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News & Projects

Catch up with 4theRegion’s activities across all our impact areas, from local food, to procurement, and from community changemakers to business start-ups – in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea & Neath Port Talbot.  Simply browse or search our news, events, projects, reports and podcasts!

NRW launches Children’s Rights Charter on World Environment Day

NRW launches Children’s Rights Charter on World Environment Day

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) marked this year’s World Environment Day (5 June) with the publication of its Children’s Rights Charter.  The Charter, which was developed in collaboration ...
Plantasia launches Wales’ only crocodile feeding experience

Plantasia launches Wales’ only crocodile feeding experience

Parkwood Leisure’s rainforest zoo, Plantasia, is launching a crocodile feeding experience this month. As unique experiences become increasingly popular, this Swansea experience is the ...
Contractor appointed for new Kingsway scheme in Swansea

Contractor appointed for new Kingsway scheme in Swansea

A contractor has been appointed to build a major new high-tech office development that will provide space for 600 jobs in Swansea city centre. Bouygues UK will start work this summer on ...
Nature & Us: Developing a Shared Vision for the Natural Environment in Wales

Nature & Us: Developing a Shared Vision for the Natural Environment in Wales

Nature & Us is a year-long project to involve the people of Wales in a national conversation about the future of our natural environment. The aim is to develop a shared vision for the year ...
Get social! New Swansea businesses get their own club

Get social! New Swansea businesses get their own club

Business Swansea, Swansea Council’s Business Support Service, is launching a new monthly Start-Up Enterprise Club for individuals starting a new business in Swansea. The first session, ...
Businesses encouraged to enhance staff’s digital skills with fully funded training

Businesses encouraged to enhance staff’s digital skills with fully funded training

Gower College Swansea is encouraging businesses in Southwest Wales to enrol their staff onto fully funded digital training to ensure they have the skills to take advantage of the latest ...
Pioneering project aims to clear the air for local communities

Pioneering project aims to clear the air for local communities

Neath Port Talbot Council is to begin a pioneering air quality monitoring project aimed at providing accurate “real time” measurement of pollution so solutions for greener, healthier communities ...
Wales – Super Sized Solar!

Wales – Super Sized Solar!

Welsh community energy co-op is celebrating becoming the largest rooftop solar co-op in the UK during Community Energy Fortnight. Egni Co-op has installed 4.3MWp of solar capacity, the most of ...
The launch of Tencil – a new career guidance app for young people

The launch of Tencil – a new career guidance app for young people

The app has been launched by entrepreneur Joel Williams from Carmarthenshire. Government bodies in Wales, several Welsh MPs and corporates including a top-four accountancy firm and a bank ...
University of Wales Trinity Saint David hosts virtual taster day

University of Wales Trinity Saint David hosts virtual taster day

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is holding a virtual taster day for Sixth formers. Mared Anthony and Luned George, the University's Senior Engagement and Recruitment Officers ...
A-grade success for energy-efficient Swansea Market

A-grade success for energy-efficient Swansea Market

Swansea Market has secured the highest possible UK Government energy rating. Its grade A rating confirms that the city centre venue is amongst those buildings that have the lowest ...
Josef Herman Foundation Art Award winner 2021 announced

Josef Herman Foundation Art Award winner 2021 announced

Owain Sparnon, a Fine Art student graduating at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has won the Josef Herman Foundation Art Award 2021. The annual award from the Josef Herman ...
Tribute to Peter Jones

Tribute to Peter Jones

It's with huge sadness that we say goodbye to our great supporter and friend, Peter Jones, who passed away last week. Peter was Chair of Swansea Bay Futures where Dawn and I met and was a great ...
A Region of Sanctuary

A Region of Sanctuary

Workshop on Employment for Refugees 2pm-5pm 14th June 4theRegion is supporting this workshop which is held as part of a day conference celebrating 10 years of Swansea City of Sanctuary, held ...
Brand new comprehensive school is ready for lessons

Brand new comprehensive school is ready for lessons

Pupils are due to move into Neath’s newly built Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School on June 7th. When teaching begins at the latest of Neath Port Talbot Council’s growing portfolio of modern ...
Port’s 2020 Annual Report highlights challenging trading conditions balanced alongside continued diversification progress

Port’s 2020 Annual Report highlights challenging trading conditions balanced alongside continued diversification progress

The Port of Milford Haven’s 2020 Annual Report and Accounts highlights the challenging trading conditions felt in 2020 due to Covid-19. Designated a frontline operation as part of the pandemic ...
Summit aims to boost post-covid recovery in Welsh manufacturing

Summit aims to boost post-covid recovery in Welsh manufacturing

Supporting industry’s recovery from the impact of the pandemic is a key priority for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The University has a demonstrable track record for ...
Growth sees marine energy specialists relocate to Swansea High Street

Growth sees marine energy specialists relocate to Swansea High Street

A successful local business with ambitions to become a world leader in the supply of renewable marine energy devices has relocated to the redeveloped Warehouse building at High Street’s Urban ...
Gower Power Picks Sweet Partnership to Cut Food Waste and Feed Those in Need

Gower Power Picks Sweet Partnership to Cut Food Waste and Feed Those in Need

A Gower-based solar energy provider has pledged match-funding to a Swansea group which organises apple harvesting from overlooked trees and orchards to feed those in need in the area. The ...
Working group planned to shape future of Cefn Coed Colliery Museum site

Working group planned to shape future of Cefn Coed Colliery Museum site

Neath Port Talbot Council cabinet members are being asked to endorse proposals to establish a new working group to help draw up future plans for the historic Cefn Coed Colliery Museum site in ...
Sealife to be boosted by scientific Swansea tile team

Sealife to be boosted by scientific Swansea tile team

A helping hand is being given to precious sealife that can flourish in the waters off Mumbles. Tests being carried out on specially designed concrete tiles will establish what types of ...
Plan approved to help save historic Swansea building

Plan approved to help save historic Swansea building

Swansea Council plans have been approved to save an historic former industrial building for future generations. The grade two listed Laboratory Building on the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks ...
New climate change ministry created by the Welsh Government

New climate change ministry created by the Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has created a new climate change ministry, topped by two of our regional Senedd members, which incorporates important themes such as transport, planning and ...
Hundreds have their say in community hub consultation

Hundreds have their say in community hub consultation

More than 500 formal responses were given to a Swansea Council survey on plans to create a community hub in an existing city centre building. The responses were overwhelmingly ...
Mumbles sea defences: Consultation moves to next stage

Mumbles sea defences: Consultation moves to next stage

Swansea Council is launching the next phase in its consultation programme to upgrade sea defences to help protect Mumbles for the next ...
Re-opening of indoor hospitality and attractions at Milford Waterfront

Re-opening of indoor hospitality and attractions at Milford Waterfront

Restaurants and indoor visitor attractions in Milford Waterfront are welcoming the return of indoor services from today. The re-opening of indoor dining allows all restaurants at ...
Living well with Dementia: ATiC and PocketMedic collaboration showcases innovation in Wales

Living well with Dementia: ATiC and PocketMedic collaboration showcases innovation in Wales

A new video from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC) shows how it has worked with a Swansea-based enterprise to deliver support ...
Outdoor trading: Fresh boost for Swansea hospitality trade

Outdoor trading: Fresh boost for Swansea hospitality trade

Swansea Council has served up another boost to the hospitality industry. The council will continue to provide licences for outdoor dining areas free of charge across the whole of ...
Swansea takes lead as new mental health research hub launches

Swansea takes lead as new mental health research hub launches

Swansea University is playing a leading role in a new UK-wide consortium to bring together vital mental health data. DATAMIND – the Data Hub for Mental Health Informatics Research and ...
New Owners and New Investment at Fairwood Golf Club

New Owners and New Investment at Fairwood Golf Club

Swansea based Fairwood Park Golf club has recently changed ownership after a local family made a successful offer for the business. Led by Rhodri Evans, the new owners have exciting plans ...
Partnership Promotions at Welsh Law Firm

Partnership Promotions at Welsh Law Firm

Regional law firm Peter Lynn and Partners Solicitors are delighted to announce the promotion of three top lawyers to Partner level. Rebecca Jackson, Greg George and Charlotte Hewins ...
Oakleigh House School reimagining what it means to ‘be well’

Oakleigh House School reimagining what it means to ‘be well’

Wellbeing has become a common selling point for many schools but understanding what a school means when it says it focuses on student wellbeing is not always easy for parents. With 40 ...
Milford Waterfront Restaurants Adapt Outdoor Dining Spaces

Milford Waterfront Restaurants Adapt Outdoor Dining Spaces

Milford Waterfront restaurants have adapted their outdoor dining spaces. The adapted outdoor offering at Milford Waterfront includes a variety of options from multiple restaurants that ...
Research reveals new approach to understanding
 our wellbeing

Research reveals new approach to understanding
 our wellbeing

The ability to connect and feel a sense of belonging are basic human needs but new Swansea University research has examined how these are determined by more than just our personal ...
Restaurants, bars, cafés boosted by £1.2m in council assistance

Restaurants, bars, cafés boosted by £1.2m in council assistance

Swansea hospitality businesses are benefiting with hundreds of thousands of pounds in council assistance to help outdoor trading. This includes around £1.2m committed by Swansea Council ...
Open top buses coming back to the region

Open top buses coming back to the region

On Saturday 29th May, First Cymru is bringing Open top buses back to the region. We are launching two new routes in South Wales, one route along Swansea Bay and one along the Porthcawl sea front ...
Crucial winter sand dune work completed at Pembrey Burrows

Crucial winter sand dune work completed at Pembrey Burrows

Winter work by a conservation project designed to keep the habitat healthy on the internationally important sand dunes at Pembrey Burrows has been completed. Sands of LIFE, an EU-funded ...
A Crop Of Promotions Fuels Bevan Buckland LLP’s Ongoing Growth Plans

A Crop Of Promotions Fuels Bevan Buckland LLP’s Ongoing Growth Plans

Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm, Bevan Buckland LLP, continues to focus upon ambitious and steady growth, with six promotions among its ranks in recent weeks. The firm, ...
Swansea company develops groundbreaking “Wellbeing Sensors” for interior and exterior monitoring

Swansea company develops groundbreaking “Wellbeing Sensors” for interior and exterior monitoring

Swansea-based EFT Consult are involved in some very exciting and important work that will improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of building occupants. EFT have just set up a ...
Earth Science Partnership officially accredited as a four day week employer

Earth Science Partnership officially accredited as a four day week employer

Earth Science Partnership, a consultancy of engineers, geologists and applied environmental scientists based in South Wales, has recently been accredited as a four day week employer by the 4 Day ...
Our Coast and Seas: Turning ideas into action

Our Coast and Seas: Turning ideas into action

Event Summary Next Steps ‘Our coast and seas’ brought together partners who had an interest in Welsh coasts and seas, to develop practical actions to overcome challenges, and identify what we ...
Angling infrastructure work in the South West

Angling infrastructure work in the South West

Work has been carried out on angling infrastructure across south Wales, as part of NRW’s commitment to making fisheries more sustainable and accessible. In the south west, our Area Statement ...