Author: Rhys Gregory

Following the news that the amount of money paid into defined contribution pension schemes by employees has overtaken the amount paid into defined benefit schemes for the first time in history, Stuart Price, Partner and Actuary at Quantum Advisory, looks into the reasons why.

Former Welsh powerlifter Gerard Matthews is launching a new personal training studio in Newtown, thanks to backing from Robert Owen Community Banking Fund (ROCBF). [aoa id=”1″] The investment is the first ROCBF had made using the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG). Gerard, who was once in the top three of Wales’ strongest man competition, is launching Inner Strength, a personal training space. The 35-year-old has long held the dream of getting the venture off the ground but, with a limited borrowing record, he found High Street banks’ doors were closed. [/aoa] But ROCBF, also headquartered in the Powys town, was prepared…

Sky UK is opening offices in Cardiff for the first time, and has signed up to take three floors of No 4 Capital Quarter in the city centre. [aoa id=”1″] The company has leased 40,000 sq ft of office space on the second, third and fourth floors of the 96,870 sq ft building fronting Tyndall Street, on a 15 year lease. A month ago law firm Geldards signed to take 30,000 sq ft of office space in the building under construction by property development company JR Smart. Sky UK provides television and broadband Internet services, fixed line and mobile telephone…

A FUTURISTIC 3D printing project for Carmarthenshire schoolchildren could soon be expanded across Europe. [aoa id=”1″] Swansea University has led a Horizon 2020 consortium bid for a grant worth over £1.2 million under the Science for Society work programme, which would enable the introduction of the project in 60 international schools. Schoolchildren in Ireland, Germany, Slovenia, Poland and Portugal are among those who could benefit if the bid to the Europe-wide Collaboration on Science and Engineering Education programme is successful. As part of an ongoing project led by Ysgol Gynradd Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire, children at eight county primary schools…

Cardiff Bus is offering advice to commuters heading into the city centre on Wednesday 10 April as students gather at the Principality Stadium for the Cardiff V Swansea Varsity rugby match. [aoa id=”1″] The bus operator is alerting customers to road closures, route diversions and bus stop changes being put in place in the city centre from 6pm to 10pm. The Baycar (service 6) will follow normal route from the Bay to Cathays Park, however the return journey to the Bay will divert along North Road, Boulevard De Nantes, Dumfries Place, Station Terrace, Bute Terrace and Customhouse Street. Evening Baycar…

A commercial cleaning company headed up by Rachael Flanagan has scooped ‘Business of the Year’ at the inaugural Welsh Women’s Awards in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] The Welsh Women’s Awards 2019 aim to acknowledge and celebrate the success of women entrepreneurs, business women, professionals, civil servants, women in uniform, charity workers and many more that contribute in making Wales a greater place to live in. The awards embody the continuing strength, grit and determination of women, honouring those who continue to thrive, excelling them at the forefront of their industries. Mrs Buckét Cleaning Services, based in Swansea, was started by Rachael Flanagan when she…

The latest NatWest Wales PMI® data signalled a slower rise in output across the area in March. Although still solid and better than the broad stagnation seen across the UK as a whole, the increase was softer than the series trend. [aoa id=”1″] The rate of new business growth meanwhile picked up to a six-month high at the end of the first quarter of 2019 as clients continued to stockpile. Subsequently, firms registered a rebound in job creation and a further rise in backlogs of work. That said, private sector firms remained cautious regarding their output expectations for the year…

Leaders in Welsh manufacturing gathered at Ford’s Bridgend Engine Plant on Friday, April 5, to welcome the launch of the MADE (Manufacture for Advanced Design Engineering) project. [aoa id=”1″] This suite of EU-funded projects, being delivered by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Centre for Advanced Batch Manufacture (CBM), is designed to collaborate with SMEs within industry to future-proof their operations, by upskilling and by adopting advanced manufacturing technologies. The MADE project, which is being rolled out now for 36 months, is being offered to qualifying organisations as an integrated portfolio, to help Welsh manufacturers understand the challenges they face…

The March 29th Brexit deadline has come and gone and yet the future of the UK’s departure from the European Union remains just as unclear as it’s always been. EU leaders granted Prime Minister Theresa May an extension from the original deadline but not to the degree May initially requested, aiming for a delay until June 30th. Now, the clock is ticking yet again after EU officials have given May and British Parliament until April 12th to get their act together. Back in London, UK lawmakers said “no” (again) to four alternatives to May’s deal. At the same time, however,…

McArthurGlen Bridgend had a ‘hole’ lot of fun this morning at the launch of the newest Krispy Kreme rocket store – the first of its kind in Wales! To celebrate the launch of the special store, 50 doughnut lovers lined up to get their hands on the retailer’s joy-filled treats. Jammy enough to be first in line and win themselves a £150 Krispy Kreme voucher at the unique store was Amanda Hole from Pen-y-Coed. Showing her excitement for the new store, Amanda said: “I’m such a huge fan of Krispy Kreme and I am so excited to have Wales’ first…