Author: Rhys Gregory

A housing scheme in Cardiff Council’s ambitious new build programme providing flexible, sustainable, low-carbon accommodation for older residents to help maintain their independence in their own homes for longer has been given the go ahead today. Planning approval has been given for one of the Council’s innovative Community Living schemes in Riverside, on the site of Canton Community Hall, which will also secure good quality community facilities for the local area. The scheme will help boost the city’s supply of good quality council homes, contributing to the Council’s target of 1,000 new homes by 2022 and more than 2,500 in…

All community pharmacies in Wales will be able to offer an extended range of services from April 2022 as part of substantial reforms agreed by the Health Minister. The changes mean patients will have accessible and convenient NHS services closer to home which will in turn free up GP and other NHS services for patients with more complex needs. The Health Minister Eluned Morgan has approved changes following re-negotiation of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework with Community Pharmacy Wales, the representative body for community pharmacies in Wales. The agreement will introduce a national clinical community pharmacy service enabling all pharmacies…

Over 93% of Welsh farm businesses have today received their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2021 full or balance payments, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. This exceeds the number made early in the payment window last year and means £227m has been paid into bank accounts of more than 15,000 farmers throughout Wales. This includes the £159m already paid as BPS Advance payments on 15 October. Changes to legislation at the beginning of the year simplified the requirements of BPS for 2021. This resulted in a more straightforward application for farmers and allowed early BPS Advance payments to be…

The Welsh Government has today announced over £24m of additional funding to support learners who have felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the most. The funding includes: £7.5m to support learners in exam years £7m to support learners whose attendance has dropped during the pandemic £9.5m to support FE and Sixth Form learners with transition to the next stage of their education or career. £7.5m will be used to provide extra support for learners in exam years, with additional teaching time and learning resources. It will help learners to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence, as well as supporting…

The landscape of business is constantly changing, with some experiencing lucrative quarters and others suffering from circumstances outside of their control that cause them to crash. In today’s world, with so many different industries serving a variety of consumers and audiences, which are the ones on the rise in terms of revenue? As we enter into a new year filled with opportunity, we thought it only fitting to explore those industries that are in a great position going into 2022. Although there are many more, the ones below are set to change the world even more in the coming years.…

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports around the world. And one of the most important horse racing events in horse racing is the Pegasus World Cup. The race happens in Florida at the Gulfstream Park, where famous trainers, jockeys, and horses compete for the champion title. Although the tournament is roughly only four years old, it has become one of the most prestigious horse racing events with the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. So if you’re a horse racing fan or just like to bet on horse racing, you need to watch the Pegasus World Cup…

Welsh bus and coach operator Adventure Travel has recruited two new starters thanks to help from the government’s Kickstart scheme. Adam Rose and Cole Evans join the Welsh business as marketing assistant and commercial operations assistant respectively. Adam will support the marketing executive with the day-to-day running of the department by creating social media content and scheduling posts, organising print advertising and helping with internal communications. His experience lies in retail with a qualification in business media. Cole, who has experience in the industrial sector, will cover a more varied role focussing on marketing, commercial, administrative and operational tasks. Adam…

Leadership, along with effective management, is essential for businesses to function successfully, especially as working practices adapt and evolve. There has been a rise in people working remotely since lockdown measures were introduced at the start of the pandemic, and businesses are continuing to offer employees flexibility with hybrid working models. The Welsh Government has also set out a long-term ambition to see around 30% of Welsh workers working from or near home. Leadership is a culturally shared phenomena yet also an individual experience and Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid invited academic and industry experts to share…

IN ITS latest overview of the UK’s defined benefit (DB) pension scheme sector, The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has reported a 12% increase in the probability of it being able to pay all benefits due with the assets it holds, plus future returns. The reassuring ‘probability of success’ figure now stands at 95%, up from 83% in 2020. The announcement was part of the PPF’s annual ‘Purple Book’, which uses data collected over the year to 31 March and identifies trends and developments and forecasts possible implications going forward. Speaking about the latest report, Senior Consultant and Actuary at Quantum…

While Christmas is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, the festive period can be extremely overwhelming for people on the autism spectrum. Autism affects 1 to 2% of the UK population, with around 700,000 adults and children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. For those living with autism, Christmas can feel like an attack on the senses with new smells and sights, as well as loud noises, heightening sensitive sensory needs. Dr Vaughn Price, Principal Clinical Psychologist at Beechwood College, has offered advice on how to effectively prepare an autism-friendly Christmas for yourself or a…