Author: Rhys Gregory

A county council by-election will be contested in Llanidloes next month, Powys County Council has confirmed. The contested by-election is taking place to fill the county council vacancy following resignation of Gareth Morgain in May. The election will take place on Thursday, 3 July, 2025. There are six candidates standing in the county council by-election. They are: David Dennis Campbell (Independent) Phylip Rhys Davies (Welsh Conservative Party) Trudy Davies (Welsh Labour) Victoria Louise Evans (Plaid Cymru) Fleur Frantz-Morgans (Welsh Liberal Democrats) Graham Maurice Jones (Reform UK) Anyone who isn’t registered to vote have until Tuesday, 17 June, 2025 in order…

Coastal communities across Wales will receive continued support as the Welsh Government extends its successful Coastal Capacity Building Scheme for two more years. The scheme, delivered through the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), will provide £260,000 per year from 2025/26 to 2026/27 to support local environmental initiatives. Since launching in October 2023, the scheme has backed eleven projects that help people connect with their coastal environment and understand how they can make positive impacts on nature. Projects have focused on strengthening partnerships between communities, businesses, local authorities and other public bodies to deliver sustainable action in marine and coastal…

A teacher with a mission to increase opportunities to learn through the medium of Welsh has enlisted Business Wales support to launch a private tutoring company, dedicated to providing tailored academic support to Welsh-speaking learners. Recognising that local demand for tutoring delivered in Welsh outweighed existing provisions, Dafydd Jones, from Hawarden, Flintshire, founded Tiwtora ATOM in January 2024, offering personalised tutoring in maths, science, and biology, for Welsh-speaking learners. Qualified teacher, Dafydd, turned to Business Wales for vital support in structuring and launching his venture that directly aligned with the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 goal to support and facilitate a…

Local events across Wales offer more than just entertainment and community spirit, they provide powerful platforms for business growth. From village fêtes and farmers’ markets to regional trade shows and cultural festivals, these gatherings create unique opportunities for Welsh enterprises to connect with customers face-to-face. The impact goes further than immediate sales, building lasting relationships that sustain local economies. For small and medium businesses in Welsh communities, these events represent a chance to showcase their products and services in memorable ways. One way businesses can do this is by thoughtfully incorporating branded merchandise that reflects both their brand values and…

A Welsh TV music star will be one of the headline acts when thousands gather for the traditional climax of this year’s Gwyl Rhuthun/Ruthin Festival in July. The Welsh Whisperer, Andrew Walton, will join an impressive lineup for the Top of Town event on the town’s St Peter’s Square Saturday, July 5, for the festival which is again sponsored by Vale of Clwyd-based law firm Swayne Johnson. Andrew has taken his quirky brand of traditional Welsh folk music around the country in an old Land Rover pulling his gear in an Ifor Williams Trailer for two S4C series. The 37-year-old…

Entrepreneurial excellence was in the spotlight during a major celebration of the nation’s thriving food and drink sector at the Wales Food and Drink Awards 2025, held in Llandudno recently. Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry. Sponsored by Food & Drink Wales, the award celebrated individuals who are leading the way in Wales’ food and drink sector, and those who have demonstrated the ambition to turn bold ideas into successful businesses, and who continue to drive innovation, growth, and resilience across the industry. Lord Newborough…

Without urgent reform, current systems cannot deliver on Government ambitions to tackle high street crime. That is the message coming from High Streets UK after their second Safer High Streets Forum this week. Earlier this year, Business representatives from the nation’s flagship high streets came together to launch High Streets UK – a new partnership which aims to tackle the most pressing issues facing high streets, and unlock fresh opportunities for growth. The group’s core objective is to develop programmes and policy recommendations which will enable flagship UK high streets to drive local and national growth, aligning with the Government’s focus on…

Wales’ largest light trail will return in November with a reimagined route, brand new illuminations, the return of an old favourite and a new partnership with the iconic voco St David’s Cardiff. Tickets for Wales’ flagship light trail Christmas at Bute Park are now on sale. Now in its fifth year, award-winning Christmas at Bute Park will return to the Welsh capital with exciting new light installations created by world-class creatives, a redesigned route and the promise of a fantastic treat to get you in the festive spirit. With more than 104,000 tickets sold in 2024, Christmas at Bute Park…

Horses possess a far more expressive and nuanced facial “language” than previously understood, new research has revealed. The study suggests that horses’ rich array of facial movements and behaviour may hold the key to better understanding their emotions, social lives, and wellbeing. The research team, which includes an animal behaviour expert from Aberystwyth University, has created the first comprehensive ethogram – a catalogue of facial behaviours – based on real-life social interactions among domestic horses. The study systematically documented over 800 combinations of facial movements, offering an unprecedented look at how horses use their faces to communicate in different social…

A final call out has gone out to talented young musicians in Wales to bid for a prestigious title and cash prizes of £4,000. Royal composer Paul Mealor says the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition at the North Wales International Music Festival could provide a big boost to their fledgling careers. The competition is now in its second year following a successful launch last year. Entries are being sought from instrumentalists and singers to take part in the 2025 competition during the festival at St Asaph Cathedral from September 11 to 20. Anybody wanting to compete needs to upload…