Author: Rhys Gregory

More than 80,000 additional homes and businesses in Wales are set to benefit from a major broadband boost thanks to a £25m investment by Openreach – the UK’s largest digital network provider, used by the likes of BT, Sky and TalkTalk, Vodafone and Zen. When work is finished, people living and working in a further 9 communities across South Wales will be able to contact their broadband provider and upgrade to full fibre broadband, with the new network being built to the majority of premises in: Sketty, Gowerton, Ravenhill, Culverhouse, Llanrumney, Llanedeyrn, Cwmbran, Risca and Maindee. This is a further boost…

After two tough years for everyone, the UK’s fastest growing wellbeing festival, The Big Retreat, is back – this time with some healing vibes topping the bill. Whilst discovery, wellbeing, music, food and drink are still being delivered in scoopfuls, the headline theme of 2022 is about reconnection, celebration and a little bit of much needed repair. “Everyone feels something has shifted in us during the pandemic and The Big Retreat is shifting too,” says Amber, founder of the Welsh festival set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. “We’re putting more emphasis on mental health on the…

Wales’s folk music will take centre stage – and screen – as the focus of a celebration of contemporary Celtic music and culture at one of the world’s leading international music industry events next month (2-4 February 2022). For the first time in 15 years, Wales is the featured international partner at Showcase Scotland, a prestigious spotlight event for the music industry at the Celtic Connections festival. In 2020 the festival in Glasgow played to an in-person audience of over 130,000 people which included booking agents and cultural leaders. Last year’s digital event was watched by more than 27,000 people…

An award-winning renewable energy company has seen enquiries from businesses soar across North Wales and Merseyside – the area which already has the highest electricity bills in the UK. Vale of Clwyd-based Hafod Renewables, which installs a range of bespoke green energy systems across North and Mid Wales and the border counties, has been inundated with calls. Businesses with high energy costs from dairy farms to bakeries and manufacturing companies have been alarmed at reports of 50 per cent increases in charges which could add up to thousands of pounds as fossil fuel generated power prices have rocketed – with…

Wales is to have its own heat of the Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of UK and Ireland for the first time next month. The heat will be held on February 22 at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) at Grwp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in Rhos-on-Sea. The international competition, which is being held for the fifth time, is for young chefs aged 17-23 who can inject personality, passion and creativity into their own vibrant and exciting risotto dish. Entries must be received by January 31 at https://www.culinaryassociation.wales/competitions. The Wales heat winner will…

Most small firms plan to grow over the coming 12 months but are being held back by struggles to recruit, increasing costs and a lack of access to finance, according to the latest full SBI report, published today. The study of more than 1,200 UK small businesses finds that half (54%) expect to grow over the next year. The figure is up four percentage points on Q4 2019 when the Covid pandemic had yet to impact commercial activity. Close to one in six (16%) increased headcounts in the three months to December, the highest proportion since Q2 2015. A similar…

A fundraising appeal to raise £7,500 to re-erect a sculpture of a pilgrim on the hilltop above the ruins of the famous Strata Florida Abbey in the Cambrian Mountains is within £700 of hitting its target. The Pilgrim, or Y Pererin in the Welsh language, was created by artist Glenn Morris and erected on Penlan, the hill overlooking Strata Florida Abbey, near Pontrhydfendigaid, in 2012. Sadly, the sculpture collapsed in high winds in 2019 and now lays forlorn on the hilltop, located between Devil’s Bridge and Tregaron. This sculpture, created as part of a temporary exhibition, has become a popular…

Urdd Gobaith Cymru have succeeded in breaking two world records as part of its centenary celebrations. Celebrations started this morning with over 95,000 children and adults alike from across Wales and beyond coming together to celebrate the special birthday by joining a virtual Zoom party. The biggest party in the organisation’s history, broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, was held in the company of S4C’s Stwnsh Sadwrn presenters, mascot Mistar Urdd and musician Mei Gwynedd as well as schools from all over Wales. To top it all, the Urdd’s supporters succeeded in breaking two Guinness World Records…

Denbighshire County Council has approved its budget for the 2022/23 financial year. At a County Council meeting on January 25, the budget which includes raising Council Tax by 2.95%, was agreed. As part of the budget process the Council’s draft settlement announced by Welsh Government suggests Denbighshire’s budget will increase by 9.2% for the 2022/23 financial year, with increases of 3.3% and 2.2% the following two years. The increase in funding comes with a number of new responsibilities the Council will be required to fund, including pay increases, ensuring the Real Living Wage for social care workers and mitigation for…

Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) has opened its search for the latest round of talented applicants to join its Higher Apprenticeship Scheme. The Pencoed-based facility, which produces HD and 4K broadcast equipment for worldwide distribution, launches the programme for the tenth consecutive year. The scheme is coordinated by the company’s on-site Academy and will enable its participants to gain invaluable work experience at one of the world’s leading manufacturing sites, while they also work to gain a Higher Apprenticeship Qualification such as HNC/HND or degree qualifications. Sony UK TEC is looking for apprentice applications within the field of Mechanical…