Author: Rhys Gregory

New research from FSB Wales shows that taxation (specifically business rates) will be a major concern for many firms as we move towards the May elections. When asked on which issues do you think should be the priorities for investment to boost recovery, ‘reducing the cost of doing business (e.g., business rates)’ scored highest by a large margin with 49% of respondents putting it as a top three priority. The second highest priority for small businesses was ‘schemes to create jobs’ at 32%. Businesses also noted that Welsh Government was the preferred level at which intervention should be made, rather…

Digital Health and Care Wales is officially launched today. Created to take forward digital transformation, the new organisation will provide the national technology and data services needed by patients and clinicians. Operating as a Special Health Authority with an independent Chair and Board, it replaces the NHS Wales Informatics Service, reflecting the importance of digital and data in modern health and care. A Healthier Wales, the Welsh Government’s plan for health and care, identifies the development of digital services as key to delivering services fit for the future. Bob Hudson OBE, interim Chair, said: “The pace of technology change has…

Engineer Rebecca Davies is spearheading a campaign to inspire more women to follow in her footsteps. Rebecca, 30,  helped to shatter stereotypical views about all gas engineers being male by becoming firmly established in the role with housing association Cartrefi Conwy. She performs vital work at the thousands of properties Cartrefi manages across Conwy county. Now Rebecca is helping inspire other women to look at pursuing careers in traditionally male-dominated roles, having been a guest speaker during an exclusively female Passport to Construction course. Run by Creating Enterprise, a subsidiary of Cartrefi based in Mochdre, near Colwyn Bay, the course aimed…

Up to £30 million to support Wales’ diverse culture sector through the ongoing pandemic has been announced by Welsh Government. The Cultural Recovery Fund, launched last summer, provided £63.3 million in 2020 to 2021 to support theatres, music venues, heritage sites, events, museums, libraries, galleries, independent cinemas and freelancers. The fund will be delivered jointly by Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and local authorities. The Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 will open for applications from the week beginning 6 April 2021 and close on the 20 April 2021. The timing for the Fund for freelancers will be announced…

More than 75,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have now been given to residents in Bridgend County Borough. As of Tuesday (30 March), Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (UHB) had administered 75,744 vaccines to residents in the county borough. Across the whole Cwm Taf Morgannwg area, 245,473 vaccines have been given – 196,834 first doses and 48,639 second doses. However, some people have not been turning up for their appointments so the health board has opened up a reserve list for residents aged between 40-49 living in Cwm Taf Morgannwg who are available to make an appointment at short notice.…

Merthyr Tydfil’s new bus interchange now features a water bottle-filling station after pressure from local primary school pupils convinced councillors of its need. Seven members of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School’s School Council took part in a Teams meeting with the Cabinet to pitch their idea in an online presentation earlier in the year. The school was the first in Merthyr Tydfil to achieve UNICEF’s Rights Respecting School GOLD Award, in 2018, and the 10 and 11-year-old pupils persuaded councillors that the availability of fresh drinking water was essential to people’s health and wellbeing. “The unit has now been fitted…

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, has set out a series of measures that will take Wales fully into Alert Level 3 by 17th May, subject to public health conditions remaining favourable. The First Minister again set out the priority placed on ensuring all children and students in Wales will return to face-to-face education on Monday 12 April. All remaining non-essential retail and close contact services will be allowed to reopen from Monday 12 April, while the rules will also be changed to allow travel into and out of Wales from the rest of the United Kingdom and Common Travel…

Today there is some pawsome news for the nation’s nine million dogs as canine friendly Metro Bank has launched its first new bank account for dogs to celebrate National Pet Month. As Britain’s best community bank, Metro Bank has always welcomed dogs instore providing water bowls, treats and branded bandanas – but the Bank has realised that this new customer segment provided the pawfect opportunity for organic growth, building on its existing two million customers. Recent independent GovYou market research has revealed that more than three quarters of dog owners (80%) believed their dogs wanted more financial independence.  More than…

Award winning Swansea-based cleaning operation, Mrs Buckét has today announced the launch of CLEAN, a new, limited-edition perfume that, for the first time, bottles the very feeling of clean.  This pioneering new scent, developed in partnership with master parfumier A. La Folle, features a light and delicate perfume, created to evoke feelings of purity, elegance and freshness.   The concept was the brainchild of founder Rachael Flanagan, following feedback from clients who wanted to capture the fragrance of cleanliness that always appears following a visit from the Mrs Buckét team.   Rachael Flanagan, CEO of Mrs Buckét, commented: “Cleanliness is more than just a physical condition, it’s a psychological state of mind. It should be an experience for all the senses.  “The…

As the country prepares to come out of the latest lockdown, the group which runs the Marco Pierre White (MPW) chain of restaurants has added a new dish to its menus which they hope will increase the appeal to dine out once doors start to reopen again. Available at the groups Steakhouse, New York Italian, Chophouse and Bardolino brands, the new left-handed beef burger is set to wow diners up and down the country. Lia L’Proof, Food Procurement Director of Outlandish Menus at Black and White Hospitality, was said to be thrilled by the prospect of the country’s diners tucking…