Author: Rhys Gregory

A long-distance walker from Gower, Wales, is lacing up her walking boots to take on her latest impressive challenge having previously raised a staggering £137,000 for dementia research to date. Karen Penny is setting out from Cardiff Bay, Wales, on Tuesday 10 October to walk the entirety of the Coast and County Boundaries of Britain and Ireland, a unique challenge. The 58-year-old, who was recognised with an Outstanding Commitment award in Alzheimer’s Research UK’s inaugural supporter awards last year for her original walk, plans to cover more than 25,000 miles and expects it to take four years. She first captured…

Professor Jon Timmis has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University. Professor Timmis is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Commercial) of the University of Sunderland where he is the executive lead for academic and service planning, research and knowledge exchange, strategic development, international activity, student recruitment and equality, diversity and inclusion. Professor Timmis is a former student of Aberystwyth University, having studied Computer Science as a mature student before then embarking on a PhD in artificial intelligence. The announcement was made today (9 October, 2023) following a recruitment process led by the Chair of the University’s Council, Dr Emyr Roberts. Dr Roberts said:…

Tramshed Tech, a leading provider of flexible workspaces and tech startup support programmes, announces that its second location in Newport will be open to the public later this month.   To mark the opening of Innovation Station, a networking event will take place 6.30pm – 9pm on Thursday 26th October in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs. The event is open to all and designed to facilitate meaningful connections between startups and businesses within the Welsh tech ecosystem through a structured speed dating format, followed by a networking session.  On Friday 27th October, the space will officially open with a free day of coworking followed by 50% off coworking and meetings rooms between Mon 30th October – Friday 10th November.   Innovation Station is Tramshed Tech’s fifth location in South Wales and second in Newport, following…

Welsh first aid charity St John Ambulance Cymru have been delivering first aid demonstration and training sessions across Wales as part of their annual Save a Life September campaign. Volunteers and trainers held public demonstrations in all corners of Wales, teaching lifesaving skills, completely free of charge. The charity is reminiscing on the success of this year’s campaign, and how it highlighted the vital importance of first aid training to the people of Wales. St John Ambulance Cymru’s annual Save a Life September campaign aims to promote first aid awareness and encourage as many people as possible to book onto…

A £150,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales’ Green Business Loan Scheme is helping children’s bike manufacturer Frog Bikes to gear up for the production of frames and forks that will reduce carbon emissions by 5.8% per bike. The investment in 25% post -consumer recycled aluminium will save c.3.5kg of CO2 per 1kg of aluminium used, equivalent to 5.8kg of CO2 per bike.  Testing shows it is at least as strong as brand new aluminium and the company is  hopeful that it will pave the way for using 100% recycled aluminium. This could result in savings of up to…

Almost 30,000 traditional Wales retail jobs have been lost since 2010, sparking fears that the high street may be in ‘terminal decline’. New GMB analysis shows that 29,161 traditional retail jobs have gone – a decline of 37.2 per cent – since the Conservatives took power. The figures emerge as the last Wilko stores close their doors for the final time, costing 12,500 workers their jobs after the much-loved chain collapsed. GMB will today [Monday] tell Labour Party Conference in Liverpool that more retail jobs will be lost unless economic reforms are made. Delegates are due to debate a GMB motion…

Eleven electric bikes were seized and eight arrests were made in Cardiff city centre on Thursday, October 5, as part of a joint operation targeting people riding modified bikes which can reach speeds of more than 40mph. Cardiff Council’s City Centre Warden Team took part in the operation which saw South Wales Police make two arrests, and the UK Visas and Immigration Service arrest six people. A spokesperson for Cardiff Council said: “As a council we actively encourage people to cycle bikes but what we can’t have is people driving illegal, modified electric bikes in pedestrian areas putting pedestrians at…

A rare species of ‘skin eating’ beetle has been found living a few miles off the coast of Cardiff, on the remote Flat Holm island and scientists believe it could be the last stronghold of the species in the UK. Discovered by a visiting team of ecologists from the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, it is the first time aDermestes undulatusbeetle has been recorded in Wales, and a sighting hasn’t been recorded in England since 2020. Flat Holm Community Engagement Officer, Sarah Morgan, said: “It’s not for the squeamish, but these tiny beetles feed on the skin, fur and…

Applications are now being invited for grant funding that’s aimed at improving small commercial and district shopping centres across the City and County of Swansea which are outside the city centre. Run by Swansea Council and funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund, placemaking grants of up to £30,000 are available. Projects covered by the grant scheme, which is part of the council’s Transforming County anchor project, include: Schemes that upgrade vacant commercial floor space to bring it back into beneficial business use. Offices, independent leisure, retail and food and drink uses will be considered in particular,…

The world’s first carbon border levy is going to take effect across the EU from 1st October 2023. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will start a transitional phase from 1st October, and this will apply to seven products whose production is deemed carbon intensive and at risk of carbon leakage. These products are: •             Aluminium •             Cement •             Electricity •             Fertilisers •             Hydrogen •             Iron •             Steel Starting in October EU importers will have to start keeping track of how much carbon is linked to the goods they import. They need to start reporting this data by January 2024. This…