Author: Rhys Gregory

Newport-based HSJ Accountants has acquired Ashby’s Business Advisers & Chartered Accountants. The deal will see all staff retained with the new combined business’ turnover exceeding £2.5M. Ashby’s, based in Cwmbran, will remain in its current offices until early 2022 and will retain its brand under the HSJ umbrella. Director Brian Hogg will remain with the business and work with colleagues over a period of time to ensure a smooth transition for clients and staff alike. Speaking of the deal, HSJ Partner Natalie Staples-Vvind said: “This has been a fantastic deal to get over the line. We have been aware of…

TWELVE businesses are celebrating their first Christmas in one of the country’s most vibrant town centres. And as more retailers look set to open in Mold – with others expanding and employing extra workers – this holiday season looks like being their happiest on record. The town centre was already celebrating a vacancy rate of just 5.8%, having welcomed more than 50 shops in the last two years. The success of events including NovemberFest, the Frost Fair and festive light switch-on proved popular with residents and visitors, and despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, the community is preparing for…

Second year students from The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea School of Architecture will work alongside an architectural practice to design a Welsh National Police Memorial after winning a competition. Universities from across Wales were invited to submit designs for the competition for a Welsh National Police Memorial, in Cathays Park in Cardiff. Four designs were submitted by UWTSD for consideration to the Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Police Roll of Honour Trust, as incorporated by Royal Charter on May 11, 2021, and following shortlisting, formal presentations were made by each group to a client panel…

Anthem. Cronfa Gerdd Cymru Music Fund Wales unveiled plans on 1 December for a brand new fund. Atsain will support music organisations and address barriers to music for young people in Wales. Atsain will fund work for young people engaging in music who experience barriers through life circumstances, geographical issues, identity or background, and is backed by investment from Youth Music, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and Anthem’s resources with support from founding patrons. Chief Executive of Anthem, Rhian Hutchings said: “Music is a passion for many young people. It’s a form of expression, it helps them to…

Pembrokeshire County Council is proud to announce the success of its bid to the UK Government Levelling Up Fund for its regeneration project at South Quay in Pembroke. This £4.1million LUF award will enable the Council to develop phase 2 of the South Quay plans. “The announcement has given us a welcome opportunity for a progress update on phase 1, and to share our plans for phase 2 of the project,” said Rachel Moxey, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration. As part of its wider regeneration work across Pembrokeshire, the County Council embarked on an ambitious programme earlier this year…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is delighted to announce that its incredibly popular Graduate Programme is now open for applications. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council prides itself in providing quality employment opportunities and its Graduate Programme is the perfect platform to a successful career in many different service areas. Launching its latest Graduate Programme, the Council has 21 Graduate positions available to apply for, ranging from data management, construction and building services to accountancy, civil engineering and electric vehicle fleet transition. Councillor Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Deputy Leader, said: “Once again. I am delighted to be announcing the launch of…

The ever-popular Lido Ponty Boxing Day Swim returns in 2021 – and tickets go on sale on Monday, December 6. Tickets for the swim will remain fixed at £5 per person (free for those aged five and under), including a swim, as well as a hot drink and pastry, freshly prepared on site by the team at Caffi Lido. Plus who knows what Christmas crackers and festive frivolities the Lido Ponty team will have in store for guests! The return of the Boxing Day swim, which was not held in 2020 due to Coronavirus, marks the end of a record-breaking…

The latest computer-generated images have been released to show how plans for the new International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay are progressing and an application has been submitted for planning approval for the new Velodrome. The brand-new Velodrome and its associated Performance Hub and an Off-Road Bike Track are two of the exciting new cycling facilities scheduled for delivery at the International Sports Village in 2022/23. Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said:”The International Sports Village is about bringing people and sport together, creating a thriving, socially inclusive and accessible place to enjoy a whole range…

This International Volunteer Day, Sunday December 5, Flat Holm is celebrating their first year-long placement with a new volunteeron the remote island, five miles off the Cardiff coast. Young volunteers from around the world, aged between 18 -30, were invited to join the programme. Those who applied showed an interest in the Island’s wildlife, environmental education, nature conservation and history. Flat Holm’s first long-term volunteer, Pierre Court from France, has now taken residence on the island with plans for two further volunteers from France and Spain, due to arrive early in 2022. The volunteers willbecome part of the Flat Holm…

Every household in Wales will be offered a free tree to plant as part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to tackle climate change, Deputy Minister Lee Waters has promised. The bold new policy will give people the chance to choose a tree of their own to plant or opt to have a tree planted on their behalf. Speaking at a visit to a major Coed Cadw woodland creation project in Neath during National Tree Week, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change confirmed the Welsh Government had partnered with the Woodland Trust to deliver the campaign. The first trees will be…