Author: Rhys Gregory

DPP Planning, one of the UK’s leading independent planning consultancies, has welcomed three new planners to its Cardiff headquarters, with Nia Williams, Frank Walsh and Kuba Sala joining its ranks. Nia Williams joins DPP as Planner, having recently completed a Masters in Spatial Planning and Development at Cardiff University. Nia also has a degree in Geography from the University of Bristol and is currently working to gain her MRTPI accreditation. During her studies, Nia worked at Pembrokeshire County Council as part of their planning admin team, before moving to a small consultancy in Cardiff for a year as an Assistant…

Avon Engineered Rubber’s domestic and overseas growth ambitions have been bolstered with a prestigious international endorsement. The 100-plus staff at the manufacturing firm, based in Maerdy, South Wales, are celebrating after securing an important official seal of approval from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). ISO 50001 certification for energy management has been confirmed after Avon Engineered Rubber demonstrated how the company proved its commitment to enhance energy performance. It marks progress for the aerosol seals and gaskets manufacturer, which is part of the Bristol-headquartered Avon Group, and employs more than 100 people, exporting worldwide from its Valleys premises. Vincent Minchella, Managing Director of Avon Engineered Rubber, said:…

Dr Gabriel Gallagher explains why Welsh firms should pay attention to HNTAS before billing, compliance and development decisions become harder to unpick. A change that deserves more attention in Wales I run a technical consultancy based here in Wales, working with public, private and third-sector clients on heat network projects across the UK. Like many Welsh businesses, I have spent the past 18 months watching one of the most significant pieces of UK heat network regulation in a decade move towards implementation. The Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme, or HNTAS, is the UK Government’s new framework for technical performance, data…

Andrew Weston explains why Welsh SMEs should look beyond link volume and focus on authority, citations and trust. Link building has changed for Welsh firms I have worked in UK SEO and link building for more than a decade, and the conversations I have with Welsh business owners today are different from those I was having even three years ago. Whether they are family-run businesses in the Valleys, hospitality operators on the North Wales coast, professional services firms in Cardiff or independent retailers in Swansea, owners are asking sharper questions about how they appear in search results. That is partly…

Buying a home in Wales feels like the finish line. Months of searching, negotiating, paperwork. Then the keys arrive. Hidden costs, unexpected repairs, and regulatory demands have a habit of surfacing in the first year of ownership, often before the new furniture is even in place. With Welsh property prices still at a level where even small surprises matter, first-year ownership costs deserve closer attention than most buyers give them. What Survey Deficiencies Show Up After Completion? Most buyers in Wales choose a Level 2 homebuyer survey because the fee is lower. That decision can cost more later. Hidden damp,…

A BBC Wales investigation has found that women desperate to become parents are being harassed for sex and offered cheap, illegal sperm samples online. Swipe Right for Sperm, a new BBC Cymru Wales programme airing on BBC One Wales on Monday 8 June and BBC Two on Thursday 18 June, has discovered that individuals who are unable to access fertility treatment are seeking out options on social media, which is driving a growing unregulated market – with some even turning to “Tinder for sperm” websites. As part of the investigation, the team paid £100 for a next-day delivery sample from…

You have to hand it to TGI Fridays. Like much of the hospitality sector, the restaurant chain has faced its fair share of challenges over the last couple of years. Closures across the UK, including restaurants in Cardiff and Swansea, have left many wondering what the future holds for one of the country’s most recognisable casual dining brands. Rather than retreating, TGI Fridays appears to be doing the opposite. From collaborations and foodie challenges to a steady stream of menu updates, the brand is clearly working hard to tempt customers back through its doors. The latest addition is the new…

The UK’s new car market delivered its strongest May performance since before the pandemic, with registrations rising 7.1% to 160,662 units, reported the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The performance was the best recorded for the month since 2019, although still -12.6% behind pre-pandemic levels. Registrations in Wales last month rose 6.95% to 5,152. A resurgence in private buyers drove the increase, with registrations up 17.2% as consumers responded to increasingly competitive offers from an unprecedented range of brands and a 6.4% increase in model choice – including a 25.6% uplift in BEV products year to date. Fleet demand…

Wales is set for a mixed week of weather, with sunshine and showers dominating the forecast before temperatures could climb into the mid-20s by next weekend. According to the Met Office, Monday began on a wet note across much of Wales, with spells of heavy rain and gusty winds affecting many areas during the morning. However, conditions are expected to improve through the afternoon as the rain clears eastwards, allowing for a much drier and brighter end to the day with sunny spells developing across the country. Despite the brighter conditions, temperatures will remain below average for the time of…

Crimestoppers is launching a new campaign to highlight the growing impact of neighbourhood crime across the UK and empower people to share information anonymously to help protect communities. From burglary and robbery to shoplifting and phone theft, neighbourhood crime is reshaping everyday life, affecting people’s sense of safety at home, their confidence on their streets and trust in local high streets and public spaces. Latest figures show the scale of the issue with more than 509,000 shoplifting offences, 224,000 burglaries, and 129,000 thefts from the person recorded across the UK. In addition, there were an estimated 590,000 incidents of retail…