Author: Rhys Gregory

Moneyworks Wales, a new payroll product launched this month, aims to help employees across Wales to build a better financial future. Supported by the Welsh Government, TUC Wales, the payroll scheme is a collaboration between 10 not-for-profit financial cooperatives and already has over 150 businesses across Wales on board including Legal and General, Admiral Insurance and Airbus.    Businesses, or payroll partners, that sign up for the scheme can offer employees the opportunity to borrow or save money directly through the payroll system. Much like national insurance or income tax, loan repayments and savings are taken directly from an employee’s salary before it reaches their bank account.   Encouraging employees to improve their financial wellbeing and providing the means…

South Wales is seeing a boom in the construction of new industrial business units for its thriving small businesses, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank. Tom Griffiths from Knight Frank’s Industrial & Logistics division in Cardiff, said: “New schemes across the region are filling rapidly, with developers looking to build out new developments to cater for the demand.” Atlantic Business Park in Hayes Lane, Barry is one good example. The development of 42 new high-quality 1,453 sq ft portal frame business/trade units there is being created for sale by Dawan Developments, following the earlier success of the adjacent Atlantic…

The doors are open to a new, hybrid working space providing co-working, test trading and business advice for people in Carmarthen. Wales’ leading business support organisation and commercial landlords, Business in Focus has launched Shared Spaces to offer people a space to work, to build their business ideas and connect with the local community. Based on St Catherine’s Walk in the town centre, the combination of working solutions provided by Shared Spaces offers something for everyone including desk rental, meeting room hire, pop up shop space and business advice and support. The opportunity to rent desk space in a large,…

Monmouthshire Building Society has opened its new Brecon branch at a larger and more accessible premises. The independent, Welsh, mutual building society, one of the longest-standing businesses in the region, took over the Leeds Building Society office in the centre of Brecon on 1 January 2021 as part of an ongoing strategy to increase its High Street presence throughout South Wales. The Society, which has had a successful eight months since taking over the branch with increased membership and former Leeds members opening new accounts, has moved to its new premises at 6B The Bulwark on Brecon High Street with…

Sport Pembrokeshire is very pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2021. The team is also delighted to confirm that following last year’s virtual ceremony, this year’s event will take place at Folly Farm, albeit on a smaller scale than usual. “It’s been a tricky time for sport along with everything else, so this year’s awards are a great opportunity to recognise all the good things that have been happening despite the difficulties,” said Cllr Paul Miller, Cabinet Member for Economy, Tourism, Leisure and Culture. “We’ll be celebrating sport at every level – from…

This Sunday is due to see the return of the award winning Admiral Swansea Bay 10k. The 40th anniversary staging of the annual race starts at 11am from the St Helen’s sports ground and organisers are urging visitors and motorists to be prepared for road closures on the day. Crowds are likely to start gathering at around 8.30am as around 4,000 runners get ready for the main race which heads west from St Helen’s along Mumbles Road to Oystermouth Car Park. Here, the runners turn and head back along the promenade towards the finish on the Prom at the Slip…

Bridgend County Borough Council has supported Ogmore Community Council in transforming the site of a disused coal washery in the Ogmore Valley into a haven for nature and wildlife. Several grants were successfully applied for by the community council and the local authority’s Rural Development Team, Reach, to develop the Ogmore Washeries site into an area that would benefit the local community. Reach first funded an appraisal for the Washeries site that identified potential work and funding sources. They then worked with the council’s countryside team to apply for funding, coordinate site works and undertake the grant claims. Among the…

Bridgend County Borough Council is in the early stages of developing plans that could see an all-new Welsh-medium seedling school established in the Porthcawl area. Cabinet members have agreed to submit an expression of interest on developing the facility as part of the next phase of Welsh Government’s capital grant scheme for Welsh-medium education. Members also agreed to explore options for adding the seedling school to existing plans that aim to create a new Welsh-medium childcare facility within Porthcawl. Basing the school and the childcare facilities at the same location makes perfect sense as it would deliver the most efficient…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has today (15th September) approved an investment of £130,000 to progress proposed regeneration projects in Risca and Bargoed. An investment of £30,000 was approved to carry out a feasibility study on a brownfield site to the rear of Commercial Street in Risca town centre.  The study will consider options to develop the site into an ambitious mixed-use development. Cabinet members also approved £100,000 from the Regeneration Project Board Development Fund to invest into deal with the issue of dilapidated, empty and underutilised properties within Bargoed Town Centre. Cllr Eluned Stenner, the council’s Cabinet Member with…

It is safe to say that the business environment has been turbulent to say the least over the last 18 months, with COVIDandBREXIT affecting businesses in so many ways. With the business community fighting back and businesses showing resilience, we’re delighted to be supporting the 2021 Cardiff Business Awards, as headline sponsors. The awards recognise those entrepreneurial and innovative ventures that are making a difference in our great city and there is no better time to celebrate business success. Businesses in all sectors are being called to enter the 7th Cardiff Business awards before the nominations deadline closes on Friday 17th September…