Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea-based commercial and industrial cleaning company, Clean Sweep, continues to expand and grow in Wales, having recently completed a three-year cleaning contract at the new MRI building at Cardiff Heath Hospital. Clean Sweep was appointed by Kier Regional Building to carry out daily cabin and welfare cleaning for the duration of the project, which consisted of six phases and lasted for three years. The newly constructed MRI building at Cardiff Heath Hospital has provided four new MRI spaces with ancillary support rooms and offices. The building also has a neonatal ward on level 2, a cardiac ward on level 1,…

Neath Port Talbot Council has become Wales’ first local authority to back a series of measures to mitigate the risks fireworks can pose to animals and their welfare. Councillors unanimously backed noise limits and tougher restrictions on firework displays on Wednesday (27 November), to help ease difficulties for animals, and vulnerable people. NPT’s move follows the launch of the RSPCA’s ‘Bang Out Of Order’ campaign; encouraging the responsible use of fireworks, and the adoption of tighter regulations concerning their use. 2,285 calls have been received by the RSPCA across England and Wales related to concerns about animal welfare and fireworks…

This festive season, St David’s Cardiff annual Toy Appeal is back for its fifth year, and after putting smiles on the faces of thousands of children facing hardship in our communities, they need your help. The Toy Appeal has supported over 40 incredible charities and organisations in Wales, and St David’s wants to continue the success of previous years and make this year one to remember yet to ensure that every child in South Wales receives a Christmas gift. From 30th November until Christmas, St David’s is asking its customers to buy an extra gift for a child in need…

A Twitter advent calendar celebrating Britain’s independent high street retailers has been launched by NatWest. From gift shops to bakeries, the social media Christmas countdown will showcase everything that makes Britain’s independent shops so special, profiling a different local retailer each day from across England and Wales. NatWest is launching the calendar as part of its support for Visa’s #WhereYouShopMatters campaign, which aims to encourage more shoppers to visit their local high street and shop locally this Christmas. Research commissioned by Visa found that seven out of ten consumers (73%) say that shopping locally makes them feel happy, with two fifths…

FOR Cardiff kicks off the countdown to Christmas by turning the city centre into a giant advent calendar starting today. 24 calendar doors will begin appearing in various locations across the city on the 1st; in the Cardiff arcades, in the Capitol Centre and the Hayes, and each day will unveil the adventures of Dwynwen the Dragon. The doors have been designed by Welsh artist Pete Fowler, best known for his artwork for Welsh band, Super Furry Animals. Inspired by animals, music, folklore and myths, Pete’s work usually features a central narrative with recurring characters, like mischievous Dwynwen the dragon.…

Thanks to Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff for inviting us along to see the show in exchange for this review. Having performed it as a school production and seen the film as soon as it came out (and being told off for singing too loudly throughout it) to say I jumped at the chance to review the theatre production of Les Misérables would be an understatement. The hugely popular musical, based on the novel by Victor Hugo follows Jean Valjean who is released after 19 years as a prisoner. After Jean Valjean breaks his parole, he vows to change his life…

The brightly coloured, highly festive Santa’s Express steam train has an elf driver plus two carriages stuffed full with 24 presents and a Christmas tree – complete with 20 baubles. All made with a total of nearly 300,000 LEGO® bricks. The incredibly detailed, full contact models – which took 8 BRICKLIVE builders 1,664 hours – 3 months to build – will be on display in Tacoma Square in the heart of Mermaid Quay from Saturday 30 November 2019 to Sunday 5 January 2020. Visitors will even be able to climb aboard the train for the perfect Christmas selfie! The display is visible any time, but access to sit on the train will only be available 10am – 6pm…

People across Swansea are being asked for their views on a draft plan that aims to help deliver a greener city. Their ideas and thoughts will help the emergent Regenerating our City for Wellbeing and Wildlife strategy become reality. It aims to help deliver: a greener city, with fewer hard surfaces, to help create a city centre that is a more attractive place in which to live and more resilient to climate change; more use of nature to provide space for wildlife, bring people pleasure and offer an improved experience for visitors and traders. The draft – developed in partnership…

A new awards scheme has been launched to shine the spotlight on those making a difference to, and championing, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) in Wales. Entries for the inaugural Wales STEM Awards are now open, with the ceremony due to take place on 1st May 2020 at City Hall in Cardiff. The awards have been established to celebrate those leading the sector in Wales, those businesses creating an impact on the Welsh economy, those addressing the STEM diversity gap and skills shortage, and those inspiring and raising aspirations of the next generation. There are fifteen categories to enter: STEM…

Business confidence in Wales rose eight points during November to 10%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Wales report higher confidence in their business prospects at 15% and higher economic optimism at 5%. Together, this gives an overall confidence of 10%. Businesses’ hiring intentions showed that a net balance of 8% of businesses in the region expect to hire more staff during the next year, on par with last month. Across the UK, overall confidence rose three points to 9% as firms’ optimism about the economy rose 10 points to 7%, although their…