Author: Rhys Gregory

Welsh woollen mills face a significant challenge as they try to adapt to the future and meet the demands of a constantly changing market. This is the key finding of new research undertaken by the Made with Wool project. The study was commissioned in response to the frustration of textile designers who are keen to have their work weaved in Wales but are unable to do so because of the current limitation of the mills. Weavers in Wales are having to reject work for many reasons, but mainly due to the lack of capacity to meet demand. For those wavers…

The blending of practical skills and higher education under a degree apprenticeship has been praised by two employees at a Welsh construction firm as a vital way of gaining a footing within the industry. Tom Hewitt and Megan Hughes from Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction have both undertaken degree apprenticeship courses, and to celebrate this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, they have shared their stories. Degree apprenticeships form an important part of Wynne Construction’s career development, with the company providing opportunities for study through its commitment to the next generation as part of the Wynne Futures Foundation. Tom, who works as a full-time…

A Cardiff-based young entrepreneur is aiming to help reduce street harassment experienced by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community with the launch of a first-of-its-kind street safety app with support from the Welsh Government’s youth entrepreneurship service, Big Ideas Wales. 23-year-old graduate, Jack Blundell, began developing RouteBuddies in 2021 during his final year of a degree in applied software engineering at Cardiff University, after reading countless disturbing stories of street harassment in and around Cardiff on social media. A recent investigation by UN Women UK found that 97% of women across the UK aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed,…

Russell Davies has joined national Leading Chartered Surveyors, Bruton Knowles  as its first new Head of its Utilities & Infrastructure (U&I) team in Wales and as Partner at the firm. The move comes as Bruton Knowles continues to build its presence in the principality with key public sector clients including National Grid and Transport for Wales, alongside significant projects for the Welsh Local Government Association with its Decarbonisation Strategy Board, Grid Connection for Bute Energy’s onshore renewable energy project at Nant Mithil Energy Park, and the Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone for Celtic Sea Power. Russell moves from property firm, Cooke &…

A networking event celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month is taking place this Saturday at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. Organised by Sadie’s Butterflies with support from Swansea Council and other partners there will be a range of information stalls, live music and guest speakers and an opportunity to socialise and meet new people. It runs from 10.30 to 4pm and people are welcome to turn up any time with no booking necessary. From 7pm there will be a ball featuring live music and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Sadies Butterflies or people can pay on the door.…

A round table discussion at the Swansea University Bay Campus on February 17th will begin a major examination of how best to maximise the skills and training needed for the fast expanding green economy in South West Wales. The UK Government’s vision of 24GW of huge floating offshore wind turbines powering Britain in the Celtic Sea by 2045 offers a once in a generation opportunity to establish a new green industry in South Wales. It’s a key plank in delivering the Welsh Government’s aim for Wales to meet 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035. For floating…

Learning Pembrokeshire’s Springboard project started 2023 with an exciting launch at Tenby’s Welsh-medium school Hafan y Môr. Families enjoyed at least ten different activities as part of the project which runs a wide range of free courses for adults and families in targeted areas. Springboard staff were delighted with the fantastic turn out at Hafan y Môr and pleased to showcase activities such as mask making, pottery, cake decorating and Lego robotics. Supporting families to engage in their children’s learning is a key aim of the Springboard project; but the benefits of this work is not only to benefit the…

Following Welsh Government’s approval of the default 20mph speed limit for Wales, advanced works will be taking place to prepare the road network for the change – which comes into effect later this year. The default 20mph speed limit was agreed by The Senedd last year, and all councils in Wales are required to implement this Welsh Government initiative. It will result in most of the default 30mph roads across Wales being reduced to 20mph – located, as a general rule, where street lighting is currently in place. All councils in Wales will need to undertake advanced works to prepare…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee has endorsed proposals to amend grass cutting regimes across the county borough which aim to promote biodiversity. Scrutiny Committee members endorsed the adoption of the approach used during 2021/22 as the future standard for grass cutting in the county borough.  This saw highway verges and bypass routes where mowing is kept to a minimum, in accordance with Traffic Wales guidance. It also supported the Council’s commitment to the UK wide ‘No Mow May’ campaign.  This means formal grass cutting does not commence until June with the exception of visibility splays and…

A case of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1, otherwise known as bird flu, has been confirmed at a premises near Newtown, the county council has said. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone (Avian Influenza), or CBMCZ zone, has been declared around the infected premises, to limit the risk of disease spread. Within this zone, bird movements and gatherings are restricted and all holdings that keep birds must be declared. Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “It is vital keepers of birds remain vigilant and ensure they have the very highest levels of biosecurity in place.…