HAVERFORDWEST-based charity, Cariad Pet Therapy, received VIP treatment during a special visit to Bryan Adams and his crew at the Utilita Arena on the May 19. The visit, which took place in the late afternoon, featured four therapy dogs along with dedicated volunteers from the organisation.

Bryan Adams, currently on a major tour, took a personal interest in the visit, sharing videos of his own dogs with the volunteers. He spent quality time with the therapy dogs – Rylie, a Border Collie; Ruby, a Fox Red Labrador; Max, a Golden Retriever; and Kali, a Black Labrador. Adams, known for his love of dogs, clearly enjoyed the interaction.

The volunteers from Cariad Pet Therapy were not only given the star treatment but were also provided with tickets to the evening’s concert. Meanwhile, the therapy dogs returned home after their heartwarming visit.

This event follows similar visits by the charity to concerts by Pete Tong and Jason Derulo in recent months, with more events planned for the future. Additionally, the volunteers attended the National Lottery Big Bash as special guests last Christmas, enjoying front-row seats for a performance headlined by Take That.

For more information on Cariad Pet Therapy and their work, visit www.cariadpettherapy.co.uk.

THE Welsh Government has made funding available of up to £10,000 for micro, small and medium- sized businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to help with running costs.

The Welsh Government Future Proofing Fund is designed to help businesses invest in renewable energy sources, carry out any improvements to business premises and upgrade systems or machinery to reduce energy use. The £20 million funding will help around 2,500 businesses across Wales to strengthen their trading position, increasing profitability.

Businesses must meet the below criteria to be considered for this funding:

• Be located in Wales and employ people in Wales
• Employ between 1 and 249 people
• Have been trading before 1 April 2023
• Operate from a property with a rateable value between £6,001 and £51,000
• Either own or leasing the business premises on a minimum 3-year lease, extending beyond 1 April 2026

Carmarthenshire County Councils Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans commented: “The Council welcomes this grant funding which will ensure that micro, small and medium sized businesses are supported finically. I encourage these business owners to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for funding to significantly increase their profitability and success”.

Applications are now open.

To check your eligibility, please visit: Welsh Government Future Proofing Fund | Business Wales

To see what other opportunities grant funding can offer your business, please visit Carmarthenshire County Councils UK Shared Prosperity Fund business pages for more information.

THE Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh language, Jeremy Miles, has today set out his immediate economic priorities for Wales during a keynote speech at AMRC Cymru in Broughton.

In setting out the challenges and opportunities presented by a just transition towards a greener economy, the business and skills audience was left in no doubt as to the scale of the prize for being at the forefront of that transition – not just for the business community in Wales but across public services and wider society. Immediate action being taken will include:

• Establishing a national economic council, replacing the Ministerial Advisory Committee
• Short turn around reviews in five key areas, looking at practical and actionable delivery in areas such as net zero skills, AI, and maximising growth opportunities in renewables.
• A series of regional events where all businesses will be invited to share their views with the Cabinet Secretary directly
• Developing a national approach to future skills planning, spanning all sectors of the economy

The Economy Secretary explained: “I have always believed that the foundation of all that any progressive Government seeks to achieve, rests on the health of our economy and its ability to support our wellbeing.

“If we have an economy which is growing truly sustainably, delivering prosperity and more opportunities for better paid work, in all parts of Wales, then we have the best opportunity to ensure that people can flourish.

“All the other challenges which any government grapples with – tackling health and educational inequalities, alleviating poverty, delivering effective and supportive public services, in our case – ensuring strong communities for the Welsh language to flourish – these all ultimately turn on the strength of our economy and what it does to increase prosperity and solidarity.

Adding: “I want Wales to be a place where young people with great ideas want to start a business, whether they are from Wales, have come here to study or choose to come to live here because of the welcome they will get, the entrepreneurship and mentoring support they can rely on and that sense of optimism and belonging which runs through our country.”

“I want them to know they can make it in Wales – a can do, creative nation where people flourish. That’s the economic future I know we all want for Wales.”