Author: Rhys Gregory

Businesses in Wales have received in excess of £1.7bn from the Welsh Government since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 178,000 grants totalling £1bn have been delivered through local authorities who have been administering schemes on behalf of the Welsh Government including the Non-Domestic Rates scheme, Start-Up Grant and the Discretionary Fund. Economy Minister Ken Skates said this financial assistance has been crucial in helping thousands of businesses throughout Wales and protected many more jobs and livelihoods that might otherwise have been lost. The funding includes over £520m provided through the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund with more…

A covid recovery app has been launched today (20 January) as part of wider support on offer for people experiencing the longer term effects of coronavirus. The bilingual, first of its kind, app has been developed by the NHS Wales respiratory health group on behalf of the Welsh Government and has been designed to offer people a bespoke tool and personal coach to help them on their road to recovery With more than 100 videos and links to advice, app users will be able to record their symptoms, track their progress and learn to manage their condition at home with…

Music figures from across Swansea are forging a new relationship with the German twin city of Mannheim. Assisted by Swansea Council’s Cultural Services team, they joined with contemporaries in the state of Baden-Württemberg for an online get-together. It was the first meeting of a new partnership that promises to develop a strong inter-city music network. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “I’m glad that our two cities are creating new links through music. “Culture brings people together even though we may be physically apart so this meeting was an important stepping stone. “Our new…

The gorgeous scenery that Wales has to offer has long been a favourite for wedding-goers globally, and so its little surprise that Wales Online highlights the downturn in Welsh weddings as a huge, multi-million pound hit to the economy. Both for those looking to tie the knot and for organisers, there is some benefit to be gained. The downturn in activity means more time for all-crucial planning. Extra planning It’s so often the case these days that an engagement and wedding is rushed through without too much care for the smaller stuff. The extra time you can take to plan means that…

Hundreds of companies have begun viewing remote working as a viable option due to the COVID pandemic. It’s safe to say that remote working will continue far after the pandemic, as well. And while many remote workers enjoy not having to get dressed and deal with the morning commute every day, there are a few downsides to working from home, including the lack of security. Today, let’s go over the dangers looming over remote workers and how remote workers can protect themselves. 3 Risks Facing Remote Workers 1. Phishing Scams A large subset of cybercriminals does what they do for…

NHS and council leaders have written to every householder in the Swansea Bay area to highlight action being taken to vaccinate the most vulnerable in our communities. Tens of thousands of residents across the area are due to be vaccinated in the coming weeks to help protect them and their loved-ones from Covid-19. Thousands of frontline social care and health board staff have been getting the vaccine since before Christmas and elderly people living in care homes across the area are next in line. Similar letters are being sent to every household in Wales over the next couple of weeks…

Neath Port Talbot Council has appointed a contractor to start work on the creation of a new Active Travel route between Neath and Tonna. The route will take users alongside the towpath from Bridge Street in Neath to a point next to the Calor Gas centre in Tonna. Work on the new Active Travel route by contractors Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd, begins today, Monday January 18th . The route will be closed temporarily while the Welsh Government funded work goes ahead. By upgrading and creating new walking and cycling routes, the council plans to make Active Travel the “normal” way…

An important milestone has been reached in the building of a new home for a thriving Welsh medium primary school in Swansea. The steel frame for the £9.9m development for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tan-y-lan has been completed. Contractor Kier has made great progress on the school since moving on site last summer while working within strict coronavirus safety measures. Usually pupils are invited to a ‘topping-out’ ceremony to mark such an occasion but due to the current restrictions this has not been possible. The development is being jointly funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government under the 21st Century…

An overgrown and neglected bridleway in a Swansea community is being given a new lease of life in a bid to encourage more use by walkers and cyclists. Swansea Council has secured more than £1.8 million of Welsh Government Active Travel funding to create a series of cycling links in the Sketty and Mayals communities. Part of the funding is being invested in a 2.5km cycle lane which will follow the path of the existing bridleway, across an old landfill site in Clyne Valley. The new route will include a safer and more accessible surface, enabling wheelchair users and families…

Neath-based construction company J.G. Hale Construction has commenced the demolition of five existing two-storeyresidential blocks in Newport, to make way for a development of more energy efficient homes. The existing site at Longmeadow Court will be demolished and replaced by a development of 35 dwellings for Newport City Homes. The scheme will comprise of 24 one-bedroom apartments, 9 two-bedroom houses and 2 four-bedroom homes. The homes provided by the £5.2m project will be built to EPC A standard – the highest grade on the ‘energy efficiency’ scale, which as well as reducing energy costs for the residents, also reduces the…