Author: Rhys Gregory

Welsh businesses are showing resilience in response to global uncertainty, with 68% saying they are confident in their ability to withstand economic shocks, according to new findings from the Lloyds Business Barometer. More two thirds (71%) of Welsh businesses say they have been impacted by recent global uncertainty, with 62% citing rising costs and 44% citing supply chain disruption as the main consequences. Despite this, 48% of firms said they still expect to grow this year. The Lloyds Business Barometer survey is made up of 1,200 UK firms from across all regions and sectors. The latest research reveals that Welsh…

As Brecknock takes centre stage as the Royal Welsh Show’s 2026 Feature County, Major Andrew Butcher MBE will officially open this year’s event on Monday 20 July. The official opening ceremony will take place at 10.00am in the Council Area, marking the start of four days celebrating the very best of Welsh agriculture, rural life and entertainment. The selection of Major Butcher is particularly fitting during Brecknock’s Feature County year. Through his role at Sennybridge Defence Training Estate and his long-standing connections with the Epynt and surrounding rural communities, Major Butcher has developed strong ties to the area and its…

A respected Swansea community leader has been appointed to play a key role in shaping how a £20 million UK Government investment will transform parts of the city. Thom Lynch has been named Chair of the Neighbourhood Board, which will oversee how Swansea’s Pride in Place funding is invested to deliver meaningful change for local communities. The funding is set to revitalise neighbourhoods including Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod, supporting a wide range of community-led projects focused on improving quality of life, wellbeing and local opportunity. Thom brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record…

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), along with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, have announced two new economic regeneration projects. These will help continue the transformation of former industrial sites into new hubs for jobs, business and tourism, ensuring immediate economic benefits are derived from the dualling of the A465. The announcement follows the recent approval of £15m of additional funding to the £50m already allocated to the Northern Valleys Initiative (NVI). This now takes total funding to £65m, as CCR and its 10 partner local authorities work together to build on their collaborative approach to…

A planning application for a major employment site expected to deliver more than 370 new jobs for Mid Wales has been submitted. The proposals for CymruTech Park, next to Newtown College, have been developed by Asbri Planning and Hiraeth Architecture for Powys County Council and NPTC Group of Colleges. The scheme includes an advanced manufacturing centre, a range of modern business units and a Green Skills Academy designed to support innovation and growth. The hybrid application combines full details for the first phase of development – including the site access road, Green Skills Academy and initial business units – alongside…

The new Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for energy met with students from North Wales at a major offshore wind conference in Manchester. Adam Price, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, listened to pupils at Ysgol Maes Garmon as they discussed their experience at the Global Offshore Wind 2026 event. The Welsh Government worked with RenewableUK – which hosted the conference in partnership with the Global Wind Energy Council – for the Flintshire-based students to attend the conference. The visit was arranged to help the Year 12 students understand the spectrum of opportunities in offshore wind, including those close…

The Welsh Government has announced £15m to start enabling more secondary pupils to receive free school meals. The new Welsh Government has committed to expand free school meals to secondary school pupils in households receiving Universal Credit by removing the income limit. Currently, secondary school learners can only receive free school meals if their family receives Universal Credit and their household earnings are less than £7,400, not including benefits. The additional funding is part of the Welsh Government’s supplementary budget for this financial year, 2026-27, with plans to begin rolling out the policy from September. The funding boost will be split into £10m of capital funding, to invest in school kitchen and dining areas, and £5m of revenue funding, for introducing the scheme, expanding existing funding for Free School Meal provision. From September it is intended that parents of children in…

Accommodation providers in Cardiff are being urged to prepare for the introduction of the Visitor Levy, with businesses required to start accounting for the charge from 28 September 2026. The levy will apply to overnight stays in visitor accommodation across Cardiff, with providers needing to account for it on new bookings made from 28 September 2026 for stays taking place from 1 April 2027 onwards. The requirement will also apply when additional nights or guests are added to existing bookings for stays from 1 April 2027. Who needs to pay? The levy applies to anyone taking bookings for overnight stays…

South Wales Police were called at 12:15pm yesterday (Sunday) afternoon following a report of a man chasing a woman on Templeton Avenue, Llanishen, Cardiff. Officers attended promptly and found that both a man and a woman had been assaulted. Both were taken to hospital for further treatment. At this stage, it is believed the woman was assaulted with a knife, and the man was assaulted with a plank of wood. A 37-year-old man from Splott, Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of an offensive weapon, and drink driving. Detective Inspector Sarah Lee said: “We know that incidents…

Thirty people have been sentenced for their part in serious disorder which happened in the Ely area of Cardiff on Monday, May 22, 2023. The 25 men and five women were sentenced during a two-week hearing at Cardiff Crown Court after being convicted of riot. During the disorder several vehicles were set alight, property was damaged, police officers were injured, and residents were scared in their homes. An investigation by South Wales Police resulted in 51 people being arrested and the majority charged with the extremely serious offence of riot. Last week’s sentencing concludes the criminal investigation into the disorder.…