Author: Rhys Gregory

After a life-changing health diagnosis forced him to step away from his career as a mechanic, Michael Vowles found himself at a crossroads. But thanks to support from Business Wales and the Welsh Government’s ReAct+ programme, he’s not only retrained but launched his own successful business – MVP Tiling and Decorating – providing high-quality tiling, painting, and decorating services across Newport. Michael’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Diagnosed with spinal degeneration, he had to rethink his career path entirely. But with resilience, training, and business support, he’s now on track to grow a reputable local enterprise, with plans to…

Swansea Bay is preparing for another action-packed summer in 2025, with a thrilling calendar of sporting events set against the stunning backdrop of its award-winning coastline. From world-class triathlons to coastal trail running festivals, the region promises something for everyone, whether you’re competing, cheering from the sidelines, or simply soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. With its sweeping beaches, rugged landscapes and buzzing seaside communities, Swansea Bay, including Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula, offers the ideal setting for active days and summer getaways. A UK-first for IRONMAN 70.3 in Swansea One of the standout highlights of the season is IRONMAN 70.3…

Aberystwyth University is the top university in Wales for student satisfaction for the tenth year in a row according to the latest survey of students’ opinions on the quality of their courses. The 2025 edition of the authoritative National Student Survey (NSS), which is published today, has been compiled using over 357,000 student responses from across the UK. With an improved and consistently high student satisfaction rate, 86% of Aberystwyth University students are satisfied with the quality of their course, 4 percentage points above the sector average in Wales. Based on the higher education institutions featured in the latest edition…

Renowned broadcaster and journalist, Dei Tomos, will officially open this year’s Royal Welsh Show, in the feature county year of Caernarfonshire. The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) is delighted that Dei, Radio Cymru’s trusted former voice of farming and rural affairs, has agreed to perform the ceremony. A household name across Wales, Dei Tomos has reported and reflected on the issues at the heart of Welsh agriculture and its deep significance to the nation for more than 40 years. He has presented a wide range of programmes and his distinctive, probing, style, deep understanding of rural Wales, and unwavering commitment…

Plans for major investment to transform education for thousands of pupils at two secondary schools in Swansea could take a big step forward this month. Swansea Council’s Cabinet is being asked to take the next steps for huge improvements at Gowerton School and a new build for Bishop Vaughan Catholic School. There are plans to replace outdated classrooms and other buildings at Gowerton and to refurbish and upgrade other areas of the school. Pupils and staff would benefit from significantly better facilities for learning, sport, recreation and community use. Cabinet members are being asked to commit funding for a detailed…

Seven “busk stops” have been installed around Newport city centre to encourage performers to share their talents. Councillor James Clarke, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and business growth, said: “Busking is a centuries-old tradition around the world and the city is no exception. “We know from the work done on the place making plan for the city centre that street music is something that is appreciated by many people. “Regular visitors to the city centre will know that buskers often take up spots and entertain passers-by. We want to let them know they are welcomed and encouraged and the…

Sport Caerphilly has been awarded accreditation as an Autism Understanding and Accepting Organisation by Neurodivergent Wales, underscoring its commitment to inclusive and empathetic delivery of sport and physical activity to autistic people and their families. Development officers and coaches have completed specialist eLearning in Understanding Autism and Effective Communication, ensuring the team is well equipped to support neurodiverse participants with genuine understanding and respect. This accreditation supports the aims of the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2019-2029, which sets out a long-term vision for making sport across Caerphilly accessible, inclusive and rooted in community needs. To build on this achievement,…

Cheers and pride filled the Metropole Theatre in Abertillery this week as Blaenau Gwent Youth Service officially unveiled its Girls’ Football Team set to represent Wales at the Street Child World Cup in Mexico City next year. The event, hosted by the Youth Service, introduced the 10 remarkable young women, aged 14 to 17, who have been selected to take part in the international tournament organised by Street Child United. The evening brought together families, supporters, local leaders and representatives to celebrate the team’s journey and the powerful message behind the campaign ‘every child deserves a voice, a team, and a future.’ “This…

The publicly owned renewable energy developer for Wales, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, has announced proposals for three new wind farms with the potential to generate up to 400 MW of clean electricity – enough to power 350,000 Welsh homes’ annual average electricity needs. That is around a quarter of the homes in Wales. In the first project announcement since Trydan’s launch in 2024, the schemes outlined today will help meet the growing need for clean energy in Wales with electricity demand projected to nearly triple by 2050. It marks a significant step towards Trydan’s ambition to develop 1 GW of new…

You should feel proud of yourself for being able to turn your idea into a product or service that consumers want to purchase. It can be very rewarding to be your own boss and see what you’re able to achieve over time. You likely have a lot of questions floating through your head about where to focus your time and energy in the beginning stages of your career. It’s important to prioritise your initiatives and avoid letting distractions get in your way. Review some of the most essential elements your new business will need so you can thrive long-term.  Business…