Author: Rhys Gregory

The escalation of tensions in the Middle East appears to have impacted on confidence in the commercial property market in Wales, with both occupier and investor demand reported to have fallen in the first quarter of the year and the outlook for rents and capital values said to have deteriorated, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) commercial property monitor. A net balance of -17% of Welsh respondents reported a fall in overall occupier demand through the first quarter of the year, with demand for office space reported to have been flat, demand for industrial space said…

Ecodetect, an Anglesey-based company specialising in AI-driven marine monitoring for offshore infrastructure, has secured a £490,000 equity investment to help scale its technology, create new jobs and support a new phase of growth in tandem with the UK’s fast-expanding renewable energy sector. The funding round includes £245,000 from a six-strong angel syndicate led by Bobby Williams, a member of the M-SParc Angel Network, which also included £25,000 from climate-focused investor OnePlanet Capital. This has been matched by another £245,000 from the Wales Angel Co-Investment Fund, managed by the Development Bank of Wales. The equity investment will help the business strengthen…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has launched its newly established School of Health and Social Care, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to preparing the future workforce for one of Wales’s most vital sectors. The launch introduces a comprehensive portfolio of programmes designed to reflect the rapidly evolving needs of the health and social care landscape. Courses within the School include areas such as Health and Social Care, Public Health, Social Work, Counselling, and Leadership in Care. These programmes are tailored to equip students for a wide range of careers including care coordinators, social workers, support…

Wales is set to compete on the global esports stage after a new partnership between Esports Wales and the Football Association of Wales will see national teams entered into the FIFAe World Cup. The collaboration will see Welsh teams compete in both eFootball and Rocket League, marking a major step forward in bringing together traditional sport and esports in Wales. The move creates a clear national pathway for elite esports players to represent Wales internationally, aligning structures across both organisations to support growth and performance at the highest level. Wales will be represented by dedicated squads across both competitions. In…

Leading customer conversations provider Moneypenny has launched a dedicated automotive team to meet growing demand for its AI Receptionist and customer communication solutions, building on recent investment in the sector including the appointment of Business Development Manager Casey Lewis. In Q1 Moneypenny has seen a 125% increase in new enquiries from the auto sector, and March has been a particularly busy month, with auto-related new business enquiries up 167% on February levels. Moneypenny’s specialist automotive team is trained to support the unique needs of the sector, providing 24/7 phone answering, AI Receptionist services, live chat, booking management and customer support. This ensures…

Staff and volunteers at the UK’s leading end of life charity raised more than £2,000 when they took part in a 40-hour bikeathon to celebrate the charity’s flagship fundraiser. Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, which takes place annually from February to March, marked its 40th anniversary this year, and the charity’s team in Wales celebrated the end of the milestone last week. A total of 66 staff, volunteers and supporters took part in a 40 hour Bikeathon from 7pm on April 22 to 11am on April 24, taking on 30 minute stints across the time on  static bikes at the…

A luxury, self-catering sanctuary designed for writers who need space and quiet to work on a book, PhD thesis, blog article or other creative project has opened in a beautiful Mid Wales valley. Writer and author coach Julia Forster began welcoming guests to her Writers’ Cabin, just three miles from the village of Penegoes, near Machynlleth, in the summer of 2024. She and her family settled in the area 16 years ago, having been hunting a dream home in the countryside somewhere in Scotland, Devon or Wales. When a neighbouring larch wood was felled, Julia and her husband, Tom, acquired…

Art, design and creative students across part of Wales are being challenged to design the official poster for the historic 2027 Grand Départ of the Tour de France in which will be visiting their home country. Stage three of the famous Tour de France men’s race is from Welshpool to Cardiff on Sunday, July 4 next year. The other race stages are from Edinburgh to Carlisle and Keswick to Liverpool. Further and higher education art, design, graphics, creative and photography students living in the local authority areas hosting each of the stages can enter the poster competition. In Wales, the…

Harding Evans have announced the appointment of Scott Keddle as their new Head of Commercial Property, marking a new chapter for the practice. A Commercial Property solicitor for over a decade, Scott joins the firm from Knights, bringing with him extensive experience of advising on wide-ranging and complex transactions across the UK. Head of Commercial, Ben Jenkins, commented on the appointment “as a firm, we have very successfully handled commercial property matters for some time, but it is a practice area that we have identified as an opportunity for strategic growth. Scott’s appointment to head the commercial property team marks…

Award-winning ingredients specialists Beacon Foods has appointed a new managing director who has worked for the company for 19 years. Financial director Jeff Davies has been promoted to lead the Brecon-based company, allowing co-founder and chairman Edward Gough to focus on the next phase business development and expansion. Mr Davies, 57, joined the successful business in 2007 as company accountant, having started his career at chartered accountants W. J. James in Brecon. During his Beacon Foods career, the company has grown its workforce from 100 to 180, boosted turnover from £8m to £25m and increased factory space, supported by a…