Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff Community Housing Association (CCHA) has launched its Flourish project, which has received a National Lottery Community Fund grant to help working families improve their finances and quality of life. CCHA received over £470,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund as part of their £6 million programme which looks to support projects that help families who are struggling financially, but have at least one adult working, to reduce the impact of in-work poverty. The Flourish project, which launched at an event in Butetown, welcomed Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government who shared her thoughts on the importance…

World Book Day 2019 (March 7) will soon be upon us and as part of the celebrations, the Welsh Books Council has announced the titles of two special books for children that have been published in Welsh and will be on sale for only £1. The World Book Day campaign in Wales is coordinated by the Council and supported by the Welsh Government. Last year was the first time a Welsh-language book was included in the special £1 range. This year the Welsh-language titles will also be available for the first time in accessible braille, large print and audio versions,…

UWTSD’s Copper Coast International Film Festival, took place from 29th January to 1st February 2019, welcoming films and film lovers from around the world to Swansea. The event culminated in an awards ceremony in the Reading Room at the University’s Alex Design Centre in Swansea on February 1, which featured category presenters including Mal Pope, Professor of Practice at UWTSD, Marc Rees; Tracey McNulty, Head of Cultural Services at Swansea Council; Huw Rees, Presenter and Director at Tinopolis; Anna Redfern at Cinema & Co and Mark Jermin, CEO at Jermin Productions. Education is one of the key pillars of Copper…

The latest NatWest Wales PMI® data signalled a faster expansion in business activity across Wales in January. [aoa id=”1″] The rise in output accelerated from December’s 29-month low to the strongest since last October. New business also increased at a faster pace, but remained historically subdued overall. At the same time, firms reduced their workforce numbers for the first time since mid-2018 while backlogs of work contracted for the fourth month running. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures picked up in January. Rates of both input price and output charge inflation accelerated amid a stronger rise in supplier costs. Business sentiment dipped to…

Legal & General Assurance Society Limited (“Legal & General”) has announced that it has invested £200 million in new trains for the Wales & Borders franchise. Legal & General is helping to finance a new fleet of 60 trains for the Core Valley Lines (CVL) in and around Cardiff, representing a significant investment in new rolling stock for Wales. The fleet is scheduled to begin running in 2024. The new Wales & Borders rolling stock fleet will be a critical part of delivering increased capacity for the rail service in and around Cardiff. The replacement of an ageing diesel fleet…

Based in Wrexham, Lee Robinson joins Transport for Wales with a wealth of experience, having previously held post as Director of Economy and Place for nine years at Wrexham County Borough Council. Having worked closely on developing the regional transport network in North Wales, he is now excited about the prospect of investing in and improving the current transport links. Transport for Wales is at the start of a very exciting journey to transform the transport sector throughout the whole of Wales through driving forward the Welsh Government’s vision of a high quality, safe, integrated, affordable and accessible transport network.…

Research into investment in start-ups across the UK during 2018, shows that Cardiff is buzzing with new businesses that investors are keen to back; a strong indication of the city’s future growth, according KPMG’s Venture Pulse survey.  It revealed that 13 different companies in the capital together received over £40 million in 2018. While there was a strong focus on the tech sector, with the largest injection of £15 million going to MYPINPAD (which provides payment software authentication solutions), there was a creative smorgasbord of businesses receiving investment: £5 million went to Surechill, a company specialising in refrigeration systems £133,000…

James Sheehan and Zoe Carter have swapped London’s bright lights and fast paced city life for the tranquility and beauty of the Welsh borderlands. The couple fell in love with Milebrook House Hotel, which nestles in the Teme Valley near Knighton, when they stayed there in 2017. They enjoyed their stay in the picturesque country house hotel so much that they decided to buy in. “It’s a funny thing but I suppose our story reminds us of the old Remington ad when Victor Kiam says ‘I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company’,” said James. He and Zoe completed the purchase…

A magnificent country house in the heart of Mid Wales which is used for weddings, corporate events, school and group visits and conferences, has appointed a new general manager. David Kelly joins Broneirion, Llandinam, near Llanidloes having gained many years’ experience within the hospitality industry. Focused on driving forward customer service and building on the award-winning property’s good reputation, he has introduced Gold Standard Award Service for staff training, has rejuvenated menus and introduced new theme nights. Broneirion has again been recognised by the Welsh Wedding Awards. After winning Welsh Wedding Venue of the Year in 2018, both the team…

The Rhug Estate welcomed a group of Year Seven pupils from Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala, recently. The group of ten children and staff visited Rhug Farm as part of the Lead Creative Schools Scheme which explores new and creative approaches to teaching and learning. Ysgol y Berwyn pupils are working with lead artist, Jessica Balla, on a cross-curricular project responding to the theme of agriculture. The aim of the project is to approve attainment in numeracy. On their visit to Rhug the pupils practiced their numeracy skills by undertaking practical tasks and learnt how these skills are used day-to -day…