Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff Bus customers are being advised of service changes which are set to come into effect from 5 September 2021. The operator is set to improve timetables across its network which will affect many routes and Cardiff Bus urges customers to check their website for full information. Route changes will also be introduced on services 13 and 52 along with some school routes, and service 95 will serve the bus stops within Llandough Hospital grounds from this date. In addition, two new routes have been introduced by the operator. Service 5 will replace part of the 13 route and will…

Award-winning fundraiser Des Lally is enjoying some well-earned time off after completing the extraordinary feat of climbing five mountains, in five countries, over three days, to raise much needed funds for Cancer Research UK and Help for Heroes. Mortgage broker Lally, 46, from Brecon, was joined by a four-strong support team in a van as he travelled more than 1,900 miles, as well as trekking up more than three miles of mountains – much of it in the dark. Lally, who was named the South Wales Evening Post Community Awards’ fundraiser of the year earlier in 2021, admitted it had…

Wales & West Utilities has partnered with Flintshire County Council to deliver its Warm Home Assistance scheme – working to tackle fuel poverty and funding connections to mains gas right across Wales and south west England. The gas emergency and pipeline service has been running the scheme since 2009 and, to date, has funded more than 15,000 connections to mains gas by offering vouchers towards the cost of a new gas supply to eligible households. By connecting to the mains gas network people can not only save hundreds of pounds on their household bills, but also play their part in helping the…

The Welsh Government’s New Exporters Programme is set to help small firms reach new international markets. Here, Samantha Noble, area director at Lloyds Bank, looks at some of the benefits exporting can bring for SMEs and provides advice on how to make the most of overseas opportunities. The Welsh Government’s New Exporters Programme, launched in July, is set to encourage first-time exporters to expand their footprint beyond the Welsh borders. While this is an initial trial involving just a handful of businesses, we hope that it will open the door for more Welsh firms to explore international markets for the…

Two telecoms firms from South Wales have merged in order to better offer their clients a real choice in telecoms cloud services that also caters to a flexible working approach.  Porthlas Communications has merged with the telecoms function of Kane Digital Solutions to form Kane Cloud Communications which will continue to based in Ystrad Mynach. Cardiff-based Porthlas Communications was established in 2011 by Gary Briscombe following a 30-year career with industry leader Mitel. The newly merged business will be fronted by directors Mr Briscombe, his son Tom along with Adam Pryce and Wayne Baker from Kane Digital Solutions. Speaking of the merger,…

One of North Wales’ leading logistics companies is aiming to attract a new breed of driver to help it keep pace with the growth of the business. Delivery Solutions (Delsol), which has depots in Caernarfon and Sandycroft, has grown by almost 40% over the last three years. It currently employs 133 staff with a further pool of 50 contractors called upon to meet customer demand. But like many other logistics providers, Delsol is facing challenges recruiting experienced drivers due to the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit. Most recently, the effect of the so-called ‘pingdemic’ has led to additional pressures on…

Leisure centres across Swansea are putting on free and subsidised activities this summer as part of the city’s Summer of Fun. Freedom Leisure has teamed up with Swansea Council to help keep children and young people fit and active during the school holidays. Activities include dodgeball, junior fitness classes, basketball, cheerleading and dance. Freedom Leisure is a not-for-profit trust that runs the community leisure centres at Penlan, Penyrheol, Morriston, Cefn Hengoed, Bishopston as well as the LC and the Elba. It is one of dozens or groups and organisations that successfully applied for grant funding from Swansea Council and the…

Stunning new drone imagery shows how one of Swansea city centre’s key areas has gone green – and is a signpost to a greener future. Where there were once four lanes of Tarmac, The Kingsway and Orchard Street now have broad pedestrian walkways alive with trees and other greenery. As the trees mature the area will become even more green. It’s a result of a £12m Swansea Council scheme to improve the Kingsway and neighbouring streets. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “We aim to transform Swansea into the one of the UK’s greenest cities. The Kingsway reflects our plans to…

Visitors to Aberavon Beach now have a further cashless payment option available at the car parks on the popular seafront which allows motorists to pay for their visit using smartphones instead of having to search for change to put into machines. The cashless parking option is to be rolled out to car parks across Neath Port Talbot. Those who want to continue paying by cash or card can still do so. MiPermit supplies services to parking operators that enable cashless payments and ticketless parking. This means that locations supported by MiPermit can offer customers the ability to pay by credit…

Merthyr Tydfil schoolchildren are willingly going back to school this summer – as part of an initiative to make them healthy, happy and physically active. The pupils of Goetre, St Aloysius RC, St Mary’s RC and St Illtyds RC Primary Schools have been enjoying meals, nutrition education and physical activity sessions as part of the Food and Fun School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP). This is the fourth year that SHEP has been run from Goetre Primary school and is the first year that St Aloysius have hosted the SHEP programme, which is being offered to the pupils of all three…