Author: Rhys Gregory

An entrepreneur from South Wales whose company pays motorists for displaying adverts on their cars is launching its biggest campaign yet in South Wales this summer.  Car Quids was launched by Swansea-born Viraj Ratnalikar after he raised some £130,000 in seed funding from Seedcamp, Europe’s seed fund, the Seed Fund at Said Business School, Oxford University, and the former head of marketing for Pernod-Ricard. Ratnalikar studied economics and management at Oxford University before completing a 12 month programme with the New Entrepreneurs Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that runs development programmes for aspiring entrepreneurs. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Car Quids company allows anyone…

Caerphilly-based Town Square Spaces Ltd has successfully secured a ten-year contract to head up a new creative digital hub in Bognor Regis – the company’s first hub outside of Wales. Following a competitive tender process, Town Square Spaces was chosen by West Sussex County Council to lead the project, which is expected to generate over £1,000,000 for the West Sussex economy in its first five years. [aoa id=”1″] The Creative Digital Hub will be located within the recently-refurbished Grade II Listed Bognor Regis Railway Station and will support creative and digital start-ups, freelancers and entrepreneurs in Bognor Regis and coastal…

Presteigne’s historic attraction, The Judge’s Lodging, is to receive £120,000 from the Welsh Government as it moves towards becoming an independent charity. The award-winning Victorian attraction is one of only four museums chosen by the Welsh Government’s Museums, Archives, Libraries Division to receive Transformation Capital Grants Programme support, which is open to museums, libraries and archives across Wales. The funding will go towards a capital project to repair the roof and repaint the front of the Grade 2-star building, create a new, enhanced shop and Tourist Information Point and pay for a new audio system. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The museum’s existing…

A couple from Rhyl, North Wales, will cycle 360 miles from London to Amsterdam, to raise money for the national disability charity Sense. 42-year-old Lee Bailey and 44-year-old Natalie Bailey, have been inspired to raise money for Sense, who have been supporting their 16-year-old daughter, Megan, on her educational needs, in the last decade. The charity, which supports people with complex disabilities, has gone on to arrange summer holidays for the family, enabling Megan to take part in activities and make new connections. The cycle will take place between Wednesday 29 August and Sunday 02 September, and will see the…

The Cambrian Railway Line has just received the first train to be modified as part of a plan to make sure all services are fully accessible for rail passengers with reduced mobility. By the end of 2019, all trains will be compliant with EU regulations known as ‘Persons of Reduced Mobility’ (PRM). These regulations mean that people with restricted mobility can now use the train in the same way as people with full mobility, ensuring there are no barriers for using public transport. [aoa id=”1″] [/aoa]Whilst a number of Arriva’s current fleet of trains are compliant with accessibility requirements, some…

Economy Secretary Ken Skates has welcomed figures showing that the Welsh Government’s Enterprise Zone programme supported 1550 jobs in 2017/18, bringing the total number of jobs supported to more than 12,250 jobs since 2012. [aoa id=”1″] The figures are taken from a comprehensive report which has been published by the Welsh Government showing progress in each of Wales’ eight  Enterprise Zones. Figures revealed in the Enterprise Zones annual report 2017/18 show businesses located in the Zones benefited from in excess of £5.3m of direct support, while public sector  investment in transport and infrastructure to improve accessibility to the zones stood…

Welsh businesses were among the least optimistic in the UK in July, the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has found. [aoa id=”1″] Business confidence in Wales fell to 17 per cent in July, three points below last month’s figure of 20 per cent and lower than any other region except the East of England. Companies across the nation reported lower confidence in their business prospects at 10 per cent, 18 points lower than the previous month, despite the fact that their optimism about the overall UK economy rose 12 points to 23 per cent. Companies’ hiring intentions…

Cardiff University researchers will reveal the results of a study into National Eisteddfod visitors’ satisfaction levels and experience at the festival. The research, based on the views of over 1,200 visitors at the 2017 Eisteddfod on Anglesey, also examined how people travelled to the festival and their travel plans for this year’s event in Cardiff. The results will be unveiled by Dr Andrea Collins, from the School of Geography and Planning, and Dr Nicole Koenig-Lewis, from Cardiff Business School, at the daily Eisteddfod press briefing on the Maes at 11:00 on Tuesday 7 August. [aoa id=”1″] Similar research is being carried…

Landowners are being warned that they not only face potential claims for damage caused to property as a result of Japanese knotweed, but failing to remove or prevent the spreading of the weed could also lead to a claim in nuisance.  The warning follows Waistell v Network Rail Infrastructure Limited [2017], in which the court found in favour of the Claimants and damages were awarded based on the reduction in the market value of their properties.  Network Rail unsuccessfully appealed (Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (Appellant) v Stephen Williams and Robin Waistell (Respondent) [2018])), and the Court again awarded damages to the Claimants although this time on the basis of the loss of their ability to use or enjoy their properties.  The Court of Appeal held that…

Cardiff and Vale College has held its second Graduation Ceremony for students it has re-engaged with into education or training. [aoa id=”1″] The College’s Widening Participation team provides a range of progression opportunities for young people aged 16-19 who have found themselves not in education, employment or training (NEET) and provide them with a second chance. This includes the Fast Forward programme which focuses on personal and social skills development, work related education and essential skills, alongside accessing a range of vocational opportunities, that can lead to a unique ‘Passport to Progression’ which guarantees an interview on a mainstream course…