Author: Rhys Gregory

University of South Wales (USW) has signed a strategic partnership with Urban Circle Newport (UCN), an independent youth arts organisation and registered charity. Founded in 2006, UCN engage, support, and empower young people and communities. Co-founder, Loren Henry, is a USW graduate from both BA (Hons) Youth and Community Work and MA Working with Children and Young People. In 2020, the collaborative work of UCN and USW was praised by education inspectors Estyn in their report entitled ‘The Value of Youth Work Training, A sustainable model for Wales’. They highlighted the benefits the partnership provides for the charities, their staff,…

Today (20th January 2023) Transport for Wales and Ramblers Cymru launch a partnership project to get more people using public transport to access local walking routes and help improve their health and wellbeing. ‘Train, talk, walk’ will encourage people to use local train services to access new family friendly walking routes that are being created by Ramblers Cymru, that start and finish from local stations. In total, 20 walking routes will be developed at 5 stations in south Wales, and 15 in north Wales. These proposed locations in south Wales include Merthyr to Pentrebach, Cardiff Bay, Aberdare, Heath Low Level…

The Anglesey Column Trust is looking ahead to an exciting 2023 as construction work starts on the Marquess of Anglesey’s Column renovation project. In 2017, on the 200th anniversary of its opening, a campaign was launched to restore and reopen the Marquess of Anglesey’s Column in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey. Since then, close to £1.4 million has been raised, with the majority being from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the site is set to be reopened to visitors again in the autumn. Alex Anglesey, 8th Marquess of Anglesey and Chair of the Anglesey Column Trust Committee, said:  “We are so excited…

IONITY has opened its first 350kW ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging site in Wales. The chargers opened to the public on 17  January 2023 in Magor, Monmouthshire, South East Wales, near Newport. This is a key location just off the M4, close to the Prince of Wales Bridge, connecting EV drivers travelling long-distance between Wales and England for both holiday and work purposes. The next site following Magor will open later this year in Holywell, North Wales, alongside a new drive-thru Starbucks off the A55, with several more sites in the pipeline throughout Wales. Charging with IONITY means 100% green energy…

Language learning could be assessed through clowning, radio plays and graphic novels, according to work led by Aberystwyth University. Modern language teaching often relies on traditional assessments like written work and grammar tests to measure student performance. However, a team of Modern Languages academics are inspiring teachers and students to adopt new and creative ways of researching language and assessing language learning – through art. The team have launched the Creative Modern Languages Hub, a free online resource which provides examples of creative assessment and artistic research from the UK and beyond. Project leader, Dr Alex Mangold – a Lecturer…

Azets, the UK Top 10 accounting firm, has demonstrated its commitment to nurturing its network with three senior promotions in the South Wales region. Ashley Bryan has been appointed as Partner in the Accounts and Business Advisory Services team, whilst Ellen Price and Susan Phillips have been promoted to Associate Director in the audit department. Ashley has been with the company for over 15 years, having started his career as a Trainee Accountant with its predecessor firm (KTS Owens Thomas) in 2007. He has significant experience of working with SMEs, in particular start-ups and entrepreneurs to help them grow. Within his…

These photos offer a glimpse inside a new showhome which is open in the village of Llantwit Fardre, to the north-west of Cardiff. The four-bedroom Bowyer showhome has been unveiled at Bellway’s Coed Derw development, where the housebuilder is delivering 95 new homes. Interior design experts have styled the property with décor and furnishings to give visitors an idea of what it might be like to live in a new home at Coed Derw, using a subtle colour palette of neutrals and green accents. Lewis Gater, Sales Manager for Bellway Wales, said: “The launch of the showhome in November was…

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,…