Author: Rhys Gregory

TV soap stars and ex-Premier League players will be raising money for a crime-fighting organisation at a charity football match. The game in aid of North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) is being organised by the Wrexham Police FC team  who are the second favourite club of Wrexham AFC co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Among those expected to be lining up against the off-duty coppers will be a trio of actors from Emmerdale, James Hooton who plays Sam Dingle, Jay Kontzle who portrays Billy Fletcher and Joe Warren Plant aka Jacob Gallagher. They will be turning out for…

The Development Bank of Wales has published its annual results for 2023/24. 430 different businesses benefitted from 491 investments totalling £125.2 million and generating £50.1 million of private sector co-investment. 4,406 jobs were created or safeguarded against a target of 3,779. The average deal size increased to £254,977 and the Bank recorded its largest ever strategic funding deal in January 2024 as part of a syndicate with co-investor Barclays for Bluestone Resorts. The ESG syndicated facility has enabled Bluestone to continue with a major sustainable investment programme, including the development of a 5-hectare solar farm. The value of exits rose…

Thomas Carroll Group has this week reported a 2% growth in turnover, as well as pre-tax profits of nearly £1million in its FY 2023 results. 2023 was a landmark year for the Thomas Carroll Group – the Caerphilly-headquartered independent insurance, risk, wealth management and insurtech company celebrated its 50th year in business and also transitioned into employee ownership, via an employee ownership trust (EOT). The move into employee ownership was taken to reinforce its continuing independence, as well as creating a clear succession plan for the Group. In delivering the EOT, Thomas Carroll Group incurred a number of one-off additional expenses…

Popham Kidney Support, the Swansea-based kidney charity, has announced the date for its marquee fundraising event of 2024: the Popham Annual Awards Dinner. This anticipated event will be held on Friday, September 13, at Morgans Hotel in Swansea. Following the success of last year’s fundraiser, Popham Kidney Support is calling on businesses to support this year’s Annual Awards Dinner, with the goal of raising substantial funds for children facing kidney disease. Hosted by TV presenter and Popham Kidney Support Ambassador Sian Lloyd, the evening will feature five awards to honour the contributions of supporters, volunteers, and kidney patients to Popham…

Menter a Busnes, which has been supporting businesses and individuals in Wales to start-up and grow for more than three decades, has today (26 June) unveiled a new brand and strategy which aims to propel Welsh businesses onto a global stage.  Under an ambitious new identity — Mentera — revealed its revamped look alongside a new strategic plan to key partners, Government officials and industry leaders at Llanerch Vineyard, an example of a Welsh business that has diversified from farmland to become an internationally-recognised vineyard destination.     Marking its 35th anniversary year, Mentera (previously Menter a Busnes) and its 170-strong staff…

The fisheries research has picked up two separate £250,000 awards after making successful bids to prestigious environmental funding programmes, overseen by Welsh Government. It was named as one of the projects chosen to benefit from the latest round of the Nature Networks Fund. Delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural Resources Wales, the Fund helps Welsh Government work towards the Global Biodiversity Framework 30 by 30 goal, which aims to protect and effectively manage 30 per cent of the planet’s marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments by 2030. The Swansea team, based in the Faculty of Science…

Communities across Ceredigion are being invited to “adopt” streams to improve biodiversity and community connection to their local river, in an initiative led by West Wales Rivers Trust (WWRT). Adopt a Tributary Ceredigion is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by the Levelling Up Campaign and delivered by Ceredigion County Council. The initiative seeks to improve the condition of the rivers of Ceredigion, stretching from the Afon Clarach and Afon Rheidol catchments in the North to the Afon Teifi in the South, by supporting and training communities to become the eyes, ears, and voices…

Once overgrown, derelict and vandalised, Aberglasney is delighted to be celebrating a momentous milestone next month as it reaches the 25th anniversary of the gardens being restored and open to the public. There is mention of ‘nine green gardens’ at Aberglasney in a poem dating from medieval times, with the history of Aberglasney documented from the days of Henry VIII. The historic grade II* listed mansion at Aberglasney has been home to many colourful characters over the last 500 years including a famous poet, artists and a bishop. Aberglasney was on the brink of collapse however when it was rescued…

A study examining growth trends of 11 regional UK cities over the past decade has found that Cardiff enjoyed sustainable growth. The city combined employment and wage growth with the second strongest improvement in healthy life expectancy at birth. A comparably higher percentage of citizens with no qualifications, however, is likely to remain a drag on future growth. OCO Global’s ‘Local Heroes’ report examined 37 data points covering economic, prosperity, wellbeing, property and educational trends over the past decade. The cities were ranked as Top Tier (Edinburgh), Booming (Belfast, Manchester and Bristol), Solid Performers (Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle) and…

There are just a few weeks left to enter the 2024 Wales STEM Awards with entries closing on 12th July. The 2024 Wales STEM Awards will shine a spotlight on the organisations and individuals making a difference to the STEM agenda in Wales. The awards celebrate those leading the sector in Wales, those businesses creating an impact on the Welsh economy, those addressing the STEM diversity gap and skills shortage, and those inspiring and raising aspirations of the next generation. The 2024 ceremony will take place on 17th October at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff. There are fifteen…