Author: Rhys Gregory

Judges were encouraged by the passion and optimism for the hospitality industry exuding from everyone involved in the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) which ended on Thursday last week after three days of competitions. The popular, annual event, organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), made a welcome return to Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in Rhos-on-Sea after a pandemic enforced absence of two years. Main sponsor is Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Government’s department representing the food and drink industry. Colin Gray, CAW vice president and managing director of Capital Cuisine, Caerphilly, told guests at the WICC awards dinner,…

The Development Bank of Wales has come to the rescue of qualified paramedics Andrea and Gethin Bateman who have taken on a new business venture and are on a mission to breath a new lease of life into the Rising Sun public house and camp site in Pelcomb Bridge, Haverfordwest. Having worked as front-line paramedics for the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Andrea is now a clinical advisor for the NHS Wales 111 Service and Gethin is a serious incident investigation manager for Digital Health and Care Wales. However, a love of camping and caravanning coupled with a £300,000 loan…

A report published by Careers Wales, the national careers advice service in Wales, reveals more than 60,000 new green jobs could be created by 2022 within the Welsh economy. Careers Wales’ recent ‘Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market in Wales’ report shows how the transformation towards a greener economy will lead to a growing eco-industry and, ultimately, to greater employment opportunities in Wales. Green jobs are increasing as businesses work to comply with environmental impact policies. A ‘green job’ encompasses roles that deliver goods and services which are likely to help the UK generate lower emissions of greenhouse gases, the ‘greening’…

Entries to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Hero Awards 2022 are now open and the charity is asking people across Wales to nominate their local Heart Hero. BHF Cymru is encouraging people to recognise those who make a difference to people living with a heart condition. There are several Heart Hero categories, from a healthcare professional working to support heart patients in their community, to innovative fundraisers who found new and creative ways of raising money for the BHF, groups or individuals making an outstanding contribution to the heart community. The charity wants your nominations and for you to…

Twenty-two charities and community groups providing crisis support to people facing food poverty have received funding from Swansea Council. The demand for foodbanks and other support has increased in recent months and so an additional £42,000 was made available to the council from the Welsh Government. Among the organisations to successfully apply for funding were Birchgrove Foodbank, Congolese Development Project, Matthew’s House, Pontarddulais Partnership, SAM Recovery,  St Thomas’ Church, The Centre for African Entrepreneurship and The Wallich. All money allocated was for items to help tackle food poverty and included the purchase of food, storage, packaging, transport costs and FareShare…

Work to prepare for the development of a new transport interchange in Welshpool has begun. The Welsh Government funded scheme will see a new transport interchange incorporating a bus station, car parking, a taxi rank and large covered bike shelter, built in Welshpool. Ideally situated in the current Church Street carpark, this new development is close to the town centre, with easy access to the shops, the tourist information centre, toilets, and train station. “The location and layout of this exciting new transport interchange has been developed through close consultation with the towns key stakeholders.” explains Cllr Heulwen Hulme, Cabinet…

Children and young people to be at the heart of decision making, as Welsh Government sets out how it will make Wales a wonderful place to grow up, live and work. To mark St David’s Day, the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan has published ‘The Children and Young People’s Plan’. The plan outlines seven cross government priorities, for the next four years, to help achieve this ambition and deliver Welsh Government’s commitment to support children and young people. Developed alongside children and young people, following a consultation exercise with 173 children and young people and partner organisations across…

To mark St David’s Day, Education and Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles has announced 11 new capital projects to support the growth of the Welsh language. The naming of the projects follows a bidding process which will now see them proceed to the next stage of the business case process and apply for funding from the Welsh-medium Capital Grant, totalling over £30 million, following the announcement of the funding last year. The funding is aimed at increasing capacity in Welsh-medium schools, establishing new Welsh-medium provision and supporting early language immersion as well as helping learners of all ages improve their…

The First Minister’s message to the people of Wales on St David’s Day Happy St David’s Day – Dydd Gwyl Ddewi hapus i chi. As we celebrate our national day, we’re also welcoming in the spring. It’s a time when nature’s colour starts to reappear after the long winter months. A time to look forward with hope for the future. This is especially true this year, as we hope to leave the worst of the pandemic behind us. It’s been a difficult two years during which we’ve all made sacrifices to keep each other safe. I want to thank everyone…

A Fochriw resident has been fined for fly tipping on mountain land off Bogey Road after County Borough Council Environmental Health Officers identified the culprit. The woman paid a £400 fixed penalty notice (FPN) for dumping cardboard packaging and bags of assorted household waste. Council Environmental Enforcement Officer Rob Thomas said: “We’re determined to deter the minority of irresponsible individuals whose actions blight Merthyr Tydfil’s roads and countryside. We will not hesitate in issuing penalty notices or initiating prosecutions where offenders are identified.” Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Public Protection Cllr Geraint Thomas said: “In a recent reorganisation of Council…