Author: Rhys Gregory

Minister Julie James was today (Monday, January 23) invited to see building safety remediation works taking place in Cardiff after 11 major developers signed up to a new Welsh Government pact. In November, the Minister announced details of the pact that represents a public commitment developers will address ‘fire safety issues in buildings of 11 metres and over that have been developed over the last 30 years’. The Welsh Government Developers Pact, underpinned by formal legal documentation, has been shared with Builders Federation and developers are expected to accept the terms shortly. Some developers, including Persimmon Homes and Bellway, have…

A South Wales charity that supports socially isolated vulnerable people is appealing to the community to help it fund 30 new volunteers to ensure it can continue providing regular home visits to its clients throughout the year. Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale has launched its #aNatterMatters campaign which aims to raise £5,760 to cover the cost to recruit and train the new volunteer intake and provide weekly home visits throughout 2023. Pre-pandemic, the charity maintained 300 regular volunteers, however this has since fallen to 270. With demand expected to peak as the cost-of-living increases, Age Connects is appealing for…

Wales’s leading altnet – Ogi – has today announced the next communities set to join the provider’s full fibre network. Work has started to connect tens of thousands of people in twenty-three new communities, as Ogi’s £200million phase one plan extends to thriving commuter communities and business hubs across south Wales. The latest towns and villages to benefit from Ogi’s rollout include Blackwood, Langstone, Maesteg, Pontypool, Trehafod, and Underwood. Once work is complete, homes and businesses in these areas will have access to the altnet’s ultrafast network – with most able to access fibre to the door for the very…

The 3000th opportunity to try out wheelchair rugby in Wales will be provided by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) on Wednesday 25 January at Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend, Wales. The event coincides with the 100-day countdown to the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby European Championship at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this 3-7 May; the opportunities to try the sport are part of the event’s significant legacy programme. The programme aims to drive awareness and engagement with wheelchair rugby and strengthen local and national partnerships to enable the consistent long-term growth of the sport in…

The UK Space Agency has paid tribute to Tim Peake, following his decision to step down from the active European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut corps and assume an ambassadorial role for space. Tim will work closely with the UK Space Agency and ESA in his new role, where he will use the inspirational power of space and his own journey to encourage more young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Tim Peake is an incredible ambassador for the UK space sector and has played a…

COLEG CAMBRIA launched a free and flexible new qualification for prospective police officers. The college’s Deeside site will deliver a Level 3 Access to Policing course from September. To become a police officer in the UK you need to be over 18 and complete the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship or have achieved a degree in any subject. Gemma Ible, a Curriculum Director for Access and Higher Education at Cambria, said the Level 3 programme is a stepping-stone towards a career in the criminal justice arena for anyone aged 19 and above who is out of education or looking for a…

Despite gloomy economic forecasts, business leaders in Wales are optimistic about their growth opportunities for the year ahead. According to data from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s latest Business Outlook Tracker*, mid-market optimism in Wales has rebounded: Revenue growth expectations have risen +18 percentage points (pp) since October Profit growth expectations are on the rise – increasing +19pp since October The results indicate that businesses are confident they can weather this economic downturn. Almost three quarters (74%) are confident that they have sufficient working capital to manage the impact of a recession for six months or more. The top concerns for…

The talents of Wales’s food and drink processing and manufacturing businesses were recognised last week (Thursday 19 January) at the Lantra Cymru Awards 2022 at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells. The Lantra Cymru Wales awards recognise the initiatives, skills and enthusiasm of individuals pursuing careers within the environmental, land-based and food manufacturing sectors. For the second consecutive year the Food Skills Cymru programme held awards to acknowledge businesses in the food and drink manufacturing and processing industry that have undertaken training over the last three years, investing in their employees and upskilling their staff  with a defined  range of training…

Over 60 swimmers plunged into a freezing pool at Lido Ponty on the weekend (Saturday 21st January) to take part in a challenge and raise funds to help people experiencing homelessness. The swimmers were taking part in an Icebreaker challenge event for national homelessness charity Crisis at the National Lido of Wales – Lido Ponty in Pontypridd. While the pool is usually heated, the heaters were off for the challenge and the temperature was just 14°C as they entered the water, many wearing fancy dress! Ashella Lewis, Director of Crisis Skylight South Wales, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who took…

AN ESTEEMED surgeon has launched a new private vascular health clinic. L&P Vascular will be based in Rossett, between Wrexham and Chester, and offer consultation and surgical procedures for people with conditions that affect the arteries, veins, and the lymphatic system, including varicose veins. With more than 30 years’ experience in the UK and Hungarian health services, director Laszlo Papp is a well-known name in the sector having obtained the European Qualification in Vascular Surgery (FEBVS) two decades ago. He is also one of only 12 Professors of Vascular Surgery in Europe to hold a Gold Examiner award from the…