Author: Rhys Gregory

A new hotel will soon be checking into Swansea city centre in a major boost to the local economy. Swansea Council has now picked a preferred developer and operator for the new hotel that would be constructed on land which had been temporarily landscaped between Swansea Arena and the LC. The council will soon hold detailed discussions with the preferred developer and operator, which works with a number of leading worldwide hotel brand names. The council will also look to announce the brand of the hotel once these discussions are complete. A 150-bedroom hotel with a rooftop bar offering views…

Talks driven by land owner Swansea Council have resulted in an imminent change of operator at the facility. The leaseholder has agreed to relinquish its lease; a new leaseholder has agreed to take on the Fairwood Common facility on a temporary basis. During that time, the airport will continue to operate – and the council will undertake a process to find a long-term tenant. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “Our successful talks in this complex matter mean that we’re now in a position to install a temporary new leaseholder – the Swansea Airport Stakeholders’ Alliance. Its members are eager to make a…

Eligible private households in the Caerphilly borough can apply for grants to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Caerphilly County Borough Council is encouraging residents whose homes have solid fuel (coal) fires, back boilers or single glazed windows to apply for help to make their home warmer. To be eligible for an energy crisis grant: Applicants must be an owner occupier or private sector contract holder (tenant), living in the property for at least 12 months. Has a household combined gross income of £31,000 or less, or A person in the property is vulnerable to the effects of living…

Councillors in Blaenau Gwent have approved a new Net Zero 2050 Framework, which sets out how it could move forward and work with local partners and communities to reduce Blaenau Gwent’s carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2050. The Net Zero 2050 Framework provides a high-level overview of what needs to be done for Blaenau Gwent to achieve Net Zero. The framework covers all carbon emissions in Blaenau Gwent, including from homes, businesses and transport.  Although many of these emissions are outside the Council’s direct control and will also require changes at the national level, the framework is important…

A gardening calendar has recently been unveiled at the Royal Welsh Show and will soon be adopted by schools across Monmouthshire. The School Growing Calendar was launched by Adam Jones and Marianne Elliott, Monmouthshire Food Partnership’s Coordinator. Children from Cross Ash Primary School attended the launch in the show’s Horticulture Village and spoke about their how their school integrates food skills – from growing to cooking – into the learning day. The calendar is a year-round resource linked to the Curriculum for Wales and tailored to the academic year. It is intended to help teachers use food-growing as a medium…

What do a tender story about a gay couple’s journey to adoption, a zombie survival shooter game, and a swathe of breath-taking fire-breathing dragons have in common? Wales’ incredible creative industry brought them all to life – and to our screens – in 2024. Creative Wales is the Welsh Government’s agency for promoting and supporting the nation’s creative industries, from TV, film and animation to games, publishing and music. It also provides funding to bring unique production and training and up-skilling opportunities to Wales and Wales-based companies. In the past six months alone, global TV, film and gaming audiences have…

Best fleet operations aren’t just about getting from one point to another; they are about ensuring safety every step of the way. Why? Because a safe fleet is actually a well-managed fleet, where the driver is well-trained and keeps the vehicle maintained at all times. Thus, proper fleet management begins with incorporating strict safety policies. This comprehensive guide contains all the information on how you can create effective fleet safety policies for your business. So, without any further ado, let us get started! 6 Key Elements of Effective Fleet Safety 1. Vehicle Maintenance A company is responsible for the safety…

You can’t stop the beat of Hairspray in Cardiff’s Millenium Centre! The iconic musical has arrived in the Welsh capital this week, and it’s not to be missed. American teen Tracey Turnblad, played by Alexandra Emmerson-Kirby in her professional debut, kicked off the performance by belting out ‘Good Morning Baltimore’, welcoming us to 1960s Baltimore amidst the civil rights movement and rampant fatphobia, unfortunately for plus sized Tracey. We follow the cheery teen’s dance ambitions to an audition for the Corny Collins Show with best friend nerdy Penny (Freya McMahon), we’re met with an overwhelming display of sparkle, colour and…

Construction workloads in Wales rose through Q2 of 2024 according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Monitor, with public housing rising fastest out of all subsectors. A net balance of 15% of surveyors report that workloads rose through the second quarter of the year, up from 2% that was seen in Q1. Looking at the subsectors, Welsh surveyors report that all saw increases, bar private housing activity which was noted to have fallen flat. A net balance of 29% saw a rise in public housing activity, 6% in other public works, 14% in private industrial, 18%…

Businesses and third sector organisations across South Wales have the opportunity to boost innovation, build resilience and make valuable connections with help from University circular economy experts. The Clean Growth programme, run by Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) – a joint project between Swansea University and Cardiff Metropolitan University – will give participants the tools they need to develop their circular economy understanding so they can use resources in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible. The fully funded six-month programme aims to show participants how to work towards net zero goals, enhance service levels, reduce operational costs and meet…