Author: Rhys Gregory

More than 70 former Laura Ashley workers are set to return to the clothing industry following Fashion-Enter Ltd’s decision to open a new production facility in Powys with Welsh Government support, Economy Minister Ken Skates has revealed. Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL), a social enterprise specialising in training and manufacturing excellence, received investment from the Welsh Government after securing a major contract with online fashion retailer ASOS. The Welsh Government moved quickly to provide funding from its Economy Futures Fund, with FEL using the cash injection to establish its new factory in Newtown. Following crucial support from the ReAct wage subsidy programme,…

First Minister Mark Drakeford has amended the local lockdown rules in recognition of the emotional toll coronavirus is having on people who live alone. Adults living alone, including single parents, in areas under local restrictions will be able to form a temporary bubble with another household in their local area under the new rules coming into force tomorrow (3 October) The change is designed to help protect people living alone from the risk of experiencing loneliness and isolation and will enable to them to meet other people indoors – something, which is ordinarily not allowed unless someone has a reasonable…

The Welsh Government has committed further funding of over £7m towards the construction of a new Llanbedr access road in Gwynedd, Economy and North Wales Minister Ken Skates has announced.  The funding will deliver improved access to the Snowdonia Aerospace centre at Llanbedr airfield.  Improving access from the A496 at Llanbedr has been identified by the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone as a key infrastructure project to realise the area’s economic potential. Current access to the airfield is through the village itself on a narrow road which can be a bottleneck.  As well as improving access to the airfield it will also…

South Wales Police is investigating a serious road traffic collision which happened earlier today in Penlan, Swansea. A green Mercedes A Class motor vehicle overturned on Clwyd Road near its junction with Penderry Road, at 4.07am. A 21-year-old man sustained serious injuries and was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff where his condition is described as critical.. Officers are keen to identify a second man who is also believed to have been in the car but left the scene prior to their attendance. Members of the public are thanked for their patience, while investigation work is carried out…

The majority of people continue to smile at others despite wearing a face covering indoors, a survey has found. To celebrate World Smile Day (October 2), Cardiff’s leading entertainment destination, The Red Dragon Centre, commissioned a survey which found that 85% of participants continue to smile while wearing a face covering. Although their smiles may not always be seen, 98% of respondents said that smiling made them feel better. Face coverings have been mandatory on public transport in Wales since July 27, while new rules came into effect on September 14, extending the wearing of face masks to shops and…

One of the biggest fitness franchises in the UK, énergie Fitness, has opened a 6,000 sq ft gym at Eastern Business Park in Old St Mellons, Cardiff. In line with the latest governemnt Covid-safe regulations, every effort has been made to ensure the gym, normally equipped to cater for 57 people at one time, is a safe environment with numbers limited to 25 and social distancing a priority. There are also individual showers and a strict sanitisation system. Eastern Business Park, owned by Robert Hitchins Ltd, is in Newport Road, close to the main A48 leading into Cardiff from the M4. Énergie…

Tŷ Hafan, the leading children’s hospice charity in South, West and Mid Wales, were delighted to be awarded a grant of £11,192 from the Morrisons Foundation.  The charity provides free support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families within their hospice as well as offering a range of diverse community programmes, including; short respite breaks, play and therapies, family counselling including specialised support for siblings and bereavement care. Thanks to the donation from the charitable arm of the supermarket, the charity will be able to install a fully accessible bathroom for one of their family rooms in the hospice,…

October will see the return of the Swansea Science Festival, with a host of special guests including Professor Brian Cox, Steve Backshall, Konnie Huq, Iolo Williams and Lyn Evans.   Hosted by Swansea University in partnership with the National Waterfront Museum, this year’s free Festival will run from 21-31 October and the diverse programme of events will be delivered online for the first time, allowing people to gain access to the Festival, wherever they are in the world. Featuring more than 30 live and pre-recorded events, adults and children alike with be able to enjoy activities which will explore the…

A new business that is aiming to become the number one sustainable pet brand in the World has won the Wales Start-Up of the Year award in 2020. Founded by Geryn Evans in 2019, Project Blu is revolutionising the pet accessories market by creating a future which embraces sustainability and circularity by transforming polluting materials – including fishing nets, ocean bound plastic, leather waste and recycled clothes – into top quality pet products including dog beds, collars, leashes and toys. The new business – which has already received support from Mars Petcare and was chosen to attend its exclusive Leap…

These are the first internal images of the building completed by Wrexham-based Read Construction last month. The modern facility will serve local communities in north east Wales as part of the Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All vision to provide more education links in town and villages across the country. Elin Roberts, the new Assistant Principal of Technical Studies and site lead at Llysfasi, said it will be open to students and the public later this year. “We are absolutely delighted with the completed building and confident it will serve as a hub for education in this region for many years…