Author: Rhys Gregory

Workers across Wales will gain new skills in housing, construction and retrofit, as the Welsh Government invests £655,000 to tackle the shortage of trained professionals in the sector. The funding will support training programmes and paid work placements delivered by social housing organisations and housing professionals, helping to build the skilled workforce needed to deliver more affordable, low-carbon homes across Wales. Over 100 young people will be supported into green careers, with a focus on women, disabled people, and those from ethnic minority backgrounds. In addition, a new accredited training model for social housing professionals will be created, to continue professional development in this priority area of work. Jayne Bryant, Cabinet…

A new £34m health and wellbeing hub bringing GP, mental health and family services together will be built in Cardiff. The Park View Health and Wellbeing Hub in Ely will be developed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and will serve residents across the Caerau and Ely areas. Construction is expected to begin in June and the centre is expected to open in January 2028. It will bring together health, social care and community services under one roof, including GP and primary care services, outpatient clinics, mental health and neurodiversity support, early intervention and family wellbeing services, and falls…

Hospices across Wales will receive further funding support as landmark national commissioning guidance is agreed. The £4.3m support package from the Welsh Government will provide financial relief to children’s and adult hospices to help meet rising costs. The national commissioning guidance sets – for the first time – out a fairer and more consistent approach to commissioning hospice and palliative care services. These reforms set the direction for a streamlined national commissioning model from April 2027, which will address inequity and variation in access to hospice and palliative care across Wales. Around 35,000 people die in Wales each year, with…

Bridgend County Borough Council is to invest regional transport funding of £93,000 in a series of improvements across the local public transport network that will offer fresh advantages for passengers as well as supporting more sustainable travel. Passengers in the Llynfi Valley will benefit from a £48,000 refurbishment of the bus shelters at Maesteg bus station which aims to enhance their comfort while supporting and encouraging shifts towards sustainable modes of transport. The remaining funding will be invested in the installation of a series of new solar and battery powered paper-free electronic displays which will provide improved real-time information on…

The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed the dates for Wales Men’s three home fixtures in the inaugural Nations Championship, with a series of high-profile clashes set for Principality Stadium this November. Wales will play three consecutive Saturday matches in Cardiff as part of rounds four to six of the new international competition. The campaign at Principality Stadium will begin on November 7, when Wales host Japan. It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in the last 18 months, with Wales winning two of the previous three encounters, including their most recent clash in Cardiff. That match also…

Park Avenue in Aberystwyth will host the 2026 Bute Energy U16s Cup Final, the Football Association of Wales has confirmed. The final will see Briton Ferry Llansawel take on The New Saints on Sunday, May 3, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm. Briton Ferry Llansawel progressed directly to the final after their semi-final opponents Swansea City were unable to field a team and forfeited their place in the competition. Meanwhile, The New Saints secured their spot in the showpiece fixture with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park. Supporters planning to attend should note that there will…

Emergency services are continuing their response following a house fire on Lady Street in Kidwelly. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that joint enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, with the fire now extinguished. Officers, alongside other emergency services, remain at the scene while work continues to make the property and surrounding area safe. The cause of the fire is currently being treated as unexplained. Lady Street remains closed and is expected to stay shut for some time, with a small number of nearby properties still affected and access restricted for safety reasons. Police are now appealing for witnesses who…

A multi-agency programme to tackle long-standing issues linked to serious organised crime in an area of Swansea has now begun. The Swansea Public Services Board has launched its flagship Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project, working under the title Building a Better Dyfatty. The launch event took place last week at Tramshed Tech in the former Palace Theatre on High Street; the building sits within the project area. The approach builds on successful Clear Hold Build activity delivered elsewhere across the South Wales Police force area, including Merthyr Tydfil, Adamsdown, Roath and Butetown. Clear Hold Build is a recognised approach to…

Global technology company Genesis Biosciences has welcomed the revised EU Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405 which has explicitly recognised detergents containing microorganisms for the first time. Genesis Biosciences, whose European technical facility is located in Cardiff, has created and delivered innovative, environmentally responsible and scientifically validated microbial solutions for over two decades. Microbial products use microorganisms such as Bacillus as functional raw materials and active ingredients. Despite being commonplace for several decades, microbial-based cleaning products have reshaped the market in recent years, emerging as a green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products. The updated legislative framework governs the safety, composition, labelling and environmental impact of…

As millions of Brits start booking and heading on their 2026 getaways, fresh analysis of 2025 flight data reveals which UK airports were most plagued by cancellations. The team at Luxury Group Stay delved into the latest Air Transport Movements data published by the Civil Aviation Authority, covering the whole of last year to uncover where travellers faced the highest disruption, and which airports proved the most reliable. An Air Transport Movement is defined as “any landing or take-off of an aircraft engaged in the transport of passengers, cargo or mail on commercial terms.” The study examined all UK airports…