Author: Rhys Gregory

Climate protesters have blocked a key city centre road in Cardiff, causing disruption for commuters and travellers. Member of the Extinction Rebellion group have parked a green boat in the middle of the street, adjacent to Cardiff Castle. The police have since closed roads between Queen Street and Westgate Street. The group is raising awareness about climate change and Cardiff is one of many cities to experience similar protests that are taking place across the UK this week. Extinction Rebellion protestors block Duke Street outside Cardiff Castle with a green boat as the environmental protest group begin a series of…

Although London still leads the way as the UK’s tech investment capital, a 2018 survey has revealed that Wales is now hot on its heels. Figures show that, since 2012, “nearly £115m of venture capital investment has been injected into tech start-ups in Wales”. Here, we’ll look at how Apple and Microsoft have formed partnerships with Welsh businesses. IQE: The Big Winner from Apple’s iPhone IQE is one of Wales’ leading technology firms and, in 2017, it was responsible for one of the single greatest upgrades to Apple’s handsets in memory. IQE’s wafer technology was used to power the 3D…

Do Digital Agency from Cardiff has been named a finalist in this year’s Leading Wales Awards. The Leading Wales Awards Consortium that run Wales’ long-established and only dedicated leadership awards have announced this year’s shortlist. They are delighted that once again The Institute of Leadership & Management are the headline sponsors. Do Digital Agency has been nominated in the Inspiring Great Leadership (Organisational Award) Category for the unique way they develop their own staff and train those starting out in the 3D digital industry. Do Digital Agency is one of four finalists in the category. [aoa id=”1″]Do Digital Agency have…

Wales had the highest annual rate of house price growth in the four UK nations during the second quarter of 2019 (April – June), with a rise of 4.1% taking the average house price to £186,360. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index for Q2 2019, which shows the rise and fall of house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. [aoa id=”1″]While house price growth over the last quarter across Wales has been modest with a marginal increase of 0.1% to £186,360, house prices have risen by 4.1% annually on…

Get ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Summer Reading Challenge with Space Chase, a very special reading mission. The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, launched the challenge in Newtown Library on Friday, 12 July 2019, and was joined by popular author and illustrator Max Low. [aoa id=”1″]This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is Space Chase, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the moon landings. Endorsed by parents, teachers, the Welsh Books Council and Welsh Government, the Summer Reading Challenge reaches children and young people of all ages, with over 40,000 children taking part last…

A primary school in Newport are clued-up on savings after receiving financial education lessons from Principality Building Society. Crindau Primary School, who were visited by the society’s Newport branch colleagues, learnt all about money matters last week. [aoa id=”1″]With research from the Money Advice Service showing that children pick up adult financial habits from the age of four, the society believe it’s more important than ever to be teaching young people about finances. In the past 18 months, the society has reached over 10,000 young people in Wales by teaching financial education to schools.[/aoa] Throughout the workshops, the students learnt…

A 48-year old, from Blaenavon, whose husband has been suffering from chronic kidney disease for over 19 years, has decided to enter her first road race and take part in the Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff 10K, to raise funds for race organisers Kidney Wales. Julie Gulliford’s husband Kevin has been battling chronic kidney disease since 2000 and the couple were recently given the news that his kidney function had deteriorated by 50 per cent since his initial diagnosis. Kevin realised something was wrong when he started having regular nose bleeds and spells of dizziness. He decided to visit his GP…

Students will have a little less to worry about this year as the cost of living around the country dropped by 4%, according to NatWest’s Student Living Index. On the whole students are finding UK cities more affordable, with Cardiff coming top as the most affordable city, closely followed by Manchester, Liverpool, Southampton and Bristol. At the other end of the scale, students in London, Edinburgh and Aberystwyth see the worst value for money during their studies. [aoa id=”1″]Students in the most affordable cities are also taking home some of the highest monthly incomes, with students in Bristol enjoying an…

Young people with mental health issues from across North Wales preparing for an epic voyage aboard a tall ship later this year have been helped out by a £90,000 grant from the region’s policing chief. [aoa id=”1″] The aim is to find a 10-strong crew to help sail the vessel on a trip organised by mental health charity Hafal from Holyhead to Bangor, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Scotland and preparation is well advanced. The latest training session has seen potential sailors from across North Wales take to the water on paddle boards at Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia…

More than 60 people including pupils, parents, teachers and governors attended the schools’ award ceremony for Swansea’s annual gardening competition on Tuesday July 9. [aoa id=”1″] Organised by the Swansea in Bloom group (SIB), the competition was open to all primary schools and special needs units throughout the City and County. The ceremony, officiated by well known Evening Post columnist and Swansea Sounds presenter, Kevin Johns, was held at the Swansea Scout and Guide headquarters in Brynmill. [/aoa] Opening the ceremony, SIB Chairman Paul Chillington welcomed the guests and explained how until two years ago the event had been a…