Toggle mobile menu visibility

Bank holiday information - Easter

Bank holiday information for our services, including opening times and emergency contacts. All recycling collections will take place on the usual days.

Tourism Business Update - 27 March 2024

Latest news and information for local tourism and hospitality businesses

HMRC Employer Bulletin: March 2024

HMRC publishes the Employer Bulletin 6 times a year, giving employers and agents the latest information on topics and issues that may affect them.

The March edition of Employer Bulletin includes articles on:

  • PAYE Settlement Agreement payment
  • Reporting expenses and benefits for the tax year ending 5 April 2024
  • Mandating the payrolling of benefits in kind from April 2026
  • PAYE tax calculator
  • Basis period reform - reporting on a tax year basis
  • Claiming tax relief on work related expenses - don't get caught out by bad tax advice

Download the HMRC Employer Bulletin

Who's hiring? Latest tourism and hospitality vacancies

Free bus services - until 7 April

The hugely-popular free bus offer in the city is back for 9 days over the Easter holidays and includes all three weekends. All journeys must start before 7.00pm.

This offer is for journeys that start and finish within the Swansea Council area and applies on: 

  • Friday 29 March (Good Friday)
  • Saturday 30 March
  • Sunday 31 March (Easter Sunday)
  • Monday 1 April (Easter Monday) 
  • Saturday 6 April
  • Sunday 7 April

Anyone can use it, whether you're travelling for work in Swansea or enjoying a day out in the city centre or at one of our brilliant beaches. You do not need to show proof that you live in Swansea to receive free travel. Bus services operated by First Cymru, Adventure Travel, South Wales Transport and DANSA are included. 

Find out more about free bus services this Easter

First Cymru improvements to bus network in Wales 

From Sunday 31 March, First Cymru are rolling out Tap On, Tap Off (TOTO) technology on all their services. This allows customers to simply tap their bank card or payment device on card readers and pay the cheapest fare depending on the number of journeys they make or distance travelled. 
 
Even if customers make multiple trips over several days, the system will automatically calculate the cheapest way to travel providing the same payment method is used. 
 
For adults using TOTO, customers will pay depending on the number of miles they travel, with the cheapest fare costing an adult £1.60 and the maximum costing no more than a flat rate single (£3) and return (£5.40) ticket. Multiple trips in a single day using TOTO will be capped at the new adult day ticket of £6. 
 
Overhauling ticket prices will make it easier for customers to know what they are paying regardless of where they are travelling and hopefully encourage more people to travel by bus in south and west Wales.  
 
First Cymru hopes to provide an update on services in Swansea in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, new timetables are now available on the First Cymru website.

Workplace Recycling - new regulations from 6 April 

From 6 April 2024, it will become law for all businesses, charities and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling. This includes:

  • Hospitality and tourism - restaurants, bars, pubs, bed and breakfasts, hotels, campsites and caravan parks, holiday accommodation, and licensed premises
  • Showgrounds
  • Entertainment and sports venues including leisure centres
  • Transport - bus stations, railway stations, seaports, airports, and heliports
  • Education - universities, colleges, and schools
  • Heritage buildings
  • Libraries and museums
  • Places of worship
  • Outdoor markets and festivals

The Welsh Government is introducing this law to improve the quality and quantity of how we collect and separate waste: Workplace recycling | GOV.WALES 

Further Welsh Government guidance is also available here: Changes to workplace recycling: guidance for workplaces | GOV.WALES

There are separate guides available for the following sectors: 

Your comms and the Countryside Code for Wales: Workshop Invite - 17 April (14.00-15.30) - Microsoft Teams

For generations, the Countryside Code for Wales has acted as a guide to responsible recreation for people enjoying parks and waterways, coast and countryside.

With more of us than ever before enjoying the outdoors, extra pressure is being put on our environment.

As such, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is seeking to raise the visibility and awareness of the Countryside Code with everyone participating in outdoor recreation in Wales.

The Countryside Code Strategy (2023) recommends a more coordinated approach to developing a network of stakeholders with an interest in the outdoors who represent today's society.

We'd like to invite you to a communications and promotion-focused workshop to:

  • Find out about recent developments in the development and promotion of the Code
  • Explore how the Code could be worked into your communications
  • Meet other sector stakeholders

If someone else in your organisation specialises in communications, please feel free to send this invite onto them. 

Please confirm your attendance at the workshop by emailing: Sophie.Leyshon@workingword.co.uk               

Hanging baskets for businesses - deadline 30 April 

Order hanging baskets, lamp post baskets and barrier troughs from Swansea Council now to brighten up your business this spring/summer.

We aim to start delivering the displays during May, depending on the growth of the baskets and weather permitting. Please ensure that you have fixed brackets in place so that we can hang them for you on delivery.

If you choose the option to have your baskets watered by us too then they will be fed and watered all through the summer until around October time. Normally we visit 4 days a week, but if there is a dry spell of weather we will do extra visits.

Please note that if you intend for lamp post baskets or barrier troughs to be put up where they haven't been put up previously you will need to contact us before placing your order so we can check that they don't impact upon road safety. 

Deadline for orders is 30 April 2024 (while stocks last).

Find out more about hanging baskets

HMRC Employers Webinar: What's new for 2024 to 2025

Join this live webinar for an overview of the main changes affecting the way you deal with employee and payroll matters, including:  

  • Class 1 National Insurance contributions - rates and thresholds 
  • Expenses and benefits for employees - fuel benefits charges for company cars, vans and fuel 
  • National Living and National Minimum Wage rates 
  • Statutory Payments - the new rates 
  • Student Loans 
  • Other changes, including changes to National Insurance for those who are self-employed  

You'll have the opportunity to ask your questions using the on-screen text box.

Register here

'See It - Report It': free display stickers available for businesses

Seen or heard something that doesn't feel right? Witnessed a crime or incident? Act now and play your part in keeping communities safe for all.

Businesses in Swansea are being urged to help their local neighbourhood by reporting crimes and any suspicious occurrences or incidents of anti-social behaviour.

'See It - Report It' stickers are now available for businesses to display on their premises. 

The stickers, which are A4 and available bilingually, contain QR codes and useful contacts for the police, StreetSafe, Victim Support and Counter Terrorism Policy. 

This is a Safer Swansea initiative. 

If you would like to receive some 'See It - Report It' stickers, email Paul.Evans3@swansea.gov.uk or contact your local PCSO.

Swansea Council's Transforming County Placemaking Grant - improving your business premises

Up to £30,000 grant support is available for external improvements to your business premises. Grants also available for internal improvements if your business is vacant. 

This grant is funded by UK Government and administered by Swansea Council.

To find out if your business is eligible, please email transformingcounty@swansea.gov.uk

Welsh Government to launch Future Proofing Fund

Hundreds of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Wales will soon be able to apply for Welsh Government funding designed to help them to reduce their running costs.

Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will be available to eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.

The £20m Future Proofing Fund will help businesses strengthen their future trading position by increasing profitability through investment in renewable energy technology, improvements to the fabric of their premises, and upgrades to systems or machinery to reduce energy use.

The grants will be paid up to 75% of project costs or £10,000, whichever is the lesser amount.  It is expected that the business will contribute the remaining 25% from other sources.

The fund is open to businesses located in Wales (either headquartered or have an operating address in Wales) and which employ people in Wales.

An eligibility checker will open in mid-April 2024 and applications will open in May 2024. 

Read more about the Future Proofing Fund

Cultural Ambassadors scheme launched to promote the Welsh language and heritage

The Welsh Government has launched a Cultural Ambassadors scheme to promote the Welsh language, culture and heritage.

The role of the network of Cultural Ambassadors is to support newcomers to communities across Wales to learn more about Wales, the Welsh language and its importance to the community, to provide support and guidance for businesses to use and promote the Welsh language, and to work locally to maintain and strengthen social networks.

Any person or business can volunteer to become an ambassador by completing short interactive modules on the history of the Welsh language and its position today. After completing the modules on the Wales Ambassador website, the ambassadors receive a certificate, badge, window sticker, and information pack about the support available, such as a free translation service for communities, individuals, and third sector organisations.

To learn more about the scheme and how to become an ambassador, go to 'Cultural Ambassador Course: Ambassador Wales'

The course takes around 20 minutes to complete, and ambassadors can decide how they will support the Welsh language in their community. 

Gower Coast Path Leaflet 2024

Hot off the press! Colleagues in Countryside Access have a small supply of the Gower Coast Path Leaflet 2024 available for local businesses.

If you are located near the coast path or you have guests interested in walking, you can request a small supply by emailing Mike.Scott2@swansea.gov.uk.

And don't forget you can pick up a selection of Countryside Access walking leaflets from the racks at the entrance of the Civic Centre SA1 3SN.

You can also find more information on local walking routes and download leaflets from our Visit Swansea Bay Walking section.

Does your business have ambition with the circular economy and sustainability?  

Applied Research for Circular Solutions (ARCS) is a Circular Innovation support programme delivered by Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering. It is fully funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund and runs until December 2024. 

If you're interested in discovering how ARCS can support your organisation to identify and implement Circular Economy opportunities, please complete the short form below and a member of the team will be in touch to arrange an introductory meeting.

Alternatively, contact ARCS@Swansea.ac.uk

Fill in the ARCS enquiry form

Clean Growth Innovation Community Programme 

In addition to the ARCS programme above, Swansea University have also secured Shared Prosperity Funding to deliver their 'Clean Growth Innovation Community Programme'. 

They are now looking for businesses or third party organisations who want to look at sustainability, specifically through carbon reduction and clean growth, to take part in the programme.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Project Manager for Circular Economy Innovation Communities Jo Bishop at j.bishop@swansea.ac.uk

Update on the Mumbles Coastal Protection Scheme

We're upgrading and refurbishing the Mumbles coastal sea defences. The work will reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses that are increasingly threatened by rising sea levels brought about by climate change.

The work will strengthen the defences along Mumbles promenade for a distance of around 1km and will protect nearby homes, businesses and amenities.

They include sections such as a vertical sea wall and sloping revetment (retaining wall); these support the prom, providing leisure opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists, residents and visitors.

Funding for the new defences was secured from the Welsh Government.

We have updated our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Organising an event in Swansea? 

Whether you are organising an event to take place on council or privately owned land you must make sure you have permission to do so and to follow the advice on the Council's pages: 

Organising an event and use of open spaces

Looking for vacant premises for your business? 

The Council's vacant land and property pages bring together information from a wide variety of sources, including properties available via both commercial agents and council owned property.

The properties are split into industrial buildings, offices, retail buildings and land.

Browse the vacant land and properties pages

Great events in 2024:

29 Mar - 1 Apr: Swansea Street Food Festival, Museum Park
13-19 May: Wales Tourism Week
13-17 June: Swansea International Jazz Festival
6-7 July: Wales Airshow
14 July: IronMan 70.3 Swansea
18 July: James Arthur live in Singleton Park
19 July: Classic Ibiza Swansea, Singleton Park
20 July: Let's Rock Swansea, Singleton Park
07-15 Sept: Gower Walking Festival
15 Sept: Admiral Swansea Bay 10k

Find out about more events happening in Swansea

Found this tourism trade update useful? Pass it on or contact Geraldine.Williams@swansea.gov.uk

Close Choose Language