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Trecwn businessman ‘robbed Peter to pay Paul’

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A TRECWN businessman who ‘robbed Peter to pay Paul’ but also his wife and aunt has been made the subject of a suspended prison sentence.

Matthew Andrew Creed, aged 50, transferred £166,000 without telling the bank he owed more than £300,000 too.

His main company, Pembrokeshire Estates Ltd., later went under and after Natwest had sold the firm’s properties the bank was still owed £222,400.

Creed, of Ordnance House, was convicted after a trial of four offences under the Insolvency Act.

They were of making transfers of £114,000 to Gwaun Developments and £8,000 to AAA Management Ltd., two of his other companies,  £25,000 to Annette Marshall, his aunt, and £19,000 to Nicola Creed, his then wife.

The court heard that Pembrokeshire Estates suffered a fire at one of the firm’s properties. The firm received an insurance payout of £247,786 but Creed paid the money into a new Santander account Natwest were not aware of.

Creed secretly made the offending payments from that account leaving Pembrokeshire Estates in financial difficulties.

His barrister, Paul Hobson, said Creed had not spent the money on high living but in a desperate attempt to keep his businesses afloat.

He had always intended to repay mortgages taken out with Natwest and his dishonesty took place when both his businesses and his marriage were heading for the rocks.

Creed, he said, had been made bankrupt and had signed an agreement not to act as a company director before 2025.

Mr Hobson said Creed now had a job with an internet marketing company and earned £680 a month.

The Judge, Mr Recorder Peter Griffiths, told Creed he had robbed Peter to pay Paul and if he suspected he had spent creditors’ money because of personal greed he would be going to jail.

He told Creed, who arrived in court with a bag ready for jail, he had driven a coach and horses through the Insolvency Act but he accepted he had found himself in a desperate situation.

Creed was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the community.

He was also ordered to contribute £1,000 at the rate of £100 a month to the costs of his prosecution.

Charity

Seven-year-old completes Mayday Mile to support RNLI

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Leo Candler walks and cycles 61 miles in one month for lifesaving charity

A DETERMINED seven-year-old from Pembrokeshire has raised hundreds of pounds for the RNLI after walking or cycling more than a mile every day throughout May.

Leo Candler took part in the RNLI’s Mayday Mile challenge, clocking up a total of 61 miles during the month. His efforts have already more than doubled his original fundraising target of £125, with donations currently standing at £286 — and still rising.

Inspired by his father’s role

Leo’s passion for the lifesaving charity is deeply rooted in family. His father, Scott, is both a Lifeguard Assessor Trainer and a volunteer crew member on the St Davids Lifeboat.

“Leo’s always been the RNLI’s number one fan,” said his mother, Simona Candler. “He’s grown up with the yellow wellies, supporting his dad on the beach, watching lifeboat launches, and visiting the RNLI College. He absolutely loves it.”

Some of Leo’s walks and rides took him to and from local lifeboat stations, and included visits to RNLI lifeguards at Whitesands Beach. He was often joined by his younger brother Zane, aged three, who is already following in his footsteps.

A mission that matters

“Even though Leo is only seven, he understands how important the RNLI’s work is — not just in the UK but around the world,” said Simona. “He knows his dad went to Bangladesh to help set up their lifeguard service, and he’s proud of that.”

She added: “It was amazing to see a boy his age so determined to get his miles in each day. We’re incredibly proud of both our boys.”

Leo’s fundraising campaign continues until the end of June. Donations can be made online by searching “RNLI – Leo Candler”.

Brave little fundraiser: Leo aboard St Davids Tamar Class Lifeboat (Pic: Herald)

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Community

Travel advice issued for Pembrokeshire’s Long Course Weekend

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Motorists and bus passengers across south Pembrokeshire are being advised to prepare for a series of road closures and transport changes as the Long Course Weekend returns to the region this weekend.

The popular endurance event, which draws thousands of athletes and spectators each year, will bring temporary disruptions to routes in and around Tenby on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June as competitors take part in the Wales Sportive and Wales Marathon.

Saturday 28th June – Wales Sportive

On Saturday, the Wales Sportive cycle event will see several roads in the wider Tenby area closed or converted to one-way systems to ensure participant safety. While the A40, A477, and the A478 Narberth to Kilgetty routes remain unaffected and fully open, other roads will be subject to closures and diversions throughout the day.

Sunday 29th June – Wales Marathon

Further closures will be in place on Sunday during the Wales Marathon, affecting routes between Tenby and Pembroke. These will operate on a rolling basis between 9.30am and 4pm, with the aim of minimising disruption while maintaining safety for runners and spectators.

Up-to-date information on all road closures can be found on the event’s official website:
 https://community.lcwwales.com/road-closures

Special arrangements for carers and emergency access

Care professionals requiring access to clients in affected areas can obtain vehicle passes through their care organisation managers. More details are available at:
 https://community.lcwwales.com/road…/carers-information

In case of emergencies during the event, organisers can be contacted directly on 01437 765777.

Public transport disruptions

Local bus services will also be impacted by the weekend’s events, with changes in place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Friday 27th June

  • All services will operate as normal.

Saturday 28th June

  • 351 (Tenby-Kilgetty-Amroth-Pendine) – No service
  • 381 (Haverfordwest-Narberth-Kilgetty-Saundersfoot-Tenby) – No service
  • Tenby Coaster (Tenby-Saundersfoot) – No service
  • 349 (Haverfordwest-Neyland-Pembroke Dock-Pembroke-Tenby) – Will not serve Pembroke to Tenby until after 1pm
  • 356 (Milford Haven-Neyland-Pembroke Dock-Pembroke-Monkton) – No service to Pembroke Commons or Monkton until after 1pm
  • 387/388 (Coastal Cruiser) – Service will not operate until after 11am

Sunday 29th June

  • 387/388 (Coastal Cruiser) – No service
  • Tenby Coaster (Tenby-Saundersfoot) – Will operate via the A4218 (Broadwell Hayes) instead of Marsh Road and Heywood Lane

Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel where necessary.

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Business

Mind the gap: Welsh employers and Gen Z out of sync on skills

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New report reveals Wales has the UK’s highest skills shortage – but young people are ready to step up

A MAJOR new report by The Open University has revealed a growing disconnect between Welsh employers and the next generation of workers, potentially undermining efforts to tackle the country’s persistent skills shortages.

The Business Barometer 2025: Skills for today and tomorrow surveyed over 2,000 business leaders and 1,000 Gen Z adults across the UK — including 139 employers and 80 young people under 25 in Wales. It found that 58% of Welsh organisations are currently experiencing a skills shortage — the highest of all UK nations.

Yet despite this, only 31% of those employers have specific initiatives in place to recruit, retain or train under-25s.

Gen Z ready to respond — but need support

Encouragingly, over half (54%) of young people surveyed in Wales are aware of the national skills gap and are actively considering it in their career planning:

  • 73% are choosing careers based on areas of high demand
  • 66% say they would stay longer with employers who offer training and development

However, the report suggests that this willingness is not being met with sufficient guidance or opportunity — especially in fast-growing areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital, and green skills.

While 58% of Welsh Gen Z respondents say they are interested or already working in AI, one in five Welsh employers report lacking confidence in their ability to deliver AI strategies due to talent shortages.

Call for action on training and inclusion

Dr Scott McKenzie, Assistant Director for Learning, Skills and Innovation at The Open University in Wales, said: “The data is clear: there’s a mismatch between employer intentions and practical action. But there’s also a real opportunity. Welsh organisations can bridge the gap by developing structured skills plans, investing in flexible learning, and opening pathways to a more diverse talent pool. Those who act now will be the ones best placed to thrive in the future.”

Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, Chancellor of The Open University, added: “Young people are motivated, digitally savvy and want to contribute. Employers must meet that energy with training pathways and real opportunities. Waiting for skills to arrive is no longer enough — smart organisations will build them proactively.”

Diversity still lagging behind

While 80% of Welsh employers say equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) is important to their organisation, 25% admit to having no initiatives in place for underrepresented groups such as returners, career changers, or people with disabilities and neurodivergences.

This is seen as a missed opportunity to reduce economic inactivity and broaden the talent pipeline — especially in sectors where workforce shortages are most acute.

Skills shortage set to worsen

The Business Barometer, now in its ninth year, shows the issue is far from easing. In Wales:

  • 38% of employers expect the skills gap to worsen over the next five years
  • 60% say shortages are increasing workloads on existing staff
  • 43% report reduced productivity
  • 37% have scaled back growth plans
  • 20% fear they won’t be able to meet their AI ambitions by 2030

Yet, despite these pressures, only 36% of Welsh employers have a formal skills plan in place. And while training is proven to aid staff retention, 30% say they hesitate to invest in staff development for fear employees will leave.

Full report and recommendations available at: https://business.open.ac.uk/business-barometer

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