Author: Rhys Gregory

An extra £1.5bn to strengthen public services, support small businesses and drive economic growth is at the heart of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget 2025-26. All government departments will receive increases in revenue and capital funding, marking a significant contrast from previous budgetary constraints. Capital spending plans will exceed £3bn for the first time at the Draft Budget stage, enabling substantial investments in the school estate, NHS infrastructure, housing and public transport. Cabinet Secretary for Finance Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This is budget for a brighter future, delivering an extra £1.5bn for our public services and priorities, helping to put…

Imagine trying to learn a new concept or skill in a dry, uninspired environment. The challenge becomes greater when the material is complex or highly technical.  This is where animation steps in, reshaping how training is delivered and absorbed. If you’re overseeing employee development, animation offers a fresh perspective, providing clarity and engagement. By presenting information visually, animation cuts through monotony and transforms dull topics into interactive experiences. Whether you’re onboarding new employees or upgrading skills, this dynamic tool offers an effective way to communicate even the most intricate ideas. Why Animation Works in Training Animation thrives on its ability…

Creating an inclusive school environment is essential for ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed. While SEND is the more recent terminology, SEN remains widely recognised and continues to be commonly used in discussions about education. Both terms focus on ensuring that children with unique learning needs have access to a supportive and inclusive environment. For schools, adopting effective strategies to meet these needs is critical—not only for the benefit of SEND learners but for fostering an atmosphere of empathy, collaboration, and mutual respect that benefits the entire school community. Below, we explore key SEND and inclusion strategies…

An electronic point of sale (POS) system is essential for modern businesses who are looking to streamline their operations and keep up with the needs of today’s consumers. As the global POS market is projected to grow from $33 billion in 2024 to a whopping $110 billion by 2032, choosing the right POS system is a necessity.  Epos Now is transforming the way businesses operate, using a cloud-based system that currently powers 80,000 locations across the world. With advanced features that can help your business grow while maintaining a consistently great customer experience, the 2025 landscape is looking to be…

A police operation to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time in Cardiff city centre is in full swing. Police officers and partners are all putting in shifts to ensure partygoers, shoppers, and of course people who live and work in the centre, are well looked after this Christmas. Additional resources are being deployed in the city centre which is attracting around 142,000 visitors daily. So far this month, as part of Operation Mistletoe, officers have conducted plain-clothed patrols to arrest wanted people, a knife-sweep, and seized several bikes in a joint operation with city centre wardens to tackle…

COLLEGE staff submerged themselves in a unique charity quest. The 12-strong team from Coleg Cambria’s Bersham Road site in Wrexham successfully completed the Bigger Boat Challenge. The task – referencing the 1975 movie hit, Jaws – was the toughest yet for Karl Jackson and colleagues as they kayaked around Lake Vyrnwy and Bala Lake and hiked 22-kilometres, while camping overnight in rough conditions, all in aid of Dementia UK. “We have taken on some big adventures for various campaigns over the years, but this one was particularly gruelling, and the weather was terrible at the start,” said Karl, Assistant Principal for the Institute…

Julia Rausing Trust is pleased to announce £16.7 million in heritage grants across the UK. The funding includes £6.2 million to cathedrals, £6.2 million to botanic gardens and £4.3 million to museums and galleries. The grants will enable crucial repair and refurbishment works to English cathedrals and botanical gardens across England, Wales and Scotland. Funding for museums and galleries will support strategic programme delivery that will benefit smaller regional museums. Among seven cathedrals receiving support is York Minster, where a grant of £500,000 has been made to complete the fundraising campaign for the Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills…

Wales rugby legend Sam Warburton surprised pupils at a Swansea school when he made a special visit to a rugby lesson to deliver a donation of new kits. The rugby kits included shirts, shorts and rugby balls, and were donated to Cefn Hengoed Community School by Canterbury and Amazon in partnership with Cwtch Mawr, Wales’s first Multibank, which is run by Swansea charity Faith in Families, with support from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and Amazon. The Cwtch Mawr Multibank is a community donations hub, offering support to families experiencing poverty across Swansea. It provides surplus essentials, such as hygiene…

The delivery of funding, which will support green energy projects across North Wales, is now a step closer given the appointment of two experienced Fund Advisors. Ambition North Wales has appointed WCVA and UMi, following a competitive procurement process, to prepare and mobilise its Clean Energy Fund which will launch next year. The fund will comprise of two sub-funds, with WCVA working in conjunction with Community Energy Wales on the voluntary sector sub-fund; and UMi leading the sub-fund targeting the private sector. The Clean Energy Fund project is part of the region’s Growth Deal which is delivered by Ambition North…

New funding that will support more people into work has been welcomed by the CIPD in Wales and Transport for Wales, who share a commitment to help create fair work and quality jobs. Announced as part of the UK Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ plans, the ‘inactivity trailblazer’ will see £125 million invested in eight areas*, including Wales. This funding will enable local areas to create their own local plans to help people access health and skills support, so they can secure paid employment. Under the new ‘Get Britian Working’ plans, a review is also planned to see how employers can…