Author: Rhys Gregory

From September 2018, Newport families will be among those in Wales able to claim 30 hours government-funded early education and childcare for up to 48 weeks of the year as part of the new Childcare Offer for Wales. [aoa id=”1″] Eligible working parents or guardians of three and four year olds in Gaer (including Maesglas), Rogerstone, Lliswerry, Malpas, St Julian’s, Stow Hill and Shaftesbury, can now apply online at www.newport.gov.uk/childcareoffer The Welsh Government scheme is being piloted in those wards this autumn before being rolled out across the city. [/aoa] It will consist of a combination of existing early education provided…

NORTH WALES desperately needs more land and buildings to support thousands of jobs that will be created by the region’s Growth Vision. One of the eight North Wales Growth Bid programmes is Land and Property Development, addressing a huge shortage in suitable sites for housing and commercial use. The North Wales Economic Ambition Board has identified key locations that would make an initial, and positive, impact on the problem. They are: Parc Bryn Cegin, Bangor: a strategic site which has been ready for development for 15 years. By providing buildings the site would deliver space for supply chain business to…

AN innovative new programme which aims to give cancer patients in south Wales the best chance of surviving the disease has been launched by Cancer Research UK. [aoa id=”1″] Cancer Research UK’s facilitators will support GPs and other healthcare professionals, including dentists and pharmacists, to diagnose cancer earlier when treatment is more effective. They will work across Cardiff and Vale, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Aneurin Bevan health boards. Each year around 19,100 people are diagnosed with cancer in Wales. Over the last 10 years cancer incidence rates have increased by 10% in Wales. [/aoa] Deborah Haworth, Cancer Research UK’s facilitator…

The National Library of Wales is one of the gems of Mid Wales and a popular visitor attraction. The site has ample car parking and is a 10-minute walk from the town centre or alternatively the ’03 bus follows a circular route from the town centre, calling at the national library and the Aberystwyth University campus. Here’s a list of 10 reasons why a visit to the national library is a must this summer:  Come and explore the national library’s remarkable collections on display its galleries. All exhibitions are free and families are welcome. This Grade II listed building and gardens occupy a…

The Gruffalo said that no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood…  Internationally acclaimed theatre company Tall Stories comes to Cardiff’s New Theatrenext week from 2 – 5 August with The Gruffalo’s Child Live on Stage as part of a major UK and international tour. This season forms part of Tall Stories’ 21st anniversary season and will showcase the production’s new set and costumes, direct from a smash-hit West End season. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really…

A partnership project running in Cardiff has achieved an impressive £213,00 in savings and home improvements for householders, and they aren’t finished yet. The innovative Warm & Safe Homes project sees Community Energy Champions visiting households in Cardiff with an offer of free advice and support to help create warm and safe homes. From water bill savings to energy efficiency tips, benefit referrals to safety improvements; the range of help on offer is impressive and seems to have made a real difference to people’s lives. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Mr Gallivan was one householder visited by the Champions and was delighted with…

A quarter of people in Wales (25%) would like to run their own business, according to a study by Informi, who provide expert advice and guidance for Britain’s SMEs. In fact, 9 per cent say it is one of their life goals. Informi conducted the study to see how entrepreneurial the different countries of the UK are. Amongst other findings are that 33% wanted to start their own business because they feel they need to earn more money, 33% say they want to do it because they are unfulfilled in their day job, and 16% say they have a great…

The Dyfi Distillery in Mid Wales has been shortlisted for two business awards within a week. [aoa id=”1″] Last week, brothers Pete and Danny Cameron, who set up the distillery in Corris, near Machynlleth in 2016, were told that they were a finalist in the Rural Business Awards, which recognises companies across the UK who champion working in a rural location. This week, the news arrived that the distillery was also a finalist in the Wales Start Up Awards, which celebrates successful businesses in their first three years of trading. [/aoa] “It was great to receive two pieces of wonderful…

A Cwmbran online bathroom and kitchen retailer is set to triple its turnover after buying its own premises, with the support of a £680,000 funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Plumbtap used the funding to purchase its 50,000 sq ft site on Avondale Business Park.  Investing in the new property will enable the company to streamline its processes, including consolidating its four warehouses into one space, consequently saving £50,000 on overheads. The increased space will also allow the firm to boost its capacity to meet rising consumer demand. As a result, it expects to achieve a turnover of £15million…

Have you ever wondered what would happen if a dinosaur met one of our animals today? Hundreds of local schoolchildren were encouraged to wonder about this and lots more fascinating animal facts at a special event held at Swansea University. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Six hundred pupils, aged from 11 to 13, were guests for science presenters Lizzie Daly and Ben Garrod’s Best Animal Facts show. The show, at Taliesin Arts Centre, took the form of an animal Top Trumps game with the presenters exploring how today’s species compare to prehistoric creatures, before the audience was given a chance to vote on…