Author: Rhys Gregory

Skill shortages have been snowballing across Wales. In late 2024, Barclays released a report revealing that 97.5% of manufacturers find hiring challenges a risk to their business. In March 2025, the chief inspector of education announced that teacher shortages were limiting subjects in Welsh schools. Combined with almost a million young people still not in work or education, one trend is clear: the skills gap is widening. Proactively addressing shortages is essential for protecting businesses across Wales. Here are four steps for employers to future-proof their workforce. Identify and Map Current Skills and Gaps Begin with a thorough audit. Hiring…

Given the stakes, the process of designing electronics for medical devices has always been held to the highest standard. Now, the UK’s new medical device regulations are reshaping how engineers, integrators and manufacturers must approach safety, risk and lifecycle performance. From monitors through to implantable technologies, good electronic design is now a compliance requirement. Here the practical steps that teams must take to design reliable electronics aligned with the updated framework, so they can avoid costly redesigns, delays and regulatory obstacles. How the UK’s regulatory updates impact medical device electronic design The UK is rolling out significant updates to medical…

The Renters’ Rights Act is bringing major changes to how renting works across England. These changes do not apply in Wales. From May 2026, tenants in England will see a system that aims to be clearer, fairer and more stable. If you rent in England or plan to move there, it’s worth knowing what will change. What About Landlords? One of the biggest changes is the end of eviction without a reason. Landlords will still be able to regain their property, but only under specific, legitimate circumstances — such as selling the home or tackling serious misconduct. For renters, this…

Here in the UK, we love our gambling! In fact, a survey by the UK Gambling Commission in 2024 found that 48% of us gamble at least once a month. Whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, spinning slots, or playing a classic card game like poker, we’re a nation of gamblers. Today, the industry is well and truly divided between the online and in-person sectors. While in-person offers more of a sense of occasion, online gambling offers convenience. Although they share plenty of similarities in terms of game offerings, their appeals are vastly different, with in-person often aimed at exclusivity…

A historic £1 million stadium transformation is taking shape as Caernarfon Town FC prepares to host Under 19 European Championship games next summer. The club is currently playing at Llandudno’s Go Goodwin Stadium while The Oval is being overhauled to meet Uefa standards for the tournament – a moment chairman Paul Evans says marks a “new era” for the Cofis. Support from long-term backers Harlech Foodservice is proving crucial during the temporary move, helping offset lost matchday revenue and keeping the club on steady ground throughout the redevelopment. According to Paul, the opportunity to stage European championship fixtures has given…

For a limited time only, Michael Sheen will be starring in Our Town, a three-act American classic by Thornton Wilder, at Swansea Grand Theatre. Michael Sheen, famous for his performances both on screen and stage, will be portraying the role of the Stage Manager, accompanied by Russell T Davies as Creative Associate, Welsh theatre director Francesca Goodridge, and an all-Welsh cast. This will be the first production by the Welsh National Theatre with Michael Sheen in the role of Artistic Director. Set in 1901, the play follows the lives of two families in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, focusing…

Anglesey Freeport, a partnership between the Isle of Anglesey Council (IACC) and Stena Line, has announced that the North Anglesey Tax Site has become the latest tax site to receive formal tax site designation on the Island. The North Anglesey Tax Site includes Rhosgoch, the former Shell Oil depot, and the Octel site, a former bromine chemical factory. With the tax site designation now achieved the sites will be viable for Freeport investment, with new businesses able to benefit from the Freeport’s special tax initiatives, helping drive forward growth and job creation in the north of the Island. This forms…

For bereaved parents Gwenno George and Luke Nicholas the stunning rainbow that appeared on the final leg of their fundraising journey in aid of Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice on Sunday meant far more than any pot of money ever could.  The couple’s walk from Cardiff’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to Tŷ Hafan was the final stretch of a series of fundraising walks they have undertaken along with friends and family throughout the month of November covering a total of 165 miles, the distance from their home in Cardiff to Gwenno’s home town of Criccieth in North Wales.  Their fundraising…

The Development Bank of Wales has released new figures showcasing its support of the technology sector in Wales, combining patient capital with strategic co-investment to fuel innovation across the region. It has now channelled nearly £90 million of capital and unlocked a further £195 million from co-investors into 292 tech ventures in Wales. After a pandemic-driven lull, tech investment by the Development Bank has recovered strongly, climbing 29% since 2022 and projected to be 36% higher in 2025/26 on a pro rata basis. This trajectory underlines the role of stable, publicly backed capital in catalysing private investment into the region’s…

The rural economy of North Wales is set to benefit from significant Growth Deal funding, as Ambition North Wales has approved the Business Justification Case for a £3.5m investment towards the development of Dairy Sheep Wales. Led by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, the project will establish a dedicated sheep milk innovation and processing centre as part of the wider Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub. With backing from the North Wales Growth Deal, £200k from Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, and a further £1m from Welsh Government, the project will deliver a state-of-the-art facility for sustainable sheep milking, product development, training, and enterprise support at…