January 2023 News and Blogs

Ten years since its launch, Business Wales has supported more than 390,000 entrepreneurs and businesses, assisted the creation of over 19,000 new start-ups and directly helped to create nearly 47,000 jobs in the Welsh economy. Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s flagship bilingual business support service for Welsh micro-businesses and SMEs including social enterprises, and aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages. Business Wales is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. It...

Fair Trade Wales are excited to launch new sustainability workshops! These courses are ideal for the sustainability champions in your organisation but are also suitable for all employees and individuals across all sectors to get an in-depth introduction to sustainability. There will be a range of flexible training options including: In-person classes. Self-directed online modules. Live/zoom online workshops. The workshops look at sustainability in relation to the individuals, organisations and finally the international context. On...

The UK cost-of-living crisis is affecting people across the UK. Rising inflation, in particular for critical commodities (such as energy, food and fuel), is pushing households into poverty and financial hardship, including those in employment. It also stretches the community organisations that help these households to breaking point. Business in the Community (BITC) have launched a new Cost-of-Living Action Plan for Businesses that details 12 calls to action to support you to be faster, braver...

Do you or someone you know run an inspirational small business that fits the bill for #TheSmallAwards then don't miss out and apply for 2023! The judges will be looking for evidence of strong community engagement from small businesses whilst also looking for strong performance as an on-going business. The categories are: High Street Hero – best high street business Bricks and Clicks Award – best multi-channel small business Legacy Award – best family business...

Wales is set to become the first UK nation to introduce a mandatory national licensing scheme for tattoo artists and those working in body piercing, semi-permanent make-up, acupuncture and electrolysis, Chief Medical Officer Frank Atherton has announced. The scheme aims to reduce infections, eliminate poor working practices and will create a central public register for licensed practitioners and approved business premises. It is the final phase of changes introduced under the Public Health (Wales) Act...

The emergency works, which began on 5 January, will be completed in the 4-week timeframe with the bridge expected to reopen to restricted loads by midnight (00:01hrs) on Thursday 2 February 2023. The Welsh Government and UK Highways A55 Ltd, alongside engineering firms Spencer Group and COWI, are continuing to work closely to develop a plan for longer term remedial work to take place, with minimal disruption, to bring the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge back...

Older people can face many barriers to accessing and staying in employment, such as the lack of flexible working for those with caring responsibilities or those living with long term health conditions. With the current cost-of-living crisis hitting older people particularly hard, it is more important than ever that we enable older people to enter and stay in employment, should they wish to do so. That is why Age Cymru and its partners have organised...

If you regularly sell goods or services through an online marketplace you could be classed as a ‘trader’. And if you earn more than £1,000 before deducting expenses through your trading, you will need to pay Income Tax on this. For tax, an online marketplace is any website or mobile phone app that handles and enables the sale of goods and services from individuals and/or businesses to customers. If you only sell items occasionally, you...

Written Statement: Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice on the 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme, Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services. The JCVI is an independent expert advisory committee, which advises United Kingdom health departments about immunisation, making recommendations about vaccination schedules and vaccine safety. As part of its ongoing review of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, the JCVI has today published a statement with its latest advice on the 2023 programme...

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, has today (25 January 2023) unveiled a packed programme of Welsh Government international trade missions for spring 2023, lending his support to Welsh businesses travelling the world in the next few months to develop their exports. The announcement is made as the latest business delegation from Wales travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Middle-East’s largest medical trade show, Arab Health, on 28 January 2023. The Med...