Author: Rhys Gregory

Waterco, one of the UK’s leading water and environmental engineering consultancies, has transitioned into employee ownership 25 years since its inception. Established in 1998, the Ruthin-based company was founded by Peter Jones, who having spent 10 years with Hyder (now Welsh Water), spotted a gap in the market for a water infrastructure design and consultancy business based in North Wales. With an eye on retirement, Peter has now sold his majority shareholding in the business to an employee ownership trust (EOT) – resulting in all employees now having a share in the ownership of the company.   Twenty-five years on,…

The National Cycle Museum will be open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday this week for Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival, which runs from August 21 to 27. The museum loans some Victorian era bicycles for a cycle parade and is inviting visitors to view a Bicycle Cavalcade on Friday, August 25 to see exhibits close up and hear about their history. A new exhibition at the museum focuses on the Army Cycling Corps from the First World War. The corps played specific roles at the start of the war, authorised by Lord Kitchener in 1914 and initially comprising…

A leading civil engineering firm has started work on the 49-turbine North Kyle Wind Farm in East Ayrshire, Scotland, which will have the capacity to power more than 160,000 households. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has been appointed as principal contractor for the £300 million scheme near Dalmellington, on and around the former Chalmerston and House of Water coal mining sites. The Brockwell Energy-led development, which was first devised in 2016, will be capable of generating 220.5 megawatts of renewable energy, with plans to provide £65m in community benefits over 40 years. Jones Bros completed enabling works in May, which…

ONE of the country’s leading meat producers is using solar power to produce its award-winning sausages. And the move to renewable energy is helping to bring down spiralling electricity prices at Edwards, the Welsh Butcher, which hit the news last autumn when its bills soared from £2,500 to £15,000 a week. The company took the decision to contact Carbon Zero Renewables, which has been installing solar energy systems across the country for more than 15 years. They installed 238 state-of-the-art solar panels on the roof of Edwards’ 23,000 sq ft Conwy headquarters, and the 120kW system is already paying dividends. Early…

Age Cymru is calling on the Welsh government, local authorities, and bus operators to work together to develop sustainable services for communities across Wales. Amid reports from the Confederation of Public Transport that Wales could lose up to a quarter of its services, the charity is warning that bus services provide a lifeline to thousands of older people and if they are drastically cut, many could find themselves plunged into a life of isolation and loneliness. Older people need a reliable bus service to connect to essential health services such as hospital appointments or visiting their GP.  Many also rely…

An engineering, environmental, and planning consultancy’s education sector experience will be utilised on the build of a new net zero school in North Wales. Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent, has secured the contract with Cyngor Gwynedd to deliver civil and structural work on the new Community Campus in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon. Funded via the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools’ Challenge, £12 million will finance the net zero project, which includes community facilities on the wider campus, such as a hall, office space, and car charging points. There are currently two buildings on the site,…

As we move into the final week of the summer holidays, Newport Live’s Community Sport and Wellbeing Team has engaged with over 3,000 children and their families. Over 20 events and activities have been delivered to date for families with children aged 3 to 18 years across parks, green spaces, primary and secondary schools in Newport, as well as at Newport Live facilities. Activities include Welly Walks for the younger children, Kick About, Hub Rugby, Girls Takeover Summer for primary and secondary school children, as well as Sport in the Park and Pop-Up Sport events for people of all ages…

Annual repairs are under way to the main footpath up Southern Britian’s highest peak, Pen y Fan, in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. A helicopter has been giving Trust rangers a helping hand in airlifting 180 tonnes of stone scalpings to the high mountain path; that’s the equivalent in weight to 20 elephants. Each square metre of footpath on the increasingly popular route costs over £300 to repair and the battle to combat erosion to the landscape is ongoing. For over 30 years National Trust staff and volunteers have used traditional techniques to fix the pitched paths, adding drainage…

Charles Frayne from Splott, Cardiff, befriended a vulnerable female via social media and developed a sexual relationship with her. The 46-year-old then advertised her for sexual services online, booked Airbnb properties and took a cut of the payment. Detective Constable Sean James, from South Wales Police, said: “Frayne gained the female’s trust by paying for food and taxi before forming a sexual relationship. Once he gained her trust, he then funded an advert on an escort website and caused her to become involved in prostitution. “He initially denied the offence but before the victim was due to give evidence at…

Bridgend County Borough’s biggest jobs fair is returning to the Bowls Hall, Bridgend Life Centre on Thursday 14 September and there will be plenty of exciting opportunities on offer. The ‘Bridgend Jobs, Careers and Prospects Fair’ is a free event run by the council’s Employability Bridgend team in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. The doors will open to visitors at 10am and the event will finish at 1pm. Alongside the wide range of job opportunities available in the ‘Employment Zone’ visitors, including pupils from schools across the county borough, will be able to find out more about careers with the local…