Author: Rhys Gregory

Deloitte is continuing the success of One Million Futures, the firm’s social impact initiative, and has today announced the launch of a new charity partnership in Wales. Deloitte in Wales is now working with Llamau, whose mission is to eradicate homelessness for young people and vulnerable women. The firm will focus on supporting the charity’s Learning 4 Life project, which aims to progress young people aged 16-24 who face complex disadvantages into sustainable employment, volunteering or further education or training. Deloitte is now midway through its five-year programme to help one million people get to where they want to be through…

The national culinary teams of Wales, England and Scotland will lock horns at the Battle for the Dragon contest in North Wales next month. [aoa id=”1″] The annual contest, which is traditionally held at the Welsh International Culinary Championships, has been brought forward to October 29-31 at Coleg Llandrillo Menai, Rhos-on-Sea because of a clash with the Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart in February next year. With all three teams set to compete at the Culinary Olympics, there will be a lot at stake in terms of national pride, fine tuning their dishes and teamwork. The Battle for the Dragon contest…

As the Rugby World Cup kicks off in Japan, TV Licensing is advising all publicans to avoid a penalty and check they are correctly covered by a TV licence if they plan to show live matches. Due to the time difference, the scrum at the bar will start far earlier than usual this weekend as ruby fans across the country pack into pubs to watch the home nations live in action. Supporters in Wales have an extra reason to be cheering on the 31-man strong squad as Wales’ Head Coach, Warren Gatland, prepares to lead his team for the final time…

An information centre is opening soon (October 4) to keep residents of north Swansea up to date about plans to transform a former quarry into a new garden village of homes and community facilities. [aoa id=”1″] The Edenstone Group, based in Magor, has approval to build circa 300 homes on the 35 acre site, which was the former Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry. The development, known as Parc Ceirw Garden Village, will feature the company’s two housing brands – Edenstone Homes and Bluebell Homes. Clearance and preparatory work is underway, with the first phase of construction due to in the near future. Ahead…

E-cigarette use is rising across Wales and more tobacco smokers are quitting the habit, according to the latest YouGov survey by ASH Wales. The figures reflect the growth in e-cigarette use across Great Britain, where nearly half as many people vape as smoke. New data published by ASH shows that there are now an estimated 3.6 million vapers compared to 7.2 million smokers in Britain.  In Wales 7% of the adult population now vape, compared to 17% that smoke. This compares to 5% of the population in 2018 when 19% of adults smoked. There has been an increase too in…

New data from leading recruiter Acorn Recruitment has revealed that there was a 50% year on year increase in people applying for temporary jobs in July and August this year. [aoa id=”1″] On average, 4.7 people applied for each temporary post available through Acorn Recruitment between July 1st and August 26th 2019, compared with 3.2 people in the same period in 2018 and 3 people in 2017. That’s an increase of 59% between 2019 and 2017. There were more summer jobs in manufacturing nationally in 2019, whereas in 2017 construction topped the temp summer jobs chart. Interestingly, in 2017 there…

After selling out their first two events, It Will Glow is returning to the city on Thursday 10th October, bringing world class creatives to Cardiff to tell tales from the stage, all with a side of good food, drinks and chat. Inspired by events like Barcelona’s creativity festival OFFF, It Will Glow is all about uniting Cardiff’s creative community in a space where stories can be shared and connections made in a fun and relaxed environment. October’s event at The Depot – the headline event in this year’s Cardiff Design Festival – will welcome a host of international creatives, including…

Innovative housing projects will continue in Monmouthshire, following today’s Welsh Government announcement, that Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) has been awarded funding through the Innovative Housing Programme. Following the announcement from the Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James, of a £30m investment to build over 600 new homes in Wales. MHA will develop two further innovative housing sites in Chepstow once again working in partnership with the Welsh School of Architecture (WSoA). The 17 homes will be built by MHA to offer flexible, sustainable living for people looking to downsize and first time occupiers. And come after the success of…

In the height of Rugby World Cup excitement, three super-dads have signed up to an epic 280-mile cycle from Cardiff to Dublin to watch Ireland vs. Wales in the 2020 Rugby Six Nations — all for the hospice that cares for their life-limited children. The ‘Ride to the Rugby’ fundraiser will see over 40 riders taking on a challenging cycling route over four days, from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on February 4  to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, just in time to watch Ireland kick off against Wales on February 9. The three dads, James Meacham, Patrick Lord and…

A NOVELIST who lost his wife and only daughter to cancer is gaining new fans in America with the release of his latest book. Originally from Wrexham, where he had an accountancy practice, Richard Rees is attracting a new following in the USA, with sales rapidly increasing on Amazon. His first novel – The Illuminati Conspiracy – was published by Hodder and Stoughton before Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, which highlighted a shadowy secret society reaching into the higher echelons of power. His second, Shadow of The Mary Celeste (retitled The Reikel Conspiracy) featured Opus Dei and an albino priest…