Author: Rhys Gregory

Vaughan Gething has resigned as Wales’ First Minister after just a few months in office, following significant internal turmoil within the Welsh Labour Party. His resignation was precipitated by the departure of four senior ministers who protested against his leadership. Despite initial resistance, Gething acknowledged that a period of rebuilding under his leadership was not feasible. Gething’s brief tenure faced numerous challenges, including a lost vote of confidence and allegations of misconduct linked to campaign donations and management decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Labour leader Keir Starmer praised Gething’s historic role as the first Black leader of a European country,…

A new record number of Green Flags are flying at green spaces across Wales today, following Keep Wales Tidy’s announcement of Green Flag and Green Flag Community Awarded spaces for 2024/25.  The 291 sites include parks, university campuses, community farms, cemeteries, allotments and housing associations.  The Green Flag Award, delivered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy, aims to connect people with the very best parks and green spaces. The awards benchmark parks and green spaces, so visitors know wherever there is a Green Flag, they’re visiting an exceptional place with the highest standards.  Newly awarded Green Flag sites for 2024/25…

Restoration work on Wales’ last working windmill has completed, allowing the sails of the 18th century flour mill to turn again. Richard Holt, former head pastry chef in London for the well-known Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Marcus Wareing, returned to his homeland of Ynys Môn in 2019 to take over the Melin Llynon mill from the local authority, with an ambition to bring his skills as a pâtissier to help revive this iconic landmark. Since then, and following an extensive renovation project, the 31-year-old entrepreneur has been successful in several endeavours, drawing on his extensive expertise, from the creation of…

Figures published by the Welsh Government in the “Wales Visitor Economy Profile” shows that Tourism Industries accounted for 11.8% of employment (159,000) in Wales in 2022, an increase from 151,000 in 2020 (11.3% of employment in Wales). The data also demonstrates that tourism-related industries contributed 5.1% to GVA in Wales in 2022 (£3.8 billion). Wales remains, however, the only UK nation to not recover visitor spending figures from 2019. To ensure this vital sector recovers, FSB Wales calls on the Welsh Government to: Restore Business Rates Relief: Restoring business rates relief for businesses in the leisure, retail and hospitality sector…

​This week, thousands of students from Cardiff Metropolitan University will graduate at the Wales Millennium Centre. Over 3,000 students from over 90 different countries will attend the July Graduation Ceremonies which take place from Monday 15 July to Thursday 18 July. President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Met University, Professor Rachael Langford, said: “Graduation week is one of the highlights of our University year. This significant occasion is an opportunity for us to welcome students, and their family, friends and supporters who have been there for them throughout their studies to celebrate graduands’ important achievements with us. “All of the University…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of Tŷ Hafod Nursing Homein Capel Llanilltern, South Wales. Tŷ Hafod is an established, profitable nursing and residential care home that is registered for 27 residents. The business occupies a detached, two-storey former hotel building that was built in the 1990s and sits on approximately 1.29 acres of land with beautiful mature gardens. It is located in a semi-rural position close to junction 33 of the M4 motorway and approximately eight miles north of Cardiff City centre. Following a confidential sales process with Oliver McCarthy at Christie & Co,…

Existing and new members of the Growing Mid Wales Economic Advisory Group (EAG) recently met for the first time with the Leaders of Ceredigion and Powys County councils at the Elan Valley visitor centre to discuss the strategic initiatives of the Mid Wales Growth Deal and collaborate on advancing the region’s economic growth. Steve Lesbirel, Chair of the EAG said, “We now have a full group consisting of entrepreneurial industry leaders and we look forward together with a passion to help drive the Mid Wales economy forward. Our group plays a key role in providing a strategic and constructive challenge…

Sophie Page, a BSc Architectural Studies student at Cardiff University has been announced as the regional winner at the Women in Property South Wales Student Awards.  The event, a celebration dinner held at The Classroom in Cardiff, provided employers in the property and construction sector with a platform to engage with some of the most promising undergraduates in the built environment sector. Sophie’s exceptional qualities stood out to the judges, who described her as “an outstanding candidate, confident and very focussed, clearly an incredible work ethic, a dedicated student with a passion for what she does.” Hannah Lewis-Jones, Chair of…

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) will begin restoring lost Atlantic rainforest in Pembrokeshire thanks to a long-term partnership with Aviva.  Yesterday, Monday 15th July, WTSWW revealed plans to improve habitats and recreate temperate rainforest at Trellwyn Fach near the Pembrokeshire coast. Rainforests used to cover much of the west coast of Britain though were destroyed over hundreds of years and today, only fragments remain.  Rainforest restoration forms part of a wider programme of nature-based projects to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help nature recover, funded by Aviva’s donation. Communities in Pembrokeshire will be closely involved…

Last week, officers carried out action to tackle illegal and anti-social use of e-bikes and bike theft in Swansea city centre as part of Operation Lathyrus. The operation, which was set up in response to continued incidents of bike thefts and anti-social bike use in the city centre, has seen numerous complaints received from concerned members of the public around the speed that e-bikes are being ridden around the city centre area. On Friday (July 12), officers were deployed to several locations around the city, with a bike-marking tent and stand set up in Castle Gardens. Officers provided education and…