Author: Rhys Gregory

St John Ambulance Cymru has unveiled a range of new courses to help transform the nation’s wellbeing and create a ‘mentally healthy Wales,’ to combat a crisis that currently costs the UK economy millions of lost workdays. The first aid charity for Wales, which trains hundreds of people in Mental Health First Aid each year, is calling on businesses to integrate it into the core of their operations, treating it with the same lifesaving urgency as physical first aid. In a recent interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John, the charity’s Lead Trainer,…

Swansea University researchers have been awarded £102,949 by the charity BRACE Dementia Research, to investigate a stomach hormone’s role in a potential new dementia treatment. The funding has been awarded to Prof Jeff Davies and will be used to support a PhD student who will work alongside Prof Davies to conduct laboratory research into ghrelin, a stomach hormone best known for regulating appetite. The hormone also plays a role in the brain’s immune system. The team will pursue the positive benefits of ghrelin in the hope of developing a dementia treatment. Why is the stomach hormone important? Ghrelin exists in…

Valleys to Coast Group has announced the launch of its new commercially driven development company, alongside its largest and most significant house-building project to date. Sylfaen, a fully owned subsidiary of the Valleys to Coast Group, is set to transform the housing landscape across South Wales. It will kick-start by purchasing a phase of 200 homes in North East Cardiff, with a potential for 300 additional homes in future years, a strategic development that will offer homes for private sale, rent, and shared ownership alongside traditional affordable social housing. Sylfaen is designed to drive the Valleys to Coast Group’s ambitious…

Cardiff-based HR consultancy EffectiveHRM has entered a new phase of growth after joining forces with Impact HR Consulting Limited, a move that will expand the support available to local SMEs in South Wales. Established in 2011 by employment lawyer Emma del Torto, EffectiveHRM has built a strong reputation supporting more than 150 businesses across sectors including care, professional services, manufacturing, hospitality and construction. The partnership will see EffectiveHRM join the Impact HR group of companies but continue to operate under its existing brand, with its Cardiff team remaining at the heart of delivery. The partnership will also provide additional resource,…

Mid Wales Opera (MWO) celebrated a resounding success with its OpenStages 2026 project, culminating in performances in Brecon and Hay-on-Wye earlier this month. Two fully staged performances of Dido and Aeneas at Brecon Cathedral alongside a special Musical Soirée at Hay Castle sold out in record time. Demand for the cathedral performances was so high that two additional release of tickets had to be created, with a waiting list introduced at Theatr Brycheiniog. At the heart of this success was the OpenStages project itself, an intensive and inspirational week of music-making that brought together professional artists, students and amateur musicians…

Staff and volunteers at the UK’s leading end of life charity are coming together to take part in a 40-hour bikeathon to celebrate the charity’s flagship fundraiser. Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, which takes place annually from February to March, marked its 40th anniversary this year, and the charity’s team in Wales is continuing to mark the milestone this month. From 7pm on April 22 to 11am on April 24, staff, volunteers and supporters will be riding non-stop in 30 minute stints over 40 hours on static bikes at the Wellbeing and Support Hub at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff…

Large crypto investors rarely use regular public crypto exchanges. When orders become big enough to hit the entire market, experienced investors tend to use a more discreet route to buy and sell digital assets — over‑the‑counter (OTC) crypto trading. Instead of broadcasting large trades on a public exchange where thousands of traders can see them and react accordingly, investors use an OTC crypto trading platform that ensures privacy. OTC trading means direct exchange of assets between the parties with no middlemen, like a crypto exchange. This approach is suitable for funds, high-net-worth individuals, and institutions that aim to minimize price…

Less than three weeks into Brian Schwartz’s tenure as chief executive officer, HIG Capital announced the sale of Celerion Holdings, a contract research organization it has owned since late 2022. The buyer is THL Partners. No purchase price was disclosed. Schwartz was named CEO on April 7, succeeding co-founder Sami Mnaymneh, who moved to executive chairman alongside fellow co-founder Tony Tamer. The Celerion transaction, announced April 22, marks one of the first portfolio exits under his watch — though the deal was almost certainly in process before the leadership change took effect. What Celerion Does and Why HIG Capital Bought…

Phillips Wellbeing co-founder Wayne Phillips will take on the London Marathon this weekend, to raise funds for Velindre Cancer Centre, a cause that has been close to his heart for more than a decade. Wayne, who has been an ambassador for Velindre for the past 13 years, will join thousands of runners to complete the 26.2-mile challenge, combining personal determination with a commitment to supporting cancer research, treatment and patient care in Wales. Velindre Cancer Centre is widely recognised for its pioneering research and development, including work on treatments that help prevent the spread of aggressive cancers. Its work continues…

South Wales Police have urged motorists to avoid part of the A48 in Cardiff following an ongoing incident. Officers are currently at the scene on the A48 near Llanedeyrn, with disruption affecting the off slip towards Llanedeyrn on Eastern Avenue. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and find alternative routes where possible, as delays are expected while emergency services deal with the situation. In a statement, South Wales Police said: “We’re at the scene of an incident on the A48 Llanederyn, Cardiff. Please avoid the off slip from the A48 towards Llanedyrn Eastern Avenue, Cardiff. Please avoid the…