Author: Rhys Gregory

Leading law firm Blake Morgan has announced the promotions of two of its lawyers in Wales to Partner. Charlotte Whitehead and Tomos Lewis on 1 May. These appointments recognise the talent and commitment of both lawyers, as well as the exceptional support and advice they have provided to clients and colleagues over their years with the firm. Tomos Lewis, originally from Bangor, joined Blake Morgan in 2018 and has since made an invaluable contribution to the Commercial and Charities team in Cardiff.  He specialises in public procurement law, complex high-value contracts and projects, sports law, and governance and data protection.…

Deciding on the right name for a new pet is tricky. From getting a sense of what suits their personality to coming up with something unique and personal, there’s lots to think about. Despite this, some dog and cat names are more common than others. Pet insurance experts, Petsure, have revealed which names are the most popular for dogs and cats in the UK. Petsure’s Content Manager Allie has also offered some ideas for new pet parents on how to name their new four-legged friends. The top 20 most popular dog and cat names in 2024 according to Petsure: Rank…

Businesses across Swansea have benefited from grant funding worth £500,000 over the last year. The grants have been allocated by Swansea Council, thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. A further £500,000 in grants has also now been approved, so even more Swansea businesses will soon benefit. The grants range from pre-start grants and website development grants to business growth grants, supplier development grants and carbon reduction grants. Among the businesses to have benefited from grant funding is Bowla – A Bowl with a Roll. Based in Swansea Market, the business received a website…

Award-winning communications agency the Orchard Media and Events Group is setting up an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), one of a small number of Welsh pioneers who are following well-known brands such as John Lewis Partnership, Aardman, and Riverford in putting the business in the hands of its 70 strong team to protect its future independence. Orchard has been providing a range of creative communications services to clients in Wales and across the world for 14 years, from Welsh Government to Principality Building Society, Aston Martin and Qatar Airways to Nando’s, the AA and Netflix. The agency creates corporate and public…

CHILDREN with additional learning needs are thriving thanks to innovative methods and investment at a top secondary school. Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay has redeveloped its curriculum and facilities for ALN pupils, including the construction of a new accessible outdoor learning space and ‘garden classroom’. The school secured grants of £40,000 via a £20m Welsh Government capital funding scheme, allocated to improve the inclusivity of teaching environments, create quiet or sensory areas, upgrade or purchase new equipment and for works to improve additional provision for young people with ALN and/or disabilities. Ysgol Eirias – listed fourth in Wales in the…

Semiconductor manufacturer Kubos is set to bring its revolutionary new compound semiconductor material to South Wales, thanks to a £670,000  equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales Kubos has chosen Cardiff University’s Sbarc building for its base, putting them at the heart of Wales’ world-class compound semiconductor eco-system.  The business will recruit for five new positions including testing engineer, device manager and VP of development along with continuing technical development undertaken at Cardiff University and the University of Cambridge by Professor David Wallis and his team. The business is working on a new compound semiconductor material called cubic gallium…

PEOPLE in Cardiff united against cancer by taking part in Race for Life on Sunday (5 May). Georgina Wren, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at 25 following her first screening appointment, was chosen as VIP to kick off Cancer Research UK’s flagship fundraiser in Cardiff. She sounded the horn at the start line to send more than 1,500 people on the 5k course at Coopers Field in Bute Park.   The event was part of a bumper weekend of activities which included Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids, a mud splattered obstacle course. Around 6,000 people took in total part…

Shane Barnett, 49, was last seen leaving the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Extensive enquiries have been carried out to locate Shane but there have been no confirmed sightings since he was seen on Allensbank Road, close to the hospital, at around 12.30pm that day. Shane’s mum Diane Bush, from Bridgend, said: “Shane must feel like he’s the most unwanted person in the world and he’s not at all. He’s very much wanted, and he’s very much loved. “My message to Shane is please just get in touch. I’ll come to get you wherever you are,…

St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School has celebrated the official opening of its brand new £6m school building during a special event in the presence of Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry. The new school issituated at the St Edeyrns development east of the Pontprennau link roadand opened its doors to pupils for the first time in September after relocatingfrom its former site inLlanrumney. Delivered as part of Cardiff’s Local Development Plan (LDP) by Halsall Construction on behalf of Persimmon Homes, the new school is 1 form entry,…

Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers with the support of Nature for Health volunteers, Coleg Llandrillo student and Ysgol Tir Morfa students, have created a new area for communities to enjoy alongside the Rhyl Cut. Work has commenced along key points of the watercourse with a view to carrying out a longer-term project to develop the route to support local nature and the wellbeing of communities living along the historic route though Rhyl. Denbighshire County Council is also working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to improve the watercourse and land surrounding its route through the town from east to west into the…