Author: Rhys Gregory

Previously a space for workshops and car showrooms, the iconic Automobile Palace has been transformed into a state-of-the-art business centre. Powys County Council received more than £1.5m from the Welsh Government to help acquire and restore the building sympathetically, in keeping with its history and original architecture. Another key consideration of the redevelopment was ensuring the National Cycle Museum could remain in the building. 11 lettable business units have been created, supporting the competition and sustainability of the local economy, creating employment opportunities and encouraging rural entrepreneurship. Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, said: “It was wonderful to…

The UK is perfectly built for cyclists. Not only is it compact enough that you’ll never truly feel lost but there’s a deceptive amount of diversity to its landscapes. We’ve got everything from towering hills and valleys to gentle coastal trails. As such, cycling in the UK has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, particularly after the pandemic, with all of us so eager to get out and explore. However, with more bikes on the road, accidents remain a serious concern. Thousands of cyclists are injured or killed on UK roads every year and while not every cycling…

COLEG CAMBRIA is hungry for success in a prestigious national food and drink competition. Despite an “overwhelming” number of entries, the college – based in Wrexham, Llysfasi, Deeside and Northop – has four finalists in two categories at this year’s Wales Food and Drink Awards. Iâl Bakery apprentices Naomi Spaven and Ella Muddiman, and Maelor Foods’ Belinda Rossouw, are nominees in the Rising Star section, while Niki Culkin, a Quality Manager at Knolton Farmhouse Cheese in Wrexham, will vie for the Apprentice of the Year title. Work-based Learning Manager Kate Muddiman congratulated the quartet and said: “I am absolutely delighted…

The Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator Programme, part of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (BWAGP), has announced the winners of its latest awards, celebrating entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional progress and creativity.  The Start-Up Accelerator supports early-stage businesses in Wales with high growth potential, helping them refine their business models, build sales pipelines and secure investment. Over the years, BWAGP has supported founders who have gone on to raise millions in investment, scale internationally and create thousands of jobs across Wales. The current cohort brought together 13 entrepreneurs for an intensive 10-week programme that helped them transform innovative ideas into…

Tesco colleagues in Swansea have raised an impressive £5,500 for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Staff at the retailers’ Llansamlet Extra store presented a giant cheque to the charity on Sunday after spending the previous 12 months working hard to fundraise both in store and in the local community. The charity is close to the hearts of many at the store, with several colleagues having a personal connection with guide dogs and the training of guide dog puppies. The amount raised also meant staff had the opportunity to name two dogs currently completing their guide dog training, with…

New BBC Sounds podcast, Fool’s Gold, tells the story of Welsh detectorists George Powell and Layton Davies who, in June 2015, stumbled upon a Viking treasure hoard near Leominster – estimated to be worth up to £12m – that changed the way we see British history. The treasure consists of gold jewellery, silver ingots and hundreds of Anglo-Saxon coins, believed to be buried more than 1,000 years ago by Viking warriors in Herefordshire and could date all the way back to the fifth century. The Herefordshire Museum Service called it one of the most significant early medieval treasures ever discovered…

Mr Flag, a small Swansea-based business specialising in the design and manufacture of custom outdoor flags, has enjoyed repeated success on the silver screen, from the Marvel Universe to Harry Potter. The business, owned by Charles Ashburner, has been making and selling flags in Swansea since 1992, and were the UK’s very first online flag retailer. Over the past thirty-three years, the business has built a strong reputation not just in Wales, but internationally. Charles Ashburner, said: “We have a very strong market in North America, where I design flags to be used in re-enactments of the Revolutionary War. They…

A man who viciously knocked an elderly man unconscious in an unprovoked attack in his own home has been jailed. Jason Mark Owen, of Llaingoch, Holyhead, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing this week, Tuesday March 18th, after previously admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm. On January 10th, the 36-year-old began banging on doors and windows along Tan Yr Efail, Holyhead, before becoming abusive and threatening towards residents. When a 75-year-old man opened his door after hearing the disturbance, he was attacked by Owen who knocked him to the floor. Owen then went into the man’s house, causing damage to…

Transport for Wales (TfW) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marie Daly as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) – effective 1 April 2025. Marie, who is currently TfW’s Chief Customer and Culture Officer, brings more than 17 years of experience in the rail industry with a strong track record in operational leadership, customer experience and cultural transformation. She has held key roles, including Deputy COO at TfW and Service Delivery Director at Greater Manchester’s tram network, Metrolink and played a pivotal role in overseeing the transition of Wales’ rail franchise to TfW in 2021. Marie’s appointment comes at a…

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet have approved grants totalling £234,914 to 12 successful applicants as part of its Third Sector Grant funding scheme for 2025/26. The scheme was open to grant applications from December 9th, 2024 to January 24th, 2025 from Neath Port Talbot Third Sector organisations often referred to as voluntary sector, non-governmental or non-profit organisations. This year’s grants, approved by the Cabinet on March 19th, 2025, are going to: •    Neath Port Talbot Stroke Group (£6,250) – To help deliver 50 weekly group sessions. •    YMCA Neath (£25,000) – To strengthen and expand its vital community…