News and Blogs

Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy ‘Yesterday (5 December 2022), the UK Government announced the approval of four regional investment plans for the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) in Wales, the replacement to former EU funding that the Welsh Government was responsible for determining with scrutiny from in the Senedd. This means that with less than four months remaining in this financial year, funding allocations for 2022-23 can now be released to Welsh local authorities to...

Innovate UK have launched a new £4 million funding opportunity for UK businesses to support a landmark demonstration project that addresses the UK fashion and textile industry’s recycling and sorting challenges. The aim of this competition is to fund a research and development activity demonstrator. This will demonstrate new technologies, services, processes and business models capable of addressing the recycling and sorting challenges, as part of the UK’s fashion and textile sector and their direct...

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have launched a consultation on their plans to update the charges for some of their permits and licences, which are designed to work better for business and the environment and to reduce the reliance on the taxpayer. The current charges, which include permitting and ongoing compliance and monitoring no longer reflect the full costs of delivering the services, meaning taxpayer funds have been used to fill the deficit. Under proposals laid...

A cybersecurity guide for small businesses has been published by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The guide provides hints and tips about how to prevent a cybersecurity attack and covers backing up data, malware protection, protecting mobile devices, using passwords to protect data, and ways to avoid phishing attacks. For further information please visit Small Business Guide: Cyber Security - NCSC.GOV.UK

The biggest change to housing law in Wales for decades has today (1 December 2022) come into force, bringing greater transparency and consistency to renting a home. Protecting the interests of both landlords and tenants, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 improves how homes in Wales are rented, managed and lived in. It replaces various, complex pieces of existing legislation and case law and introduces one clear legal framework, providing contract-holders in Wales with greater...

The UK Government recognises that some organisations are unable to access the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS). This is because the EBRS delivery mechanism requires a licensed supplier in order to apply the discount. The UK Government are seeking evidence from organisations who are unable to access the scheme because they are non-licensed suppliers of energy or supply energy to businesses in non-standard ways. The closing date to respond to the survey is 9 December...

Open to all public and third sector women aspiring to management or in their first management role. Springboard is designed to let women give more and get more out of their work. The programme focuses on the traditionally underdeveloped sector of staff: non-management women. The programme is pro-women, not anti-men. The women-only aspect simply designed to provide you with the most conducive learning environment. It means the process, content, examples and case studies are all...

The Prince’s Countryside Fund Farm Resilience Programme (FRP) offers free business skills training to family farmers across the UK. The programme is open to dairy and livestock family farm businesses and takes a whole-farm and whole-family approach. Workshops include: Business Health Check Benchmarking Practical cost management Getting to know your finances Managing your farmed environment Planning your future Business planning and managing change For further information visit Farm Resilience Programme - The Prince's Countryside Fund...

The Resource efficiency for materials and manufacture (REforMM) programme aims for the UK to lead in resource efficiency with organisations understanding the environmental, social and economic impact of the full product lifecycle. Innovate UK is investing up to £15 million in the REforMM programme, with UK registered organisation being able to apply for a share of up to £1 million for feasibility study projects. The programme focuses on five core areas: materials for the future...

Proposals for enforcing business, public and third sector recycling regulations in Wales The Welsh Government are seeking views on enforcement tools to encourage compliance with proposed regulations that will increase the quality and quantity of recycling from non-domestic premises. For further information please select the following link Proposals for enforcing business, public and third sector recycling regulations in Wales | GOV.WALES Submit your comments by 15 February 2023. Separate collection of waste materials for recycling...