Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea city centre has seen one of the UK’s biggest boosts in visitor and worker numbers in recent weeks. The location makes the top 10 in several league tables of city centres attracting footfall back as coronavirus restrictions are gradually eased. Statistics show it being Wales’ most successful city centre in luring people back. The first week in August saw the city centre enjoy a: 26% week-on-week increase in footfall (UK average 11%) 19% increase in visitors from Monday-Wednesday (UK average 8%) 5% increase in workers returning to city centre offices (UK average 0%) The data – from think tank…

Time is running out for communities to apply for free garden packages as part of Keep Wales Tidy’s Local Places for Nature scheme. A choice of pre-paid ‘starter’ packages are being offered to community groups and organisations to create help reverse nature’s decline. They include all the plants, tools and materials needed to create small gardens. There are also ‘development’ packages available that will enable communities to create larger-scale projects, including food growing areas, sustainable drainage systems and wild gardens. A panel of experts are assessing the applications each month and have already awarded 444 packages. Practical work to install…

Detectives are appealing for information after a man suffered a stab wound at an address in Ely in the early hours of yesterday morning (Tuesday, August 25). South Wales Police was called to a property on Plymouth Wood Close, shortly before 12.30am. A 36-year-old man suffered serious injuries and was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where he currently remains in a critical condition. A 52-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Both currently remain in police custody in Cardiff Bay. Enquiries in to the circumstances of the…

There has been a rise in recent days in the average number of positive COVID-19 cases within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with a marked increase within Cardiff itself. The current infection rate for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan stands at 10.9 per 100,000, the highest it’s been since early June. Although daily fluctuations in the figures are to be expected, the number of new cases in Cardiff has, over the past 7 days, risen to 14.0 per 100,000 of the population.  This increase has seen local case numbers shift from being significantly below the average in England to…

The Welsh Government’s bespoke Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) is providing crucial support to the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of professional bakery equipment, Minister Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has announced. Mono Equipment, based in Swansea, received £108,000 from the fund to help sustain jobs at the company and to protect it from the severe impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The ERF, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £1.7bn support package for businesses, is providing thousands of companies across Wales with significant financial support and complements the help provided by the UK Government. To date, more than…

Findings of the Wales Tourism Business COVID-19 Barometer published this week shows that although Wales has had a busy few weeks in welcoming guests, an extended period of staycations through the autumn is needed to boost business. The Barometer results indicate that 78% of businesses are open with 51% of those open operating at full capacity.  Whilst 80% of open self-catering businesses are fully open 43% of serviced accommodation is fully open and that is lower for attractions, hostels and activity providers. 11% of open businesses have had more customers since reopening than they would normally have at this time of…

Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates is encouraging people to look at the preferred options for changes along the A483 in Wrexham and to have their say on these important proposals. The A483 is one of the key connecting routes between North and South Wales, and between North Wales and the Midlands.  It is an important route for tourists travelling to the region, and for freight travelling from Europe, UK and Ireland. Changes need to be introduced to address congestion at the junctions along the A483 and the impact this is having on the economy of Wrexham and wider…

Employee experience is significant to an organization’s success. Employee experience spans from the application process and continues through their onboarding to years after they exit. Employers need to create a holistic approach to the employee’s feelings regarding work life, especially in these changing times.  Business transparency is key to creating an exceptional employee experience. Despite the size of your business, the most effective way to implement and maintain transparency is to have the right communication tools. Excellent employee experience is beneficial to acquiring and retaining top talent in today’s competitive market.  Improving employee experience is a continuous process in an…

John Bogle died in 2019, at the age of 89. You might not have heard of him, but he was a successful investor. The founder of Vanguard was also known as the father of index funds. He could have been a billionaire quite easily, but he was more interested in the upliftment of others rather than himself. He is no longer with us, but his advice for investors will always be helpful, especially for newcomers to the investment market. So, here are some of the best tips from the Vanguard founder. 1. His Advice About Stock Market John Bogle said,…

While it may be tempting to spend some extra money on your friends and family this year, you will want to consider your investment opportunities before squandering it all away. Keeping some money aside for a rainy day is an excellent idea but what you want to do is let your money work for you. By investing in the right areas, you can easily get amazing returns. The trick to financial welfare is not working extra hard or earning extra money. It is in fact, knowing where to invest your money. By getting into the habit of investing some extra…