Author: Rhys Gregory

EcoMove Group has opened a lithium-ion battery collection and storage facility on Leeway Industrial Estate, Newport as part of a UK-wide expansion strategy. Established in 2019 by founding directors Teddy Thompson and John Dorman, Bristol-based EcoMove  specialises in providing e-bikes, e-scooters and e-mopeds. A £250,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales is being used to fund the expansion of the EcoMove Group with the launch of Recover, a collection, storage and eventual recycling facility for lithium-ion batteries in the UK. With a store in Bristol, EcoMove is also looking to open a second hub outlet in Cardiff offering sales,…

Business confidence in Wales rose 25 points during April to 20%, the biggest month-on-month increase of any UK nation or region, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Wales reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 27 points at 27%.  When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up 21 points to 11%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 20%. Welsh businesses flagged a range of growth opportunities for the next six months, including evolving their offering with a new product or service (38%), investing in their team (37%) and entering new markets (28%). The Business Barometer, which questions 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about…

Gregynog Hall in Tregynon, near Newtown, is marking an exciting three-year collaboration with Sinfonia Cymru by hosting two concerts for string quartet. On Saturday, May 7 at 7.30pm, Sinfonia Cymru will be playing works by Haydn, Beethoven and Caroline Shaw. On Sunday, May 8, the second concert at 3pm will feature music by Britten, Ravel and the Danish String Quartet. These concerts have important historical associations with the Gregynog Festivals of Music and Poetry of the 1930s. They celebrate not only the work and influence of remarkable musicians and composers, but also the Davies sisters, Gwendoline and Margaret, whose passion…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has today launched its Manifesto ahead of the 2022 Welsh Local Government elections which will take place on 5th May. The Manifesto sets out the Union’s key asks and calls on incoming Councillors and Local Authorities in regards to; local procurement, county council farm holdings, EU replacement funds, local housing, sustainable tourism, carbon offsetting and afforestation, digital connectivity and trading standards. Speaking after the launch, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “As all corners of society recover from recent and ongoing global events, Local Authorities will have a big part to play in ensuring that all…

Acorn recruitment has pledged to make a donation for every permanent job placement it makes in 2022 and support the planting of at least 200 trees or metres of hedgerow in local communities UK-wide, as part of its 30th year celebrations. The UK recruiter is working in partnership with the Tree Council (Registered Charity Number 279000) to help plant hundreds of trees in its name. With more than 450 permanent hires set to be made across the course of the year, the planting of trees and hedgerows in communities across the UK will be funded by the recruiter at the…

The largest building society in Wales ranked 9th in the super large employer category of The UK’s Best Workplaces™ by Great Place to Work®. Earlier this year Principality ranked 8th in the Great Place to Work® Wellbeing category. The UK’s Best Workplaces™ awards are based on the results of the Trust Index© employee survey and a Culture Audit©. Principality ranked highly for creating a culture that focuses on employee wellbeing, by promoting mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace as well as a healthy work environment and work-life balance. Julie-Ann Haines, Chief Executive Officer at Principality said: ‘’We’re so proud…

The video games sector in Wales needs bespoke support and incentives, including talent development for recent graduates, structured mentorship for nascent companies and targeted growth support for established companies in order to become a robust, sustainable industry, according to a new report produced by the University of South Wales (USW). The Clwstwr Games Survey Wales 2021 report is part of a five-year programme that aims to put innovation at the core of media production in south Wales. It is the first detailed, systematic mapping of the sector in Wales, highlighting the skills challenges and training needs of the industry, outlining…

A new wellness service, the Wellness Improvement Service (WISE), which enables patients to take control of their own health is being launched by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB). The service forms part of the NHS Wales Planned Care Programme for Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board. WISE follows an evidence-based, lifestyle medicine approach where patient empowerment forms the basis of the service and supports behaviour change through person centred techniques to improve mental and physical wellbeing Through a sustained education programme, WISE aims to enable referred patients to better understand the root causes of their current medical conditions…

Welsh industrial property take-up in the first quarter of 2022 showed a slower start in South Wales but positive activity in North Wales, according to the latest research from property consultancy Knight Frank. The five transactions for property over 50,000 sq ft in size in Q1 totalled 326,000 sq ft, down from 492,000 sq ft in Q1 2021, with four of the deals being freehold and one leasehold. Neil Francis, head of Logistics & Industrial at Knight Frank in Cardiff, said: “Encouragingly, three of the five deals were for property in North Wales. In South Wales it was a slower…

The Montgomery Canal will be busy on Saturday 7 May when about 140 visitors take part in the annual Montgomery Canal Triathlon organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal. Most of the bookings are for the whole Triathlon though some entrants will only join in one or two of the three sections: 12 miles cycling from Newtown to Belan 5½ miles by canoe through Welshpool to Pool Quay and 9½ miles on foot to the finish at Crickheath. Organisers are warning that the towpath will be busy on the cycling and walking sections and at two locks the canoeists…