Author: Rhys Gregory

The First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan will today announce a new fund for communities across Wales to help them celebrate St David’s Day next year. Applications will open today for activities aimed at bringing communities together around the day of Wales’ patron saint Dewi Sant, on 1st March. Activities could include parades, music performances, community workshops, traditional Welsh folk dancing (twmpathau) or food-based events. The Welsh Government has allocated £1 million for the 2026 St David’s Day celebrations. Organisations will be able to apply for three levels of funding, from small community groups to major national organisations. Local groups…

The NHS complaints process in Wales will be significantly strengthened after the Senedd approved new regulations this week. The changes will replace the current Putting Things Right system with a new approach called Listening to Peoplemarking the biggest reform to NHS complaints handling and incident investigation in Wales for almost 15 years. The new system introduces a two-stage complaints resolution process. The first stage focuses on early resolution and the second stage may include an assessment of liability and whether redress of up to £50,000 should be offered. Key improvements include: A mandatory offer of listening discussions where NHS organisations…

More than £27bn to support public services has been set out by the Welsh Government. Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford described Wales’ Draft Budget 2026-27 as “just the start” as he urged political parties to work with the Welsh Government to make sure it’s passed in January 2026. It provides a stable platform on which public services can plan in the run-up to the Senedd election. All government departments in the next financial year will have at least the same amount of funding, in real terms, as they had this year. Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “The Draft Budget is the…

ICC Wales has announced the appointment of Craig Bingham as its new Managing Director, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the venue as it continues to grow its presence in the global business events sector. Bingham joins from Wyndham Hotels, where he was Head of Global Sales & Sales Operations EMEA. He brings extensive experience from leading venues including the QEII Centre, Hilton Metropole, Park Plaza, Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, and leading MICE operations for Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA. He is also an active member of industry association beam. In his new role Bingham will bring vision, insight and…

Genesis Biosciences is continuing its successful period of growth with further expansion in its south Wales team. Genesis Biosciences has welcomed Megan King as Commercial and Operations Assistant, Lindsey Morham as Marketing Executive, Hannah Evans as QC Technician, and Lauren McAndrew as a Key Account Executive, all providing strength and support to their respective teams. Megan brings with her over seven years’ experience in customer service, team leadership, and operations management, and a wealth of expertise in coordination, communication, and problem solving. She also holds a Certificate IV in Business Administration from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. In her role,…

A groundbreaking project is underway between Cardiff-based technology firm DIGI4U Ltd and the University of South Wales (USW), aimed at revolutionising the smartphone repair industry. Supported by a grant of £26,036 from the Welsh Government’s SMART Partnerships scheme – which aims to foster collaboration between businesses and research organisations to enhance innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in Wales – the intention is to develop a highly efficient, low-cost laser machine for the removal of glass covers on smartphones. This initiative is set to run until 31 March 2026. Dr Kang Li, Senior Research Fellow at USW, is leading on the project,…

A NORTH Wales based housebuilder has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of a new land director. Mathew Tudor Owen steps into the role at Anwyl Homes’ Cheshire and North Wales division, based in Ewloe, Flintshire. Mathew, who has been with Anwyl since 2017, has been promoted from his previous position as senior land manager. In his new role, he will lead the land and planning team to deliver the company’s business plan and identify sites to support the continued growth of operations across Cheshire and North Wales. A Geography graduate, Mathew began his career in the housebuilding industry…

A Newport-based luxury chocolate company has secured important food safety certification, which will enable them to pitch their products to leading industry buyers at Blas Cymru / Taste Wales, thanks to support from the Welsh Government’s HELIX Programme. Bossa Nova, a producer of handmade Brazilian-style chocolate truffles, has successfully secured SALSA certification following technical assistance delivered by ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University. SALSA is one of the UK’s most widely recognised food and drink safety certification and it is important to many food and drink manufacturers as it demonstrates that they are operating to industry-recognised food and…

A Penarth business that turns coffee waste into luxury products has scooped one of Wales’ top food & drink honours. Penarth’s Grounds for Good has been crowned “Best in Show 2025” at the Abergavenny Food Festival, earning praise from judges for their “fantastic products, passion and knowledge.” The annual Best in Show award is presented to the exhibitor who best captures the spirit of the festival — excellence in product quality, sustainability, presentation, and engagement with visitors. Grounds for Good impressed on every front, blending innovation with a clear environmental mission. Founded in Penarth, the company gives a second life to used coffee…

Leading property consultancy Cooke & Arkwright has successfully assisted Greggs, the UK’s favourite bakery chain, in acquiring a prominent new retail unit at St David’s Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff city centre. The new store, which occupies the former Trespass unit, opened its doors to customers 7th October. The unit spans approximately 2,250 square feet on the ground floor with an area for external seating in the St David’s Way mall, offering a bright and modern space for customers to enjoy Greggs’ popular range of freshly prepared food-on-the-go. This latest acquisition forms part of Greggs’ ongoing UK-wide expansion strategy, which aims to bring its much-loved offering to…