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Sion Barry

@sionbarry.bsky.social
361 followers 76 following 63 posts

Business editor of the Western Mail and BusinessLive Wales (also content on WoL).

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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Another huge equity round boost (series B) for Cardiff University spinout firm www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/l...
business-live.co.uk
Life sciences firm Draig Therapeutics in near £50m new equity round boost
It follows a £107m series A funding round for the Cardiff University spinout firm last year
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
New Welsh Government urged to support Welsh SMEs by ending public sector procurement through closed English frameworks www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/w...
business-live.co.uk
Welsh Government urged to end procurement through closed English frameworks
Cardiff-based edtech venture GroupEd said that closed frameworks are locking many Welsh SMEs out of Welsh public sector contracts
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
PwC moves into new Welsh HQ www.business-live.co.uk/professional...
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Appeal decision on Bristol Airport legal challenge against Cardiff Airport subsidy plans www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/b...
business-live.co.uk
Bristol Airport loses appeal over Welsh Government £205m Cardiff Airport subsidy
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has rejected an appeal by Bristol after it lost its case in April
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Welsh entrepreneur appointed to the board of the Crown Estate www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
The Crown Estate appoints Welsh entrepreneur to its board
Michael Plaut has been appointed a commissioner
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Welsh Government sets out key economic target www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Welsh Government sets out its key economic target
It aims to half Wales's productivity gap with the UK as a whole
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The importance of Cardiff Airport to the Welsh economy - Adam Price - www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Cardiff Airport 'mission critical' in boosting Welsh economy says Adam Price
The new Economy Minister says the airport could follow the example of its rival Bristol Airport in growing passengers while also expanding non related terminal activities
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Adam Price on a new development agency, the Development Bank of Wales and economic targets; www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Adam Price on a new development agency and the Development Bank of Wales
The Economy Minister said that driving the competitiveness of the Welsh economy has to be a collective effort
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Defence firm relocating to Merthyr plans to create 250 jobs www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturin...
business-live.co.uk
Defence firm moving to Wales with plans to create 250 jobs
Marshall Land Systems has informed staff it plans to relocate from Cambridge to Merthyr
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
The manifesto of @plaidcymru.bsky.social has the aim of increasing the £8bn value of public sector contracts to Welsh SME to 70%, which they say would create 35,000 new jobs. But no mention of any displacement of existing jobs in Wales amongst non Welsh SMEs and Welsh corporates.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
My take on Bristol Airport's legal challenge, which will be heard this week, against Welsh Government £205m subsidy plans for Cardiff Airport.... www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Bristol Airport's £205m subsidy legal challenge against rival Cardiff Airport
Welsh Government plans to subsidy the airport over the next decade will be decided by the Competition Appeal Tribunal
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
The life sciences firm sold for $10bn in which the Welsh Government once had a 20% stake www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/s...
business-live.co.uk
The firm sold for $10bn in which the Welsh Government once had a 20% stake
If the Welsh Life Sciences Investment Fund had kept its full stake in Verona for the long-term it could have been a huge success story for the Welsh Government
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Could this help get a funding deal for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence over the line? www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Major data centre plans for Global Centre of Rail Excellence
It has launched a competition to find an energy and data centre partner that could result in investment of several billion pounds
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Senedd committee report criticises the performance of city and growth deals in Wales, but CCR and Ambition N Wales hit back at the findings www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Performance of city and growth deals in Wales questioned by Senedd committee
The Cardiff Capital Region and Ambition North Wales have hit back at the findings of the report
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
The amount the former owners of Cardiff Rugby should have invested before its collapse & what creditors are owed www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/a...
business-live.co.uk
The amount the former owners of Cardiff Rugby failed to invest
Joint administrators with PwC estimate that over a 100 unsecured creditors are owed collectively £2.4m.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Plans for 3 major offshore floating windfarms in the Celtic Sea take a major step forward.
business-live.co.uk
Major step forward for huge floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea
The Crown Estate has drawn up a shortlist of bidders for its leasing round five with three Welsh ports confirmed as partners to assembly and help deploy the projects
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Wales' share of annual £60bn in UK exports to the US more than 15%.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Goods news for Newport and wider S Wales compound semiconductor cluster.... www.linkedin.com/posts/waleso...
linkedin.com
US firm Vishay confirms £250m investment at UK's biggest semiconductor… | BusinessLive Wales
Major investment announcement at the UK's biggest semiconductor plant in Newport https://lnkd.in/esUZjNk4
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Business intelligence venture Creditsafe creating 300 jobs at new Cardiff HQ www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/c...
business-live.co.uk
Creditsafe to create 300 jobs at its new Cardiff HQ
The business has relocated its HQ from Caerphilly to Cardiff where it has plans a major expansion
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Future home nations bid to host the men's soccer World Cup floated by FAW boss www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Joint home nations bid to host men's World Cup floated by Welsh soccer boss
Football Association of Wales chief executive, Noel Mooney, said a home nations bid for a future men's World Cup, after winning Euro 28 and seeking to stage the women's 2035 World Cup, could prove com...
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
New CEO at the DVLA..
business-live.co.uk
DVLA turns to senior Welsh Government civil servant for its new chief executive
Tim Moss will take up the role at the end of March
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Cardiff Capital Region facing £10m damages claim over awarding of Aberthaw Power Station demolition contract www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
walesonline.co.uk
Cardiff faces demand for millions after bungling massive demolition contract
Demolition firm Brown and Mason has won a court case in which it claimed that the way the Cardiff capital region handled the award of the £30m contract to demolish Aberthaw Power Station was unlawful
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Senedd plans for new 120,000 sq ft new HQ building www.business-live.co.uk/commercial-p...
business-live.co.uk
Plans for new 120,000 sq ft Senedd headquarters building out to tender
It has invited bidders to submit plans for a new 120,000 sq ft headquarters in Cardiff Bay but could ultimately opt to remain at Ty Hywel.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Good to catch up with Welsh tech billionaire Sir Terry Matthews... www.business-live.co.uk/technology/b...
business-live.co.uk
Billionaire Sir Terry Matthews on catching the next tech wave
The Welsh billionaire said he is not money-orientated and is driven only by creating businesses in which giving equity to staff is important
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Another case for a fairer funding deal for Wales and the west of England
business-live.co.uk
Wales and the west of England needs billions in new rail projects says report
A programme of much needed rail enhancement projects for Wales and the west of England has been outlined by the Western Gateway Partnership
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Raising finance for major projects can be a challenge and 2025 is a crunch year for realising the £400m Global Centre of Rail Excellence project as it confirms it is in talks on a major debt deal www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Global Centre of Rail Excellence project looking to close major financing deal
If funding can be secured the shovel-ready project in the Dulais Valley would see Europe's first integrated testing facility for trains and rail infrastructure
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
UK and Welsh governments agree that Wales needs funding to address decades of under investment in rail enhancement projects. But all roads lead to the Treasury and the multi-year spending review next spring www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
walesonline.co.uk
UK and Welsh governments to announce direction of travel to address rail scandal
It builds on discussions between Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates his UK Government counterpart Heidi Alexander and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Leader of Cardiff Council Huw Thomas says more than two years and still no planning decision on Cardiff Parkway project from the Welsh Government is indefensible and deterring investment into Wales www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Welsh Government planning decision delay on Cardiff Parkway indefensible
Huw Thomas has written to First Minister Eluned Morgan warning that the continued delay could also be deterring investment into Wales
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Proposed phase 2 of Cardiff Crossrail a vital investment for public transport in the capital, but also helping to realise the full potential of the S Wales Metro writes @swalesmetroprof.bsky.social www.business-live.co.uk/opinion-anal...
business-live.co.uk
Next phase of Cardiff Crossrail project key to maximising benefits of the Metro
Professor Mark Barry said the second phase at a relatively modest cost of up to £200m would transform rail services in Cardiff but also benefit the wider South Wales Metro
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Biggest office letting deal in Wales since Covid with Lloyds confirming a new hub in the centre of Cardiff for 3,000 staff www.business-live.co.uk/commercial-p...
business-live.co.uk
Lloyds Banking Group confirms new hub in South Wales for 3,000 staff
It has agreed a 10-year lease to occupy the entire soon to be completed John Street office scheme in the centre of Cardiff
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Smart move from @transportforwales.bsky.social to install fibre as part of the South Wales Metro rail electrification project www.business-live.co.uk/technology/t...
business-live.co.uk
Transport for Wales launches new high speed internet network
It has installed the network in tandem with electrifying the Core Valley Lines into Cardiff
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
The ability to weed out under performing Welsh Government civil servants and its 5,000 headcount cap explored by @waterslee.bsky.social in his latest Fifth Floor podcast. Efforts to block bus reform an alarming example of why ministers needs more control. creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lee...
creators.spotify.com
3 - Dysfunction (The Civil Service - part two) by Y Pumed Llawr - The Fifth Floor
This is the second part of a look at the Welsh Government civil service, and why Ministers are frustrated at the pace of change.Speaking to former civil servants, Special Advisers and Ministers the ep...
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Cross-border Western Gateway Partnership facing loss of UK Government core funding www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Cross-party Western Gateway Partnership facing loss of £1m core funding
The lose of funding would undermine the momentum built up by the partnership over the last four years and could even lead to questions over its viability
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Bridgend dart and dartboard manufacturer Nodor targeting global expansion on major private equity investment www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/d...
business-live.co.uk
Dart and dart board manufacturer Nodor Group in major private equity deal
The Bridgend headquartered business has become majority owned by mid-market private equity firm Inflexion
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Understand there was interest from Transport for Wales but deal struck that sees new operator for Carmarthen to Paddington route starting in 2027 www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/p...
business-live.co.uk
Planned South Wales to London train service has a new operator
Grand Union Trains has sold its open access rights for the new route to FirstGroup
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Welsh Sec @jostevenslabour.bsky.social on Wales' place in the new industrial strategy of the UK Gov't, addressing rail underinvestment in Wales and the Cardiff Parkway project www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens on the economy, rail investment and Cardiff Parkway
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
The third venue in Wales from @cosyclub.bsky.social will be in Swansea www.business-live.co.uk/commercial-p...
business-live.co.uk
Cosy Club opening its first restaurant in Swansea
It plans to open next year on the ground floor of the historic Exchange Building
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Strong H1 investment activity from the Development Bank of Wales www.business-live.co.uk/professional...
business-live.co.uk
Development Bank of Wales invested £62m in first half of its financial year
It directly provided nearly £62m of debt and equity to support the growth plans of SMEs which leverage co-investment of £42m,
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Transport for Wales and @welshgovernment.bsky.social have developed strong rail enhancement investment business cases (Burns stations etc) aimed at addressing significant UK Gov't underinvest in Wales. So disappointing to see no clear Welsh voice here: www.gov.uk/government/g....
gov.uk
Department for Transport Capital Review Panel
An advisory panel which provides independent advice to the Secretary of State for Transport on strategic considerations for the department’s capital portfolio.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Welsh Secretary @jostevenslabour.bsky.social reveals new economic advisory group www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens reveals new economic advisory group
Chaired by the Welsh Secretary it will meet for the first time in Cardiff next week
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
New global investment summit in Wales announced by @prifweinidog.bsky.social www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Wales to stage international investment summit
First Minister Eluned Morgan said the event will be staged next year with hopes of it resulting in new investment from around the world into Wales
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
First phase in plans by US tech firm Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. to invest £1bn and create hundreds of hi-tech jobs at Newport plant in boost to wider S Wales compound semiconductor cluster www.business-live.co.uk/technology/f...
business-live.co.uk
First phase investment in Vishay plans to plough £1bn into Newport facility
The US tech firm is investing £51m into its facility with backing from the Welsh Government where it plans to create hundreds of new hi-tech jobs
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Worrying fall in the number of new apprentices in Wales www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Number of new apprentices in Wales facing a 6,000 dip shows new research
Independent research from Cebr highlights the damaging economic impact from the Welsh Government's funding cut to its flagship apprenticeship programme in the 2024/25 financial year
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Big fall in the number of new apprentices in Wales chartbeat.com/publishing/d...
chartbeat.com
Chartbeat | Sign In
Chartbeat’s content intelligence and analytics tools for publishers measure reader engagement so you have the data insights you need to build a loyal audience.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Fascinating and insightful delve into the workings of ⁦@WelshGovernment, its spads⁩ and the civil service, in the first episode of a new podcast series from former minister @waterslee.bsky.social music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b0a...
music.amazon.co.uk
For the best experience accessing Amazon Music, we recommend using the latest version of Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Edge.
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Big deficit spike for Cardiff University and more pain to get to £28m planned deficit by financial year end. www.business-live.co.uk/economic-dev...
business-live.co.uk
Cardiff University deficit widens to £65m as it faces major hit from NI hike
The university is looking to reduce the deficit to £28m at the end of its current financial year
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
The £130m Investment Fund for Wales on its first year and deal flow outlook www.business-live.co.uk/professional...
business-live.co.uk
British Business Bank on the performance of its £130m Investment Fund for Wales
The bank said £10m was deployed in the fund's first year and will now be accelerated with the £40m reserve also being utilised
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Latest on new S Wales to London train service www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
walesonline.co.uk
New train service to launch from south Wales to London
Grand Union Trains secured approval to run trains from Carmarthen to London in competition to First Great Western back in 2022
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
The British Business Bank on the first year of its £130m Investment Fund for Wales and the deal outlook www.business-live.co.uk/professional...
business-live.co.uk
British Business Bank on the performance of its £130m Investment Fund for Wales
The bank said £10m was deployed in the fund's first year and will now be accelerated with the £40m reserve also being utilised
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Sion Barry @sionbarry.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Two of Cardiff's historic arcades are thriving with strong occupancy levels www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consu...
business-live.co.uk
The Cardiff Victorian built arcades which are thriving
The Morgan Quarter, which includes the Morgan and Royal arcades, is close to full occupancy with just one unit available to rent
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