Author: Rhys Gregory

A major new project that will preserve Swansea’s industrial heritage, breathe more life into the River Tawe corridor and create jobs and investment has been given a £20m funding boost. The UK Government has approved a levelling-up bid from Swansea Council for the project, which is aimed at further regenerating the Lower Swansea Valley. The project is made up of three elements: The restoration of even more heritage features at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site, following-on from all the work that’s been carried out there so far. Several listed buildings would be regenerated, releasing them for business use and new private…

School leaders in Wales will begin industrial action short of strike next month following NAHT Cymru’s ballot on pay and funding. The announcement comes as NAHT entered into meaningful discussions with the Welsh government and local authority employers on pay negotiations this morning where a one-off payment for teachers and leaders was discussed. The ballot results, announced on Monday, showed an exceptionally strong appetite for taking industrial action, with 95% voting ‘Yes’ to action short of strike (ASOS) and 75% voting ‘Yes’ to strike, with a turnout of 55% of the union’s membership. The union’s Welsh Executive Committee has now…

Organization and business from across Wales have been recognised for their high standards of HR and people development practices with the announcement of the shortlist for the CIPD Wales Awards 2023.  CIPD Wales, the professional body for HR and the people development, will celebrate the best of the best of individuals and organisations in HR and the people profession across Wales at its annual awards ceremony. This year’s awards will take place at Cardiff’s City Hall on Friday 3rd of March. Returning with the first gala ceremony since 2019, 41 companies, teams and individuals have been shortlisted across nine categories,…

Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that while Wales cancer treatment waiting times have improved, the latest data published on Thursday shows almost half of people with cancer in Wales were not treated on time. Data released today shows in November only 53.9 per cent of people with cancer in Wales started their treatment on time – with 807 people facing anxious delays to treatment. While Macmillan welcomes this improvement on the previous month’s performance, which was the worst on record, the charity warns almost half of people with cancer in Wales are still experiencing treatment delays. The data also shows…

A POPULAR nursery has taken its first steps toward significant growth following a post-pandemic surge in numbers. With more than 30 staff on site at its three North Wales premises and plans to recruit up to 20 more this year, Kiddies Corner is recognised as one of the top childcare providers in the region. The business currently has up to 150 children registered, aged three months to five years old, and director Tony Gibbons says that figure will increase in 2023 due to a rise in demand. Launched by his mum Janette in 1999, Kiddies Corner has a strong reputation…

A multi-award-winning forklift service in South Wales has secured a seven-figure finance package from HSBC UK to support its business growth plans and transition to net zero. SWIE Holdings Ltd, based in Port Talbot, South Wales, will use the seven-figure finance package acquire South Wales Industrial Equipment Limited. The acquisition will allow the company to continue investing in electric/green forklifts to meet the needs of clients in the distribution, steel, and construction supply chain across the UK market. Bernard Colston, Managing Director of SWIE Holdings Ltd, said: “We’ve been HSBC UK customers since 2001 so have a strong relationship with the…

Ken Owens will captain the squad for the championship. Wyn Jones, Dewi Lake and Liam Williams return to the squad having missed the Autumn Nations Series due to injury. There are also recalls for Leon Brown, Rhys Carre, Rhys Patchell, Aaron Wainwright, Rhys Webb and Owen Williams. Four uncapped players are selected. Rhys Davies, who was called into Wales camp during the autumn, features alongside Ospreys team mate Keiran Williams plus Cardiff Rugby duo Mason Grady and Teddy Williams. Another six players could be in line to make their first Six Nations appearance including Rio Dyer, Joe Hawkins and Dafydd…

The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail – which will run from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay Train Station is set to be delivered – now that funding has been secured by Cardiff Council from both the UK and Welsh Governments. The £50m Levelling Up Fund bid submitted by Cardiff Council has been approved by the UK Government, Welsh Government is match funding the project with a further £50m. The funding will deliver a new rapid transport link from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay, via Callaghan Square, providing a vital transport link to support the development of the Callaghan Square, Bute…

Porthcawl’s iconic Grand Pavilion building has been awarded £18m of funding, thanks to a successful bid submitted by Bridgend County Borough Council in partnership with Awen Cultural Trust to the UK Government’s Levelling Up programme. The funding will be targeted at a major re-development of the Grade II Listed building in Porthcawl, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year. The monies will be utilised to address the condition of the building’s concrete structure, preserving its unique heritage whilst also meeting the needs and aspirations of the community for extended and improved arts, culture, and heritage services. A range of modern…

HOUSEHOLDERS in Swansea will face a £300 fixed penalty notice for arranging for someone to take away their waste who then ends up illegally dumping it. The proposal has been agreed by Swansea Council’s Cabinet as part of efforts to deter people from thinking it is OK to arrange to have their waste taken by someone who might disfigure the countryside and communities by dumping rubbish rather than using a licensed waste site. The new rules will allow the council’s Waste Enforcement team to issue fixed penalty notices to householders who ignore their ‘duty of care’ by arranging for someone…