Business
Grape expectations for Welsh Wine Week 2022

THIS JUNE, Welsh vineyards will welcome guests from Wales and beyond to taste what Wales’ burgeoning wine sector has to offer during its annual Welsh Wine Week.
From Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th June, free events, competitions, expert guided tours and tastings will make up the Welsh Wine Week schedule and give wine lovers the chance to personally discover the country’s picturesque vineyards and sample their wide range of award-winning vintages.
Special product releases will take place during Welsh Wine Week to commemorate the event, including Pembrokeshire’s Velfrey Vineyard’s Cuvée Reserve Sparkling Brut, a 2019 vintage traditional method sparkling brut wine, made especially from the vineyard’s Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes.
Confirmed events for Welsh Wine Week 2022 include: a cheese and Welsh wine sampling event from Gwinllan Conwy (in collaboration with Bodnant Welsh Food), White Castle Vineyard will be holding a tasting of their wines with Fine Wines Direct and there will be free vineyard tours and wine tastings across the week from Parva Farm vineyard.
Andy Mounsey, owner of Velfrey Vineyard and Chairman of the Welsh Vineyard Association, said: “Whether you relish in a red, white, rosé or sparkling wine, Welsh Wine Week is the perfect opportunity to show consumers what the Welsh wine industry has to offer.
“Wales is making strides in its wine production and has proudly adopted an innovative approach in which its experimental and diverse with the wine it produces. Wine producers are working collaboratively to drive the industry forward and championing each other, creating a supportive and closely connected network of vineyards.
“We have all been waiting fondly for the return of Welsh Wine Week and will mark the first event with no restrictions with a stellar line up of producers. We hope to welcome many more wine enthusiasts into our businesses this year, so please sign up to our events and treat yourself to some quality Welsh wine as you do.”
Full event listings and access to exclusive competitions and interviews with Welsh vineyards can be found on the dedicated Welsh Wine Week website.
Welsh Wine Week is organised by the Welsh Drinks Cluster, funded by Welsh Government, which works in partnership with Welsh drinks producers to promote the industry and its production of world class products.
For more information go to: https://www.welshwineweek.co.uk/
Business
Last chance to buy high-quality homes at Carmarthenshire site

ONLY six properties remain for sale at a popular housing development in Cross Hands.
Parc Cerrig – which has easy access to the A48 and M4 – has three and four-bed homes for sale from £284,995 to £344,995. Help-to-Buy Wales is available at Parc Cerrig, meaning customers could buy a home with a minimum deposit of 5%.
The houses have been built by Persimmon Homes, West Wales’ largest developer, which has a five-star ranking from the Home Builders Federation, which means nine-in-ten customers would recommend them to a friend.
Cross Hands is a village close to Carmarthen, while the development is a short walk from a range of amenities, including big brands at the excellent retail park, two supermarkets, a number of independent shops and eateries, schools, a doctor’s surgery, and a cinema. Llanelli and Swansea are 20 and 30 minute drive away, respectively.
Interested buyers are encouraged to act quickly to secure their dream home in this desirable location. With interest expected to be high, potential buyers are advised to act quickly to secure their dream home on this desirable development.
During the housebuilder’s time at Parc Cerrig, Persimmon has overseen the construction of 198 new homes. For more information or to arrange a viewing of the final properties, please visit the Persimmon website at persimmonhomes.com or contact our sales team directly on 01269 503893.
Commenting, Persimmon Homes West Wales’ sales director, Sharon Bouhali, said: “With only six homes remaining at Parc Cerrig, we’re excited to offer this final opportunity to own a high-quality home built by a five-star builder at this development, where families will also benefit from the brand-new primary school and a local community centre.
“Located in the beautiful county of Carmarthenshire, Parc Cerrig is conveniently close to Swansea, Llanelli, the M4, and several coastal towns and their wonderful beaches.
“As we approach the end of our time here, we encouraging potential buyers to act swiftly and secure their dream home in this delightful part of the country.”
Business
Welsh business activity sees renewed expansion in January

Output increases for the first time since August 2024
BUSINSESS activity in Wales experienced renewed growth at the start of 2025, according to the latest Cymru Growth Tracker data from NatWest. The findings indicate a fresh rise in output, with business confidence remaining positive as companies entered the new trading year.
The Wales Business Activity Index—a seasonally adjusted measure of month-on-month changes in output across the manufacturing and service sectors—rose to 50.7 in January. This marked a third consecutive monthly increase and the first expansion in activity since August 2024. The figure was up from 48.9 in December, signalling a marginal improvement in business performance.
Business confidence remained strong, while the decline in employment and backlog levels eased. However, inflationary pressures intensified, with costs and charges rising at historically high rates. Firms sought to pass these costs on to customers, resulting in the sharpest increase in selling prices in ten months.
Economic trends and business confidence
Jessica Shipman, Chair of the NatWest Cymru Regional Board, commented: “January data saw a return to output growth at Welsh businesses, with improvements in the sales environment in specific sectors driving expansion. Firms remained cautious about employment but were confident that demand conditions would improve as the year progressed.
“Although cost burdens remained elevated compared to historical trends, Wales recorded the slowest rise in input prices of the 12 monitored UK regions. However, output charges continued to increase, approaching the UK average, as businesses sought to protect their profit margins.
“The Bank of England’s recent interest rate cut has made monetary policy less restrictive, with further easing expected later in the year.”
Comparison with UK trends
Welsh business activity mirrored UK-wide trends, which saw overall expansion in January. However, only four of the 12 monitored UK regions—London, the North East, the South West, and Wales—registered an upturn in activity. Some firms noted increased demand in specific sectors, though the broader sales environment remained subdued.
While new orders in Wales continued to contract, the rate of decline was weaker than the UK average. Of the ten UK regions reporting lower sales, Wales recorded the slowest decline.
Despite these challenges, business sentiment remained positive, with firms anticipating stronger economic conditions and planned capacity expansions. Of the 12 monitored regions, only the North East, Scotland, and Northern Ireland reported weaker optimism.
Employment and inflationary pressures
Welsh private sector firms reported a fifth consecutive monthly decline in workforce numbers in January. While job losses eased, Wales still experienced one of the sharpest reductions in employment among UK regions, with only the East of England and the West Midlands seeing steeper cuts.
Backlogs of work continued to decline, though at a slower pace than previous months. Firms attributed this to lower new orders, allowing them to process outstanding business more efficiently. The rate of backlog reduction remained quicker than both the UK and long-term series averages.
Meanwhile, input prices surged at the fastest rate since April 2024 due to unfavourable exchange rate movements, rising labour costs, and increased supplier prices. However, Wales recorded the slowest rate of cost inflation among the 12 UK regions.
Output prices followed a different trend, with Welsh firms passing higher costs on to customers at a faster rate. Scotland and Northern Ireland were the only UK regions to report a slower rise in selling prices.
Business
Digital Marketing Challenges for Rural Welsh Businesses

Digital marketing is a must-do for businesses looking to grow, connect with customers, and stay competitive. But for rural Welsh businesses, it’s not always straightforward. Patchy internet, stiff competition from city-based brands, and the struggle to get noticed online mean that rural businesses have to think outside the box to build and maintain a strong digital presence.
Competing with Larger Companies
Smaller rural businesses often struggle to compete with national and international brands that have significantly larger marketing budgets. These larger companies dominate search engine rankings and online advertising, making it difficult for small businesses to get noticed.
To counteract this, many rural Welsh businesses can focus on hyper-local SEO and community-driven digital marketing strategies. By optimising their websites for location-based searches and using Google My Business effectively, they can improve their visibility for customers searching for products and services nearby.
Additionally, following marketing news, engaging with local influencers, using targeted social media advertising, and leveraging user-generated content helps build an authentic online presence that resonates with their audience.
Connectivity Barriers
One of the most significant challenges for rural businesses is poor broadband connectivity. While the Welsh Government has invested in improving digital infrastructure, many areas still struggle with slow or unreliable internet speeds. This can make it difficult to maintain an e-commerce platform, update social media, or engage with customers through digital channels.
To overcome these limitations, some businesses are turning to alternative solutions such as satellite broadband or mobile data hotspots. Providers like Starlink are offering high-speed internet access in remote locations, helping businesses stay connected.
However, these solutions also come with challenges, including high costs, latency issues, and weather-related disruptions. Mobile hotspots rely on strong network coverage, which can be inconsistent in rural areas. This leaves many businesses back on square one.
Looking Ahead
Rural Welsh businesses are embracing digital innovation to overcome challenges and thrive online. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have become essential for engaging customers and showcasing products and services, while e-commerce solutions enable them to expand beyond local markets.
Many businesses are also strengthening their online identity by securing .cymru and .wales domains, reinforcing their Welsh credentials and boosting local visibility.
Despite the challenges, rural Welsh businesses are finding clever ways to thrive online. From tapping into alternative internet solutions to fine-tuning their local SEO and embracing digital marketing, they’re making their mark in the digital world. And with broadband infrastructure continuing to improve, the playing field is becoming even for many rural Welsh businesses.
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