Author: Rhys Gregory

The University of South Wales (USW) is leading a partnership which will offer the first railway engineering degree apprenticeships in Wales. Approved by the Welsh Government and run in conjunction with Nantgarw-based Coleg y Cymoedd, the four-year courses will give apprentices operating in the rail sector the opportunity to gain a university-accredited engineering degree. Starting in January 2024, then annually from September next year, students on the two Degree Apprenticeship Railway Engineering courses will focus on either civil engineering and rail track development , such as permanent way infrastructure; or electro-mechanical systems and electronics,   supporting electrification and rolling stock maintenance.…

Pupils from Mount Street Junior School in Brecon marked World Rivers’ Day last week (24 Sept) with a promise to love and care for the Rivers Usk and Wye — which are facing a water quality crisis. The promise is being led by the school’s Eco Club, which has joined forces with Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park — in a mission to further inspire local people to love the rivers, and help look after them from work or home. However, with 67% of the Wye and 88% of the Usk failing to meet phosphate targets in 2022, minimising the…

Aldi has revealed the areas it wants to create new stores in Wales as it invests £1.4bn over the next two years.  In its annual trading update, Aldi said it had attracted around a million extra customers in the past 12 months with a new generation of savvy shoppers turning their back on traditional, full priced supermarkets.  Britain’s fourth largest supermarket, which opened its 1,000th store earlier this month, is committed to a long-term target of 1,500 stores in the UK – meaning it is on the hunt for more locations across the UK.   The areas in Wales where it is currently looking for sites…

The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide – the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide – is celebrating its 51st edition with a striking cover and a foreword supplied by Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. The Guide, which surveys 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s pubs. Dickinson’s foreword shines a spotlight on the cultural tradition of pubs within the United Kingdom, the importance of protecting the heritage, charm and welcoming nature of pubs and clubs, and not taking them for granted. The…

Par 59, the renowned St Mary Street bar, restaurant, and mini-golf hotspot, proudly backed by football icon Gareth Bale, is set to double its capacity with the grand opening of a thrilling upstairs bar and games room, aptly named ‘Shuffles.’ Established in March 2022 through a dynamic partnership between Bale’s Elevens Group LTD and The DEPOT, one of Wales’ most successful independent entertainment brands, Par 59 breathed new life into a city-centre location that had sat vacant since 2016 (formerly home to Liquid nightclub). It introduced a unique blend of a bar and casual dining with two custom-designed 9-hole mini…

Cardiff Metropolitan University is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Langton MBE. Professor Langton, who will start at Cardiff Met on Monday 8th April 2024, brings a wealth of experience, having served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk for the past five years. She was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of South Wales and prior to this was Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of the West of England. Professor Langton said: “I’m excited to begin my tenure as Vice-Chancellor at Cardiff Met…

A Welsh fintech company has tripled its revenue in just one year following a surge in demand for its product overseas, thanks to support from the Welsh Government. Finalrentals, a digital car rental platform which employs 17 people at its Penarth office and remotely, has seen demand for its services skyrocket in Europe, with the company recently securing contracts in Greece, Portugal and the Balkans that will bring gross revenue of approximately £500,000 per annum. Over the last year 12 months, the company has seen its team size, number of clients and gross revenue treble thanks to the new deals.…

You can now choose from 112 charging points across Ceredigion to charge your electric vehicle (EV). 76 of these are provided by Ceredigion County Council in 18 different locations, including Council car parks. Following the successful delivery of two phases of EV infrastructure installations in Ceredigion County Council car parks, the county now has the highest number of EV charging points per 100,000 population for the public to use across the whole of Wales. According to Welsh Government figures published in July 2023, Ceredigion has 158.5 chargers per 100,000 population when compared against the Welsh average of 60.7. These chargers…

Age Cymru is urging older people to keep their homes warm this winter to maintain their health, despite the financial challenges many are facing.   The charity is making the call as it launches its Spread the Warmth campaign that highlights the health benefits of keeping yourself and your home warm. The campaign says keeping warm puts less strain on heart and lungs, while improving the symptoms of existing health conditions and assisting with pain management.     It also says that being warm can protect people’s physical and mental wellbeing and thereby help them to become more resilient to the many challenges…

Chef Matt Powell has shared his delight at his restaurant’s new listing in The Michelin Guide, just four months after reopening at its new location. It’s the second important accolade for Annwn, which made number 14 on the Good Food Guide’s 20 Most Exciting Restaurants while at its original location in Lawrenny in 2022. The restaurant has since relocated to Narberth, where it opened its doors on May 12 this year. Annwn is a unique dining experience: a small, intimate restaurant with just 10 covers where the focus is on culinary discovery. Matt cooks in an open kitchen and his…