Author: Alice Gregory

Fire and Security specialists, Protectorcomms Ltd have opened a new Training and Demonstration Facility to help train and upskill engineers. The new facility is based at its head office in Caerphilly and is used for training apprentice engineers. It will give them the practical experience of fitting and testing fire and security systems. From fire alarms and CCTV to access control, intercoms and intruder alarms. The company recently won the Small Business of the Year award at Caerphilly Business Awards. It recruits around five new trainees a year, giving them their first job in the industry. The facility will also…

Businesses in Wales are continuing to face challenges regarding recruitment, the ongoing skills shortage and labour costs, according to Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey. In the survey for Q1 of 2024, 46% of businesses in Wales reported that they had attempted to recruit staff, predominantly for full-time and permanent roles. 69% of those who attempted to recruit experienced difficulties in finding suitable staff, a 5% increase compared to the previous quarter, with businesses citing finding candidates with the correct skill sets and qualifications as barriers to recruitment and meeting salary expectations as a…

Students and graduates of USW have been recognised in six categories at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Cymru Wales awards, which celebrate the very best content made by students and industry professionals during the past year. Computer Animation graduates Tom Walters and Charlotte Cousins won the Undergraduate Animation award with their short film, The Closet. Critter Caper, by fellow Animation students Oliver Sharpe and Daisy Hill, was also shortlisted for the award. Tom, who graduated in 2023, was the Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Lighting Artist, Technical Artist and compositor on The Closet. He said: “I really enjoyed creating and seeing…

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a dance aficionado, or simply looking for a unique way to celebrate the longest day of the year – mark your calendar for Saturday June 22nd when Tiger Yard will play host to a fusion of fitness and fun that is bound to get hearts racing and feet moving. Run To Rave will kick off at 9am with a 5km fun-run around the picturesque Cardiff Bay barrage, offering participants the chance to soak in the stunning views while breaking a sweat. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting out, this run welcomes all ages…

It’s arguably the world’s most sustainable spirit launch – gin made from recycling used coffee grounds in a paper Frugal Bottle made from 94% recycled paperboard. Grounds for Good, the innovative Welsh brand, renowned for its commitment to sustainability and quality craftsmanship, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest offering: Grounds for Good Gin in Frugalpac’s paper Frugal Bottles. The Frugal Bottle has a carbon footprint up to six times lower than a glass bottle and is five times lighter than one too. This pioneering release marks a significant step forward in the spirits industry, combining eco-friendly packaging…

Lewis George, an aspiring carpenter from Neath, has secured his place in the final of the coveted Screwfix Trade Apprentice award. One apprentice will be named the winner and receive a career-boosting trade bundle worth £10,000. From over 1,800 initial applications, ten apprentices have made the grade and are heading to the two-day event in London next month. As well as competing for this prestigious award, which aims to highlight the hard work and dedication of trade apprentices across the UK and Ireland, Lewis, 25, is focused on becoming a professional carpenter. Currently studying Level 3 Site Carpentry at Llansamlet…

A woman has been shortlisted for an RNIB See Differently Award in recognition of her campaigning efforts to improve the accessibility of health information and accessible streets, using her lived experience as a catalyst for change. Margaret Rees, 73, from Cardiff, who has retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been shortlisted in the Campaigner of the Year category. The category is sponsored by Microsoft, and the award will recognise individuals who have shown great commitment and courage in campaigning to improve the world for blind and partially sighted people. Margaret played a key role in RNIB Cymru’s Make it Make Sense Campaign,…

Young footballers in Aberdare, South Wales can now ‘kick-off’ in style, thanks to sponsorship from clean energy company, Enviromena. The youth squad at AFC Llwydcoed was in desperate need of a team kit, and with Enviromena keen on supporting organisations in the local community, the renewables company was happy to step in and help. When Enviromena sponsored the team’s waterproof kit and jackets, Manager/Secretary, Keith Lewis, was thrilled. He said: “We’ve been doing our own fundraising for the club, but with £186,000 needed for some vital repair work, finding the money to purchase a new training kit for our youth…

Award-winning Ceredigion distillery, In the Welsh Wind, is releasing its first whisky at a celebration day later this month. Only 680 bottles are available of this limited edition and the company is extending an open invitation to join in the launch celebration at the distillery, near Cardigan, on April 26. Whisky enthusiasts and those curious to know what all the fuss is about are invited to join the In the Welsh Wind team for a day of discovery. Crafted with care and dedication, the company’s inaugural single malt whisky release is a tribute to Welsh craftsmanship and heritage with an…

April is Autism Awareness Month and The Royal Mint Experience, based in Llantrisant, South Wales, is proud to host Chris Baker, an autistic pencil artist from Cardiff. Chris is self-taught and specialises in hyper-realistic pencil drawings. He has drawn numerous famous faces including Will Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch and David Walliams, and met them along the way. This exhibition will explore Chris’ negative life experiences and how, through his art, he has reformed them to create something positive. Titled ‘Every Negative Has a Positive’, the exhibition will feature exquisite portraits of influential figures who have embraced their differences, in the spirit…