Author: Rhys Gregory

PRS for Music, the UK-headquartered organisation that represents the rights of over 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers around the world, announces beloved Carmarthen grassroots music bar CWRW (pronounced koo-roo) as the winner of its Back to Live Music Venue Prize of £10 000 for the Welsh region. The recovery-focussed nationwide competition was launched by PRS for Music to give independent live music venues across the UK the chance to win one of six regional prizes of up to £10,000 and inject much-needed financial support into venues who are dedicated to improving live music experiences in their local communities. Community…

A new fast-track training programme launched by FinTech Wales and Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) has already helped 28 people to become front or back-end developers, and ex-PGA Golfer, Richard King, is the first of four programme graduates to be offered a job opportunity with Principality Building Society. The 10-week Coding Academy was created and delivered by Cardiff and Vale College, iungo Solutions, The Knowledge Academy, risual Limited and Gaia Ines Fassò, based on the skills identified by FinTech Wales’ members and endorsed by Admiral, Principality, Deloitte and Hodge Bank. Fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Community…

New data from the CIPD shows that almost half of organisations support extending statutory paternity/partner leave and pay, with 29% of those backing an extension to either six weeks or more. In response, the CIPD is urging the Government to increase statutory paternity/partner leave to six weeks, either at or near the full rate of pay, to help families balance caring responsibilities and provide more financial support for working parents. Currently, under statutory paternity leave, employees can choose to take either one or two consecutive weeks’ leave if they have been employed for at least 26 weeks. Statutory paternity pay…

A top chef who has cooked for sporting royalty has worked his magic on a new sausage for Wales’s best-known butcher. James Williams, 28, joint head chef at Llandudno’s award-winning Imperial Hotel has been working with the development team at Edwards the Welsh Butcher on their new range of gluten-free sausages. They reckon they’ve come up with a winner thanks to input from James who has cooked for some of the world’s best snooker players including current and seven-time world champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan. He and other top snooker stars have stayed at the four-star Imperial on the town’s historic seafront…

The management team at S&G, specialist Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning mechanical services provider, has announced the successful completion of an MBO, in a deal advised on by GS Verde Group. Paul Copner and Nic Roberts, who have been with the company for 15 and 13 years respectively, have taken full ownership from founders Steve and Gemma Howell. S&G, based in Barry, South Wales and with offices in the Midlands and London, specialises in the full spectrum of HVAC mechanical services, including design, installation, commissioning, and after-care. Established in 1999, the company has built a solid reputation within the market,…

Three new archways are now open to better link Swansea city centre with the marina and seafront. The archways – which have replaced a narrow tunnel that was in place beforehand – are located close to the LC, between the maritime quarter and the city’s £135m new Copr Bay district. The district also includes Swansea Arena, the 1.1-acre coastal park and the new bridge over Oystermouth Road Copr Bay has been developed by Swansea Council and development managed by RivingtonHark. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, said: “Swansea’s waterfront has always been the city’s crown jewel, but Oystermouth Road had…

Work to transform a historic Rhyl site into one which can be enjoyed by the local community, visitors, and businesses has commenced, thanks to Denbighshire County Council and a grant from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme and European Regional Development Fund. Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction has been appointed by Denbighshire County Council to carry out the design and construction of the brand-new Queen’s Market in the first step of the transformation of the wider Queen’s Buildings which sit along the town’s promenade. The project is the latest stage in the wider regeneration vision for Rhyl and will see the site…

A Welsh archery club has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support a young Ukrainian archer who had to leave many of her belongings, including her archery kit, behind when she fled the war in Ukraine. Perriswood Bowmen, located near Oxwich on the Gower, has launched the fundraising campaign with the aim of raising enough money to help 20-year-old Ukrainian Kate Andrusenko continue her archery training and return to competing at the same level she did in her home country. The fundraiser has a target of £2,100, which will help Kate purchase the equipment she needs and restart her archery career,…

A world-leading aerospace company has boosted its presence in South Wales and praised the calibre of engineers to be found here. Adient Aerospace, which has its headquarters in Washington, designs and makes luxury seating and furniture for Business and Economy Class, and has quadrupled its office and workshop space at Ebbw Vale Innovation Centre, (EVIC). Ex-steelworker, Phil Owens, who is in charge of Adient’s Ebbw Vale design studio at EVIC, is delighted with the facilities, and says the Innovation Centre has proved to be the perfect home for the prestigious international company. EVIC is owned and run by UKSE, a…

The continued partnership with Celtic Dragons will see the Cardiff-based netball team continue to use Cardiff Met Sport facilities during an exciting time for the Vitality Netball Super League club, as they look to build on the foundations of last season. The Dragons will benefit from on-court training in the prestigious Cardiff Met Archers Arena with access to Met Active’s Cyncoed Fitness Centre. Alongside this, they will receive elite support from the Strength and Conditioning team managed by Dai Watts. Cardiff Met Netball Club is also benefiting from this agreement, where they will be accessing joint training sessions with the…