Author: Rhys Gregory

When Smudge their beloved Staffie died, Sharon Hutchings and Mark Pike decided to launch a new business in her name. The result was Pampered Pooches, a high-quality dog grooming service which now has over 200 canine clients around South Wales. Based in Cwmavon, the mobile service caters for dogs of all shapes and sizes, offering grooming, nail clipping and ear cleaning and all the other necessities owners want for their pets. ‘It really is a labour of love,” said Sharon. “We both love dogs so much, that when Smudge passed away in 2015 we wanted to do something in her…

The Six Nations Championship is only a matter of weeks away and is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. It’s fair to say that Wales loves its rugby and there is no doubt that thousands of rugby fans will be watching Wales play in the Six Nations, whether they have a ticket or not. Following on from Wales’ semi-successful Six Nations campaign in 2018 (3/5 wins), and superb autumn fixtures with a full-house of wins (4/4), all eyes will be on Wales to see if this can be replicated and then some. When is the Six Nations?…

The expansion of Techniquest’s science discovery centre in Cardiff Bay has been given the go ahead by Cardiff Council. Planning permission has been granted to extend the educational charity’s current building on Stuart Street to create an additional 900m2 of exhibition floor space. The extension will help to radically transform the UK’s longest running science centre, increasing its footprint by 60% to house brand new innovative content related to, and developed with, Welsh STEM innovators, academics and communities. The scheme will also include a new vibrant public entrance, café and shop, in addition to a designated community space, roof terrace…

Cardiff is on the cusp of becoming the UK’s next major Build to Rent housing hub, following in the footsteps of London and Manchester – but only if residential developers deliver the mix of tenures and property needed, according to a new report from Knight Frank. The property consultancy’s annual Cardiff Report highlights office and residential development trends in the city. Its latest report released this month showed that while the proportion of households renting privately climbed from 22% in 2001 to more than 60% by 2017, none of it so far had been in the kind of purpose-built, professionally…

The number of fraudulent cases in Wales more than doubled in 2018 compared to 2017, with 30 cases reaching court in 2018 according to the KPMG Fraud Barometer. In value terms, KPMG’s research shows a staggering jump from £4.5 million in 2017 to £18.7 million in 2018. There was also an increase in the amount of crimes carried out by employees, reminding businesses of the need for ongoing assessment of internal fraud risks and the controls they use to address those risks. In addition, unlike last year when there were no cases involving fraudsters over the age of 55, this…

Police are currently at the scene of an explosion which occurred in a small block of flats in Neath at approximately 8.30pm yesterday evening (14 January, 2019). The Waun Las block of approximately four flats in Waunceirch has been evacuated due to the extensive damage caused to the building. All occupants are accounted for and arrangements have been made to house them overnight until the building is deemed safe enough for their return. One woman has been admitted to Morriston Hospital with burn injuries which are not life threatening. A joint investigation is underway between South Wales Police and Mid…

The work of Pembrokeshire-based textile designer Sian O’Doherty can now be seen at Canolfan S4C Yr Egin as part of its stunning interior design. Sian – an award-winning designer based in Kilgetty – has created the cushions that adorn the colourful sofas inside the new digital and creative centre based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s campus in Carmarthen. Carys Ifan, Director of Yr Egin had seen some of Sian’s designs and thought the designs would complement the building’s interior perfectly. “I was looking for something that was both traditional yet contemporary to compliment the interior design of…

Diabetes UK Cymru is looking for people from across Wales to take on the swimming challenge of the year, Swim22, between 22 February and 22 May. Swim22 participants will cover an incredible 22 miles; the equivalent of crossing the English Channel. People taking on the challenge can swim in their local pool alone or, better still, with family, friends or colleagues. The distance can even be split between a team to make it easier for everyone. Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. Wales has the highest…

Drugs and homelessness have claimed the lives of 60 people in Wrexham over the past six years. The grim death toll – equivalent to 10 fatalities a year – is marked on a Memory Tree at a hostel run by a homeless charity in the town And the memorial at The Wallich’s Tŷ Croeso home on Grosvenor Road will soon be adding another five names to the sad list. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones was appalled to hear the shocking statistic. He is a committed campaigner for the reform of the UK’s drugs laws and supports organisations…

Established accountancy firm Bevan Buckland LLP is no stranger to providing assistance with tax returns. With the 31st January 2019 deadline fast approaching, the team behind Bevan Buckland LLP is spreading the word about how to complete self-assessment returns as accurately and successfully as possible. Their advice will be music to many sole traders’ and business owners’ ears, particularly as a recent study found that more than a quarter of tax returns in January 2018 – that’s 1,290,948 altogether – were submitted less than 48 hours before the self-assessment filing deadline at midnight.Around 30,348 of those were left literally to the…