Author: Rhys Gregory

Members of education unions will meet members of the National Assembly for Wales today (5 March) to discuss the school funding crisis in Wales. ASCL, NAHT, NEU Cymru and UCAC will hold a drop-in session where Assembly Members can speak directly to education professionals about the impact of funding cuts in their schools – from redundancies, to larger class sizes, reduced support for children with additional learning needs and increasing workload and workforce stress. The unions point to the impact of austerity on Welsh Government funding. They are also calling on Welsh Government and Local Authorities to look at transparency…

The importance of cyber security and the threats posed to businesses and individuals will be highlighted throughout March when a specially equipped cyber information bus is set to tour all 22 unitary authorities in Wales. Funded by the Welsh Government and managed by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for Southern Wales along with the North West ROCU, the bus – which was unveiled at a launch event at Cardiff Bay today (Monday 4th March) – will travel throughout Wales before returning to the Welsh capital on March 29th. In her address at the launch, Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans…

In the last few years, pancakes have started popping up on menus in a huge array of flavours and toppings as a brunch dish of choice for many of us. However, Shrove Tuesday is still a great excuse to break out the frying pans or treat yourself to an indulgent crepe. This Pancake Day we’ve compiled some of Cardiff’s best pancakes, and what’s more, some of them are even on offer. Cadwaladers – sites across Cardiff including: Red Dragon Centre and Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay; St David’s 2 Renowned for their sweet treats, Cadwaladers is offering 2-for-1 on all pancakes…

Ahead of next month’s increase to pension minimum contributions, Stuart Price explains why he doesn’t think people will choose to opt-out of schemes.

Principality Building Society is increasing its buy-to-let and holiday let loan sizes. Principality now lends up to £750,000 at 60% loan-to-value, and 75% loan-to-value on loans up to £500,000, while increasing the acceptable maximum age of applicants from 75 to 85 years old. Holiday let customers will also now be permitted to borrow on two properties rather one. Emma Graham, National Account Manager at Principality Building Society, said:  “The enhancement to our criteria will allow us to continue to support clients who invest in property. We have also decided to lend on a second holiday let, which means we are…

The north east Wales college marked Time to Talk Day by signing the Time to Change (Young People Organisational Pledge) Youth Pledge, demonstrating its support of learners and the Cambria community. The Pledge is a public statement of aspiration that the organisation wants to tackle mental health stigma and determination, led by the Mind charity. Equality and Diversity Coordinator Elane Roberts says the commitment shines a light on the hard work already taking place at their sites in Northop, Deeside, Llysfasi and Bersham Road and Yale in Wrexham. And it comes after Coleg Cambria was awarded the prestigious Investors in…

Up to 300,000 UK households could save money by renewing their TV licence on time by 31 March 2019. The TV Licensing database of more than 32 million addresses shows that these households all have licences that expire on 31 March 2019, so can save £4.00 by renewing promptly before 1 April 2019. On 1 April 2019 the cost of a colour licence will rise by £4.00 to £154.50. The cost of a black and white licence will rise by £1.50 to £52.00. The Government is responsible for setting the level of the licence fee, and in 2016 announced that…

Natalie Bell will lead the Cardiff-based branch of the national property and construction industry lobbying and networking organisation from 1st March 2019, for one year. [aoa id=”1″]Natalie, Head of Business Development with Andrew Scott Ltd is a keen advocate of Women in Property and is committed to its ethos of support and encouragement, not only for peers in the workplace but for girls and young women considering a career in the property and construction industry.  This is particularly important given the skills shortage across the industry.[/aoa] Natalie said: “Over the coming year, as an organisation, we will be focusing…

Caped crusader Captain Beany swapped orange for yellow this week, as he joined Morrisons shoppers, staff and Marie Curie fundraisers for the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal in the supermarket’s Baglan store on St David’s Day. Captain Beany, who supports numerous charity events across the area, swapped his bean-coloured cape for a gold one, emblazoned with a B made of daffodils to support the terminal illness charity’s biggest annual fundraising appeal. Marie Curie daffodil pins will be available on high streets, and Morrisons stores across Neath Port Talbot throughout March.   The Captain was joined by Marie Curie Nurses from the team…

A 42 year-old man from Roath in Cardiff and a 43 year old woman from Ruislip, Middlesex have been sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after being found guilty of a number of frauds worth more than £500,000 and Money Laundering more than £50,000 from the proceeds of crime. Premsaran Patel was sent to prison for four years six months and Smurti Amin received a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years. Financial Investigator Lee Jones of Tarian’s regional asset recovery team (RART), said: “Operation Dogstar has been a long term money laundering investigation by the RART supported by colleagues…