Author: Rhys Gregory

‘PGI Welsh Lamb is a family affair that must be protected’ is the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ key message ahead of Love Lamb Week (1-7 September). Love Lamb Week was set up in 2015 by the late Rachel Lumley, a passionate Cumbrian sheep farmer who campaigned for lamb to get the attention it deserves. Speaking from his North Wales farm, Union President Glyn Roberts said: “ Our Welsh lamb is a family affair from start to finish. From the Welsh family farms who produce it,  to our consumers who enjoy coming together round the table to eat. But we must…

A social care leader has given a “cautious” welcome to news that indoor care home visits are being allowed again in Wales from August 29. But Mary Wimbury, the chief executive of Care Forum Wales which represents nearly 500 providers, stressed the need for the visits to be properly “risk assessed” so that they are done safely in a way that did not place residents, families or staff at risk. Back in March Care Forum Wales urged care homes to lockdown – well ahead of the Welsh Government advice to do so. At the same time they launched a campaign to…

A rapidly expanding Welsh utility company has invested £1.5 million and created 20 jobs in recent months. Arch Utility Services of Porth is outstripping its forecasts as business continues to grow, despite the pandemic. The company is spreading its wings and opening new depots in the West of England and sites in the Midlands are being explored. Managing Director Damian Tranter said that the company had invested over £1.5 million in equipment and now had a workforce of over 50, around 20 of these positions being created  in the last 3 months. “In recent months we have added two new…

House prices in Wales have remained steady in Q2 2020 (April – June) despite the coronavirus pandemic, with the average house price now £191,880. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index, which demonstrates the rise and fall in house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. The new average house price for Wales represents a 2.2% annual rise but a quarterly drop of 0.7%, although the number of purchases is lower than normal due to lockdown measures that were in place. Transactions were down by 66% in Q2 in which the…

A Cardiff teenager will be heading to the states this September to kickstart his dream career in economics after securing a place at one of the top universities in the world. Donte Day, 18, from Pentwyn, has secured his spot at the University of Chicago to study economics after achieving an outstanding 4A*s in his Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Maths A-levels. The former deputy head boy at Llanishen High School had his interest in studying Stateside sparked by attending a prestigious summer school at Yale University last year through Seren – a scheme funded by Welsh Government which is designed…

A temporary court room has been set up in the council chamber at Swansea’s Civic Centre. It comes at the request of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as part of a solution to help the courts system respond to the pandemic. HM Courts and Tribunals Service officials worked with Swansea Council officers to make the new arrangements. Lord Mayor Mark Child visited the new facility to mark its opening. Cllr David Hopkins, council joint deputy leader and cabinet member for delivery and operations, said: “I’m glad that the council and courts service has been able to work hard together to…

Baird Capital, the direct investment arm of Baird has this week acquired an interest in eCube, a leading provider of storage, disassembly and parts re-use and recycling services to global aircraft owners in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, including major airlines and aircraft leasing companies. eCube was one of Bro Tathan’s first tenants, and their base provides a unique combination of offerings – access to the south Wales pool of aviation talent, a regulated airfield with permanent Air Traffic Control, a runway which accommodates aircraft of all sizes, easy access to Cardiff, Cardiff airport and the motorway network. This…

Cardiff and Vale College has welcomed back its talented Sports Academies students for socially distanced, non-contact pre-season training. Learners from the Football, Netball and Rugby Academies were able to come back for training at the College’s specialist Cardiff International Sports Campus in Leckwith. Students from the Cricket Academy CAVC runs with Glamorgan CC will be returning shortly to Sophia Gardens for training. CAVC Sports Academies are made up of students from across the College who are studying either A Levels or one of the College’s many career focused vocational courses. The Academies enable students to balance their studies with first-class coaching, outstanding specialist…

A new support package to help Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to grow and prosper in Wales has been announced by Tyfu Cymru, working in partnership with Social Farms & Gardens.  CSA is a partnership between farmers and consumers in which the responsibilities, risks and rewards of farming are shared. The new support package will be available to around 40 established and emerging CSAs in Wales together with those considering CSA as a viable option for their farm or community growing project. Together with Social Farms & Gardens, Tyfu Cymru will be delivering a range of support. This includes training delivery and workshops, a suite of resources, including…

A South Wales-based coffee business is hoping to ‘take the commercial coffee industry by storm’ with its latest expansion. Coffee Blue is a mobile coffee franchise headquartered in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly. Founded in 2018, the company provides opportunities for people to start their own mobile coffee van business. Now, Coffee Blue has ventured deeper into the commercial coffee industry by launching a coffee machine rental and wholesale coffee service. The new expansion will provide machine rental and wholesale coffee with flexible rental packages appropriate for today’s financially uncertain climate. Company Director, Martin Jones, said: “Coffee Blue is growing rapidly, and we…