Author: Rhys Gregory

A police boss fears there will be an influx people flocking across the border into North Wales on shopping trips and days out in an attempt to escape the national lockdown in England. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones blames Boris Johnson for ignoring the clear advice of scientific advisors to impose an earlier circuit-breaker lockdown which would have coincided with 17-day firebreak in Wales. Mr Jones, a former police inspector, is concerned that the UK Prime Minister’s decision to snub expert scientific advice will encourage people from the North West to head to places like Broughton Shopping…

Castell Howell Foods, Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler, based at Cross Hands Food Park has announced a new surplus food partnership with Cardiff based food charity, FareShare Cymru. As we know, from March 2020 the foodservice supply chain has struggled with lockdowns, closures, limited menus and low consumer confidence, regrettably incurring a higher than usual quantity of potential food waste. The partnership will engage with suppliers of Castell Howell to help re-distribute any surplus food to the FareShare Cymru depot in Cardiff, and then on to 164 charities, (including those who feature on the Business in the Community (BiTC),…

As we reach the end of the firebreak lockdown, thousands of businesses that have been required to close for the last 17 days are now reopening. The firebreak rules have been replaced by a new national set of restrictions that apply equally across Wales. FSB Wales is urging all people to think about how they can support Wales’ smaller businesses as they reopen this week. Two thirds of local jobs are supported by SMEs in Wales, and there has never been a more critical time for us to think about how we can support smaller firms. Here are 5 ways…

Generations of Swansea families who helped the area become an industrial powerhouse are to be recognised in the name of a vibrant new city centre district.  Its name will reflect their Welsh heritage and the thriving industry in which hundreds of thousands of people played a key role. The district will be known as Copr Bay, using the Welsh word for copper, an industry which saw Swansea help drive the Industrial Revolution. It will provide entertainment, work and homes for today’s residents and future generations. Copr Bay Phase One, complete with 3,500-capacity indoor arena, parkland, homes, commercial units, parking and…

Grŵp Cynefin has appointed Carys Edwards, a former head of adult services for Isle of Anglesey Council, as its new chair. From Parc, near Bala, Carys joined the Board in 2014, after taking early retirement to become self-employed and start a social care consultancy. Her priority now is to guide the housing association, which manages 4,800 properties throughout North Wales and north Powys, as it focuses on ‘exciting’ new opportunities while at the same time dealing with the continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Carys said: “During the last six months, we’ve done well focusing on delivering services safely, looking…

The Court of Appeal’s decision last week means that planning permission granted more than 50 years ago for a significant development of over 400 homes in Aberdyfi has been quashed.   In 1967 planning permission was granted by the then Meirioneth County Council to build 401 open market houses in Aberdyfi. Since the plans were approved over half a century ago only 27 houses have been built following various subsequent planning permissions granted on the site. These subsequent developments, which have occurred over a period of many years, have deviated from the original 1967 consent to such an extent that the…

A serial entrepreneur and bestselling author from Wales is bringing together inspirational women from across the globe and various areas of enterprise for a one day virtual conference, taking place on Thursday, November 26, between 9am and 6pm. Bernie Davies, a former lawyer, restaurateur, motivational speaker and owner of the Introbiz West Wales franchise, has organised the one-day virtual conference with the aim of inspiring people – particularly women – to overcome the challenges of setting up and running businesses by encouraging you to do it ‘your way’. The virtual event is sponsored by NSP HR Solutions, which supports businesses, charities,…

Transport for Wales is launching Capacity Checker, helping customers check before they travel which trains may have most space available for COVID-19 social distancing safety. The new online portal is available at www.tfwrail.wales or on the TfW Rail app and shows customers when trains typically have plenty of space, are moderately busy or could be full, so they can plan ahead and choose the service that is right for them. With the ‘firebreak’ ending and travel restrictions within Wales removed, capacity checker will help customers travel safer and adhere to social distancing on trains. James Price, Transport for Wales CEO…

Virtual presence at lectures and seminars through the use of telepresence robots are one option being trialled by academics at Bangor University’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering as they explore cutting-edge methods of delivering teaching and learning during a global pandemic. Telepresence robots are now widely used in industry, particularly when individuals managing projects from afar want to gain a real ‘feel’ for their environment such as for remote construction site visits or inspection of huge concert rigs. But they are increasingly being used by educational institutions throughout the world, to allow learning to continue and a virtual…

Ammanford-based LSN Diffusion, which manufactures specialised powders for use in the engineering sector, is expanding its operations and creating new jobs thanks to significant support from the Welsh Government. The company, which employs more than 100 staff from its base in Cilyrychen Llandybie, exports its nickel, cobalt and iron based powders to customers worldwide, including a cohort of blue chip businesses around the world. The Welsh Government is providing more than £290,000 from its Economy Futures Fund to help future-proof operations at LSN Diffusion, with the company investing £3 million in new facilities and state-of-the-art processes. The move will see…