Author: Rhys Gregory

Before COVID-19 brought so many disasters to humanity, the online gambling market was already a global phenomenon and growing rapidly despite all this pandemic stuff. However, the coronavirus has significantly accelerated the development of online gambling. People who could not visit real casinos, racetracks, or bookmaker offices switched to online casinos, betting sites, and gambling sites in large numbers. Amid the loyalty of gambling sites only in the United Kingdom, according to Analytics Insight, the number of people playing slot machines 2increased by 25%, and in online poker — by 38%. However, it is still difficult to define reliable English…

Higher-level restrictions will come into force to control rapidly accelerating coronavirus rates across Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford said today (16 December). The First Minister today confirmed the current conditions mean Wales has met the criteria in the new traffic-light Coronavirus Control Plan to move to alert level four. The new restrictions will apply to all of Wales. All non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres will close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve. All hospitality premises will close from 6pm on Christmas Day. Tighter restrictions on household mixing, staying-at-home, holiday accommodation and…

THE Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has published its latest overview of the UK’s defined benefit (DB) pension scheme sector – the ‘Purple Book’ – which highlights the 12 months preceding March 2020 was a record year for de-risking deals and schemes’ funding levels deteriorated. The Purple Book, which is published every December, uses data collected over the year to 31 March and identifies trends and developments and forecasts possible implications going forward. Speaking about the latest report, Senior Consultant and Actuary at Quantum Advisory Simon Hubbard said: “The 2020 edition of the Purple Book identified a clear decline in funding…

PUPILS at leading Welsh independent school Christ College Brecon have gotten into the festive spirit and compiled a Christmas showcase for family and friends to enjoy remotely from home. With the usual nativities, Christmas shows and carol services cancelled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Christ College ensured that pupils did not miss out on taking part in a school production, and gave loved ones a special performance they could watch together again and again. Each senior house bubble from Year 11 to Upper Sixth rehearsed and performed selected songs from musicals which were edited into a one hour musical…

The quartet of rugby legends known in their heyday as the ‘Fab Four’ are dealing with grounds of a different variety with the launch of a new business venture that will also raise funds for Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. Coffee lovers Shane Williams, Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne have gone from the Beatles to beans with flavours that reflect their individual characters and attributes as players. Mike’s IX is “a medium bodied coffee, made using a blend of the highest quality coffee from Central and South America, delivering a delicious well-balanced coffee with smooth aftertaste, suitable anytime…

Business and political leaders throughout the Swansea Bay City Region have welcomed recent progress for a £55 million digital infrastructure programme. Following its approval at the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, the programme will now be submitted to the UK Government and Welsh Government for final sign-off. It’s among a number of major programmes and projects forming part of the £1.3 billion City Deal portfolio. The City Deal digital infrastructure programme will benefit residents and businesses in all parts of the City Region, which includes Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. Led by Carmarthenshire County Council, the digital…

Greggs has opened a new branch at Coedcae Lane Industrial Estate in Pontyclun. It has acquired an 1,840 sq ft unit, overlooking the main estate road, on a new 10-year lease. Joint agents, Cushman & Wakefield and Jenkins Best acted on behalf of the landlord at the estate, South Street Capital, to agree the deal whilst Greggs were represented by Cooke & Arkwright. Coedcae Lane Industrial Estate is located three miles north of junction 34 of the M4 motorway and, following a proactive estate-wide refurbishment programme over the past few years, it has firmly established itself as the prime trade…

FLEXIBLE workspace operator Clockwise has marked its arrival in Cardiff with a generous £5000 donation to Cardiff Foodbank. The company, which has recently opened 5,000sqft of fully serviced workspace at the landmark Brunel House building in the city centre, made the donation to support members of the local community who have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis, helping to tackle food poverty and hunger in the Welsh capital and surrounding areas. Providing flexible working options without losing a sense of community is at the heart of the Clockwise offering. The company offers professional spaces for work away from the distractions…

Newtown based honey producer, Hilltop has been recognised as one of Wales’s fastest growing companies in this year’s Wales Fast Growth 50 List, 2020. From the list of 50 firms, collectively generating £476m in revenues and employing nearly 2,600 people in 2019, Hilltop ranked at 20 championing a growth of 194.8% (2017-2019). Launched in 1999 by Prof Dylan Jones-Evans, Wales’ Fast Growth 50,2020 is the definitive guide to the fastest growing indigenous firms in the Welsh economy. The determining factor for inclusion is revenue growth from 2017-19 with firms requiring sales of at least £250,000. Hilltop have also recently been…

Carmarthen born comedian Rhod Gilbert has pledged his support to a West Wales NHS charity’s Give a Gift Appeal, with a video message inspiring the public to think of others this Christmas. Hywel Dda Health Charities is the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board. It aims to make a positive difference to the health, wellbeing and experience of NHS patients, service users and staff across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The charity’s Christmas Give a Gift Appeal for 2020 focuses on supporting adult mental health patients by providing a range of creative and wellbeing resources above and beyond those…