Author: Rhys Gregory

There were fewer homebuyers active in the housing market in Wales last month, but limited available stock is continuing to drive prices up, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. For the fourth consecutive month, new buyer enquiries were reported to have reduced in number, with a net balance of -47% of respondents recorded. This is the lowest that this figure has been since May 2020. Newly agreed sales were also reported to have reduced, with a net balance of -11% of respondents recorded for this indicator. This is the fifth successive month that…

To help their visitors to eat and drink local and authentic produce, Discover Carmarthenshire has developed three new online guides, the 100% Carmarthenshire Larder Trails for them to follow. With every season bringing the freshest local produce to the county’s markets, delis, farm shops and even the shoreline, as well as an increasing appetite for foodie focused travel experiences, the new trails help visitors head straight to the ‘source’ with some truly authentic experiences to be enjoyed along the way. The ultimate aim is to help make the picnic, campsite cook up or holiday cottage kitchen supper feature as much…

Temperatures will hit highs of 32C in parts of Wales this week, as another heatwave hits the UK — sparking concern from National Parks Wales, after months of low rainfall. Although temperatures will remain lower than last month’s record-breaking 37C, the Met Office’s fire severity index (FSI), an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start, predicts ‘High’ or ‘Very High’ for all three of Wales’s National Parks by this weekend. In response, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Snowdonia National Park Authority — jointly known as National Parks Wales…

The UK is experiencing not only record temperatures, but also unprecedented conditions favouring extreme wildfire danger and behaviour, according to wildfire experts. Now the UK Fire Danger Rating System project team which includes vegetation fire experts from universities across the UK (University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, University of Exeter, Swansea University, London School of Economics, Portsmouth University) and Forest Research, is warning of further risks as the summer’s hot and dry weather continues. Analysis carried at Swansea University shows that the fire weather index – a numerical indicator of the likelihood of extreme fire behaviour (calculated from long-term and…

Life-saving defibrillators have been installed at all the touring and holiday home parks owned by Morris Leisure. The company owns six parks across Shropshire and the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, catering to all types of touring caravans, motorhomes and other recreational vehicles. Morris Leisure also offers a wide range of static caravans and lodges for sale at its tranquil, countryside locations. Keen to help visitors and members of the local communities, the company has installed the defibrillators to ensure the best chance of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest when every second counts. The defibrillators were…

Top 100 UK law firm, Hugh James, has strengthened its specialist media and entertainment team, with the appointment of S4C’s in-house counsel, Ilan Jones. Ilan spent 3 years at the Welsh broadcaster, specialising in broadcast compliance, advising commissioners and production houses on pre and post broadcast matters, as well as advising on data protection, freedom of information, contract drafting and programme licensing. Ilan joins a well-established media and entertainment practice at Hugh James, which is led by broadcast-industry heavyweight Aled Walters. Aled, who Heads up the Commercial department, was formerly a lawyer at national broadcaster S4C. A fluent Welsh speaker,…

The ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University has expanded its flavour and aroma testing services with the appointment of analytical chemist, Matt Bates. Matt specialises in the sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the chemical compounds responsible for the aroma and flavours we recognise in our food, drinks and fragrances. These enhanced analytical services, usually only accessible to large multinational food businesses, are now available to Welsh SMEs through the Welsh Government funded Project HELIX. The ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre has a well-established sensory assessment centre, where companies can test products with a consumer sensory panel.…

Cardiff-based communications agency, Station Rd. has become one of the first marketing communications businesses in Wales to achieve B Corp Certification as it works to create lasting positive impacts. Awarded by the globally recognised nonprofit network, B Lab, to companies that meet high standards across a range of social, environmental, and business factors, B Corporations are celebrated for being a force for good to benefit people, communities and the planet. Now, Station Rd. joins an exclusive list of just 67 advertising and market research agencies operating across the UK to achieve this certification. Lyanna Tsakiris, CEO and Co-Founder of Station Rd. said: “We’re…

The Regenerating Rural Towns scheme run by the Cynnal y Cardi LEADER programme has been supporting Tregaron Town Council with a series of marketing techniques and installations to promote and enhance Tregaron in preparation for the historic and cultural event, the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2022. This work acted as a legacy to the National Eisteddfod at Tregaron following the influx of thousands of people to the town daily for the duration of the festival and subsequently to the surrounding rural communities and local sites of interest. A wide range of installations could be seen in Tregaron during the Eisteddfod…

Businesses are being urged to stay alert for a scam that is targeting existing and potential suppliers of equipment to organisations such as Bridgend County Borough Council. The scam, which has previously seen a local business defrauded out of almost £40,000 worth of goods, works in a specific way: A supplier will receive an email or phone call requesting a quotation for specific items of equipment. These may be in large or small quantities, and of low-to-high values. Once the quotation has been provided, a purchase order is emailed to the supplier that bears a resemblance to an authentic Bridgend…