Author: Rhys Gregory

ourism businesses and organisations are invited to the next Denbighshire Tourism Forum, taking place on Wednesday, 15 October at The Wild Pheasant Hotel, Llangollen (10.30am–1.30pm). The Forum offers a fantastic opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the sector, connect with like-minded businesses, and share experiences. This year’s programme includes a range of expert guest speakers: Gail Swan, Chair of the Taste North East Wales Food and Drink Group Lucy von Weber, Head of Marketing, Visit Wales Head of Service for Tourism, Denbighshire County Council Delegates will also have the chance to browse a variety of information stands from…

 Cardiff Council has revealed it is facing a predicted budget shortfall in 2026/27 of £38.4 million. The council is now working on a budget plan for next year – which could see some services reduced or stopped completely – to bridge the gap. The shortfall arises when the money the council receives from Government, combined with council tax income, isn’t enough to pay for the 700-plus services the council delivers to residents. A report to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet, on Thursday, September 18, outlines the financial pressures the council is currently experiencing due to rising costs and increasing demand for social…

Swansea city centre has taken a major step towards reducing single-use packaging with the launch of the 2GoCup scheme. The 2GoCup initiative equips participating businesses with reusable cups, making it easier for customers to swap out single-use cups for a more sustainable choice. A joint initiative by Swansea Council and Swansea Business Improvement District (BID), 2GoCup will see customers pay a small deposit for a durable, reusable cup, which they can return to any participating business for a refund or for swapping with a fresh cup. The scheme aims to reduce the thousands of single-use coffee cups that are thrown…

Escape to the Darran Valley is a free, guided walking event taking place on Sunday 21stSeptember at Parc Cwm Darran Visitor Centre and Café, organised by CCBC Countryside Service in partnership with Caerphilly Adventures. The day will feature a choice of guided walks designed to suit all abilities. Four 8.5-mile led walks will follow the Escape to the Darran Valley trail as closely as possible, including a reverse-route option for a fresh perspective. Weather permitting, participants will enjoy breathtaking views across the valley. Two shorter options ranging from 2 to 5 miles will provide a gentler experience, following a looped…

Residents in Powys are being encouraged to help bring long term empty properties back into use to help tackle the housing emergency in the county. Powys County Council is calling on residents to use its Empty Property Referral Form to report any empty homes they are aware of, especially those causing damage or damp to neighbouring properties. Launched in April 2024, the online form has already led to dozens of investigations and is helping bring unused homes back into use. 12 empty properties have been successfully brought back into between April and July this year, with more expected in…

Former children’s commissioner Sally Holland will chair the independent assessment of all maternity and neonatal services in Wales. The work will focus on the safety of all maternity and neonatal services and will evaluate the quality of services. The assurance assessment is designed to provide real-time and immediate assurance about the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services following the results of the independent review of Swansea Bay’s maternity services and concerns about other UK maternity and neonatal units. The voices and experiences of women and families will be at the heart of this work – their perspectives are…

A further eight Aberystwyth University academics have been announced as members of prestigious sub-panels assessing research excellence in the UK higher education sector, bringing the total involved to nine. The panels are part of the Research Excellence Framework 2029. Each academic will sit on a panel within their specific area of expertise. The REF plays a vital role in the UK higher education sector. Sub-panels assess the quality of research across 34 different subject areas. The outcome of the REF is used to determine the yearly allocation of public funding worth £2 billion for research at universities. The eight announced…

An independent retailer is set to open a newly rebranded Nisa Local following a six-figure funding boost from HSBC UK. The store in Church Village, near Pontypridd – previously operating as a Co-op – closed temporarily on 19 July and reopened on 1 September under the new ownership of C&S Patel Retail.   The business has acquired the 7,500 sq. ft. site with support from HSBC UK, retaining all existing staff and planning to recruit additional team members as demand grows.   The store is expected to undergo phased improvements over the next six to eight months, with a focus on operational…

Applications are open for the next Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator, a fully online, ten-week programme that runs from Tuesday, 30th September 2025 to Friday, 12th December 2025. The application deadline is Monday, 15th September 2025.  The accelerator is designed exclusively for Wales-based entrepreneurs with high-growth business ideas, supporting their journey from securing a first customer to preparing for investment. Participants will benefit from personalised support from experienced coaches, with a strong focus on building a sustainable business model and revenue generation.  Over the ten weeks, founders follow a clear, step-by-step approach to shape their idea, win paying customers and strengthen their business foundations. The Start-Up Accelerator helps participants build core skills through webinars, masterclasses…

The manager of Europe’s most popular Youtube collective is set to appear alongside a list of media industry leaders at the Wales Screen Summit 2025. Jordan Schwarzenberger, manager of The Sidemen group with more than 244 million cross-channel followers and the third most searched term on Youtube globally in 2023, will appear at the screen industry conference next month. Jordan is co-founder of management company Arcade Media, named in the Forbes 30u30, a member of Downing Street’s SME Council and an investor in multiple start-ups. Wales Screen Summit, the premier event for the film and television industry in Wales, will take…