Author: Rhys Gregory

Private sector firms in Wales recorded a further rise in business activity at the start of the third quarter, according to the NatWest PMI®, continuing a trend that has been observed since August 2016. Moreover, the rate of growth picked up from June. The acceleration was driven by a sharper rise in new business and a return to growth in employment, with the former contributing to an improvement in business confidence. Inflationary pressures eased, but remained elevated nonetheless.  [aoa id=”1″] The headline Wales Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the combined output of the manufacturing and…

A new apprenticeship programme helping young people in Ceredigion get valuable training and work experience is being launched by Ceredigion County Council. The programme is open to applications from today (Monday, 13 August) until Monday, 10 September 2018. Apprenticeship opportunities are being offered within the Social Care, Human Resources and Youth Work teams. Apprentices will work closely with experienced members of staff over a 12 month period, study towards a nationally recognised vocational qualification and have a dedicated mentor to support them on the job. Ceredigion County Council has worked closely with Unison to develop its programme in line with…

Rent Smart Wales, the registration and licensing authority for all landlords and agents with property in Wales, has developed a new fire safety course for landlords. Developed in conjunction with Wales’ three fire authorities -South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the online course aims to increase landlords fire safety knowledge and make them aware of their legal obligations to ensure their tenants and properties are protected from the potentially devastating effects of fire. [aoa id=”1″] The course, available on the Rent Smart Wales website, is the first online…

Wales’ first Catapult, the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, will open its South East Wales-based Innovation Centre in early 2019, it was announced last week. [aoa id=”1″] The announcement made by Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns, also confirmed that the UK’s newest Catapult will receive £51 million of grant funding from the £780m investment in the internationally renowned Catapult network announced by the Chancellor Philip Hammond today as part of the Government’s industrial strategy.  This builds on the £180m announced by the Prime Minister last month for centres in the North East last month, taking the total of additional…

Cardiff & Vale Health Charity recently received a cheque for an amazing £12,123 which was raised by those who took part in the NHS at 70 bed push, 5k and 10k at Cardiff Bay earlier this year. Hundreds of people turned out to take part in the NHS at 70 bed push and 5k and 10k run at Cardiff Bay on 20 May 2018. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Sixteen teams took part in the bed push challenge at Cardiff Bay Barrage, with wonderfully decorated beds and team spirit a plenty.  Almost 300 people took part in the 5k and 10k run around the…

Community Interest Company Warm Wales have again been nominated for a prestigious industry award at the 2018 National Energy Efficiency Awards. The energy efficiency champions, based on the Kenfig Industrial Estate in Margam, will have a chance to retain the award they won in 2017 after being nominated in the National Energy Consultant / Consultancy of the Year category.  The award, sponsored by alsecco, recognises an exceptional individual or company that advises businesses or homeowners about energy efficiency savings. Recognition for Warm Wales comes after an eventful year which saw them launch an innovative Community Energy Champion (CEC) project across…

From today, Cardiff’s Bute Park will be transformed into a prehistoric world. Jurassic Kingdom: Where Dinosaurs Come To Life, is an interactive, life-sized replica experience, where you will see more teeth in one hour then you will see in your whole life. Expect to come face to face with a 26m long Diplodocus and the notorious Tyrannosaurus Rex, while learning about every predator from over 200 million years ago. Remember to look up, there will be some in the trees!  Go and meet over 30 dinosaurs from the Saturday 11- Monday 27 August, and discover them hiding all around the…

Cardiff Bus customers can now get cheaper tickets, up-to-date travel information, and even event recommendations thanks to its newly re-launched travel app. [aoa id=”1″] The operator’s latest Cardiff Bus App features a host of new and improved additions aimed at enhancing customers’ journeys and providing up-to-date information. The app, which will replace its iffapp, enables customers to check live journey times, track their bus, access cheaper mobile tickets, and even plan the best route to access local events. Alongside this it will feature a new events and destinations guide which will recommend fun activities and days out that can be…

Family run Kerry Vale Vineyard on the Powys-Shropshire border is looking forward to a bumper crop of grapes following this summer’s heatwave. The last bumper year for the vineyard, which is located near Montgomery, was 2014 and owner Geoff Ferguson is hoping that 2018 will be even better. “This year we’ve had near perfect weather,” he said. “The sustained warm weather, after a period of rain and colder months, means the quality of grapes on the vine is exceptional. The flowering has been completely uninterrupted and early and the bunches look fantastic.” The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has…

Awards, beers, eBay, clones, drones, a big yellow crane plus a crash landing – the full story and secrets behind the jaw-dropping #Skydriver viral video have been revealed in a short follow-up film released this week. [aoa id=”1″] What started life as some bar-room bravado banter ended up, more than two years later, with a liveried car flying down one of Zip World’s adventure tourism wires at Slate Mountain, Blaenau Ffestiniog – an incredible stunt that has already been watched by many hundreds of thousands of online viewers since being released on August 1. Although some of the more eagle-eyed…