Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff’s consumers can earn 5p for every paper cup they return to store in new city centre campaign. A groundbreaking AI-based pilot initiative to tackle paper cup waste launches in Cardiff city centre today, as Keep Wales Tidy partners with the National Cup Recycling Scheme and innovative waste sorting app, Bower. The three-month pilot will enable residents, visitors and commuters in Cardiff, to recycle their used paper cups at participating Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, Greggs, McDonald’s and Pret a Manger stores in return for a 5p reward. Customers purchasing drinks in paper cups from these retailers can download the Bower…

A new mental health hospital is set to open in Rhyl in April 2025 with support from HSBC UK. Ty Melyn Limited has secured an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK to purchase a site in Rhyl, Wales, which will become the new Seren Gobaith Mental Health Hospital. Located on Brighton Road in Rhyl, the new hospital will provide 24-hour support, operating across five-wards, it will provide 62 beds for patients with en-suite facilities in every room. The new facility will create 250 new jobs for hospital workers and medical professionals. The privately-run hospital hopes to work closely with the…

The family of the man who died following a road traffic collision on the A55 at Bodelwyddan last week have paid tribute to him. David Emrys ‘Junior’ Williams was 35-years-old and came from the Llandudno Junction area. His family have paid the following tribute to him: “David was the beloved son of Sharon and David, Brother to Gemma and James, beloved Father to Harry, Henry and Hayden and former partner of Jenny. “Words cannot describe how devastated we are, and your family and friends will miss you dearly.” The investigation to establish the cause of the collision is underway and…

Swansea Council has secured more than £3million for transport related improvements in the city. In total, £3.188 million has been allocated to Swansea and will be invested in a wide range of projects. Projects to boost public transport links, flood alleviation works, along with electric vehicles charging points and walking/cycling infrastructure have been included in the successful bid made to Welsh Government earlier in the year. £600k is going towards the development of a strategic transport plan to improve sustainable transport along the Northern City Link (between Penllergaer and the city centre), boosting Some of the funding (£380k) has been…

One of the largest community park redevelopment projects in Wales has been officially completed and opened to the public. Glynneath Miners Welfare Park has undergone a major transformation thanks to a partnership between Glynneath Town Council, several key funders and support from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Project Development and Funding Team. The £817,860 redevelopment project has created a modern, inclusive space for residents of all ages, and was officially opened by Glynneath-born entertainer Max Boyce MBE and Glynneath Town Mayor, Councillor Julian Bulman. The new facilities include a children’s play park on the site of the former bowls green, complete…

Less than five months after construction officially began at the Coed Ely Solar Farm, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, and Vital Energi are celebrating a significant milestone as the last of the 9,400 solar panels are set to be installed just in time for Earth Day which took place on April 22, 2025. The farm plays a significant part in the council’s decarbonisation as it will export 5MW of clean electricity to the grid, but it will also help lower Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s emissions as they will receive 1MW of low-carbon power…

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,…