Author: Rhys Gregory

Owain Sparnon, a Fine Art student graduating at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has won the Josef Herman Foundation Art Award 2021. The annual award from the Josef Herman Foundation is given in memory of Carolyn Davies, who died in 2018. Carolyn was Chair and a Trustee of the Herman Foundation, and promoted the arts in the Swansea area. The arts were important to her, and she was always helpful in supporting graduates, and ensuring creative opportunities for them.  Carolyn was an inspirational person, and promoted the arts whenever she had the opportunity to do so. Her key…

Swansea University ecotourism expert Carl Cater is taking part in global event to mark United Nations World Oceans Day on Tuesday, June 8. Dr Cater, associate professor of tourism at the School of Management, will join a panel discussion during the day-long virtual conference which is expected to reach more than 60 million people via social media. The theme for this year’s event is The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods and its programme of keynote speeches, panels, and presentations will be kicked off by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir. Dr Cater…

Calls are being made to ensure those renting accommodation in Wales shouldn’t be unfairly denied the chance to own pets. RSPCA Cymru has urged the Welsh Government to act as it responds to a consultation on new draft regulations linked to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. The Welsh Government is currently considering new draft model written statements. These will provide landlords access to consistent, uniform statements of contracts for their tenants, which they can use if they choose. However, the RSPCA is disappointed that the model written statements proposed include no reference to pets or animals. The animal welfare…

South Wales law firm Hutchinson Thomas has completed the merger with Simmonds Hurford Solicitors, expanding its client base and presence in Swansea while strengthening its expertise and offering in relation to property, probate, and business law. Simmonds Hurford, based on Walters Road, Swansea, has been established for more than 25 years. Michael Simmonds and Helen Hurford, its partners, will join Hutchinson Thomas as consultants. Four other members of Simmonds Hurford’s staff will also join Hutchinson Thomas. The merger extends Hutchinson Thomas’ reach to three offices – Neath and two in Swansea (SA1 and Walters Road) – and deepens its expertise…

Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting residents on plans to create a better environment entering the town centre by making improvements to Avenue de Clichy and the gyratory system. The proposal would see a shared route for pedestrians and cyclists running alongside the busy road, connecting the leisure village and businesses to the new bus interchange, town centre and train station – while also linking the Taff Trail to the town centre and its facilities. The route would run from the pedestrian crossing at Caedraw roundabout to the informal crossing at Swan Street, with both crossing points to be improved. …

All over-18s will be offered a Covid vaccine by the start of next week, as First Minister Mark Drakeford praised the people behind Wales’ world-leading vaccination programme. Wales expects to reach 75% take-up for first jabs across all priority groups and age groups a month ahead of target – the original milestone was the end of July – as the nation’s vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength. The focus will now move to maximising vaccine coverage for all by ensuring everyone is offered a second dose by the end of September and that no one is left…

Every year when these dates approach, I receive a flood of messages from people asking me for advice on how to choose the best school for their sons and daughters. Well, perhaps it is not exactly a flood, but the truth is that in recent years the number of messages from parents concerned about an issue that is, indeed, transcendental has been increasing. Boys and girls spend a lot of time in educational centers and face an increasingly diversified offer of educational options. I understand that the choice is not easy and that doubts assail us until the last moment.…

New tax policies announced at the weekend in the G7 communiqué will face hurdles as the proposals are yet to be agreed by the G20 and other jurisdictions, says ACCA today, asserting that the three foundations for a sound tax system are simplicity, certainty and stability. Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Cymru Wales, said: “Committing to a global minimum tax of at least 15% on a country by country basis is a challenge, predicated on the agreement of other jurisdictions’ governments. To be truly effective it will need to go beyond the G7, and even the G20, to the OECD’s…

Whether you are travelling for business, hosting clients and partners, or organising a corporate event – business accommodation needs to satisfy a number of demands. Choosing accommodation is often seen as a means to an end for a business operation, rather than being an important factor in itself. However, the right accommodation can have a significant influence on the outcome or profitability of a business trip or corporate event. With this in mind, what factors should you consider before booking any business accommodation? Location Location is obviously an essential element of any business accommodation choice. Proximity to an event, meeting…

Despite the challenges they face, unpaid older carers say they are ‘just about coping’ according to For the Moment – a summary of findings from older carers launched to mark Carers Week (7 – 13 June 2021). Undertaken jointly by Age Cymru and Carers Trust Wales, the survey sought the views from older unpaid carers across Wales who were not in receipt of formal support. The survey of more than 300 respondents found that although older carers have concerns, 51% said they have not tried to access any support due to not knowing what was available, reluctance to seek help,…