Author: Rhys Gregory

This Friday’s (15 February) EuroMillions jackpot stands at a jaw-dropping £144M*. If won by a single ticket-holder this fantastic Friday jackpot would create the UK’s third biggest National Lottery winner ever. [aoa id=”1″] According to Forbes in 2018, if one winner scooped the entire £144M jackpot, they would instantly become almost twice as rich as Wales’ superstar Gareth Bale (£74M). In fact, with £144M the winner could start their own football club, given that their instant wealth would be almost 18 times the annual wage bill for Cardiff City’s first team (£8.1M in October 2018 according to respected US website…

As part of its response to Brexit, the Welsh Government is establishing a new £1.5m fund that  will test new ways of nurturing and growing the everyday parts of Wales’ economy. [aoa id=”1″] The Foundational Economy, which accounts for around 40% of jobs in Wales, describes the organisations SMEs, microbusinesses and social enterprises that are rooted in local communities and deliver the goods and services people need. From construction and childcare, through to social care and retail, the Foundational Economy describes the jobs that provide the goods and services that people across Wales rely on. Deputy Economy Minister, Lee Waters …

A Porthcawl drug dealer has today been jailed for 7 years after officers found thousands of pounds worth of cocaine in a safe. Thomas Hughes, aged 64, of Porthcawl, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday (Feb 14) for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A – cocaine and money laundering. His accountant Joanne Hughes-Bassett, aged 45, of Porthcawl, received a suspended sentence of 14 months for a money laundering offence. They both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. As part of Operation Delta, officers from the Organised Crime Unit in Bridgend, along with the Porthcawl…

A high-profile British investment manager has recently won over half a million dollars in a major live poker tournament. Talal Shakerchi, age 54, finished on the final table of the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) $25K buy-in event to scoop the big prize. Shakerchi is the CEO of a successful company, but also, one of the U.K.’s top poker professionals. Shakerchi founded Meditor Capital Management Limited in 1998, and he has also been chairman of Streamvale Management Company Limited and Intelligent Energy Holdings during his busy business career. Shakerchi has an estimated net worth of around $150 million. For players on…

A group of students from Swansea University took part in a Hackathon in collaboration with Swansea City Football Club, aiming to come up with a technological innovation that could drive new or increased revenue. [aoa id=”1″] Working alongside the University’s Enterprise team, students were given just 48 hours to devise a pioneering solution that had the potential to generate club revenue and push Swansea City to the forefront of the tech innovation arena. Pitches ranged from strategies to improve match-day entertainment and consumer access to service points, as well as ways of improving fan engagement through brand perception. The group…

A CARDIFF researcher has received a £2.15 million grant from Cancer Research UK to discover kinder treatments for head and neck cancer patients. The money will further fund the PATHOS trial which focuses on cancers caused by a common virus called Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The aim of the research is to reduce the intensity of head and neck cancer treatment which can result in “devastating” side-effects for some patients – including losing the ability to swallow. Prof Mererid Evans, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Centre, has been awarded the funding as part of a joint grant with…

A new state-of-the-art training centre that will help protect the derelict site of a former psychiatric hospital from vandals has been given the go ahead. Members of Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the scheme which is the first phase of plans to regenerate crumbling ruins and grounds of the historic North Wales Hospital in Denbigh. [aoa id=”1″] The development will include temporary site works offices, a construction training centre, a workshop and plant repair facilities. It will be hub for up to 35 apprentices to be trained annually by Ruthin-based Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK. The new centre…

More than 300 cyclists are expected to take part in the Annual Daffodil Bike Ride next month which will see riders embark on a 43-mile loop through hilly Carmarthenshire.  In its 11th year, the annual cycle challenge is again being organised by students from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.  The organisation of the event is an opportunity for students to gain valuable skills in their chosen field. Logos for the event are being designed by Graphic Design students and photography and videos from the day will be captured by Adventure Film Photography students.   Training plans ahead of the…

Justin Millett has been appointed as lead director of national property consultancy JLL’s Cardiff office, bringing 25 years of experience in the property market to the role. [aoa id=”1″] He replaces Chris Sutton who has left the company to pursue his own consultancy practice after 12 successful years. Alongside his role as lead director, Justin will continue as JLL’s head of capital markets in Wales, a role which includes the development, funding, acquisition and disposal of property investments across all sectors. Justin said: “I’m very excited to be taking on the role of lead director and heading up the talented…

The housing market in Wales got off to a slow start in 2019, with activity amongst buyers and sellers falling back, according to the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Residential Market Survey. [aoa id=”1″] Whilst the headline price balance remained in positive territory last month, indicators for new buyer enquiries, newly agreed sales and instructions to sell all reduced, according to the balance of respondents. Welsh surveyors also indicate that they expect prices and sales activity to fall over the next three months. Respondents to the survey indicate that this is linked to nervousness related to the economic…