Author: Rhys Gregory

Aspiring businesspeople in Swansea are being encouraged to attend a free event next month to help inspire, support and guide them. The Swansea Start-up Expo event is taking place at Swansea Arena on Wednesday March 6. A daytime session is being held from 2pm to 5pm, and an evening session is taking place from 5pm to 8pm. The one-stop-shop event is being organised by 4 The Region in partnership with Swansea Council, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea University and Gower College Swansea. It will include talks from entrepreneurs and expert-led workshops on topics like grants and finance,…

The Welsh Government has supported  ground-breaking work to secure a more prominent  place for the Welsh language in the technology we use every day, making our language better prepared for artificial intelligence (A.I) developments, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language will say today. Since the publication of the Welsh Language Technology Action Plan in late 2018, the Welsh Government has created and commissioned resources and data to improve technology in the Welsh language. It has also supported the development of voice technology in Welsh, and the development of Welsh language in A.I. Some of the plan’s achievements include developing…

“We need to think more broadly and creatively about how we support people’s mental health and wellbeing,” Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle said as she launched the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-Harm Strategy for consultation today (Tuesday 20 February). The draft strategies, out for consultation until 11 June, aim to change how we think about mental health, empower people to improve their mental health and remove the barriers and stigma around getting help. With half of mental health conditions impacting people by the age of 14 and 75% by the…

A business that designs, manufactures and maintains first and business class aircraft seating is investing for the future at its sites in Newport and Cwmbran, after Welsh Government funding helped support more than 900 existing jobs and further workforce growth. Safran Seats GB is one of the world’s leading suppliers of first and business class seating to the fleets of the world’s biggest international airlines. With £1.6m of support from the Welsh Government’s Economy Futures Fund, the firm is making a multi-million-pound investment into its sites in South Wales, primarily in the acquisition of new machining equipment and facility modernisation.…

Bangor University graduate Katie Bright has been shortlisted for Student Nurse of the Year in the learning disabilities category by the Student Nursing Times Awards 2024. The Student Nursing Times Awards highlight excellence in all specialities of student nursing and provide an opportunity to congratulate individuals as well as the lecturers, practice supervisors, universities, trusts and private organisations that support for student nurses during their studies. Katie Bright, from Trearddur Bay, Anglesey graduated as a learning disabilities nurse from Bangor University last December with a first-class honours degree. She is now a learning disability nurse for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health…

Officers of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards, Waste Enforcement and Licensing departments have stopped and spoken to a total of 65 traders as part of a joint operation against rogue traders. Partner organisations included South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys Police, Natural Resources Wales, the DVSA, Mid and West Fire & Rescue Service and HM Revenue and Customs. During the stops, as part of the two-day Operation Crossfield, council officers advised on contracts and consumer rights and checked Waste Carrier and Scrap Metal licences. At the same time, the other partnership teams carried out their own inspections on vehicle safety…

Work to install a new sports pitch at a south Powys sports centre will take place later this year, it has been announced. A new sand-dressed astroturf will be installed at Ystradgynlais Sports Centre, replacing the outdated sports pitch. As part of the works, an improved lighting scheme will also be installed. The works will be carried out after Powys County Council successfully secured a £350,000 Community Focussed Schools Capital Grant from the Welsh Government. The council and its leisure partner, Freedom Leisure, carried out a survey with key stakeholders including schools and sports clubs to seek their views on…

Beacon Foods is continuing its investment in manufacturing and storage facilities by installing the first two of five, bespoke Klimate-Ardent high speed industrial doors from BID Group. The award-winning, Brecon-based business, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of ingredients and ready-to-eat products, has purchased the fast acting doors to make significant savings through increased productivity, enhanced security and reduced energy bills. With an average speed of around one metre per second, the doors provide easy access and enhanced security. When they are all installed, Beacon Foods will have three external and two internal high speed doors at the company’s factories,…

Chepstow Junior Football Club’s under 8s are the lates recipients of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme. The East Wales business made the £1,000 donation at a match in January, with the cheque being presented by Persimmon employee and proud parent, Sean Gibbs. Chepstow Town Juniors FC is a volunteer-run club with 250 boys and girls playing football in teams from Under 7s to Under 16s. They rely on people in the local community giving up their time to coach their children and keep them active. The donation is a part of Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme which sees £48,000 distributed to…

National communications agency, Freshwater, has promoted five of its senior team. Freshwater, which is headquartered in Cardiff, has promoted Chris Knights, 33, to director, Caitlin Thomas, 31, to head of digital, and Charlotte Homa, 33, to head of events. It has also promoted Hannah Thompson and Steve Lambert, 33 and 30 respectively, to senior account directors. The promotions follow a series of major client wins for the integrated agency including digital services contracts for accountancy firm Menzies LLP and law firm Rylands Garth, events management of the British Ports Association (BPA) Conference 2024 in Portsmouth and healthcare communications consultancy for…