Author: Rhys Gregory

Record investment in services that matter to the people of Swansea is on the cards for the coming year. Schools, care and community services are all set to benefit from an extra £27.4m, or 5.2% increase in funding from the Welsh Government to help the council support residents through difficult times. Under plans being seen by Cabinet on January 9, extra funding to help services deal with inflationary pressures, raised energy costs and increased demand for council services. Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “It means that we’ll be spending an average of just under £2.4m a day on…

Pembrokeshire County Council is deeply saddened to have learned of the death of Milford Hakin County Councillor, Mike Stoddart on Sunday, January 4th. Cllr Stoddart joined Pembrokeshire County Council following the elections in June 2004. A former journalist who set up the Milford Mercury newspaper with his family, Cllr Stoddart has served on Council alongside his wife Vivien, County Councillor for Milford Hubberston and daughter Tessa Hodgson, County Councillor for Lamphey and  Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Cllr Jon Harvey, said: “I was deeply shocked to hear of Cllr Mike Stoddart’s death at the weekend.…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has completed restoration work at Ferndale Cenotaph ahead of Remembrance Day, ensuring the memorial was in excellent condition for the annual service. The work was carried out by Ivor Phillips Sculptors in Aberdare and included a full clean of the cenotaph, along with the installation of new granite tablets commemorating those who served in World War II. An additional name, James Breeze, has also been added to the memorial. James Breeze served as a Stoker 1st Class on HMS Stevenstone, and his inclusion ensures the cenotaph continues to honour all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.…

The new Leader of Caerphilly County borough council has said it’s time to raise spending on public services and for a ‘massive investment’ in cleaning up the county borough. Cllr Jamie Pritchard’s comments follow the publication of CCBC’s draft budget proposals for 2026/27 which outline plans to increase the council’s cleaning and greening budget by 50 per cent. Cllr Pritchard said when it comes to issues raised by local residents, improving the cleanliness of our communities was at the top of the list. “We have listened to the feedback from residents across the county borough and we are proposing the…

Blaenau Gwent Council is working with schools to launch a new campaign promoting the many benefits of attending school in a bid to boost attendance rates. The #NotInMissOut campaign highlights the many benefits of going to school every day such as learning, fun activities, achieving great grades, pursuing excellent career prospects and spending time with friends. Improving regular school attendance is a top priority for the Council. They are exploring new ways of working with communities through the Blaenau Gwent Deal, where they want to work together to build fairer, healthier, stronger communities. The Council has said it’s committed to…

Newport-based tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams is looking ahead to a promising 2026 following continued financial, team and client growth last year. The firm reported positive year end figures at the end of its accounting year, achieving 15% growth. This favourable position saw the business successfully launch a highly experienced forensic accounting and expert witness service, secure work with new clients including CCR Energy, Glamorgan Cricket and others, and increase its headcount to 76. To support its growing team and client portfolio, Kilsby Williams has promoted Astrid Hungerford to HR Manager. Astrid joined the firm as a senior payroll…

Gas-fired boilers are the most common heating system in Wales, and according to recent data, about 74 percent of Welsh households use gas central heating as the only way to heat their homes. Many people rely on gas central heating since it’s currently the most affordable and established heating method in the region, with gas being cheaper per unit than electricity. Also, boilers provide a reliable supply of heat and hot water on demand, which is why most Welsh families will replace their old boiler with a new model once it reaches the end of its life. Despite the current dependency on…

The fourth quarter of 2025 (Q4) saw take up in Wales, for industrial units over 50,000 sq ft, reach circa 675,000 sq ft, according to the latest report from global property consultant Knight Frank. The take up was around 250,000 sq ft higher than Q3 this year but down considerably on the same period in 2024. These figures comprise two lettings and three sales, including 165,000 sq ft at Queensway Way Meadows, Newport and 200,000 sq ft on Swansea Enterprise Park. The activity pushed take up for 2025 to just over 1.7 million sq ft which is significantly down on…

Multi-award-winning UK technology company de Novo Solutions, has announced the promotion of Helen Crisostomo to VP Business Development, recognising her exceptional leadership, strategic impact, and alignment with de Novo’s ambitious growth plans. Since joining de Novo from Oracle in September 2024, Helen has played a pivotal role in strengthening and scaling the organisation’s commercial capabilities. She has led the evolution of de Novo’s Business Development function, introducing greater structure, clarity, and consistency across sales and marketing operations, while helping to accelerate sustainable revenue growth. In her new role as VP Business Development, Helen will lead the execution of the company’s…

At CES 2026, BLUETTI introduced the Charger 2, a unified car and solar smart energy hub designed to redefine mobile power management. Addressing the critical energy bottlenecks faced by global travelers, RV and van travelers, and overlanders, the Charger 2 integrates high-speed alternator charging with solar input, featuring a plug-and-play, RV-ready system and bi-directional reverse charging capabilities. The BLUETTI Charger 2 Unified Car & Solar Smart Energy Hub is installed in the rear cargo area of an SUV. It is designed for easy installation in a variety of vehicles, including pickup trucks, camper vans, and Class C/B RVs. Breaking the…