going green.” From large corporations to small businesses, more and more companies are making an effort to be more environmentally friendly. But why? Why are businesses suddenly so interested in being eco-friendly? The main reason is eco-friendly businesses have more success and are generally favored by the public. The other reason is that it’s good for the planet we all live on. Even O&G (Oil and Gas) companies are developing eco-friendly ways to exploit the Earth’s natural resources without having a negative impact on the environment, which fundamentally impacts how…

A South Wales engineering firm is aiming to double turnover in three years following a £350,000 investment in new equipment and premises.  Traker Engineering of Taffs Well has received second-round funding of £230,000 from Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE to underpin a bold growth plan which foresees turnover rising to £2 million. The firm has bought state-of-the-art laser cutting and metal folding machinery and expanded into an adjacent factory unit to increase storage and improve efficiency.  In 2015 UKSE backed a Management Buy-In which led to the move to the present site, and since then the firm has exceeded expectations. Now, again…

With Hollywood backing from superstar Matthew Rhys, a community project has just over £30,000 left to raise from its mammoth target of £250,000 to save their Grade II listed Glan yr Afon pub. Matthew Rhys and community leaders in Pennal, Machynlleth, are now calling for one final push from supporters from across the globe to join their share scheme as they seek to hit the target. The project is seeking to place itself at the heart of their rural mid Wales community, with plans including not only continuing as a pub and restaurant, but also incorporating a café, shop and…

In just one day, timber frame and modular construction specialist, SO Modular, has installed the first block of apartments on phase two of Tai Tarian’s state-of-the-art project to build 55 new homes, and refurbish 72 existing flats, in Sandfields, Aberavon. The scheme will eventually provide 127 carbon-neutral homes for social housing provider, Tai Tarian, delivered across three phases, over three years. SO Modular is working alongside J.G. Hale Construction to deliver the project on behalf of Tai Tarian, utilising modern methods of construction (MMC), including construction of the homes off-site at SO Modular’s factory in Neath. The development, which began…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with Jazz Heritage Wales, will host the fourth annual Documenting Jazz Conference at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, from the 9th to 12th November 2022 – and in preparation, five pianos are being scattered around the city – to make music accessible to all. Staff and students from the University’s Swansea College of Art have initiated the Street Pianos project. Subject areas including, Art and Design Foundation, Surface Pattern and Textiles, Illustration and Fine Art have taken on the challenge to each design a street piano that will be situated in…

Joanne Hughes set up her own accountancy firm to look after tax matters for clients and be their “accountant”. Instead, Hughes deceitfully tricked three firms into a tax payment scam. From 2014-2018, Hughes stole £280,000 from three small businesses, reassuring them their payments were for HMRC when they were in fact being paid into her own bank accounts and not being sent on. An investigation was set up in 2019 after one of the businesses new accountants informed them that their books looked “awful” and something was going on. The 48 year-old pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud and…

A PROMINENT name in North Wales agriculture will lead commercial land and property developments on a 15,000-acre farm estate. Rhys Davies, from Llandyrnog, is the new Estate and General Manager at Rhug Estate, near Corwen. He takes over from Emma Story, who will move on to become Strategic Lead for Nature Recovery and Carbon Sequestration as part of an upcoming Welsh Government project on Wales’s Designated Landscapes. Having previously worked as a chartered rural surveyor, agricultural banking manager and latterly chief executive of Farmers Marts, Dolgellau – which during the pandemic became a world leader in the sale of sheepdogs…

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet has approved the start of a public consultation about a proposal to expand Coety Primary School.  The proposal would result in Coety Primary School’s capacity increasing from 420 to 525 places for pupils aged four to eleven years.  In order to address the demand for places at Coety Primary School, an options appraisal was launched, which identified the need to increase provision at the school. This resulted in a preferred option being identified in the form of a two-storey, four-classroom extension. Additional housing has been constructed at Parc Derwen, which was not planned as part of…

Highways repair crews have embarked on a six month tour of Swansea to tackle some of the city’s worst road defects. The road repair crews are part of Swansea Council’s PATCH highway maintenance programme which operates annually, repairing larger road defects in all communities throughout the city. The teams will spend up to two weeks in each ward in Swansea, starting in Pontarddulais and Gowerton before moving on to Gorseinon and Cockett. The scheme will come to an end in April 2023 when the maintenance crews will visit Llansamlet and Waterfront (Swansea Marina). Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment &…