Author: Rhys Gregory

A Bill to reform the local tax system in Wales, including non-domestic rates and council tax, has this week (16 July 2024) been passed by the Senedd. The Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill establishes a series of changes to improve the tax systems. It will make them fairer and work better for the future needs of Wales, by ensuring local taxes reflect economic circumstances more regularly. For non-domestic rates (also known as business rates), the Bill will: increase how often the values of all non-domestic properties in Wales are updated, to once every three years; provide more flexibility to make changes to…

Openreach employees have once again demonstrated their commitment to the community and surrounding environment by volunteering their time to help restore one of Wales’ historic canals. The Montgomery Canal is a partially restored 33 mile canal that runs from the Llangollen Canal down through Newtown and Welshpool before crossing the border to Shropshire. In total eighteen Openreach engineers have supported the Canal & River Trust restoration project to help bring the ‘Monty’ canal, which has been designated  both a Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest, back to its former glory. The restoration work includes reconstructing bridges, dredging…

Wales find themselves in League B for the 2024-2025 Nations League after being relegated in the previous season, where they finished fourth place in their group. The Dragons will be looking to redeem themselves and make it back to League A, but that all depends on how they fare against their current group opponents. So, let’s take a look at who Wales will be facing and what their chances look like. Wales’ Competition in Group B4 The draw for the UEFA Nations League group phase took place on February 8th, 2024, in Paris. Wales was drawn against Iceland, Montenegro, and…

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…