Author: Rhys Gregory

As the Education and Welsh Language Minister announces an increase in the financial hardship support for eligible FE learners, find out about the support you could be entitled to if you are starting A-levels, an apprenticeship, or in employment. Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) The Minister for Education and Welsh Language has announced a 6.5% increase to the Financial Contingency Fund for 2023/24 to help alleviate some of the issues faced by vulnerable learners in the cost-of-living crisis. The FCF provides financial support for eligible learners at FE colleges. It can be used for childcare costs, transport, meals, equipment and learning…

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan, has praised the impact of the second Young Carers’ Festival in Wales. Building on the success of the inaugural event last year, this year’s festival has attracted even more young carers for three days of activities, fun and relaxation in Builth Wells. It provides young carers with a chance to relax away from their day-to-day duties, meet new friends and enjoy new experiences. Information to help them tackle challenges they may face is also on offer. Held at the Royal Welsh Showground, this year’s event is bringing together 330 young carers aged…

Cardiff Bay’s leading entertainment venue, The Red Dragon Centre, is hosting a superhero takeover this August bank holiday weekend. On Monday 28 August, the Centre will be receiving a visit from Iron Man and Spider-Man whilst life-size superhero statues will be on display across the mall. Guests will also have the opportunity to win a day out at the Centre for four by taking a marvel-lous selfie with one of the characters, tagging The Red Dragon Centre on socials with the hashtag #RDCsuperherosummer. The Super Summer Hero Quest, a free and unique augmented reality trail, is also taking place, seeing…

A man from Merseyside who was stopped by West Mercia police on the 12th of June 2023 as part of a joint operation run by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for Southern Wales, and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) has been sent to prison for seven years. Ronald Grimes, 46, from Sefton in Liverpool was carrying 105kgs of Amphetamine with a street value of over £1 million pounds in the boot of his car. Detective Constable Adam Griffiths of Tarian’s Regional Disruption Team said: “Grimes was stopped while travelling from Liverpool to South Wales.  In his…

Team GB Age-Group triathlete, Nick Barton, had to learn to walk again after a stroke and brain haemorrhage in 2019 — a monumental challenge made possible by his dedication and help from brain injury charity, Headway. Now fully recovered, the Cardiff based triathlete will represent Great Britain next month, at the World Championships triathlon in Pontevedra, Northern Spain— all with the aim of raising money for the charity that helped get him back on the track. In support of this, Barratt Developments South Wales has announced that it will kick-start Nick’s fundraising efforts — with a donation of £1,000. What’s…

Ahead of new Welsh legislation coming into effect, the head of one of the UK’s largest food waste recycling companies is urging businesses to be aware of the changes to ensure they are compliant from day one.  Keenan Recycling, which works with businesses and local authorities to deliver food waste to anaerobic digestion plants, is encouraging organisations to understand the importance of the incoming Welsh Government regulations.  Under the new laws, from 6 April 2024 it will be a legal requirement for all businesses that generate more than five kilograms of food waste to recycle it.   The bill, which…

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…