Tourism Business Update - 14 February 2025
Latest news and information for local tourism and hospitality businesses.
HMRC Employer Bulletin - Feb edition
The February edition of the Employer Bulletin brings you all the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents.
Included in this edition are important updates on:
- payrolling employees' benefits and expenses
- reporting expenses and benefits for the tax year ending 5 April 2025
- employee hours data requirements
- company cars - classification of double cab pickups
- guidelines for compliance - help with labour supply chain assurance
- statutory neonatal care leave and pay
Download the Employer Bulletin
HMRC webinars - Feb/March
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
- Qualifying conditions
- How much to pay - using the online calculator
- How to claim back these statutory payments
- Keeping in touch days
- Record keeping
- Qualifying conditions and entitlement to receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- How to calculate and pay SSP
- The effect of company sick pay, as well as agency, casual and term-time employees, on SSP
- Essential record keeping
Come As You Really Are: Swansea Open 2025 Exhibition Opening - Sat 15 Feb (1pm-4pm), Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, alongside award-winning artist and Spider-Man enthusiast Hetain Patel and Artangel, is delighted to present Come As You Really Are - Swansea Open 2025.
This exciting exhibition will run from 15 February - 27 April, showcasing unique hand-crafted objects, with contributions from hobbyists including collectors, costume and cosplay makers, painters, crocheters and knitters, model makers, robotics engineers, origami specialists and many more.
There will be a public programme alongside the exhibition, including talks, events, performances and workshops, running from February to April.
Find out more about Swansea Open 2025
Global Tourism Resilience Day - 17 Feb
On 17 February, the world celebrates Global Tourism Resilience Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly.
Sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, is a cross-cutting activity that can contribute to sustainable development by fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, creating full and productive employment and decent work for all.
It can also play a role in accelerating the change to more sustainable consumption and production patterns by promoting the sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources, promoting local culture, improving the quality of life and the economic empowerment of women and young people and local communities, as well as promoting rural development and better living conditions for rural populations.
This day emphasises the essential role of resilient tourism in facing and overcoming various global challenges. It highlights the importance of preparing the tourism sector to effectively respond to crises, reflecting the sector's vulnerability to emergencies such as environmental disasters, economic fluctuations, and health crises.
Not sure where to start when it comes to sustainability? Download this handy resource pack for top tips and funding advice: Sustainable Tourism Wales | Business Wales
Global Tourism Resilience Day 2025 | Business Wales
Business Engagement Event: New visitswanseabay.com and TXGB - 18 Feb (2pm-4pm), The Guildhall SA1 4PE
Are you a tourism or hospitality business / organisation based in the City and County of Swansea?
Swansea Council's Tourism Team will be demonstrating the new and improved VisitSwanseaBay.com - the official destination website - and how it is used in our year-round marketing campaigns to attract visitors to our beautiful area.
Join us in the Guildhall on Tuesday 18 Feb (2pm-4pm) to find out how YOU can benefit from it and promote your products, services or events with us for free and reach out to millions of potential visitors!
You will also hear from a guest speaker on the benefits of signing up to the online booking platform TXGB.
This event is open to all but registration is essential by emailing Geraldine.Williams@swansea.gov.uk
How to write a Tender workshop - Online - 19 February (9:30am-12:30pm)
Improve your bid development capabilities in this half-day workshop Hosted by Rhian Thomas from the Commercial Toolkit.
Learn to navigate the entire bid process, from initial prospect evaluation through to final submission.
What we will cover:
- Strategic bid/no-bid decision-making
- Effective bid planning
- Evaluating customer requirements
- Bid drafting considerations
- Structuring bid documents
- Articulating your value-added
This will be an interactive session including practical exercises, examples with opportunities for Q&A. Suitable for those looking to increase their bid success rate.
This Workshop is funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund.
Wales Week London: 20 Feb - 08 March
Wales Week London will take place over the period of St David's Day week in London and is the annual showcase of activities and events that celebrate and promote everything that is great about Wales.
A calendar of events is planned from 20 February to 8 March 2025, with great opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors.
Further details can be found on the Wales Week London website.
The Wales Food and Drink Awards 2025 - closing date 21 Feb
The Awards see hundreds of Welsh producers and suppliers from across the sector, and every corner of Wales, join together each year to celebrate the achievements of businesses and individuals who make the industry what it is today.
Back for its fourth year, the event is attended by more than four hundred people, including leaders and pioneers who are driving further growth within the Welsh economy.
The closing date for applications is 21 February 2025 with the awards ceremony taking place on 22 May 2025 at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
For further information please go to 2025 Awards - Food and Drink Awards
Wales Dark Skies Week: 22 Feb - 2 March
You won't have to travel far to enjoy some of the best night-time views in Wales as part of Wales Dark Skies Week from February 22 to March 2.
The annual celebration celebrates all the best things about the great outdoors and Gower's magical National Landscape has just been named the country's latest International Dark Sky Community.
It's an exclusive international club that celebrates the beauty to be found when the sun goes down.
The area around Reynoldston, Port Eynon, Rhossili and Arthur's Stone at Cefn Bryn are especially good places to go with friends to enjoy a new take on the universe on a clear, dark night. Check out more information here: Dark Skies
Gower is the first area of South Wales to secure the accolade from Dark Sky International, a world-wide organisation dedicated to showcasing the wildlife, environmental and tourism benefits of night-time in the countryside.
Wales Dark Skies Week unites communities, conservationists, astronomers, and nature enthusiasts across Wales, spotlighting the critical role dark skies play in supporting biodiversity, human health, energy conservation and cultural heritage.
Find out more about Gower becoming International Dark Sky Community.
Business Swansea Advice Surgery - 25 Feb (10am-1pm), Port Tennant Community Centre, Wern Fawr Road, Swansea SA1 8LQ
- Access to business support
- Swansea Council grants and loans information
- Help with funding applications
- Recruitment and training
- Signposting to relevant agencies
- Networking opportunities
Meet the Experts:
- Business Swansea Anchor Team
- Skills for Swansea - Gower College
- Business Wales
- Swansea's Broadband Engagement Officer
- Development Bank of Wales
Just drop in, no booking needed.
Croeso returns to city centre: 28 Feb - 1 March
This vibrant, bilingual festival showcases Welsh culture with food and drink, cookery demonstrations, live music, and evening fringe events.
Families will be able to enjoy a children's trail, street entertainers, arts and crafts, sporting activities, and a dragon parade.
Croeso will take place on February 28 and March 1 from 10am to 4pm, with the festivities spanning from Oxford Street to St David's Place.
Headline cooking demonstrations will be led by Great British Bake-Off Winner 2024 and Carmarthenshire-born Georgie Grasso, Jonathan Woolway from The Shed in SA1 Swansea, and Matt Waldron from The Plantagenet in Tenby will also make a return.
Look out for further information, including more cooking demonstrations and live music acts, to be announced soon.
Do you have any St David's day events planned? If so, let us know so that we can include them under the Croeso umbrella, and you will benefit from the extensive marketing campaign associated with this event along with branding and support to promote your celebrations.
Email Special.Events@swansea.gov.uk
The Small Awards 2025 - closing date 28 Feb
The Small Awards celebrates the UK's finest small businesses across the UK, from service legends and CICs to Net Zero heroes, digital trailblazers, legendary family-run businesses, innovative start-ups and high street champions.
Entries close at midnight on 28 February 2025.
Judging will be done based on a number of criteria relevant to the specific award, whilst also looking for strong performance as an on-going business. The judges will be looking for evidences of strong community engagement from small businesses. Judging will be completed by the end of April, 2025.
All finalists will be invited to The Small Awards ceremony, a black-tie dinner, to hear all the Award winners announced live.
Don't miss out and get your application in now - entering is free.
For further information please select the following link: The Small Awards
Have Your Say: Swansea Market entrance improvements - closing 2 March
Have your say on the proposed designs for the improvement of Swansea Market's external entrances
As part of the Council's ongoing commitment to Swansea's award-winning market, there are plans to improve the Market's 3 external entrances.
This investment follows on from the resounding success of the installation of public toilets and the development of The Market Garden seating area in the centre of the Market Hall.
3 different entrance designs have been developed and we would love to hear your thoughts on them.
A consultation process with the public and stakeholders is now underway until 2 March 2025 providing the opportunity for feedback and selection of a favourite design.
It's Your Swansea Conference - 6 March, Swansea Building Society Arena
Visit Swansea Bay are excited to be exhibiting at the 'It's Your Swansea Conference 2025' which is being held at the Swansea Building Society Arena on Thursday 6 March.
The conference is a fabulous opportunity to meet local businesses, connect with local organisations, find out about the ongoing regeneration of our city, and hear about the opportunities on our doorsteps. From employers recruiting staff, to exciting community projects to get involved in, and small businesses to support - there is something for everyone and it is free to attend.
Be sure to look out for us and stop by our Visit Swansea Bay stand to say hello. See you there!
Find out more and book your free ticket
Views wanted to improve transport in South West Wales - closing 6 April
Your views are now wanted on an exciting new vision for a more reliable, connected and accessible transport network in South West Wales.
The draft regional transport plan - which covers Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea - is also looking to ensure transport in future is affordable and convenient to create more options for local people.
With online feedback now available here until 6 April, the plan will help support the delivery of a rail and bus metro system in South West Wales.
It also comes in advance of the Welsh Government's Bus Bill, which is aimed at improving bus services in Wales by either placing them under greater local authority control or by enabling local authorities to run the services.
As well as online feedback on the draft regional transport plan, in-person events will be taking place over the coming weeks. Details of the dates, times and locations of these events can be found on the website.
The draft regional transport plan includes initiatives and projects proposed for implementation between 2025 and 2030.
The plan aligns with the Welsh Government's Wales Transport strategy by focusing on reducing reliance on private vehicles and increasing the use of public transport, walking and cycling.
All views received during the current round of consultation will be considered before a final version of the regional transport plan goes to the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales for approval.
Find out more and have your say
UWTSD Free Short Course - Immersive technology
Unlock the potential of immersive technologies for your business with this free, self-paced online short course available for all businesses.
The course covers what the technology is, what is available from low-tech to high-tech, and how it can be implemented within your business.
Upskill your knowledge on Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Virtual Tours to enhance consumer engagement and provide development opportunities for your workforce.
If you have any queries, or want to find out more, please email glyn.jenkins@uwtsd.ac.uk or ttc@uwtsd.ac.uk.
'City on the Beach' - A new city vision for Swansea
Swansea Council is working in collaboration with regeneration specialists Urban Splash on the transformation of seven key sites across the city.
Following the release of their 'City on the Beach' sketchbook in December, Urban Splash will start with a 47,964 sq ft public sector hub of shops, restaurants, and commercial office spaces.
'City on the Beach' is a simple statement of fact, a claim that Swansea can make that few UK cities can, but it is also shorthand for the fact that Swansea has everything a city should have - and all within easy walking distance: from the train station to the Wales Coastal Path in 20 minutes, from work to the market in 10 minutes and from the city centre to the beach in 5 minutes. You can cycle to open country in your lunch break, swim in the sea after school or catch a concert without catching a taxi.
Want to be part of the wider conversation? Download the 'City on the Beach' sketch book now
Business Wales - information, guidance and support for businesses in Wales
Business Wales provides specialist advice and guidance to support people running and growing businesses in Wales.
This fully funded service is available across Wales and will support the individual requirements of businesses through bespoke packages of activity.
Relationship Managed support forms part of the Business Wales service and is available to businesses with strong growth aspirations.
Business Wales is here to help your business through networking, workshops, help develop your business skills and by identifying funding opportunities.
They have a range of resources available and provide specialist support in the following areas:
- Marketing
- Business ideas and innovation
- Business finance
- Export
- Technology
- Recruitment and training
- Sell2Wales tendering
A representative from Business Wales will be present at our business engagement session in the Guildhall on 18 Feb - feel free to have a chat and introduce yourself if you need any business support.
Find out more on the Business Wales website
Sustainable Tourism Wales - Toolkits
Not sure where to start when it comes to sustainability? Maybe you've started making changes but want to take it to the next level?
Download these short, handy resource packs which include top tips and funding advice for five core topics:
Find out more at Sustainable Tourism Wales
Don't forget to pick up your free Swansea Bay Visitor Maps
We are delighted to announce the return of our popular A3 visitor maps. These double-sided, tear-off counter-top maps feature Swansea city centre on one side and Gower and the wider area on the other.
They are perfect to hand out to visitors to help them make the most of their stay and explore everything our area has to offer.
Maps are available free of charge to local tourism and hospitality businesses - they can be collected from the Guildhall on request.
Please email Tourism.Team@swansea.gov.uk to request a supply.
Great events in 2025:
15 Feb: Come As You Really Are - Swansea Open 2025 Exhibition Opening, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea
6 Mar: It's Your Swansea Conference, Swansea Arena
2 Apr: Swansea Sports Awards, Brangwyn Hall
25 May: Swansea Triathlon
26-31 May: Eisteddfod yr Urdd, Margam Park
8 June: Swansea Half Marathon
5-6 July: Wales Airshow
13 July: IronMan 70.3 Swansea
6-14 Sept: Gower Walking Festival
14 Sept: Swansea Bay 10k
5 Nov: Swansea Council Fireworks Display
Find out about more events happening in Swansea
Found this tourism trade update useful? Pass it on or contact Geraldine.Williams@swansea.gov.uk