Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea University’s School of Management will welcome its first cohort of business leaders and entrepreneurs from South Wales to the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course next year. Its first course will start on 10th January 2025 and is open for up to 30 leaders and senior managers from small- and medium-sized Welsh businesses to register. Delivered by 62 Small Business Charter-accredited business schools across the UK, the Help to Grow: Management Course provides SME leaders with the practical knowledge and skills to help them increase resilience, innovation and growth. The course is 90% government funded and is designed…

Ceredigion County Council is calling for entries as it gears up for a celebration of the county’s businesses and communities. The Gwobrau Caru Ceredigion Awards 2024, to be held in December, will recognise the exceptional contributions and achievements of businesses, community projects, and individuals across the county. Entries for the awards are now open and features 12 categories , ranging from innovations in the community, such as finding new uses from old buildings, through to awards recognising young entrepreneurs, successful events and the tourist industry. Applicants from small enterprises, through to larger businesses, non-profit organisations, charities and community groups alike,…

A 33-year-old man who intentionally strangled his ex-partner has been jailed. Phillip Hill, of East Parade, Rhyl, attacked the victim in her home following an unprovoked incident on August 16th. He admitted a charge of intentional strangulation, and appeared before Mold Crown Court today Monday, October 28th for sentencing, where he was jailed for 15 months. Unhappy that his former partner had been out to visit a family member who was unwell, Hill grabbed the victim to the throat and pushed her up against a wall, before hitting her across the face. Despite her getting away, Hill dragged her to…

Spooky snakes have slithered into a Prestatyn nature spot thanks to a traditional crafting technique. Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service led a Halloween themed wood craft session for Nature for Health volunteers at Coed Y Morfa. To create the creatures to honour All Hallows’ Eve, reused wood from coppicing carried out locally by countryside rangers was used to fashion a selection of snakes. Coppicing is a traditional technique for managing woodland, involving trees or shrubs repeatedly cut at the base to create a coppice stool, leaving enough for regrowth and a sustainable supply of wood. The offcuts can be used…

Gabalfa Youth and Community Centre has hosted a special event to celebrate its remarkable transformation and the successful collaboration of various partners in delivering five innovative projects. The event showcased the results of five major projects developed with the input and creativity of young people; Horse Box Café:A horsebox donated by Boskalis Westminster will be transformed into a café run by young people, providing them with valuable skills and confidence. Galliford Try will assist in fitting out the horsebox based on the young people’s ideas and aspirations. Development of Multimedia Room:In collaboration with Tool Station, Barclaycard, Dulux, and Volunteer It…

Neath Port Talbot Council Waste Enforcement, Licensing and Trading Standards Officers have been involved in a multi-agency operation to expose unlicensed waste carriers who are often behind fly-tipping and waste-arson offences. Operation Walt involved a joint “test purchase” operation by the council with partners South Wales Police in which a Facebook advertisement was set up calling for licensed waste carriers to supply a quote to remove waste from the Lon Las area. Along with proactive visits to Builders’ Merchants by council officers in the county borough to advise them of their legal duties, officers left advice leaflets and contact details…

Excellent progress has been made on works to restore the Menai Suspension Bridge. Following the replacement of all 168 hangers on the bridge it has been confirmed that phase one of the programme will be completed on schedule. The bridge will reopen on Saturday 2 November [00:01hrs]. The start of phase two works, which amongst other things involves the repainting of the bridge, will be paused for four months (November 2024 – February 2025) to allow for the full reopening of the bridge, including the lifting of the 7.5 tonne weight limit, over the winter period. This will not impact…

While the rivalry between Manchester United and Chelsea was rife at the beginning of the century, with the little-known Jose Mourinho arriving at Stamford Bridge and going toe-to-toe with Sir Alex Ferguson’s juggernaut, it has fizzled out somewhat in recent years. That is perhaps due to the lack of competition between the two sides in the Premier League. The Red Devils haven’t won the top flight since the Scot departed Old Trafford in 2013, while the Blues haven’t come close to winning the title since their last success under Antonio Conte in 2017. Nonetheless, fixtures between the two members of…

Wales boasts a thriving industrial sector, with forklift operations playing a crucial role in its success. As businesses across the country seek to enhance efficiency and safety, forklift training has become increasingly important. Forklift training opportunities are widely available throughout Wales, offering workers the chance to gain valuable skills and qualifications. These programmes cater to various industries, from manufacturing and warehousing to construction and logistics. For those seeking to expand their career prospects or improve workplace safety, nationwide forklift training at Heads of The Valleys provides comprehensive courses tailored to different skill levels and machine types. With a focus on…

The average price of a home in Wales dropped to about £232,400 in the third quarter of 2024 –2.9% below October 2023 figures and almost 7% below its peak of £249,000 at the end of 2022. However, the pick-up in transactions in the third quarter has offset the slight downturn in prices, signalling a gradual market recovery. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index for Q3 2024 (July-October), which demonstrates the rise and fall in house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. This represents a slight drop of 1.7% since…