Author: Rhys Gregory

In 2024, you have an important decision to make for your retail business: stick with POS (point of sale) in-store systems, or diversify your operations and leverage EPOS (electronic point of sale) software to drive customer engagement. Both systems have their merits, yet they cater to slightly different types of businesses and customers. While the former represents the history of retail since the tail end of the 19th century, the latter has been a popular choice for many businesses since the turn of the 20th century. In this guide we’ll take a look at the differences between both for retail…

Caerphilly-based SPORTTAPE is gearing-up for global growth following a £1 million investment by the Development Bank of Wales. Established by Directors Kate-Anne Kelly and Carl Austin in 2010, SPORTTAPE offers a range of winning tapes for sport. Their range of sport tapes are used by over 1,000 clubs and one million athletes ranging from local Sunday League Clubs to the Premiership and the Olympics. With a team of 12, the company has distributors in 16 countries and is teaching more than 10,000 people to tape each year. An initial loan of £250,000 from the Development Bank in 2022 to fund…

Mermaid Quay is bringing a fantastic lineup of live music to the quayside throughout the month of August with the return of Summer Sessions. Summer Sessions will see live acts take over the waterfront providing the perfect place to relax, enjoy food and drinks from the range of restaurants, bars, and cafés, and soak in the summer atmosphere. The free events are child and dog friendly, and will this year see the addition of a silent disco for kids where they can dress up and learn dance routines, along with free face painting, ensuring a fun day out for the…

One of Cardiff’s most popular nights out, Bingo Lingo, will move to Cardiff Bay’s Tiger Yard for a month-long, outdoor series of their legendary weekend shows. From August 2nd, all Bingo Lingo events will move from DEPOT Cardiff to the incredible, outdoor waterside location of Tiger Yard. Bingo Lingo fans will be able to enjoy the same high-energy, interactive bingo nights they’ve come to love, but this exciting change promises an unforgettable summer atmosphere as the sun sets. Bingo Lingo is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the UK for over eight years, bringing sell-out shows to over 30…

Ceredigion Nature Partnership have launched their Local Places for Nature grants scheme for 2024. At their quarterly meeting on Friday 29 July at the National Trust property Llanerchaeron, the Local Nature Partnership announced that they have £350,000 to distribute. The scheme is now inviting applications for projects worth up to £50,000 to apply for the Capital funding. Applications are invited from Constituted Groups, Registered Charities, Companies, Private Business and Public Sector organisations providing services to benefit nature and communities in Ceredigion. Rachel Auckland, Local Nature Partnership Coordinator, said: “The Local Places for Nature scheme welcomes applications for projects to create,…

A man from Rhondda Cynon Taf has been handed a 16-year sentence for the sexual abuse of children. Gary Hayes, 61, of Garth Street, Taff’s Well, was found guilty of indecent and sexual assault of four children, all under the age of 13, between April 2002 and September 2016. He was sentenced to the following: 16 years in prison Registered sex offender for life Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order Indefinite restraining orders against all four victims Detective Inspector Owain Morrison said: “Firstly my thoughts remain with the victims and their families having gone through such a terrible ordeal. “Gary Hayes…

As schools break for the summer holidays, Transport for Wales has issued a stark warning to young people about the dangers of trespassing on the railway. No Second Chances – a rail safety campaign launched by TfW last year – has successfully reduced trespassing on the valley railway lines by 45% (latest figures from TfW Annual Report 23/24), with TfW continuing to work hard to drive down trespasser numbers. The campaign has delivered rail safety workshops to more than 20,000 young people at 150 schools across Wales, a live exhibition in Cardiff and the valleys visited by over 750 young…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Planning Committee has granted permission for 90 temporary units of accommodation on the former Eagleswell School site in Llantwit Major for a fixed period. The units are a mix of single and two storey homes for use by couples and families either fleeing the war in Ukraine or already on the Council’s housing waiting list, with the first residents set to move in later this summer. Originally, it was anticipated that the new temporary homes would be used exclusively for Ukrainian refugees. However, as time has passed it now appears the site will have extra…

Neath Port Talbot Council has passed a motion calling on its Leader Cllr Steve Hunt to write a letter of serious concern to the UK and Welsh Governments over funding for local councils. The cross-party motion was taken at a full meeting of Neath Port Talbot Council on Friday, July 26th, 2024. It follows advice from Welsh Government that local authorities in Wales should plan for NO increase in Revenue Support Grant (the money given by Welsh Government to councils to run services) in the next financial year. The motion says the letter from Cllr Hunt should express serious concern…

Works are due to start on the final phase of the South Quay Development in Pembroke. This project includes visitor attraction, new library and café, restored and enhanced historic gardens within the burgage plots and the Pembroke Hwb, offering support services and community facilities to Pembroke and the south of the county of Pembrokeshire. Due to the extensive works there will be a requirement to close South Quay Car Park from Monday, 12th August to allow for construction works to begin on the South Quay regeneration projects. Access will be maintained to the slipway with the road being diverted to…