Author: Rhys Gregory

Coleg Gwent’s Board of Governors has announced Nicola Gamlin as the newly appointed principal of Wales’ largest further education college. Nicola will take up her post in September 2024, succeeding current principal, Mr Guy Lacey. Nicola has served for 16 years as Vice Principal at Coleg Gwent, where she has led on developing the broad curriculum and quality of provision. With a wealth of experience and a proven track record in educational leadership, Nicola is dedicated to building on the success of college. In addition to her 21 years of senior leadership experience, Nicola has worked in further education for…

Activity from both homebuyers and sellers was strong in Wales for the second successive month in February, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. New buyer enquiries, instructions to sell, and newly agreed sales were all reported to have risen firmly again, following on from a strong first month of the year. A net balance of 15% of respondents in Wales said that enquiries from potential buyers were higher in February than they were in January. A net balance of 33% said the same of instructions from vendors to sell their properties. And when…

Pregnant smokers are being recruited to a research trial that uses nicotine replacement in different ways to help them kick the habit. SNAP-3 is open to mums-to-be who are less than 25 weeks pregnant and who smoke five or more cigarettes a day. It is a national study, conducted by the University of Nottingham, and led in Swansea Bay by the health board’s specialist research midwives. Nicotine Replacement Therapy, NRT, such as nicotine patches used with behavioural support, has been shown to be effective in helping people to quit smoking. But there is less evidence of it being effective in…

Abatec Recruitment, a leading recruitment firm based in the Southwest, is pleased to announce the acquisition of St David Recruitment Services, a prominent recruitment agency located in Cardiff, South Wales. This strategic move strengthens Abatec’s foothold in the region and broadens its service offerings to a wider range of clients. Abatec Recruitment owners, Richard Buchanan and Rob Dyer, are delighted with the successful completion of the acquisition, which was advised on by GS Verde Group. Abatec was founded more than 30 years ago on the principles of integrity, commitment, and excellence, aligning its ethos with its clients to become a…

REVOLUTIONARY new seismology software will shake up the way organisations measure footfall and have a positive impact on town centre regeneration. Menter Môn trialled the innovative Raspberry Shake wireless technology as part of the wider Patrwm Smart Places project at last summer’s National Eisteddfod, held in Boduan, Gwynedd. Created by software development pioneers Kodergarten, sensors were placed in strategic areas locally, including the neighbouring towns and villages of Abersoch, Nefyn, Pwllheli, Y Ffor and Y Maes at the Eisteddfod itself. Ahead of the country’s first ever Smart Towns Cymru conference in Wrexham this Friday (March 15), results have revealed significant…

Chronic kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world and affects more than 10% of the population in the UK. In fact, figures show that there are over 93,722 people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in Wales alone. Although there are multiple treatments for chronic kidney disease, like a transplant and dialysis, it’s a lifelong condition and there is no cure. That is why this World Kidney Day (14 March) event organisers Run 4 Wales are raising awareness of the support available to families and research happening in Wales. Kidney Wales is the leading kidney…

A Cardiff man who went on the run in March 2020 has been jailed for 12 years. James Dean Connors from Splott was the principal member of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) involved in the supply of Class A drugs. The OCG was discovered when a mobile phone was found at the scene of a road traffic collision involving an off-road bike in St Mellons, Cardiff, in June 2018. The phone, which was handed into police by a member of the public, contained drug dealing messages and photographs of a block of white powder, believed to be a kilo of…

The wraps are starting to come off an historic Swansea building that’s being saved for future generations. The 138-year-old Palace Theatre building has been wrapped in protective covers for more than two years as the council continues to sensitively restore the structure. A restored entrance door is now visible along with glimpses of expertly refreshed stonework through the tall scaffolding that’ll come down in the coming weeks. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “This is a welcoming new view of the Palace as it starts to emerge from the sheeting that’s been in place recently. “The project is on track to be…

Wales will be taking on Italy on Saturday 16 March at Principality Stadium. With the kick-off taking place at 2.15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.15am until 6.15pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely. The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy – please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the former Toy’s R Us site car park in the Sports Village. Gates open at 12pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to…

Two ladies who worked as codebreakers at the top secret Bletchley Park mansion during the Second World War have celebrated their 100th birthdays at a joint party in Port Talbot. Mrs Gwenfron Picken who was 100 on February 29th, 2024 and Mrs Kath Morris who reached her centenary a week later on March 7th, are both from Port Talbot but Mrs Morris now lives in a care home in Neath. During the dark days of World War Two, both worked in the iconic huts and blocks of Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, a Victorian mansion which housed the Government Code and…