Author: Rhys Gregory

Weddings have never been cheap. But rising living costs have encouraged many Welsh couples to change how they approach the big day. Lavish spending is giving way to careful planning, and that shift is influencing every part of the celebration. More people are cutting unnecessary extras, focusing on meaningful experiences, and making every penny stretch further. Budget-conscious planning is not only common now, but also becoming the preferred choice for those wanting a wedding that reflects their values and their bank balance. Let’s take a closer look at how couples across Wales are managing their wedding budgets more practically than…

People in Wales are set to benefit from a £10 million investment aimed at improving local work, health, and skills support as part of the UK Government’s initiative to tackle inactivity and Get Britain Working. The first trailblazer programme in Wales, launched in Denbighshire by UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant, will for the first time provide targeted interventions tailored to local needs, rather than the current “one size fits all” approach. This includes help with CV writing and job searching, one-to-one mentoring, counselling services, wellbeing provision, and access to condition management services for…

Business advisory group, Dow Schofield Watts (DSW), is expanding its corporate finance team in Cardiff with new office space and personnel following significant growth and continued success over the last year. This move reflects DSW’s commitment to becoming the most sought-after business advisory firm for owner managers in the UK regions. DSW’s Cardiff office expansion comes after an exceptional 2024, marked by £809m in deals and a 36% increase in overall deal value from 2023. The move will enable DSW to further capitalise on new opportunities, enabling business owners in the UK regions to create, protect and realise value –…

A brand-new McDonald’s restaurant in Bridgend opened on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025. Following significant investment from local McDonald’s Franchisee Ralph Parker, the restaurant will open for dine-in and takeaway. Opening hours will be 8am-10pm, 7 days a week. The new 116-seater restaurant will create over 60 new full and part-time jobs for the local community and will feature table service, self-ordering kiosks, and a large outside patio area. Ralph Parker, who now owns and operates 12 McDonald’s restaurants in Wales, said “We are delighted to be opening another brand-new McDonald’s restaurant in Bridgend and can’t wait to see local customers,…

ENTERPRISING students are aiming high after reaching the finals of a regional business competition. Coleg Cambria learners Dylan Morris and Henry Garner won the Young Enterprise North Wales event at Wrexham University with their innovative new activewear and lifestyle brand – MountForce. They were victorious in the Judges Award and Company Programme categories and will now contest the Welsh finals in Cardiff next month (May), having impressed with their presentation and positive attitudes. The Level 1 Business, Travel and Events students are confident of future success and taking their start-up venture “to the next level”. “We were up against A…

A woman from Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after stealing thousands of pounds from her employer. 44-year-old Rebecca Hanford, from Skewen, had been working as a cashier at Arbourne’s, on New Road, Skewen, since 2010. Up to September 2020, the business noted a shortfall of approximately £55,000 in their accounts. The business owners told the court that they estimated that the amount of money taken could total up to £100,000. She has been sentenced to 12 months in prison. Detective Sergeant Simon Davies said: “Rebecca Hanford’s actions were not only criminal and selfish; they also had a detrimental impact…

Transport for Wales is pleased to launch a new fflecsi app, bringing bus passengers a seamless and convenient way to pay for their journeys. Passengers using fflecsi bus services will now benefit from a simpler and more consistent fare system. As part of a recent update, fares have been aligned across the majority of fflecsi schemes in Wales, establishing a new distance-based structure that mirrors the established TrawsCymru fare system. This change has been designed to offer customers with a more user-friendly experience when using the fflecsi bus service. Key features of the new fare system: Unified fare structure: All…

Local projects in Porthcawl and Coychurch will be supported by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Town and Community Council Capital Grant Scheme following recent Cabinet approval. After a detailed application process, funding is allocated to town and community councils to contribute towards key projects that align with Bridgend County Borough Council’s community asset transfer and net-zero policies. The fund has previously supported a range of key projects throughout the county borough and the most recent successful applications will see £20,000 awarded to Coychurch Lower Community Council as part of a multi-phase project to improve the local community playing fields with bike…

Young people from Cardiff Youth Services have assisted in the development of an augmented reality therapy to help address anxiety in young people. The immersive technology provides an intervention for young people as an alternative to traditional therapy and has been developed and tested by six young people from Cardiff’s Grassroots provision over a six-week pilot period. Created by Elemental Health, who provide mental health support services for young people – and in collaboration with Sugar Creative and Media Cymru – the approach provides a way for young people to engage with therapy by digitally “growing” a plant that represents…

Pembrokeshire County Council is once again preparing for the annual Tenby Pedestrianisation scheme. The scheme is due to start on Monday July 7th and finish on Friday September 12th and run between 11am – 5.30pm each day. The scheme will again see the Walled Town divided into three zones, each of which will have varying degrees of vehicle access. Full details of the scheme and the on-line application form will be available from Thursday May 1st on the Council’s website at https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/tenby-pedestrianisation Residents and business within the Walled Town are encouraged to complete the application process as soon as possible…