Author: Rhys Gregory

With the general election fast approaching, political parties in the UK have set out the steps they propose to take with regards to pension schemes in their manifestos. When in government, the Conservative party used the Autumn Statement and Spring Budget to announce their plans to make pensions more productive for the UK economy. In April, the party applied the triple lock in full to the state pension for 2024-2025 (an 8.5% increase) and confirmed the abolishment of the lifetime allowance, while also proposing measures such as a pension ‘pot for life’ and the consolidation of small defined contribution pension…

Cardiff Business Club marked the last event of its 2023/24 season with insights on change, diversification and authenticity as Anne Jessopp CBE, CEO and Deputy Master of the Mint at The Royal Mint, addressed the Club. At the event sponsored by Hugh James, Jessopp discussed the recent redevelopment that the Mint has undergone since her appointment in 2018, and following the 35% decline in coin usage through the pandemic. Highlighting the change in society and industry by asking attendees to raise their hands if they had used coins today, this week, or this month, she went on to say that…

A packed entertainment programme for all the family is planned for this year’s Llanfyllin Show which will be held on Saturday, August 10. The popular show, which is held at Bodfach Park, is a celebration of all that’s great about the countryside and the community, providing an opportunity to meet, compete and have a fun family day out. Main show sponsor this year is GNJ Steel Framed Building Ltd of Llanfyllin. A Mini Pony Show – Equestrian Razzle Dazzle, In Miniature!, dog agility displays, the traditional Village Green with activities for children, Porthywaen Silver Band, a Punch and Judy Show,…

DUDLEY’S Aluminium, a leading Welsh fabricator, has secured another key project in Cardiff’s city centre, working on the multistorey car park in Central Quay. Working with Goldbeck Construction, for Rightacres Property and Network Rail, Dudley’s will be installing curtain walling and doors on the build of the car park in the centre of Cardiff, as part of the Central Quay project which also features residential, office, leisure and retail opportunities. This is not the first time the Welsh fabricator has taken on a city centre project. Dudley’s has played an instrumental role in the regeneration of the city centre with…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has officially reopened as part of a £377,828.22 renovation taking place across the six park sites in Caerphilly area, managed by the LTA, and Caerphilly County Borough Council, supported by the LTA Tennis Foundation. Tennis courts in Blackwood Showfields, which are among Six parks in the area to have benefited from this investment, were recently reopened by Rob Hartshorn, Head of Public Protection, Community & Leisure Services at Caerphilly County Borough Council and other local authority representatives, along with representatives from the LTA. There was an opportunity for people from the local community to pick up…

The two-day Wales Airshow – organised by Swansea Council – is back again and there’s an enormous amount to enjoy. Council head of cultural services Tracey McNulty said: “Tens of thousands of people will attend this exceptional annual show – and we look forward to welcoming all of them “There’ll be lots to enjoy, with air and ground displays for all the family, and we ask everybody to plan ahead in order to maximise their enjoyment of the event. “We thank those whose daily routines may have to change due to the road changes which are in place for the…

The search is on to find the next set of champion fish and chip shops as the National Fish and Chip Awards, the UK’s premier prize-giving event for outstanding businesses in the industry, today launches its 2025 campaign to find the greatest takeaways and restaurants from the UK and overseas. Organised by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), the National Fish and Chip Awards is in its 37th year, with Seafood from Norway as its principal sponsor for 2025. The awards ensure high standards are maintained and improved throughout the sector, sustainable practices are adhered to, and innovation is…

The nutritionist on a new TV show knows all about the stress and shame of being overweight – she was a weekend binge-eater with bulimia. Angharad Griffiths, 45, who hails from Carmarthen but now lives in Bethesda in Gwynedd, has spoken movingly about overcoming her own problems and is now on a mission to promote healthier lifestyles and eating habits on the new S4C reality programme, Tŷ FFIT. She is one of the two specialists on the health transformation series – a spin-off of the popular ‘FFIT Cymru’ which went through six series and is again being made by Caernarfon-based…

The age of water in the Antarctic is being revealed by seals for the first time. Aberystwyth University researchers are beginning to receive satellite data from seals showing how much oxygen is contained in the region’s water – a way of measuring its age and where it comes from. Part of an international effort to understand the effects of climate change in polar regions, this data is being used to see how water circulation is changing and its effects on glaciers. How far and how fast the warm current flows under the Antarctic glaciers, thawing them underneath, will affect how…

Students at a Cardiff secondary school will get extra help for their mental health and wellbeing needs thanks to a £1.7m investment in new facilities. Mary Immaculate High School has expanded its on-site nurture facility, called The Bridge, to offer tailored support and intervention to a greater number of students. The specialist provision caters for students with emotional, mental health and wellbeing issues. Staff offer a range of intervention strategies to help students overcome barriers to learning, while also nurturing them to be ready for the real world. The Bridge also offers a sanctuary for students who need extra support…