Author: Alice Gregory

A leading Welsh Awarding Body, Agored Cymru has expanded its growing portfolio of vocational programmes with the addition of eight accounting and financial skills courses from the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF), following its decision to withdraw from the schools and college market. The two organisations worked collaboratively and have closely aligned values, with a vision to develop and offer accessible, inclusive academic opportunities to people nationally and on the international stage. Agored Cymru CEO Darren Howells said: “These eight new qualifications form a pivotal part of our growth strategy and will ensure learners develop key skills in…

Leading South Wales-headquartered law firm Acuity Law has announced the relocation of its Swansea office. Hopping across the water from the historic Exchange Building on Cambrian Place to the thoroughly modern Ethos on King’s Road, the move sees Acuity Law deepening its connections to Swansea’s thriving business hub. Ethos is a striking, glass-fronted building in the heart of Swansea’s business community, with a prominent position on the waterfront, on the edge of Swansea City Centre. The new location reflects Acuity’s increasing centrality to the Swansea commercial marketplace and ambitions to showcase the notable work the firm is doing for Swansea-based…

The University of South Wales has been awarded almost £70,000 of Welsh Government funding to support the growth of Immersed Festival – an annual multimedia event entirely run by Creative Industries students – through a new skills development programme. Lucy Squire, Head of Music and Drama at USW, is one of the recipients of this year’s Creative Skills Fund, run by Creative Wales, which aims to nurture new and existing talent by training and upskilling individuals across several creative sectors, including screen, music, immersive technology, animation and games. Now in its second round, the fund has already benefited more than…

The Wales Air Ambulance Cwmdu shop in Swansea is delighted to has taken the title of Wales winner in The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Awards. The Charity delivers advanced lifesaving medical care to people across Wales 24/7. It is the only air ambulance charity based in, and dedicated to, the people of Wales. The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road. The shop was one of 6,500 that were nominated across the UK and claimed the winning spot in a public vote…

The development potential of a small parcel of land near Whitchurch saw it attract huge interest at £1.1 million collective property and land auction last Friday. Extending to 0.718 of an acre, the land adjacent to Bridge House, Wrexham Road, Whitchurch and on the roundabout with the A41/A49 and A525 raced away to sell for £76,000 as Halls auctioneers continued their run of successful auctions at the company’s Shrewsbury headquarters. Having a pre-auction guide price of £15,000 to £25,000, Halls chairman Allen Gittins said the land has potential for many uses, subject to planning. “There was a lot of pre-sale…

A luxury country house hotel on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia), is celebrating a notable double, after yesterday (Tuesday) being recognised by Michelin as a “special place to stay”. Palé Hall at Llandderfel, near Bala is one of the first hotels in the UK to receive a Michelin Key Award. Similar to Michelin stars, the keys are a three-tiered award designed to highlight the best places to stay across the globe. Hotels can be rated as one key, a special place to stay, two keys, an exceptional stay or three keys, an extraordinary stay. Palé Hall, Wales’ only 5 Red Star…

A LEADING consumer energy efficiency company has opened a brand new state-of-the-art, immersive training facility in Treorchy at a cost of £0.5 million, paving the way for thousands of recruits to learn the skills needed to enter, and progress within, the energy trade. Swansea-based Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) supports customers in reducing their carbon footprint and reducing their energy bills and has already successfully improved the energy efficiency of over 8,000 homes across the UK. The new insulation department training facility in the heart of the Welsh Valleys has been purpose-built to allow for comprehensive training in various insulation techniques…

ONE of the UK’s leading actuarial and pension consulting firms, Quantum Advisory, took part in Tŷ Hafan’s Football Fives tournament and raised £3000 for the children’s hospice charity. The firm rallied together to enter two teams into the round robin league which featured Champions League, Europa League and ECL stages, including knock-out phases, semi-finals and the final. After standout performances amid tough competition, Quantum Advisory’s teams celebrated success in the top event: the Champions League. One of the firm’s teams won the league, while the other reached the quarter finals of the same competition. The Football Fives tournament is held…

Newport-based Harding Evans have awarded three new training contracts, welcoming Matilda Forde, Morgan Gurmin and Teigan Arandjelovic onto its renowned ‘Becoming a Solicitor’ programme. Matilda, a Litigation Assistant in the firm’s Clinical Negligence team has been promoted onto the programme, whilst Morgan and Teigan have joined Harding Evans and will initially take their seats in the Residential Conveyancing team. Throughout their contracts, they will be supported by their mentors, who are all Partners within Harding Evans and will gain experience across the firms wide-ranging departments. Commenting on the contracts, Milena Roberts, HR Director at Harding Evans, said “I would like…

A group of newby food and drink producers will have the opportunity to put their trading skills to the test when they set out their stalls at the Mid Wales Autumn Fayre. The event (October 5th and 6th) at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd will feature an array of activities, including crafts, music, vintage vehicles, cooking demonstrations, and food and drink. The showground’s famous Food Hall will be filled with fantastic food and drink and include several companies new to the retail scene. Five companies will exhibit and trade under the auspices of Cywain, a Welsh government-funded programme that…