Author: Rhys Gregory

A civil engineering firm has reinforced its commitment to an innovative collaboration with a college by welcoming a new intake of 10 higher apprentices.  Ruthin-headquartered Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK and Coleg Cambria have changed the status quo for apprenticeships since launching the new-look course in 2018.  Seven of the first intake of civil engineers have already graduated from the four-year course and are now working on major projects across the UK for Jones Bros, including in renewables, highways, and waste management.  Looking to follow in their footsteps are Huw Wilyman, Toby Laurie, Llion Pritchard, Harley Durak, Jacob Evans, and…

Grant Thornton UK LLP has unveiled new research for National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February), which shows that Welsh employers are increasingly looking to apprenticeships to attract diverse, talented young people to their business. Every Welsh business leader who responded to Grant Thornton’s latest Business Outlook Tracker* survey said that they currently hire young people who have completed their A-Levels (or equivalent exams) into apprenticeship roles. Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents said that they hire more school leavers in their business now than before the pandemic and 72% agree that hiring school leavers is as important to their business as…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has pledged its support to the Swansea Bay Healthy Travel Charter which aims to encourage and support staff to travel around the campuses in a sustainable way. An official signing of the document attended by Professor Ian Walsh, Provost of UWTSD’s Swansea and Cardiff campuses, Philip McDonnell, Coordinator for Swansea Environmental Forum, and Kate Williams, Head of Sustainability at the University, took place at the University’s Technium 1 building in SA1 on January 31. Professor Ian Walsh, Provost of UWTSD’s Swansea and Cardiff campuses said: “Signing the Healthy Travel Charter represents a…

Lawyers from national law firm Clarke Willmott’s Cardiff office have advised housing association Silva Homes on the security for a £150 million bank refinancing and £100 million private placement.  Silva currently owns and manages a portfolio of over 7,000 homes in south-east England.  The funding strategy developed by Silva and financial services group Centrus is part of ambitious plans by the association to develop 1,100 new homes over the next five years.  Clarke Willmott commercial property partner Vicky Kells and associate Charlotte Lord oversaw the transactions which provide a robust foundation for Silva to achieve its future ambitions.  Vicky Kells,…

PROMOTION and progression of key staff are being celebrated at a leading accountancy firm. Based in St Asaph, Menai Bridge, Ruthin and Beaumaris, Salisbury’s Chartered Accountants has seen apprentices and long-standing team members move on to new roles in past weeks. And directors are planning to expand further in 2023 after a surge in clients across multiple sectors. Among those to have started their career as trainees and moved up to qualified accountant status are Eiry Owen, from Llanrwst, and Sophie Jones, from Penmaenmawr. Meanwhile, Hannah Addison, from Dyserth, is now an executive manager and Rhyl’s Sian Sparkes, who joined…

Members of the public will be able to hear more about the new Pembrokeshire County Council housing development at Tudor Place, Tiers Cross, during a community meeting later this month. The drop-in event will take place at the Chapel Schoolroom in Tiers Cross on Monday 27th February between 5-7pm. This is an opportunity to learn more about the 11 properties being built, receive updates and see the most recent photographs and displays on the development. Council officers will also be available to answer any queries. Cllr Jon Harvey, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, said: “These properties are due…

As gigs and events take place across the country on the eighth annual Welsh Language Music Day, the Welsh Government has announced extra funding so people enjoy even more Miwsig. The day aims to bring people together to celebrate music being made in Welsh and the artists making waves at home and internationally. This year is all about music in our own communities, with big gigs happening in small venues like community-owned pubs. The extra funding will create a grants scheme to bring people together, with the money targeting grassroots music, local promoters, and small venues. This support will help…

The Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, has this week (Thursday, February 9) announced £300,000 of financial support to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to people affected by devastating earthquakes in southern Turkey and north-west Syria. Around 16,000 people are reported to have been killed since the first powerful 7.8 magnitude quake struck in the early hours of Monday with tens of thousands injured. Survivors have since been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions. According to the Turkish government, 380,000 people have sought refuge in government shelters or hotels. Joining the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and its member…

The Welsh Government’s Finance Minister has urged the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to use next month’s Spring budget to provide the necessary support to protect public services and respond to inflationary, pay and other cost pressures. At a meeting of Finance Ministers from across the UK in Edinburgh earlier on Thursday, the Minister called on the UK Government to increase investment in health and social care to help the sectors respond to the significant pressures they face and to deliver wider reform. Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: “In today’s meeting I told the Chief Secretary…

Moneymaking out of cryptocurrencies has been gaining a lot of popularity recently. You might think that all digital tokens are just like the traditional opportunities you can find in the market, but there is better information. It would help to acknowledge everything about the cryptocurrency market before entering it. Today, we will tell you that it needs to be identified with the traditional opportunities you can get from ethereum-code. If you are using not-so-popular coins from the market, you are making a wrong move, and you should be very careful about it even before you go for it. Even though they…