Author: Rhys Gregory

On 1st October 2022, Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) Steve Dalton OBE, stood down from his post and handed over the reins to Deputy Managing Director and Operations Director of UK Technology Centre (UK TEC), Sony Europe B.V., Rob Wilson. After 39 years of dedicated service within the Sony team, Steve transferred his responsibilities to Rob, who has worked for the past 33 years within the Bridgend and Pencoed-based manufacturing facility. Steve continues to be employed by Sony Europe B.V. in an advisor capacity role on a part-time basis until 31st March 2023, after which he will graduate…

A fast-growing Wrexham village football club where Wales and Manchester United legend Mark Hughes played as a boy has invested over £200,000 on its facilities and has now added its first girls side to its impressive roster of youth teams. Sparky Hughes went on to a glittering career after his skills were nurtured at Ponciau Banks where more recently Wrexham and Wales midfielder Mark Jones also caught the eye of the Racecourse scouts. Now a new generation of youngsters are attracting attention for Rhos Aelwyd who field ten sides in the Wrexham Junior League with well over 100 youngsters training…

Coworking and small business support experts Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) has continued its year-on-year growth with a series of new spaces, business support contracts and innovative projects as it sets itself for further expansion. In the past twelve months, the business has almost doubled its seven-figure turnover, doubled its headcount by employing an additional 20 members of staff, won a number of contracts in Neath, Devon, Herefordshire and Kent and opened its first spaces in Cardiff and London. The B-Corp business also launched its Cowork Local Project across Swansea, Denbighshire and the Vale Of Glamorgan. The UK Community Renewal…

Regeneration work in Swansea city centre has uncovered a lively former life of a building that’s set to have a bright future. Work by Swansea Council at the former BHS and What! store – to create a public community hub with main library and other key public services – has brought back memories of some colourful 1980s nightlife. Above the expansive building’s former Miss Selfridge store remains what’s left of the Cavalier bar. Its décor and some of its old items offer a throwback to how drinkers enjoyed visits there more than three decades years ago. There’s a fancy, hand-painted…

Rough sleepers, vulnerable young people looking for a place to live and those facing the threat of losing a roof over their heads are set to benefit from a new multi-million-pound plan to tackle homelessness. As Swansea emerges from the pandemic its long-standing ‘always a bed’ pledge for rough sleepers is set to continue under new proposals which will be boosted this year by £4.4m of extra Welsh Government funding. Cabinet has agreed an action plan aiming to rapidly rehouse rough sleepers and others who’ve lost their homes, provide more support for young people struggling to find a place to…

Newport city centre will start the countdown to Christmas with a spectacular event packed with fun for all the family on Saturday, November 19. Running from 3pm to 5.15pm, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breath-taking fireworks display. Organised by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely-successful pre-pandemic events with the main stage based at the junction of Charles Street…

The Leader of Caerphilly county borough council is seeking an urgent meeting with Welsh Government Ministers to discuss long-awaited structural repairs to a key road linking the communities of Pontlottyn and New Tredegar. Cllr Sean Morgan is calling for urgent progress on works to the A469 at Troedrhiwfwch, which has experienced a landslip and significant ground movement over recent years. The key strategic route has been subject to reduced single lane traffic restrictions since 2020, causing delays and inconvenience to the travelling public. Cllr Morgan said, “We have submitted a bid to Welsh Government to progress a major improvement scheme…

A mass celebration of the Welsh language will take place this month with the annual ‘Diwrnod Shwmae Su’Mae’ festival at Cyfarthfa Park. The Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council event on Saturday, October 15 will feature performances from Côr Meibion Dowlais and professional harpist Elin Butler. Arts, culture, and sport will play a big part at the event, with performances about Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, a Welsh academic, writer, and filmmaker who founded Urdd Gobaith Cymru.  There will also be a representative of the Football Association of Wales there to answer questions – one of their last events before the…

A 16-year-old girl from Barry has become First Minister of Wales for the day as girls across the world take over to mark the UN’s International Day of the Girl. Jaime has stepped into First Minister Mark Drakeford’s shoes to celebrate the power of girls and to call for action to tear down the barriers they continue to face in today’s world. In countries around the world, girls are taking over key roles in media, business and Government today to demand equal power, freedom and representation for girls and young women. A level student Jaime has been working with youth…

The Welsh Government has set out proposals to improve voter participation, including trials for automatic voter registration in Senedd and local government elections. The Counsel General, Mick Antoniw, said the proposals are designed to remove barriers to voting. It comes as a consultation opens on new legislation to modernise electoral administration and wider electoral reform. Currently people must register in order to vote, but under the new proposals anyone who is eligible would be added to the electoral register automatically by their local authority. This will make voting simpler – especially for young people and for those who have moved…