Author: Rhys Gregory

Business confidence in Wales fell five points during September to -4%, the lowest of all UK nations and regions, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking – conducted between 1st-15th September, before the Chancellor’s economic announcement.  Companies in the country reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 16 points at 18%.  When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 29 points to -27%, this gives a headline confidence reading of -4%.    Despite the fall in optimism during September, a three-month average of local businesses’ confidence scores reveals a more positive picture. The average sits at a net confidence score of 9%, factoring in monthly scores of July, August and September.    …

A team of talented, young chefs will be flying the Welsh flag with pride at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg in November. The Junior Culinary Team Wales will be competing against 15 other teams from around the world at the high profile culinary event, which runs from November 26-30. The competition comprises two different elements: a Restaurant of Nations hot kitchen when teams must prepare a three-course menu 70 people and a ‘Table of Fire’ which will see teams prepare four different kinds of cold and hot finger food, a cold, festive fish or seafood platter, hot main courses…

Cardiff’s newest venue, Proud Mary Pub on St Mary’s Street, has announced it will open its doors on Saturday 29 October following a £1.2 million transformation by operators REKOM. The city has been chosen as the first in the UK to welcome the traditional pub with a modern ‘party’ twist, where you are guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome featuring locally brewed beers from Tiny Rebel, freshly prepared food, the latest sporting action and live music at weekends. Venue manager Mark Simons and his deputy, Paloma de Souza, will be leading a team of 50 to make sure Proud Mary…

Phase two of an optimised retrofit programme for Rhyl council homes will begin this autumn. Preparations are underway to carry out the Welsh Government funded energy improvements to the remaining Denbighshire Housing properties on Rhydwen Drive, Rhyl. The move comes following Cabinet agreement of recommendations to award the contract to the contractor currently undertaking phase one of the works. Phase two will see the remaining 40 houses undergo the energy improvement work from late September onwards. The work will include fitting solar panels that will generate electricity and also store it in connected batteries to allow energy use in the…

A grand music gig will be held in Aberystwyth this October (15 October) as part of Aberystwyth University’s 150th anniversary celebrations this year. Marking the occasion, the gig will also be a celebration of the University’s musical heritage over the years and the line-up includes many of the artists and bands who have been students there over the years. The gig will be held in the Great Hall of Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Saturday 15 October with the artists being divided over two stages to ensure non-stop live music on the night. There will also be a special exhibition about…

A Masters student at the University of South Wales (USW) will see his feature film released in cinemas this month. Mashroor Parvez, a 30-year-old filmmaker from Bangladesh, is about to complete his MA in Film Directing at the Film and TV School Wales. His second feature film, going Home, hits cinemas on Friday 30 September. The bilingual crime drama tells the story of a man working for a criminal enterprise, who finds his profession affecting his everyday relationships. The lead character, Raian, is wrestling with the consequences of the life he has led as a hitman, between the underworld and…

Whether you love hanging out with your grandparents or feel like it’s time to catch up, Revolución de Cuba is here to help this National Grandparents Day. The Cuban-themed bar brand is running a special offer on Sunday 2 October – all you have to do is take your grandparents out for breakfast, lunch or dinner and they’ll eat for free! The offer entitles one grandparent (including great grandparents!) to one free main dish, for every main dish purchased per person – whether that’s from the brunch, lunch or cantina (all-day) menu. So, for example, if you take your Gran…

Swansea University experts say digital transformation could bridge the gap between knowledge, revolutionary technology, and patient psychology, to improve the experiences of amputees and clinicians. A unique event, hosted by the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering brought together a range of healthcare professionals, academics from diverse backgrounds including psychology, machine learning, design engineering, bio-mechanists and computer modellers and industry experts. Its aim was to discuss and better understand the expectations of prosthetic foot-users and clinicians. Event organiser Dr Rajesh Ransing, associate professor of mechanical engineering, said: “Swansea has an ambitious vision to become an international creative hub for academics, clinicians,…

Neath Port Talbot councillors have approved the publishing of the council’s Welsh in Education Plan 2022-32 (WESP). Its purpose is to improve the planning and standard of Welsh medium education in Neath Port Talbot over the next ten years by enabling all learners to develop their Welsh language skills so they can use the language confidently in everyday life. It will also contribute to the Welsh Government’s ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050. All local authorities in Wales must produce a WESP and Neath Port Talbot Council’s plan was developed through close working with partners…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is inviting businesses to attend a special networking event, being held at 5pm on Wednesday 12th October 2022 in Bargoed Library. The event is being hosted by the Council’s Business Enterprise and Renewal Team and will offer attendees the opportunity to meet with Council staff, Councillors, and other businesses throughout the county borough. The meeting agenda will include discussing exciting new developments, following up on the previous meeting notes and offering businesses the opportunity to express their views and opinions about what they think priorities should be for Bargoed. The meeting will take place at 5pm…