Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government and the Development Bank of Wales have launched a £100 million fund to support businesses in Wales affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. Limited companies, partnerships and sole traders trading for longer than two years will be able to access loans up to £250,000 fixed at 2% with an interest and capital repayment holiday for the first 12 months. There will be no arrangement or monitoring fees. Applicants will need to demonstrate that they were able to service the level of debt prior to the outbreak. Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: “The Covid-19…

First Minister Mark Drakeford has today announced a new £500m fund to provide extra support to the Welsh economy, businesses and charities experiencing a sharp drop in trading as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Economic Resilience Fund aims to plug the gaps in the support schemes already announced by the UK Government, including the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, which will guarantee 80% of people’s wages and income. The new £500m Welsh fund will support firms of all sizes, including social enterprises, with a focus on those which have not already benefited from the…

Rapid progress is being made converting three sites in Carmarthenshire into temporary medical provision. Carmarthenshire County Council has commissioned its framework contractors to prepare Carmarthen Leisure Centre, and the Selwyn Samuel Centre and Parc y Scarlets barn in Llanelli, to provide additional bed space for the NHS. It is hoped the sites will be ready within weeks, in time for an anticipated peak demand for beds in May. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Leader, Cllr Emlyn Dole, and Deputy Chief Executive Jake Morgan, visited the sites today to check progress and thank contractors and operational staff for working tirelessly to prepare the…

Police forces across Wales have had a busy weekend implementing the Government’s new social distancing laws. Last week, new powers were given to the police to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives. Empty beaches, high streets and parks are just some of the sights of Wales at the weekend, as the country faced its first weekend under coronavirus lockdown. This comes following unprecedented levels of visitors to parts of Wales, including Pen Y Fan and Snowdonia in North Wales. Car parks were closed, with a heavy police presence in the area, stopping vehicles and…

A Swansea University lecturer and her husband have transformed their popular business to produce approved hand sanitiser amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Siân Brooks and her husband Andrew have swapped making gin for hand sanitiser as the growing demand for the product intensifies both at home and abroad. The pair – who own and run the Gower Gin Company – have been aided by their son Owain, who is a masters student at Swansea University, while Siân herself is a lecturer in PGCE Modern Foreign Languages. The family have been working non-stop at their distillery in the hear of Gower…

Swansea Market businesses will be doing their bit for city communities despite the closure of the city centre venue at the weekend. A number of stallholders have set up a home delivery service to provide essential food supplies to local households. The decision to close the market to the public was taken jointly by Swansea Council, which runs the venue, and stallholders who sold essential supplies – mainly food – there until Saturday. Council officers and traders wish to do all they can to help the city tackle coronavirus, including an adherence to strict social distancing principles. Robert Francis-Davies, the…

The Paediatric Emergency Department (PED), based at the University Hospital for Wales, is temporarily relocating from Monday 30 March 2020 until further notice. Due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has made the decision to move its Paediatric Emergency Department to the Seahorse Ward in the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, which is also based at the Health Board’s University Hospital of Wales site. Dr Katja Empson, Clinical Director, Emergency Medicine, said: “Provisionally moving the Paediatric Emergency Department to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales is a safer way for our younger patients…

The Welsh Government has reprioritised its budgets to free up £1.1bn to support the Welsh economy and ensure public services are equipped to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. In the first of a series of announcements, the First Minister will announce a major funding package to support businesses dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic during his press conference later today [Monday 30 March 2020]. More details will be added when the support package is announced.

Immigration rules for employers who have a valid licence to sponsor non-EU nationals have been relaxed in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Employers who sponsor non-EU nationals who are Tier 2 or Tier 5 employees or Tier 4 students prevented from attending their studies or employment due to illness, will not be required to report absences which they have authorised. This means employees and students can follow Government guidelines on self-isolation without the fear of having their visa removed. This is a move welcomed by specialist immigration lawyer Mandie Sewa who says it takes some pressure off of both…

Hundreds of Denbighshire families have taken part in a livestream story and singing session for babies and toddlers. Denbighshire County Council’s library service streamed a Bookstart Rhymetime session for parents and children on Facebook on March 24 with 200 watching live and more than 4,000 views in the following days. The library service’s Donna Hughes-Jones shared stories, songs and rhymes and gave happy birthday greetings to some of the children who usually attend the sessions in the county’s libraries. Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s lead member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “I’m pleased the livestream rhymetime session…